PETALUMA PROJECT - A preview

My current project in Long Beach is coming back to life as each day passes.

A couple photos of the entry so far to entice you...

You can sum up this stylish house in 5 words: plaid, butterflies, shag, bricks and mirror. There is/was a total of about 10 mirrors in this house, creating a very strange sensation. I actually walked into one! Most have already been removed and, lo and behold, the space doesn't feel any smaller.

After a brief moment of concern, the new owners agreed to remove the ramshackle coat closet somebody erected during a remodel.

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After about 12 hours of ownership, Mrs client had removed a good amount of wallpaper and Mr client had removed the carpet, the under-laying and about 10 millions staples and nails. 

Unfortunately, the wood floor isn't great. There is water damage, there is carpet damage and the hole where there used to be a furnace is an eyesore. Not only that, but to everyone's unexpected surprise, the planks of the wood floor run left to right rather than front to back. 

Secondly, the lower half of the wall to the left, now void of plaidness, is actually composed of nothing more than paneling attached to two by fours. 

So. The walls have to be re-done (which conveniently allows us to update any missing insulation) and the wood floor is being nixed.

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A few days later, with dirt, dust and holes everywhere, you might say the house looks worse, but

look at the change without the coat closet!! 

I'm so happy

Now, the entrance is open and expansive, and the lower ceiling flows rather than feeling choppy. (I love how it drops down again in the far door way)

We have also removed all the baseboards as they will be replaced within something simple and substantial.

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Now, all I have to do is come up with a right color to paint the front door...

Between you and me, I want the homeowners to install this front door hardware, but I REALLY want them to change the doors to glass, so...it won't happen, but it's great hardware, isn't it?? 

Stay tuned

FOR THE CATS: Scratching Seat Scuplture

Cats like to claw and rip and climb and attack things. 

Furniture usually suffers pretty badly, especially with 3 cats like we have. 

Rather than completely deter the behavior

(and because cats do whatever they want when nobody's home)

I came up with a chair just for them...

As soon as I brought it home, the cats knew it was for them.

The fabric was perfect for clawing and climbing. 

The chair legs are great for attacking with all four sets of claws from a laying position.

 

And it created a good spot for looking out the window. 

The next one I make will not have the batting. 

Two layers of fabric instead. 

We have had it several years now and it's still putting up a pretty good fight! 

trademarked!

CONCRETE BLOCKS / CINDER BLOCKS

 This blog sums it up...

...but I still want to post some photos.
 

I also think painted cinder blocks can be very cool.

these are fun...

and finally...

COOL THING: Twice Twice Clock

Twice Twice Clock $150.00 

Modern interpretation of the two-sided railway station clock....

Somebody was reading my mind. I've been meaning to re-design this!! 

UPCOMING EVENTS: Saturday, July 16th is John Lautner Day

That's right. 

The city of Los Angeles officially proclaimed July 16th "John Lautner Day".

Because, as devout readers of my incredible blog, you already know how John Lautner is

 {My Blog Entry: Bond James Bond},

 I will skip directly to the point...

The John Lautner Foundation has an extensive calendar of activities this year in celebration of Mr. Lautners 100 birthday. 

I had no idea. 

Here is a small selection:

From July 16 - July 24, LACMA has a small exhibition featuring an abstracted composition, archival model, and photographs of Lautner's famous Goldstein Office...

  

LACMA info

...never heard of the Goldstein Office, but that's the point, right? 

On July 30th at 7:00, American Cinematheque and The Egyptian Theater present a double feature to pay tribute to the architect. 

 Movie Info

At a date yet to be announced (for some reason), The Getty Research Institute is hosting a Behind The Scenes tour of their archive....which you can get a tiny glimpse of here:

Getty Info

And so much more!!!

WHY SHOULD I HIRE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER? Latest project notes

My most recent client lives in the infamous Seal Beach Shores mobile home park. 

We have worked on the interior (it's completely traditional and high end on the inside - which is fun compared to the outside)...

Upon her return from a holiday in Sevilla, the client called me in to do a little something to the exterior - without painting the whole can. 

I came up with a few ideas.  

The first thing I did, which I have been wanting to do since the very first time I saw this little house, was to add a detail to the roof and some casings around the front window. Thank you, again, trusty Microsoft Paint.

My first idea is completely to the taste of the client. She will love it....

My second idea is OK. I'm not thrilled....

My third idea is my favorite, but a little risky...

VOTE NOW!!

MI CASA: Changes to the Manor de Lord Boutelle

I spray painted my magazine rack. 

We got this rattan magazine rack at Stat's for less than $30.

 

Then I found the perfect spray paint at my local hardware store...

VALSPAR

GLOSS

EXOTIC SEA

65201

and one stinky  afternoon later...

ta-da!

(We also painted and re-arranged the Dining Room)

(I still need to change the plug)

WHY SHOULD I HIRE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER? aka What Designers Do

Recently I got an email from a client about a new project. 

The client is downsizing and wants to make the most of her new outdoor living space. 

She emailed me from China with her assignment, saying she would be in Bali very soon and wants to ship back a container full of stuff for this project.

I went to work. 

I measured and created a drawing reflecting the current layout of the space and took some photos...

 

I sent this initial information to China then started my proposed plan, taking into account everything my client wanted from the space - dining for 8, a fountain, a relaxing place to lie down, interesting lighting and a barbeque - all easy to use and comfortably arranged. 

After emails back and forth, again taking into mind my clients preferences and desires, I came up with a sketch and a final layout. 

I sent a drawing with dimensions for everything so we can fill  that Balinese shipping container with furniture, carvings, a daybed, and a statue or two that will actually fit and bring this outdoor living/dining space to life. 

Stay tuned...the project continues....

ART: Art in the Streets at MOCA

Thanks, again, Mr. Geffen and Mr. Broad. It seems Los Angeles is one step ahead of New York in one aspect. Or is it a healthy difference? I suppose opposites DO attract. 

On April 17 2011, The Geffen Contemporary at Museum of Contemporary Art in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles opened it's current exhibition - Art in the Streets. I went to see it last weekend and I cannot wait to go again. 

In my research to write this blog, I was reminded of something...MOCA commissioned a mural on one of it's own walls for this show. Well known Italian street artist Blu completed the mural on December 10th and MOCA's president Jeffrey Deitch, (a recent New York transplant, ironically enough) white washed it away less than 24 hours later. Unfortunately, there really is no such thing as bad publicity.

I was there. I got a photo, for you, my faithful blog readers.

 

Here today...

Art in the Streets dubs itself the first major historical exhibition of graffiti and street art to be organized by an American museum. I honestly had mixed feelings. I think a lot of people have difficulty differentiating between tagging and graffiti as an art form, myself included. But there is a difference. There can be more to spray paint than the crude markings of gang bangers. This exhibit proves that the streets have something to say.

New Yorks Brooklyn Museum, the next stop for Art in the Streets, just announced it has changed it's mind. Apparently, whether it's David Geffens money or that of New York City Council member Peter Vallone, who all but threatened to pull the Brooklyn Museum’s $9 million city appropriation if the show proceeded, money still defines art. 

You can't go wrong. 

On June 9th, Banksy, possibly the best known artist featured at this show, said he didn't think one should pay to look at graffiti when it was announced that he will sponsor free admission every Monday for the duration of Art in the Streets.

There is a lot to see and the space is laid out so well. No dead ends, no back peddling; you can wander thru and around everything.  

There's a time line. 

The museum has its very own Metro Gold Line station.

The Japanese American National Museum next door has a great gift shop.

etcetera

Yay L.A.!  

Some photos...

MINIATURE TRAIN WITH MINIATURE GRAFFITI

Here's what we saw on the way to the museum...