A Desert Retreat FOR ROCKY LAFLEUR
Rocky LaFleur moved to Los Angeles in 1978, and as he said “found his people” there. He had a natural, human talent for bringing people together from all walks of life. He was, and still is, considered a tribal leader for the design community. Rocky was well known for being a regular guest lecturer at UCLA Extension and loved supporting students entering the design industry. He considered it a spiritual calling. In one interview, he shared:
“What is the spiritual context of design? It's about people, it’s about objects, it's about things, it's about feeling, it's about things that don't exist. It’s about vibrational things, it’s about a sense of relationships, and excitement…it's all interconnected…Why are you here? What draws you to this? What is design to you?”
While the hustle and bustle of the city was where he planted his roots, he enjoyed all that Southern California had to offer – from the beach to the mountains to the desert. The latter is where this year’s competition is set. We would like you to imagine that Rocky has worked with an architecture firm designing a home for himself in the Coachella Valley, just east of Los Angeles. It is modern and brutalist in style – a strong façade to fit into the desert landscape and intentionally designed with raw materials and fire resistance in mind. The exterior features stone facing, metal cladding on the sides, and a metal roof without eaves, as the roof folds and encases the house. The home is two-story, with private rooms occupying the upper floor and public spaces occupying the first level. Your task is to focus on designing and furnishing the first floor Living, Dining, Salon & Terrace.
While this will be a weekend/vacation home for Rocky, he also envisions this being a retreat space where he will invite small groups of students and designers to join him for networking and relationship building events. He will also host supplier partners here when they are visiting from out of town either on business or to attend events happening in the desert – whether design-related such as Modernism Week, cultural events like DesertX or other numerous musical festivals and concerts that the desert community is known for. The Coachella Valley is also a historically fertile and spiritual place – when designing, consider its rich history, indigenous heritage, and sustainability. Rocky’s Desert Retreat should act as both a sanctuary and an incubator.
Three $5,000 prizes will be awarded to the students determined by the judges to have the strongest submissions. Winners can choose to apply the prize money to UCLA Extension tuition or to attend Paris Deco Off in January 2027. Winners will be notified the week of September 14th, 2026.
Frances Merrill
Frances Merrill is the founder of Reath Design, a Los Angeles-based interior design firm that designs private residences, hospitality interiors and spaces for relaxation and leisure. Reath creates immersive interiors that tell the story of their inhabitants. Central to Reath’s design approach is the studio’s love of color, pattern and textiles and a belief that good design ages well, leading to the creation of timeless interiors with a warm, approachable elegance. Artifacts from clients are prized, allowing for highly individual spaces that are uninhibited by particular eras, movements or genres. All of Reath’s work is informed by a keen interest in design’s impact on the private lives of individuals and families, and a belief that good design can improve everyday life.
Originally from New York City, Merrill moved to Los Angeles in 2001 to begin her career in design. Initially immersed in the vibrant creative world of Los Angeles at beloved boutique Lost & Found, Merrill eventually moved on to work at award-winning interior design firm Commune under Pamela Shamshiri, before founding her own firm in 2009. An avid reader, Merrill finds inspiration in novels and in richly drawn characters, which inform her own version of visual storytelling in her interior design practice.
Merrill has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, T Magazine, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, Domino, The Hollywood Reporter, The Financial Times, and more, and her firm has been named to the prestigious AD100 list since 2021.
Dennis Scully
Dennis Scully is the host of The Business of Home Podcast, where he explores the changes and challenges facing the interior design community through interviews with industry thought leaders, entrepreneurs and creatives. He was previously a business development consultant for major trade brands, and has held sales and marketing roles at Domino, Waterworks and Castel. He is also the host of the Dialogues on Design series for the New York School of Interior Design.
Jamie Bush
Growing up on Long Island in an eccentric family of dairy farmers as well as a small clan of renowned designers, photographers and artists in Manhattan was the foundation of Jamie’s interest in design with an eye toward the natural world. After studying architecture in New Orleans and in Italy, Jamie relocated to Los Angeles to focus his design practice on the unsung heroes of mid-century modern residential architecture. It was here that he founded Jamie Bush + Co. in 2002 and has since worked on some of the most significant historical residential modernist homes in the US.
Recognized for his ability to blur the lines between architecture and interior design, his ethos has always been to approach the design of a space as one holistic vision. Admired for his relevant and keen understanding of architecture and design, Jamie’s designs have been featured in over 100 publications worldwide including Architectural Digest, Interior Design, Vogue, Elle Decor, Wall Street Journal, Wallpaper, Los Angeles Times as well as several coffee table books. Jamie is currently a member of the Tulane School of Architecture Board of Advisors and has been honored into both the AD 100 top global architects and designers of the year, as well as Elle Decor’s A-List of top designers.
He splits his time between Los Angeles and his houseboat on Long Island close to his family.
Judging will commence the week after the close of the Entry Period. All determinations of the Judges shall be final and binding. Judging will be based on the Judges’ personal and subjective evaluation of the following criteria:
- 25% originality/creative solutions to design challenges
- 25% concept statement
- 25% visual appeal of presentation
- 25% use of furnishings, materials, and color
NOTIFICATION
Winners will be notified the week of September 14th, 2026.
- All entrants must work within the building floor plans provided, but layout can be redesigned as desired.
- You are free to use any design style of your choosing, but use of AI programs is strictly prohibited.
- Each room must include products represented by Kneedler Fauchère’s showrooms in Los Angeles, Denver, and/or San Francisco. Products may be viewed & selected by accessing supplier partner websites through the Kneedler Fauchère website (www. kneedlerfauchere.com) or viewed in person at the Los Angeles showroom at 8687 Melrose Avenue, Suite B600, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
- Be creative and incorporate other products, materials, and architectural features that would work well with the spaces.
MOOD BOARD & CONCEPT STATEMENT
As part of your submission, please provide a digital mood board (11” x 17”) with a maximum of 15 images that presents your design concept. The mood board should also communicate materials, color palette, and overall aesthetic for the project.
In addition to the mood board, submit a concept statement of no more than 2,000 words. Your concept statement should express the ideas and approach behind your overall design concept and proposed design solutions.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
Drawn by hand or by utilizing your preferred computer rendering software, present an original design to address the brief. Include the following:
- One floor plan of each room with furnishings & key dimensions.
- At least one interior elevation of each room with furnishings & key dimensions.
- Up to five supporting perspective drawings communicating design elements you believe are critical to your overall design and vision.
SUBMISSION
Your digital submission package should consist of your mood board, concept statement and supporting documents in a PDF of no more than 10 pages (11” x 17”).
ABOUT ROCKY LA FLEUR AND THE DESIGN COMPETITION
If there was ever someone born to be the design community’s Tribal Leader, it was Rocky LaFleur. Born in South Dakota, Rocky made his home in Los Angeles in 1978. His professional journey included outside sales for Pindler & Pindler, a national showroom manager role for S. Harris, and he served ten years as Vice President of Real Estate at the Pacific Design Center. In that role, Rocky networked with design companies throughout the US and Europe, bringing many new companies to Los Angeles. He was involved in creating events, exhibitions, and design programs at the PDC.
He came to Kneedler Fauchère in 2003 as an outside sales representative, building a new hospitality division and using his extensive relationships to strengthen Kneedler Fauchère’s client base. Rocky was an active industry supporter, especially through professional organizations like ASID, NEWH, and ICAA. In 2008, Rocky made plans to attend the newly launched Déco Off show in Paris. Being a natural salesman, he quickly convinced a dozen or so influential Los Angeles designers to join him in Paris for the show. That was the birth of what would become the Annual American in Paris party, and Kneedler Fauchère’s enduring commitment to and celebration of the French design community. Rocky steadily invited emerging professionals, his student friends, to experience the wealth of design resources in Paris. An eternal connector, nobody was as passionate about helping students and making them feel a part of the tribe. He regularly spoke at UCLA Extension to new entrants just beginning their foray into the design world, and hosted tours in Kneedler Fauchère’s showroom to make them feel at home.
Rocky was the ultimate social animal. He rarely had lunch or dinner alone, preferring those times to catch up with established contacts or to get introduced to new people, organizations, or ideas. He also loved hosting events and parties for various organizations, companies, or for friends. Rocky also had a very spiritual side. He read extensively about different thought practices and sought out spiritual leaders. This blend is what made him such a unique mentor to so many students, emerging professionals, and established professionals in the design industry.
Throughout his 40+ year career in design, he gained an enormous circle of admirers and contacts, which would eventually garner many awards and professional recognition by trade organizations such as NEWH and ASID, including the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Los Angeles chapter of ASID in 2018. The self-titled “Design Icon” will always remain iconic to those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Following his passing in March 2021, The Rocky LaFleur Scholarship Fund was introduced to honor Rocky’s passion for education and students. He believed strongly that everyone working in design should be constantly learning about the evolving field and was a strong advocate for getting out and seeing things in person. He believed materials needed to be seen and touched, and in meeting interesting people along the way. He famously admonished students to, “Just show up”. Therefore, his scholarship assists students with UCLA Extension tuition and supports students attending Paris Déco Off, two of Rocky’s greatest loves.
ABOUT KNEEDLER FAUCHÈRE
In 1948, two women, Dorothy Kneedler and Lucienne Fauchère, established Kneedler Fauchère. Housed in San Francisco’s Marine Memorial Building, the tenacious duo sold New York lines of textiles and Asian wallcoverings discovered abroad. This east-meets-west, global influence formed the bedrock of Kneedler Fauchère and is still apparent today.
From the outset, Kneedler Fauchère has believed in the power of creation. Dorothy, and her husband Harry Lawenda, nurtured and encouraged talent. They shared knowledge of the industry, believing that a rising tide lifts all vessels. They weren’t just business owners — they were forces of progress, growth, and positivity in a nascent industry. Eventually, they expanded their offerings to those created by local, talented designers—each one hand selected to be included in their showroom. Kneedler Fauchère became the benchmark for the modern-day multiline showroom, being the first to include lighting, furniture, textiles, wall coverings, art, all in one stop. Led today by a new management team, our teams are proud to carry on this legacy today in San Francisco, Los Angeles and in Denver.
To learn more about Kneedler Fauchère, watch a special documentary short about the 75+ year story:
When are submissions due?
Submissions must be uploaded to Kneedler Fauchère’s Dropbox no later than 11:00 PM (Pacific) on Monday, August 31st, 2026.
How do I make my submission?
Your submission must be in a PDF format and sent electronically to the following Dropbox folder:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/7ybm8t9a9vjklo5pnv9f
Who do I contact with questions?
Email marketing@
How will I be notified if I win?
Kneedler Fauchère will email winners directly using the email provided by the entrant when they registered.
- COMPETITION DATES: Eligible students must submit their completed package before the deadline of 11:00 PM (Pacific) on Monday, August 31, 2026.
- ELIGIBILITY: Participants, to be considered eligible to win a prize, must be enrolled at UCLA Extension as full-time or part-time students during the 2026-2027 academic year. Recent graduates may not apply. Winners may be required to submit proof of current enrollment.
- SUBMISSIONS/HOW TO ENTER: Each participant must register on the Rocky LaFleur Competition webpage on Kneedler Fauchère’s website: Design A Desert Retreat! | Kneedler Fauchère (kneedlerfauchere.com). Participants are limited to one submission per individual. Submissions become the property of Kneedler Fauchère after submission and cannot be altered or deleted. Incomplete or unreadable submissions may be disqualified. Kneedler Fauchère will not be liable for any submission that is not received. Kneedler Fauchère may reject or disqualify any submission that does not conform to these rules.
- COMPETITION PRIZES: Kneedler Fauchère will award three prizes in the amount of $5000 each to the entrants determined by the judges to have the best submissions. Winners of the Competition prizes may be featured in the Kneedler Fauchère website and other social media and internet platforms and/or digital and print collateral as determined by Kneedler Fauchère. Prizes may be paid by check or electronic transfer to the individual winner. Prizes are non-transferable. Receipt of a prize is conditioned on compliance of all requirements described in these rules.
- ANNOUCEMENT OF THE WINNERS: KneedlerFauchère will notify all winners by an email sent to the email address provided as part of the registration during the week of September 14, 2026. Winners must acknowledge receipt and must complete and return any required documentation, including proof of enrollment. A participant may forfeit their prize should they fail to acknowledge the announcement of the prize, the announcement is undeliverable, they fail to provide any required documentation, or they violate any other rules of this competition.
In accepting a prize, the participant agrees to participate in reasonable publicity and public relations activity at Kneedler Fauchère’s request. Such public relations activities may include conducting in person interviews, virtual or phone interviews, and making public statements. The participant agrees that Kneedler Fauchère may use the participant’s name, photo, and likeness in its marketing and public relations activities.
Should any winner be disqualified or forfeit their prize for any reason, an alternate winner shall be selected using such procedures as Kneedler Fauchère deems appropriate. - TAXES: Any federal, state and/or local taxes are the sole responsibility of each prize winner.
- DISPUTES: Any disputes arising in connection with this competition shall be governed by the laws of the state of California, U.S.A.
- CHANGE TO OR CANCELLATION OF THE COMPETITION: Kneedler Fauchère reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or suspend the Competition due to technical problems or matters beyond Kneedler Fauchère’s control.
