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.

Margaret Russell ~ Elle Decorama!

We are major devotees to the wonderful worlds of Elle Decor and Met Home. It was an absolute pleasure to meet Margaret Russell, editor and chief of Elle Decor during the La Cienega Design Quarter gala (at Therien & Co).

Yes, my eyes are shut in the photo (I am known for always blinking), but we were having a moment! She is both charming and so warm spirited! (And absolutely cute as a button!)

For the whole documentary of the LCDQ weekend check out:
La Cienega Design Quarter: ELLE DECOR Presents Legends of La Cienega Design ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boa5fmwCBts

You can catch Ron and me during one of our book signings at minute 2:25 on the film!


Our window designed by our pal and the ever talented Martyn Lawrence-Bullard.
ROAR! Love the new zebra textiles Martyn! Thanks for the beautiful installation.

Yves Saint Laurent ~ with appreciation

Paris’ Sale of the Century

Inside the Christie’s Auction of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé’s Collection, with Exclusive Photos from the Architectural Digest Archives

Text by Mark Ginsburg Published July 2009

1. Italian (18) $1,238,849

2. Attributed to Maison Bagues $128,139

3. Gobelins $712,886

At the presale exhibition, held over the course of three days at the Grand Palais, more than 30,000 people visited the treasure trove of paintings, sculpture and furnishings that Saint Laurent and Bergé had amassed.

1 to 3. Italian $109,576

4. James Ensor $6,436,600

GRAND SALON, 1976

Architectural Digest shot the couple’s apartment in 1976.

1. Italian $109,576
2. Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann $202,393
3. Jean Dunand $418,966
4. Armand Albert Rateau $1,455,422
5. French (pair) $125,045
6. Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann $94,106
7. Jules Leleu $44,604
8. After Giambologna and Pietro Tacca (pair) $388,027
9. Pierre Legrain $589,130
10. Armand Albert Rateau $388,027
11. French $148,249

12. Eileen Gray $28,238,277

GRAND SALON, 1976

Architectural Digest shot the couple’s apartment in 1976.

1. Jean Dunand $81,731
2. Attributed to Pierre Reymond $137,421
3. Jean Dunand $125,045
4. Jean Dunand $66,261
5. Albert Cheuret $403,496
6. Sir Edward Burne-Jones $774,764
7. Alfred Porteneuve (pair) $155,984
8. French (four) $132,780
9. Ernest Boiceau $774,76

GRAND SALON, 2008

When Christie’s photographed the apartment in the fall of 2008, the grand salon remained mostly unchanged, although the walls were now lined with paintings.

1. Giorgio de Chirico $14,233,226

2. Augsburg $233,332

3. Fernand Léger $7,158,509

4. Fernand Léger $4,559,634

5. Augsburg $233,332

6. Nuremberg $148,249

7. 19th century $140,515

8. Fernand Léger $4,848,398

9. Thomas Gainsborough $2,827,050

10. Henri Matisse $10,623,677

11. Juan Gris $1,383,231

12. Probably Italian $47,698

SALON DE MUSIQUE

Hall of Mirrors

Saint Laurent and Bergé were patrons of art and design as well as collectors. In 1974 the couple commissioned a pair of mirrors from Claude Lalanne for the music room of their rue de Babylone apartment. Ultimately, 15 bronze mirrors with foliate motifs by Lalanne covered the walls. Visible through the space is a Roman torso in the entrance hall.

1. Claude Lalanne $94,106
2. Roman $1,671,995
3. Claude Lalanne (15) $2,393,905
4. Jean Dunand (pair) $808,660

BIBLIOTHÈQUE

Light and Bright

“There is a theme and a continuity to my collections. Of course, there are always fantasies, but it is the base that counts,” Saint Laurent told Architectural Digest in 1976. During AD’s visit, a Joseph Csaky bas-relief was on the fireplace.

1. Joseph Csaky $186,923

2. French $32,228

3. Vilmos Zsolnay $44,604

What a legacy! A shining example of good taste and well spent investments towards a wonderful living environment. YSL understood the value of investing into one's lifestyle. Well done! It is paying back ten fold.

Givenchy Provocateur

Just watched "How to Steal a Million" with the divine Audrey Hepburn and handsome Peter O'Toole. Astonished with her complete Givenchy wardrobe! But this Lace mask and headband takes the cake. I need someone to make this for me! It is so stunning and mysterious!