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.

Miami

We arrived in Miami yesterday for what was going to be a day lay over before we headed to LA but Marc decided to extend our vacation for another couple of days. Nine days of vacation was not enough. We spent the night last night at the National which is located on South Beach. The pool and cabana rooms are great but the lobby and restaurant could use a bit of a face lift. The staff is really nice and this hotel is kid friendly. Next stop Casa Tua down the street, I can't wait to see how this place looks up close.

Trad Home Online

The kids from Lonny Magazine have teamed up with Traditional Home Magazine to bring us Trad Home Magazine online. The tufted chairs, the nail heads and rustic table on the cover look so pretty. The flowers are the cherry on top. The online magazine also features a video of Jonathan Adler and Charlotte Moss, very hip for Traditional Home.

Turks and Caicos

Here are some of my favorite things from Turks and Caicos so far. Watching my little girl playing on the beach the way I did when I was little. It makes my heart melt.

The beaches of Grace Bay are pristine. Can you stand how beautiful the water looks?!

I love me some conch, pronounced konk. Just learned that on this trip. Conch fritters with a sweet chili sauce.

Funny Girls

I have always been a little jealous of funny girls. I never had a quick mind for wit and I believe those that are witty are really smart. One of the funniest women today is Ms Tina Fey and I was delighted to see, while running to my gate at the airport, that she has come out with a book, Bossy Pants. It took about three days to finish this quick read and aside from being hilarious, Ms Fey had plenty of good advice for females. I must warn you that you will burst into laughter while reading so don't bring this book to church or jury duty. After reading the book I felt a little guilty not watching 30 Rock and supporting good tv. The networks lost my attention with a slew of bad sitcoms and reality tv that it's been hard for me to tune in again. But I pledge to rent all of the 30 Rock episodes when I get back to the main land and catch up to the current shows. Write on Ms Fey! Write on!