Design Compass

In this month’s issue of Better Homes & Gardens there’s a feature on a home in Hermosa Beach that my amazing boss, Jill Johnson, designed. I can take no credit for the house, but I was lucky enough to help to stage it for the photo shoot and had so much fun, and completely fell in love with the house and the incredible job Jill did. I’m beyond lucky to work with Jill and feel compelled to show off her work! So, here are the pics from the feature:

 

In the South Bay, square footage is a bit of a rare commodity. Spaces can be a little tighter, so using that space to the fullest is a must. Knocking down walls to open up the living space is the best way to start- bringing the kitchen, dining and family rooms together to make for one big party. Skylights, dutch doors and bright white paint make everything feel bigger! 

Another way to maximize space at the beach: get over having a formal dining room and make the everyday dining space a rad one! We do a lot of little dining banquette areas like this- they just make sense! I think Jill nailed Shelley’s look here- so pretty. 

 

We are suckers for white painted brick at Waterleaf, especially on a fireplace- but when you can make it white marble- oh my, even better! Jill made it happen here and it looks amazing. I love the way this room feels dressy but beachy casual at the same time. And a zebra ottoman will pump up the style in any room! 

 

Blue and orange are so fun together! It’s a bummer the nightstands didn’t make the cut- they are super cute. But the amazing bed, bench, fabrics and colors hold pretty well on their own! 

Here’s Shelley and her little guy. He was the star of the show that day- I can’t even tell how adorable he is!  Given how adorable the house is- he fits right in! 

Check out the whole article in the April 2012 issue of Better Homes & Gardens!

Once again I’m looking for somewhere else besides my phone for some of my photos to live. I am no skilled photographer, but I do love to grab quick shots of things I see that inspire me or just moments that I want to remember. Here are are a few that I’ve chosen to graduate from the little to the big screen:

 

In my opinion, the best looking door La Cienega Blvd. That turquoise with the glossy black… and the gold hardware! Fabulous. 

Amazing quilts from Roberta Roller Rabbit. So many cute options to brighten up your bed! I took a friend shopping here and we got her that light aqua & blue one right in the middle and some of their pillows. Her bedroom is now a true happy place!

One of our client’s vintage barrel chairs that she re-painted & re-upholstered in the Quadrille zig zag… it’s just so darling. I want it for my own!

My husband has a major thing for sunglasses… pretty sure he has just way too many pairs (although I’ve probably lost half of them- I really am sorry babe!), so I always like art that features glasses. One day I’ll have a special little box… or more like a great Big box, for his stash, and I’ll put this above where it sits. 

The Polo Etegere by Bungalow 5- such a perfect display unit- clean and beachy. And well merchandised at Mecox Gardens. 

 I was on a home tour over the holidays and thought this tapestry was really beautiful. Such a great idea for a big wall in a stairwell like this. 

Clearly this is a bad photo, given I only caught half of this car- but I had to include it bc it was just one of the most adorable things I had ever seen! I’m not a little car gal, but I would be stoked to jet around in this baby! Vintage, California beachy mini-coop? Whatever you are, I’m in! 

Pretty seagull artwork on display at Calypso Home. 

I really liked this bamboo table lamp and the little globe at Mecox Gardens. 

Love this Japanese wave piece too… also at Calypso Home. 

Calypso had some amazing rugs at great prices! The aqua one on the far left is just outrageously cool. 

 This is a bad picture, but I loved this table base. Saw it at HD Buttercup, but we’re now carrying the line at Waterleaf, so hopefully it will be on our own floor soon!

Sweetest Bar Cart. Mecox Gardens again. 

View from the living room window at our new place. We scored an amazing little beach cottage and are having so much fun living here. I can watch Brogan surf without getting off the couch! It’s ridiculous. I feel too lucky.

 Last but not least, my greatest source of inspiration, the ladies I get to work with everyday. They are amazing designers and women, and they couldn’t be more fun! Here’s Rori, Ashley, Jill & Sarah. 

The rest of the Waterleaf crew- Krista, Nancy, Suzanne & silly me. 

Happy picture taking!

We’ve been working with a lot of textiles from Quadrille lately and I just can’t seem to get enough of their designs. For the walls, the windows, the chairs… for anywhere! They have hundreds of amazing patterns, but here are a few of their signature styles that I adore:

 

Give me Ikat and a little Aqua & White and I’m yours! I’m dying to put this wallpaper up anywhere in my house. 

It also looks great and a little classic in a darker blue too. And I love it with that blue Madeline rug!  

Oh la la these chairs are amazing!  Especially love the color- it’s coolest shade of pink. 

 

Can you tell I really like Ikat? So adorable for a Roman Shade.

Quadrille makes great outdoor fabrics too. This room will stay bright & happy even on a rainy day!

 

Another favorite wallpaper of mine- looks so cute in every color and so great in little nooks like this. 

Oh the Paradise fabric! How crazy adorable is entire situation? It is just too perfect. 

The zig zag… another true love of mine. This pattern is so great anywhere and in any color. The zig zag is definitely the life of every party! 

 

 Bigger zig zag- even more fun, which is perfect for the bedroom! ;) 

This was one of my all time favorite houses featured in House Beautiful. The bright colors and patterns make it so unforgettable. How do you not smile and laugh all day if you live here?!  

 

 On the pillows- another amazing fabric. Also pretty cool as a wallpaper. 

Finally, a little Palm Beachy wallpaper always works for me! This isn’t my favorite color for it- but I still think it’s so rad!  By the way I am selling that exact Parsons console table if anyone is interested?! Please contact me! It’s super awesome & brand new:) 

Check out more patterns at www.quadrillefabrics.com!

So hi again! Remember me? Okay so I took a bit of a break… just a litttlleee teeennnyy tiinny little 6 month siesta. What I thought was going to be a super mellow summer, somehow turned into a hurricane of activity which pushed Design Compass to the bottom of my infamous “to do” list. Summer suddenly turned into fall and my “to do” list has grown into a small novel. So much has happened (all good!), but it adds up to way too long of a re-cap. Let’s just say I have been overwhelmed with inspiration to the point of being paralyzed by it!

I will re-cap all the amazing finds, learnings and experiences from the last 1/2 year, but it will take effort. Which I don’t have right now. SO, for sake of my lack of effort, I just wanted to throw up some easy peasy images of happiness!  AKA my latest obsessions by one of my favorites, Jonathan Adler. I cannot NOT smile when browsing through his goods- his style just makes me happy! Hence, Happy Chic:) I went to a wedding at the Parker Palm Springs a few weeks ago- all the interiors were designed by Adler and it was all SOOO cute. You must visit on your next Desert weekend- it’s rad!

So enough chatter, here’s what I will be writing Santa for this Christmas:

Zebra Coasters= Colorful Cocktail Hour!

Little Seahorse, come join the party on my bookshelf?

You’re perfect, you chevron blanket you.

I’ll shell out for this!!    (wow. maybe my lamest joke ever)

 

This wallpaper will guarantee a fresh fun fabulous room.

 

Add a little bite to your bookshelf!

I am way too into a Greek Key on anything & everything right now. This rug makes me abnormally excited.

 

Cruelty-free horns are my type of horns. Stupid hunters! Just kidding hunter friends! kind of.

 

First thing I would put in my kids playroom! Need to get some kids first maybe.

In honor of Movember, and my dad, who has prostate cancer (a mild form so not to worry too much). Love you dad.  And in honor of Brogan, who has once again grown out a stache for Movember that is far past comical. I think this is cute.

 

I HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY CHIC WEEK!!!