“A good meal ought to begin with hunger.” -French Proverb

No other city is thought of as a gastronomic wonderland like Paris.  A Foodie’s dream, even the pickiest of eaters would find themselves in heaven from experiencing  the cheese and bread alone in this delicious city.  Our first breakfast in Paris was no exception.  Buttery Croissants with the perfect flakiness, housemade Tarma (known as Tiramousalata in Greek) which was given to us by the manager of Chez Marianne, and two kinds of cheese we picked up at the local Wednesday night market in The Marais.  The superb lattes from Columbus Cafe on Rue de Vieux Temple just around the corner from our apartment became our mandatory stop on the way to the metro each day.

Many people asked Jess if this was a picture or a painting.  These are the real deal, local purple artichokes and every vegetable and fruit was this impressive at the Marais Farmers Market.  The only hard part was deciding what to choose.

On our last day in Paris, we stumbled across the most glorious store for the epicurious you could ever imagine.  Izrael L’Epicerie du Monde is the Willy Wonka Factory for cooks.  Every spice, from every part of the world, an olfactory overload that was simply divine.

In addition to the floor to ceiling spices and glass jars, the floor was brimming with bins and bales of rice, legumes, nuts and dried fruits.  To make things even more interesting, the signage on each bin was handwritten on vintage ceramic plates.

The Mediterranean Bar was superb. Olives,  Tapenades, Herrings and Anchovies, and the only sign of Western Food – Guacamole.  The grand finale of our culinary adventure was the Macaroon shops.  Possibly the quintescential Parisian dessert, Macaroon shops were all over this city and each one was prettier than the next.  We loved it while it lasted, but by the time we came home, we were ready for some Kale and Tempeh from Native Foods in Los Angeles.  Who am I kidding?  I can never say good bye to pain et fromage completely.

XO,
D.L.

 DL Rhein Chevron Rug

Chevron is a design element with a very long history dating back to Heraldry, Architectural Features and even Military Insignias.  A variation on the classic herringbone pattern, chevrons have been updated by designers around the world to add a fun and funky modern punch for any home.  Here are some of our favorites!

 1. Chevron Flooring | 2. Chevron Wall Design
3. Chevron Cake | 4. Chevron Painted Floor

5. Chevron Journal | 6. D.L. Rhein Chevron Pillow
7. Ann Sacks Chevron Tile | 8. Chevron Earrings | 9. Chevron Trays

“Winter solitude–
in a world of one color
the sound of wind.”

- Winter Solitude by Matsuo Basho

Ah, the quiet of a winter’s day…

What is winter, you ask?  It is the season between fall and spring, when it’s 75 degrees in L.A, and 30 degrees in Paris.

I’ve been to Paris in the summer, and there is a far different feel to it.  There is so much to look at, from the women in their little dresses, to gelato vendors, color everywhere… that the city itself, its architecture and trees, gets lost.  Not on this trip, baby!  Stark branches ruled the day, bringing peace and mystery with them.  They remind me of a certain part of the Temescal Canyon hike in Pacific Palisades, where barren branches create a canopy over hikers.  Each time I am there, I feel inspired.

In Paris, the beautiful simplicity of the quiet winter allowed for the stunning architecture to stand out… you could almost here a twig fall.
For this L.A. girl, it was a welcome change.

Now, back to my flip flops…

XO,
D.L.

 ”These gems have life in them: their colors speak, say what words fail of.” – George Elliot

After a fantastic trip to the beautiful city of Paris, we are sorting through our many pictures.  We want to share them all with you in the coming months: the inspiration, design, and passion we found.  This being the month of LOVE, and Paris being the city of LIGHTS… well, it’s a match made in heaven.

We start with Parisian lions!

Hear us roar…

There are lions everywhere in Paris: guarding government buildings and homes, in stone, stuffed, and on wrought iron fences.

We couldn’t help but wonder where lions in design originate.  Thinking maybe the English had something to do with it, with those lions on their coats of arms, we studied a little history and learned that Edward III, an English king, ascended to the French throne in the 13th Century, by way of his mother, Queen Isabella of France.  While he did, in fact, add lions to the French fleur de lis on the coat of arms, we found that lions have been in French design much, much longer than that…

The first depictions of lions ever date back 32,000 years to a cave, the Chauvet Cave, which is in the south of France!

Found in ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Greece as well, lions have been used in sculptures and statuary since the beginning of time to symbolize power and create a sense of awe.

The figure of a lion symbolizes strength, with a gentle side to it.  May we all be this way.

XO,

D.L.

Ah, le printemps à Paris!  As you may know, we just returned from a très inspirational trip to Paris.   We have lots to share with you in the weeks to come!  It may have rained the entire time we were there, but that didn’t stop us from noticing vibrant spring colors peeking through the cold and moisture, from primroses to macaroons.  

The bright berries above came from the Wednesday farmers’ market in The Marais.  It put even the Santa Monica market to shame!  The primroses were in one of the small nurseries lining the Seine we came across on one of our many walks, umbrellas in tow.  The rows and rows of bead were in a magical shop that sold nothing but beads and trim.  Jessica Young wanted to move in!  The macaroons, well, they were everywhere…

Back in the warmth of Southern California, surfing the web, we found similar colors in things we love.  There may be forty five days left until spring, but it’s never too early to get your flower on!

1. MOR Perfume | 2. Party Shoes | 3. Folky Fresh Pillow
4. Spring Food + Spring Tablecloths | 5. Flower Tea Pot | 6. Floral Bouquets

 XO,

D.L.

While we would all love to buy a Van Gogh, we at D.L. are just not quite there.  In the meantime, we are on the hunt for found art: at flea markets, estate sales, and the like.  We are sharing some of our favorite recently acquired vintage art with you.  Most of the frames will be zhushed, with gold leaf or paint, but the one above we bought mainly because of the frame.  It is from the 1880′s and spectacular in its antiquity.  We envision this painting above a client’s fireplace or at the end of a hallway, creating somewhat of a haunted feel.

This beach scene would look beautiful above a fireplace too.  Do you notice the size of the signature?  Famous painters are, well, famous for signing their names illegibly and as small as possible.  A novice artist is proud of his/her accomplishment and wants the world to know who he/she is!

This painting would bring gorgeous vibrant color to a room lacking it.  Town scenes and cityscapes are adored at D.L. Rhein now and always, as visible in both our store windows, which feature Brooklyn, Amsterdam (we think- what about you?), and Paris.

This guy would look fabulous in a man’s office or a den.  The color is so vibrant in person, a gorgeous vintage blue.

We have a rotating collection of vintage art at D.L, and we can’t wait to see what we find on the hunt next!  Til then…

XO,

D.L.

1. Heart Bangles  | 2. Studded Card Holder
3. Heart Cookies | 4. Creative Art  | 5. Happy Hearts
6. Botanical Art  | 7. Heart Fashion Umbrella | 8. Heart Paper Weights

 Hearts, hearts, hearts, everywhere you look.  I swear they had them at Walgreens New Year’s Eve.  I <3 you, you <3 me (it took me ions to figure out why people were texting me less than 3).  It can all feel a little pushy, and where’s the heart in that?  Still, I love the shape of the <3, and I love these unique interpretations of it.

Of course, I love my sweetheart, and my little sweethearts.

Valentine’s Day began in 496 AD, appointed by Pope Gelasius.  Bring on the love poems!!

In 1797, a British publisher picked up on young men’s limitations in creating their own love sayings, and out came The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which contained scores of suggested sentimental verses.

Danny, find this book!

XO,

D.L.

Sometimes a house needs a total overhaul; other times, it needs only a little zhushing… a little love, a little accessorizing.  Such is the case with this beautiful home in the older section of Cheviot Hills.  Complete with crown molding and bright light, it belongs to a beloved D.L. customer, V.M, who has fabulous taste all on her own.

The lovely and fabulous V.M. has been a loyal D.L. customer for years.  A former CEO, a mommy, and a women’s rights’ activist, she approached us for a little freshening of her home, and we were happy to comply.  We added a pillow here, new fabric there, and the zhush was on…

A signature D.L. shell mirror is just what the fireplace called for (we play with different shells, and make them custom ordered).

A new chandelier lights up the entryway.

And voilà!

How do you zhush?  I’d like to know.

XO,

D.L.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet… but would it be as gorgeous?  It cannot be mistaken: a rose is a beautiful gift… from Mother Nature… and from a sweetheart, or bought for yourself.  I have always been drawn to the rose, naming my little one just that.  Also, D.L. Rhein began with dried rose picture frames.  Looking around the web, we found roses everywhere.  Pick a rose or pick up one of these beautiful treats today.

1. Rose + Ladybug Vintage Brooch | 2. Royal Albert Rose Tea Cup | 3. Petale Dome Bag | 4. Vintage Rose Pocket Mirror

5. Silky White Shirt | 6. DLR Rose Rings | 7. Bakerella Rose Cupcakes | 8. Frame made of Newspaper Roses

9. Rose de Noel  | 10. Tokyo Milk Perfume  | 11. Chanel Illustration

 Ah, life can smell so sweet!

Tout à l’heure!

XO,

D.L.