“The beauty of Moroccan palaces is made up of details of ornament and refinement of sensuous delight too numerous to record.” – Edith Wharton, ‘In Morocco,’ 1920

 VINTAGE GLASS GRAPES – $125 | VINTAGE EASTERN BRASS URN – $150

The back drop for this weeks vintage treasures is Moroccan Silk Velvet that I found in New York, the rich colors, amazing texture and updated classic patterns made these impossible to resist.  I bought them for inspiration and we have already turned most of them into custom pillows for our clients.  They match so perfectly with these worldly gems, it’s as if they were made for each other.

VINTAGE CARVED WOOD BUDDAH – $250

VINTAGE PARROT PITCHER – $75 | VINTAGE SET OF 8 PEDESTAL GLASSES/DESSERT BOWLS – $85

 XO,

D.L.

“Hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even if you wish they were.” – Unknown

BEFORE | GUEST HOUSE BOTTOM FLOOR

Our client has a fabulous home and it never ocured to me to ask where her guest’s stay when paying a visit.  I received a call asking for a quick and easy zhushing of their guest house looking out to their beautiful pool.  Her father was on his way from New York and asked if she could make the guest house more comfortable.  Rearrangement of furniture, some new pieces, and the removal of the kids extra stuff makes this space a comfortable guest suite for a “kid” of any age! 

AFTER

This beachy pool house needed to be lightened up.   A vintage orange and white rug adds a pop of color and matches a giant vintage framed print on the right wall.  Tufted Linen Ottomans from Target are an inexpensive way to add extra seating, prop your feet up and store blankets and sheeting for the pull out sofa bed.  A vintage laquered trunk sits atop a brass base serving as both a coffee table, and yet another place to store extra items.  Embroidered Hexagon Pillows flank a custom rabbit pillow.  We moved a cabinet from another area next to the couch to create a side table for an antique glass and metal lamp.  A painting from a budding artist, our client’s daughter, was moved to the center wall pulling the colors of the room together.  The room now has plenty of storage, and looks like a guest suite instead of a dumping ground. What a perfect place to unwind after a day in the pool!

I loved this Asian cabinet’s bright turquoise finish.  It needed to be a showpiece and not an afterthought.  The drum set was moved into the family’s living room to be enjoyed along side their piano.

Spiked Ginger Urns and a stag horn coral are perfectly curated.

The stairs are leading up to an actual bedroom which was being used as more of an attic.  Once we finished this floor, our client said we have to do the upstairs too!   Stay tuned for the makeover of this Cabana House’s master suite…

XO,

D.L.

PATENT LEATHER TRAVEL ACCESSORIES

Patent Leather Luggage Tag – $18

Patent Leather Cosmetic Catch All – $28

Patent Leather Passport Cover – $28

“A designer knows when he has reached perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” – Antione de Sainte-Exupery

BEFORE | RIGHT ENTRY TO MOTOR AVENUE STORE

Once we started the first phase of our studio makeover, we couldn’t help but continue into the front of our retail store.  Now that we had turned the front half of our studio into a shop-able design space, we decided to showcase some of our interior design into the retail portion as well.  The results have been tremendous!  We have gained several new interior clients, increased our retail space and sales, and have started quickly moving our one of a kind vintage pieces.  Think of that!  Instead of having so many of our treasures pushed onto shelves, or stored in my garage, we can now showcase furniture and home accessories in vignettes and change things up each time we sell a piece of re-invented furniture. 

Three shelving units of product were moved into the newly opened studio, (which was previously work and storage space for us), and replaced with an oversized fabric wall installation.   Yes, there it is again, Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon in Aquamarine, one of my all time fave patterns available as fabric and wallpaper.  The range of colors and the modern twist on classic asian designs, open the possibilities for almost any accoutrements.   Now we had room for some of our custom upholstery.  A small vintage sofa formerly covered in a jacquard fabric becomes sleek and chic in a natural Belgian linen.  The center pillow was made from Moroccan silk velvet fabric I snatched up in New York.  A pair of vintage Hollywood Regency glass and brass lamps sit atop handcarved tree stumps.  A mirror hand encrusted with green limpet shells that we made right here in our studio completed the space.

Golden nail heads give an updated look to this bright and funky fabric.

 Wrapping supplies and pillows stacked on shelves were functional but not very pleasing to the eye.

The shelves from the front of the store flank a vintage bamboo console, dressed with a burled wood door- turned-mirror reflecting some of our vintage oil paintings from the opposite wall.  An exquisite pair of antique gilded cloisonee navy butterfly lamps are given new life with crisp white linen shades.  The capiz inlaid dining table I had lacquered in black sold within the first week we put it in the new space!

Built in wall shelves which once housed our office supplies became the perfect cubbies for large selection of embroidered pillows.  Our local customers are loving our new changes as much as we are.  Stop by and see us and check out our constantly evolving re-invented store and studio!

XO,

D.L.

“It always amazes me to think that every house on every street is full of so many stories; so many triumphs and tragedies, and all we see are yards and driveways.” 

- Glenn Close

 BEFORE | FORMAL LIVING ROOM/ENTRY

Sometimes you have to start a remodel with nothing.  This home had a great shell, but was in need of some cohesion and updating to bring it to a level of  modern grandeur.  With high ceilings and oversized windows, I wanted this room to radiate natural light and feel less heavy.   Fresh paint and a re-stained floor were just what the zhush doctor ordered to remedy an ailing room. 

We began by painting the cherry wood rafters white to make the room appear even larger, while keeping the focus on the furniture.  The wood floors were in great shape, but a rich espresso stain gave them new life and created a dramatic feel against the neutral palate.   A black leather Chesterfield was the first piece we chose to anchor the room.  Belgian Linen chairs, a reclaimed wood coffee table with chrome legs and accent pillows in striped velvet, mongolian sheep, embroidered linen and Peter Dunham’s Gatto Pardo give the space a mix of pattern and textures.

Under the staircase was a large unused space that made no sense!  An antique bench tucked beneath, with a cushion made from Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon, is a cozy place for the kids to read and a place to store, while still showing off the client’s bongos.  Perfect for an improvised jam session with this musical family!

BEFORE | FROSTED GLASS WINDOWS AND CHERRY FLOORS

What a difference light can make!  The frosted panels were replaced with clear glass letting the sun shine and allowing the home owners to enjoy a  view of their garden.

The abundance of shutters in this room was overwhelming and made the space feel cramped and cluttered.  We removed the excess panels, leaving only the ones to frame the bay window that faces out to the front of the property.

AFTER | LIVING ROOM

BEFORE |  SHUTTERS CROWDING THE CORNER OF THE ROOM

An antique inlaid mirror sits atop a vintage wood cabinet serving as an informal bar area for serving guests.  Hand carved chairs re-upholstered in Belgian natural linen are the perfect size for extra seating.  A white hide warms up the space without distracting from this mellow vibe.

It’s all in the details!  A set of vintage wood nesting tables re-invented by painting as faux malachite.  A vintage Venetian glass lamp set atop the client’s antique game table.   Vintage cane chairs laquered in black with cushions in abstract stripes with our Deco Scales Pillow.  If you could change one thing about your living room, what would it be?

XO,

D.L.

“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