Behind Wonderland

October's magazine issue of InStyle Magazine features one of our favorite projects. Christina Aguilera's residence. We had the unique opportunity to work with her and her husband to create their dream space. With them, we created a fantasy , wonderland of a place to call home. Rich with stylish details, noteworthy artwork, pedigree furnishings and an eye for high style. This is truly an exquisite residence that compares to the hey day of Beverly Hills design projects nodding towards the schooling of Tony Duquette and Dorothy Draper. The torch has been passed into the 21st century.Original rendering for Master Suite concept. Platform for bed with up lit steps.

Tester surround with bustled black lace sheers.

Sitting Area in Master. Custom wallpaper. Imported fireplace mantle by the Osborne's.Concept for beauty salon in her closet. Salon style mirrors in our signature Sunset mirror.

Her office and lounge concept in closet.Entry foyer with D*Face artwork, William Swietzer console with pink top, custom wall reveals with red outline and David Hicks inspired wallpaper.

Fabulous French vintage side chairs.Neo-Gothic dining room coupled with a TH Robs-John Gibbings china cabinet.Game Room with smoked mirror ceiling and walls. Custom millwork and moldings .Hand & arm sconce by Pegaso.Original concept rendering for Game room.Rendering look and feel for kitchen.

Outdoor Balinese Pavilion custom built. Featuring antique and vintage colored glass light fixtures. Black and white striped outdoor drapery. And fountain wall with dancing Shiva sculpture.

Hey there's me styling the shoot.

What a wonderful retreat. Custom outdoor table with vintage benches and chairs.
The pavilion is stunning.

A special thanks to the Bratman family for being such a delight.
For the full interview and interior layout with Christina. (We are in it too!) check out October's issue of InStyle magazine!

Happy Menagere

Jonathan Adler is such a doll, literally. So talented with endless whimiscial, fantasty like ideas. It is no wonder we love him. We have so enjoyed working with him and his team . Recently, we customized a couple chic pieces for JA's Barbie closet in the Malibu Barbie house. Oh how FUN! Here is me and Buddy with Jonathan. Where's Liberace? Buddy wants to know.

Malibu Barbie Living Room - POSH

JA's conceptual rendering

Check out Jonathan's new utopia collection http://www.jonathanadler.com/

All the models in this line are hand-made in Jonathan Adler's Soho studio and then the pieces are produced in Peru from brown stoneware which peeks through the sheer white glaze. Adorably reversible, boys on one side, girls on the other! Flip it over, the bottoms are as cute as the tops! 3.75" wide x 4.5" high.

WE love the Lord and Lady cups. Quite fitting for Ron and me.

Bunny Blue!

Designer Matriarch Bunny Williams created a delightful space for the Kips Bay Showcase House. What a Breath of fresh air! Bunny goes down as a legend in our Style File. She has mastered the elements of a tastefully decorated room. Thank you Bunny for being such a classic and bright inspiration!

BUNNY WILLIAMS interview with Douglas Brenner featured in House Beautiful Magazine:
"I just wanted to be happy — and color makes you happy. Turquoise is intense and exciting. But you have to balance strong colors with neutrals. I always stand in a room and think about the balance — you've got to get your proportions right. I say, "Okay, where's the furniture going to go?" I had the fireplace and the big strong botanicals, so I wanted the other end to have the big strong bookcase. But I didn't want it obviously balanced. I broke the symmetry so it doesn't get boring. You have to throw it off a bit."

And you scaled the pattern to hold its own.
I learned all about scale in my 22 years working with Albert Hadley. In a high-ceilinged room, it's exciting to feel the height. You also want intimacy, but if you keep everything low, you throw the excitement away. That's why I used those big, tall planters on the table and the pedestals with the urns in the windows — it makes you notice the height of the window. And the folding screen takes your eye upward. But I tilted the mirror over the mantel downward to reflect the room and the people — not the ceiling.

Why did you paint the ceiling gray?
White ceilings are boring. This one is not just gray, but shiny, which gives it a lift. It makes it ethereal, airy, almost skylike.

Just dreamy.

Summer Sizzle!

Trina Turk has been a California fashion favorite for years. I frequent her clothing ateliers often as a part of my shopping regimen and absolutely love her vintage, yet tailored look. We were delighted to learn that our stylish friend launched a collection of resort inspired fabrics for outdoor furnishings with Schumacher. C Magazine sponsored a launch party at Trina's curated mid-century home, attracting most of LA's biggest design mavens. Here we are with Trina at the big event....and hello to the graceful Ruthie Sommers!

Dapper Interior Designer, David Dalton perfectly utilized Trina's new textiles in his room installation in the 2009 Pasadena Showcase House of Design.
What a solid statement! Well done David.

David Dalton and me enjoying an evening out and about!

In Memory: Julius Shulman

All I can say is MAGIC.

Mr. Shulman you are loved.

We will always be inspired by you and the beauty that you brought to this world.

Modern day Klimt

I had the pleasure of meeting a legendary painter last night! Joshua Petker's star has been rising and soon will be a force to be reckoned with. I am so glad to be on this creative journey in Los Angeles watching all kinds of creative stars being born especially his! Joshua's paintings are haunting yet beautiful and have an essence of days and era's gone by. His own technique is impeccable and painstakingly perfected to his standard. His work is sought after and coveted by many collectors and is currently working on a myriad of art shows and fashion installations.
JP ~ "I used to say I was born in the wrong century. The way overly dramatic kids claim to be old souls living in the present day, I was convinced I was secretly an impressionist painter, meant more for turn of the century's demi-monde opulence rather than today's world of animators, illustrators, and monster movie artists. I didn't go to art school. I don't know all the proper techniques. I learned colour theory by doing graffiti, but the story of the graffiti-artist-turned-fine-art-painter has been played out since the mid-'80s. My own life seemed to be working against me. I was convinced I should have been born in 1850.Then I realized that I was approaching everything wrong. I live in Hollywood, this century's den of inequity and excess. I have eccentric colourful friends that rival the models of Degas and Renoir, I spend nights at Los Angeles bars that could rival those painted by Monet, and as this is 2007 I have access to neon pink and hot orange that I imagine even Van Gogh wouldn't know how to utilize. I am a contemporary painter interested in historic themes. There isn't anything wrong with that. I don't have any art school loans to pay back. I primarily paint women because I'm tremendously influenced by Klimt - and really focused on beauty."

Joshua Petker - Juxtapoz Magazine
www.joshuapetker.comHere is Joshua with my bestie Suzanne Marques of Good Day LA. We all went out last night on the town and had a blast. Her amazing blog is http://suzanne-marques.blogspot.com/

Olde Good Things

One of the most well stocked architectural savage shops in Los Angeles is "Olde Good Things" on Grand downtown. Intriguing Griffin gargoyles to dilapidated iron gates.Incredilble garden urns (fret not, those sold stickers are for W&R!) A lucky client of ours scored these for their wonderful backyard.Ornamental plates and facades from deconstructed wonders.
They don't make 'em like they used to!
Black lacquered doors from France -- oh so many places these could go.Old garden chairs and parlor frames festooned about.