SHOPPING IN LA: ROOMS AND GARDENS

Rooms & Gardens, the cozy home shop in bucolic Santa Barbara, was opened by Eric and Jami Voulgaris in 1993. With a big celeb following, they knew they were doing something right. When they expanded to Santa Monica, they brought in actress and longtime client Mary Steenburgen, who, with her bohemian finds, brought a new client to the shop. As with all great retail environments, it is about the mix, selecting items that are diverse and interesting, that work well merchandised together. John Robshaw and Les Indiennes bedding, Candela candles, Jamie Young Lamps and other lines make for a selection that captures the easy LA lifestyle. The shop's style and aesthetic is based on classic British and French colonial themes with ethnic twists, such as vintage textiles from India or baskets from Cambodia. They create custom pieces from an antique they find, and scale it to fit today's home. They then take style elements such as chinoiserie painting and give a piece a modern twist. Many of their designs originated as part of design project for a client, and were then incorporated into their line. Others are exclusive, signature pieces that people around the country associate with the stores. These pieces are shown throughout their shops. Custom upholstery, wicker, seagrass and wood furniture add to that global feeling. Rooms & Gardens have been involved in the design of homes and hotels throughout the Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, as well as Lake Tahoe, Anacortes Island, WA, and the Hamptons. Their design services include space planning, layout, furniture design and installation and window coverings, making them a one stop shop. I love the feeling I get when walking into R and G--- easy breezy California.

Rooms & Gardens in Santa Monica:

Located at 1311 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, where the action is.

Cozy overstuffed seating an sisal carpeting for the casual California lifestyle. Jamie Young lamps work into the mix well-- their red lampshades add a pop of bright to the vignette.

The shop is a treasure trove of ethnic global finds mixed with blockprinted fabrics and striped rugs.

A rustic rush bed made up in John Robshaw bedding.

A bookcase teems with John Robshaw pillows.

Rooms & Gardens in Santa Barbara at 924 State Street:

Follow the brick path to bliss.

Mixing zebra with wicker for a country feel.

Sharp navy blue mixed with casual printed pillows equals easy living.

Beds, beds, everywhere!

There is a bed for everyone here. I love a dark wood barley twist bed.

To the trade fabrics are offered, and seen here on a headboard and footboard. The print works well with the strong ebony finish.

If you are in LA for Westweek, give it a whirl!

FERRICK MASON FABRICS DEBUT

Ferrick Mason, a newly launched collection of print designs are inspired by things found in nature. As a collaboration between two artistic and visual minds, they were able to come up with organic- inspired designs that have already found an audience in the design community. Their designs are first hand drawn and then screened, so the lines have an imperfect quality. This irregularity gives their innovative designs a painterly, handmade feel. Their fabrics, printed on Belgian linen are locally produced in Los Angeles, using eco-friendly inks and dyes. Interior designers Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat of Lucas Studio used their fabric early on last year, in the Veranda Showhouse in Greystone Mansion, where they did a fantastic space.

The line is available through Kathryn M. Ireland in Almont Yard, Nicky Rising, Grizzel and Mann in Altanta, and Studio 534 in The Boston Design Center. I have known Brian since his early days with Kathryn Ireland, and sat down with him recently to get his perspective on his new creative endeavor.

Alex and Brian

Brian, you are a veteran fabric designer and have helped some of the biggest names in the business with their fabric lines. Why launch a collection of your own and why now?

After working with Kathryn Ireland and Michael Smith for a number of years on their textile lines I started getting the itch to have my own - unfortunately I am not an artist and wasn't really interested in working on another document based line. My good friend Amelia Dalgaard had been trying to introduce me to her friend Alex Mason, Alex is an amazing painter, who happened to be looking for a partner with textile experience to break into the business. Alex and I finally met at a party and were fast friends - and when I saw her paintings and ideas for fabrics I was in love.

What inspired the designs and the particular color palette? The colors are unexpected and unusual, in a good way.

Our initial collection is based on artwork that was inspired from Alex's two years in New Zealand. The patterns have a reoccurring theme of berries and abstract flora. With the colors we were trying to keep things fresh and modern without being gimicky - we wanted updated colors that would work well in contemporary as well as traditional environments. Both Alex and I have a somewhat East coast sensibility and liked colors that would be at home on Cape Cod, in the Hamptons or Palm Beach - not be mention Southern California -fun, fresh, slightly preppy with a twist!

With a brand new collection what will mean success in your eyes?

We have both been thrilled with first getting the line out there, then having so many friends and designers that we respect get excited about the line and use it. Sales, of course, are very important and we are pleased with the momentum that has been picking up with sales and press. We started out inching our way out there with our boutique line in just one showroom with a road rep. Now we are in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston and soon to be NYC and Dallas. We are also introducing 3 new designs to our line as well a more moderately priced line with 7 new designs. People have been eager to see fresh new designs, that aren't just the trendy ethnic prints - and like the fact that we are hand screened in California - keeping it all local!

What is influencing you now, and what is next?

We have about 10 new designs that we are currently working on - a large scale damask that incorporates some of the motifs from the first collection and a wonderful irregular horizontal stripe, as well as beautiful dense berry co-ordinate. then 7 new designs that we are printing on cotton and bringing out at a more moderate price point, something I think the market is really calling for now. We are still doing exciting original designs for this grouping but will not be hand printed on Belgian linen in order to keep it more affordable.

THE FABRICS:

Willow the full repeat

Willow in green

Willow in blue

Warfield in full repeat

Warfield in orange

Warfield in Lavender

Warfield in green

Warfield in blue

Tropicana in full repeat

Tropicana in lavender

Tropicana in green

Tropicana in brown

Tropicana in blue

Calliandra in full repeat

Calliandra in robin's egg

Calliandra in orange

Calliandra in brown and orange

Calliandra in brown

Bizzy Bloom in full repeat in pink

Bizzy Bloom in green

Bizzy Bloom in blue

MOVING SALE: HOLLYHOCK IN LA IS HEADED TO LA CIENEGA

The Hilldale location

Hollyhock features a beautifully edited mix, displayed in vignettes around the store

Great finishes and textures make the interior of the shop feel move in ready

In West Hollywood, interior designer Suzanne Reinstein created a modern- day salon for the traditional design set in California with her shop, Hollyhock. The original location, opened 20 years ago, was in Larchmont village. She moved into her Hilldale Avenue space in 2000, an old post office that was once Tony Duquette's studio. The mix of antiques, china, books, her upholstery line, and the latest finds were artfully displayed throughout the open layout. Book signings, product launches, and parties galore have been thrown in this fantastic space with a soaring ceiling. Suzanne created a modern day salon in her midst. With her design studio upstairs, she could greet the design community and throw parties on site. By bringing Robert Kime fabrics and William Yeoward Crystal from England, John Rosselli furniture and New York's Christopher Spitzmiller lamps to an LA, she set the tone with a mix of 18th and 19th century antiques and objects finding the audience craved it. She would paint feature walls the brightest red and mango yellow, showcasing her array in catchy vignettes. Out front, she always had an array of antique garden furniture, plant stands and two flowering trees in Belgian planters welcomed visitors. The setting was glorious. Well, times change, and more and more designers with shops are heading over to La Cienega, the design corridor. The street is lined with design cognoscenti, from Therien, newly relocated Hollywood at Home, Lee Stanton, Downtown LA and more. The group of dealers support each other through their organization, La Cienega Design Quarter, where they have parties and design walks to engage the community. Hollyhock will now be in on the action, amidst friends. I can't wait to see the environment she creates there. The new address is 927 North La Cienega Boulevard. The local cantina, Comme Ca, will now be even more packed!

Some great finds are for sale...

The White Tufted Chair


The Chinoiserie Lacquer Etagere with Pagoda Roof and Gold Painted Fish
with Bell Tassels


The Mandarin Coffee Table with circles and squares for a garden setting.


The Faux Coral Plaster Sconce


The Beebe Chaise is a piece I am very fond of.After numerous visits to Hollyhock, I still find myself drawn to the charming welted pleating. It's all in the details.

The Flip Top Regulation Game Table in Tobacco Lacquer with Classical Geometric Motif in Inlaid Horn with Sueded Reverse Top

BEHIND THE SCENES: KATIE RIDDER'S KIPS BAY ROOM

Kips Bay is taking shape, so spring is not far off! I decided to get the scoop from master colorist Katie Ridder, who is doing a hallway this year. She generously shared her color scheme and inspiration with me. Katie is sitting in one of her color-filled interiors, surrounded by vibrant pillows that match her sweater's trim. Her fashion sense and interiors often go hand in hand, as she tends towards brights in her wardrobe as well. Her new collection of wallpapers and fabrics capture a certain joie de vivre, and will grace her space in the showhouse.

The Scheme- A sophisticated color palette used in unexpected ways

She explains her design process-- "I have an affinity for things Moorish. My wallpaper, Moonflower, I hope is not identifiable in terms of Turkish, Moroccan, Japanese but it has an exotic bent to it. I've always been drawn to crescent moons - I have one in almost all of my wallpapers and fabrics.The colors are coral and mole gray on a natural linen. I wanted my little hallway to stand out so I am painting the trim a deep gray/brown and the ceiling coral. I’m going to paint all the trim very dark and then use my Moonflower fabric upholstered on the walls placing mirrors over the 3 doors.The gold chip is the finish on the pair of lamps and the trim will be a lampshade detail. I wanted fancy, sparkly light fixtures to accentuate the space. I am using a pair of console tables with gold Spitzmiller lamps and pagoda-like shades trimmed in coral rick rack with coral lining, with the corners turned up to see the lining. I was going for elegance and a little drama."

The goods-

A pair of tables on which the spitzmiller lamps will sit. The George III mahogany side tables are from Michael Pashby Antiques.

Christopher Spitzmiller Sophie Lamps

A set of 3 circa 1940s Beaded Crystal Light Fixtures from Carlos de la Puente