Vicente Wolf

The Las Vegas Market is undeniably one of the biggest furniture fairs out there and we had a great time (and tired feet!) walking through all the floors of all three buildings.

There were some really great pieces – one of my favorites were from a young designer called John Reeves of REEVESdesign Ltd. He uses recycled zinc and lacquer pieces in a collection that is fresh, modern with a sense of the past and truly beautiful.

Another manufacturer that caught my eye was Pacific Connections. They design and distribute beautiful furniture pieces and, in particular, boxes that are really nice and both of the owners are such charming people.

Last night I went to visit the two restaurants I designed here in Vegas – one is Diego at the MGM Grand where I had a great Mexican dinner. It’s always hard when you go back (I did this job five years ago) – you always wonder whether they would have changed it, whether they still like what you did. It’s a very bright space – I used about 25 different colors apple green, fire engine red, hot pink and drew inspiration from Luis Barragan, a famous Mexican architect. I was pleasantly surprised and still pleased with the original concept (and the fact that it’s still standing).

The second restaurant is the SW at the new Wynn Hotel. This is very different from Diego and much more in the vein of what I usually do – oak, copper, granite, but really elegant and very sophisticated. (Not your typical Las Vegas restaurant.) Again, I was really pleased to a) see it packed with people and b) knowing that Mr Wynn is very mecurial and from one day to the next can say ‘Change this place’ – the fact that it’s still standing speaks wonders for the design.

I think Vegas is a great town. I can only take it for three days at a time, but it is still so typically American – how many places can you be in Paris, Venice, New York, Rome and a pirate island all within walking distance? Ladies in sneakers standing next to ladies in cocktail dresses. So many false breasts that if you melted it all you could reach the moon and back. But hell, who am I to judge? Colors were made for taste.