Redbury Hotel Hollywood Opens

The ladies over at Avenue Interior Design just had their biggest project open - the new Redbury Hotel in Hollywood.  The deep reds and collected look make it feel like the west coast outpost of the Gramercy Park Hotel.

32 years and counting

And the jello swimming pool birthday cake still takes the cake....

New Favorite Artist

I discovered Hayley Gaberlavage's paintings through Jess at the Love List Blog.  I love the the simplistic themes of her figurative and landscape paintings and the patterns in her abstracts.  Definitely coveting one for the living room somewhere.

Squashes and Cukes

Are agrowin'

Lonny is here!

The new online Lonny Magazine is now live!  For those of us who have felt a sense of emptiness since Domino went bye-bye, Lonny keeps the memory alive.

Hope Floats

As many of you know I work for Wilson Associates which is one of the pre-iminent hospitality interiors firms out there (not to toot my own horn).  What a lot of you don't know though is that through the Wilson Foundation we also help some of the poorest rural communities in rural South Africa by providing education, supplies, and healthcare support.

The Hope Bracelet is a one of a kind black onyx and sterling silver bauble which features the foundation's logo.  One hundred percent of the net profit from each sale ($125) benefits the Wilson Foundation . The first 50 readers to order a Hope Bracelet will receive a collection of ten note cards featuring photos taken by African youth as they “looked again” at their world and used a camera for the first time via a program that helps HIV/AIDS efforts.

John Derian for Target

On Sept 5 John Derian introduces a new line of home decor and accessories for Target.  Love the nature inspiration.

The Mac Daddy

I'm thinking a long lunch might be in my near future now that I know about Mac & Cheeza downtown.

It's like a customize your own mac and cheese bar.  You choose your size, your type of noodle, your meat veggie and topper.

A little gluttonous but I'm willing to take one for the team and go try it.  And did I mention they deliver? Anyone been?  Let me know what you think.

Umber-ella-ella-ella

So our patio seems like it would be a beautiful oasis. But in reality in the mid-afternoon in the depth of summer, you have to hunch in the corner in the one shady spot to stay cool.  Umbrella to the rescue (yes, another joy of homeownership - see previous post).  I think we need a cantilevered umbrella and here is a roundup of a few options:

Home Decorator's Collection  $179

  Target  $449.99

Walmart $199.99

Overstock.com $259.99

Patio Umbrella USA $229.90

If I had a million dollars

I would definitely do a room in Fromental's Chinoiserie wallpaper.

I would go all out and do the hand embroidered version - so sumptuous!

And there is something so catchy about this mod painted Klimt-ish version of a Chinoiserie called Psychadelica - not sure what that says about my taste though!