



And it really is everywhere....
Open any magazine...
In every culture, in every shade...
it's all about PURPLE!
I’m a little in love with doors right now.
Whether they are functional doors that separate spaces….
or displayed artfully on the wall.
In 1991, I was living in Paris, as often as I could I would check out the windows of a shop owned and named "Christian Tortu" (His home fragrances are the best in the world!!!- really)
Most girls were checking out the collection in the windows of Balman, Dior, and Lacroix...while I was over at Tortu!! on the left bank.
I am sure this too happened to Jeff Leatham, who was visiting Paris in 1995, That was when his whole world changed, literally.
The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills gave Jeff his first break. After four years The Four Seasons Hotel in Paris called. George V, came calling.
Jeff moved to Paris, and the rest is History.
Now you see, the first thing I do when I land in Paris is get a chocolate croissant and walk the Hotel George V and admire the flowers. ahhhh Paris......
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to dress up any table is with fresh flowers. And it’s so easy to get great results!
I love Calla Lilies; they come in a wide variety of colors and can artfully be thrown into unique glassware. Move them around creatively and .....Viola!
Presto! For only a few dollars you have a beautiful centerpiece. Don't be afraid to push the flowers around, they aren't going to get mad at you. Push them around until you've reached a creative balance. You'll know when you get there. You don't want to over do floral arrangements. Have some confidence and keep it simple.
Choose colors that go with central theme.
I love these amaryllis blooms submerged in cool water in a lovely glass bowl.
Quick, easy and inexpensive, these flowers elevate any table from ever day to special occasion.
The great thing is you don’t have to spend a fortune to pull it off with panache! And it’s a great excuse to do a little spring cleaning. Make your home inviting by clearing away any leaves that have accumulated during the winter.
Here in California it’s time to open up the house and let the fresh air in. I love these pivot doors, talk about bringing the outside in and the inside out! I love it!
Simple food, with seasonal fresh ingredients from your local farmer's market will keep costs down. It's beautiful, healthy and affordable.
You can even have guests bring a side dish, but take the time to display the food on beautiful, simple white dishes. White dishes are my favorite. They allow the food to shine and they're available everywhere from Cost Plus World Market to Crate and Barrel. They're inexpensive and elegant, totally cheap and cheerful.
Presentation is everything!
Gather with good friends and enjoy!
Is there anything more fun than having friends for dinner? Every one needs support and encouragement right now. This is a great time to get together casually with friends and enjoy good food. You don't need to recreate your dining room or spend a fortune. You can easily create a dining room that sets a mood without having to break the budget.
Adding color to your simple dining table is easy...with colored glasses, plants, food, and flowers...
Stay tuned to the next blog when we discuss simple floral arrangements that will make your table look like a million bucks for just a few dollars.
It was one of my favorite movies of the year, maybe even in my all time top ten. It was really lovely. And has me thinking about about Indian textiles...
For many years, I have been purchasing these rugs from Michaelian & Kohlberg in Los Angeles.
They are designed by Teddy Sumner, the grandson of the late legendary Frank Michaelian, one of the true pioneers of the 20th century carpet industry.
Out of India rugs are hand woven with the Mahindra weave, using a Persian knot, approximately 121 knots per sq. inch.
The wool yarns are hand spun and dyed almost entirely with vegetable dyes indigenous to India.
Michalean & Kohlberg is committed to seeing that any labor associated with their rug production is legal-no underage workers- and that the workers are treated with dignity and fairly compensated.
A percentage of the total proceeds received for these rugs shipped out of India is donated to a children's welfare program overseen by the government.