California Dreamin’

I’m back from a whirlwind week in Southern California! I spent the first half of last week working and meeting up with fellow design bloggers in Los Angeles. On Wednesday, I headed down to Orange County where I spent time in Newport and Laguna Beach, both of which were breathtaking! Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time to explore LA. On Monday, my dear friend Jeni took me to some of the shops in the La Cienega Design Quarter and on Tuesday, I spent the entire day working (More on this later. It was an unforgettable experience!) and then met up with the fabulous Erin Gates of Elements of Style and some of our stylish friends for dinner at the Palihouse Hotel. I wish I had taken some pictures of the Palihouse because it was a pretty fabulous, though hard to find place. On Wednesday, I met up with fellow bloggers, Ashlina from The Decorista, Jami from Imagine Design, and Arianna of Arianna Belle for lunch at Toast on Third. The entire time I was in LA it was hotter than Houston. Just my luck!

{Our first stop was at Hollywood at Home, which carries the most amazing textiles by Peter Dunham and John Robshaw, among others.}

{I loved the stacks of books atop this zinc table.}

Hollyhock

  {Hollyhock has a a lovely, very refined, traditional assortment of goods.}

{We also visited Downtown L.A. and Mecox Gardens, but I didn’t snap any photos. Oops!}

  {Dinner at The Palihouse with the Girls- Clockwise from Top: Shannon, Erin, Marie, Jeni, Paloma, and Ashley}

{Lunch at Toast on Third – From Left: Ashlina, Me, Jami, and Arianna}

{The Gorgeous View from our Villa at Pelican Hill}

On Wednesday afternoon, I drove down to Newport to meet up with my dear friend Jeni and her family who invited me to stay with them at their villa at the gorgeous Pelican Hill Resort. It is completely breathtaking!

{Watching the Sunset with Jeni}

{My First Pinkberry Experience…Um, we need one in Houston, STAT!}

{One of Several Pictures Taken on our Morning Walk in Pelican Hill- I will be doing a separate post on Pelican Hill and the Avalon Hotel, where I stayed in Los Angeles later in the week.}

{The AMAZING pool at Pelican Hill}

House Hunting

{Seeing as how I fell in love with Newport and Laguna, it was only natural that we would go looking at houses. I think this one will do just fine! Both the house and the trees are super charming. Unfortunately, I don’t have the millions it takes to live in that area just yet, but a girl can dream.}

{Belgian Style on the California Coast}

{Jeni and I at the Montage} {Before Dinner at the Montage in Laguna Beach}

{Amazing! Seriously, can I please live here?}

{The Incredible Montage Resort}

{After dinner, we were given a tour of the kitchen which was a very cool experience for this Top Chef junkie.}

{Beautiful Food}

{Perfection.}

I realize that this is getting to be a long post and I could honestly post a million more photos of the beautiful views from the Montage, but I’ll spare you and save them for Facebook! Be sure to check back tomorrow for posts on my favorite store in California and The Avalon Hotel in Los Angeles and Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast.

This Week’s Quote

Fabulous Room Friday 10.01.10

California has been an amazing whirlwind! I am heading back later today and will share the details and some pictures from my trip next week. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this fabulous bedroom by Philip Gorrivan. Let’s see… upholstered, tufted headboard? Check! Fabulous lighting? Check! Stacks of beautiful books? Check! Turquoise? Check! And a variety of textures? Check…including walls covered in manila hemp by Phillip Jeffries and an interesting ceiling treatment. Could you see yourself in this bedroom?

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!

 

{Image Credit: William Waldron for ELLE DECOR}

The Style Files: Grant K. Gibson

Grant K. Gibson is both a prolific young designer and a successful blogger. Earlier this year, he was named one of “Five Designers to Watch” by Elle Décor, which is quite an extraordinary achievement for someone as young as Grant. I don’t think his being on such a list came as a surprise to anyone who knows Grant. He is extraordinarily talented, creating rooms that are rooted in classic design, but speak to modern tastes. His designs are the type that we will look back on in ten, twenty, thirty years and they will still look fresh because he understands how to mix antiques and vintage items with more modern ones so incredibly well. Grant’s talent isn’t the only thing that has resonated with readers. He is also one of the nicest, most genuine people in blogland.

Name: Grant K. Gibson

Occupation: Interior designer/decorator

Hometown: Los Angeles/New York

Current City: San Francisco

 

LDV: What inspired you to begin your career in interior design?

GKG: I have always been loved design my whole life. I always was changing things around in my childhood bedroom and would walk into a space and have ideas. I woke up one day and thought- why not turn my passion and love of design into a reality.

LDV: What do you love most about what you do?

GKG: I love working with clients and making their dreams come true. People hire me to take a blank canvas and work my magic. I love it when a client tells me that they don’t want to leave their house. That makes me so happy. I don’t design spaces for me- I design spaces for other people.

LDV: What is the most challenging aspect of your career?

GKG: I like to give people what they like. Regardless of their design style. I am happy with helping people that like color or not much color- traditional or more modern.

 

LDV: Where do you find inspiration?

GKG: I would say that travel is where I find the most inspiration for my work. I love traveling and taking photos or details. I am always learning something new everyday and just love the finding new ideas and ways to do things.

{Dining Room by John Saladino, Photo by Lucca Trovato}

LDV: Who are some of your personal style icons?

GKG: Picking one is like picking a favorite child! - but I love Albert Hadley, John Saladino, David Hicks.

LDV: How would you describe your own style?

GKG: I would say that my style is classic, timeless and comfortable.

I work in all styles- so it is important for me to give the client what they want and make them happy. Some designers only do a certain “look”- but I love all styles and am happy to work on projects with any style.

LDV: What is the trait you most admire in a person?

GKG: Honestly, loyalty and great humor!

LDV: What is your principal weakness?

GKG: I have to say that I am messy. I wish that I wasn’t. I am organized- but there is always a pile of things on my desk and projects that I am working on. I wish that it could look perfect all of the time- but that is all make believe and we don’t all live like that!

{The Incomparable Rosalind Russell as Auntie Mame}

LDV: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

GKG: Aunite Mame said to: “LIVE! LIVE! LIVE!” and I do it every day!

LDV: What do you consider your greatest achievement?

GKG: I was shocked and honored and amazed to be named as one of the 5 Designers to Watch this year by Elle Décor. It was like a dream come true!

LDV: What is your idea of living “la dolce vita”?

GKG: I think that I actually live “la dolce vita”- I love my life of design, love, travel. I wake up each day and am excited to learn something news.

 

 

Bloom: White French tulips, peonies, and white roses

Food: Carbs! I have such a weakness for pasta, bread and potatoes!

Drink: A non fat latte in the morning, lots of iced tea during the day and white wine for the end of the day.

Thing to Wear: I actually don’t like to shop for clothes- so I keep it simple and only wear black and white.

Destination: I love Paris- I would hop on a plane in a second.

Season: I love fall- the colors- the food.

Meal: I cook all of the time- so I would have to say it would be something that I would make at home.

Musician: I love music- too hard to pick!

 

Artist: Again too hard to pick.

Film: Any thing Hitchcock or with Cary Grant

Television Show: I love Mad Men!

Book: A home at the end of the world- Michael Cunningham

Magazines: Elle Décor, House Beautiful, AD, World of Interiors

Blogs: La Dolce Vita (naturally!), The Sartorialist, Habitually Chic, Slow Love Life, Style Court, The Peak of Chic, The Style Saloniste, The Bedlam of Beefy, An Aesthete's Lament, Domicidal Maniac, NICK OLSEN

Texture: Cashmere anything!

Fabric or Pattern: I love linen. Roger and Goffigan anything!

Color: Black and white

Scent: Hermes orange verte

Extravagance: Candles- Love them!

Quote: Too much of a good thing can be wonderful- Mae West

That’s a Wrap!

I am crazy about the new Clover Wrap Leather Bracelets from Stella and Dot. The look reminds me a bit of some of Tory Burch’s wrap bracelets, but I love the quatrefoil detail and smaller price tag of the Stella and Dot versions. The colors are pretty fabulous, too!

 

 

{The wrap bracelets look great on their own, but are even more fabulous when layered with other pieces. The Clover Double Wrap Bracelet is shown in black with some complementary looks.}

{The Clover Double Wrap in brown features silver clover accents and would look fabulous with any of these other bracelets.}

{The Clover Single Wrap bracelets are pretty chic, even on their own. I absolutely love all of the colors, especially the metallic one.}