Resource Day: A Life Imagined

Today is a little bit of a different type of Resource Day, think of it a Resource for the Soul. Today the Resource is a website called A Life Imagined. First of all, in the interest of full disclosure, I need to say that Gilena, who is the author of this site is both a very close friend and a client, but that is not why I chose to write about this today. I chose this site today, because it is so inspiring to me, to read stories like this of people overcoming adversity in a very positive way, and coming out on the other side not as wounded birds, but as people who have learnt great life lessons.

So as a resource, I think this site is worth visiting, for no other reason than to see that with a little perseverance and a lot of positive thinking, you really can overcome almost anything that gets thrown at you. I will not give away the story (as I want to create enough curiosity that you go visit and read for yourself). I hope you enjoy it, and please leave her comments with your thoughts.

Resource Day: Exquisite Surfaces

Every week I find myself flipping through my Rolodex to try and decide which of the people I use on a regular basis to highlight as the Resource Day vendor. Sometimes it's someone I have just discovered and sometimes it's someone that has been a go to source for what seems like forever, and they almost get lost in the shuffle. Well today's resource is one of the latter. It is Exquisite Surfaces and it has taken me a while to feature them, because we use them so often, they almost feel like part of the office.

When they thought up the name for this place it must have been tough, since the stuff certainly is exquisite, but surfaces? Well they do do floors, whether its stone, terra cotta, wood, or ceramic, but they also do ceilings in reclaimed wood, fireplaces, fountains, and almost anything else you can imagine, its almost hard to know where to start.

Their specialty is rustic materials for the home, and they have an incredible collection both reclaimed and new floors. I especially like the old tiles that have been taken from old Villa's and Chateau's in Europe, the patina is authentic, but they do come at a premium. For others there are reproductions of these that are faithful to the point of looking dusty. This pattern is repeated throughout their store, Antique Fireplaces, or faithful reproductions, or reclaimed old floors or pre-finished new floors that have the feel of older floors.

With Locations in New York, Greenwich, San Francisco and Los Angeles they are a great place for almost anyone to visit. So go in, the staff is always friendly and enthusiastic to tell you about their inventory, or just browse the great web site. Say Hi for me!

Resource Day: Kismet

I always like to look at things that I come across, and think about other ways that I can use them, other than the way they were intended. Todays resource is one of those things. I used to go regularly to the Santa Monica Antiques Market, and there was a woman there, Anne Driver who had this spectacular stand that sold Antique sari's from India. She sold them whole and also items that were made from them, such as small bags etc. But it was the whole cloth that interested me, the attention to detail and the workmanship was inspiring, not to mention the intense colors, so it was only a matter of time till I changed from a fan to a loyal client.

Anne's company is called Kismet, and she has grown it almost single-handedly into a socially responsible company that now provides work and income for women in India, that helps to support their independence as well as honors their skills.

But back to ways that you can use this incredible resource. In the images above, you can see that I love to use them as window treatments, whether it's as drapery or shades. Anne has literally every shade of the rainbow, so is capable of doing pretty much anything. Also, if she doesn't have the shade you need, she is a master of Dying, so might be able to create the shade that you need. I have also used these for lining lampshades, pillows, and even table runners. Some of the saris are woven with precious metals, while others have beading, but they all have a breathtaking quality of workmanship, so let your mind go wild.

I hope that you find something here to capture your imagination.

Resource Day: 20th Century Lighting

Every week when I sit down to plan out what I am going to write on my Blog in the week ahead, I get to Resource Day and start to worry. There are so many different resources that I use, all of whom I want to give some attention to. This week though, I was working on a new project out by the beach, that is a Mediterranean style home, so I went straight to one of my most reliable resources, 20th Century Lighting. While I was doing this I realised that I had never written about them on the Blog, a huge oversight, but one that I hope now I have rectified.

When trying to make a home that is new, look like a period home, or if renovating an older home, lighting can be one of the biggest challenges that you face. Getting the scale just right, or finding that quirky piece, can be a challenge of almost biblical proportions, unless you buy vintage pieces (which can represent their own challenges). Take a look around at 20th Century's site though, it is amazing the depth of their collection, from sconces, to chandeliers, to table lamps, it's all there. They offer a range of finishes to match any project, and one other thing I like is that they are also sold in Showrooms around the country, so you can go and see them in person as well if you want.

So, check them out, I think you will be surprised by everything that they offer, (they are also a pleasure to deal with on the phone).

Resource Day: Lost Art Salon

For those of us, who love to go to flea markets etc, one of the greatest rushes can be had from coming across a great piece of vintage art, whether a painting, drawing of sculpture. The sort of thing done by a not so well known, but still quite talented artist, that can be had for a few hundred dollars, but can stand next to any fine art pieces already in your collection. Well, a friend recently told me of a store in San Francisco, that is a treasure trove of just that kind of art, they are called, Lost Art Salon. Now in the interest of full disclosure, I have never actually been to their store, however, they have such a great web site, I don't feel as though I need to rush.

The pieces that they have are the sort of thing that I would regard as Vintage, and vary from downright cheap to well priced quality pieces. They have paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture, all presented in an easy to use and well documented way. It is like stumbling upon the best of E Bay, all in one place. I have spent many quiet evenings at home, just flipping from one piece to another, so check out the site, but be warned you will keep coming back.

Resource Day: Wisteria

I have to admit that one of my guilty pleasures is catalogues. For me, there is nothing better than the end of the day, sitting at my desk, flipping through the latest retail delights that are available to me. Whether it is cookies, clothing or candles, I will look at them all. Thank goodness, I don't buy a whole lot of this stuff, but I do love to look. An exception to this, is one catalogue that I think stands out from the rest, and that is Wisteria. I think that this company really has it going on. With a mixture of new and vintage stuff, it presents just the right amount of unusual things to set it apart from the norm.

Because I get inundated with these things, I start to notice that certain items can show up in 3 or 4 different catalogues. I don't find that with Wisteria, the stuff is always fresh, well presented, and most importantly to me well-priced. So if you have a moment, check them out and see what they have to offer, you will be pleasantly surprised I think.

Just as a general note, Resource Day, is a day a week that I dedicate to a different resource that I like. I don't write about resources that I don't like, my experience may not be yours and I don't think this is the venue for me to vent. I also do not get paid or asked to write about these companies, I write because I genuinely want them to succeed because I think that they offer something worthwhile.

Resource Day: FLOR

I know I say this every week, but I love Thursday's and today is no different. I spend all week trying to decide what great resource I should talk about from one week to the next. Today I chose FLOR carpet tile. Well, it's actually a lot more than just a tile, it's a whole modular floor system, that can be used for area rugs, wall to wall or just as an opportunity to add a bit of spice to the floor.

I really like to use them in areas where it is difficult to imagine using a regular carpet, like in the children's playroom above, it's the perfect solution. If one of the kids spills paint or whatever, you don't have to freak out, just pull up the offending tile and replace it with a new one! Or for that matter you can take the dirty tile outside and hose it down.

I am currently using them in an office remodel we are working on, where the owner has dogs. So should there be any accidents or whatever it's easy to replace one tile at a time.

Installation is easy too, there are these nifty little adhesive stickers that hold them all together, that makes keeping it all straight and together a breeze. Speaking of breeze, they now offer an exterior collection too, which I have yet to use, but think is such a natural extension of the brand. As you can create very fun, interesting rugs for the outside that are easy to keep clean and move around.

One of the problems with a system like this, is that with so many choices it's hard to make a decision about anything. Well if you go to the FLOR website, they have a whole section dedicated to ideas for rugs etc that you can just download, so it makes it a lot easier. You can tell, I love these guys, I thinks it's a great product, that's not expensive and made really easy to use. Let know if you think the same!

Resource Day: Decorati

Every now and again you come across a website or an organisation that's put technology together in away that makes perfect sense. Yesterday I had that experience, I got an email from a company called Decorati, I get a lot of promotional emails, but for some reason this one peaked my interest and I went to their website...WOW! This is going to be huge! Looking at the site yesterday was like the fist time I looked at 1stdibs.com it made such clear and perfect sense.

What the site does is bring together manufacturers from all of the country, and I am sure at some point all over the world, that serve the high end market. There are lots of sites that serve the low and mid market, but this is the first I have seen that brings together some of the finest manufacturers in one spot. I have hundreds of bookmarks on my web browser for different companies that I like to use, after seeing this yesterday, I feel like I can erase most of it.

The site was founded by an Interior Designer, Shane Reilly out of New York and San Francisco. She says it was a response to repeated requests from clients for more information. Well I think she has done remarkable job and has created something that is truly going to help the community. My belief is that the more information, more people have, the better we all are, so congrats Shane on a great job, I look forward to seeing this site grow in the future, it really is something special.

Resource Day: A. Rudin

When I was a kid my mother used to tell me that the ability to spell is what separates us from the animals. Now that I am a bit older (and have mastered spellcheck), I beg to differ, I think it's the ability to appreciate good upholstery. There are a lot of elements that go into making that perfect piece and I find them all at A.Rudin, a national company, that is based in Los Angeles.

For further info about what to look for in upholstery, refer to my previous article "What Makes Upholstery Good?" http://markcutlerdesign.blogspot.com/2007/05/what-makes-upholstery-good.html.

But back to A. Rudin, this is a third generation company, that has a 120,000 sf factory in downtown Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to go to the factory a few months ago and it was amazing; clean, organised and it was astonishing to see the amount of product they are able to produce, at a quality that leaves most people scratching their heads.

The basics of a great piece are all addressed here, hand-tied, hand-tufted, kiln dried wood, it's even glued, doweled and screwed, these pieces are made to last. But good construction is only part of it, the designs too are classic and timeless. They have a Dining Chair (pictured above) that is a staple for me and one of the most comfortable chairs I use.

Aside from their standard designs, they will work with you on custom pieces, which is great for me as I always want to be tweaking something:).

Anyway, check out their website http://www.arudin.com/ I think you will become as great a fan as I have.

Thursday is Resource Day: Quadrus Studio

Once again, I love Thursday's I get to go on and on about another resource that I love. Today is no different, well maybe just a little. Today's resource is Quadrus Studio (www.quadrusstudio.com) and the two guys who run this are people that I have admired from afar for many years. Between them, they have worked for some of the finest furniture designers and manufacturers that there are, and several years ago they finally went out on their own, and developed their own line of exquisite reproduction furniture.

Both Jack and Jimmy, have a great eye for scale and an unrelenting desire for quality, so the pieces that they produce are the heirlooms of the future, but still feel fresh and relevant for today.

All of their pieces are produced in Southern California, which has one of the densest pools of talent in the United States, you are able to achieve here a quality of product at a price that leaves people on the east coast scratching their head with envy.

I have had a variety of things made from them, both large and small, but every piece has come out perfectly. Recently I had a large cabinet made, that was a bit over sized, that I wanted based on an antique, the end product was scaled perfectly and the client was thrilled, it doesn't get any better than that!

So you should take a look at their website, it's well put together, and you can see their work in person at showrooms around the country, I hope you enjoy their work as much as I do.

Thursday is Resource Day: California Faucets

Today for the Thursday Resource, I have decided to post about a great company, California Faucets. So many of my projects are new construction or remodels, and one of the things I am always looking for is stylish, well priced, quality plumbing fixtures. This I think you can find with California Faucets (www.calfaucets.com).

I have been using this company for years now, and in that time there line has extended broadly to incorporate everything from very traditional, to cleaner more modern designs. With an inspiring range of finishes you can achieve a very custom look easily.

Everyone who reads this blog knows too, that I am always especially keen if they have a great web site too, and this company sure does.

So keep them in mind on your next project, I think you will be happy with the results.

Thursday is Resource Day: Rocky Mountain Hardware

I always look forward to Thursdays, as I get another chance to highlight some of the great resources that i have come to rely on, and today is no different. Today's resource is Rocky Mountain Hardware (http://www.rockymountainhardware.com/). I have been using this company for years now, ever since a friend suggested them, after seeing their stand at a trade show. Back then, this was more than 10 years ago, their designs lent heavily on what i would call Mountain primitive, they were sandcast bronze, but with a definite leaning toward the unrefined. At the time is was mostly door hardware, since then, their popularity has skyrocketed and they now offer, cabinet hardware, sinks, tiles and now even lighting.

The reason I chose them today was that, yesterday I was at a jobsite and the contractor showed me a brochure of a new line they have just released that incorporates inset panels with leather, mixed with the bronze (see the top picture). This has to be one of the coolest things I have seen in a while and is such a warm, sophisticated look, I cannot wait to use it.

The company is based in Idaho, and produces all of their product there, and what's more is very environmentally friendly as well. Take a look at their website I am confident you will be impressed by the collection that they have built, if nothing else you will be inspired by the old world craftsmanship used in a way that makes it relevant today, I know I was.

Thursday is Resource Day: Portera

Today I am very excited to talk about this new resource. It was brought to my attention by a designer friend of mine who worked on the home of the owners. The resource is Portera Doors, and they sell old and antique doors from all over Europe. To say that they are old door sellers is like saying Christies is a used furniture store, this place will take your breath away!

I had the pleasure of meeting the owners, a young couple from Southern California, who developed a passion for doors when they were remodeling their Mediterranean house a couple of years ago. They met a dealer in Spain, during their process and the rest is proverbial history, their business smarts mixed with his great collection and you have one of the finest specialist dealers I have seen in a long time.

For those of you not in California, a quick trip to their website will convince you to hop on a plan and visit (www.porteradoors.com). The site is well organised and easy to navigate, but apparently only grazes the surface of what is available, so if you have something specific in mind give them a call.

While all they sell is doors, you should think a bit more about other ways you can use them. I am planning to make a headboard out of one, and for another project I think a pair of doors would make a great art piece just hung on the wall. I am sure other great uses will come to me too.

I hope you enjoy the site, and visit the store if you can, I am sure you will be as excited as I obviously am.

Portera Doors

27 S. El Molino Ave

Pasadena, CA 91101

ph: 626.639.2130

Thursday is Resource Day

I love writing on Thursdays because it gives me a chance to highlight another resource and hopefully give them some great exposure. As a designer, you are only as good as the resources you are able to find, and today's resource Dos Gallos is a great one.

Located in West Hollywood this company provides an incredible one stop shop for all sorts of antiques and reproductions from Central and South America, as well as Spain, Italy and Greece. I have bought anything from tables and chairs to incredible old doors (that make great art pieces hung on a wall if you don't have a doorway big enough).

I think that the staff is very knowledgeable and above all, pleasant to deal with and are willing to find that special piece you have been looking for. My other favorite thing is that they keep their website up to date with new pieces, so I can stay current while sitting at my desk.

So give this company a try, I think that a trip to their warehouse is a real adventure, or just try them on the Internet, either way, I am sure you will like what you find.

Dos Gallos

924 N. Formosa Ave,

Los Angeles CA 90046

www.dosgallos.com

Resource Day-Before and After

I was going through some old photo's the other day and I came across some shots I had taken in a house, before we started work, and you can see beside it, the completed picture of the new Dining Room. So I thought today, for resource day I would let you in on the resources I used to make this project come to life. Let me walk you through some of the things I did to create more warmth and detail in the space.

• I decided that the old fireplace needed to go. The mirrored overmantle was serving no real purpose (in my mind a mirror should always give you something to see, and a reflection of the Entry didn't justify it being there). So I removed the mantle and replaced it with a new one, that had more architectural detail. (www.kernswilcheck.com)
• The next thing was the walls. I decided that wall paper would give me another layer of detail, so I went with this handpainted paper by Cowtan and Tout.
• In a lot of my projects I custom design pieces to create a unique look, and this was no exception, the chandelier is a custom piece, based on several antiques that I had found. It was made for me by the guys at Paul Ferrante (www.paulferrante.com)
• The chairs too, were made especially for me, based on some photograph's of some antiques that I had seen. This is not an unusual request, sometimes antiques are too small in scale or too delicate to use in situations where they will get a lot of use, so reproducing them is always a good option. Just make sure that you find someone who works in that style, and Richard Mulligan specialises in early American, so was the perfect choice (www.richardmulligan.com) .
• The table is a design by Formations in Los Angeles, they are part of the Dennis and Leen group, and unfortunately do not have a web presence, but if you are in Los Angeles a trip to their Melrose Ave showroom is not to be missed.
• Now for some of the other pieces in the room. The white wrought iron console on the right, is actually an old balcony that I purchased and repurposed from a terrific Architectural Salvage yard that I frequent, Scavengers Paradise (www.scavengersparadise.com) . And the stunning metal sconces on either side of the fireplace come from Mecox Gardens (www.mecoxgardens.com ) one of my favorite stores in L.A. and with stores on the East Coast too.

Well, that gives you an insight into who I use, I know it's a bit out of the ordinary for Resource Day, but I thought it might be helpful.

Resource Day- Tile Painter

As people who read this blog regularly know, I am fascinated by the design work done in California during the 20' and 30's. It was a high water mark as far as I am concerned. One of the things that many of the great works done during that period have in common is beautiful tile work. A lot of that tile was created by Malibu Potteries, which was a company located in Malibu. The factory was destroyed by fire years ago, but the home of the Family that owned it is still there and is now a museum. The Adamson House in Los Angeles is special because the owners used it as a virtual showroom for wares, so every room, has another example of tile in it, whether it is a fireplace, a bathroom or a stairway, it really is something to see.

Luckily there are a few companies now that sell reproductions of these designs. My favorite is California Pottery and Tile Works (www.calpot.com ) I think they do an amazing job of recreating the old tile. Their website features some great examples as well that you will want to check out. But the best thing about the site is an add on program called Tile Painter (www.tilepainter.com ). This is the tool you need because one of the hallmarks of this pottery is the amount and complexity of color. This handy tool, allows you to color your tiles, see it on screen and then print out a specification sheet with all the colors marked. Trust me, this will save you hours and many prototypes, I think it's just genius.

They are very easy people to deal with too, so check out the site and you will have many happy hours of coloring ahead of you. The image above is a room I did recently with them, I hope it gives you some inspiration.

Resource Day- Gump's

Every major city has one or two stores that define it's shopping identity. In Los Angeles there is Fred Segal, New York has Begdorf Goodman, and in San Francisco there is Gump's. While the first two stores I mentioned are department stores, although boutique ones, Gumps is a home decor wonderland. Spread over two glorious floors in downtown San Francisco, this store embodies what a great shopping experience is all about, from old standbys to new pieces by undiscovered talents.

They sell tabletop in all it's varieties from the most stunning European designs, to more handsome everyday pieces. What I especially love is that they try to discover and foster new talent as well, here you will see work by emerging glass and metal artists as well that gives the store a fresh, vibrant appeal. There is also an extensive furniture and accessory department as well. The price points vary from very reasonable to "are you sure that's right?", which I really like, because that blend of high and low brow, makes for a much more interesting combination.

While I visit this store every time I get the chance, their well put together web site is a great way to stay up to date on the latest goings on (www.gumps.com). So please, take a few minutes and browse through what they offer, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Thursday is Resource Day:Accessories

As usual Thursday is Resource Day, and on these days I try to highlight a particular resource that I really enjoy using. I have tried to use places that anyone can use, regardless of what part of the United States, or for that matter, the world you may be reading this blog in. Today is a little bit of an exception to that rule. Today's posting is a store in Los Angeles, and while they have a growing web presence, nothing can compare to a visit to their store. The store is Colburn/Sassaman (www.colburnsassaman.com). It has been in Los Angeles now, in one form or another for about 11 years, always in the same location, and is a great resource for accessories for the home. Founded by Shannon Colburn and recently joined with Interior Designer, Nicole Sassaman, the store is a teeming melange of product that varies so much in style, scale and price point, that no matter what project I am working on, I can always find something here.

This week I have been putting together a great house that we have been working on in Northern California, and sure enough, a trip to their store was in order, I found some great bath accessories, artwork and some terrific primitive African pieces. Even after my client called and told me that they needed 8 magazine holders for different rooms (they are avid readers), Shannon didn't disappoint, and I had my choice of modern, transitional and traditional.

So, if you are in Los Angeles, stop by, if nothing else it's always a joy to meet people who are so passionate about their interests and you never know what you will come across. If not in Southern California, check out the website, or if you are after something specific, drop them an email, they would love to hear from you.

Colburn/Sassaman

540 North La Cienega Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90048

(310) 358- 9025

Resource Day- Shopping Overseas

As a designer, you can live in fear of the words "we are going on vacation and thought we would pick up a few things for the house." Shopping while travelling can be a great thing or a tragedy, often time what looks great in a store in Venice, when you get it home , looks like a garish souvenir. So, while I am a big fan of personalizing your home with things that you collect on your travels, I hope that these few pointers will help to avoid mistakes:

• 
  
  Make a list of the things that you need, whether it be a cabinet or something for the shelves in the Living Room, good planning will always help.


• 
  
  MEASURE! Be sure to take measurements before you leave, especially if you are buying for a specific place. Things have a way of distorting, when you are away. It is a great idea to carry a small measuring tape with you, as you may be travelling in a country that is in metric and don't rely on your own conversions.


• 
  
  Take snap shots of the locations you have in mind. It will help you imagine what the piece will look like when you get it home. Maybe even bring some swatches of fabric with you too.


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  Look into shippers before you leave. There are several large carriers that will pick up directly from the store and deliver it to your door, taking care of packing, shipping customs etc. This can relieve hours of red tape and stress on your behalf. I have used a company called Hedley's Humpers (http://www.hedleyshumpers.com/ ) several times throughout Europe and have nothing but good things to say. Once again though, plan ahead and contact them before you leave.


• 
  
  Do your homework before you leave. Find out where the Antique districts are in the areas you are going to visit (competition in these areas often leads to better pricing), also store opening days and times can be somewhat erratic.

Most of all have a great time, shopping abroad can be a huge adventure!

Thursday is Resource Day

I was out shopping for a client the other day and I went to one of my favorite stores and was reminded again what I liked so much about it. Often, people equate cost to quality or taste, I beg to differ. Today's resource could not be more the opposite of that idea. It is Cost Plus World Market. I love these stores, they are a treasure trove of well priced ideas. I have included a few images of some of the things I especially liked.

The first one is this great dinner set. It is sold by the piece, and while I am not convinced that a whole set is for me, I am using one or two pieces as bathroom accessories for a major celebrity client right now. I think that the pattern has such great coloration that it goes so well in a bathroom, and is a welcome relief from crystal or plain ceramic, that you see so much of. They would also make a great addition to a desk as well. The key is to find what you like, then ask the question "what else could this be?".



The next thing is this stunning folding screen. It has a woven rope pattern attached to the face, that gives it a cool hip look, but I think that for someone on a budget it would make a terrific headboard. If you want something with a bit more drama, take it all the way across the bed wall, and place your bedside tables in front. It will give your room a very chic, modern primitive feel.



Lastly, I am thrilled to announce the death of the Tiki Torch as the default backyard light. These fabulous little string lights are festive without making your garden look like a year round Cinco de Mayo party. String a bunch together and loop them back and forth over the area you want to light and sit back, and listen to the praise of your friends.



So I hope you enjoy this resource, remember the question to keep asking yourself is "what else can I use this for"?