Best Interior Designer Los Angeles: Favorite Holiday Recipes

The calendar says October 31st, but the thermometer here in Southern California continues to read in the 80’s. While it doesn’t feel like fall here, in some parts of the country the crisp and cool indicators of the season are undeniably in the air. And as I’ve learned from my almost 10 years of life in Southern California, the holidays just get closer no matter what the weather forecast says.

So with that reality in mind I would like to share with you another in my series of all time favorite holiday recipes. Singled out for me as one of the most mesmerizing of fall colors, the rich fruit which this cookie recipe relies on is a winner whatever shape it takes. Enjoy!

Persimmon Cookies

1 Cup fresh Persimmon Pulp
1 Cup Chopped Nuts
1 Cup Raisins
1 Cup Sugar
½ Cup Butter
1 Egg
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda (dissolved in pulp)
2 Cups flour
½ Teaspoon each: cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Cream the butter and sugar.
Add nuts and raisins to flour.
Combine butter/sugar w/ nuts/raisins and flour
Beat egg and add to pulp.
Mix well.

Drop from teaspoons onto greased baking sheets.
Bake in 350’ pre-heated oven until cookies spring back when touched.
Cool on cookie rack.
Enjoy.

Top Interior Designer Los Angeles: List of Top Design Tips

Here are a few more thoughts from my “pet-peeves” list:

-Have you ever been in a powder room or guest bath and not been able to find the things you need. Think a hand towel; the waste can; fresh tissue; soap…etc. I hate when my host thinks that discretion (i.e. hiding all the things their guests might need) is helpful.

Think about your guest standing in the middle of your powder room with freshly washed hands dripping on your lovely hardwood floors while they play Sherlock trying to find where you’ve hidden the hand towels.

Do us all a favor, pretend you’ve never been in your home before and now navigate through the simplest of tasks.

For instance, how easy is it to find the waste can that you’ve cleverly hidden behind one of the three cabinet doors? This is not the Price Is Right. This is me standing with a used guest towel (which I may have rummaged through drawers to find) wondering if I should just chuck it behind the toilet and risk its discovery by the next guest.

At this thought, my mother’s voice channels through air vents and threatens. Do us all a favor and consider your guests to be the simpletons that most of us are. Make our bumbling and stumbling as simple as possible. We’ll enjoy ourselves more and you will have better guests in your home.

-Accent walls. Why would you want an accent wall? What has that wall done which suggests even in the slightest way that it deserves added attention? An accent (Something that accentuates or contrasts something else…..thank you Websters) indicates that special attention should be given or paid. Is that wall really worth it? What special feature, decorative highlight or architectural wonder are your drawing attention too? Please make it worth the effort or pass on the accent.

-Blank Ceilings. How many times is the sixth plane in a room ignored? It always seems odd to me that people will fret and worry over hundreds of little fussy details in a room while ignoring completely 1/6th of the room itself.

Fine if you decide to leave the ceiling white, but make the decision consciously don’t just ignore the ceiling. Paint, paper, fabric, paneling, plaster details……the list is long of options available to bring life and energy to that big canvas overhead. So at least think about it.

It’s very interesting how rapidly things can change. One phone call can change a day, week or a life. A voice from the past can bring a rush of memories that re-connect us with emotions set aside long ago. It’s been said that if we don’t learn from our past we are doomed to repeat it.

With the thought of history and the power associated with understanding what has gone before, I found a book this week that caught my imagination. The history of printed and painted fabrics found in Toiles de Jouy by Judith Straeten charts the influence of India on European fabric design.

Early in the seventeenth century, the spice trade brought painted and printed fabrics from India. While fabrics where printed locally at this time, the technology that allowed these fabrics to be washed did not exist until the introduction of the exotic product from India. The patterns initially introduced were soon adjusted to reflect imagery which appealed more to the European market.

Over the years, Toiles have come into their own as an elegant but relaxed source of imagery in the interior. The monochromatic presentation of scenic images allows for the use of these friendly prints in traditional and modern interiors. They always seem to draw a smile.

This book by Judith Straeten, who is the chief archivist for Brunschwig & Fils, is an extensive and captivating source of information and inspiration which I highly recommend. The history of this printed delight offers interesting insight into the development of the interiors we enjoy today. This is a great opportunity to learn and education has never been so delightful.

Against pests in the home, the best offense is a good defense. The first step is to make the house — especially the kitchen — unattractive to insects by cleaning up food spills immediately, keeping hard-to-reach areas reasonably clean, and removing clutter that can hide pests.

It’s best to store foods that are attractive to pests, such as flour, in the refrigerator. Water attracts pests, so leaky faucets and pipes should be promptly repaired. Doors and windows should be well screened. Cloths should be regularly cleaned and aired, and properly stored in paper or cardboard boxes that are sealed against moths.

A number of nontoxic substances can be used to repel insects. Generally, they are highly fragrant or volatile herbs or spices. Powdered red chill pepper, peppermint, bay leaves, cloves, citrus oil, lavender, rosemary, tobacco, peppercorns, and cedar oil can repel various types of insects.

Insects can be trapped and killed without resorting to dangerous chemicals.

Generally a poison nontoxic to humans is mixed with a food that insects find attractive, and spread in the infested area. Examples are oatmeal (attractive) and plaster-of-Paris (poisonous), and cocoa powder and flour (attractive) and borax (poisonous). Old-fashioned flypaper — not a hanging strip of insecticide — is an effective trap.

For specific house pests, try these natural home remedy pestcides:

For ants: Sprinkle powdered red chill pepper, paprika, dried peppermint, or borax where the ants are entering.

For beetles: Kill manually when you see them.

For cockroaches: Mix by stirring and sifting 1 ounce TSP, 6 ounces borax, 4 ounces sugar, and 8 ounces flour. Spread on floor of infested area. Repeat after 4 days and again after 2 weeks.

For fleas: Feed pet brewer’s yeast in powder mixed with food or by tablets.

For moths: Air clothes well in the sun; store in airtight containers, and scatter sachets of lavender, cedar chips, or dried tobacco in with clothing.

For rats and mice: Again, prevention may be the best cure. Holes in exterior or interior walls should be closed off and storage spaces kept orderly. Garbage should be kept tightly covered. To catch rodents, the most efficient system is the oldest: a cat. Next best are mouse and rat traps.

For termites: Any wooden parts of the house should be at least 18 inches off the ground, as subterranean termites cannot tolerate being exposed to air and light. They have to build easily visible mud tunnels to get at available wood.

However, most existing houses have only about an 8-inch clearance between wooden parts and the ground, which makes the wood vulnerable. Metal shields may help discourage termites, but they cannot prevent infestations.

To treat existing termite infestations, there are a few nontoxic alternatives: The “Extermax” system, available in California; and the use of a particular species of nematodes to eat them, a system available from N-Viro Products, Ltc.

For gardens: In hardware stores, look for new brands of safer insecticides that use soap-and water solution to get rid of aphids, or pyrethrum for a number of applications. As more and more people understand the hazards of organic chemicals in the home, market pressure will encourage the introduction of safer products.

Several naturally derived pesticides exist which, in some cases, are less toxic to humans than the organophosphates, carbamates, or organochlorines now widely used. Nicotine is the most toxic, poisonous both to humans and to other mammals, as well as to birds and fish. It is not available commercially for home gardeners because of its hazards.

Rotenone, moderately toxic to humans, kills a wide range of insects; however, it should never be used near a waterway, as it is very toxic to fish. Ryania kills only a few species, including the European corn borer, codling moth, and cranberry fruit worm.

Pyrethrum is relatively nontoxic to humans and only slightly toxic to aquatic life, so it may be the best choice for home gardens. Sabadilla controls lice, leafhoppers, squash bugs, striped cucumber beetles, and chinch bugs. It has low toxicity to wildlife, but it may be toxic to bees.

For lawns: Herbicides are most often used to kill “unsightly” weeds in gardens and yards, and are employed by lawn care companies to maintain the perfect appearance of turf around homes, lawns and golf courses. Basically, the safe alternative to herbicides is simple: pull weeds by hand. There are no really safe herbicides.

Top LA Designer’s Favorite Holiday Recipes

One week till Halloween! Where has the time gone? It seems that we just enjoyed July fourth and now we are getting ready for the holidays.

Starting this week I will be sharing a series of my favorite fall recipes.

I recommend this great holiday recipe as one to make early and often. The small loaves of bread, sweet and moist, freeze beautifully and can be stored and used for entertaining and gift giving. Be certain to make extras as you will nibble your way through a loaf or two before you know it.

Pumpkin Bread

1 Cup Vegetable Oil
4 Cups Sugar
1 Large Can Pumpkin
4 Cups Flour
4 Teaspoons Soda
2 Teaspoons Cinamon
¾ Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
8 oz. cut dates
8 oz. chopped walnuts

Mix oil, sugar, pumpkin and vanilla thoroughly. Add flour, salt, soda and cinnamon. Mix very well. Add dates and nuts and mix again.

Grease and flour 6 small loaf pans. Fill evenly.

Bake about one hour at 350 degrees or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of a loaf.

Cool and turn out of pans. Wrap in foil for storage or freezing.

I was having dinner with friends last Friday evening and someone at the table asked what my list of pet-decorating peeves looked like. In the moment, I cracked something that looked like a joke, along the lines of “Oh, you mean that long, long list I tote around with me……!”

As I think about it there is a list. It is long and might be helpful to those interested in making their homes more beautiful. Over the next few weeks, I will share my list of decorating pet-peeves.

Here’s the first installment:

-People who think they are decorators. I overheard a gentleman at a dinner party recently state that “anyone can be a decorator….just buy a magazine or two and get to work.” What a lovely thought… if only it was that simple.

It makes as much sense as people thinking they can act as a lawyer or a doctor by watching a television show or two. I dare anyone who thinks otherwise to volunteer at my office for a week and see just how easy the real work of design is.

-Bare windows. Would you leave your home without shoes? Would you drive your car without tires? Drapery offers aesthetic enhancements to a room, major functional options that assist in sun protection, climate control, as well as sound abatement, not to mention the visually pleasing nature of beautifully crafted drapes.

-Bare light bulbs. There is nothing more painful to me (yes, physically painful) than to walk into a room and be accosted by the glare of an exposed light bulb; on a chandelier, wall sconce, or table lamp, unless it is the flame from a burning wick, there should be a shade on that bulb to soften the light and enhance the entire room.

Have you ever taken the train? Last year while traveling in Russia I boarded the Nicholas I late one night in Moscow for the overnight trip to St. Petersburg. As the train moved out of the station the city lights began flashing past the curtained window of my cabin. A series of staccato images rolled past my window until I fell asleep. When I woke the series continued. Fast flashes. Each peek offering a glimpse of the world beyond. I think it is the concept of the glimpse that interests me today. In reading James Archer Abbott’s book Jansen I found the glimpse concept again of great interest. This book chronicles the 20th century’s most famous and influential interior decorating house and provides a peek into the world’s most spectacular design commissions. Founded in Paris by Jean-Henri Jansen in 1880 the firm eventually occupied offices and boutiques in New York, London, Cairo, Alexandria, Buenos Aires, Havana, Prague, Sao Paolo, Rome, Milan and Geneva.

With photos and stories which illustrate the consistent and committed “modern” aesthetic which this firm used in all their projects it also illustrates its renowned adaptation of an 18th century neoclassical style. It is an education as well as a thrilling experience to glimpse into the rarified world designed by Jansen.

Thinking big intrigues me. It always has. I’ve always been fascinated with a wide stretch of ocean, a sweeping expanse of mountain range, and the sharp edges of a coral reef. So when presented with the idea of establishing a consistent voice that would explore the world of design, and sharing opinions, ideas, resources, and particulars that make a beautiful home, all I saw was the vast enterprise. And it overwhelmed me. Much like the time tested question “How do you eat an elephant?” and its thought provoking response, “One bite at a time,” initially I saw just the giant task. It wasn’t until I broke down the challenge into more manageable increments that I felt more optimistic about my chance for success.

So each day I share with you thoughts and ideas. These focus on our ongoing learning and education: decorating tips, entertaining ideas, cleaning suggestions, and random thoughts about beauty in our world.

Like any young life this one may stumble as it finds its place in the world, but we will not stumble aimlessly. Our reason for being is to explore how we can make the world a more beautiful place. I am enjoying this new adventure.

And that’s something beautiful!

Safe Substitutes for Art and Hobby Materials

There are some nontoxic choices that can be made when buying art or craft supplies, but because some techniques require certain materials, minimizing exposure may be the best you can do.
In painting and print making, ready-mixed water-based paints or inks can be used. If you must be exposed to paint dust, use toxic dust respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Ventilate the space thoroughly whenever using any kind of solvents, whether in painting or in lithography, intaglio, or photoetching. Solvents also should be avoided while pregnant.

Enamels are usually lead-based, and can contain other toxic metals such as cadmium and nickel. Use lead-free-enamels whenever possible, and make sure kilns are vented outside.
In pottery as well, outside vented kilns are important, as is a careful choice of materials—most potters know to avoid lead glazes and lead frits, but many don’t know that flint, feldspars, fluorspar, and some compounds containing barium, lithium, manganese, or nickel can also be toxic. Children should avoid the pottery studio, as they are more highly susceptible to the toxics used in pottery than are adults.

Photography presents a number of toxic hazards which are difficult to avoid. Minimize exposure to photo chemicals by using gloves, mixing chemicals in a mixing box with holes in the sides for gloved hands, and providing adequate ventilation. The Health and Welfare Office of Canada suggests at least 10 room air changes per hour. Children under 12 should avoid the darkroom.

If our objective is to create beauty in the American home and if we have begun this journey by Cleaning It Up, Controlling the Light and Adding Color (see last week’s blog entry) then what next?

One of the most interesting aspects of my work with clients is researching and understanding the specific needs represented by their life and lifestyle. Everyone has specific requirements which make their homes unique from their friends and neighbors. Good design acknowledges these needs and discovers ways of incorporating these responses into each decision.

An interesting experience for homeowners is to engage in this same type of deep navigation. Here is a list of 3 questions that will lead you to a better understanding of what unique needs to address in the design of your home:

1. For each room list the top three activities you and your family currently engage in.
2. For each room list the most important activity you and your family would like to engage in.
3. For each room list the objects or items that support the activities you would like to engage in (computer for schoolwork, television for entertainment, etc.).

With these answers on paper you have very specific information which will help us develop very successful design ideas for each room in your home. Check back next week as we develop these ideas together.

One of my life lessons has to do with finding and then following personal passions. Understanding the things in this life that bring personal joy and then crafting a life which honors and elevates these involvements seems to be the path followed by those who, over time, have distinguished themselves as leaders. Life is too short for it to be otherwise. So when you find the fruits of someone’s passion (in this instance a book) it makes passing this along a joy.

In today’s book such a case is written by an author whose work we have already had an opportunity to glance at. Following her first major writing success The Valley of Decision, Edith Wharton was commissioned by Century Magazine to write a series of articles titled Italian Villas and Their Gardens. Her first novel was set in 18th century Italy and proved so vivid that it led to this series of articles which ultimately became a book in 1904.

With illustrations by Maxfield Parrish and Wharton’s thoughtful and lively exploration of the Italian Villas and Their Gardens this book easily becomes a valuable study guide for anyone interested in the reasons behind the beauty. Her clear understanding of the history of garden design as well as the fine points of refined living makes each page a draw for the next. Enjoy this sometimes sensual, often intellectual and delightfully emotional journey through the magical realized world of the Italian Villas and Their Gardens.

I was reminded this morning of the strength of silence. It was Teddy Roosevelt who said “speak softly and carry a big stick” (he borrowed the concept from an African proverb) and I wonder what the equivalent of the “soft word” might be in the world of design and decoration?

Might it be the zero-lot-lined-faux-finished-plastic column clad McMansions that torture the neighborhoods near our offices (and, if my travels teach me anything, of neighborhoods around the country)?

Could it be the poorly scaled (there is a difference between boldly and poorly scaled) furniture littering the display windows and showrooms of far too many of today’s furniture purveyors?

Or will the “soft word” be found in yet another “reality” television show where a premium is placed on the speed and drama with which a project comes skidding to a conclusion, giving little consideration to the integrity of the product.

I suggest to you today (with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek) that the answer to these questions is NO. There is nothing soft, quiet or subtle to be found in these illustrations. Rather just noise and pretense; bad taste and poor design.

I saw a fisherman’s cottage in a village on Cape Cod this morning. It was simple and pleasant. Most of all it was appropriate to the setting and to the needs of it’s inhabitants. It whispered its intentions and did not disappoint. It completely captured my attention as surely as if it had hit me over the head with a great big stick.

I will be riding my bike to that cottage later today, with my sketch pad, and I can already taste the silence.

Safe Substitutes for Personal Hygiene and Cosmetic Products

We use cosmetics and hygiene products for a fairly narrow range of reasons: to keep skin moist and supple; to clean hair without stripping it of natural oils; to eliminate unpleasant body or mouth orders; to prevent skin oiliness and clogged skin pores; and simply for the pleasure of relaxing and pampering ourselves with body-care or facial-care treatments. The following ingredients can help achieve these purposes without the use of toxic additives, synthetic fragrances, or artificial colorings:

Moisturizers and conditioners: egg yolk, milk, yogurt, safflower oil (for light moisturizing), olive oil (for dry skin or hair), water, oatmeal, jojoba oil.

Astringents/after shaves: witch hazel, diluted isopropyl alcohol.

Deodorants: baking soda, white clay, deodorant crystals.

Toothpastes: baking soda, salt.

Soaps cleansing agents: castle soap, olive-oil based soap.

Perfumes: essential oils provide nontoxic fragrances that can be used to scent shampoo, bath soaks, or even, in the case of peppermint, to flavor toothpaste.

Although it’s easy to make healthful alternatives to many cosmetic and hygiene products, any natural-foods store has a fairly wide selection of shampoos, moisturizers, toothpastes, after shaves, soaps, and bath products that do not contain the harmful ingredients in many commercial preparations.

Suddenly it is the middle of October. In a matter of moments the holiday season will be with us. Time, as it always does, will fly by and suddenly guests will be knocking at your door. The question is how prepared will you be?

I’m a planner. I begin thinking about things well in advance and set a course based on these explorations. It is never too early to plan, so here’s a check-list for some big holidays that are moments away:

Pick a theme. Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas/Hanukah decide now the theme that you will explore as you celebrate and decorate. What idea makes you smile (carved pumpkins, piles of fall leaves, vintage toy decorations)? Take out a notebook and begin to write down your ideas. It’s a well-established fact that when you write something down you take the first step toward manifesting the reality.

Make a List. Start with your theme ideas and write down the steps you need to take to make the ideas a reality. It may be things you need to buy, make, find or dig out of storage, but write it down. Once you have your to-do items on paper you have a road-map for success.

Take Action: You have a map for success. The only thing keeping you from succeeding is a lack of action. You can never start too early to buy, make, find or pull out of storage the items that you need to create your holiday dream. So get started and remind yourself how beautiful the end result will be.

HELP! The American home needs a makeover. But were do we start? Here are three ideas that will get the party started.

CLEAN IT UP

The single greatest design or decorating failure is clutter and mess. Too much of anything is just that; too much. If you have a collection then treat it as such; organize it, display it, light it and remove any doubt by making it special.

If it is just a bunch of junk then do yourself a favor and pitch it. You don’t need more things. You need less. A good rule-of-thumb says that if you haven’t used it or touched it in 12 months you probably don’t need it.

CONTROL THE LIGHT

Drapes, while beautiful, are practical tools to control light levels in any room. The warmth and beauty that they deliver adds greatly to the design concept in any room.

These beautiful elements also offer great function as they filter and direct the amounts of light allowed in any space, much the same way shades on lamps or chandelier/sconce bulbs offer the same type of filter and control.

Bare bulbs are too reminiscent of interrogation scenes in old movies. Think soft candle light rather than stadium lighting for a football game when deciding on how to illuminate a room. Task lighting can always shed specific light for specific jobs (reading, sewing. etc.), but the entire room need not follow suit.

COLOR IT BEAUTIFUL

It seems that we have developed a passion for beige. My recommendation is to snap out of it and bring color into your home. Look to nature for your inspiration. Find shade in the garden that brings a smile to your face and then look for an opportunity to introduce this favored shade into your home.

Soft silvery grey, warm rich clay, cool evergreen and so many more shades from the garden offer lovely opportunities for enjoyment each and everyday.

“A new house acquires the soul of the past when it tells a story that converts its newly minted form in a mantle of make believe.”

Russell Versaci’s book Creating a New Old House by The Taunton Press delivers on its promise of delivering the secrets of yesterday’s character for today’s homes. Mr. Versaci is a principal in the firm Versaci Newmann & Partners in Middleburg, Virginia and Washington DC. He has built a reputation as a designer of new homes in traditional architectural styles.

In a world filled with modern architectural expression, it is refreshing to find a book, as well as a career, committed to the rich vocabulary of traditional home design. Firmly rooted in Versaci’s 8 Pillars of Traditional Design, the book explores these themes using an expansive portfolio of New Old House designs.

“A new old house combines the emotional comforts of yesterday with the creature comforts of today.” This emotional comfort is the goal in the search for a connection with the past and, at the same time, establishing a responsive relationship with modern life.

Filled with great photographs and extensive detailed discussions, this book provides a well-informed resource for those interested in traditional design. Enjoy a glimpse of history which is firmly rooted in the moment.

Detergent is specially adapted to clean synthetic fabrics, and it has the added advantage of not leaving soil residues even in hard water. However, detergents are generally derived from petrochemicals, and people sensitive to these compounds may find it hard to tolerate detergents or the fragrances they are scented with.

In addition, most detergents contain phosphates, which build up in streams and lakes and upset the natural balance in waterways, causing blooms of algae, which deplete the dissolved oxygen fish need to live. Some detergent may even contain naphthalene or phenol, both hazardous substances.

An effective alternative to using detergents is a return to soap. Soap is an effective cleaner for natural fabrics, leaving such items as diapers softer than detergent can. For cotton and linen, use soap to soften water.

A cup of vinegar added to the wash can help keep colors bright (but DO NOT use vinegar if you are using bleach — the resulting fumes are hazardous). One-half to three-quarters of a cup of baking soda will leave clothes soft and fresh smelling. Silks and wools may be hand-washed with mild soap or a protein shampoo, down or feathers with mild soap or baking soda.

For synthetic fabrics or blends (including most no-iron fabrics), there are biodegradable detergents on the market that do not contain phosphates, fragrances, or harsh chemicals. They are often imported from Europe and are available at health food stores or by mail order.

Suddenly it’s October. What a shock to the system. Somewhere (not here in Los Angeles were our temperature today was north of 80’), the first hint of fall is in the air. Before we know it, year-end holidays will be knocking at our door along with the guests that always make this time of year very special.

Personally it is my favorite time of year and it’s made even better by a chill in the air (very late at night for those of us in Southern California). Regardless, it makes for wonderful evenings filled with friends, so fire off the invitations and chill the champagne; over the next few weeks I will share recipes that will start any evening on the right foot!

Hot Crabmeat Dip (Serve with a dry champagne like Billecart Salmon Brut)

8 oz. fresh crab meat
8 oz. cream cheese
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Two dashes of Worcestershire Sauce (to taste)
Garlic Salt (to taste)
Grated white onion and the juice of a lemon (both to taste)

Use a whisk to blend the cream cheese, butter and mayonnaise.
Add the seasonings and blend well.
Mix in crabmeat and place in a buttered casserole dish.
Please in a 350’ pre-heated oven and bake until the edges turn brown.

Serve with water crackers or toast points for dipping.

“Keep it simple” is an idea whose time has come. In our busy lives the idea of simplicity in any form demands attention particularly when pitted against the pandemonium of modern life.

At a client’s, recently, I stood and watched the following cast interact in a kitchen all within a period of 10-12 minutes:

3 boys (ages 8, 13 and 16) each with a friend
4 dogs
2 cats
1 mother (my client)
2 housekeepers
A general contractor
A plumber
An HVAC specialist
A flower delivery person

Each needed something from someone and the entire scene played out like a Keystone Cops movie. I was speechless. In my mind I replayed the tapes of my client speaking passionately about needing an environment that was calming and serene. In that moment I understood her passion; her necessity for tranquility. It was a lifesaver in a sea of all this delightful swirling energy.

“Keep it simple” is my challenge to you today. When you look around your home do you see the visual equivalent of three young boys and their friends? Do you see more mess than form or shape? Do you see piles rather than color and pattern? If you answer yes, then maybe it’s time to edit away some of the complexities and focus on simple beauty.

Here’s a challenge. Pick one room in your home. Select one thing (a color, a favorite furniture piece, a beautiful piece of art.. etc.) that will be the focus of the room. List all things in the room that visually compete with this favored item; then begin the editing process with a goal of drawing as much attention to your favored beautiful item as possible.

Be daring. Be bold. But edit. It is the hardest part of designing. Anyone can pile things into a room but the art of editing (it takes practice) will guide you to a point of simple, focused beauty and you will not be disappointed.

Write and let me know about your experiences editing your way to a simply beautiful room.

As a child I recall a book that always made me smile. Curious George never failed to make me laugh. The unbridled energy that drove George to peek where he was not supposed to look and touch things he was not to touch always fascinated me. He dared to do the things we were told not to and he always seemed to land on his feet when the inevitable happened.

It seems that the curious nature, which made me smile so much as a child, still entertains me. Standing in the checkout stand at the grocery store this week it struck me how curiosity drives most every facet of the media today. The desire to peek into private lives and homes seems to fuel endless pages of glossy magazines.

In looking through the library this week I found a book that peeks into the homes and lifestyles in the Big Apple. Joseph Byron’s Photographs of New York Interiors at the turn of the Century with text by Clay Lancaster offers us a glimpse that is at once intriguing and surprising.

From rooms that illustrate the height of Victorian opulence to the most humble family quarters, this beautiful book is a fascinating look into a distant time. What is most surprising is the familiar distance between the highs and lows of the “city that never sleeps” and how little things have changed over 100 years later.