November 16, 2010

Tuesday Morning Mailbag

You know what time it is! Let’s just jump in…

Charlotte writes:

Am looking for some round rugs, preferably 5 ft to 6 ft in diameter- maybe a sisal. any suggestions?

ML: I love round rugs in the right spot but they can be tricky to find. Never fear, I have tracked down some good options and hopefully one of these will work for you. Anthropologie is working out the round rug at the moment (and all come in the 5×5 diameter you are looking for). For starters, there is this Doily Rug (I particularly like it in the gray but in the interest of full disclosure, I should say it comes in brown, too)

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November 15, 2010

Weekend Wrap-Up

This weekend I felt a renewed love for Los Angeles. I have been here for the past fourteen years but I’ve never been able to shake the feeling that LA is the flashy, immature cousin to New York’s urbane cool. I love my life here but I definitely have held a quiet but consistent judgement about Tinseltown and all that goes with it. I had two of my closest friends visiting from NYC and never do I look through that judgmental lens more. However, this weekend, Los Angeles shed her bimbo status became a lady in her own right – creative, innovative, beautiful and exciting. I was proud and happy to show my friends the many gems this city has to offer and proclaim my love unabashedly.

The weather was sublime – the perfect mix of crisp, clear, warm days and evenings with enough chill to merit a proper jacket. We drove along the Mulholland ridge and soaked in the exquisite views but inevitably, it always leads to eating and shopping. In the midst of it all were some real design gems. To wit:

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November 4, 2010

Ready Made Window Treatments, Part Deux

Because yesterday’s post was so dense (and long), I’m keeping it short and sweet today. Below are my three cardinal DONT’S when buying an off-the-rack window treatment:

1. NO vertical blinds of any kind:

Yuck. They cheapen your domicile immediately. A sheet tacked up for privacy while you work out your window woes is better. Seriously. If you live in a rental, go ahead and remove and store the provided blinds (with the intention of hanging them back up when you leave, so you don’t lose your security deposit, naturally). You’ll be so happy you did. Read the rest of this post »
October 29, 2010

Use mirror to open up your space

One of the most common complaints I get from clients is about cramped, dark spaces and often my “cure” is to apply a little mirror. Don’t be alarmed – I am not proposing that each of you turns your house into a room from Scarface. A little can go a long way and add sparkle and pizzazz to areas that are normally neglected. Apply mirror to a wall or the back of a bookcase and light it properly and you’ll see how the space opens up. It’s as if you put a window where there wasn’t one. Check out some examples below…

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October 28, 2010

Photomurals?

Quick – what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think photomural? Let me guess – a cheesy tropical sunset in your friend’s dad’s “finished” basement from the 70s. Am I close? Today I want to blow your mind with new ways to think about using wall murals that are far from Miami Vice.

Exhibit A:

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