Happy Halloween

Happy Haloween to you all!

And Happy Birthday to me!  Yup,  my birthday is today on Halloween.

DOGGIE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Alright , I could not resist!  

As Halloween approaches, don't you have the huge temptation to dress up your dog? There are some hilarious costumes out there so that your dog can also enjoy the silliness of the season.

Make yourself and everyone who sees your dog laugh.  Bring some humor into your world and dress up your pet.  I know I smiled when my friend Rich dressed up his Beagle as a bee last year!

Happy Halloween Weekend.

http://www.glamourdog.com/costumes.html

http://dog-halloween-costumes-dogs.onlinegoodcheap.com/

Decorating with Pumpkins

The simple act of setting a few pumpkins in or outside of your home to decorate will put you in the spirit and get you in the mood for fall.  

Hard to tell it's fall here in Los Angeles because we are having such nice weather, but other parts of the country it's chilly and cold and the leaves are falling.  The perefect time to run out and find yourself a local pumpkin patch and select some big fun carving pumpkins or decorative pumpkins for the season.

Enjoy the fall!

BLACK IS CHIC

Maybe it's because we are approaching Halloween, but I'm feeling black.

Black can be a very chic color for interiors...if done well.  You run the risk of having a dark 80's night club feel that will scare people off if you do it wrong. But if you consider contrast and texture and think about all of the details and points of interest, you can end up with a very cool space.

I never thought I would like black as a wall color in a bedroom, but the first time I slept in a black room at Blakes Hotel in London, I feel in love.  I adored my room which had black walls and tones of grays and whites.  

If you are considering painting a room black use glossy paint on walls.  You will see more depth and tonality than a regular satin finish. 

The American Dream

Is the American Dream a fraud?  Is it all smoke and glass?

For decades the world has seen us as the richest, most luxurious country.  The place where dreams are made.  But is it?  The mindful spending and buying of luxury goods to feel good and pretend you are what you are not?

The dream was to have a McMansion, 2 cars and 2 kids. But most Americans don't spend time with their kids,  don't own their homes,  cars,  designer bags or cool electronics.  The "stuff" is on credit and makes them slaves to their bills. So many people are forced to work at jobs they dodn't like to acquire more possessions or pay off the credit card bills accumulated. And is that luxury?

The American Dream has become The American Scream.We are supposed to be the land of the free. So make yourself free of debt and be a true American. Be true to yourself. That is a real luxury!

A basic finance book one of my friends wrote that can help:

http://getfinanciallynaked.com

Time is the Ultimate Luxury

In our amazing, fast paced world, time is the ultimate luxury!

Every day you listen to the news, get stressed, check your email, get worried, Facebook, get anxious, work, get mad, get stuck in traffic and get manic. Our lives are filled with activities that over stimulate us to the max.  And no one has time.

When was the last time you sent out a thank you letter or took the time to take a siesta in the middle of the day?  When was the last time you read the books you have on your list to buy?  When was the last time you took a true restful holiday - not one where you spend all of your time packing, unpacking and checking things off your list?  We just don't have time to finish basic projects and do the little things. Forget your watch.  Chopart is NOT the luxury of time.  Its a status symbol.

Love yourself and take a week off of your life. It's your life.  Claim your own personal time.  Take the personal time and be alone and give yourself the greatest luxury in life - time!

Decorating for Halloween

Here is an article I did for LampsPlus with some fun Halloween decorating tips.

Hand Blown Glass Chandeliers

Have you ever considered a glass chandelier or light fixture?

Nothing is more breathtaking than a hand-blown glass chandelier. It fills a room with elegance and shines like a star. The beautiful irridescent qualities of glass combined with lighting create such magic and beautiful light in any space.

One of my current favorite glass chandelier manufacturers is Wired.  They have some incredible and very unique pieces.

 http://www.wired-designs.com

McKinnon & Harris terrace furniture

One of my all time favorite outdoor furniture lines is McKinnon & Harris.  

There is something very elegant about the lines and proportions of all McKinnon & Harris furniture. And of course their quality is unsurpassed.  But I think I like the collection because it's playful yet old school classic.  It has a timelessness about it that evokes an English Manor meets American East Coast feel. 

I'm currently doing two homes with McKinnon Harris and I just can't wait to install!

http://www.mckinnonharris.com

I fell in love again!

I am NOT a car person ... really.  But every now and then, not often,  a car will excite me and turn my head, as if it were a piece of furniture!

I was sitting in the Los Angeles Aston Martin dealership talking to "Stuart" when all of a sudden, I fell in love again!   There is a new car called the Zagato V12 that is outrageously beautiful.  I'm talking Hudson dinning table beautiful.  It instantly captivated me.  Only 125 of them will be made and only 5 are destined for Los Angeles.

Dear Santa....

http://www.astonmartin.com/cars/v12-zagato

 

I will miss Steve Jobs

I will miss Steve Jobs!

The tech visionary and genius who created Apple has tragically died. 

I feel honored to have lived at the same time as Steve Jobs. Even thought I never met Steve, his precence is all around me all day long.  I run with an Ipod, I talk on an Iphone, I work on an Air, I read on an Ipad and I outfitted my entire design firm with Macs. My days have not been Apple free since the 80's.   What he created, what he left behind and his effect on the world will be felt and remebered forever.

One of the most intelligent  people of our time, Steve Jobs will be missed. I considered him one of the best designers and most creative people to have lived and was truly inspired by his products.

R.I.P.

Casa Alegria on NBC LXtv

A few months ago the NBC LXtv production team came to Cabo to film this segment at my beach home : Casa Alegria.

It was such a fun day and I loved touring the house.  My home is not as big or as detailed as most of the homes I design, but it is comfortable and friendly and a great place to entertain and live.  I'm happy to show it off and have it on their website.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/blogs/open-house/On-Last-Weekends-Open-House-1-131003643.html

Feeling Lilac Today...

Why am I feeling lilac today?

Even though it's early October I start shooting the HGTV Christmas Special "Celebrity Holiday Homes" in a few days.  I'm in pre- production preparing and planning for my set.   My design concept this year is to do a Hollywood lilac and purple glam Christmas.

I will keep you posted and I will let you know when it airs in December.  And until then ... a few lilac inspiration photos.

Semi Precious Stone Lamps

One of my favorite types of lamps?   Semi precious stone lamps.

Each one is unique because they are made with natural semi precious stones such as rock crystal, agate, amethyst and quartz.   Mounted on simple frames of bronze, glass or acrylic, these stones shine and create beautiful light when lit at night. Semi precious stone lamps have a very masculine feel to them and carry a presence in a room.   They combine the function of providing light with the aesthetics of an accessory.

One of my favorite places to find beautiful new stone agate lamps is at Jan Showers showrooms. But if you are looking for vintage pieces, take a look at Craign Van Den Bullen showroom in New York. 

http://www.janshowers.com

http://www.craigvandenbrulle.com/html/index.html