Kimba Hills: The art of the party in Santa Monica

Kimba Hills, owner of the vintage furniture store and gallery Rumba in Santa Monica, hosts a dinner party at least once a month. Just about any excuse will do to have friends over to the bungalow she renovated and once shared with artist Laddie John Dill in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Santa Monica. The food is usually barbecue — flown in from Hog Wild in Memphis, Tenn., the night before — but the look of the house is always a bit different. Hills is a flurry of activity before guests arrive: She rotates art, throws a Turkish kilim on a poolside patio, places a Pop art lamp from the living room between two lawn chairs in the garden. Here, a guest passes by a painting by Ann Thornycroft. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 16, 2014 8:30 AM PT

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With Southern hospitality and an artist’s eye, this gracious hosts sets the scene for an entertaining evening of good cheer, alfresco. And the house? You couldn’t ask for a better setting.

A painting by Ed Moses hangs above a vintage credenza, minus a silver lamp and delicate Moye Thompson vases that Moses moved to the floor as guests tried not to giggle. They were distracting, Moses says, to no one in particular. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Hills welcomes guests at her house, where the boundary between indoors and out is blurred. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

With its deck, pool area and garden spread over a double lot, the house seems much larger than its 2,000 square feet. Guests have plenty of space to mill about. We can entertain outdoors all year round, Hills says, so why wouldnt we? (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Moye Thompsons vases grace one of three outdoor dining tables. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Hills and Fox Searchlight executive Stephanie Allen, in the glow of candlelight. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Low light creates an intimate atmosphere. Every time guests get up to refill their plates, Hills steers them back to a different seat. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Eleanor Burkett, the pastry chef from Buttercake Bakery who made mini-cupcakes, honey pecan bars and chocolate espresso cookies for the party, hangs out in Hills living room with Scott Rickles. Rickles and his girlfriend, Hills’ assistant Jessica McClendon, helped to set up for the party. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)