A Marvel in Mandeville Canyon

So the Windsor Smith designed house on the bottom of Mandeville Canyon that I have been stalking for about a year is ready for it's close up. And wouldn't you know, it's a Veranda Magazine show house; it's simply gooooorgeous! The house is open to the public so long as you buy tickets at Veranda Unveils the House of Windsor. I recommend going with friends who love good design so you have someone to drool over the interiors with. Every room is more beautiful than the next. You never knew four walls and it's contents could look this good. I managed to take the photo above, though not a very good one, before I was promptly told "no pictures!" I heard a rumor that the house is up for sale in the $12 million range. As we were leaving, who but the unequivocally talented Ms. Kathryn Ireland was exiting her Range Rover in her plunging neckline. I quickly shouted across the drive way to tell her I was a groupie of the show and I love her work (btw, she designed the most beautiful horse stable for the show house). I was tripping over myself to help her get a dog leash around her little dog. My husband captured the moment. Embarrassing. I was seriously star struck. You can read an interview of Windsor Smith about the house as well as view a few photos at 1st Dibs. A whole spread of the house will be featured in the September issue of Veranda Magazine.

Rethinking Oxnard, CA

This photo spread featured in the August issue of Veranda magazine stopped me dead in my tracks. Wow, was I surprised to find out that this absolutely beautiful and serene house is located in Oxnard, CA. I grew up in Oxnard and I guess I always thought it was a bit dumpy. Though now that I live in LA I can't understand why Oxnard shores in Ventura County has not become a popular beach vacation home spot. There are very few water front properties to be had in California for in or around $1 million dollars except for Oxnard and it's only a pleasant forty five minute drive along the PCH from Santa Monica. Well, I think I know why the properties are still relatively affordable. It might have to be that the surrounding areas around the beach are not so pretty. But neither was Venice Beach and we all know how that area has taken off. The home belongs to the owners of Gianetti Design located in Brentwood here in LA. I would really love for Oxnard to live up to it's true potential, as a tranquil and beachy little hide away. No doubt, folks like these, who also command a discerning taste level saw something special in humble Oxnard. Why else would they have built such a gorgeous home there? I can only imagine the photo spread will only entice other architects and designers to do the same. Could this be the next area to invest in with tons of financial upside? I hope so.

Bravo!, Bravo!

Sorry for the lack of posts but life took over as it does from time to time and it did not cooperate. But I am so glad I have come up for air because I wanted to remind those who have not been watching that Million Dollar Decorators episodes are airing on Bravo and a must see. These designers are the real deal (no design on a dime here). They eat, drink, sleep style and it is so cool to see these characters in their natural habitat. The designer I would most love to have drinks with on the show is Mary McDonald. Who knew that such a beautiful and chic woman was so dang funny. But my favorite designs come from Jeffrey Alan Marks. His house is amazing. No joke, my Elle Decor edition that featured his house some months ago is so tattered from my constant ogling of the spread at least three times a week. Above is a video of Jeffrey giving a tour of his perfect home. That bathroom is to die for!

Lonny Magazine

Newest edition of Lonny Magazine is here!

Garden Inspiration

With the construction of the house almost complete, it's on with the next phase of this house's facelift and my focus is on the landscaping, especially around the front door. I love the look of gravel against shrubs of lavender and sage. I am interested in growing vines against the cinder block wall but I also like the idea of having roses as well. There are infinite ways of going about the design but I am geared toward indigenous and drought tolerant plants (not sure if rose's are in that category). Here are some of my inspiration photos, with more to come in the future.

Progress Report

The addition to the house is almost complete. We are waiting on some more reclaimed wood from a barge in Hawaii which we are expecting today. The reclaimed wood is being used for the siding and wood decking. I thought I would post some progress photo shots of the house.

Ojai Calling

We arrived home from our leisurely trip less than two weeks ago and I already feel like I need another vacation. I hit the ground running as soon as we landed from Miami. We found a tenant and he wanted to take possesion in a week so I have been hustling coordinating painters, cleaners, movers, etc. It's a shame that the house we rented is not cash flow positive because I would love to justify a weekend jaunt to the Ojai Valley Inn to partake in some sun bathing by the pool, spa treatments and delightful cuisine. The Spanish style architecture of the inn and the grounds are gorgeous! The inn was developed in the early 1900s as a private country club and has gone through many transitions before it was privately purchased and transformed in a 90 million dollar renovation. The interior design reminds me of Kathryn Ireland's style though I am pretty sure the inn hired another firm. The rooms are decorated in stripes, florals and geometric cotton fabrics in shades of blue, marigold and rust. Charlotte, I think we are due for another visit soon!

Lulu DK

I have been in awe of Lulu De Kwaitowski ever since I saw her featured in the book Bright Young Things by Brooke De Ocampo many years ago. I wanted to know more about this beautiful, sensual, creative woman. It seemed shortly after the book came out I noticed that she had launched a colorful and bold fabric line which had an immediate following among designers. Needless to say, the fabric line is hugely successful and she has expanded her design influence to include a line of bedding for Matouk and a leather collection for Elite Leather Furniture . She also published a book featuring her collection of collages that are now currently showing at CLIC Gallery in Soho in New York. All this and she has time to write a blog. I just found out about her blog today and read that she just spoke at Pottery Barn in Santa Monica. Bummer! I would have loved to have been there. As a mother of a one year old, I don't understand how she accomplishes so much with three children and a husband. Once again, I am in awe.

Lulu DK Moondance on settee

Lulu DK Chant on shades and pillows

Pillows for Matouk

Bedding for Matouk

My favorite Lulu collage

Tim Clarke

I have been crazy busy since we arrived from vacation last week getting our rental property in Venice move in ready. We had an offer from someone who was wanting us to fully furnish the house and it sounded very tempting. Though the timing could not be worse. Justifying the cost to furnish from cutlery to linens was not feasible after considering we are only seventy percent done with the construction on the house we live in. In order to avoid a coronary mid way through the project, we reluctantly passed on the offer. But it has really got us thinking about converting the standard rental in Venice to a vacation rental in the future. Not only would it bring in more income, but Marc and I could use it on the days it is not rented and hang out with our friends. (I know this sounds ridiculous for those who do not live in LA but if you move more than eight miles from your friends, you will probably never see them again. The traffic is just hideous here.) I have been on Tim Clarke's website dreaming of what the rental could look like if I had the necessary funds to hire someone at his scale. A girl can dream. His "Coastal Modern" look is my favorite.

Sheila Bridges

I've had Sheila Bridges on the brain ever since I stayed at Casa Tua. I watched episodes of Designer Living on demand about a hundred times. Her manner on the show helped me understand good design and made good design approachable. I went on her website today and saw that she updated her portfolio. This roof deck is breathtaking. I hope to see more of her work featured in more shelter magazines. I know she has been spending time developing her own product line as well as designing outdoor furniture for Arthur Lauer.

Open House

It's not every day a real estate agent has an incredibly designed house to sell. In fact one of the hardest conversations an agent has with a seller, aside from deciding the listing price, is the delicately recommended design help. So when the design help recommendations are not needed because the house is "perfect", a real estate agent can become as giddy as a school girl meeting a teen pop star at a backstage concert. Case in point, my friend Jordan, has a new listing in Mar Vista a few blocks east of Beethoven and South of Palms on May Street. The house is so beautiful that Country Magazine featured it. He could hardly wait to take me there a couple of days ago and as we arrived at the house we were greeted by dozens upon dozens of white roses fully bloomed in the front yard just in time for Easter. I was overcome by giddiness at the sight of all the loveliness. What makes this house so special is all the details added by the previous owner who happens to be a successful designer. Though the house is relatively new, vintage details where added throughout, giving the house tremendous character. The reclaimed woods used on the floor, vintage light fixtures that hang in the kitchen and the old footed tubs in the bath are just some of those details. It was hard for me to come up with my favorite elements of the house but I managed to narrow them down to two, I love love love the tall white washed wood ceiling in the kitchen and the doors that open up from the kitchen to the landscaped back yard. Banana pancakes washed down with strong cup of coffee while spend hours reading the news paper on a Sunday morning is in order in this kitchen. You can view this beauty on Tuesday during broker's caravan or better yet on Sunday May 1st between 2-5pm. Click here for the MLS link for more pictures and info.

Casa Tua....Casa Mia Por Favor

I have been wanting to stay at Casa Tua since I saw it featured on a tv show called Designer Living hosted by Sheila Bridges many years ago. I can vividly remember the episode when she is dinning around a large communal table next to the kitchen and walking around the premises. The show highlighted the decor which is a perfect mix of beachy meets Italian residence . The owners are former super model Leticia Grendene and her Italian husband Miki who can be seen roaming the premises greeting guests. We checked into Casa Tua after a two block jaunt with our bags being hauled by a porter from the National, it was really funny to watch us with baby in tow. The name Casa Tua means your house in Italian and is the perfect name because staying here feels as if you are staying at a friend's house. But the kind of friend who has fabulous taste and welcomes you with lit scented candles and champagne on ice in your room. Oh, did I mention a chef in house who can whip your baby up some lovely pureed vegetable soup any time.

The rooms are decorated in a white palette with hints of warm woods and honey toned leather accents that lend a wonderful contrast. The poster bed is the most luxurious I have ever slept in. The linens, which are real linen, are a perfect mix of crisp and soft and can be purchased to take the Casa Tua experience home with you.

Everything eaten on the premises is made in their kitchen. They make their own olive oil and balsamic which are for sale as well. I would not be surprised if they churned their own butter. This morning we had freshly baked croissants lightly dusted with powdered sugar, made in the kitchen above.

I love the personal momentos displayed on shelves in the dinning room. The picture of the girl jumping kills me, it's so cute!

The tall hedged gates offer seclusion and privacy while the beach and bustling streets are with in a couple of blocks.

This beautiful and charming structure dates back to the 1920s and was once a personal residence. It was converted in 2002 to a five bedroom boutique hotel and private club.