where were at: {Seal Beach House Exteriors}

 

This is where we started almost a year and a half ago on this project.. It was a little worse for ware and the inside was even more interesting.  I went by the project this week and it has completely transformed.  My inspiration for the exterior was a winery we visited several years ago in Canada, travel is an amazing gift of inspiration for designers, I always remind my accountant of that.  We removed the strange brick wall across the front entrance of the house and opened it up with windows and french doors.  We also replaced the windows on the face of the garage with faux doors and gave the entire exterior some wide plank siding.  I am so happy with the transformation.  There is still so much to do with the landscaping and finishing touches but it is coming along really well.

I will share the interiors on this project soon- I cannot wait to show you how far that has come!

 

Please excuse the weird light from my phone...

 

If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us!

Vintage Fabrics: Batik

 

I have a little problem when it comes to this indigo fabric.. well I just cannot resist the beautiful details of each piece and how different they are.  (Please excuse the weird angle of the photo below).   I love these pieces with their intricate patterns and the soft hand of the fabric. The fabric pieces were made in China with a wax resist technique and each is unique, most of these pieces began as clothing and bedding and are now being re-purposed in all different ways.

As you can see I cannot resist the temptation with these pieces! Some of these will go up for sale, most are my personal collection, and I will be using some of the loose fabrics for upholstery projects that I have in the works.

 

While we were in LA for this quick little visit it was a beautiful day and the neighborhood was so pretty, so I snapped a few pictures.  I love how each house is so unique and full of character, this one was so cute!

 

If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us!

happy weekend...

 

Thank goodness we are onto the weekend again.  Although there does not seem to be an end in site for our busy fall season I do have hope that our home will soon be back to normal.  Things are moving along well in the kitchen and the flooring is completely in.  We just have painting to go and  a few little things here and there.  

How are things shaping up for you this fall?  Does it seem that there is not a dull moment in any season as of late?  I feel like we are all go go go around here.

image via

 

The china cabinet

 

I spent most of the day yesterday trying to empty out my china cabinet and get ready for our new wood flooring to be installed and I started thinking about how lucky I am.  I have waited 4 years for the flooring I wanted, after pulling up some damaged wood when we first moved in, I am excited.  But I was really thinking more about all of the wonderful pieces I have accumulated over the years.  I LOVE dishes and when I was on a trip to Paris about four or five years ago, I found out how very much fun it could be to buy beautiful pieces while I was there and bring them home with me.  I fell hard for Astier de Villatte and my life has never been the same.  Each trip I have taken I have bought pieces and brought them home with me, very carefully.  I have a large collection now and although I don't use it as I should, each piece seems to hold a wonderful memory for me.  There are many other beautiful pieces in there too but each of these is like a little treasure to me.  

As I have been going through emptying out our kitchen and now the china cabinet I have realized something else too, I need to buy only what I love, not what is a good deal or something I may never use.  I have donated boxes and boxes of pieces over the last few weeks that have never been used or were still in the original packaging.  So this project or combination of projects has given me the jump start I need to spend more wisely and maybe just maybe start using those beautiful pieces I have been sheltering from my loved ones for fear of breakage.

Do you use what you have?  Do you save the best dishes and glassware for only special occasions or do you use them everyday? 

 

sneak peek

Between packing for my move (The truck arrives bright and early next Thursday -eek) my little ones and my business I'm running like crazy right now. In fact I'm heading out the door for a meeting right now but before I left I wanted to share a little peek at a wonderful project I just finished up. The clients were an absolute pleasure! Sorry I can't show more of this job, I had it photographed on Monday! You'll see the entire room soon enough! Have a great day, rain and all!

sneak peek - kitchen

I have three great jobs I need to have photographed right now! This being one of them. It's a kitchen design...more to come when the job's been shot! (I'm thinking of investing in a nice camera - do you have a favorite digital, my 35mm was the canon eos rebel)

Cheers!

ps. thanks to my client for sending this photo along.

checking in...

I've been running around all day. I had two client meetings and a few other work related stops I needed to make today. Here's a sneak peek of two different (unrelated to today's stops) jobs I have going on. 

These are just a few of the fabulous fabrics I'm using for a great project. The clients have wonderful taste! I just love it when that happens. And below is a painting I just proposed to a client. It's by my amazing sponsor, artist,  Yangyang Pan. I love the energy of her work! I actually may end up having her commission a job for my client. 

Sneak Peek - Shelter Project

Hello, hello. It's been a busy week. Sorry for the late posts..I had an install this morning! Installs are always a bit nerve wracking of course because I want everything to turn out perfectly. Here's a peek (I quickly snapped these with my i-phone) at an amazing job I've been working on! These clients are a pleasure. I need to finish the project up with accessories and artwork but we're almost there. A number of the items were custom designed by SHELTER. The rug was a custom size (it's a Kelly Wearstler pattern) as was a number of the furniture pieces (ex: the family room ottoman), the window treatments and of course the pillows! I'm going to have it professionally shot soon and will surely share those photos. (but only after they've been submitted to a publication first!). Happy (almost) Friday! xx.

Joss and Main - Shelter's Curated Collection

I was both flattered and excited when Joss and Main approached me to curate a collection of items for your home from their vast and wonderful collection of housewares, furniture, lighting and accessories!! So be sure to head over to the Joss and Main site tomorrow am, 2.28, to view and shop my CASUAL LUXURY collection. I'd place each and every item in my home! Happy Shopping!!

A Peek

Hello, hello. Here's a little peek at a project I'm wrapping up. I love this client, I've been working on their house now for a couple of years. We choose one room to work on at a time and run with it!! Hope you're having a great week. It's been a busy one for me!