Although Nevena Borissova hails from Bulgaria and calls several cities home, she still qualifies as a hometown hero in Los Angeles. At age 17, she killed it as a stylist at a boutique on Melrose. 20 years later, she's the mastermind behind Curve, a boutique with a polished, modern and severely unique selection that has taken root and thrived in New York, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles. And not only is LA the only city with two Curve locations, it's also the birthplace of her newest venture—which far surpasses the status quo of your standard shopping experience.
Welcome to The Shop: Curve x Tom Dixon at Platform in the Hayden Tract. When Nevena signed the lease at the new Culver City hub three years prior to the complex's offical launch, she was set on revamping the customary retail experience. In her recently opened 7,000 sq ft space, she's collaborating with London-based furniture and interior designer Tom Dixon for an all encompassing experience—of furniture, expertly curated clothes and a cafe coming soon.
"I wanted to mix and bridge the lines between home, fashion and food and beverage. The Shop is a place where people can come and stay for an hour, to mingle and talk," Nevena muses while perched on her 'stairway to heaven' at The Shop.
Nevena Borissova, Tom Dixon and Kirsten Dunst at the opening of The Shop in summer 2016.
Currently, on a standard day of work in LA, you can find Nevena holding down the fort (and also holding court) at The Shop in Culver City. Sure, she'll take a break to peep Kilter's men's collection or grab a mushroom taco at Loqui across the way. But we wanted to know which places in LA she'd visit if she had all the time in the world.
From shops and restaurants to beaches and galleries, the stylist lays out the places she loves most in Los Angeles:
Malibu
Soho Beach House
Nevena Borissova: As a founding member of the Soho House establishment, I am always so pleased with each new house they open. The newest in Malibu was so necessary! The picante margarita!
Nobu Malibu
NB: I love! What a world have they build in the new location ... I can't get enough of a long lunch with girlfriends (I wish it happened more often) or late dinners with a group on the patio. I can't wait for the Nobu Ryokan to open so we can finally sleep there.
Inn of the Seventh Ray / Spiral Staircase
NB: Deep in the woods of Topanga is a truly magical and romantic place. I've been going there for 15 years! The shop, Spiral Staircase, is also fairy-like. Crystals, books and things .. they knew how to do lifestyle a long time ago. Must see with a significant other.
Image courtesy of Spiral Staircase
El Matador State Beach
NB: I like this beach for photo shoots, walks and a mini getaway from the hustle and bustle.
Venice
Gjelina
NB: The oysters, the bread, and the perfect weekend brunch when you're feel ing useless ...
Venice Skate Park
NB: The perfect place to bring your growing kids to experience the LA skate scene, see the new generation and still catch some of the old boardwalk feeling of the 70s. Biking and rollerblading on the bike path after is also a great family experience!
General Store
NB: I love shopping this place!
Blum & Poe
NB: One of LA's greatest in the art scene.
Merit
NB: My absolute favorite new space! I want to buy everything here, literally everything! Merit offers the best in home furnishings, a bit of nostalgia with the incredible 50s furniture but done so fresh and modern. And if you are cool enough (and know the owner Paul, the only employee) he can remotely open the door for you via wifi. Talk about borrowed moments to be alone in heaven!
The Culver Hotel
NB: This classic hotel could use a redo, but you must see the architecture if in the area.
Metro Expo Line - Culver City
NB: I love that the Metro Expo Line stops exactly at Hayden Tract and you can take it to DTLA or to Santa Monica
WeHo / Hollywood
Melrose Place Farmers' Market
NB: One of a kind! You can buy a velvet choker, soup and heirloom tomatoes and they all rock! Good curation among luxury!
The Apartment by The Line
NB: I never thought that second level retail could work but they’ve done it beautifully! You can buy laundry detergent, a Cartie Bresson or a Helmut Newton photograph, furniture, cutlery, a chopping board too pretty to chop on, or a pair of jeans. It's a great "wish I had that life" experience.
NB: I truly believe they will be the Supreme of LA! Urban, street and uber fresh approach this gang has. I love the "home depot" Pantone collection. Can't wait for my hoodie! Hope they are reading. Their "started from the bottom, now we're here" take is divine. I love the jewelry as well! Now available at Maxfields. Kudos!
Chateau Marmont
NB: The Chateau is an institution for me. I've done everything there! But dinner with a good group of friends, late night cigarettes and some truffle fries will do for now. I worked for Missoni dressing people around the Oscars for a number of years and Room 2 was my office for two weeks every year. It was a great time, fun and everlasting memories!
Zinqué
NB: Come for the The cauliflower, the people who lunch, work, hang and create there
Just One Eye
NB: I love that they opened in the Howard Hughes building and their curation is impeccable. I love people who open stores and have that much passion for fashion and moving the needle forward. Not many do, and I truly think this is a concept store one must see. The art that hangs there doesn't hurt the experience either.
DTLA
Bestia
NB: The fact that you have to wait for a reservation a month in advance says it all. You can't not eat here.
The Brewery Artist Lofts
NB: I always loved this place! Especially for open art lofts.
Boyle Heights
NB: I just did a big collaboration with the Rodarte girls and spend a good amount of time creating with their beautiful minds and fabrics
The Rodarte girls, Laura and Kate Mulleavy. Image courtesy of @rodarte
NB: I can write about this place forever, but I don't want to give away any secrets. People will see his work again when it opens for a solo exhibit at the Damien Hirst Museum in London next fall.
Pasadena
Rose Bowl Flea Market
NB: I love it to this day!
NB: I love this restaurant for the presentation and the scale of space. It’s amazing. I only go there with family. It’s best with large groups.
NB: This is one of my happy places. It's no Versailles, but pretty grand, diverse and home to one of the best rose gardens I have ever smelled.
NB: The one on Eagle Rock Blvd! Best ceviche in the game!
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Arden Shore is a writer, dot connector and sock collector from Los Angeles who believes if everyone wore more yellow, we would be one step closer to world peace. Follow her meanderings at @ardyparty.
Header image courtesy of Nevena Borissova