Ceylon et Cie

By Erin Ferucci

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

November’s Elle Décor magazine features the lovely and wonderful Michelle Nussbaumer who has been a really good friend to me over many years!

Michelle is an amazing designer and a wonderful person. Her passion to hunt down the best taste in everything around the world is infectious!!!

She mixes treasures from all over, different centuries layered together..Regency
with mid-century, ornate with under-stated...she really has "THE gift"!
You walk into any of her exquisite homes and your jaw immediately drops! She is a master at achieving easy elegance that is layered, textured and exquisite.
She makes everything feel so warm and unintimidating! Pure class!

I cannot wait to visit her shop in Dallas called Ceylon et Cie.

Take a look at these lovely lamps of Michelle’s
the darker one is actually petrified wood from Brazil...
(wood that is soooo old it turns into stone that is beautifully textured)I have never seen it in a lamp form, only in a side table stump.

The shell fossil is thousands of years old! called AMMONITE.
It is mounted on an acrylic base with a linen shade...truly lovely.

I think I'll get these for myself!

Rolling Greens

By Erin Ferucci
Celebrity Lifestyle Designer



Last week I popped into my favorite Nursery that I have been shopping at for longer than I'm willing to admit.
Rolling Greens is a wonderful cornucopia of indoor and outdoor pots, flowers and plants.
Before they were wholesale only but now they're open to the public while still allowing the trade their discount.
I went in to shop for some pots and flowers for a client but low and behold...the holidays ARE HERE!!! More on that in a later blog - But if you are looking for something fresh, colorful and inviting for your home check out Rolling Greens.

Market Gourmet

By Erin Ferucci

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

Okay I admit it; I’m passionate about food -which is why I love to shop at Market Gourmet. Lauren Hunter is the owner. She is wonderful, helpful and willing to walk you through the entire store and share suggestions about the international fare they regularly showcase.
Sometimes I stop in for lunch or just to pick up some goodies for dinner parties...like cheese plates with French olives and cornichons...
or
Handmade porcini ravioli's from Italy. It cooks in minutes! It’s great with a butter and sage sauce… or how about the lobster ravioli with a light cream and saffron sauce...add a salad and voila!
Spreadable Parmesan cheese? who's ever heard of this before? those Italians!
French pates, California goat cheese, pink sea salt from the Himalayas...yum!
And my favorite olive oil from Sicily called "Frantoia" made in an antiqued oil pressing tradition. It has kind of a nutty flavor which I prefer...
The Irish make the best better you will ever taste...I have yet to try the British one though...
Looking for something special for the Holidays? The Market Gourmet at 1800 Abbott Kinney Blvd. in Venice is certain to have it. Drop in or give them a call at 310.305.9800

Ina Garten

By Erin Ferucci
Celebrity Lifestyle Designer


I have been a big fan of Ina Garten for many years...dating back to her gourmet food shop in the Hampton's called "Barefoot Contessa".

I love watching her show on the food network, and am an admirer of her simple and effortless cuisine. Her recipes are bulletproof.

House Beautiful has a feature article on Ina in their November 2008 issue. She built a "barn like" extension to her already existing property in Sag Harbour, Long Island.
I love it! Who wouldn’t want an open kitchen into the dining area where all your friends can watch you cook?and- the counters are 18" feet long.!!
I love the idea of picking flowers from your garden and herbs for your meals and bringing them inside within minutes.It must be the "country" in me.
I love the open shelves everywhere in the kitchen and the pantry. No leaky zip-lock bags hiding your leaky flour sacks here! And that pantry-so open and so clean, no surprises anywhere. I love that. Notice how perfectly stocked it is…no old pans with rust stains on them. This is truly gracious living.

Greystone Mansion

By Erin Ferucci

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

This year’s Beverly Hills Garden & Design Showcase was held at The Historic Greystone Mansion and was gloriously hosted by Veranda Magazine.

It was a star studded evening co-chaired by Mary McDonald and Nathan Turner, featuring some of my favorite designers including Michelle Nussbaumer, Waldo Fernandez, Martyn Lawrence and Peter Dunham. The Historic mansion, which is one of the last surviving Los Angeles homes from the Great Golden Age was transformed into an amazing showcase of glamorous architecture and contemporary design. Each designer was given a separate room and the result was stunning.
The Gala Event was spectacular. Congratulations to Veranda editor-in-chief Lisa Newsome on a remarkable evening. The Greystone Mansion will be allowing tours of “The Great House” designed rooms through the 16th of November. The $30 admission is worth the price to check out the work of more than 25 top designers in this magnificent home.

Mary McDonald and Veranda Magazine

By Erin Ferucci

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

Congratulations to Veranda Magazine for featuring my good friend Mary McDonald in the Nov/Dec issue. It’s a great issue and more so for having great shots of Mary’s stunning home.

Look at the lovely use of orange trees, peacock feathers and greenery.

It's timeless, evocative and...well...stunning.The magazine is available on newsstands today. Tune in for the next Blog, when I share the dish of Veranda magazine’s fabulous Great House party at the Greystone Mansion. You won’t want to miss it!