It has been a while since my last entry and wanted to write a quick post.  Many exciting things are happening.  First, I’m taping my new TV show which is slated to air on TLC in early August.  I am enjoying the challenge to work on a fast track show that deals with a different design point of view (I promise more to come on this) Second, my product line is in its finally phase of development and I should be able to announce where you can get it soon.  Mark your calenders for early September. 
And last, I have a baby bedding line coming out at Babies - R - Us in late September.  Whew, lots going on.

Thanks again to all of you that continue to visit my site and check in.  I appreciate all of your support.

Too Much Stuff in Your House?

At a recent party I attended the homeowner was obviously a huge fan of globes. I could not imagine how many she had- it must have been thousands. Her home had beautiful bones and great architecture and had been built by a famous architect in the late 20’s. When she asked me what I thought of her home, I could not lie. I said that the her home was such a beautiful place, but all of the globes took away from the details that played second fiddle to her huge collection.  She stared at me in amazement.  At first I thought she was going to ask me to leave.  Instead she said, I never thought of that, but you know, it has become an obsession.

I don’t know how it happens, but many people attach themselves to an item and then obsess over it and before you know it, you’re known as the globe-woman.  While I completely understand and appreciate having a collection to be proud of, there must be a balance in how you display things. When there is too much stuff in your house, there is no room for you.

My advice? Consider taking 75% of your stuff and boxing it up for storage. Every 3 months, rotate your collection so that you can appreciate the individual pieces more and allow them to breathe (and giving you the chance to mix it up a bit)

When you group a collection together, vary the size. This collection of globes is a beautiful addition to a room. Any more, and you loose the balance

Owls are becoming a big hit in the home decor department. Because of their nature, you can imagine what the atmosphere in a room would feel like if the homeowner had a huge collection of them in one room- spooky. 

New Orleans Style

We all store images in our head of certain places or things that hold a sense of beauty that we draw from.  For me, it is the beautiful homes in New Orleans.  As a young kid I remember visiting my Grandmother in the Garden District area of New Orleans.  Back then, it wasn’t about how much money things cost, but about the history of the house and it’s ability to make anyone feel welcome.  Most homes are framed by beautiful old oak trees and enclosed in old iron fences.  The patina of the weathered wood siding and the moss that grew on the old brick pathways is something I’ve grown to appreciate as a designer.  As a kid I spent countless hours on the front porch playing with my matchbox cars.  The memories always make me feel happy and lucky that I was able to experience such historically beautiful architecture as a young child.  Luckily I was able to visit New Orleans this weekend for my Mom’s retirement party.  It’s a breath of fresh air to find some of the same homes I remember still standing. 

A typical home in the Garden District

The former home of author Anne Rice

When the storms would come, you would close the shutters to protect the windows.  I remember the first time I saw fake shutters in Los Angeles and could not understand why they had shutters that did not work.  The one good thing about them is that they allow you to add another punch of color to your exterior.

Windows were big enough to walk through them.  Most homes had the same window placement on the front and back of the house.  This allowed you to open all windows and get a wonderfully cooling cross breeze.

Red in Every Room

One of my design philosophies is adding something red to every room.  For a recent project I completed for Dennis Hammer, we worked with a lot of texture by adding a different grasscloth in every room.  Working with his beautiful black and white collection of photography brought in a sense of refinement that added an elegance to the home.  I have always been a huge fan of using neutral colors in varying textures, however, there is a fine line between neutral and boring.  Popping in a shade of red is the cure for boring and works every time.

Working in a small area off of the kitchen, I used a red fabric on the bench seat as well as refinishing the vintage chandelier in a red patina.

In the library/media room, the deep red silk pillows along with the red topped ottoman punch up the space without drawing attention away from the photographs

For the bedroom, it was the surprise dose of red on the interior of the secretary/desk.

Overall, our design goal was to create a Carribean resort-style home that combined a neutral palette of textures while highlighting Dennis’ love of books and photography.  Check back as I plan to share more photos in upcoming entries along with ideas and tips

Help 1 Up

Many people ask me what to do with their current furniture when their new pieces arrive.  The last thing you should do is throw it away.  Many people would be thrilled with any furniture at all. 

If you find yourself in the position to donate your furniture, please check out http://www.help1up.org At a recent event I met Jeff Hay, the executive director of the National Furniture Bank Association.  Their organization provides furniture for families who have lost their homes to natural disasters, children and woman who have been displaced due to domestic violence as well as families living below the poverty line who need a hand up, not a hand out.  Their belief is that no child in America should have to sleep on the floor.  If you have anything to offer, please go to their website where you can donate today. 

All is OK

Thanks for all the emails and calls checking in on my place after yesterday’s fire.  I did wake up at 5am to screaming sirens and 2 barking dogs.  Thankfully no one was hurt although the building direclty across from my new home burnt down.  While I have a little smoke damage to my draperies, all is OK. 

Large plums of smoke could be seen for miles.  Unfortunately the windows in my building are original from the 20’s and not sealed as well as new ones.  It’s a trade-off for keeping the originals (which I don’t mind)

It seems KBTV is a huge success as we are doubling the amount of traffic to my site.  I enjoy sharing my process with you.  We still plan to post new episodes every Monday and Thursday.  Although I am actually a little ahead of the video, I thought I’d share a few recent purchases.

These vintage stools don’t have an exact place yet.  I just love the use of color and bold pattern of the Marimekko fabric.

On a recent trip to Grand Rapids I came across this artist who is based in Portland, OR.  I have always been a fan of landscapes.  Her abstract trees and use of color drew me in.  These 2 pieces are a diptych that hang side by side.  I recently commissioned her to do a large scale diptych for a client in Manhattan Beach.  As soon as that project is finished I will share photos.  You can check out more of her work at http://www.studiohartig.com

I guess I am in the phase of buying small pieces that can float around my house.  They don’t have a permanent place, so to say, I just like to have a few pieces that can travel around and find a home in various areas keeping it fresh.  This vintage Baker bench was found at another favorite shop of mine http://www.orange.1stdibs.com