UPDATE: (March 20, 2014)

Since this post published, plans have changed! A new update will be coming soon..  I'm leaving this post up, because I love the information on both these fabulous individuals, but there have been some major changes! Stay tuned...

So happy I'm not chairing the Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show! But still super excited about the weekend… every single year!

This year (Sept 19-21) promises to continue the amazing speaker situation associated with this event… 

Mary MacDonald, an award winning Los Angeles-based designer, is one of today's most sought after tastemakers, and she is our Friday key-note speaker. She is a star on Bravo TV's "Million Dollar Decorators" series and is constantly touted by the design community as one of the best. McDonald's interiors are featured in major national publications, and she has been honored as one of the top 25 designers by Veranda Magazine... just a glimpse of her many accolades.

Her first book was published in October 2010 and is currently in its fifth printing. Written with wit and charm, the book showcases her sophisticated and ravishing interiors...

Her next book is due this year.

"McDonald's style combines old-world elegance with a modern sensibility resulting in a fearless iconic style. Her ability to combine bold patterns, Chinoiserie, and classic influences with an impeccable sense of color has established her signature style."

Mary has collaborated with several firms in the design community including an extensive rug line for Patterson Flynn and Martin, a lighting collection for Robert Abbey, and a lovely fabric and trim collection for Schumacher.

We are thrilled to have Mary McDonald for our Friday keynote speaker!

Alex Hitz will also be featured ~ the first celebrity chef for the Lauritzen Gardens Antique Show! His first and best-selling book, My Beverly Hills Kitchen: Classic Southern Cooking with a French Twist, garnered rave reviews.

Branded as one of the world's best hosts, Hitz has become famous for his down-to-earth philosophy on food and entertaining: "Give people what they really want when you entertain: Comfort food - nothing trendy, pretentious or precious. They can diet the rest of the week!"

Following college, Hitz enrolled in Peter Kump's Cooking School in New York, and Le Cordon Blue, Paris. He co-owned the Atlanta restaurant, The Patio by the River, and in 2009 founded The Beverly Hills Kitchen. Moving his brand to HSN, Hitz built the most successful food brand in the network's history.

A fun side note: His home was recently featured in House Beautiful and it's quite lovely...

Cooking with Alex Hitz ~ not to be missed!

Of course this is just a taste of what's to come during the weekend extravaganza… I'll be reporting on new and exciting updates as they become available.