Although many people don’t associate horse racing and elegant furniture, Ballard Designs And Carson Kressley teamed up in November 2023 to prove otherwise, creating a chic space in the Trophy Lounge during the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California. Although Ballard Designs has been around for over 40 years, it is a brand that may not yet be known in the area. But that is about to change.
I recently spoke with Kressley with Dominic Milanese, vice president of retail for Ballard Designs, to talk about the possibility of bringing Ballard to the races as well as the opening of the furniture retailer’s first location in California. South.
Design comes first
Although Kressley is a Ballard ambassador, creating this space was certainly in the stars for the tastemaker many don’t know is a accomplished equestrian himself. In addition to other honors, he was a member of the United States team at the 1999 World Cup Equestrian Games in South Africa.
The space Kressley created for the event is certainly one of the most charming spaces ever designed in the middle of a raceway. With wicker seats and soft cushions, it’s an ideal respite from the excitement of the race and the bustle of spectators.
In addition to the sofas and chairs, Kressley also chose a wooden coffee table topped with an antique-style horse. With layered rugs underneath, it exuded charm while still coordinating with the venue itself.
“Santa Anita has a very ’40s vibe. I knew the history of the wall colors for cream and a sort of seafoam green. And you’ll see that repeated all over the grounds here, in their awnings and all the trim colors. So I want to use this color thing,” he told me.
“So we anchored the space with a seafoam-colored indoor/outdoor rug. I thought the wicker looked very 1940s and I thought of celebrities like Bing Crosby, Joan Crawford and Grace Kelly who came here over the years. years. So I want it to be a little retro. And I think wicker does that.
The rest of the design, including the pillows, was just as intentional, the RuPaul’s Drag Race judge. “Awning Stripe Pillows look like the striped awnings of the field. So it really feels like it was tailor-made, just for Santa Anita.
A space like the one Kressley designed could easily be recreated just about anywhere, combining the refined aspects of the equestrian world with the fun of race day.
Partnership with Ballard Designs
The partnership between Kressley and the brand is a natural fit. “Ballard gives me all the tools and everything I need to be my own decorator. With custom upholstery options, I can choose the silhouette of a sofa and then put my touch on it with fabric. So I think it’s a question of accessibility of creators for everyone,” he explained. “Years ago, you either had to hire an interior designer or you had to shop at a maybe-not-so-nice furniture store. And Ballard provides that missing link that no one else has, where you can get quality designer furniture and customize it yourself.
Ballard takes San Diego
In addition to partnering with Kressley, Ballard Designs is finally expanding into Southern California. Although the brand currently has twenty stores nationwide, Milanese told me that many of the brand’s customers are in Southern California. While online shopping is convenient, current loyalists and new customers will finally be able to experience Ballard in person.
This was not an easy search. The Milanese shared that the brand had been looking for “just the right space” for years. Ballard is currently building its first location in San Diego’s Solana Beach neighborhood. There are also plans to open additional stores in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as eventually throughout the coast.