Diamonds In Glass

DIG ( Diamonds in Glass ),is an Austrian company that came up with a way to suspend and insert genuine cut diamonds in borosilicate glass.

Their "Imperial Champagne Glass", prices at $ 85,000 usd per piece, is the most expensive champagne flute in the world.  It gives the term "dressing the table" a whole new meaning.  

Not the kind of glass you toss in the dishwasher!

http://www.diamondsinglass.com

 

SUPER GIRLIE

Feminine, sophisticated and overtly girlie.  Boudoir styled bedrooms are hugely popular.  

You will need a chandelier, preferably with crystals, soft muted colors, old school lace and lots of fluffy, pretty, and shiny things.  Pretty floral fabrics, pastel colored walls, and textured mohair pillows. White is a great statement color, as is pink.  A few antique or collected items such as old perfume bottles and crystal powder boxes will truly bring in the feeling.

Boudoir style bedrooms are super chic and posh way to go - for a young girl.   There is a fine line between a young teenage girl and an adult woman's shabby chic bedroom. As much as we girls all love this style, I promise you, most guys will hate it!

Private Jet Interiors

I love private planes, but I have never designed one.    I'm always fascinated by the great interiors and use of space in these jets.  

Post 911 travel is time consuming and cumbersome, filled with rules and regulations. So the ability to fly private is trully the ultimate luxury.   Unique and comfortable interiors in these jets is part of the luxury and part of what makes these flights so elegant. Wood paneled bathrooms, bedrooms, conference rooms, large screen tv's and bars are just some of the creature comforts some of the larger planes have. Large Airbus or Biz jets have phenominal interiors and outstanding details that allow the passangers work, have meetings, take showers, relax or even sleep in full sized beds.

Don't these photos inspire you?

off to CHINA

I am very excited to announce that I have been selected as one of the new Anderson Flooring spokespersons.  I am leaving to China to do some press junkets for Anderson, to open their new store in Shanghai, and to  give a few speeches to Chinese interior designers n Beijing.

I have been to China 5 times and it is such an exciting and diverse country.  The growth in the cities is so rapid and new architecture is thrilling.   Each time I go, I see new cool things, and I always come back inspired by the "Yes I can!" attitude of the country.

Off I go.... I will keep you posted!

 

CHOCOLATE BROWN

I am not trying to ruin anyone's diet with these photos .... but this week I was inspired by decadent, luxurious, chococlates!

The warm, smooth browns  and the creamy, delicious flavors of chocoalate are enough to drive any chocoholic mad.  And just a few photos of yummy chocolate ice cream and brownies we enough to inspire me to select a palette of browns to design a room.

Are you as addicted as me?

CIRCA FURNITURE

One of my favorite furniture stores in LA is Circa.

The owner / designer, my  friend Jamie Adler, followed the steps of her famous mother Phyllis Morris and created an amazing line of  glamorous furniture.  Circa has touch of vintage, a bit of glitz, and a whole lot of cool.   And if you can't find exactly what you need, Jamie can help design and create custom pieces and finishes.  All of her manufacturing is done in LA to maintain the highest quality control.

The "Starlette Banquette" is one of my favorite pieces.

http://circafurniture.com

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Don't forget to get your green on.  This weekend is Happy St. Patty's Day.

May the luck of the Irish be with you!

GREEN IN THE HOME

In honor of the approaching Irish holiday,  I have collected some cool images of green rooms. 

The color of money is not the most popular color this season, but it has never really gone out of style either.  Its a classic color that seems to have always been around.  It's a very Palm Beach or Beverly Hills Hotel kind of color.  

Enjoy!

TASTE FOOD + DESIGN COOKBOOK

I can't cook, but I love to bake!

The IDCC  (the Interior Design Coalition of California) called a few months ago and asked me for a recipe so they could add it to their new 2012 cookbook.  The book features interior designers showing a photo of a kitchen or dinning room they have designed and a recipe.  So of course, my entry was my world famous sugar cookies.

The cookbook is sold to raise money for the IDCC.  Its an honor to be featured amongst some of the best interior designers in California and  to contribute to a great cause.  

So get in your kitchen and make some cookies....

GLAMPING in style

"Glamping?"  It's a new term to describe luxury and camping, or upscale luxury, camping.  There are resorts that have already pitched tents, in gorgeous and exotic locations.  They are stocked with luxury linens, private baths and flattering lighting.  They are bug proof,  have around the clock butler service, private guides to take you fishing or hiking, and gourmet food.

So yes, while you are actually out in the wilderness sleeping in a fabulous tent with no one else around you, you will enjoy a proper bed, a bathroom, and all of the services of a 5 star hotel. It's still camping. Just not the way your cousin in Tennesse does it!   

I have done a few glamping trips and I love them.  My all time favorites have been in Tanzania, Africa as we followed the animal migration and Amanikhas, India where we did a Tiger safari.  

Grab the credit card honey, we’re going glamping!

http://www.amanresorts.com/amanikhas/home.aspx

 

LANTERNS

Lanterns are such a great accessory.  I have come across so many beautiful and unique lanterns  on my travels and I love using them on jobs.  Apart from the soft,  gorgeous light patterns they cast at night, they create such mood in a terrace or patio that is so romantic.

Some of my favorite lanterns have been antique chinese wood lanterns and intricate Morrocan iron lanterns with colored glass.  But in todays market you can find replicas at great prices that you can hand as light fixtures, put in your patio, use as part of a floral arrangement or a table center piece.

Next time you see an old lantern, think of all of the creative ways you can implement it in your home.

 

 

 

Comfy Airport Lounge

Nothing is more boring than waiting at an airport for a connection.  Most airports are old, ugly and the lounges are dated and stinky. 

But the trend in First Class lounges has been to create luxury spaces for V.I.P. passengers to wait in and be entertained before hopping on to their destination. Beautiful interior design and creative spaces in lounges has become the norm for frequent flyers to hang out in.  The Emirates Lounge in Dubai is a new example, as is the SLOW lounge in Capetown Ainternational.  But one of my favorites has to be the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow, because it has a great bar, bubble chairs and a pool table.   Helsinki's Finnar Lounge is not far behind with a spa overlooking the runway.

Luxury airport lounges are just one more reason why not to fly back of the bus....

 

AD's best 2012

Every year Architectural Digest names the AD100, a list of the best interior designers and architects in the US.   And although I'm not in it this year, I love admiring the work of some of these design giants.   

These are my favorite interior designers on the list.  

Madeline Stuart  ( www.madelinestuart.com )

Jennifer Post ( www.jenniferpostdesign.com )

Michael Smith ( www.michaelsmithinc.com )

Juan Montoya ( www.juanmontoyadesign.com )

They are all amazing designers with fabulous careers and they inspire me to try even harder and be the best I can.  My dream is to one day also be listed on the AD 100.

 

Glamour Breakfast

Even though they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, I have never really been a huge eater in the mornings.  I'm more of a "Breakfast at Tiffany's" kind of girl, with a coffee on the run.

But the weekend is upon us and maybe these pictures will inspire you to wake up and prepare a glamorous meal and start your day off with a bit of luxury.  Or if you are going away for the weekend, order yourself a fab room service capuccino and veggie omlette.

Have a great weekend!

Knoll Studios

Knoll Studios is one of my favorite furniture lines because they have stood the test of time and continue to be cool and fantastic.

During design school, I did a short four or five month internship at the Knoll Studio in Atlanta, Georgia.  I learned so much about classic modern design and about the mid century designers and their amazing lives.  I hold dear to my heart all of the old chairs like the Barcelona, the Bertoia Diamond and the Platner.  

For over 70 years the company has been producing some of the most original chairs and they have patented many of the classic designs of architects such as Robert Venturi and Mies Van der Rohe. Today many of their classic chairs are knocked off and replicas can be seen everywhere in stores like Design Within Reach.   For today's lifestyle, they have created some of the best office furniture and executive seating on the market.

Knoll is one of the building blocks for interior designers and today continues to be one of the seating innovators and developers.  

www.knoll.com