Piano Man

My nana generously gave me her piano (it was a sweet sixteen gift from her brother, who was a professional musician). She moved from her spacious condo to a smaller apartment, so she didn't have the space for it. I played from the time I was a little monkey (my mom taught me songs with only 3 notes) and stopped at 13, when it wasn't "cool" anymore to have piano lessons. I needed my time for much more important activities, like watching 90210 (the original) with my best friend.

The piano bench had a lovely pink and green striped fabric, but I've decided to update the upholstery to make it my own.

I visited the Pacific Design Center and had MANY great options to choose from:

Love this yellow one from Hable Construction


These Romo fabrics are also gorgeous

I have long been a fan of lulu dk fabrics - (as I mentioned on an earlier pillow blog) - these three were contenders:





These orange birds were my favorite. I think I wanted to make up for the fact that we decided not to buy the chair from Anthropologie that I so love (but doesn't work with my sofa)
But I decided to go with the Look for Less from Calico Corners


Image via Elements of Style

At only $23/yd, I couldn't resist! The cushion is currently getting re-upholstered, I'll show you how it turns out!

Happy Halloween (aren't all these orange fabrics fitting for the holiday?)

Josef Frank Pillows

As I mentioned last week, I had some great Josef Frank fabric lying around that I turned into pillows (with much help from my friend Michelle) Here are the results:

There wasn't enough fabric to do a nifty concealed zipper like last time, so I decided to go with a contrasting color and use a bright, happy, yellow zipper in the back.







They sit on my lovely new sofa.
All we need is a coffee table, rug, chairs, console table... and the living room is complete! But the pillows are an excellent step in the right direction...

It's getting hot in herrre

With winter coming around the corner, I've got fireplaces on the brain... Here are some fantastic options for those without a chimney...
The Conmoto from Ameico via Metropolitan Home Oct 08.



The Gaya by Safretti


These great fireplaces are by Spark
This last image is via apartment therapy


Interior designer Nicole Sassaman used this gorgeous fireplace in her Malibu Road project.

This image from Design*Sponge makes me want to paint my brick fireplace surround white...
I just need a cup of cocoa and a Mongolian lambswool throw, and I'm ready for winter! Though I'm not sure when it will be cooler that 75 degrees here in LA...

Rugs are my drugs

I LOVE rugs. And when I saw an ad in Metropolitan Home for Mansour Modern rugs, I decided to investigate their website and seek out my favorites...

Here they are!
I'm still not tired of the faux bois trend (translation - fake wood)
Beautiful prints

I've seen rugs like this in person - the mix of textures is beautiful...
I'll take rugs over drugs any day. Now rugs vs hugs, that's a tough one...

My look for less, part two

Was under the weather this weekend, so I snuggled under a blanket, drank copious amounts of hot tea, and looked through the CB2 catalogue - Crate and Barrel's affordable priced furniture and accessories line.

I found some great pieces that reminded me of things I've blogged about not too long ago. I think the folks at CB2 are reading my blog and thinking, "hmmm, how can we bring the Goods to the people?" Well, maybe not, but they sure are creating some great goods at great prices.


You can get this fantastic vintage-y stool for only $129, rather than spend the money on this pricier option:



The great people at CB2 are also bringing us this mirror for $129


In case you can't afford this vintage one:
And finally, your friends will all love this milk carton inspired vase for $6.95




If you can't buy this with your milk moneyEven when I'm sick, I still love a good bargain!

Time After Time

My very first posting on this blog was about knitting, so I will always have a soft spot in my heart for all things knitty/crafty.

When I saw this knit clock in Metropolitan Home (Oct 08) I knew it was destined for my blog.


It's available on Conran Shop


Here are some of my other favorite clocks:

From Conran:




This stately desk clock belongs in the set of Mad Men





This white embossed clock would look great on a dark chocolate brown wall.

Love this updated cuckoo in gold, walnut and orange (I can't decide my favorite!)


This Crate and Barrel clock is SO simple, but so nice.


These Velocity clocks are pretty groovy too
Now I have no excuse for being late!

My friend introduced me to the website of Jeff Andrews - Design. Wow. Love the furniture, love the color palettes, but ultimately, these homes are well accessorized. They look like they have some personality, some sense of who the homeowner is, but without being cluttered.

Here are some of his projects that will definitely be in my inspiration folders:

from a Los Angeles project:




nice mantle (hey, that would be a good pick-up line in a bar, no?)




from a Hollywood Hills project:


symmetrical but not stuffy




he creates great stories and vignettes with his goodies


I'm SO using that dark color from the top pictures in my bedroom...

I need a terrarium!

I can't believe I've survived all this time without a terrarium! OK, maybe it's not a necessity like food, water or shelter, but they are a great, low maintenance way to keep a little greenery in your home.

Real Simple, November 08, did a spread on terrariums that I love.

As a side note, I used one of those white stools in a project, and wish I had bought a second one for myself!


Velocity carries some great vessels
(You might need to create a little DIY base or use a small pot on all of the above to prevent leaks and allow you to open it up without all the moss and dirt flying around)



If a terrarium seems too advanced for you, try one of these sweet cube vases from rianrae...

We all know I can't keep a plant alive, so who am I to judge?

The Crystal Pirate

My friend Jessica just sent me this link to the actual pirate ship from the Jonathan Adler designed den. At least it looks the same. This would also be amazing in a kid's room... Or a decadent powder room.
It's from Z Gallerie and it's affordable.

Affordable is my favorite word of the week.

Lights, Camera, Action!

My friends are always on the search for the Goods. And when they find the goods, they always send them my way...
Melissa sent me the link for the online store rianrae, which has a great and eclectic mix of accessories, furniture and lighting...

I'm still looking for the perfect light fixture for our dining room, here are some options:

A grouping of these in various sizes would be gorgeous:


I also love the spare, modern look of this one:


This one below would be great for an open, airy beach home:



I have a weakness for lights like this one:




As I've said before, I love a sophisticated chandelier in a baby girl's room. I think these would transition all the way through high school:





Floor lamps like these will make your friends jealous:
I love these as bedside lamps, though I might confuse them for a decanter and try to take a middle-of-the-night drink:

The Crystal Pirate (my own nickname for it) - this is just like the fixture from the Nanette Lapore apartment in Elle Decor I mentioned a few months ago...


I added Metropolitan Home to my looooong list of magazine subscriptions. They sent me the October 08 issue yesterday, which had these great lighting spreads...
Let there be light!

more rianrae

rianrae also has some fantabulous (that's fantastic and fabulous) accessories and furniture... Remember, without accessories, your home looks like a hotel. Or motel, if your furniture is really lame...

Gorgeous lattice coasters:

More letters for your home (would help avoid any awkwardness if your dinner guests can't remember your name)

Put that jewelry on display (I'm quite into these manzanita branches these days)

I'm also into this doorstop - a few different shops carry it:

This lantern would be great on a side table, or lighting up your backyard bbq:

More industrial furniture:
So many choices, so little square footage

Style Compass says Head North!

Style Compass is a column of sorts on the 1st dibs website... It's where I got some of the great images for my blog on Ruthie Sommers. Right now they are featuring the work of Kelly Wearstler. We all love to hate her hair-do's on Top Design, but her designs teach us some great lessons...

Lesson 1:Blue, gray and creme with a splash of orange makes a great color palette. I'm translating this lesson to my own living room. Also, I love this Moroccan blue tile rug. Add great exotic touches, but don't make a room theme-y...


Lesson 2:

A zebra-printed cow hide is always a good idea.

Lesson 3:Don't be afraid to go buckwild with a pattern (even on the ceiling!) But do balance it with solid, neutral pieces.

Lesson 4:Don't be afraid of color. This is a well thought out mixing of color. Too much primary color creates a "romper room" effect. These jewel tones almost create a harem effect, but I kind of dig it...

Lesson 5:
Do something different with your stone. I have long wanted to do an entire post on bookmatched stone (what you see above), but this image remains my only favorite. Bookmatching stone takes the inherent lines and forms in the stone and matched them up symmetrically to create the above pattern. Yes, it somewhat resembles the female nether-regions, but it's stunning in person.

I also love this Ann Sacks herringbone black marble flooring (I also showed this image in my bathrooms posting). Do something more interesting with your stone than 12" x 12" tiles. Please.

Lesson 6:

If you are going to wear silly hair styles, be prepared to be mocked Kelly.
I say better to be mocked than to be culturally irrelevant, but that's easy for me to say...
Funny hair images via Bravotv.com

Hooray for West Elm

My design philosophy has always steered me towards a mix of high and low, in furniture, clothing, etc. If I'm wearing shorts by Milla Jovovich for Target, then I pair them with Tory Burch flats and some flea market bangle bracelets. Same goes for furniture...

After 5 months in our new house, things are finally starting to come together, and this weekend, thanks to West Elm, our bedroom got a huge boost...

We replaced our mis-matched dressers with these two:






The drawer pulls are sleek and clean, though if I find some great ones I'll do a swap out...


We also got this floor mirror (the big one). It's big enough that we won't have to compete for space when getting ready for a party...

I'll create a similar vignette around the mirror with the stool we bought at the flea market last weekend


I decided to finally treat myself to a much needed jewelry box (I bought the white lacquered one...) This way if our house ever gets robbed, the thief will know exactly what to take :) Don't worry, I'll keep the good stuff hidden somewhere else...This week I'll be doing some more home shopping (I have finally decided to treat my home with the same attention that I give my clients)... today I'm making the journey to find fabrics for the flea-market-stool and our piano bench, and an expedition for wallpaper (for the dining room and the bedroom).

I am my favorite client, after all...

Hot off the Presses! Domino Bazaar

Late breaking news - hot off the presses.

Ok, it's not THAT big of a deal, but I visited the Domino Bazaar event here in LA today (Domino's shopping/design boutique at the HD Buttercup Furniture Mart) and here were the highlights:

I'm lusting after this antique sun mirror from Notre Monde


It was a part of a whole formal dining vignette which was adorable






This white chair from HD Buttercup is also on my list of favorites. It would be sweet in a bedroom corner with a gray cashmere throw hanging off it...


The paint color in this area, Pigeon Gray by Benjamin Moore, was great. Gray with a hint of lavender. Sophisticated.


Right as you walked in, there was this outdoor vignette, by Lauren Spa.




Love the light fixtures hanging from the trellis.



Really love these outdoor chairs by Jason Champion Outdoors.


I've been into succulents for a while. Here were some beautiful ones from Inner Gardens.

Of course I couldn't leave without buying the Domino Book of Decorating!


Thanks Domino!

Day Four

Have you have enough of vintage week yet? Good, me neither.

One of my favorite vintage resources is Get Back, Inc - a coworker of mine introduced me to their website and ever since I've visited occasionally to pine for their furniture. You can tell when I've visited their website recently by the drool stain on my desk :)

Their showroom is spectacular - if I ever have a 20+ person design firm in an industrial downtown loft space, it would look just like their showroom:





In my fantasy office, I would have these desks...


My drafting table

And my desk
Some fantastic chairs:
We'd light the office using these:




And when we come in, we'll hang our coats on this:

In this fantasy world, I think I'd also have to wear a pencil skirt and bright red lipstick to work everyday...

Ye Olde School Textiles

Josef Frank, Swedish textile guru extraordinaire, has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Working in the early 20th century, his fantastical prints and vibrant colors have definitely stood the test of time.

Mind you, I do think that if you used too many Josef Frank textiles around the house you might have to be committed.






This Anthropologie sofa is upholstered in this wild Josef Frank pattern.






I have enough of this fabric to make 3 pillows. That's my next pillow extravaganza.




The following textiles are via Interiors Etc.


An option for you multi-color-phobic friends. And there are a lot of you out there.



Who needs Google maps? It's Josef maps.


Kind of 70's. The man was ahead of his time.

Happy Josef Frank Hump Day! (only a bank and postal holiday)

Ye Oldest School Textiles

I have held out on posting about crewel fabrics for a while now. Merely because I'm confused about the pronunciation. Is it pronounced like "cruel"? Rhymes with "jewel"?

Good thing this is a blog and not a speech, so here's a little crewel background. The technique is at least 1000 years old (at least that's what wikipedia tells me.) It's an embroidery art form using a wool thread... However they do it, I love the look.

This all red crewel fabric is an option for the multi-color-phobics. From Pigtown Blog




This beautiful tree of life motif from 1915 looks a lot like Etsy fabrics and prints that are sold these days... From needled.
DAR doesn't stand for Daughters of the Revolution - it was the initials of the woman who created this.



Here's some modern crewel work, also from needled.
Image 1 is from the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester.
Images 2 and 3 are the work of needled blogger, after designs by Kathryn Shaughnessy in her book "The New Crewel."



Here's another beautiful fabric I have in my secret stash... These will become pillows (after the Josef Frank ones are completed)...




It's a crewel crewel world we live in.

Day Two

Last week while mixing music and design (hey, it's not illegal), I showed you this ad from Todd Merrill Antiques

I took some time to check out their website. Damn, they've got the goods.
Here were the best of the best:

Multi-faceted mirror, quite like this one below that I showed in September from Elle Decor

Glamour-puss chandelier for your glamour-puss entry

This snakeskin table deserves to have some Gucci glassware on a black lacquer tray sitting on it
A yellow buffet for a bright and cheery dinner party.



This is a wall mounted entry console table. Can you image how jealous the neighbors would be?

This coffee table fulfills any horn/antler quotas that you might have for your home.




Sofa that reminds me of the Addams Family. But it's still cool. It may be better suited for a chic hotel lounge than my living room.

Vintage Week

Welcome to Vintage Week at the Goods!
I think it's important to have an eclectic mix in your home: new, vintage, colorful, neutral, high end pieces, bargains....

First we have the Grande Dame of vintage furniture websites, 1st Dibs
While they may not be the cheapest, or even a secret or "insider" site, they do constantly deliver the goods.

Here are my favorites of their newest things:
Another wall sculpture by my favorite, Curtis Jere.

Some other great accessories:
Gucci glassware set. Killer.




White and gold vases. Don't hate me Susie and Jose, but I (heart) white and gold the most. Will you still be my friends?


I LOVE this mirror.
It reminds of the mirror in this Jonathan Adler styled room (image via ofifteen)
These cute Gothic mirrors also make me happy.
1st dibs always has great mid-century light fixtures. They don't work in my home, but I'm hoping to live vicariously through a friend or client...








I'm not ONLY feeling accessories right now. This settee is pretty darn gorgeousHappy vintage!

There were no fleas at that market

Rather than enjoying a cup of coffee and the Sunday paper, I decided to spend my Sunday morning digging for treasure at the Rose Bowl. I've been before for clients (I once scored a dining table and 6 chairs for $350!) but this was my first time looking for myself.
We had some interesting finds...

I loved this brass bicycle, but it didn't seem like us:

It would be great on a mantle (it was about 2 ft high), or just leaning against a wall. But it didn't seem to have a place in our home.

We did get ourselves a vintage letter "S" for our last name...


It now lives on the mantel in our den.




This stool was a STEAL. It's a beautiful antiqued brass (my husband spent the afternoon cleaning it off). I'm planning on having a new cushion made for it (sans-tassels). When I asked the price I was expecting $80-$95. Nope. $40. I didn't even haggle, just paid and immediately ran away before they realized that Jonathan Adler would sell something like this for $350 (I love your stuff Jonathan, but it's not cheap).

It currently lives in the bedroom, next to our dresser. When the walls are painted grey/blue and it gets its fancy new cushion, it will look amazing. Right now it just looks great.

More Music Madness

Here's the second installment of my great album cover = room inspiration. I love this IPod speaker, via Ruby Press blog







Feist's album shows the virtues of a simple color palette with a rainbow of accent colors.



Image from Ruby Press blog.

Rainbow glasses with gold rims from Vivre. Santogold would be proud.




Yael Naim sings that addictive song "New Soul" from the Apple commercial.



Makes me want a dreamy bedroom set up like the one below from Style Files


I'm also really into Estelle's "American Boy" featuring Kanye West. Her album cover:



A sparkly rug from Vivre


Dark with sparkle - A Todd Merrill Antiques ad from Elle Decor magazine


Wallpaper with shimmer from Walnut

It's rock out Friday!

My look for less

Yes, sometimes I post on goodies that are a littttle out of my price range. Yesterday the Home Decorator's Collection catalogue came in the mail (one of 1000 catalogues that come for the previous owners of my house.) They had some great inexpensive alternatives for some of my higher priced wish-list goodies.


They carry wall sculptures reminiscent of Curtis Jere

Here's the Curtis Jere version (expensive) from 1st dibs
Affordable zebra print rug:

In case the Vivre version is out of your budget


And some more lovely well-priced rugs from Home Decorators...



Happy Bargain shopping!

Pillows pillows everywhere

I know I say it often, but I really do have the most talented group of friends there is. My friend Michelle, author of Neatloaf blog and designer of beautiful goods sold at Jot Living, among other creative endeavors, is teaching me to sew. Before last Friday, I had never touched a sewing machine. No, kids growing up in Los Angeles do not get any sort of home-economics training. No cooking, no sewing.

Our first project is a pillow. She immediately had me jump on an intermediate level task (in my mind at least) - sewing a zipper. My line with 90% straight, 10% handcrafted-looking.

Here's my progress thus far:
Concealed zipper pillow back. The front will be Michelle's xoxo pattern below...

I will (hopefully) be finishing this puppy on Friday

Michelle's gorgeous pillows (a graphic designer, she designs the silk screened motifs herself) look like this:

Hopefully mine will look that good!

Once I get moving and grooving on this, here are some fabrics I'm feeling inspired to use:

From Lulu DK

Funky birds




Eco-friendly, bold and beautiful fabrics from Rubie Green:


My moss green printed bedspread could use a jolt/accent of pink - perhaps this pink zigzag?



Eco chic zebra

For those of you like me, who have never touched a sewing machine in your life, some pre-made pillows:
Inexpensive options:

Furry friends from West Elm




CB2:
Sweet little yellow bird

A well priced little luxe option from Crate and Barrel. Metallic croc - oh my!

They make me drool, but are a little pricier options:

From Velocity

Because pillows don't ALWAYS have to be square...

From Hable Construction


Fun splash of color for my living room

Pop colors from my favorite Jonathan Adler




This image from Real Simple magazine shows us that a little pillow can give a vignette that extra umph it needs.

The year I learned to knit, everyone got scarves for Christmas... wonder what you're all getting this year!

Music makes the people come together

I have always been a big music lover - as a kid I played piano, violin, and I sang with every musical group and in every school musical that would take me. As an adult I rarely get the chance to perform, but music is still a huge part of my life.

With my new IPod Touch I get the joy of looking at the album covers every time I hear my favorite song.
Here are a few of my favorite album covers and the interiors they inspire:

The Royksopp album design takes what nature gives us and makes it something fantastic:



In the same vein:
From Vivre
A natural teak root cast in bronze. My dream coffee table



Crystal covered antlers

Wood flying ducks - to mount on your wall or hang from your ceiling
Gorgeous image from this is glamorous


Zero 7 reminds us to layer different colors and textures to create a rich room

Great modern quilt from Pottery Barn
Mixed with beautiful orange and mustard yellows

Layering patterns - canisters from Pottery Barn


Image via coco & kelleyAn artful layering of zebra and botanical prints

Zero 7 also encourages purple and fun...

Purple wallpapers from Walnut













Purple rooms via this is glamorous





Santogold reminds us that gold accessories are the way to go...



Gold bean bag seat from Graham and Greene


From Vivre
Gold leaf butter dish





Gold dipped coral candelabra



Gold spotted cow hide.

Gold print (on chocolate brown paper) from Orange Beautiful

What is your IPod telling you to design?

Friday Night Lights

Happy Friday! Thought I'd share some lights I'm liking (no, not licking, liking)...



Modern hanging pendants from West Elm.


Organic branch lamp from Decorati via Domino Mag


I went to DWR's website in search of the Fortuny floor lamp, for which I DIE. (It also comes in black)

In the process I also found these favorites of mine on the DWR website...Random light (that's the name, not my snarky commentary)Zeppelin S1

Model 2097 30

Taraxacum 88

These last ones from DWR are nothing new, but they are truly classics, and deserve a shout out on my blog. And hey, it's my blog, I'll write what I want... I'm my own person.

Topiary Friday

Last Friday we discussed topiaries. This Friday we discuss topiaries. Coincidence? I think not.

Vivre also had this fantastic topiary - made of feathers. Over the top? Yes.

Mother Nature Rocks

Often Mother Nature comes up with designs WAY better than I ever could.

The Vivre catalogue was delivered to my house a few days ago. Here are some beautiful nature inspired home goodies I saw in the catalogue that I missed while hunting online last week.


Amethyst bowls

Geodes



I love these agate coasters from Weego Home, a great store in Santa Monica

Salsa? Reggae? Calypso...

A few weeks ago I visited Calypso Home in the Brentwood Country Mart here in LA. I would buy their entire inventory and turn my home into a Calypso showroom, if possible. Yesterday I went back to take photographs - here's the best of their goods:

Some vignettes in their showroom:




They have the Roost light fixtures I love!









They had some gorgeous pillows - beautiful peacock feather print to match my favorite wallpaper...



They had some great pillows to remind us that all we need is LOVE...
Love the patent leather.


They also have a great mixture of metallic, leather, linen and lamb's wool pillows...

Here's an idea for Lehman Brothers... with the stock market giving us all a panic attack, I think this golden piggy bank might be the best option for my money



I also love this hair-on-hide-mixed-with-metallic leather. They have this look at Vivre as well. There are obviously some VERY stylish cows out there...


White and gold rug. Sorry trannies, they had white & gold, black & silver, no black and gold...



Black and silver rug


White and silver pillow



I dig this coffee table. AND it's on sale. Not sure it goes in my home - any takers?


Love this colorful, happy, lovey bed. Makes me want to add some unnecessary decorative pillows to mine...

En el bano

More bathrooms!
Love the river rock wall from Ann Sacks


Ann Sacks black bamboo bathroom.



Uber-feminine bathroom from Cynthia Rowley's place as featured in Elle Decor.




This bathroom is from the West Elm catalogue. I don't think I could ever get sick of a teak and white bathroom. I'd do this bathroom in Shiva Rose's home, if I were invited to :)

Lamb's Wool

With winter coming closer, Mongolian Lamb's wool is starting to look inviting.

Hot cocoa - check
Fireplace - check
Mongolian lamb's wool accessories - working on it

A lot of great shops are showing lamb's wool accessories... Here's some of my favorites:



Wool bean bag chairs from Calypso Home.




A gorgeous chair covered in white lamb's wool. From Domino Magazine.

I also love a good lamb's wool rug, though if you have pets, children or shoes, I don't know if it's a terribly good idea...

Musical Chairs

Next on the list for the new house: new desk chair. We currently have a functional one - black, on wheels. But it has no personality, no life, no heart.

Earlier I showed our fantastic new desk with brass knuckle pulls - I think it needs an equally fantastic partner in a cool desk chair. Our desk is in a small nook and is on the lower side so the chair needs to be on the small-ish and without arms... Here are some of the finalists:

I've LONG been a fan of Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost chair:
These ones are from Hive Modern. Without arms they are called the Victoria Ghost chair - I'm thinking of clear, smoke or black for our desk...




This one is from West Elm. Nice. Clean. Modern.


Below is Jonathan Adler's Chippendale chair. I think it's too big for the space we have, but cute nonetheless...


And finally, here's a great, inexpensive arm-ed version of the Jonathan Adler chair from Ballard Designs.




Great desk chair = more productive work day. Or at least that's how I like to justify the purchase to myself...

Thoughts?

Architects just wanna have fuuu-un

I have an architect friend, Morgan, who sends me some pretty cool things. Architects want to have fun too! They get stuck having to draw plumbing details and create door schedules while us interior designers get to play with fabrics and paint colors. But I guess architects need to take some time out of their day to look at pretty things now and then.

These below are from a website called Loyal Loot.

This vase would be great for all the fabulous flowers you are bringing home these days.


Called the PRAIRIE HOUSE, it is "modeled after a rolling landscape. The scale of the house changes depending on the size of the bloom or branch you choose."



And the LOG BOWLS are a great marriage of rough, organic textures and smooth, modern, bright colors. Wouldn't it be great to buy 30 and hang them on your wall?

Another great website he sent me was michaelanastassiades. His BALL LIGHTS (below) and ONYX LIGHT (2nd below) are stunning...



Keep 'em coming Morgan!