A few weeks ago I went down to down to Chile for Lollapalooza and some sightseeing. After a few days in Santiago, it was off to the coast. In particular, I was really excited to visit Valparaiso, a cliffside beach town known for it's funky murals and brightly colored homes. It did not disappoint. Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda wrote a beautiful poem that captures the wild "Valpo" spirit.
0 Comments
As promised, here is the finished board for the client project I hinted at last week. My client recently moved into a rental apartment and is looking to update her bedroom. The goal is feminine and sophisticated. Here's the plan:
I've worked in retail for about 13 years now and I've accumulated a few solid bits of knowledge. Today, I'll share one of the most important pieces: if you're looking to get great service, do not shop on a weekend. Seems pretty obvious, but every weekend I see clients who are frustrated by the lack of resources-people, time, samples, available to them. Sometimes stores are unable to meet unexpectedly high traffic and the loser in that situation is you, the customer. Last night I caught the opening night of "Once" during their run in LA. I've been looking forward to it for months. Not only did I enjoy a wonderful show, but the Pantages Theater is a true Deco gem. Opened on June 4, 1930, the Pantages was one of the last vaudeville theaters before the transition to cinema.
After a very long hiatus, which included a move to south Florida and another to Los Angeles, I'm finally getting back to pursuing private design work. The first step in that is getting my website back and running again.
An easy way to create harmony in a space is with symmetry. It's especially effective in an entry to bring a sense of calm. Note the pairs of chairs, artwork and lamps. Another idea is to repeat shapes, motifs or finishes, like I did here with the gold tones, for example.
The Met Museum always has the most gorgeous floral arrangements that are like snapshots of the season; cherry blossoms or forsythia in spring, peonies in summer and this beauty, made with berries and Japanese lanterns for fall. The best part is that you can do something similar at home for Thanksgiving since the design scales down and uses preserved components. This makes is possible to assemble in advance.
A pretty container filled with foam serves as the base for curly willow, berries and the Japanese lantern flowers. You could also add some preserved leaves for a fuller arrangement. The addition of some small pumpkins or gourds and candles would finish off a table scape perfectly. I've mentioned in previous posts how collections always create more impact when grouped together. This picture is a great example of how different variations on the same theme (blue and white porcelain) make a beautiful statement when styled on a basic black server. No two patterns or shape are the same, but the overall feel is a collection that creates great impact.
Beautiful design and artistry can show up in the most random places, even the New York City transit system. This picture, from the 77th street station, is part of the MTA's
arts for transit program. It features some beautiful tile work. So take the time to appreciate the beautiful sights, but maybe keep pinching your nose to block out the "aroma". |
AuthorChristine Schwalm is an Interior Designer and Visual Merchandiser based in Los Angeles. This space will keep you updated on what's going on with CSD along with some ideas to inspire you. Go here for more information about pricing and services and here to make an appointment. Archives
January 2017
Categories
All
|