Royal Decor

Kate Middleton has not yet asked me to officially be her decorator, but I know in due time she will call.  I mean, what with her upcoming nuptials to Prince William to be planned, she does have her hands a wee bit full at the moment. But, of course, between the Country House and Clarence House, we will be needing to do quite a bit of sourcing and so I thought, why not get a head start?

First on the list, we will be needing to incorporate some family heirlooms (so many hand-me-downs!).  Then, of course, we will want to update the furnishings, to bring a bit of personality into the interiors from our young royals.  The tricky part is keeping with the tradition of things. So I found the perfect start - why not integrate an area rug based on a stamp of Queen Elizabeth II? Oh, the Queen Mum would be so proud! Of course, we wouldn't want to be stepping on her (not the smartest way to start off with your in laws!).  The likely place for this find will be as a wall hanging! I think Kate & I are off to a good start!

Kate is going to want one girly room at Clarence House, this could the perfect place for her Queen Elizabeth II wall hanging.

Or maybe above the console at the Country House?

And since everyone is going to want to be like Kate, you can purchase your own right here.

Available at Stamp Rugs

The Best Room Accessory

What could possibly be the best of any room accessory? A coveted piece of artwork? Books? Vases? Flowers? Well, those are all wonderful accessories but I think pets are really the best accessory to a room, an entire home in fact (it's certianly an accessory that moves from room to room!). The majority of my clients have pets and the one thing they tell me is that the furnishings need to be pet friendly.  I think pets make a room feel lived in, warm, and friendly. So I was happy to see Elle Decor's feature, The Dogs of Elle Decor.

An East Hampton Beach House.  This dog's coloring matches the interiors.

Interior Designer Frank Roop's Boston kitchen.  Starting to see a trend here, with the dog coloring coordinating with the interior colors.  Coincidence?

Michael Smith's Bel Air bedroom.  (Another paired to match accessory?)

The Santa Monica home of interior designer Jeffrey Alan Marks.  Yes, another room accessory that blends right in. How can't this dog be the perfect complement to this room?

A Miami Beach Home.  Yes, these short haired low maintenance dogs fit right into the contemporary clean lined interiors of this minimalistic home.

A Manhattan stylist's doubles up on her room accessories.

And, of course, from one of my own projects.  My client's pug Bailey is my favorite of all the accessories my client's have purchased yet!

{Thanks Andrea & Jeff for letting me feature Bailey...thought he could use a little attention before his new sibling comes along!}

You can be a star, a Design Star!

In this town...you don't have to be an iconic star...or a pop star...or even a reality star...because you can be a DESIGN STAR!

HGTV is looking for the next Design Star and they are holding an open casting call.

For all the deets, click here.

See ya on the casting couch, M21? Wink, wink...

Burlesque Chic

Last night in Hollywood was the premier of the new movie Burlesque starring Cher & Christina Aguilera - together in one movie! (How fab is that!? ) I am looking forward to eventually seeing the movie (in theaters on Thanksgiving Day!) and will, of course, be paying much attention to the costumes and set design.

Cher & Christine paired together for last night's premier of their movie Burlesque.

Earlier this year, I had written a blog post titled Bordello Chic, style wise there's definitely some similarities in design from everything from curvy rolled back chaises to bistro style chairs to fringe trimmed lights.

Christina on a rolled back chaise.

This chaise from Christopher Guy would have fit perfectly for a burlesque dancing scene.

A bistro style chair from DWR, light weight and easily pushed aside for a little table top dancing.

Or a fringe pendant lamp from Y Lighting to light those dimly lit tables.

And, of course, what's  a Hollywood premier without the Kardashian/Jenner clan:

And you can get your own marquee letters from Urban Outfitters!

Pretty Maps

{Paris}

A map as a work of art ? Created by artist Aaron Straup Cope, these pieces of artwork are a version of prettymaps. Code-named "Isola" after the Finnish textile designer Maija Isola. I could see these maps (of Paris, NYC, LA, and SF) as a framed series of artwork. Available through 20 x 200, starting at just $20!

{NYC}

{SF Bay Area}

{LA}

My city!! I know it so well, I recognize every freeway on this map!

Wanna live in Kelly Wearstler's House?

Well, you can.  For $46 million.

If you haven't already heard the rounds of posts making the Internet the past few weeks, it's official - Kelly Wearstler has put  her Beverly Hills mansion on the market. Along with her husband Brad Korzen, she bought and the famous estate five years ago for $25 million, it is now listed for $46 million (after extensive renovations).

At the entrance, electronic gates open to a long driveway. The drive swoops up to a motor court, which stretches out in front of the sprawling  11,000+ square foot Georgian-meets-Hollywood-Regency style mansion.

The mansion's main entrance, marked by a cluster of potted topiary balls.

I think my favorite part of the house may just be this - the Old Hollywood-style swimming pool and pool house/guest house!

Will be eager to see where she moves to next and the house she will renovate and decorate in her next evolving style!

{Images via Shelter Pop}

Le Corbusier Collection Paint

When imagining the work of Le Corbusier, vivid colors may not come into play.  Most photographs of his work were in black and white.  Our perceptions of early Modernism — at the Bauhaus design school in the 1920s or the purist villas that Le Corbusier was building in France — are shaped by the photographs taken at the time, which were all in black and white.  But, in fact, modernists interiors were much more vivid than that and Le Corbusier happen to be a gifted colorists who used rich, vibrant colors in his interiors.

Black & white photo of Le Corbusier building in Berlin.

Le Corbusier building in Berlin, with color.

Le Corbusier apartment building in Marseille.

Le Corbusier Center.

Developed from the 1920's and onward, the 63 shades are super vivid.  Apparently, the paint is made from natural mineral pigments (non toxic), including lapis lazuli and "green umber from ancient sources on the island of Cyprus."  Most paint manufactures today produce their colors from industrious pigments.

There is also a book available, a 174-page book titled "Le Corbusier Polychromie Architecturale" available on Amazon.

Article via Dwell.com