So Haute!

New Inspiration from Carla Lane

I've been keeping up with the work of LA based interior designer Carla Lane since seeing her work featured on DesignSponge a while back. Fresh and colorful, Lane's work is a juxtaposition of modern and traditional and her spaces evoke a timeless feeling. I recently visited her website and a few newly posted photos from a project in Hancock Park caught my eye. I'm especially loving that toile covered bathroom! See more here.

JA Design Studio

I absolutely love beautiful, hand printed textiles and was thrilled to discover the work of JA Design Studio. The Miami based company offers an assortmet of luxury textiles including table linens, throw pillows, custom bedding, drapery panels and more. They also have a line fabrics by the yard called Plumwich, which is available exclusively to the trade via showrooms around the country. Each design is screen printed by hand, mostly on fine Belgian linen but also on cottons, silks and velvets. The products are beautifully finished and possess an antique like quality that only adds to their appeal. The patterns and colors are also highly customizable, allowing clients to the ability to choose designs that are truly unique. The designer behind the line is Janet A Fernandez who was born in Sweden and lived in Rome for 20 years where she worked as an interior designer. Fernandez moved to the states in 1995 and launched JA Design Studio in 2000. Her work is informed by her Swedish and Italian background and many of her prints are based on classical designs. Pricing for tabletop items such as placemats and napkins start at around $58, pillows start at $280 and tablecloths are quite pricey, at around $1200. Here in the New York area, you can find the line at The Elegant Setting in Southampton. To inquire about stores in your area or for more information, visit the JA Design Studio website here. And for your viewing pleasure, below are photos of some of my favorite prints from their line. Hope you love these as much as I do!

Yum Yum Chefs

Photo: Bill Brady/Uptown

I'm always inspired when I hear about people who took a leap of faith and quit the corporate grind to follow their passions. Such is the case with two friends of mine, Vanessa Cantave and Gracia Walker who run a cutting edge food services company called Yum Yum Chefs which is based in DUMBO Brooklyn.

 
Photo: Bill Brady/Uptown

In 2005 Vanessa left her job in the advertising and marketing industry to explore her passion for cooking at the renowned French Culinary Institute. While in school she apprenticed under famed chef Daniel Boulud and after graduating at the top of her class, she founded Yum Yum Chefs. Gracia quit her high-powered beauty PR job a little more than a year ago and joined Yum Yum full time as head of business operations.

Photo: Bill Brady/Uptown

Since then the company has expanded its range of services which now includes catering, private dinner events, personal chef services, instructional cooking classes, a weekly meal delivery program (think NuKitchen only better) and made-to-order cupcakes which are insanely good. (They put Magnolia and Billy's to shame)Yum Yum features a team of classically trained chefs who use only the finest certified organic ingredients. The company also partners with a local farm to source produce and free-range, all-natural, antibiotic-free meats, fish and poultry.

Yum Yum has really taken off and has been generating quite a bit of buzz including coverage in Daily Candy, The New York Post, Ideal Bite and most recently, Uptown magazine. I'm especially excited about Uptown because Gracia & Vanessa were photographed in the Yum Yum dining room which I helped decorate! It's sort of hard to see the details since the dining room is in the background but below is a closer look.

Photo: Bill Brady/Uptown

The 1300 square foot Yum Yum loft is in a 200 year old building which used to be a factory and some of the building's original details still exist such as the rustic wood beams that run through the ceilings. Gracia and Vanessa wanted a modern looking space that played off the charm of the loft's original details. They needed a dining table that could seat at least 10 comfortabley and they also wanted to incorporate Yum Yum's signature color which is a super bright red.

The walnut dining table, similar to this one, is by Bruce Marsh Designs. I had seen his work on Apartment Therapy and in the New York Times and I knew Gracia and Vanessa would love it. Bruce Marsh had makes his furnishings which are all made of solid hardwoods using eco-friendly materials. The best part is that Bruce Marsh is based in Dumbo too so the ladies didn't have to travel far to visit the showroom and they got a great deal on shipping! The table is hands down my favorite piece in the space. It love its beautiful woodgrain pattern and rich, dark coloring. It also seats 10 people comfortably and 12 with a tight squeeze.

For the chairs, we went super sleek with the high gloss Selene chair designed by the legendary Italian furniture designer and architect, Vico Magistretti. We chose bright red!

The space has amazing 14 foot ceilings so for the lighting I wanted to go with a large, dramatic, low hanging pendant lamp over the dining table. The end choice was a pair of spun metal Powell Street Pendants from O Lighting. Dimmers were added so the mood could be easily controlled.

The decision on what to put on the walls was easy...Vanessa wanted to prominently display this photo of her grandmother and muse. Isn't she so chic?

Although not visible in the Uptown piece, the photo of Vanessa's grandmother is prominently displayed in this oval shaped baroque frame from Ikea. Vintage black and white photos of other family members also pepper the walls in a gallery like arrangement and all are in black frames are from Ikea.

For more info on Yum Yum Chefs, visit their website here.

Rashida Jones' Stylish LA Retreat

Right now I'm kind of obsessing over Rashida Jones' Los Angeles home which is featured in this month's Glamour. With the help of up-and-coming LA decorator Katie Fine and her friend, celebrity stylist Estee Stanley, Jones transformed her home into a casual, slightly bohemian yet very sophisticated retreat. Many of the furnishings were sourced from Mecox Gardens (a favorite of mine!) and Dan Marty Design, a local LA custom furniture, accessories and antiques store in Los Angeles. The home features a neutral palette with pops of color introduced through accessories. It's obvious that Jones has great taste and her home is definitely a reflection of her personal style. Remember her super cool NYC studio which was featured in the Feb '08 issue of Domino? Love! What a great life to be bi-coastal with two fabulous homes! Enjoy the photos!

 

 

By the way-This is Katie Fine on the left. She decorated actress Emmy Rossum's amazing Beverly Hills Home too which was also featured in Glamour a while back. She's definitely one to watch and I predict we'll be seeing a lot more of her work in the future!

 
_{Photos by Melanie Acevedo for Glamour}

V-Day Flowers From My Bestie

My bestie and her fiance surprised me with these beautiful roses for v-day. Had to share. Aren't they pretty?!

Three Amigos

Last week I spent a few days in Cabo for work and while I was there I spotted these three stallions just hanging out on the beach. Aren't they cute?!

Treat Yourself This Valentine's Day...

My friend Melissa is a self-proclaimed lingerie junkie who recently parlayed her passion for intimate apparel into an entrepreneurial venture called Dames & Broads, an e-commerce site that offers beautiful and affordable lingerie from around the globe. Dames & Broads allows you to shop according to your body type (brilliant!) and by country, an option that highlights trends that are identifiable with specific regoins of the world. So this Valentine's Day, why not treat yourself to some brand new lingerie? Click here to check out the site. Happy shopping!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope your day is filled with lots of love!
And in the spirit of V-Day, how amazing is this photo by Patrick Cline? A tree perfectly pruned into the shape of a heart. Sweet! Available here.

So Haute Hearts Digs By Katie!

_{Katie Leede in her Santa Monica home, photographed for C Magazine}

New design crush alert! I have fallen for the work of Santa Monica based interior designer Katie Leede. I saw her mentioned on 1st Dibs recently, decided to check out her portfolio and was immediately smitten. Her design firm is called Digs by Katie and her work is bohemian elegance at its finest. Se has an obvious affection for ethnic inspired textiles, which I love, and her well-tailored work reflects a worldly and eclectic mix of prints, patterns, fabrics, furnishings and styles. Leede has a knack for creating fesh spaces that feel as though they belong to a young, sophisticated world traveler. Being a bit of a bohemian myself, her aesthetic really appeals to me and I find her designs so inspiring. Below are some of my favorite images from her portfolio and if you're not familiar with her work, you must check out her website to see more. Enjoy!

 

 

Fine Art at The Winter Antiques Show

Last Sunday I visited the annual Winter Antiques Show on its final day. There were so many things to see but I was especially drawn to several of the oil on canvas works that were on display. Below are photos of the paintings I thought were particularly beautiful. I wish I could have taken one of them home! Sadly, I have fine art taste on a flea market budget! Enjoy the photos!

This beautiful girl caught my eye. She was a Burmese dancer who was "bored to tears" and decided to sit for English painter Sir Gerald Kelly after much persuasion. The work is titled "Portrait of Sao Ohn Nyunt"  and is from the Martyn Gregory gallery in London. Circa 1931. Est $152,000

"Phoebe Maynor" is the title of this painting by American artist Barnard Lintott. I wished I could have learned more about the woman in the painting who I found so intriguing. From Taylor B. Williams antiques in Harbert, Michigan. Circa 1910. Est $48,000

"Turkish Water Seller" by American painter Francis Davis Millet. Another intriguing subject and I loved all of the painting's rich, dark colors. Millet was one of the few American painters who mastered Orientalism. An interesting fact about Millet is that he died in the Titanic. Available at the John Alexander LTD gallery in Philadelphia. Circa 1874 Est $495,00.

"The Balloon Vendor" by Edward Potthast.. This American impressionist painter was based in New York and was best known for his paintings of idyllic, sunny beach scenes. Potthast's works are extremely valuable investment pieces. This one can be yours for a cool $3,500,000 via the Gerald Peters Gallery in New York. Circa 1910.

This work is also from the Gerald Peters Gallery. It's titled "Harlem Flats" by Canadian-born American impressionist painter Ernest Lawson who was best known for painting landscapes, particularly scenes of upper Manhattan neighborhoods such as Harlem and Inwood. I loved this painting because its a historical representation of Harlem...the neighborhood where I now live. You may have to click the photo to see details but it depicts a colorful scene of laundry hanging from the old tenement buildings. Est $450,000. Circa 1907.

Foster Gwin antiques was one of the last booths I stopped by. Interesting tidbit...the actor Matt Dillon was there talking with one of the owners while I was there! Anyway- I was wowed by this giant, contemporary abstract oil on canvas painting and its juxtaposition with the beautiful 17th century European furniture pieces also on display. The work is by American born painter Edward Dugmore and was completed in 1956. I don't recall what the estimate was but given the notoriety of the artist combined with the grand scale of the piece, I can only imagine what it must cost. As soon as I saw the piece I had this déjá vu feeling that I'd seen it before...and I swore it was in an old issue of Elle Décor.

So being the magazine hoarder that I am I went digging through old issues and lo and behold I found it! A clip from the July '07 issue shows the painting hanging in the Malibu beach house of a Hollywood power couple decorated by Madeline Stuart. I love it when I'm right!

The World Mourns Domino

 
_{Photo by Michael Falco for The New York Times}

If you haven't seen today's New York Times, check out this article from the cover of today's Home section which centers around the outcry in the design blogosphere over the loss of our beloved Domino. Since the folding of Domino was announced last week, bloggers and design junkies everywhere have been in mourning. Some blogs, such as AphroChic, are waging a public campaign to urge readers to write to Conde Nast demanding Domino's return. In the past week, new blogs such as We Love Domino and Save Domino have popped up as a tribute to the now defunct magazine. I work in PR in the fashion industry and keep a close ear to what's happening in the publishing world. I can't recall any other magazine that has folded in recent years with readers as passionate as Domino's who have made such public expressions of disappointment over its loss. Above is Deborah Needleman who was photographed for New York Times piece. I'm sure we'll see more of her again soon and I personally can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next. Hopefully she's cooking up some new design related project that will fill the void left behind in the hearts of Domino lovers around the world. Check out the NYT article here and let me know what you think.

PS-Congrats to Apartment Therapy, Decorno, Design Sponge and I Suwannee who were all mentioned in the article!

Santa Barbara Part Deux: My Visit to Lotusland

My business trip to Santa Barbara last week took me to a magical place called Lotusland which is the most beautiful botanical garden I've ever seen. Lotusland is a 37-acre estate and botanic garden in Montecito just east of Santa Barbara. I spent the day supervising a camera crew that was covering behind-the-scenes of a television commercial that was being taped on the property. Talk about a great day at the office! The sun was shining all day and during my moments of downtime I wandered around the gardens testing out my new camera and taking in all the beauty.

_{Photo via lotusland.org.}

Lotusland has quite an interesting history. It was once the private estate of a Polish opera singer named Madame Ganna Walska--a lively character who toured the world singing opera, amassed a huge fortune and had six husbands over the course of her life. She purchased the property in 1941 and spent much of her time renovating and landscaping the grounds. Later in her life she established the Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation to ensure that the beautiful gardens she created would be forever preserved. When she died in 1984 she left the estate and her entire fortune to the Foundation. Lotusland is now a public garden available for private or group tours by reservation only. Above is a map of the gardens so you can get a sense of the layout. It is truly an amazing, fairy-tale like place. If you're ever in the area it's definitely a must visit destination. For more information, visit Lotusland's website. And for your viewing pleasure, here are some of the photos from my visit. Enjoy!

Here is one of Lotusland's many orange trees in the orchards which is planted with numerous fruit trees including peaches, plums, apples, figs, oranges, lemons, limes, kumquats and more.

Here an arbor covered with growing vines of lemons surrounds a picturesque walkway.

A fountain at the end of The Orchards portraying a mythological sea monster. 

Looking away from the fountain you can see rows of beautiful olive trees, also part of the orchards. 

 

There were so many pretty brick walkways like this one leading to and from each of the gardens.

 

Here you can see some of the perfectly manicured boxwoods on the property.

 
This is the topiary garden which was one of the highlights for me. The main feature is the giant working clock that you see in the foreground which is planted with succulents and embellished with copper zodiac signs.

The topiary garden contains collection of extraordinary topiaries shaped like various animals like the bear and duck you see here.

The topiary "zoo" also includes this meticulously shaped dinosaur...

And this cute giraffe!
 

I was intrigued by this tangled mess of cacti growing against one of the properties main buildings.

These giant silvery-blue palm plants were incredible.

Here is a plaque honoring all of the donors that supported the planting of Lotusland's cactus gardens.

Here are some of the beautiful cacti on the grounds.

The collection of cacti was truly impressive.

 

The property features two swimming pools and next to one is this sandy "beach" filled with giant clam shells.

This is the butterfly garden which includes many varieties of flowering plants that attract butterflies and other beneficial insects which feed on the plants then move to other areas of the garden to prey on common garden insect pests. This natural method of pest control reduces the need for harsh chemical pesticides.

Here's a view from the butterfly garden looking out into the orchards.

Here's a beautiful red bloom from one of Lotusland's many flowering aloe plants.

I spotted this colorful patch of round cacti while walking down one of the property's many pathways.

This giant tree was so eye-catching...it had hundreds of branches and the beautiful sun rays beaming across its trunk only added to its beauty.

The Japanese garden one of my favorite sites at Lotusland. There were many concrete lanterns such as this one scattered about.

The Japanese garden includes many beautiful trees and plants including Japanese maples and Japanese cypress trees as well as azaleas. In the background you can see many of these trees and plants surrounding a small Shinto shrine.

Here is a serene Buddha statue sitting among flowering blooms.

And here's a closeup of some of the colorful flowers.

 

Near the Japanese garden is a water lily pond filled with koi fish which you can see here just under the surface of the water. I was told that the lily pads are plentiful in the spring but there were none visible during my visit.

The parterre includes two beautiful water fountains one of which is seen here. The fountains are surrounded by hedges, shrubs and rose bushes. I loved all of the mosaic tiles that line the inside of this fountain and I was also intrigued by all of the interesting stone statues.

Here's a closeup of one of the statues.

The end.

Haute Shopping in Santa Barbara

Last week I was in Santa Barbara for a quick business trip and when I say quick I mean less than 48 hours quick. I had a busy schedule but since I had never been to Santa Barbara before, I was determined to find time to visit a few shops. I did my research and the second I landed Tuesday afternoon I hopped in my rental and headed straight for Lillie Avenue in Summerland where I was told had some of the best home furnishing and antique shops in the area. By the time I actually made it to Lillie Ave I only had about two hours before all the shops closed. I only got to check out two shops but they did not disappoint!

My first stop was Botanik. I read that Botanik was a must-visit destination for Charlotte Moss whenever she's in town and that Nate Berkus shops there for Oprah's home in Montecito so of course I had to check it out...

Botanik is known for its amazing selection of items for the home and garden which are housed in picturesque cottages situated side by side. Above is the entry to the garden shop...

 

Inside is a well-edited selection of garden and patio furnishings, accessories, candles and some of the most beautiful orchids I've ever seen which you can see in the photo above. 

 

Out back is an array of everything you'd ever need to create a beautiful garden including plants, trees, shrubs, pots, planters, urns, sculptures, fountains, you name it...

 

There are also many beautiful topiaries along with and an extensive assortment of succulents which Botanik is very well known for.

 The adjacent home furnishings stop carries a wonderful selection of home furnishings and accessories...

I loved this antique, floral patterned Chinese lacquer trunk. Atop are those Michael Aram pomegranate salt and pepper shakers that I've blogged about before. I also love the little lotus leaf salt and pepper cellars which are available for purchase on Botanik's website.

I love the pairing of the Moroccan bone inlay mirror above the French daybed piled with pillows made of block printed Indian fabrics. Talk about global chic! 

Here are more beautiful block printed textiles...

 

All of the vignettes set up in the store were styled to perfection...

I was especially impressed with Botanik's selection of tabletop items many of which were imported from countries around the world...

Like these beautiful linen napkins with ruffled edges, artisan dinnerware, and shell and silver place card holders seen here...

I loved all of the ornate serving spoons and the pewter and ceramic serving bowls in the photo above were standouts as well...

Here's one last photo of tabletop goodness from Botanika....Now on to the next stop...

Right across the street from Botanik is another incredible store called Rooms & Gardens.

I fell in love with Rooms & Gardens the second I walked through the door. The vibe inside feels very bohemian/Mediterranean/British Colonial/Spanish Colonial/beachy...truly an eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories.

I love a well dressed bed and if I could, I would transplant this one right into my home as is! 

The store stocks plenty of plush suzani printed pillows as well as pillows with Indian paisley and batik prints. I'll take any of these home too!

Room and Gardens' assortment of furnishings and accessories include antiques and imports as well as artwork and other items by local California artisans.

They also design custom furnishings for many of their clients in addition to providing full interior design services.

Aside from furniture and accessories, Room and Gardens' merchandise mix includes a nice selection of fabrics by the yard from companies like Peter Dunham, Les Indiennes, Kathy Ireland and John Robshaw.

And in addition to the John Robshaw fabrics, they also carry plenty of Robshaw bedding and tabletop linens as well, which you can see propped on the shelves in this photo. 

 

I couldn't leave without buying something so I picked up these lovely hemstitch linen hand towels with the letter "N" embroidered on them...I was so excited! That's all for my little shopping tour of Lillie Ave in Summerland. Stay tuned for more from my Santa Barbara trip very soon!

Kim's Bedroom Inspiration

Since I started my blog I've become the resident decorating expert among my friends and I'm often called on for advice. My friend Kim recently moved into a fabulous loft in Soho and asked me to help her with ideas for her bedroom, which she wants to decorate on a budget. Below is an inspiration board along with some ideas I put together for her.

Kim's loft is a rental with ridiculously high ceilings so painting her bedroom would be too costly and isn't an option she wants to consider. I recommended a black and white scheme with pops of color added through accessories and artwork. Above are some inspiration photos which will guide the design.

 

Kim loves yellows and blues so I thought a goldenrod yellow would be a fun, cheery dominant accent color with a deep blue turquoise added in for additional interest. Since the bed will be the focal point of the room, this is where I suggest she spend money...nice bedding, a plush upholstered headboard and fun pillows and accessories to add color and texture. Everything chosen here with the exception of the lamps from Pieces is relatively inexpensive and she shouldn't have  a problem finding similar lamps on ebay or at one of the many flea markets in and around NYC. I'm a fan of  crisp white bedding and Laytner's Linen and Home here in NYC has a great deal on classic striped bedding sets. The black and white DwellStudio for Target bedskirt is a modern contrast to the classic bedding and the ikat pillows add color and pattern while the Jonathan Adler needlepoint pillow adds a touch of kitch. The teal blue rug from Ikea could ground the space nicely.

Kim already has an amazing vintage desk and dresser. I suggested painting them both a glossy black and changing out the knobs on her dresser. The two chairs here are both great options to fit her desk, with the fab Craigslist find being the more economical choice. And can you believe those insanely fabulous nightstands I found via Craig's for just $70! She should snap these up quickly before someone else does!

Here are some accessories that would be great additions to her room. Currently Kim has a world map on her wall above her desk but it's very colorful and kindergarten classroom-ish so I thought the vintage one above is a more sophisticated alternative. I would probably place it on the blank wall adjacent to her bed as opposed to right above her desk. I also love that little blanc de chine inspired bird lamp from Urban Outfitters. Would look super chic with a nice glossy lampshade...in a turquoise that mimics the color of the rug from Ikea. I wish I had a floorplan to help you visualize the layout but this should give you a sense of the overall design direction I recommended. What do you think?