Lafia/Arvin was established in 1997, by its Principals Monique Lafia, CEO and Chris Arvin (NYU-LL.M, USC-B.S Finance). We are pleased to be on Robb Report’s 2012 List of the Top 40 Interior Designers of the World, and listed as the highest rated Interior Design Firm in the current Franklin Report. L/A’s goal is to establish long-standing relationships with our Clients, we have designed five residences for many Clients. Our Clients are across the spectrum, such as: shareholders, officers and directors Fortune 500 type international businesses; world famous athletes such as Sugar Ray Leonard, and Wayne Gretzky; musicians such as Kenny G; actors, directors, producers and other well known individuals in the entertainment industry, business owners, and prominent physicians who are attracted to L/A’s sense of design, attention to detail and personal service (Robb Report has highlighted that L/A is known for differentiating itself by never passing any of the designer decisions onto an associate, with the principals being hands-on). Lafia/Arvin accepts Design Commissions across a broad spectrum of architecture, design and location. Many have said that we have a special expertise for “Getaways” and “Estates”, and historical properties (such as the Buster Keaton Estate, featured on our Website). We have extensive interior design experience with high-end luxury interior design, and this experience and expertise has allowed us to develop and cultivate a close working relationship with the finest of resources and craftsmen, which is integral to our luxury design, producing finest quality but within our Clients’ budgets (construction and custom furnishings). We have worked closely with highly regarded Architects, including Richard Landry of Landry Design Group with whom we have worked together on a number of projects, Bill Harrison of Harrison Design Associates, Bill Baker of William T. Baker & Associates, Brian Biglin of Biglin Architectural Group, Don Nulty, The Warner Group, Marc Appleton of Appleton & Associates, Inc., and a growing list of highly respected Architects. Lafia/Arvin has also been at the forefront of the design and blending together of comfortable indoor-outdoor living spaces (often discussed in our publications), achieved in large part by our working closely with our respected high-end luxury Landscape-Architect counterparts, for example, including a growing list of projects with Mark David Levine of Mark David Levine Design Group(Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Montecito). It is noted that there is not a specific square feet requirement for L/A Projects, which in the past have included 1,300 square feet cottages (a Sandy Land Cove Cottage featured on the Cover of California Homes Magazine), up to 25,000 + square feet residences – including remodels. Ms. Lafia has extensive experience with high-end hotels. In all instances, the same services that differentiate us are offered as highlighted by The Robb Report – the principals not passing off any design decisions to an associate, and, provide you with an “original design”. The Robb Report says “a lot of designers like to reuse the same color palette and the same few fabrics over and over in their projects. If you are friends with another of .. L/A’s clients, you don’t have to worry about them having a home exactly like yours”. The Robb Report has also highlighted L/A’s expertise in assisting its Clients in the selection, placement, sourcing and introduction of art to their homes. Our Clients say that our Design is warm, elegant, comfortable, and timeless. We have projects nationwide. From our California projects (Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Montecito and adjoining Santa Barbara areas, Lake Sherwood, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Fe), and New York area projects, to, for example, Lanai – Hawaii and the other islands, islands in Canada. Please browse our website to view a sampling of our projects, magazine features and quotes. Monique is from Philadelphia, PA, and later Miami, Florida. After graduating college she soon discovered her passion for design, architecture, the arts and music. She studied design at the UCLA Design Program, where she obtained her Design Degree from preeminent practitioners in the Design and Architecture fields. Monique spent 9 years as a Designer for highly respected veteran Los Angeles Designers Waldo Fernandez, Cheryl Rowley, and Hendrix/Allardyce, obtaining experience designing international luxury hotels, high-end restaurants, and luxury estates. At the same time, Monique acquired the technical experience she considered necessary for designing luxury residences, and obtained CCIDC and NCIDQ certification/licensing, before launching Lafia/Arvin in 1997. Her passion is painting (oils, and pastels), piano, doubles tennis, and her twins. Monique is an active member of the Institute of Classical Architecture (New York, N.Y.), and The Decorative Arts and Design Council (of LACMA, Los Angeles, CA.