“I’d rather be a boy and play with paper airplanes, than be a man and play with a woman’s heart.” – Niall Horan

BEFORE | BEDROOM ONE

 Once people start to update their home and see the transformation, it’s hard to leave the kid’s rooms untouched when they are in dire need of an age appropriate remodel.  This client’s little boys are becoming young men and a few simple changes completely transformed their rooms, making them suitable for tweens entering their teens.  We tried several blue samples on the wall, none of them were really speaking to me.  I found the perfect grey and decided to go in completely different direction.  The result was a mellow and mature bedroom fit for a young man.

Crown molding and new base boards painted in white lacquer are an economical way to make a huge impact within a space.  Grey bedding accented with a chevron throw and a vintage silk scarf turned custom pillow.  An electric blue cow hide warms up the dark wood floors.  Furniture from Ikea is the perfect choice for a budget friendly remodel.

Malm Bed and Side Table

Dry Erase boards for Dad’s daily messages

Hopen Chest of Drawers

Linmon/Alex Desk | Jules Desk Chair

BEFORE | BEDROOM TWO

Adios to the kinder wall decals, and baby blue!   Hello to masculine neutrals!  After painting his brother’s room Benjamin Moore’s Timberwolf, we decided to do the same in here.  This funky custom pillow was created from curtain panels I found at an amazing vintage store in San Francisco on a shopping trip with Jess.  A patchwork hide rug adds a funky touch and makes this room unique from his brother’s.

PS Locker Cabinet

A grown up car collection | Black and White Rock Art in Gallery Frames | Linnmon/ALex Desk and File Cabinet

Malm Six Drawer Chest | Master of the room’s trophy collection and rock band in the making portraits

Kids rooms are easy, fun and affordable to update.  Ikea is an amazing resource for things like this and will last until they are off to college.  Until then….

XO,

D.L.

“Children always know when company is in the living room – they can hear their mother laughing at their father’s jokes.” – Unknown

 BEFORE | LIVING ROOM AND BAR

I love neutral tones, but beige is one color I can just not get down with!  This house had a good shell, so half the battle was already won.  With Judge’s paneling and crown molding (one of the first things I add to a room’s remodel for an inexpensive but impactful finish) already in place, a fresh wall color would be a dramatic change towards updating this living room.

 Once the walls were painted Gray Owl, it became even more clear that the fireplace should be painted out white to match the trim around the room.  This gave the space a modern cohesion and makes furniture and accents really pop in the room.  The floors were stained dark and we painted the bar in a high gloss black to make it a separate entity while still marrying with the rest of the space.   I love how the sunlight pours into this room and the updated palate creates a lighter, airier feel allowing for some graphic accoutrements.

This couch had disappeared into the original room as it was also beige and had a dated, over sized odd shape.  I encourage my clients to recover or refinish well made furniture whenever possible, provided the frame work is good.  To reinvent this piece, the size was slimmed down, restuffed and squared off to make it look like a brand new piece worthy for this modernized space.   I knew that my favorite pre-washed natural linen would make this sofa a real stunner.  Persian lamb pillows mixed amongst Hexagon and Chain Link Embroidered Linen work beautifully with a stenciled zebra hide ottoman.  A chunk of black tourmaline sits atop coffee table books in a gilded mirrored tray.  An antique rug from our trip to Maison et Objet in Paris is the perfect shade of slate grey and doesn’t overpower the room.

 Navy Mohair Chair | Greek Key Pillow | Natural Sheepskin Rug

The “new”  bar was created to have an old time feel.  Vintage leather bar stools and a 70′s nude oil painting from one of my hunts, lucite trays containing vintage art from my ongoing collection, and mercury glass and seltzer bottles with a well edited choice of liquor bottles (had to pull out all the turquoise!) make the bar interesting, organized, and functional.

The living room should be most comfortable room in the house as it is where we all tend to gather, but comfort never means you have to compromise style!

XO,

D.L.

“Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink.” – Lady Astor to Winston Churchill

His reply, “Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it.”

Faux Tortoise Whiskey Glasses with Etched Greek Key Gold Bands, set of 6 $72

These fab beauties were amidst a table of glassware that we walked right by while hunting for our next great find. Disappointed that we didn’t find anything of interest, a second look proved successful!  Glasses this stunning call for a tried and true classic  Old Fashioned. 

1960′s Nude Floral Painting – $400 | Vintage Grey Sandblasted Gold Rim Collins Glasses , set of 6 – $95

One of my favorite vintage art finds.  While on the hunt, I spotted a loose canvas hidden away in a corner, pulled it out and bought it right away.  I immediately  took it to be properly stretched and mounted and hung this beauty over my desk.  I was drawn to the color and texture of these glasses as they remind me of ladies gathering to play bridge or mahjong as our mothers and grandmothers did.  Their namesake is the obvious coctktail choice for a warm summer afternoon.

Vintage Silver Rimmed Etched Pegasus Pitcher – $150

At some point, didn’t we all dream of riding on a flying horse?! Pitchers are the perfect vessel for mixing up cocktails at a party and make refilling your guest’s glasses a breeze.  This grown up lemonade  is sure to be a crowd pleaser all summer long.

XO,

D.L.

“Tact is the art of making guests feel at home when that’s really where you wish they were.” – Anonymous

 BEFORE | GUEST ROOM

 A renovated guest room often ends up being the room people wish was their own bedroom.  Uncluttered and airy, crisp sheets reminiscent of a fine hotel, and relaxing enough to get a great night’s sleep.  This dated room was in need of some neutralizing and modernization.  I have known this client for years, and it’s funny to think how much this style maven’s taste has changed over time.  (She didn’t even want me to see the room in it’s existing state) Bye bye yellow walls and clunky armoire!  Adios open closet used for random house storage!  Hello to guest quarters fit for even the most discerning of company. 

Paint is the first step in transforming a room.  Benjamin Moore’s Wind’s Breath was the perfect subtle shade for these walls, making the freshly painted molding and shutters look brand spanking new.  A natural linen upholstered bed is covered with new white sheets and a duvet from Bed Bath and Beyond, a great resource for hotel linens at the right price. Hand dyed silk charmeuse turned into a custom pillow that adds a little color, but keeps with the soothing feel of this room.  A cashmere throw is a beautiful and functional accent.

Vintage bamboo side tables refinished in black lacquer and given new life with pulls from Liz’s Antique Hardware, one of my regular go to’s for updating furniture and built ins.  Once we refinished and stained the wood floors downstairs, the home owners realized how dramatic it would be to carry into the upstairs bedrooms.  A natural sheep skin rug in grey adds texture and warmth to the ebony stained wood.

A pair of mercury glass lamps with black silk shades work effortlessly with black and white photography books for guests to enjoy.  Fresh hydrangeas plucked from the garden fill a vintage crystal vase.  Little effort, major difference.  What is your favorite accoutrement while staying somewhere as a guest?

XO,

D.L.

“Gifts have ribbons, not strings.” – Vanna Bonta

We want to hear what you have to say!  We love what we do and we love hearing customers ideas and feedback from LA locals to people across the country.  As a token of our sincere appreciation to all of you,  twice a month we will be giving away free product to two lucky subscribers based on a selection of your comments on the posts where we ask a question at the end.  Read the easy directions above, and because you already subscribe, you can skip Step One. Good luck and happy reading!

XO, DL

 ”The dining room in my old house was magnificent, but by far the worst room for conversation.  I’d get up from the table, a very long table, and somebody would always say, Paul, I never got to talk to you.” – Paul Lynde

DINING ROOM | BEFORE

A dining room is a place where family and friends gather to break bread and talk about anything from the current political news to what a child did at school that day.  For a young family,  it should be a place of beauty, but comfortable enough to want to sit back, relax and enjoy the plat du jour over great conversation.  Turning a beige room white (Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace) from floor to ceiling, and removing the venetian plaster and fleur de lys, was the logical first step to turn a dreary room bright. 

 The floors were stained a rich ebony color further updating this dated dining room.  They needed new furniture but wanted to still use the vintage captain’s chairs that came from her child hood home.  You should have seen those – they were dusty pink!   A good sanding and fresh paint (Benjamin Moore’s White Diamond), coupled with new upholstered seats in Shumacher’s Abaza Resist and linen back pillows brought these into the 21st century.

A jute rug is an inexpensive choice to add texture and blends the new parquet top table and carved drum chandelier together.  I am a big fan of using jute in areas of high traffic, at that price it’s affordable to replace once it’s past the point of return.

I love reflection in a room and this beveled mirror was the perfect choice to anchor an area filled with wood.

Vintage Indian Chief candlesticks | Vintage Alabaster Grapes (my new obsession!)

You don’t have to spend a fortune on flowers, and tall vases obstruct the view at a dining table.  One of my favorite simple arrangements is made by taking a log, branch or chunk of bark and adding moss.  You could use a number of different flora, but my favorite is always the heads of orchids.  Their simple elegance and rich color make an effortless display and is easily interchangeable.  Even without floral tubes, these beauties will last the night and hold their shape.  If you could change one thing about your dining room, what would it be?

XO,

D.L.

“I will not play tug o’ war.  I’d rather play hug o’ war.  Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug…” – Shel Silverstein

WILSHIRE | BEVERLY | HEXAGON | BEVERLY

 We are so excited about our 2013 area rug collection!  Drawing inspiration from antique art and original hand drawn graphics, here is a sneak peak at some of our latest designs of hooked wool rugs.  Sized at  34″x 47″, they are perfect for an entry, kitchen or bathroom but can be custom ordered in any size.  To view all of our patterns and colorways, please visit our online store.

MELROSE | HEXAGON | METRO

XO,

D.L.

“Every time I wanted to give up, if I saw an interesting textile, print, whatever, suddenly I would see a collection.” – Anna Sui

View from the penthouse at the California Textile Show.  The Eastern building is one of my favorite treasures of old Los Angeles.  I marveled at the beautiful patina each morning when I used to pull up to work at my downtown studio.  The Textile show is always a fun day for Jess and I as we always find something.  Whether searching for specific fabrics and trims, finding new exciting designs, or just taking it all in to get inspired for our upcoming projects, there are always fresh and new treasures.  

 Our first stop was the Home Fabrics booth.  An excellent resource for inexpensive fabrics, it was one of our old go to spots when we were based in the fashion district many moons ago.  Jess thought their new giant tassel collection would make a great necklace, oy va voy!  Our fave new fabric from Home was this embroidered silk Peacock collection.   Jess’ obsession for this glorious bird soon went into overdrive…

No one was more excited than Miss Young when Pantone named Emerald Green Color of the Year for 2013, hence the human drapery.   Premier Prints had some beautiful new fabrics and we were drawn to the blue and green colorways.  I am holding the Mali print which I just received some yardage of and can’t wait to make something beautiful with it!

Rolls of Japanese Ribbon | Herringbone, Basketweave and Belgian Natural Linens

Loving these leather palates as well as the clever framed display showing color combos!

 Many of the vendors get creative with their displays using their textiles.  These kitchy floral prints were given an asian spin.  We are  loving the sequined fabric turned shift as well as the metallic fabric turned vintage cocktail dress.

Finally, as the day is coming to an end, I walk down the hall, calling out to Jess wondering where she has disappeared to, AGAIN!  She lays in wait, grinning coyly, “Do you think this would make a good quinceanera dress?”  Erupting in laughter, we skip away for an afternoon pick me up at Pressed Juicery before we braved the rush hour traffic.  Another swell day at the office!

XO,

D.L.

“The master bedroom is just the beginning of the problems.  There is no master in the bedroom. She starts to give you things, ‘This is your closet.’  You’ll act like a stranger and thank her.” – Bill Cosby

 BEFORE | MASTER BEDROOM

What do you do when a Girly Girl Aesthetician and Masculine Agent decide to coexist and  their taste is completely different?!  Make it mellow and meet half way.  The existing bedroom was just a shell with light wood floors and exposed rafters.  It made a large room look small, which is great if you are looking to cozy up in a cottage, not for a  master suite to live in daily! 

AFTER | MASTER SUITE

The first step was to paint the rafters white so that the high pitched ceilings made this room feel spacious and airy.  The original hardwood  floors were stained in a rich espresso color, which we continued throughout the rest of the house to give it a much needed, yet still affordable update. A white hide warms up the room and gives texture to a flat surface.  A custom headboard in grey linen anchors a bed in crisp white, my favorite!  A tufted bench is just right to house the Mrs.’ art books.  Flowy, white linen curtains replace old matchstick blinds further creating height and allowing the beautiful valley sunshine to pour into the room.

A plump yet tailored couch is given new life when covered in an eco friendly natural linen.  Fur pillows flank a mustard and grey textile backed in silk velvet for a touch of luxury.

Vintage chinoiserie lamps are sophisticated yet not too serious within this monochromatic space.

A custom vanity was built in this alcove serving as a place to primp as well as display some treasured family photos and an intoxicating perfume collection.  A vintage fireplace stool was given new life with chrome, brass and vinyl faux croc, which is durable and can be wiped down!  Everything a girl needs, beauty which is also practical.  My kind of space.  Feels like Rita Hayworth is ready to take a seat…

XO,

D.L.

“It seems that half the point of being in Miami Beach, particularly the northern end of South Beach, is to be observed by people-watchers like me, and the display along ocean drive during my visit was, as always, sublime.” – Susan Orlean

Morning view from The JW Marriott Marquis in Downtown Miami

It had been a loooong time since I had a getaway that didn’t involve work or my children so I jumped at the chance to join my husband on his business trip to the Sunshine State.  Aside from a mini vaca together, it was the perfect chance to visit one of my oldest childhood friends who is a fashionista in her own right and was dying to take me around to her favorite spots.  Two days of relaxation and exploration went by in the blink of an eye… 

Our morning began with a latte and some local flavor.  The women in Miami are always dressed like they are headed out for a  night on the town, even at seven in the morning.  The hair, makeup and heels were enough to make me question my casual LA vibe – just for a second.

This structure is an ever changing bulletin board of art that marks the entrance to the Miami Design District.

Loving the new DVF Collection for The Rug Company, particularly Climbing Leopard.

 I plotzed when we entered Casa Cielo, a most magical source for the unexpected in tile and mosaics. How dreamy is this sliced agate slab?!  I am still fantasizing of making a table top out of it…

This marbled glass tile would turn any bathroom into oasis reminiscent of the Caribean.

Varigated shades of blue to green inlaid tile makes me swoon.

Greek Key is one of the most classic design patterns known to man.  It is one of my favorites and it’s popularity never seems to wane.  A great way to finish off a bannister or railing, I would love to walk up these stairs each day.

Border of a gated entrance welcomes me inside.

Come on!   You know my love of vintage hardware, but these winged dragons just sent me.  I wonder if they came from an emporer’s palace in Shanghai.

An outdoor hookah lounge, Buddah seems very happy to be here.

The one and only fabulous Eydie Parker, child hood friend and my Miami tour guide.  Lucky for me, she comes back to LA a few times a year so we can laugh, shop and pick each others’ brains for our latest great finds.  We usually end up swapping a piece of jewelry as our taste is one in the same when it comes to baubles.  She was anxious to take me to At Ease on Sunset, and once I got there I could see why.  A fabulous boutique filled with the latest and greatest designer duds that had me oohing and aahing over each piece with a savvy staff that knows how to dress each individual client.   No wonder Eydie loves working there!

It felt like we were in 7th grade all over again.  Matching Grecian sandals to show off our matching pedicures.  We snapped these beauties up at Alchemist, one of the most exquisitely designed stores I’ve ever walked through.

Our next stop was unplanned as we stumbled across a student art show at DASH, Design and Architecture Senior High.  The level of talent was astonishing and I knew I needed to  explore the works of these young artists.

One of my favorites at the show.

 My husband Danny with a famed Florida Stone Crab

We ended the trip on a late afternoon boat ride off the coast.  Good food, good wine, good company.  What more can one ask for?

XO,

D.L.