Home Tour: House in the Hills

Happen to come across this fab house tour on the nest - and had to share! Located in the Hollywood Hills, the Spanish style stucco home belongs to a young couple, Robert and Hannah, formerly a design assistant to Jonathan Adler. Check out their Franklin Canyon pad!

The eclectic living room mixed mid century modern and glam.

The colorful yet not overdone bedroom.

The spacious and simple bathroom, but the shower curtain along adds color and graphics.

Robert and Hannah, in their Hollywood Hills home.

The backyard includes a very cool tented cabana, quite the hangout spot!

All images via the nest.

The Compact Kitchen

For many undertaking a kitchen remodel, the goal is typically to expand an already compact kitchen. However, the reality is often times some spaces cannot be enlarged or expanded by increasing the square footage. Instead maximizing a compact kitchen space and aesthetically improving it's design and style is the most ideal way to turn a small space into a big improvement!

Modern and minimalist, this kitchen epitomizes the aesthetics of a compact kitchen.

Super space saver and super sophisticated - sometimes putting the best into a small space is great on the return.

This compact kitchen has a more expansive feel by it's use of open shelving, mirrors, and pass-thru counter / bar height seating. Maximizing space to it's fullest it includes a built-in banquette dining area.

This is a layout I have done for many small kitchens - incorpoating an island with seating and storage, prep sink optional, makes for a functional compact kitchen.

Classic and contemporary, sink side feels open with windows and cabinets are best placed to maximize storage.

A model (pun intended) example of a compact kitchen, this one in a Manhattan loft, where even the narrowest of islands provides functionality.

Light, bright, and airy - a tiny kitchen that feels very open and even includes a little counter seating area by incorporating a tiny ledge of surface area.

Another kitchen with an island and bar height seating, not to mention a full height cabinet help to make this compact kitchen feel more open.

Taking cabinets full height (to the ceiling) is a great idea to make any kitchen feel larger, whether or not it's compact.

Images via Pinterest and Elle Decor.

Art + Fashion

{framed Hermes scarves}

When art + fashion collide...

All images via Pinterest

It's all in the details...

Sometimes in design, it's the little details that really make a difference. Perhaps it's something unique, a one of a kind, a small detail that makes a huge difference, or even a minor detail that feels like a major accomplishment in a project. Here are some inspiring details in design!


A door painted with antiqued gold detailing.


Pretty hardware on a media cabinet.


A Greek key border taping on a wall.


A unique design on a staircase railing and banister.


A hand painted floor with an intricate design.


Paying attention to the ceiling, with a creative and unique design detail.


A customized sleeping spot for a pet in a built-in banquette.
All images via Pinterest.

Eventi Hotel, NYC

During my recent stay in NYC for the Brizo event, I spent four nights at the Eventi Hotel in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. The Eventi Hotel is a newer property owned by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. The midtown property boasts a spa, a bar & restaurant, and the FoodParc (indoor/outdoor dining). The highlight of my stay? The dynamic views from my hotel room suite!

A view of the Empire State Building from right next to my bed!

A daytime view from the hotel room.

The entrance/corridor of the hotel room suite.

In the corridor leading from the entrance to the room is a map of Manhattan as artwork.

The well-appointed bathroom features Carrara marble stone and tile finishes, a Kohler sink, and large vanity.

The walk-in shower stall with a rainhead shower.

Shower detailings.

Bathroom art: an etched sketch on plexiglass mounted on the wall.

Loved the fabric on the desk chair - can you spot the Statue of Liberty?

The very tall upholsted headboard is quite a focal point (aside from the nearby view), and the bedding accents include an orange bolster pillow and blanket (not shown) at the foot of the bed.

Photo is a bit dark, but this is the Bar Basque restaurant (where we met up for drinks almost every night).

View of the FoodParc plaza from the Bar Basque restaurant.

{All photos by Jill Seidner Interior Design, hotel room photos taken from room 1107.}

On the town in NYC with Material Girl Rebecca!

While in NYC for the Brizo event I had the chance to meet up with our New York blogger Rebecca. We spent part of the day out walking the streets of NYC, where Rebecca took me around to see some design shops and showrooms, and in between we stopped for lunch!

One of our first stops was the Remains Lighting showroom in NYC (they also have an LA location too).

The storefront facade of Remains Lighting showroom in NYC.

Rebecca and I were both in awe of this large, oversized Mercer Lantern - it's stunning in person!

We also passed through the Flower Market in Chelsea, it was neat to see streets lined with fresh flowers!

Both of us quickly got hungry, so we stopped at Cafeteria for a leisurely lunch...and talked non-stop about blogging, design, clients...I don't think there was a single lull in conversation! (But that's what happens when two Geminis get together!)

After lunch, we checked out canvas - which reminds me a bit of an upscale west elm meets Restoration Hardware with a little bit of Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters...all rolled into one!

Rebecca checking out this huge, large scaled tufted chaise!

Another over-scaled piece was this upholstered nailhead bench, we both loved!

Right on over from canvas is Housing Works, a store that takes donated items to sell for charity and has online auctions - such as this storefront window. The amazing thing is most of these items are rock bottom prices!

The finds at Housing Works.

So this place was like a little jewel in the middle of a big city! Following Rebecca, she lead me through a very narrow corridor, lined with mirrors, past a front gate, in the middle of tall buildings...and surprise! Here is a tiny little house - which houses an antique jewelry and home goods store!

Rebecca checking out all the little accessories at Pippin Vintage.

Our last stop was the showroom "from the source ny", a really cool organic furniture store with unique pieces of furniture made from slabs of wood imported from Indonesia.

All pieces are handmade with natural slabs of wood, like this trestle table.

Really loved the metals legs paired with the natural, organic slab table top.

A handmade rocking horse!

Thank you Rebecca for spending the day with me and taking me around your city! It was so much fun to meet up with a fellow Material Girls blogger! Had such a great time!

{All photos by Jill Seidner Interior Design}