Nautical Love

With July coming to a close, the summer feels like it is already over! But luckily, in a few weeks I am heading to Nantucket, my all time favorite place!  My family and I have been going every summer now for the past 16 years and it is always the highlight of all of our summers.  As I'm counting down the days waiting to be on island, I can just dream about being there and what makes it so great, all things nautical.  There is nothing better in my opinion than a yard full of hydrangeas, nautical stripes throughout a house, and fun accents of coral and anchors.  These qualities are what make every single inch of Nantucket so magical! 

Main Street in Nantucket aka cozy town! Always have loved this picture. 

Coral is such a great accessory in any room!

Brant Point Lighthouse in Nantucket.  

Anchor doorknob! Wow! 

What a chic bar.  

Steps in Nantucket. 

Chunky stripes make any house have that great nautical feel. 

The Lobster Trap in Nantucket. One of my favorites!  

Classic Nantucket style homes.  These make me crazy happy! 

A rope staircase makes any house feel beachy and cozy! I did these steps in my daughters bedroom.  

Cozy cozy stripes 

So New England, great sailboat painting! 

Classic Americana

As the 4th of July approaches I fall more in love with where I live every year.  In my opinion, nothing beats the East Coast on the 4th.  From Lobster Bakes to fireworks on the water, it's a truly idyllic time around here.  All of these fabulous celebrations though, revolve around the amazing architecture and classic Americana style of decorating.  Some homes here date back to the 1700's and that amazing history is part of my love for the interior design. 

Doesn't get better than this!

 Cannot get enough of dutch doors! 

 Ah Nantucket! My all time favorite place...dreamy

LA Bound

Today I'm heading to Los Angeles and I'm so excited.  Although I call myself an East-Coaster these days, I was born and raised LA.  Having that experience has allowed me to incorporate some flares of West Coast cool, with East Coast Traditional into all my design projects.  Whenever I am here, I look forward to visiting my old favorite restaurants, and do some great shopping for clients as well!  A typical day for me in LA includes....

A morning trip to Pressed Juicery, starting my day off right before I head to workout...What to order: A Greens 2 Juice 

Soul Cycle in Brentwood is one of the best workouts and is conveniently located next to my favorite restaurant for any meal...

  The lanterns in Tavern in Brentwood have inspired me recently, and were used in a clients Rec Room Bar.  Tavern is amazing, and my breakfast here will get me ready for the rest of the day...What to order: Poached eggs on Rustic Toasted Bread with Heirloom Tomatoes on the Side

If I have enough time in any day, I head over the hill to my talented friend Leslie's incredible restaurant Sweet Butter...What to order: Kale Caesar and a side of Homemade Chips and Guacamole

Rooms & Gardens is one of my most frequented stores when I am in LA.  I can always rely on them for great accessories like pillows, lampshades, and especially great furniture...

Hollywood At Home is a must when in LA.  Peter Dunham is such a talented textile and furniture designer...

Suzanne Rheinstein's store on La Cienega has a great collection of antique furniture and beautiful accessories for the home...

 Mecox's LA store is one of my all time favorite place to shop.  Aside from the great customer service, their inventory is always inspiring! 

 I end this day of shopping for clients in fabulous stores at Vincenti.  Nothing beats meeting friends at the bar at the end of the day for a drink and delicious food...What to order: Icy cold martini and a Caesar salad with polenta Croutons and Grilled Prawns...   

After a long day of doing what I love, I head back to Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica.  Shutters is beyond cozy, and makes me feel right at home.  

Classic Style Making a Comeback

Recently, more and more decorators have decided to bring chintz back into their design schemes.  The return of chintz was the topic of a Wall Street Journal article this year.  But for me, chintz never left.  I have been using chintz fabric in my homes since the 80's and clients homes for as long as I can remember.  Chintz brings a classic feel to any room making any modern setting more reminiscent of the country side.  Check out the article

(http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323984704578207750588776608.html)

Master Bedroom at a client house in Los Angeles.  The chintz pillow brings a great pop of color on the simplistic linens.  

The Ivy, one of my all time favorite restaurants.  Never failing to keep chintz current.