Fine Dining

I do not have a dining room but I am totally obsessed with dining room tables and chairs. My absolute faves are modern chrome or brass chairs with rustic wood farm tables (as I did for my own client with the white molded Eames chairs and wood table), or slick glossy tables with a mishmash of antique wooden chairs. I also love stone tables with lucite chairs, like Kelly Wearstler's office (see above). The most important thing to me is that the dining chair and tables do not match. It's very cool if the chairs themselves do not match, either!
Here are some of my fave dining room looks and some chairs from Ebay and 1st Dibs that would look great with the West Elm white lacquer dining table or a wood farm table. Extra points if you have vintage chairs recovered in a graphic print or white leather!
Bon Apetít!
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The Business of Being Creative

Most people who are not in creative businesses think that Interior Designers, artists, musicians, event planners, and other people pursuing creative careers have it made. From the outside it seems that we are simply enjoying fun, relaxing work that we we would do for free, while being paid for it.
I can't express how difficult it is to be in a creative field. You feel a drive, a need, to express yourself creatively. This thing you have chosen to do with your life is an all-consuming passion. You think about it 24 hours a day and work your hardest to be inventive, original, and to stand out from a crowd of other equally passionate professionals. You may spend years and thousands of dollars studying and perfecting your craft. And in the end, not many people respect all that you have accomplished. Clients question the value of your work - often refusing to pay for your time or ideas because it is not something tangible that they can hold in their hand. Or more commonly, they simply copy your work or try to find a way to do it themselves.
I discovered Sean Low, from The Business of Being Creative, through Vicente Wolf's blog. Reading Sean's blog every day is like having my own personal cheering section. He gives awesome advice, financial and organizational tools, and motivational words of encouragement when I need it most.
If you are in a creative field or want some creative ideas and inspiration for your business (no matter what you do for a living), I encourage everyone to bookmark The Business of Being Creative on their computer and read it first thing every day. You will be so glad you did!
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Ralph Pucci, I'm coming for you!

I am a big believer in energy. I think that if you really want something to happen and you talk about it and plan for it and visualize it, you can make it come true. Speaking to my aunt today and my best friend last night, both of whom are going through major career changes and chasing big dreams, made me want to post about my goals for the future. I AM going to make them happen. Here is my bucket list for the next decade:

1. I will work at (and hopefully manage) the Ralph Pucci showroom in the Pacific Design Center in Hollywood. Ralph took his family's mannequin business and turned it into one of the most respected furniture, lighting, art, and sculpture showrooms in the world. They still manufacture gorgeous and unique mannequins, but they also represent furniture and lighting designers like Andree Putman, Chris Lehrecke, Vicente Wolf, and Herve Van Der Straeten. They represent some of the world's finest artists, sculptors, and photographers, as well. I love every single thing that they sell, admire every ideal Mr. Pucci stands for, and am inspired by every aspect of his business. It is my ultimate dream to run one of his showrooms.

2. I will continue to travel and explore parts of the world I have not been to. In line for the next few years: Istanbul, Buenos Aires, and Morocco!

3. I will be as fluent in a third language (French or Italian) as I am in Spanish.

4. I will create original and well made art - continuing to paint and draw and take classes when I can.

5. I will have a client who will give me free reign with a great budget and will have it photographed for a major magazine.

6. I will have a true romantic partnership - no need for marriage - but a good relationship with the potential to last a lifetime. And maybe talk about raising a child (perhaps an older child adoption?)

7. I will spend as much time as possible getting to know my friends and family, and making sure they understand how much I love them and am so grateful for their love.

What are your goals for the next ten years? Tomorrow will be too late - write them down, talk and pray about them, put them into the universe and make them yours! I know you can do anything you dream of!
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Nursery Fever

Elizabeth will be here in two weeks to visit and finalize plans for the nursery and we don't even know the sex yet! We are so excited to see all of our plans come together for this modern, not-too-sweet space. It is going to be bright and graphic, and the main color is, of course, turquoise. Here are my favorite inspiration nurseries - I know everyone under the sun has seen Jenna Lyon's (Creative Director of J. Crew), but maybe some of the other ones will be new to you. Enjoy!
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Fave Designer : Herve Van der Straeten

When I was living in Mexico I worked about ten different jobs. One of them was modeling jewelry for a beautiful jewelry store called Viva. The girls would parade into restaurants late at night with huge capes and sunhats on, line up after getting everyone's attention, and whip the capes off to reveal brightly colored sarongs, espadrilles, and the most gorgeous jewelry on the planet. Then we would walk through the tables in an impromptu fashion show, inviting the diners to Viva for their free gift. It was actually really fun and became a really well known jewelry store because of the unique advertising. The owner had the best eye for jewelry and my favorite pieces were by Herve Van der Straeten. I am lucky to own several pieces now and when I wear them I feel strong and sexy.

In the last few years back in the U.S. and working as a designer, I found I was drawn to the French Modern and Deco style of interiors, and Van der Straeten's pieces embody that aesthetic. This picture of Reese Witherspoon in his house from Vogue Nov. '08 stands out to me as one of the best color combinations of all time - and that console is to die for! She is also wearing Van der Straeten earrings and she has never looked better. There is nothing more dramatic than a curvy cantilevered console table made out of aluminum polished to a high shine, or a lamp with sharp thorns done in a high gloss red. Herve Van der Straeten uses only the finest craftsmen and materials in France and is represented in the U.S. by Ralph Pucci (more on him in a later post). I wish I could use one of his pieces in every space I ever design, like the guys at Oitoemponto do. And one day I will have a client who will let me do it!

What do you think of this look and who is your favorite designer of all time?

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Goodbye, Takashimaya NY

I am so sad to say goodbye to Takashimaya NY, which will be closing its doors in June. This 5th Avenue landmark has been the go-to spot for stars like Halle Berry and tourists all over the world who want to experience the very best in luxury goods. It was also one of the best jobs I ever had! After the Hurricane in 2005, I moved to NYC for a year and had the extreme good fortune to work as an Associate Buyer for the store. With Andrew Mandell as my buyer, I bought and merchandised for the Home and Garden department, the Women's Fashion Department, and also for the Jewelry Department. I learned so much and credit Takashimaya for my aesthetic and design style, and for creating in me a passion for design.
Most people know about the Tea Box in the basement, but the beauty of Takashimaya was that it stood apart. We were never trying to make money (the store had 18 locations in Japan), but were really focused on being a luxury outpost for the brand. The stunning interiors were revamped a couple of years ago by S. Russell Groves and can be seen on his website. Andrew, Virginia, and everyone else at the store gave 200% for years and I wish them the best of luck on their new adventures!
New York is really going to have an empty spot on 5th Avenue, and when I visit I will certainly have an empty spot in my heart.
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Hi Ho, Hi Ho

I was just laughing with Jessie of Gimlet Eyed about people's perceptions. Especially in this town, where antiques are the norm. This is the showroom I manage (actually, it's just me, so I am using the term "manager" loosely...). Every single day several people come in, make a remark about how it is waaaay too modern for them, and quickly leave. Too modern!? We have painted Gustavian chests and Spanish rush baskets, belgian linen furniture and rustic clay lamps. Granted, we ALSO have stingray furniture, mid century murano glass table lamps, and spare bronze tables influenced by the French Deco period.
When I think of modern, I think of lacquer, mirror, and other reflective surfaces; straight lines and minimalist pieces and strong colors or black and white. I guess it's all about individual perceptions. My greatest pleasure in design is mixing eras, textures, styles, and price points. I never like a space that is done 100% in one particular style. That looks like a museum or store to me. And I find it extremely boring!
What do you think? Do you find my showroom modern?
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