A Walk in the Park

Senor, Lora Hall, and I spent the day carrying out phase two of our landscaping plan for our client, Tomas Costanza. We picked out our flagstone and rock with the help of the great crew at La Canada Rustic Stone in Pasadena. We wanted to use the warm tones of gold and red to compliment the stone in the backyard and also to create an intimate and comfortable setting curbside. Our client wanted a "park-like" atmosphere that could also act as a pass through and a place to watch basketball. The space was very barren except for an orange tree. The tree seemed very alone in this sizable patch of neglected ground. Our client,Tomas, found these beautiful benches at Lowe's for only $77 on sale. I designed the pint-sized park around the bench and all of the elements seam to flow around it. Lora thought a loose and more natural setting would be more intriguing than lining everything up just so. We all had fun breaking the slabs up into smaller pieces which Lora and I placed into a puzzle of steps which needed to be leveled and grouted with beautiful reddish-brown bark. The rocks, plants and ground cover were placed to seam random, but pleasing to the eye. The formerly lonely orange tree is now a relaxing respite for all to enjoy.













http://www.full-circlegardening.com/
http://www.rusticstone.com/

Cabanarama!

Southern California is all about outdoor living at it's finest. I was very excited to welcome Spring while working on an outdoor project. I especially loved turning a lackluster pool house into a fabulous party cabana. Cabanas create instant outdoor rooms and shady protection from the blazing sun. They also create a luxury hotel element right in your own backyard. The above cabana creates an urban safari vibe at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. Kelly Wearstler designs great pool spaces such as this classical black and white cabana-scape. The similar cabana pictured below it is available at http://superiorawning.com/. You could recreate one of your favorite hotel cabanas in your own backyard. I also love the cabana staged with the bed inside. You could create an instant guest room for the warmer months of the year or use it to create a romantic getaway that is only steps from your back door. Think of it as luxury camping without having to travel. An outdoor space creates so many options for extending your living area and freestanding cabanas are a great way to add instant, glamorous shelter.





This classic fourposter commercial cabana from Superior Awning feels very Palm Beach in the cheerful yellow and white stripe.



The cabana above is called the Pacifica and is available at http://www.resortcabanas.com/


This divine cabana lounge oozes continental splendor and can be enjoyed at the Tuckers Point Hotel and Spa in Bermuda.



I love the pavilion style of the Coronado cabana available at Resort Cabanas. They have an incredible selections and many colors to choose from.

Pool Cabana and Backyard Makeover

Our Client, Tomas Costanza, called us in to do a landscaping and Pool Cabana makeover that had to be completed in less than a week. Most of the landscape was barren, so we knew we had a big job ahead of us. We also needed to conceal the back of his neighbor's fence which created an uneven and unfinished look. The pool cabana was a fun and interesting challenge that could create a focal point and unify the design of the backyard. We teamed up with Landscaper/Gardener Lora Hall to come up with the garden plan and to supervise the plantings and maintenance. We had a fabulous team who worked very hard to pull it all together. Steve Lanasa and I designed a wavy bamboo reed fence to create a spectacular pattern that vines can cascade around. Sue Nice helped me select the fabrics and custom created all of the drapes, hangings, and pillows. I wanted to create a tropical hotel feel with a touch of Mod and Moroccan. The last touch on the pool cabana will be lighting and accessories. We will hang a 70's orange resin lamp and 2 small colorful Moroccan lanterns that will create patterns on the walls at night. Tomas is very pleased with the result and looks forward to a Spring and Summer by the pool.

Mid-Century Motifs

These wonderful photos of Mid-Century homes with interesting decorative elements are located in the neighborhood of View Park in South Los Angeles. I live in the adjacent Leimert Park area and take my walks here about three times a week. View Park and its sister neighborhoods, Baldwin Hills and Windsor Hills, are home to a huge concentration of original and notable homes built from the 1920's-1970's. There are excellent examples of International Style, Streamline Moderne, Ranch, Mid-Century, Spanish Revival, and Normandy style structures. I have been shooting pics of great architectural elements and clever color schemes and would like to share some with you. These mid-century modern homes display so many of the details that make houses of this period so special. Decorative brick screens and geometric wood cut-outs create interest on designs that would be more generic without them. I am very inspired by some of the garage door designs. The lovely landscaping also enhances the overall curb appeal. Some of these houses, like the orange and white one, are very Asian-influenced. These fabulous homes are just a small sampling of the Mid-Century treasures this neighborhood has to offer.

A Day at the Races

Last week, our friend, Kathleen Maley, paid Senor and I a brief visit on her way back from NYC. Kathleen designs and makes incredible jewelry that is classic, modern and sophisticated. These words could describe her as well. We were fortunate to host her at our home and were excited to plan some outings that we only seam to take when guests visit. After perusing our online resources, Kathleen and I found that Santa Anita Racetrack is hosting an event called "Free Fridays" until mid-March. This event includes free entry, free box seats, and $1 beer, hot dogs, and other refreshments. Like the Titanic, Santa Anita has class upgrades for a nominal fee, but you don't have to worry about sinking (unless you bet your paycheck on a bum horse). The building and grounds are stunning, and they have retained many of the original lighting,furniture, art and other architectural embellishments. We felt like glamorous movie stars from Hollywood's golden era. Great stars such as Jean Harlow and Tyrone Power frequented this entertainment mecca in the 1930's. Kathleen and I accidentally ended up in the Turf Club and decided to stay for lunch. Even though it is a bit expensive for salads and sandwiches, the food was excellent, the staff was darling and helpful, we had our own personal video monitors, and no line to bet! Did I also mention that the turf club decor more closely resembled an old Beverly Hills Mansion than a track hangout? The bathrooms are lounges full of walls of mirrors, marble counters, and lovely groupings of antiques and art. Next time I would like to have breakfast at Clockers' Corner where you can watch the morning workouts.For Lunch, I would like to order from the carvery on the main floor and have a picnic style lunch in the free box seats. I am thrilled that Santa Anita has been so well preserved, and I will not limit future visits to the times when guests are in town. I also vow to get out more often and enjoy all of the splendor and surprises of Southern California.

WEBSITES:

http://www.santaanita.com/
http://www.kmaleydesign.com/



The exterior resembles an exotic steamboat and is situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.









If the monitors were gone, this would resemble a fancy hotel lobby. I love the chandeliers.



The scale of these metal horse heads are impressive.



Welcome to the Turf club. Is that Ava Gardner coming down the stairs? I love the gold palm trees and the classical railing in white and gold. This is like Trump taking over the Four Seasons.



I need one of these.



The restrooms really served their purpose. I love the pineapple lamps and the fabric on the couch.



Let the race begin!

The Secret of Jackie Beat's Successorizing!

We recently visited our client Jackie Beat to find out the secret of his successorizing. Successorizing is our made up term for successful accessorizing. Jackie has this talent in spades. This is very important skill for someone who loves to shop and collect things. Jackie sets a good example of how to create vignettes that are full of wonderful objects, but not so cluttered and confusing that it gives one a headache. My heart always aches with jealousy whenever Jackie gives me a tour of his latest scores which he always displays with perfection. An object is much more powerful when it is touched and tended to, so it is good to refresh your surroundings and rotate out art and objects on a regular basis. Turn your mind's eye into a frame and create interesting compositions that are pleasing to the eye and also reveal a little about yourself. Jackie has turned the home we created together into a personal statement that is all his own.



Upon entering the house, you are not so subtly reminded of who lives here. Large 3-dimensional letters are a fun way to personalize your walls or doors.



Jackie creates a beautiful scene with his collection of dolls from around the world and other interesting objects. A glass front display can give your objects a "museum-like" quality. I love the ceramic hand adorned with butterflies. Very Fornasetti.



Jackie found these odd little ceramic faces at a local thrift store. He backed them with cutouts from a vintage wallpaper sample book and put them in these simple black frames. The result is a delightful little art wall next to the entry.



Jackie puts the "fun" back into functional in this whimsical bathroom that keeps everything in its place with style.



Jackie created an homage to his parents next to this tiki style mirror in his bedroom. The round frame on the photo of his mother used to house a clock instead. Jackie loves re-purposing his interesting thrift store finds.



In Jackie's South beach inspired sun room, a monochromatic green tableau brings the outside in.



Paintings of foliage play off of the real thing outside to create a nature scene that is both fake and real.



These wall cube shelves are great for giving importance to small objects.



Mirror and clear glass make a dazzling focal point. Mirrors and mirrored objects add instant glamor to any room.



Jackie bought this gorgeous mirror display and the peacock plaques at our last garage sale. He has a great eye and a keen sense of proportion, which is an important trait for any great successorizer.