VISIT WITH NATHAN TURNER @ POTTERY BARN NYC WITH HIS NEW BOOK IN TOW

 Photo courtesy ofAbrams

Come out to celebrate LA-based interior designer and thrower of cozy parties Nathan Turner's new book, American Style: Classic Design and Effortless Entertaining at Pottery Barn this Tuesday, October 9th. Chat with fellow hosts Mario Buatta, Milly de Cabrol, Chiara de Rege and Celerie Kemble, check out Nathan Turner's PB entertaining picks, have him sign his new laid-back living tome, and get the chance to win a $500 gift card. Sounds like a pretty good evening to me. RSVP to newyorkrsvp@potterybarn.com. Hope to see you there! There being Pottery Barn at 1965 Broadway at 67th Street.

STYLISH SHOPPING IN THE SUN: NATHAN TURNER'S NEW LA DIGS

Photos courtesy of Nathan Turner
The outside of Nathan's new shop

A little bit boho a lot California casual, Nathan Turner's new LA shop is filled with global finds. Having migrated over from Almont Yard, he is now at 8546 Melrose Avenue, down the street from Nicky Rising's showroom and across the road from Michael S. Smith's Jasper showroom. From rustic finishes to bohemian artisanal imports, there is an earthy lived - in look that pervades Nathan's new digs. Goods culled from global travels capture the spirit of a wanderlust. As a born and raised Californian, he has perfected the mixing entertaining, lifestyle, and decor with an eclectic ease. Cozy and oh - so - perfect for the casual LA lifestyle where comfort is key, drop by and check out his new retail home when you are shopping West Hollywood.

Nathan next to some earthy vases filled with succulents-- oh so California!

A neutral sofa is transformed by spring green zig zag pillows while a rustic wooden table and African stools round out a seating area with casual yet graphic components.

Blue and white tabletop with boho chic appeal.

Nathan's new awning stripe logo is fresh and graphic.

Chairs upholstered in a soft stripe, rustic urns on fluted columns and a white Moroccan coffee table make a seating area that is casual and relaxed.

Embroidered blankets from India add texture and vivid pattern to a sofa in a snap.

Mixing woods, bamboo and paintings of rustic California landscapes the feel is chill, chill, chill.

Another angle reveals the rough hewn wooden coffee table and gallery style wall of nature paintings.

Lanterns, small pull up tables and a mid century desk all with a slightly weathered, natural look, easily achieve a California carefree style.

Love the artwork hanging behind the linen upholstered sofa. An acrylic flower painting by artist Veronica Navajas hangs next to a landscape photograph giving the wall some real punch, attesting to the power of great art. Check out the little white wood ottomans in the indigo and white wide stripe nearby.

A graphic wood and bamboo mirror rests on a side table stacked with home books and a swirly glazed lamp with a 60's vibe.

The dogs! Nathan's labs are often hanging out if you want to say hi. They are totally adorable.

DAPPER DESIGNERS AND TRENDS UNCOVERED AT AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN VEGAS

The Dapper Designer Dans and Susanna Salk on stage

If you missed yesterday's live webcast from World Market in Las Vegas, don't fret, you can see the trend updates from Nathan Turner, Jeffrey Alan Marks and Tony Baratta right here, courtesy of Editor at Large. Susanna Salk moderated a lively panel with lots of great comments and fun moments. I had to ask, "What are you seeing out there that you are tiring of, what styles or design moments need retiring?" More on that to come!

The designers uncovered what will become next season’s most popular trends during their presentation, Ahead of the Curve, moderated by style guru and “Today” show contributor Susanna Salk. The program, which featured a live in-studio audience and webcast viewers from around the globe, gave the world a chance to watch top design stars reveal their favorite discoveries.

The trends they discovered included:

Watch Nathan Turner's video here
Red Hots: Nearly every showroom featured pieces in fire engine red. Hot red combines well with chocolate, gray, navy and white. It has a tendency to give a graphic quality to a room and is an easy way to add instant spice to a project. It’s all you need to make a room sizzle.

Au Natural: Natural, unfinished materials that incorporate hand craftsmanship do not have to be exclusively rustic. At Las Vegas Market, several of these “natural” pieces were sexy and sleek. Going au natural can add depth, soul, and character to a room.

Basketweave: Basketweave knew no limits in Las Vegas. It was featured on furniture with metal, rope, and wicker accents. It brings outside in, allowing something you typically associate with the outdoors to be inside the home in a very chic, stylish manner. It could even take the place of a pattern.

Watch Jeffrey Alan Mark's video here
Small Scale: In the 90s, the trend was to do everything bigger. Big houses, big rooms, big furniture. Now things are smaller with more details. Small scale pieces provide a more tailored, very sweet look. The economy has had a lot to do with it. McMansions are out and people aren’t looking to just fill up a house. And more than anything, they want their home to have pieces with personality.

Swivel: Because rooms are smaller they are required to be more dynamic, so multi-purpose pieces are critical. From the end of a bed to in front of a fireplace, pieces that swivel, rock or roll bring life and movement to a room while saving space.

Pop of Color: One of the latest crazes has been light grey wood. But it can grow stale or boring. Dress up your neutrals with a jolt of color. At Las Vegas Market there has been a pop of color trend showing up in rustic pieces, where the color really emphasizes the contrast between the rough edges and a smooth, modern finish.

Watch Anthony Baratta's video here:
Retro Redefined: Forms from the 40s, 50s and 60s are now being made with materials to make the look more modern. These pieces give a whimsical element to any room, and offer more compatibility with today’s design options.

Black and White – the ultimate neutral: Black and white allows color to stand out in a room, and can bring a room to life. A lot of the black and white pieces at this year’s Las Vegas Market are very graphic, which really allows a piece to give a room a whole other dimension.

Chrome in the Home: Chrome gives any piece a clean, fresh look. Las Vegas Market featured countless retro pieces that were updated with a chrome element. Chrome adds a nice sparkle to a room and will work in both modern and traditionally designed homes, giving them a sharp, crisp finish.

“We are very proud of the reputation Ahead of the Curve has gotten over the last few years,” said Robert Maricich, chief executive officer of International Market Centers, World Market Center Las Vegas’ parent company. “We know that media, designers, buyers and mainstream consumers all anticipate what our trend forecasters will divulge. Fall is such a busy season for decorating so this is the perfect time to get ahead of next season’s trends.”

“I never tire of identifying the stand-out pieces and trends year-after-year,” said Susanna Salk, design expert and author. “Las Vegas Market has an amazing variety of products, from very luxurious high-end manufacturers, to very affordable well-built pieces and even the more obscure, whimsical pieces.”

“This is my first time at Las Vegas Market,” said Baratta. “I’ve found the experience to be incredibly inspiring. I have found some great new pieces to incorporate into current projects and have so many new ideas to take home to New York with me. I was non-stop shopping.”

“We had an amazing time going through each showroom and picking our favorites,” said Marks. “From comfort, to fun design elements, and great colors, this season’s Las Vegas Market really had it all. It was extremely difficult for me to narrow down my choices for the Ahead of the Curve presentation. There just wasn’t enough time to highlight all of my favorites.”

“Because I have a retail store I am always on the hunt to look for things, and was not disappointed here in Las Vegas,” said Turner. “I saw so many different types of things and spotted numerous trends and am excited to bring some of these things back to my own store in Los Angeles.”

LA designers have more fun! Nathan and Jeffrey, half of the Million Dollar Decorators crew, dressed in their blue blazers and looking smart in 100 degree heat.

WESTWEEK IS HERE ALONG WITH THE MILLION DOLLAR DECORATORS

Photo courtesy of PDC
In case you have not heard, there is a new design show hitting the airwaves soon. This celebrated design line up does not need much by way of introduction. They are all familiar LA arbiters of taste and style and each possesses their own type of creative magic. They have been tapped to participate in the newest Bravo "docu-drama" genre design show, Million Dollar Decorator, coming early summer to the buzzy network. Giving a behind the scenes look at the design process, you will have fly - on - the - wall access to shopping with clients and see the hard work that goes into managing a design firm in the city of Angels. The show is sure to be entertaining with this cast of characters. If you are in LA for Westweek, I will be moderating a lively Q and A with Mary McDonald, Nathan Turner, Kathryn M. Ireland, and Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. It is sure to be fun so I hope you can be there!
Details:
3:00 pm
Thursday March 24th
Pacific Design Center
Blue Conference Center
Suite B259

A BRENTWOOD LA BOHEMIAN CHIC POP UP SHOP WORTH A VISIT

Are you a gypsy in training? Save time, airline miles and jet lag fatigue by letting Andrea Gibbin and Wendy Riva travel for you. In R and G Collective, a newly assembled boho chic pop - up shop in Brentwood, CA the girls have hand - picked exotic goods so you don't have to barter and haggle in the bustling souks and markets of Marrakesh and India to find great stuff. They enlisted the design help of Californian Nathan Turner, and New Yorker Eric Hughes, who styled the space. Nathan must be sleepwalking at this point, what with a High Point trip to launch additions to his Elite Leather line, curating artwork with Dutch Touch and taping Million Dollar Decorator (for it's January run). This sort of puts the fun back into global bazaar shopping when it all looks so enticing and gorgeous. I first heard of this gig from my uber cool friend writer Ingrid Schmidt, a newly minted LA hipster, who shared the post from Lisa Borgnes Giramonti of A Bloomsbury Life. If you have not read it, you must. This is how things go viral-- don't sell everything till I get there!

A lounge lover's lair

Fresh ikat and patterned pillows punch up a striped settee

Tea anyone?

The look is not complete unless you have a curly lamb rug

Sun streams in the window, where a suzani covered sofa beckons

Everything you need to entertain but the spices

Staples of ethnic interiors dot the store

Photos by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti
Orange is a powerful statement maker

Visit the new pop up R & G Collective (soon!)
11981 San Vicente Boulevard, Brentwood, LA near Saltair Avenue
Mon-Sat 11-4pm
Through October and November only
310-729-7775

WHY DON'T YOU BUY SOMETHING RED?

A friend I used to work with at David Easton came over yesterday. We always talk design non-stop and I ask for his chic advice. We got to talking about my home and what I cannot live without. Not missing a beat, I declared it was the color red. With that mood-altering color on my mind, here are some well-designed chairs that may conjure up Diana Vreeland or the thought that you too, cannot live without it:


Photo Courtesy of Suzanne Allen
The St. Germain Chair from Suzanne Allen is well- proportioned and has a nice leg. Great for a living room seating arrangements or as a bedroom chair.

Photo Courtesy of Richard Shapiro
Studiolo by Richard Shapiro has this great new upholstered piece, the Bordoni Leather Minima Chair. The stamped leather, floor-length skirt and low back pillow are nice touches. An added swivel element makes it ideal for a media room.


Photo Courtesy of Wisteria
Wisteria is a go to resource for great global finds and easy gifts. Their Louis Red Upholstered Chair is easy to love. Pull it around a dining table or put it up against the wall below a sconce for a hit of eye- popping color.

Photo Courtesy of Elite Leather
Elle Decor recently feted Nathan Turner at Bloomingdales for his new Elite Leather furniture Collection. The Flores tufted armchair is my favorite--the dark wood pops against the red shiny leather, a really catchy combo for a study. The pitch is deep and perfect for reading the paper.

THE GREYSTONE MANSION VERANDA SHOWHOUSE IN LA

Veranda Magazine recently held The Greystone Mansion Showhouse in Beverly Hills, CA. The showhouse took place in a Guilded Age California manse from November 1-16th. The house had good bones, so there was plenty to work with. What made this showhouse unique was the design premise. Veranda posed the question to the designers, "What would this home look like if a young couple lived there when the home was built?" Below are results from some of the participating designers:

Photo by Samuel Frost
Joe Lucas and Parrish Chicoat of Lucas Studio did this outdoor seating area with pops of green and brought many interior pieces out. A painting on an easel and a cabinet all weathered the elements. A lamp outside? It's California!

Photo by Samuel Frost
In addition, Lucas Studio also created this young interior with pops of color. The walls are upholstered in a fabric from the new Ferrick Mason fabric collection. Brian Ferrick, a fabric genius, and Alex Mason, an artist, joined forces to create this terrific new line based on Alex's paintings. You can find it at Peter Dunham's Hollywood at Home in LA.

Photo by Samuel Frost
Lucas Studio mixes great silhouette's with textured pieces. The overall effect is a great mix. Check out their shop Harbinger, which I have mentioned on earlier posts.

Photo by Karyn Millet
Located next to the room done by Lucas Studio, Elizabeth Dinkel Design Associates were asked to create woman's guest bedroom with a Californian bungalow aesthetic. That they did, with a fresh color palette and Moroccan influences. The twin beds have wonderfully detailed valances that add a traditional element to the mid-century modern pieces. Watch this shade of green, it is a hot one!


Suzanne Rheinstein's room was a soothing femme haven. What a perfect place for letter writing by a sunny window.


A spot to cozy up with a book and a cup of tea, the library of this room must be filled with great titles knowing Suzanne's penchant for good design books.


Suzanne chose stunning french planters to bring some greenery inside. This room is so light and airy with its floral fabric, dark floors and cream walls. Many of the antiques and accessories shown are available at Hollyhock


Peter Dunham did A Gentleman's Study. Dark green upholstery and boldly patterned walls with a globe pattern make this area a European-inflected retreat. His new fabrics,Globe and Almont Stripe are used along with a Syrie Maugham Armchair, After All Sofa and Caned Cocktail Table from his custom furniture collection. The items shown are through Hollywood at Home.


Waldo Fernandez did The Card Room, at the bottom of the grand staircase. What a great floor. The sheep can try and blend in, but he can't hide! A Showhouse always brings out a designer's sense of humor.


Waldo chose black painted wicker with light upholstery. Easy and casual.

Photo by Joe Schmelzer
Tim Clarke channelled old Hollywood with velvet armchairs and a sunburst on the wall in his Paneled Game Room and Prohibition Bar.

Ames Ingham created a charming The Salon de The in a little alcove off the main floor.


Ames brought in personality pieces--love the telephone table! Visit her store Ames Inghamfor more finds.


A little tea table with two small lamps that add height sparkle in the convex mirror.

Photo by Miguel Flores-Vianna
Nathan Turner's living room area had wonderful windows. Floor length panels in a cool shade of blue work with the painted ceiling.

Photo by Miguel Flores-Vianna
Nathan mixed antiques from his shop with pieces from his new Elite Leather furniture collection. The stool shown here is his design, from Elite Leather.

Photo by Miguel Flores-Vianna
Two long sofas by the fireplace create an instantly comfortable seating area for entertaining. Many of the antique pieces are available at his shop, Nathan Turner Antiques.

Photo by Doug Myers Photography
Richard Shapiro designed the Salon. Mixing antiques with his Studiolo collection, he created a space inspired by his world travels.


Photo by Doug Myers Photography
Gorgeous mill work calls for equally gorgeous art.



Photo by Tim Street-Porter
Martyn Lawrence Bullard called his room A Cabinet of Curiosity, and was inspired by global influences from ethnic patterns and rare materials. Various shades of blue ground the room. His fabrics shown here are available at Hollywood at Home.


Photo by Tim Street-Porter
Martyn used stripes and pattern to upholster furniture with great flair. the curvy arm of the settee and the lampshade bring a touch of whimsy.


Jack Fhillips took on the Great Room. Neutral upholstery plays off the stunning carpet. A young couple would surely enjoy this room. Formal but not too too. You feel you could sit on the furniture (slip covered for ease of use) and get cozy.


Photo by Don Lewis
James Lumsden, creator of Las Palmas Furniture, did this space. The cantaloupe and cream awning stripe used with touches of red gives the room a nice energy. An iron bed and drafting desk make me think a creative type would live here...


Photo by Marcia Lee
Nancy Goslee Power & Associates did the garden design for The Fountain Garden. Soothing and reserved, this is an elegant space that works well with its surroundings.

Thank you to all the designers for sending such great images. I wish I could have seen the house. There's always next year...