a couple of gallons of white paint....

can absolutely transform a tired space. Its most likely the buyers of this home will redo this original kitchen, but whiting out everything and removing the clutter lets people envision the possiblity.

a very important message.....

Staging a home with family heirlooms

This home came complete with a grand piano, a collection of valuable artwork and furniture and mountains of clutter. We cleaned it out and buffed it up, and look how it sparkles. I added fresh bedding, a new sofa, more modern dining chairs, and a few little accessories...The rest was, edit, edit, edit.

step by step staging a home....

we're staging a home in steps, because the family still lives in it, and we want to make it a smooth transition. First step.. clearing out the clutter we all collect, family memorabilia and nicknacks. Already a tremendous change. More changes as they occur!

A three hour tour....

These busy homeowners dropped off the possessions and never had the time and the vision to really make this place a home. we came in for a three hour consult, and voila.
we moved pieces in from the rest of the house (and took some out), unpacked boxes and made the storage work efficiently. It's now a lovely home.

reprinted from a great blog.. casasugar!

Dying to update your sofa, but can't stomach the idea of buying an entirely new piece or paying big bucks for a reupholstery job?There's no need to spend major money on your sofa when renovating or redecorating your space. Spruce up your seating area with these simple and effective ideas, from least to most expensive.

Least Expensive: New Pillow Cases
While you could always buy new pillows, save space by buying new pillow cases. Go for seasonal colors, new patterns, or something sparkling like the West Elm Sequins Circle Pillow Cover ($39).

Keep reading for another least expensive choice, plus two other ideas for updating your tired old sofa!

Least Expensive: Decorative Throws
Stay warm despite the chilly Fall weather with an easily accessible sofa throw like aRestoration Hardware Chenille Heathered Braided Throw ($59).

Moderate: Sofa Covers
Reupholstering sofas can be expensive, but if you have an Ikea sofa, you're in luck. You can quickly and easily change your decorative mood by covering your couch with a sofa cover like those from Bemz (starting at $250 for a three-seater sofa).

Most Expensive: Slipcover Sofa
Opt to buy a sofa that is intended to be slipcovered, so you can pick several covers to switch out seasonally. This Pottery Barn Carlisle Slipcovered Sofa ($3,000) has over 80 fabric options, so you can never grow bored.

Have you given your sofa a simple facelift? Tell us how you managed to makeover your sofa in the comments.

Autumn Throw Down:All about cashmere

I admit it, I don't like fall. Charlotte is a redhead and likes Autumn but I am a blond and all about summer, and I hate seeing all those yummy summer colors go away and be replaced by "earth tones". But the one thing I like about the fall..CASHMERE! Throws on every sofa and chair. I admit, I'm obsessed, I buy often and I have been burned by cheap cashmere and the dreaded blend. Just don't buy the blend. If it ain't 100% cashmere, it ain't cashmere. The best cashmere comes from the western hemisphere, where the goats are combed, and not shorn, because cashmere is the down(like duck down.. get it?)The cashmere goats produce a double fleece, the best is the undercoat. When the goats are shorn, more hair gets mixed with the down and it isn't as soft.And never buy Shatoosh,purported to be the softest cashmere in the world, even if you can afford it. Its falsely claimed to be naturally collected hair of the Tibetan antelope, but they are hunted and slaughtered for their chin hair. You might as well wear Siberian Tiger skin!It's illegal to import to the States now, but still available in Europe and around the world.

There's a lot of cashmere out there right now, and there are some good bargains to be had. This is what I found this morning.above from Bloomingdale's.$275 in these colors...Blech. Too expensive, boring choices.(There's cardboard in there plumping up the layers!)
below from overstock.com $99 yes! virtually identical to Bloomies.
dreamy!In Tiffany blue from ONE KINGS LANE.$159.A perfect wedding or engagement gift, right?

also from ONE KINGS LANE,this gorgeous crocheted cashmere throw thats good year round,also $159

hurry,they always sell out.

Now cuddle up!

a couple more tricks of the trade.....

a couple more flea market and antique store shopping tips.....(and little Steve Jobs tribute..Thank you Steve for making this world so much easier to navigate.)

you can tell if that figurine is real ivory or bone by looking at the cut edge..real ivory has a crosshatch pattern...composites do not.

And in case you didn't know, If you are unsure if something is real gold or silver, test it with a magnet! Real gold and silver are not magnetic.

Flea Market Tips..

Who knew that Heidi Klum likes to go flea market shopping?

Here's some tips from her blog from Michael Ostrow, brilliant decorator and owner of GRACE Home Furnishing... With some of our extra notes...

Go early so you get the best selection.( or go late to pick up real bargains at the end of the day)

Bring a pen and paper so you can take notes on the items you like, and remember where you've been.

Always have plenty of cash. Most vendors won't be able to take credit cards or checks.

Bring a camera so you can reference what you have already seen. ( I also sometimes just snap a pic of the vendors sign and phone number for future reference)

Bring a measuring tape, and have the dimensions of what will fit in your home if you are looking for large items.


Know the difference between "antique" and "vintage" so you are aware of what price you can be expected to pay. According to Michael, antiques are considered over 100 years old, and vintage items are between five and 99 years old.*Sellers usually charge less if you are purchasing more than one item, so request a discount on the total price if you are buying in bulk.*Head deep into the stalls so you don't miss anything/

Stay focused, and try not to get carried away- you don't want to get home and realize that what you thought was treasure is actually trash.( This is also very true of shopping on vacation.. Flea markets in other cities/countries often seem very exciting, to you get purchases home and realize that you dont really want an antique butter churn or red carpet from the souk)

Review your photos so you don't forget anything before leaving-relax, and have fun!

size matters...

I was very excited when I saw this pair of Foo Dogs on Ebay at a very good price, because I loved their whimsical Dr Seuss quality, and I had a client I knew would love them. When a very tiny box arrived..Oops, not 15 inches tall, 5 inches tall! On either side of a doorway, they look like chess pieces! But I love them and will keep them, as I now keep a tape measure next to my desk to assess every size before making a bid on an online purchase...Once bitten, you know.

flowers..

This is how we like our flower arrangements best. A big bountiful bunch of one thing, simply arranged. And you don't need to be a florist to manage it. Leave the formal arrangements to the pros, and just plop twice as many as you think you need in a big vase, or pitcher or pot. It always works.

rethinking the entryway....

This was a large and lovely entryway piece, but ultimately impractical. The two interior shelves were shallow and the height made in difficult to place things on top.We relocated it to a den where it gracefully serves as a perfect party bar,and rearranged pieces from the rest of the house to make a comfy spot to put on or kick off shoes, dump a handbag, and stash mail and magazines with a watchful Buddha to keep an eye on keys and cellphones in his lotus bowl. But most importantly, the vibrant Annie Wharton painting gives everyone an upbeat welcome!I smile every time I look at it, and isn't that what you want to do first thing when you open your door?

two more coffee tabletops.....

so after yesterday's post I saw this gorgeous coffee table in this gorgeous room in APARTMENT THERAPY that fit my tabletop design template perfectly!...http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/re-nest-kirsten-and-kyles-home-tour/item/269690

and then I saw this equally gorgeous room with absolutely nothing on the coffee table (with this much color and fabulousness going on, the coffee table needed to be a rest spot!) to remind me of course that all design rules are made to be broken, and there is no absolute "always"ever.

table toppings....

All decorators have their own little formulas that work over and over again. We find that whenever we dress out a coffee table, we follow the same plan.. a little stack of books that serves as a pedestal for an unusual or compelling object that catches the eye, and something tall, either flowering or green. Fill in with a candle or something that adds a good smell. We like to put our displays on trays, so they can be easily whisked away when its time for a coffee table supper or bananagrams!

junk in the trunk.....

I stand with Nate Berkus. Our pet peeve is a coffee table littered with remote controls, matches, yoga-toes(don't ask) dvd cases and all the flotsam and jetsam of daily life. You need a box on or near the coffee table to throw all that flotsam into.. these are some I've picked out and picked up for clients recently.vintage wood box.....
white lacquer box from West Elm, clean and contemporary way to hide your junk
asian box lined in vintage paper...very chic!
pink leather box from Pottery Barn (a jewelry box we repurposed by removed the inside trays) adds a great pop of color!

Any of these or the myriad of other little boxes you can find keep clutter to a minimum while still looking elegant!

Glass bowls and Italian history

I have a small collection of vintage Murano glass bowls in the blue and green colorways (I do that to keep my collection more orderly, specific, and to keep my hunting under control!)and am always looking for pieces from my favorite glass designer Alfredo Barbini, who designed in the 30s to the 70's in the sommerso style, submerged in molten glass and pulled into shapes. When reading about Murano I found out that the Venetian glass blowers of the 9th century moved to Murano, as an island less subject to fire, and by the 1400s were badass rockstars who got to carry swords and marry royalty, but being considered national treasures werent allowed to leave the republic!
This is one of my favorite pieces. I love the two color glass, and its gorgeous on a coffee table,a soap holder, or in an entryway as a key depository. A little Murano bowl adds a little sparkle to almost any room.

a swan bowl...

Wendie:I dont like to keep a big inventory of meaningless stuff, but I saw this lovely swan dish at a garage sale yesterday, and I know there will be a present or future client who is a bird collector, or got married at the Hotel Bel Air by the swan pond, or who danced as a child in Swan Lake. Its the kind of little character piece that is really going to sing to someone, so I grabbed it.

Brad Austin's very imaginative florals...

We think Brad and Ricky have one of the most magical gardens in Los Angeles, so its always a pleasure checking in at their at-home design studio. On our last visit we discovered that Brad has the fabulous idea of commissioning water color portraits of bride's bouquets, which is a far better wedding keepsake than a preserved bouquet, which frankly, tends to be not that well-preserved and has a Miss Haversham quality.Besides, where do you keep a preserved bridal bouquet? These glorious paintings by Terri Farrell-Gittins will be a treasured family heirloom, yet still exhibit a fresh and modern design.

the fabulous Brad can be reached at 323 658-8874 or visit bradaustin.com to see more of Brad's glorious work as a floral designer and landscaper extraordinaire.

cutting pieces......

In television and film design terminology a cutting piece is the piece of furniture in the foreground of the shot, usually the table holding the beautiful vase of flowers, the branch of flowering quince, or even the artful array of barware that frames the shot and sets the scene.

Charlotte and I have been setting scenes for over 20 years and (between us) 21 emmy nominations(Yes, we are the Susan Luccis of production design, but like Miss Lucci,our time may one day come!).We thought it would be fun to start sharing our dirty little secrets,our treasure hunting spots, our finds, and what we know about the little extras that make a room special, personal, and a joy to spend time in.