This post is a hybrid of Do It Yourself and Behind the Scenes topics. Anyone who is a DIY fan and/or interested in the inner-workings of interior designers.....this post is for you!

I just had a lovely conversation with a reader from New Jersey (psst...she contacted me because she loved this post). She, like so many others, she is at standstill with their house (she has a Mr. Wonderful of her own, as well as two wee ones). She knows what they like, she likes to and is able to do it herself....it just hasn't come together yet.

Often times, like this dear reader, homeowners inherit architectural elements that need to be changed to suit their tastes before they can move on to implement their ideal home, make purchases and "bring it all together" (think perfect cabinets in a less than desirable stain, a sturdy staircase in the wrong style, or counter tops in an undesirable material or color). When this happens, the project quickly becomes more involved- it shifts from a decorating project to a full on design project that requires gaining bids, hiring contractors,  sequencing, and making tough decisions about durability, style and the credibility of those to be hired. We chatted for a bit and I told her my best advice: Break it Down and Keep it Organized.

What do I mean by "break it down"? I mean- make a plan (as best you can....if you get stuck- you can always call a pro!). Measure your rooms, take inventory of what you wish to keep, measure items you wish to keep and start listing out everything you need to complete your project. Break it down to the bare elements. You will go nowhere, and probably waste a lot of money and time, if you don't know where you are going and what you need. You need a plan.

That's how we designers do it- we plan. We don't go around and spend frivolously. We have A LOT of things to keep organized, we have A LOT of things to buy for our clients and we have A LOT of responsibility to our clients. Not to mention, we need to be really efficient because clients pay a premium for our time and talent. Do like we do- break it down and make a plan. A good plan is like a road map- you will know what needs to get done and you will finish your project once you know what it takes to get from Point A (existing condition) to Point B (completed house).

Now comes the "keep it organized" part. This is not an option. It must be done. Once you set yourself up, keeping your project organized is a cinch. You need to make a binder. This topic has come up twice in my life the last three days (once with my dear New Jersey reader, once with a fellow ASID member)- its a sign that I should shed the light for everyone reading. This is what interior designers actually do to organize their projects (you are getting a sneak peek into actual practice here!). And, if you are doing your own project- you will need to keep a binder, as well.

What is "A Binder"? Simply put- its a folder with all your project info. Want to drive a designer mad? Take away one of their client binders and watch them get ready to throw themselves off a cliff. That's how essential "the binder" is to each and every project. We really can't do anything without it. Its used as a reference and "home base" for every project. If binders were to get lost, stolen, burned in a fire or ruined in any other natural disaster- a designer would be screwed. Binders are also referenced after the project has been "dead filed"- they are important for the present and the future. (See my shelf to the right: large projects get the big binders, smaller projects or new porject starts get small ones, and current consulting projects get manilla folders,  which are placed in the mag file)

I specialize in larger projects- whole houses or at least 3+ rooms, so I usually start my projects in a 2" black binder. It usually moves up to a 3" binder by projects mid-point. Its just a simple, durable black binder. I label the outside spine with the "Sidemark", (our shorthand is "S/M"). A sidemark is the project name and is referenced on all project documents, PO's, computer files, etc. I looks like this: "S/M Smith". If you are keeping your own binder, there is no need for a S/M, but I would label it "Smith Residence" for easy shelf reference.

What's inside? I use pocketed divider tabs. Each tab is then labeled (each room gets a section, as well as "estimates", "correspondence", etc). A designer's label tabs will differ from a do-it-yourselfers tabs. Just use common sense. Think of what you need to keep organized and give a divider section to each area you are working on (Living Room, Kitchen, Basement, etc.). You can add tabs as you need them. The key is to have one tab for each room, and a tab for quotes and estimates.

Keeping it organized: Once you have the system in place, you have to use it. Measure your spaces, take your inventory, take photos of items you are keeping- gather the essential information for each room. File each item in its appropriate divider section. File as you get or create information- don't let it pile up or float around. Just maintain the system and everything will be at your fingertips when you need it. Also, keeping everything together allows you to grab n' go, too. Take your binder on shopping trips and have it present at meetings. Reference and use the information.

When you get further in your project and you start to gather small odd and ends such as tiles (if you have a large tile or piece or stone, break the tile and keep a small piece or ask your fabricator/installer to make you a small stone sample), paint swatches, fabric swatches, etc.- place them in a durable bag. I keep one binder and one bag for each project. These items come with me to site meetings, design centers, shopping trips, and they sit near my desk for reference at all times.

If you are doing your own project, and you follow these guidelines- you will get a lot more accomplished, you will use your time wisely and efficiently and you'll complete your project faster. You will also make less purchasing mistakes because you can reference concrete information, rather than trying to guess or estimate or go off of memory. You will have that wall measurement for a piece of art you are interested in, you will have your sofa upholstery fabric swatch to reference when shopping for throw pillows, you will have your paint and tile samples to reference when selecting your counter tops, etc.

For all of you brave homeowners who are design savvy &  have the time, energy, and resources to attempt a design project on your own- good luck to you! I hope this helps!

So, its been two months since I've blogged. Sorry about that! The design industry usually slows down for the holidays (actually, some establishments even close for a few weeks!), I've gained a new project, I've done some random consulting, been to Chicago and back, been to Arizona and back, continued work on my existing projects and celebrated the holidays with the ones I hold dear. So- that's what I've been up to the last two months! I am still alive (I just haven't been blogging!).

New post to come soon. Here's a hint....its about organization (its also a designer practice that I will give you a peek into! It will help you, I promise!). Until then...

To read Part I of Classic Interior Christmas Decor, click here.

To read Part II of Classic Interior Christmas Decor, click here.

Classic Interior Christmas Decor, Part III

Now its time for the piece de resistance....the Christmas Tree! And, seeing as how its Thanksgiving Day, (Happy Thanksgiving, eveyone!),  its time to haul everything out and get ready to decorate! (The day after Thanksgiving is really the earliest you should start decorating!) I remember working as a design associate at my first interior design job. The tail-end of our client's full-service project overlapped with the holidays and I found myself, and the designer I then worked for, creating a winter wonderland for our client's estate that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. I remember being up on a ladder, with Carol of the Bells and Greensleeves being pumped through the sound system, our client baking cookies for us, her little ones smiling with joy as boxes and boxes of decor was brought in, their cherished ornaments pulled out and placed on their tall tree....I thought to myself, "I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this!". It was a fun few days (yes, DAYS) of Christmas installation, and it was so thrilling to see how happy and cozy we made their home for their holiday celebrations. I learned so much about Christmas decorating during those few days (its not rocket science, but wow- there are tons of tips and tricks to it! Hopefully I have given you some useful ones in this post series!). Although I have my own firm now, and I have less and less time to devote to Christmas decorating requests from clients, that particular memory is one of my favorites from working for that firm.

If you read Part I, you know I am a fan of real trees. So get a real one! But, if you insist on getting a fake tree (or must, for whatever reason), consider realistic fakes such as "TruTip" styles from Christmas Lights, Etc. or "True Needle" styles from Balsam Hill. When you invest in a fake tree (and I say invest because a truly good fake will cost you upwards of $500) be sure to buy a really good one. No sense in giving up all the benefits of a real tree (the smell!) if a fake one doesn't match up in the looks department.

I recommend two trees, if you have the room. One tree as the "Fancy Tree" that abides by your color palette and sits in an out-facing window of the house, and another tree that showcases eclectic ornaments for the children and/or from your childhood. This "Memory Tree" can be placed in a more casual and lived-in area of the house- the study, family room, morning room, upstairs landing or loft. I also like  hanging small/miniature frames by ribbon and placing family photos (vintage and current) and notes to one another in the frames to be placed on the Memory Tree. Its a lovely tradition that honors family, memories and heritage- for me, those are the best aspects of any holiday. The fancy tree should be placed in front of a window that shows to the outside of the house- the foyer, formal living room, or the dining room (depending on the layout and siting of your house). The look of  a glowing Christmas tree from the outside is so warm and welcoming. Typically these areas are removed from main living areas, that's why its nice to have multiple trees.

Lighting a Christmas Tree

When you light a Christmas Tree, there are a few things to keep in mind (other than fire hazards, please take your own sensible precautions on that!).

You need about 100 bulbs per one foot of tree (less if using LED, read on to find out why). If you have a 7' Christmas Tree, plan on 700 lights. Visually mark each foot on the tree and space your light placement accordingly, working from bottom to top (do this first, before anything else). As you place the lights, don't just place them in a simple ring on the outside....work in a zig-zag pattern, going to the trunk, out to the branches, and back to the trunk again to ensure you get ample coverage. The inner lights provide light balance and allow your tree to glow.

With all the LED lights out on the market, there is one thing you need to keep in mind (that no one seems to be pointing out)....LED lights are a lot brighter than the incandescent light strings. They also produce a different quality of light- they're very clear, crisp and strong compared to the warm glow of incandescent lights. Its easy to achieve light overkill when working with LED's, so keep that in mind. If you pay attention to the amount of light emitted from LED's, you will inevitably have larger gaps without lights- its just how it has to be until LED's are designed to perfection for Christmas tree lighting.  This is important because you don't want too much light from the tree- it will overpower the ornaments and almost act as an ambient light source, rather than a sparkly accent light source. So, beware of LED's. I'm not against them....but I'm not impressed by them, either. Love them for the exterior....but on the interior, they can be too powerful. Try using half the amount of lights recommended and add/subtract as you see fit.

Also, do yourself a favor and put your lights on a timer. Most people do this- but Im still surprised when someone has to go "plug in" their tree. Just have them go on and off by themselves....your back will thank you for it!

Decorating a Christmas Tree

Whatever palette you go with (see Part II for info on how to formulate a Christmas color palette), stock up on gobs and gobs (see guideline below) of solid glass ball ornaments. Get them in a few different sizes that are appropriate for the scale of your tree (no huge balls on small trees!). When you start decorating, start with these first. Group your small, med and large sizes. Divide your medium sized glass balls and place half in your large pile, and the other half in your small pile. Fill gaps and the interior of the tree with your large pile, placing more of them on the bottom half to two-thirds of the tree (depending on height). Then place your small pile outward on the branches and concentrate more of them on the top half to one-third of the tree. If you balance your ornament placement according to the height of the tree, you will achieve proper proportion and you may cause your tree to appear taller (in the same way the Greeks did by making the base of a column thicker at the bottom, and slightly tapering towards the top).

Let me tell you right now that you need far (far) more glass ball ornaments than you think. A good guideline is to take the height of your tree and add two zeros to it. I'm not kidding. It really takes that much. Once you have that figure, you can subtract about two-hundred and that is the quantity range you need. For instance, if you have a 7 foot tree, add two zeros to it to make 700. Subtract 200 to get 500. The final quantity range you need is 500-700 glass bulbs for a 7' tree.

When hanging, I prefer the green coated hooks. They just blend better and if you loose them, bend, or distort them, they are affordable to replace. Keep hooks and other attachment tools (green floral tape, twisty ties, etc. in one divided box so its always organized and at your fingertips).

For other decorative or themed ornaments, plan on about 10-15 per foot of tree. I refrain from placing bows at the tips of branches, because I feel they take up too much room and they are visually heavy (although I do like a big bow at the top of a tree!). Garland can stay or go, but if you use it- overbuy and drape your swags uniformly. If you under buy, your swags will be really shallow and they won't look good. There is no hard and fast rule for garland swag length, just use your best judgement. Before you put the lights up, you can do a mock-up with string. Pull the string out and measure it (this is especially important if you will be making your garland out of cranberries or popcorn, etc.- as you don't want to spend a lot of time making too much garland!).

Christmas Tree Sources on-line:

See Part I + Part II for decorative and fresh tree sources

Home Depot or Lowe's for nylon ties and other nifty attachment tools, extension cords, power strips, etc.

Balsam Hill and Christmas Lights, etc. for artificial trees (see links above)

To see Part I of Classic Interior Christmas Decor, click here.

Classic Interior Christmas Decor, Part II

How I do Christmas decor is very simple. Its about color and coordination (its NOT about being matchy-matchy). You start with a foundation of the season's bounty (click here for Part I), then build on that with a color palette. Any color palette! Yes, you read that correctly. Any color palette will work....as long as its built on seasonal greenery. A foundation of fresh greens can make the most un-traditional Christmas palette look "Christmassy"  and classic. Personally, I like the look and feel of traditional colors such as green and red or white and gold; however, a fresh take on traditional colors such as fuchsia and lime green (a twist on red and green) or orange and cream (to change up white and gold) can be a really fun alternative.

Developing a Christmas color palette is simple. Choose two dominant colors, one accent and one "sparkle" color that you use even more sparingly than the accent color.

Examples of this color formula:

Navy + Light Blue as dominant colors, Gold or sliver as the accent, frosted white as the sparkle

Red + Green as dominant colors, Lime green as the accent, clear glass as the sparkle

Red + Rustic Brown as dominant colors, Orange or a shade of muted green as an accent, cream as the sparkle

Fuchsia and Lime green as dominant colors, light pink as an accent, opalescent white/clear as the sparkle

Pearl/Cream and White as dominant colors, gold as an accent, clear glass as a sparkle (this palette REALLY glows!)

Once you have your color palette....go to town buying up ornaments, tree skirts, ribbon for garland, stockings, etc. Don't worry about being "matchy matchy",  just coordinate everything. Once its spread out in the house, it won't matter that two shades of red aren't perfect together- your eye glosses over things like that when you see something as a whole. Don't stress- just have fun with it!

Once you choose a palette, stick to it for a set amount of time- say, five years or more (or, forever!). (I'm not sure if you've ever noticed this, but retailers do this. They choose a scheme and palette and they stick with it, changing it once every 5 years or so. ) Just like home decor, holiday decor is better when cultivated throughout the years. If you have a set palette, you can build on it every year and it will only get better. A really smart thing to do when you want to change things up, is to plan a palette change in advance. After Christmas you can buy up everything you need for next year's change at deep discounts.  You can change up your palette with minimal investment if you plan accordingly- it just takes some forethought.

The main thing to remember is you are planning a palette and overall scheme- NOT a theme. That is the most important thing to remember when creating a classic and elegant Christmas decor plan. Rather than using actual "Santa's Workshop" decorations....use the bright and playful colors associated with Santa's Workshop. Rather than using actual nautical Christmas decor- use a palette of blues, whites and gold to recall the colors of the ocean, (a theme tree is, however, totally acceptable because they are SO fun to do, people enjoy them and they are contained....just don't overdo it on the literal-theme type of decor in other places in the house. You know what Im talking about....figurines of Santa in swim trunks, life preserves that read "Merry Christmas", etc ). Remember this mantra: "Color, greens and overall scheme, not theme".

Gift Wrap

I know gift wrap is not integral to decorating, per se....but people often comment positively on my gift wrap. These are the guidelines I stick to:

Each year I choose a wrapping color and pattern palette  (are you surprised!). I get coordinating paper - one print and one solid, (brown or white blank shipping/crafting paper can be used as a solid coordinate to your colorful wrap for a very affordable option). Real ribbon (typically a 1" or 2" grosgrain and a spool of wire ribbon), really thin ribbon to attach gift tags, tulle in either white or off-white, and lots of gift boxes in various sizes. I don't use bags very often. I try to only use boxes, but I admit to putting some things in bags when need be. I stay away from curling ribbon and plastic stick-on bows. I also stay away from "commercial" looking paper with cartoony or licensed characters on them....that paper should only be used by Santa!

Where you would typically use curling ribbon, use real ribbon tied in a simple bow. Where you would use tissue paper, use tulle. I also use tulle as bows and banding on boxes. The print paper can also be used as an accent on your solid paper (do this with a band or cut the paper into thin strips to create a floppy or spiky "bow" to place atop a solid-wrapped gift). With these simple items- you can mix n' match and give each gift character, while at the same time coordinating them. I believe presents are better when wrapped beautifully....it ups the anticipation level (and also looks great sitting under the tree all month long!).

Stay tuned for Part III....the Christmas Tree!

Best sources for Orange County Christmas decor:

Stats in Seal Beach- Its a winter wonderland FULL of Christmas decor, and merchandised according to different styles.

Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar

Front Gate- While not OC-based, they offer petty holiday decor that is available for retail purchase.

Sinoda- you have to go with a designer....but, wow- what a place! HUGE, full of all sorts of stuff....and, of course, a huge holiday decor selection for the season.

Target for mass-amounts of basic, solid color ball ornaments and an array of budget-priced lights for both interior and exterior.

Paper Source at South Coast Plaza (other locations, too!) for fun, interesting and luxe gift wrap, cards, and small gifts.

Etsy - Do a search for gift wrap, you will get some great results from small-scale, artisan vendors...everything from posh papers, neat attache cards and silky ribbon. Above photo is Erin Ruth on Etsy.

Remember last year's Classic Exterior Christmas Decorations post? Well, here comes Classic Interior Christmas Decorations! This is a lengthy and info-packed post series, but hang in there and you will learn some great tips, tricks and calculations (yes! calculations!), plus get my commentary and opinions along the way.

Classic Interior Christmas Decor, Part I

I am what I like to call a "Holiday Decor Purist". I prefer and recommend live plants for trimming the home for the holidays. There is something about real plants that just feels better. They are fresh, they smell amazing, the colors are true and vibrant....plus, you don't have to worry about storage (a whole house of artificial holiday trimmings takes up a lot of room!) or cleaning them after the holidays (talk about dust magnets!). The tradition of using real plants and trees for your garland, wreaths, swags, table scapes, and Christmas trees just cannot be substituted by the fake stuff. I realize some people like artificial because they don't dry out and they don't have to repurchase all the trimmings every year (and maybe there are allergies to consider, which, in my opinion, is the only reason to go fake!)- but, really, it comes down to personal style and taste. The fake stuff, when done well, is still gorgeous...I'm not trying to rain on  anyone's parade here. Just try a real-plant Christmas...you may never go back!

Look for noble fir, douglas fir, evergreen, bay leaf, magnolia, holly or boxwood garland, swags and wreaths. Holly berries, cranberries, oranges, pears, pomegranates....all of the "winter" fruits, live or dried, are perfect for attaching to trimmings and/or using on the tablescape or mantlescape. Attach garland, wreaths, and swags to the banister with clear nylon cable ties for heavier items and/or anchor points, and use non-sticky green floral tape for less heavy items and/or intermediate swags. (I learned this from my mother....who, now I think about it, is mentioned quite often on {Maison Classique}! Hi Mom! I know you're reading!). If any of the nylon tie or floral tape shows, try to dress the greenery to cover it or tie a bow there. The green floral tape is also useful to attach ornaments, bows/ribbon, pine cones, lights and other do-dads to wreaths, swags and garland.

To measure for your garland around doorways, mantles and for staircases, do a mock-up with string or yarn. Keep in mind that your garland will be much thicker compared to the string, take this into consideration when doing your mock-up. After you have placed your string where you want it....take it down and measure it with a measure tape. Add about 5-10% to the total linear inches needed to cover for the bulk of the natural trimmings, shortages in the live product and/or slight errors in your measure. Plus, its always nice to have more than be short when you are decorating! Plus, you can use any extra trimmings for a wreath or centerpiece to give to a neighbor or take to a holiday event as a hostess gift.

Since you're measuring (and, if you do it right the first time, you won't ever have to measure again!), make a list of where you plan to place the garland and the linear amount needed for each feature you are trimming. At this time, you'll also want to walk through your house (don't forget the exterior! Gates, garage doors, front doors, etc!), and list how many wreaths, swags, centerpieces, etc. you need. Once you have your paperwork in order, add everything up then go shopping (either online or to your favorite holiday lot). Make a master copy of this information and reference it each year.

Candles in simple glass hurricanes are both classic and functional when sitting amongst live plants (you don't want them catching on fire!). I am a huge fan of candles (a really huge fan), so a table or mantle without candles feels sad to me. Snag some great glass hurricanes and nestle them in the garland and fruits of the season. For an alternative to hurricanes, check out these clever fruit converter candle holders from Wisteria. I love these! I plan on placing pomegranates in mine. If you aren't a fan of the shiny silver- you can easily repaint these to any color or metallic finish you desire (this is a really easy DIY project!). Just make sure your tapers sit high above the plants for fire considerations. Also, you can use these beyond the Christmas season, too!

Sources for trimming a home with natural greenery + live wreaths:

Christmas Farms. (Their "Classic Wreath" is pictured above)

Williams-Sonoma (FYI- they sell season-appropriate live and dried wreaths year-round). Mantle photograph, above, courtesy of Williams-Sonama.

Lynch Creek Farm

Wisteria for the convertible taper candle holders

Costco for wire ribbon (I just picked up a 50 yard spool for $7!)

Keiko Tanabe, an award-winning watercolor artist and California local, is doing an amazing series of San Diego landscapes- one hundred of them to be exact! She has titled it the "San Diego 100". She just posted No. 85. Its been pretty exciting to follow the landscapes she chooses....from daily life landscapes of traffic and residential streets, to the more quintessential San Diego locations such as Balboa Park (one of my favorite places! Spanish Baroque Revivial architecure everwhere you look!), the Del Mar Fairgrounds and Coronado. My favorite medium is admittingly not watercolor....but I really, truly admire the quality and overall style of Keiko's watercolors. She is my favorite contemporary watercolorist....and, whats even better- she is a genuine person who deeply loves what she does. Also, she is selling the originals! I am a fan of "real" art....it just has more soul. It doesnt have to cost a million dollars, but it has to speak to you. That's what art is all about. Check out her San Diego 100....you won't be sorry! Ten of my personal favorites.....

To see more of Keiko Tanabe's work, or to contact the artist directly, go to any of these galleries or contact her here.

I meant to post this earlier in the week....but work (and a power outage yesterday on the city block from 5 AM  to 2:30-ish PM!) got the best of me. You still have today and tomorrow to hit this sale, though! If you live in the LA area....a trip to Hennessy and Ingalls is worth it. So, so, so worth it! Enjoy! (And plan at least an hour to peruse their offerings!).

I was just quoted as an "interior designer and etiquette expert" by writer Beth Engleman in an atricle on hostess gifts . Since its about to be the time of year when we celebrate with family and friends (nearly every weekend, it seems!)- I pulled together my go-to hostess gifts and created a layout with my favorites. Hostess gifts aren't meant to break the bank, but they should be tokens of thoughtful appreciation. When I say "thoughtful" appreciation- that means a selection should be made or personalized based on the host. Everyone has a favorite flower, color, varietal of wine, scent, etc. Simply take what you know about that person, (or what you can gather if you are the +1 who volunteered to bring a little something) and use that as your guide. As mentioned in the article- cash and/or gift cards are inappropriate and careless. Also, keep in mind that you were not invited because the host wants a gift from you- so don't go overboard. Just a little something to say "Thank You" will suffice. Its an extra layer of social grace that, when remembered, is never forgotten.

My Favorite Hostess Gifts

Scented Candles- okay, I admit it.  Candles are one of my favorite gifts in general. They are a nice and compact gift that the receiver can use just about anywhere. Also think about other items that go with candles, such as a Candle Snuffer. A snuffer is typically an item most people don't have- but once they have one, they love it.

You can never go wrong with a Bottle of Wine (unless, of course, the host and/or hostess do not partake in alcohol). Other items that go along with wine, such as a nice wine opener, a set of interesting wine stoppers, or a wine coaster and collar set would also make nice hostess gifts; however, not all at once (pick one!).

Flowers, glorious flowers. The only risk when bringing flowers is allergies- so please consider that. If there are no known allergies or you are willing to chance it- give away! I favor sending flowers before the event. This is a good way to do it so you, 1) don't forget, and, 2) don't have to risk possibly spilling water/pollen on yourself, in your car or in the taxi on the way. If you send them beforehand- you will definitely pleasantly surprise your host. Write a simple sentiment such as " Looking forward to dinner tomorrow". If its holiday time, you can may want to send a live wreath. Williams-Sonoma is my favorite source for live wreaths anytime of year.

My favorite type of dish to give is a platter. Go simple if you don't know the the host that well (think white porcelain) or find something really neat if you know the hostess's home style. My mom is a baker, and sometimes she will make what I like to call a "recipe kit". She will whip up a batch of her baked goodness (such as her signature petite lemon cakes with glaze.....yummm!), purchase a specific tool/pan that is needed in order to make the item and attach a handwritten recipe card. Its a hit- especially if you know the receiver loves your particular recipe for something. You could also put your signature item on a platter and attach the recipe card. My other favorite kitchen-related gift is an ice scoop. Its another item, like the candle snuffer, that people don't generally have, but love to use when they have one.

My last go-to item is a book. Everyone loves a book. It can be a "coffee table" book or a point of interest topic specific to the host (such as gardening, or vegetarian recipes, or a travel journal, etc.)

Lastly, keep a few sizes and colors of grosgrain ribbon, tulle, and sturdy boxes on hand, such as small hat boxes or quality gift boxes. You will never have to pick out wrapping paper or spend time trying to wrap an awkward shape. All you have to do is put a simple bow around your gift,  place your gift in a quality box with a simple ribbon around the box, or wrap your gift in tulle and tie a bow around the neck (works great with a bottle of wine). Stay away from curling ribbon, stick-on bows, generic gift bags and tissue paper. Keep it simple, yet elegant.

I am in L-O-V-E with hardware and fittings (door hinges and window hardware, even!). The latest thing I'm stuck on is retro-designed light switches. I have been researching Mid-Century Modern design for a project I am working on, and I discovered this quirky passion for hardware laying dormant. I like the push button varities, and I love the cool toggle designs from Forbes and Lomax. Using specially selected hardware puts that extra layer of design interest and integrity into a well-done interior.

Push button switches from Rejuvenation

Antique Bronze Push Button from Forbes & Lomax

Dimmer from Forbes & Lomax

Invisible toggle switch w/ acrylic backplate by Forbes & Lomax. LOVE it!

Also check out House of Antique Hardware if you are a hardware maven like I am. Make sure you look at the period home collections...heaven! Historic House Parts is also a fun site to peruse.

I have a new article up on MyPerfectColor.com highlighting Cozy Fall Colors. For some fall color inspiration, check it out here.

This product, De-Solv-it, is one of my little designer tips (but, actually, I can't take credit for it- since my mom turned me onto it!). I primarily use it to take off pesky labels and stickers from products, (but it can do so much more). It smells great and its environment friendly. A bottle will last you a long time, even though you will use it far more than you think you will! Labels and stickers that would normally have to be soaked and scrubbed off can be removed very quickly with this lovely little potion. Great for removing "made in", price stickers, and logo stickers from accessories and home-goods. Love it! You can get it here.

I have a thing for windsor chairs. Imagine my interest when I received a mailing from Thos. Moser with their take on the calssic windsor chair- two toned with exposed joinery. Ummm, yummy! Love it!

Check out their site to see all of their gorgeous creations- there is something for traditional and contemporary styles alike. They have photo "sharing" blockers on their website (and a google search was fruitless), so I had to scan their mailer to give you an idea of what they do. Simply gorgeous.

And, since I'm talking about windsor chairs....here is the first piece of antique furniture I ever purchased (great story on this, but I'll save it for another day). I love this chair.

Sorry for the lack in September posts, everyone!

I went to Seattle this month for a bit of business and pleasure (of course!)....which resulted in playing catch up in the studio, which resulted in zero blogging activity! It was also my 28th birthday (which I was sick for! but at least I already dealt with this season's flu!). The good news is:

1) I am blogging now!

2) I *finally* created the j. steinberg design FaceBook page (Become a fan!!! See the spify button to the right under My Links!),

3) {Maison Classique} just went live with our first ever blog sponsor- YourFloors.Co.Uk.

4) The recent increase in traffic over September makes me excited to welcome more readers to {Maison Classique}! So, welcome and thank you for your readership!

Lots going on and not enough time! More blogging to come!

And now...onto some Seattle, WA photo highlights (I can't mention it and not show you! That would be mean!)! It really is a beautiful city and I lucked out with the most gorgeous weather while there! Would like to send a happy hello to fellow designer Faith Sheridan of Seattle- loved our chat, Faith!

Pike Place Market- the fresh flowers were amazing! (and amazingly priced, I might add!). If I wasn't staying in a hotel- I would have bought bunches by the bag load to take back home with me.

While Kean and Peet's are my favorite coffee houses, I can't go to Seattle without seeing the original Starbucks! (Plus, it was right across the street from the market!). Starbucks still pinch hits for me.

I loved this! So true! Had to snap a photo through the foot traffic (love the ghost leg on this guy!).

I like phoptographing street signs as landmarkers. The iconc Pike Place Market.

The COOLEST Steinway I have ever (ever!) seen! I could never pull this off in my home (good thing ours is good old classic black!)....but maybe one day I'll get hired by an outrageous celeb client who could rock this in their house.

The Space Needle. Had to go. Even though I'm weary of heights. I did the Emire State Bulding with no problems....but the Empire State Building had internal elevators. The Space Needle has an exterior-type elevator. I made it, though.

Gorgeous day! Mt. Rainier was out in all its glory! (Look hard, to the right of the skyline!). I love skylines.

Along with swing arm wall sconces, I have an unnatural fascination, adoration and passion for mouldings and millwork. They set the stage for great interior style- whether ultra traditional or hip + cool transitional. The fastest way to dress up a box is to "trick it out" with moulding. Wainscot paneling, base mouldings, chair rails, crown mouldings, window casings, ceiling plans....the possibilities are endless. There are, of course, times when mouldings and fancy millwork are completely uncalled for- such is the case in a Mid-Century Modern house I'm currently working on. However, the majority of my projects are suitable for classic architectural details, and I am only too happy to design them for my clients.

(Let me insert two sidenotes here: 1) fixtures and finishes looks better in a room that is appointed with mouldings. Its sorta' like when people say a beautiful girl can wear a potato sack and still look stunning....well, beautiful millwork can wear the equivalent of potato sack furniture and still look pretty nice. Just something to remember when you are first moving in/building and you aren't sure where to put the money. Put it in mouldings and millwork first. Your property value will likely go up (don't quote me on that in this market!), your style quotient will go up, all your furniture will look better, and perhaps best of all- you won't have to live through the sawdust and noise of putting up mouldings after you're already moved in.) 2) I realize that for you people on the East Coast and parts of The South, you all "get it" already....but for the people who grew up west of the Rockies, its a different ballgame out here (sadly). Anything goes in the Wild West and out here, houses are a mixture of mostly Contemporary/Modern/Fast and Cheap Construction (which means mouldings and millwork are not included with the house, and it was quite possible the house was designed to look okay without mouldings- hence the "mod" conglomerations of  various styles that only evoke a sense of style, if any, on the outside). Thank goodness for the peppering of custom houses and old neighborhoods that haven't been destroyed in hilly enclaves and coastal cities- that's where the good stuff is!) Okay, back to the post at hand...

This is a design for a powder bathroom that gets pretty heavy use on a daily basis. I only mention heavy use because if it were to get "light use" and it was tucked away never to be seen my anyone other than the cleaning staff, I would probably just have specified a gorgeous paint for it and called it a day. But because this water closet is off the main living area, it needed to reinforce and respond to all the rest of the millwork in the home's public areas. I came up with cutting beadboard sheeting on the bias to create chevrons. I allowed a small degree of human error by also specifying stiles (little strips of wood placed vertically) flanking each chevron. The meeting with the carpenter was interesting, he told me he had ever done anything like it (I could tell he was a bit nervous when I gave him the drawing below). Of course he had no problems doing it (really, he is fantastic!). In the end- he was really proud of the work he did (as was I! It turned out exactly how I envisioned!) and the client loved it (music to my ears!).

This drawing was originally a sketch on some flimsy (design-world lingo for trace paper on a roll). When the client liked the idea, I went to the drafting baord to design it and draw an elevation to communicate my idea and the specifics needed for fabrication.

In progress shot...

A close up after paint. The paint finish is glossy- both because I love glossy mouldings, and because its really easy to clean. The rest of the wall was finished with navy blue grasscloth to bring in a textural element and accentuate the crispness of the millwork design.

After the wallcovering, but before installing the mirror and art. (This is why professional photographers are important! Not the best photo, I know.)

(The before photo)

There are a few different avenues you can take to arrive at a custom rug. One is to supply an original design, select the colors and fiber type, specify the size, pay for it, wait for it, then its done! The other is modifying a rug you like (but one that's not *quite right* for your project either in color, size or scale). This post outlines the process we designers take our clients through when we embark upon the latter.

The journey to a custom rug is a long one. That's why, if you are fast-tracking a project, you order the rug as soon as possible (scratch that, you order it about two weeks before as soon as possible). This is assuming you aren't buying new or vintage off the rack (nothing wrong with it, but many clients understandably want new carpets). To me, there is nothing like a rug fabricated to your specific spec. Sometimes, the only part of a rug that is custom is the size. I typically order odd sizes, even if off by just a few inches from standard sizes. Sometimes those five or eight inches are crucial. One thing that's important when you supply a custom size, is that the pattern size should change accordingly. When you are dealing with a few inches, its not a big deal. But if you are supplying a size that is completely different than a standard size, the pattern has to be adjusted or else the proportion will be off.

Its no secret that I adore LOVE Patterson, Flynn + Martin rugs. Their value is unbeatable, their products span from traditional to fresh and transitional, and their customer service is flawless (L.A. designers who want the best vendor ever- call up Guillermo at the Patterson, Flynn + Martin at the Pacific Design Center location. He will take amazing care of you and your client! ). Aside from the aforementioned reasons, they will customize just about anything for you- either from scratch or by modifying existing designs.

One of the projects I just completed (aside from waiting on the rug, and therefore the photo shoot!) called for a few rugs, all of them custom in some way. This is an example of a kitchen runner. My client loved this Grand Ziggurat style from the Kelly Wearstler collection.

But...the colors, and the sizes offered, didn't work. So, we sat down with some poms, (poms are little bundles of yarn in hundreds thousands (!) of colors. As with anything in interior design, it can be very overwhelming to see how many options you have. We started with my client's kitchen paint color that she loved. From there, I built a five-color palette with my client sitting on the floor of the showroom, samples, poms and ideas flying about (its a really fun process!). Once we selected the colors, we allocated where the colors were to go on the pattern of the rug. The vendor took down our notes and sent away for the rendering from their art department. Not only were the colors custom, but so was the size- which meant they also needed to rescale the pattern to our specified rug size. After about a week (and a deposit!), they sent over the custom color rendering detail and the pattern size modification:

Isn't it pretty?! From there, we approved the artwork and all our specs. Since its a custom rug and there is no real life example to "see", we needed a strike off. A strike off is a small rug sample that is fabricated according to the custom specs. Although the renderings do a good job of illustrating the final outcome- its not what it will really look like. Strike off's are produced to show the exact colors, yarns and pattern. After submitting payment for the strike off, we waited...about 6 weeks. After the strike-off lead-time, I got a call from my vendor who is *in love* with what I did and can't wait to send it out...it ships to my studio and this is what it looks like:

I receive it, inspect it, email my client that it has arrived, and ship it to my client with some other approval paperwork. My client approves it and ships its back to me. I approve the actual sample by singing my life away (not really, but sometimes we sarcastically refer to approvals as such):

Then I ship it back to the showroom with all the approval paperwork and final payment. They will use the strike off as a quality control measure, ensuring an exact color match. And, now.....we wait. Up to five months. (Understandably, the wait is long because its hand knotted- humans can only work so fast!) In total, the process will take nearly 9-10 months (it can happen a bit faster, depending on how fast your client approvals take).

This is a story of a petite wingback chair. In every project, there is an issue (well, lets be honest, sometimes there are more than one!). For this project- it was these chairs. I won't go into the details (or out the vendor!)- but lets just say that the normal, nice and cooporative Ms. Janelle Steinberg can turn into a hard-hitting, sharp shooter when anything having to do with my client's project is on the line. This was the case with these chairs. BUT! In the end, all turned out fine and my client is happy (which, at the end of the day, is all that really matters). I am constantly amazed that everything always works itself out. So, the "Behind the Scenes" evolution of this pair of wingback chairs is as follows...

We needed some great head chairs for this gorgeous dining table (excuse the Sharpie- we marked up the spec sheet when sourcing for this project):

We went shopping at the PDC (one of only a few trips- this client was a pro at fast decisions...an interior designer's dream!). We were looking for upholstered chairs for the heads of the table. Possibly a wingback, maybe something else if it struck us as "perfect". I pre-sourced a few options and we visited the showrooms to sit, touch, feel (basically ohhh and ahhhh), and we both decided that this petite wingback with Fruitwood finish was perfect in every way for my client's Dining Room and for the above table:

Now that we had the furniture piece selected, we could find the fabric for it! For me, selecting fabrics if one of the most enjoyable ID activities- its like picking colors for a painting or selecting jems and baubles for making jewlery- both of which I enjoy as hobbies. (Oh, any by the way, you really want to select fabrics after finding or designing your furniture, that way the scale and porportion will be right on.) We went shopping again and my client fell IN LOVE (she really, really loved this fabric!) with this gorgeous and fun stylized Jacobean flower motif printed on silk. Its by Quadrille (lovely, lovely Quadrille!). This was the *first* (see where I'm going with this?) fabric selection:

I received the yardage estimate from my vendor for those perfect petite wingback chairs. Wrote up the PO. Then realized they severly underquoted me as I was double checking everything (you always want to double check EVERYTHING!). Even though I gave my vendor the fabric info...they were wrong. At the very last minute, right before ordering, I realized something wasn't right- thank goodness. I went back to the vendor, waited on emails from their factory on the other side of the country...and they wanted double the fabric they initially quoted me. DOUBLE! Since I take budgets pretty seriously, I was not happy about the situation, and the fact that they misquoted me AGAIN. This fabric is nearly $200 per yard. On top of that issue (which turned out to not be an issue for my gracious client), the REAL issue was Quadrille does custom yardage runs and there just wasn't enough on hand to fulfill the extra yardage needed. The leadtime for European production for more yardage was about three months. This was the straw that broke the camel's back and made us reselect. I was disappointed, knowing how much my client adored this fabric!

So, naturally, I take her to Schumacher (one of my favs). Almost instantly (remember how I told you my client has that super-decisive thing going on?!) her eyes met the gaze of this super fun linen by Celerie Kemble:

I was thrilled (thrilled!) my client went for orange. Anyone who knows me, knows I've been obsessed with orange for awhile now. So, we took a memo (a "memo" is loaner sample of the fabric that showrooms loan out to designers) so I could find trim. The Dining Room has this great shell chandelier with lots of corals, orange-pinks, bisque yellows, pinks and whites.

I thought pink trim would be super fun against the orange and incorporate some of the pinks from the shells (which you can't really see in the photo- but its in there). I found this at Kravet a few days later, on a solo shopping trip:

The trim was perfect in every way. It was simple (I am known as the anti-trim designer with my fabricator...I stay away, far, far away from frilly trims! They have their time and place- but aesthetically, I am not a fan of drippy and goopy trims), AND it had orange with two shades of pink....perfect! I got back to my studio and sent a mock up to my client via email:

She loved it and approved it for purchase. Now...back to the chairs. My vendor quoted me on the yardage. I double checked, *specifically asked* and made sure that their quote was okay. I got a confimation. I then ordered the yardage they told me to order and has it sent to their factory on the East Coast.

A few weeks later, I get a call. They need to back the linen. Okay- fine. This sometimes happens. (They do it to add support to certain fabrics, and/or make it easier to work with.) Its extra money, okay, fine- its not that much and it needs to happen. Client understands, I understand. We submit the paperwork which pretty much says if they mess it up in the backing process, we can't blame them (kind of a scary document!).

A few weeks later I get another call. The knit backing won't work on this fabric (even though they already told me everything would be okay....not to MENTION this is WEEKS after we submit both approval AND payment for the backing....why are they just calling me NOW about this?!). They need to upholster in muslin first (which means more money), then apply our fabric...oh, and....they need more yardage! I was not happy. At. All. My rep was caught in the middle- shes just the messenger. My client has no idea anything is wrong or that we could possibly go over budget (afterall- it is my job to make it easy on my client! and Im happy to do it!), and these chairs which should be IN my client's house already are not even half way done. It was a headache.

I double checked with MY fabricator that fabricates all my custom designs from the smallest pillow to custom upholstery and drapery to just about anything else I need created. They told me the yardage my vendor had should be enough and that I donn't need more. So...after going over everything with my client, we opted to have the chairs shipped to my workroom to be finished.

After all that....the chairs came out amazing (and with no extra yardage or double upholstery needed- which means my client didn't have to add more to the budget for this room). This is the type of situation designer's handle for our client's. Its all in a day's work! (Well, it was actually spread out across a month or two!). Here is the latest photo I took from a design meeting at my factory. It still needed one more row of brushed brass nail heads...but it came out great! Now, I can't wait for the photoshoot in the beginning on 2010! (We are waiting on the custom rugs!).

And, here is the drapery right after installation (it stays tied the first few days for shape)

Off for some R+R at the Vail, CO house.

Normal posting and a new look (!) for J Steinberg Design will commence in mid August! Check back soon!

Until then...I'll be baking pear pies with my mother-in-law, working out at Vail Athletic club, hopefully playing some tennis, shopping the weekend farmers market in Vail Village, sipping evening glasses of wine and eating breakfast al fresco off this deck, going to the symphony at the most beautiful outdoor amphitheater, and probably doing something that has the potential to kill me (last year it was zip lining, in years past- it was white water rafting), and, most importantly, enjoying the fantastic and much anticipated company of our wonderful family.

Bon voyage!

A Little Background:

Derek Gores was born in New York in 1971. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with a BFA in 1993.  He has been a successful artist for fifteen years and his client list surely reflects that. He has worked with Lenny Kravitz, U2, Van Halen, Kings of Leon, Madonna, Lucasfilm, ESPN, the National Football League, cult brands Harley Davidson and Adidas as well as many others. His most recent honor was being featured at the Manifest Hope exhibit in Washington, DC, prior to President Obama's Inauguration. The exhibit was juried by Spike Lee and fellow artist Shepard Fairey, where one of Derek's pieces fetched $35,000.

Derek currently takes commissions for both private and commercial clients. He lives in Melbourne, Florida with his wife Jamie and their three daughters. To contact Derek Gores, scroll to the end of this post for his information. Now, on to the interview...

July 2009 Interview:

Janelle Steinberg: Derek, I am so thrilled that we can finally get around to doing this interview. I know you’ve been very busy with work and revamping your website. What's new at Derek Gores.com?

Derek Gores: Just some general updates, more examples of work, current shows. You can see everything at www.derekgores.com

Janelle Steinberg: That’s great- I can't wait to see more of your work. What's your process when approaching a new piece?

Derek Gores: Sometimes I start from nowhere, and enjoy digging around, building on the canvas until something interesting starts showing up. Other times I have an idea for months and finally launch in furiously. Still other times, I start with the recycling-- gathering up magazines and parts I can re-use. Sifting through the inspiration always conjures up some magic.

Janelle Steinberg: The creative process in art and design is both curious and magical. Is there anywhere you turn for inspiration? What inspires you as an artist?

Derek Gores: My favorite subject is the figure. I trust and CRAVE randomness and intuition. I like my pictures to barely come together in the brain with teasing little details. Sort of like how the mind can't help but wander, even when trying to focus on one thing. In the collages, some of the little bits I use are deliberate, but in most I'm trusting randomness to help build an end result more interesting than I could have planned. One friend calls it a 'Zen Narrative.' I like that all the elements react with any history the viewer brings to the table.

Janelle Steinberg: Yes, I agree. Perception is one of the most magnificent aspects of art. What do you think is the appeal in your art?

Derek Gores: People say they like seeing classic subjects treated in a new way. Others mention that they continue to see new things (in my art). I like that. I hope it’s celebratory and playful.

Making art and viewing art is being a kid again. Exploring and being open enough to be led by the senses.  I like re-awakening people to art. I find many people had the art squashed out of them, usually in their early teens. Usually caused by preconceptions, peers, and being surrounded by TV and photos.  The definition of 'accuracy' becomes limited.  I like pursuing an ‘accurate’, or at lest compelling, depiction of a feeling or a sensation, or an experience. I sometimes get to see people have a child-like response to my collages, and I LOVE that. Art just may have the potential to cut through a life's worth of walls and numbness of the senses. Victory!  And then, there's that person who falls in love with a piece enough to take it home so they can have that feeling every day.

Janelle Steinberg: I'm one of those people! I have told you many times to consider me a patron in waiting. I'm waiting for that perfect wall in my house (or, rather, to build the perfect wall in my house)! In all seriousness, that's very profound. I think your sentiments resonate with many people, especially art lovers. Speaking of, who are some of your favorite artists?

Derek Gores: My biggest figurative influence is Egon Schiele, from early 1900's Austria. The raw intimacy is still alive 100 years later. Other classics: George Inness' dreamy late landscapes, Max Ernst's surreal collages made from catalog pages, Klimt's romanticism, and the 1920's cartoonist Rube Goldberg's nonsensical inventions. Newer favorites: Cliffton Chandler's relief sculptures, Jeff "Cynic" Noble's graffiti art, and Audrey Kawasaki's transparent beauties. I'd like to show with her some time.

Janelle Steinberg: What an intriguing cross-section. I like that. An artist's influences and inspirations is always something that I find interesting. Second to that is what an artist was like as a child. What about you? Did you have a favorite medium or genre as a child?

Derek Gores: Good old pencil. Sitting on the edge of my bed drawing Star Wars characters, and making up my own.

Janelle Steinberg: Is that how you snagged work with Lucasfilm?! I'm kidding. Do a lot of your commissions come from commercial interests, or private patrons?

Derek Gores: I take private commissions as time allows. Here's what people love: When I create a collage portrait for a person, not only do I capture their likeness, but the little ripped pieces of paper I use are custom also: favorite foods, places traveled, schools, family photos. I can recycle all those old goodies into the piece. I take a lot of corporate commissions, too. I enjoy the challenge of taking an intangible feeling or message and building visual metaphors that make an emotional connection.

Janelle Steinberg: I LOVE that custom element to your collage work- the little bits of paper! I never knew that! Honestly, that's more fantastic and impressive than I can conjure words for at the moment. Wow. Your work can truly hold intimate and personal value well beyond the "custom commission" aspect. I'm sold. Where do I sign?! Where else can people connect with you and see your art?

Derek Gores: I have a few shows coming up. I have a one man exhibition, "TORN", at the 321 Agency in Melbourne, Florida opening July 24, 2009 (link + info below). My art is also at SLOW Gallery in Melbourne, FL and I have a group show at Parlor Gallery in Asbury Park, NJ starting on August 22, 2009 (all links + info below). Soon I'll be scouting galleries in Miami, California, NYC and elsewhere. I also have my website and blog, as well as a Twitter and a FaceBook fan page (links below).

Janelle Steinberg: I know you are a family man, too. How does your family inspire you? What about other non-art inspirations?

Derek Gores: Teaching my kids to make music without instruments, how my wife makes people laugh, Twizzlers, side roads, back roads, woods, trails, inclusiveness, Springsteen, Mom n' Pop shops where you can see the owner, slate walkways, guitar solos... Contact Derek Gores: Derek Gores Fine Art & Design derek@derekgores.com 321) 258-2119 (Eastern Standard Time) Twitter:http://twitter.com/Mr_Gores_Artist FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Derek-Gores/54788087483 321 Agency (show starts July 24, 2009) 1010 E New Haven Ave Melbourne, FL 32901 "TORN" http://www.321agency.com/torn/ SLOW Gallery 1905 Municipal Lane Melbourne, FL 32901 Parlor Gallery (Show starts August 22, 2009) 717 Cookman Ave Asbury Park, NJ http://www.parlor-gallery.com/

The 4th of July has always been my official favorite holiday.

Ever since I was a baby, we have been going to my grandma and grandpa's for the 4th. Although us kids have grown up and things have changed, the sentimentality of the 4th and the priveledge of being an American still gets to me each year. My grandparent's house is arguably one of my favorite places on earth for the memories, the family and the love that it is filled with.

My grandparents live in one of the most beautiful neighboorhoods in all of Orange County. Floral Park is made up of many blocks of ranch and period revival residential architecture in Santa Ana, California, bordered by Broadway, 17th St., Bristol and Memory Lane. Its a slice of pure Americana. Fully grown trees act as a canopy for large yards and charming homes, each with its own personality. Its the type of neighborhood where they still do old time 4th of July parades, everyone has an American flag out for the occasion, and the impressive Federalist revival homes drape full-sized flags from their two-story entry porticos (see photo at left- my favorite Floral Park home which is also on the Historic Registry). Its a snapshot of a neighboorhood from the "good old days" complete with white picket fences, friendly neighboors that say hello in passing, and children playing in the street.

When I was little, 4th of July gave me license to run around in my bathing suit and drink as many Coca-Colas as I could (no one was keeping count). The radio was tuned to "oldies" and over that background of hits from the 50's and 60's would be, undoubltey, a baseball game on the TV. The sound of a good baseball announcer reminds me of my dad, summer, and the 4th of July. The smell of hamburgers on the BBQ filled the air- if not from our backyard, then the yards of neighbors. Throughout the day, the sound of random firecrackers and screaming Pickle O' Pete's could be heard from blocks away. The anticipation of summer, (which, accoriding to Grandpa officially starts on the 4th), ends since today it finally feels like its here.

When not swimming, us kids were in the front cul-d-sac playing a serious game of kick the can or hide and seek. Fat tree trunks, beautifully landscaped yards and lots of cars parked along the street made for the best hiding spots. The boys and dads would throw the football around, horseshoes and croquet were set up on the front lawn and bikes were taken out for us to ride across the neighborhood bridge. Grandpa would sit with us on the swing and tell us wild stories of the adventures of "Tom, Dick and Harry" and other versions where us kids were the superheros.

My favorite thing at the BBQ was always the light green pistachio pudding Grandma made (which still doesn't turn out the same when I make it myself). As dusk approached and the hot day cooled down from the ocean breeze, we all begged our parents to let us start fireworks early. When they said "no", we woud sit in one of the guest rooms and count the stash, debate over which one should be the grande finale and hammered pickel o' petes for maximun sound when finally lit. Fireworks always started with sparklers, then gradually led up to the bigger, fancier ones. Santa Ana is still one of the few California cities where street fireworks are legal. Sure, it doesn't compare to a big fireworks show... unless, of course, you grew up doing it this way. You can hear the big booms and crackles of the fireworks from Anaheim Stadium and Disneyland a few miles away. When we finished our show on the street, we would go up on the roof to see the last of the big ones in the sky.

No matter how old I get- this is the 4th of July that lives in my heart. I love America...the home of the free, and the land of the brave. I hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July!

Some beloved family friends just completed the construction of their gorgeous Italianate house (more photos to come). Mr. Wonderful and I were married on the grounds of one of their other estates of Neoclassic style. They just build beautiful things! Its a joy to tour their homes when they are finished and all moved in. Here are a few shots of the Master Bathroom. Enjoy!

Antique mirror and cast concrete columns, a streamlined version reminicent of Bernini's Baldacchino in Saint Peter's Basilica. All of the baseboards, crown mouldings, casings, and cobels throughout the estate are custom cast concrete commissioned especially for this project.

A cast stone soaking tub. Bliss! Out that window is a vista of lush, green rolling hills.

The window threw off the lighting in this photo, so I had to convert it to B+W. Notice the smooth barrel vaulting. Just gorgeous.

All photos are property of J Steinberg Design and may not be used or reproduced without permission. Thank you.

Do you remember my post on Jack Arnold houses and folio books? If not, click here to read it (prepare to be delighted). It was recently brought to my attention that there is a new feature on the Jack Arnold site. Its a "Homeowner Scrapbook". Real photos from real people that have built real Jack Arnold houses. If Jack's portfolio photos aren't enough (which, I'm sure they aren't), be sure to check it out! To visit, click here.

I've had the pleasure of being in contact with Lisa Ferraro at DailyPainters.com. They are friendly and unpretentious, something greatly appreciated when dealing with the "Art world". This site is fun because the featured works rotate daily, so the gallery-style site is continually fresh and exciting. At DailyPainters, you can find some truly great art, in a range of styles, from artists that produce quality work.

When I peruse this site, I get the feeling that I'm discovering something special. A lot of the prices are very reasonable. If you are a collector that collects on instinct (which, I hope you are!), you will appreciate DailyPainters. "Instinctual" art collections not only make you happiest, they also add a layer of "you" to your home- and when "you" are woven into your home, that is a design quality that is not only important, but also irreplaceable.

My favorites from today's page at DailyPainters (be sure to click on the artist's name to visit their link):

Jorney Home II by Keiko Tanabe

Abstract No. 780708 by Pol Ledent

One Minute Gesture Pose Series XXIX.6 by Gretchen Kelly

{This editorial went up on My Perfect Color last month, so if you are an avid follower of my brilliant writing (I realize that the sarcasism is not translating, so just in case its unlear- I'm being sarcastic), then you may enjoy this story about an interior designer on her wedding day (me!), and discovering the perfect peach paint...}

I would like to tell you the story of the perfect peach paint color. After Mr. Wonderful and I were married here in Southern California, we took off to Las Vegas for a stand-in honeymoon. You see, I requested Carpi, Italy- but since my husband was finishing his last year of his undergraduate accountancy degree, we couldn’t take the time to go international in October (the month of our wedding, of course). So, he booked us the next best thing to Italy in the United States- a suite at the Venetian in Las Vegas.

After the huge production that started at sunrise, a whirlwind of friends and family, a fantastic wedding and reception and a four hour car drive spent talking about our memorable day- you think I would have been too exhausted to think about interior design, right? Wrong. After checking in, the first thing I noticed when we got to our house-sized digs was the paint color in the bedroom. There I was, a young bride in a gorgeous hand-beaded gown, on my wedding night, basking in the glow of the peach paint- inspecting it, turning the lights off and on to see how the color changed, and marveling that I was falling in love with peach- of all colors!

I fell hard for what I like to call Venetian Peach. And that’s coming from a girl that grew up in the eighties, where the wrong shade of peach mixed with sea foam green left a sour impression on me. Not a day went by that I didn’t comment on the peach in the bedroom.

I started having all these sentimental fantasies that I would paint our bedroom in our first house this lovely shade of Venetian Peach- undoubted, I would have the best back-story to my (future) bedroom paint color. It got to the point where Mr. Wonderful told me I should just ask the concierge if they could tell me the color so I could forget about it.

During that stay, I decided that peach was the most flattering color for a bedroom. Its not pink and its not boring beige. Its sort of gender neutral, at least its more gender neutral than pink would be. Most importantly, it just makes everything glow. Peach really works magic on skin tones. And the light in a peach room is warm, lovely and soft.

I made up my mind that I would schmooze with the concierge before we left. The Venetian is a world-class hotel- I was sure they would find me the paint color if I asked. Mr.Wonderful said only I would do this, and on our honeymoon, to boot! Imagine our serendipitous timing when we checked out a few hours earlier than normal on our last day…the painters were in the suite next door! I couldn’t help but think it was meant to be! I poked my head in and coyly asked if they could tell me the paint color.

One of the painters literally stopped what he was doing and trotted over to the paint bucket. It was unmarked (well- the brand was marked, but that’s it!). He told me he was sorry, the color was not listed. Then, as if a light bulb went off in his head, he ran over to his spraying shield (a piece of card board box) and cut off part of the board. He then made me a paint swatch out of the paint! I just about died. Here, in my hand, I had the most beautiful paint color in the world. I couldn’t believe he did this for me- I was just giddy. All the while, Mr. Wonderful just stood there- holding our bags, shaking his head with a half-smile in disbelief, “Is my wife really doing this right now?”.

So, that is the story of the perfect peach paint color. The photo above is the actual sample (and, in case anyone is interested, that is a Patterson, Flynn + Martin rug, "Cite Rings" in Ivory- I LOVE Patterson, Flynn + Martin rugs!). And now, as your reward for reading this story, here are the best matching Benjamin Moore equivalents to my keepsake paint swatch:

Winter Melon 093

Delicate Peach 120

Florida Seashells 128

I love the idea of stand-by furniture that actually looks nice. The idea behind "break down" furniture came from the need to travel during political campaigns...all the comforts of home would be neatly folded up, packed, and unpacked at various locations. Portable furniture broke down fast and it was the easiest and best way to transport everything along the trail. Now that we have hotels, "fold-able" furniture usually makes its debut when we go to the beach or the lake, throw a Bar-B-Q...or when we host unusual amounts of holiday company (think cold aluminum chair with a cushion the thickness of a pancake). Now there is no excuse. Find the entire line of British Campaign Furniture here, and visit this site for other fold-able options.

Havana chair in Rosewood with matching table. By Lewis Drake.

Makes a chic picnic setting, don't you think?

The Havana chair, folded.

Rosewood Lounger by Lewis Drake.

Would look great on the deck of a yacht.

Officers Lounge Chair in Rosewood by Lewis Drake

Barbados Croquet Chair by Lewis Drake, also in Rosewood

Great for extra seating for various home styles.

French Cane Back Folding Chair from Stacks and Stacks.

Diamond back folding chair, Stacks and Stacks