Nina Petronzio's Blog

Pretty in PINK…and BLACK.

While florals for Spring may not be so "groundbreaking" (see: Devil Wears Prada), I do really love the new Sonia Rykiel collection for H&M. Sonia has designed a very chic, yet playful  line consisting of the colors; black, yellow, hot and baby pink. I picked up a couple of pieces on my last trip to H&M which I plan on mixing in with some less budget conscious items in my closet. I love the patent black platform shoes, paired with a super sexy pair of straight leg JBrand jeans. The shoe actually has a very architectural look to it and a sleek jean helps to highlight that.

Sonia is an amazing talent in the world of couture, and I think her color palette would make for a really fun scheme for a little girl’s room. I would use the yellow, hot and pink as the key colors and  do all the accents in black.

Here's a look at the fashion show launch:

My Girl Suzanne…

If you live in Los Angeles then you most likely watch or have seen GOOD DAY LA (LA's #1 morning news show) with Steve Edwards, Jillian Barberie, and Dorothy Lucy.  Suzanne Marques is one of my besties and reporters on the show.   Here's a recent segment she did with Steven where she literally rolls with the punches...

Chan-da-leeers!

SNL has aired some hilarious home furnishing local commercial spoofs.  Here's my all-time favorite where Scarlett Johansson absolutely nails a New Jersey "Chan-da-leeeer" shop (and I can say that because my family are New York & New Jersey Italians).  Enjoy...I'll post more later!

It takes a village…

I wish I was as glamorous as the photos Laura Hull took of me on Superbowl Sunday for a new interior design & furniture line campaign.  Luckily no one on the crew was a die hard football fan, because it took an entire crew to make a single image look "natural".  How incredible would it be to wake up and have these amazing artists create you every morning.  Here are some behind the scenes shots of our day at Plush Home.  Add Alicia Keys and the smell of cappuccino and you'll have a sense of our fun day...

Makeup and eyebrows by the super fabulous Kristie Striecher. Krisitie splits her time between A-List clients in New York and Los Angeles (pick up any random issue of Vogue or Glamour and one of her clients will be in it). So you may have to be patient to get an eyebrow appointment….but trust me, it’s worth it. You can reach Kristie through www.streicherbeauty.com.

Elaine Lewis (and Megan Misaki) own Noni Boutique , and Elaine was kind enough to lend her talents as my stylist on the shoot. The next time you’re on Larchmont Boulevard in Los Angeles (which is pretty much every other Sunday for me), definitely block out some time to visit Elaine’s shop… Noni Boutique 225 N Larchmont Blvd | Los Angeles, CA 90004 | (323) 469-3239

Rita Marso is my secret hair connection. She’s the most talented and creative hair stylist (really a “sculptor”) that I’ve ever worked with. You can make appointments with Rita through Suburbia Salon.

Honestly, these guys were not nearly as good as they looked. It’s a lesson that sometimes presentation is half the battle (shown on a rare Keith Haring China server, edition #1 by Villeroy & Boch)

www.plushhome.com

Top Installation Tips

For an interior designer, a “design installation” is the day that it all goes down. One thing that I learned quickly in this career is that your installation day can only go as smoothly as you prepare it to go. Yes, there will be unforeseeable circumstances that will always have to be dealt with (delivery guy drops vase, neighbor’s dog sneaks in and tracks dirt on a custom area rug, electrician shorts the house) . But for the most part, solid preparation and planned trouble shooting will ensure a successful day.

Here are my top installation tips that have been helpful to me:

1. Measure Up. Never deliver furniture unless they have been measured for entry. Make sure that sectional sofa and extra wide dining table will fit through your entrance, that narrow hallway, or service elevator. If you’re unsure, ask your movers to scope out the space beforehand.

2. Have Backup. Bring backup accessory options because sometimes you just don’t know what’s going to work (or accidentally break) until you see it in the space. Take a photo of the space before you leave to log what was left and I find it helpful to leave a price list with your client so they can easier decide what they’d like to keep.

3. Go-to Bag. Here’s a list of lifesavers that our entire design staff brings in an installation bag on every project: velvet pads, screw driver, feather duster, lint remover, touch up finish, stain remover, plastic wrap, booties, white gloves, scissors, protein bars, camera, light bulbs, art installation kit, phone charger, cash for tips, Endust, soft rags, tape, trash bags, measuring tape, extension cords, water spritzer, steamer.

4. Do not Disturb. Don’t let your clients watch the process – do the installation when they are out of town or send them to a spa for the day. It’s always best anyway to let your client see the final and completed job. Give them their Tada moment they deserve.

5. White Glove. Hire a top notch delivery crew. Sometimes saving money on delivery can really cause you more headaches down the line. An experienced white glove crew that knows the drill is invaluable.

6. Plan It. Schedule your day out strategically so the electrician doesn’t arrive before the lighting does. Carefully plan out the appointments of your day and allow yourself extra time at the end before your clients get home….you’ll need it.

7. Separate It. Separate your accessory bags by vendors to make any return memos easier for yourself the next day.

8. Must Eat. Figure out the lunch situation for you and your staff before everyone’s blood sugar drops to unhealthy levels.

9. This should be #1. Leave your heels at home.

http://ninapetronzio.com/blog

Sitting Pretty

Office spaces, and more specifically desks, can be a challenge because there aren't a whole lot of designer options that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. I typically custom design these type of items for my projects so I can hide items such as the printer and unsightly cords. The Modena Desk which was shipped to a high profile entertainment office in the Tribeca building in NYC is the newest addition to my custom furniture line.

As a general rule I prefer not to enter a room and walk right into the front view of a desk. The first thing a vistor sees should not be legs, trash cans, handbags, and other random items stashed under your desk.  I also don't like to have my back to the door (It's just creepy and I am Italian, after all).

But in certain cases, such as my Tribeca Installation where there were no other options other then a door facing desk, here are my top three tips to accommodate this positioning:

1. Make sure there is a sufficient modesty panel to hide what needs to be hidden.  So using a standard dining table as a desk may sound like a fun and convenient idea...but NO….MESSY!  Look for visually appealing designs to keep your focal point interesting.  A simple slab style panel can work but isn’t the most exciting look. 

 2. Consider other options other then a plain wood desk.  For the Modena design, I used a high lacquer body combined with faux-python upholstered details for the drawer fronts. Varying textures and finishes are great techniques to create interest. 

 3. Make sure it is serves it purpose. There are many technical things to keep in mind when putting a desk in the center of a room. All electronics and gadgets should be hidden. Outlets should be installed in the floor below so that all cords can run through a grommet hole in the desk top. There’s nothing less fun and less cost effective then having your floors done before installing the outlets.

PLUSH HOME 8323 Melrose Avenue | West Hollywood, CA 90069 | www.plushhome.com

Year of the Tiger

If you were born on any of these years (1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, and  1998), this is your year!

The Chinese use the lunar calendar for celebratory events which includes the New Year. This falls somewhere between late January and early February. The cycle of twelve animal signs originates from Chinese tradition as a way of naming the years. The animals follow one another in an established order and are replicated every twelve years. The rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig are the twelve animal signs. Every animal has particular characteristics and people born in a specific year are believed to take on these characteristics.

According to the Chinese Zodiac,  the Year of 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, which commences on February 14, 2010  and ends on February 2, 2011. The Tiger is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, and it is a sign of bravery. This courageous and fiery fighter is admired by the ancient Chinese as the sign that keeps away the three main tragedies of a household. These are fire, thieves and ghosts.

Tigers are physically powerful, gracious, independent and brave, they are extremely bold animals. They are friendly and loving but can also selfish and short tempered. Tigers seek attention and power; frequently they are envious in a relation. Tigers live dangerously which often leads to trouble. They are intolerant, take risks and are always searching for excitement. Tigers are also instilled with a good dose of courage.


The Tiger has an overpowering attraction and is very kind and always takes on the character as protector. The Tiger flourishes by power and attention and takes advantage of all circumstances it gets itself into. The Tiger is a natural leader and loves to be the centre of attention. As a rebel it goes up against authority and speaks out about wrongs in society, and willingly puts up objections. Even if you don’t agree with the beliefs of the tiger you admire his way to protest.

Just as how their counterparts in the jungle are impulsive, so too are individuals born in the Chinese Year of the Tiger. When people think of tigers, it is their vigor and power that comes to mind first. But it has also been noted that tigers are known to share and are unselfish animals. The reason people admire the tiger is due to the fact that they are ferocious and domineering on the outside, but they are just as noble and distinguished on the inside. These are the same personality attributes that persons will have who are born in the Year of the Tiger.

People that are born in the Year of the Tiger are generally well liked because of their charismatic personalities. Often, failing at a given duty or being unproductive in his personal or professional life can cause a Tiger to experience a deep sense of depression.A Tiger is always at their happiest when they endeavor to climb the ladder of success. Attaining the top spot is his foremost purpose; being in a position of power is her ultimate goal. They are quick learners, need to be challenged and often prefer to work alone. Some Tigers tend to change careers more frequently because they get bored quite easily. They are natural born leaders and perform at their best if working towards positions of power and influence. So once there is no further room for progression, they will often move on to something else.

Anyone that is born in the Year of the Tiger is usually straightforward and outgoing by nature. They will never give up no matter how aggravated they may become. But, they are also full of suspicion and at times will take hasty action. Never lose sight of the fact that Tigers are smart and instinctive.

People born in the Year of the Tiger always take pride in being different from others, and normally demonstrate their originality best in their homes. Their homes are typically filled with exotic possessions. It is no surprise that one of the Tiger’s favorite gemstones is the cat’s eye, but tigers also love the sparkle of rubies and diamonds. They like to spend money, and also to share it. They can be very impulsive spenders because they know they can at all times make more.

The Year of the Tiger is the third year in the cycle of “Heavenly Branches”. Customarily, it is called “Yin”. Those born in the Year of the Tiger are compatible with the horse, dog, and dragons. The year 2010 is another Year of the Tiger. It is the ji-chou year. Jji is the sixth of the Ten Celestial Stems and yin is the third of the Twelve Terrestrial Branches and marks the Year of the Tiger.

A Sprinter’s Body

Here's an excerpt from Steven's Blog that I've incorporate into my regular workout.  I've always admired the bodies of female sprinters and thought you guys might find this helpful...particularly after the Holidays.

Posted in FITNESS & TRAINING TIPS on December 4th, 2009 by Steven Ho

“Family in town”, “Waiting to lose some weight before I go to the gym” “End of the year crunch”, “Too hungover”, “Waiting to start next year”, “Traveling a lot”, “Parties to go to”, “There’s a football game on”… I know.  I KNOW.

I’ve heard all the excuses and have used many of them myself.  The Holidays are arguably the most challenging time to maintain your fitness regime.  But unfortunately our bodies are not sympathetic to our busy lifestyles and schedules.

When I find myself limited on time, my go-to exercises are jump roping (which I’ve talked about in a previous entry) and SPRINTING. Unlike jogging or walking, sprinting (or fast running) will challenge and engage your entire torso and even arms (I’m trying to avoid the “core” word because I’m sure you’re all sick of this buzzword by now).

20-30 minutes of intense sprinting is a fantastic way to maintain your fitness level until your schedule opens back up.  And once you have more time to dedicate to yourself, this routine will be an excellent addition to your regular fitness regime.

If you’re indoors on a treadmill, here is the cycle that I personally use. Obviously you will have to select a speed that you feel matches your health and fitness level.

SPRINTING CYCLE

Stretch

5-10 minute warm-up.  Select a speed that will bring you to a light jog.

1-2 minute(s) of intense sprinting. Select a speed that you would chose to run if a hungry, carnivorous dinosaur were chasing you.  As a gauge, my personal clients who are in good shape will run at speeds from 8.0 – 12.0 for this duration.

1-2 minute(s) of walking.  If you sprinted for a minute, take a minute walk.  If you sprinted for 2 minutes, take a 2 minute walk.

Repeat the sprinting cycle 5x.

5-10 minutes of light to fast job.

Cool down walk.

Oh, my lawyer told me to include this: Always consult a physician before starting a fitness program or changing your diet. Information found on this website is meant to support and not replace the relationship with your physician. Not all exercises or activities are suitable for everyone. If you feel discomfort or pain, stop. The instructions and advice presented are in no way intended as a substitute for medical or psychological counseling.

More Action & Fitness Tips at www.stevenhomartialarts.com/blog

A Heroe’s Welcome

Thank you to the Production Design and Art Department of NBC/Univeral's HEROES for specifying their fine art from our Plush Home gallery.  We've had a fun year of seeing our pieces on the screen (Curb your Enthusiasm, Mastercard, Brothers & Sisters, Got Milk?) and are looking forward to debuting new furniture stars next year!

You can view Nina's entire furniture line at www.plushhome.com