Channeling Jacques Grange

By Erin Ferucci

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

This week I've found myself having a mental love affair with the interior design sense of Jacques Grange. Perhaps it is just a longing for Paris in late spring... Or a craving for clean lines...with layered design elements. Maybe it's a romantic notion to get away from it all in a delightfully chic Portuguese cabin in the mountains above the sea. Does it matter? I just want to step into these pictures! Here's to channeling Jacques Grange.

Photos by: Cote Sud

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer Erin Ferucci is the owner and creator of EFerucci Designs with Design Studios located at 1636 Abbot Kinney; Venice, CA 90291 (310) 745-1300. Follow Erin on Twitter.

White Paint

By Erin Ferucci

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

White paint. It can be a designer's best friend. It's functional, elegant and delightfully versatile. Nothing can refresh a space faster than a beautiful coat of white paint. It reflects light and creates a feeling of clean, airy space. White in a living room creates peaceful ambience. You can almost feel a summer breeze looking at these pictures. White paint, it is a quick, inexpensive way to create elegance in any room.

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer Erin Ferucci is the owner and creator of EFerucci Designs with Designs Studios located at 1636 Abbot Kinney; Venice, CA 90291 (310) 745-1300. Follow Erin on Twitter

Larry Rizkowsky at the Pasadena Showcase House 2010

By Erin Ferucci
Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

Larry Rizkowsky, a fellow designer and a friend for many years has designed a room at the 2010 Pasadena Showcase House of Design. Last Sunday a group of us went to this wonderful annual event where an entire residence is redone by a group of designers, each one taking the creative lead for just one room or space.This year the amazing home is the Graven's Estate. It's now the 20,000 sq. ft. home to The American Red Cross. Larry did a spectacular job on this sitting room. Augustus Francis, son of the late famed contemporary artist Sam Francis , did the two contemporary works of art that hang on the wall. They are a part of a "triptych" actually. Augustus Francis now lives in England with his mother at their home, Gledstone Hall in Yorkshire. He is a lovely chap that I wish well.

Larry's room along with the art was a big hit at the Showcase House. You can visit the 2010 Pasadena Showcase House of Design from now through May 16. Tickets are $40 at the door with the proceeds going to three different music programs that impact the greater Los Angeles area. The Showcase home is closed on Mondays.

President Obama in Los Angeles

By Erin Ferucci

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

The other day I had the great pleasure of being on the tarmac when President Obama landed in Los Angeles. I thought it would be like being back stage with a really big rock star. Oh my! Did I underestimate the experience!

I had to be vetted the day before in order to get security clearance and security the day of was TIGHT! And rightly so! It was like watching a well organized ballet performed by security guards and secret service.These guys and gals are serious! You can't even imagine the amount of planning that must go in to planning a day with the President.

The President himself, Wow, there really are no words. Come on, it's no secret that I have worked closely with Hollywood royalty, both literally and figuratively, so I am not really easily blown away simply by "star power". But I have to say that President Obama is the real deal. There was something really measurable that seemed to radiate from him. It was exciting. It was inspirational. It was heady.

Eating Light and Luscious

By Erin Ferucci
Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

There’s nothing better than treating yourself to a light and luscious meal. I make this for lunch for myself; it’s healthy, delicious and makes me feel like I am at a spa.

Ingredients:
Asparagus

Vegenaise

Red wine vinegar

Steam, roast or braise some beautiful asparagus spears. Arrange them on a plate and drizzle ¼ cup vegenaise mixed with 2 tbs. of red wine vinegar over the top. Viola! Gourmet eating for one!

Note: If you have never tried Vegenaise, you should. It is a heart healthy alternative to mayonnaise. And it tastes great!

Integrating Nature with Donald Kaufman by Erin Ferucci, Designs 4 Living

By Erin Ferucci

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

It's spring and I feel inspired by nature! One of my favorite ways to bring nature into any space is to start with paint. There is no better paint to do this with than Donald Kaufman Paints and I have to tell you his new architectural colors are impeccable! I was in New York on a shopping trip for a client a last fall and couldn't resist. The paint chips alone were $75. Who charges $75 for paint chips? Donald Kaufman does. Why? Because his colors are to die for. Seriously, you can't go wrong. He has the perfect cream, the perfect french blue. He is an amazing colorist with impeccable good taste.

And they are all beautifully inspired by nature. Look at how rich these colors are! The bottom line is that Donald Kaufman Colors are incomparable and there are some very important reasons why. DK colors contain as many as 13 different pigments making them both rich and transparent. The transparency of the paint is what sets them apart from commercial paints. Also DK never adds oxides to their paints, oxides diminish paint's ability to reflect light. So with DK colors you getter a richer tone that reflects light and actually transforms the light in the room.

What is truly amazing is that he draws inspiration for his colors from raw nature,
creating rich, expressive color that is unique and lush. DK colors are more expensive than other paints, but the colors are unsurpassed. For maximum results DK colors suggests painting over white primer, as opposed to neutrals and expect to use 2 to 3 coats in order to achieve the best results.

Turpan by Erin Ferucci,Designs 4 Living

By Erin Ferucci

Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

I shop. It’s one aspect of my job, finding the prefect item, for the perfect price, in the unexpected location. I love to shop and I love to browse. When I’m feeling decadent and shopping for something extravagant I like to shop at Turpan. This wonderful shop is located at 225 26th Street in Santa Monica, otherwise known as The Brentwood Country Mart. They also maintain a store in East Hampton. Turpin offers full scale decadence, everything from skin care to dishes, all with impeccable taste. The owners Katherine and Greg started the shop six years ago with a mission to exhibit a wide array of fine design elements. Visit the store and you will see how successful they have been, it’s worth going even if you are simply looking for a fresh perspective.