Yellow is a risky wall color to use in interior design. If used correctly, it can be uplifting and encourage creativity and confidence….but if used incorrectly, it can create a sense of fragility and anxiety. If you’re going to use yellow on your walls, take great caution in the shade that you choose and observe the type of light that you get in the space before before making your final shade selection.
For this children's playroom, I selected a sunshine yellow to compensate for the lack of natural light in the area.
Collecting accessories from our travels and heritage can be super fun in the process, but quickly becomes complicated when it comes time to display them. For a Santa Monica Beachside client, this was process was easy because I had many wonderful pieces from her personal collection to work into a classic-eclectic design scheme.
As a general rule, keeping items clean and organized draws importance to them (think museum...not flea market), and make sure to use pieces where they make sense as a grouping (mixing heights, finishes textures). In the foyer of this project, the antique mirror mixed with the new console and sconces ties together the client's eclectic accessory collection (which were chosen for their theme, materials and sizes).
Stuck with a sea of concrete? Add pattern, depth, intimacy, and interest by using diagonal stone pavers to create a terrace pattern with dwarf plant material growing through. Make sure to check with your landscape professional to determine the irrigation needed, so you don't end up with a ground full of bird baths.
Yes, coasters are a necessity to keep your wood furniture from getting those annoying permanent glass rings. But, they are also a great opportunity to bring in a design element to your coffee and end tables. So ditch those round, paper, cardboardy, coasters with German barmaid illustrations that your last boyfriend collected and upgrade to something that will stand on its own as an accessory.
Mappa Burl Lacquer Coasters available at Plush Home
Some people have a love-hate relationship with their friends, I have them with Casablanca Lilies. They are abundant this time of year - you can get and endless and fresh supply at any Whole Foods or local Farmer's Market in Los Angeles. Their trumpet shape is divine and they add an organic sense of elegance to any room scheme.
BUT...their pollen-bearing anthers are more annoying to me than a perfectly matched bedroom set...and actually even more annoying than real friendemies. Not only do they stain their own beautiful white blossoms as they shed, but they are also guaranteed to do a number on anything of value to you in their vicinity. A few years ago after a not so nice incident with a white Prada blazer, I decided to take matters into my own hands by cutting out the yellow, pollen-bearing anthers from inside the lily (which ironically also helps the flowers last longer).
Some people use tweezers, I've found it easiest to gently gather the anthers with a damp towel with one hand, then simply use small scissors with your other hand to cut them at their base.
Wallah...beautiful Lilies without the stains.
Designing outdoor pool cabanas is one of my favorite aspects of landscape and exterior design. I always begin with a very specific list of what my client wants out of their space. Will they be cooking there? Will they host large parties? Is storage necessary? Plumbing? Will the want an A/V system setup? Wii? Running water? The list goes on and on, but it's crucial to create your list before you commence with contracting because if you decide that a refrigerator would be nice to have in that area after the bricks have already been laid....ugh.
It goes without saying that all of your answers may have some impact on where you decide to build your cabana. So whether you are creating an outdoor cabana, pool house, sitting area, or bbq area.....start that list.
For a recent job, a client wanted to create a similar look and feel to the cabana at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills.
ALUMINUM patio furniture can be preserved by buffing a paste wax into the aluminum frames at least twice a year. In addition, you should clean the vinyl pieces that are normally associated with aluminum patio furniture. Use some all-purpose oil and lubricate any moving parts in your aluminum patio furniture to prevent rust.
WICKER AND RATTAN furniture can be a royal pain to keep up with in regards to maintenance. However, they are attractive pieces of patio furniture that would fit in well with an elegant appearance as well as a casual one. You have to ensure that the wicker does not dry out and that means keeping it out of the sun’s rays. And since wicker is sometimes prone to mold and scratches, you can hose it down and scrub off any dirty grime.
WOOD pieces require diligence to maintain. To keep the integrity of patio wood furniture intact, you will have to oil the wood first or stain and seal it. When you use wood oil, be sure to strip the old oil coating off before reapplying it. For discolored areas, you could either pressure wash the wood or use a light sandpaper to buff out the imperfections and other things like scratches or scrapes. Once you have cleaned the wood furniture, you could paint it or seal it.
WROUGHT IRON patio furniture requires the lowest maintenance, but is generally also the most expensive because they “should” be manufactured with a protective coating to shield it from the elements. “Should” is the operative word. Use a light abrasive cleaner to buff out any light scratches and stains. If you see the dreaded rust spot, use a wire brush to scrape it off. Then you would apply a rust resistant spray to seal it. Once dry, you could then paint over those spots.
I fell in love with this Manuel Canovas fabric (made in France- of course) after a client told me she wanted to work with reds and golds. It reminds me of one of those fabulous 80's vintage military inspired jackets. My client is quite the fashionista and was immediately on board. In fact, she ended up loving it so much that we built her entire scheme around it.
Final product and photos to come...
