A Top Los Angeles Designer’s Thoughts on the Holidays

Early morning and I am seated at my desk. The clock is running slow this morning, not in a mechanically challenged sense, but in the way that water boils when it’s watched; my Christmas holiday it poised to begin later today. The list of things to accomplish before that magical moment swells and shrinks, and then swells again as I add and edit the tedious tasks still ahead.

The dogs have been walked, luggage is packed, breakfast is over and I’m leafing through a small reference book that I keep on my desk. On a page filled with philosophical quotations, Benedict Spinoza’s words find a landing spot in my head. “All noble things are as difficult as they are rare.”

Friendship is rare. Friendship is noble. Friendships are difficult. Spinoza was right.

Family (that delicious familiar emotional scent that says you are safe and whole) is rare. Family is noble. Family is difficult. Spinoza was right.

Festivities which have meaning are rare. After the 9th holiday party this December, I stopped counting; shortly after I stopped counting, I just stopped going. A party for a parties’ sake feels hollow to me. Help me understand that you care; give me a reason to care and now we have a starting point. Otherwise I may just stay home….. I think Spinoza was right again.

The sense of Home is rare. The sense of Home is noble. Creating a sense of Home is difficult. Spinoza was right.

Wherever you are during this holiday season and whatever rare, noble and difficult idea you are enjoying (or being challenged by) may I wish you all the possible joy and peace that this world (and Spinoza) can offer.

A Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Favorite Cleaning Tips

There is no turning back. Before you know it the New Year will spring fully formed from champagne corks left scattered on the island in your kitchen. Once again, we will be slaves to January waiting listlessly for the holiday joys of 2008 to come calling. But before it’s all said and done, I recommend you observe a few final cleaning rituals for 2007.

This time, rather than blasting through the closets and cupboards with organizational charts ablaze or scrubbing the stone and tile off the walls with environmentally conscious cleaning products, we should clean out our minds and pamper our bodies. Is there a more perfect way to usher in the New Year than taking some time to take care of us?

Never being one to approach a task without the proper tools here is a list of some delicious items to gather which will make our “self-care” exercise as indulgent as possible.

A robe by any other name….. try Calvin Klein’s Lush Robe when you want to be wrapped in luxury. www.macys.com

Slip into heaven……in a pair of delightfully soft slippers. Great with padded soles and an easy buy from Restoration Hardware: www.restorationhardware.com

Scoop your way to the stars…. using Sabon’s wood scoops. And use way too much. The point is to endulge. www.sabonnyc.com

A little dab will do ya! NOT. K. Hall Designs Milk Shower Paste in 17 fragrances is said to hydrate, polish and detox you from head to toe. www.khalldesigns.com

You can call me Bubbles…..When bubbles and lavender collide you will find L’Occitane’s Lavender Foaming Bath. Stock up. www.loccitane.com

Whether it’s for guests on a grand scale or family on Christmas morning, a well-set table is always part of a beautiful home. I am always asked about setting a beautiful table and I always respond: As with any endeavor in life it’s all about getting the basics right.

Flatware, china, stemware and linens round out the core categories to consider. There are numerous sources for wonderful tableware; I’ve dashed off a few quick suggestions below for some spontaneous holiday on-line shopping. Enjoy!

William Yeoward Crystal (www.williamyeowardcrystal.com)

Royal Copenhagen China (www.royalcopenhagen.com)

Libeco Home (www.libecohomestores.com)

Tiffany & Co. (www.tiffany.com)

Ralph Lauren Home (www.ralphlauren.com)

Astier de Villatte (www.astierdevillatte.com)

Anichini Linens (www.anichini.com)

Best Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Pet Decorating Peeves

I hate formal rooms that never are used.

Let’s cut to the chase, Dear Dazed Reader. It’s all about real estate. How much do you have and how do you want to use it? If your Casa bares an uncanny resemblance to the Villa Borghese then you’ve got real estate-a-plenty and could allocate a formal room for every erratic swing of a Gemini’s mood.

The Sally Fields Living Room (shades of sappy sunshine yellow touched with resplendent hues of self-aggrandizing turquoise) or maybe The Silvia Plath Salon with its grand Greg and Green draped windows filtering daylight through layers of depression-streaked glass and tiered lace shears weighted with common pond stones.

You get the point. Few of us suffer from the tedious options inflicted by acres of space. So why waste what you have? Silly, bordering on stupid, are rooms filled with preciously poised furniture that hasn’t felt the weight of a firm (mine) or flabby (not mine) ass since Ms. Streisand herself flashed the movie honoring world through a veil of lightly draped black organza.

Lovely if you have space to burn, but most of my stupendously fabulous friends would give their first pair of Christian Louboutin’s (or for the less fair sex their first copy of Playboy, however stained it may be) for an extra 100 square feet in which to squeeze in (much like their feet into Christian’s finely attenuated leather fantasies or their fantasies into those four-color glossy pages of titillation) 30 or 40 more of their nearest and dearest for cocktails, dinner and a spirited cello concerto by Yo Yo Ma; and all this on a Tuesday evening.

Space is only what you make of it. So re-think the plastic-wrapped, floral quilted, woven Olefin davenport and let’s see if we can’t find some use for the space that will enhance the very fiber (natural) of your life rather than make you and yours feel like captives in a saran wrapped funeral parlor.

Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Free Book Review

“Extending an invitation is to assume responsibility for another’s happiness the entire time spent under one’s roof.”

This thought provoking quote illustrates the joyful exuberance of a book I recommend very highly. If you are inclined to be a thoughtful host, wish to strengthen an already sound entertaining skill set, or are a wide-eyed novice looking for a road map, this little book is worth the effort.

It’s seasonally perfect title, Winter House by Charlotte Moss (Clarkson Potter/ Publishers) offers a sane and sublime glimpse into a home fine-tuned to shelter guests from the weighty blanket of winter.

For 20 years, Ms. Moss has built a career and reputation as a creator of warm and sumptuous environments. Her skills at combining rich patterns and colors, stunning accessories and tableware along with unique design details sets her apart as a leader, from whom there is much to learn.

As a passive recipient of the author’s skill and passion, a winter retreat, nestled in the mountain town of Aspen, comes to life and beautifully illustrates her tips and techniques that can find direct application in your Living Room, Dining Room or Bedroom.

While not a “how to” book in the literal sense, this book becomes a road map by which any reader can find themselves closer to their dream of a house made into a home.

Treat yourself and your next house-guest to this gathering place for good ideas which will make your home more beautiful.

Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Holiday Treats Recipes Cookies

With less than two weeks ‘til Christmas, I thought I would share another favorite holiday cookie recipe with you. Once again this year, I’ve been baking and boxing cookies to give as gifts.

The smiles and notes have reminded me how important these types of hand-made gifts are to my friends and acquaintances. Make someone’s day or season with a special box of homemade treats.

Anise Biscotti

2/3 Cup Whole Toasted Almonds

3 1/3 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1⁄2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Stick plus 7 Tablespoon Butter

7/8 Cup Sugar

4 Eggs

2 Ounces Grappa

1 Tablespoon Anise Seeds

3⁄4 Tablespoon Anise Extract

Pre-heat oven to 350’

Combine almonds, flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, cream butter, sugar, eggs, grappa, anise seeds, and extract.

Add to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

On a floured surface, shape dough into three 2-inch-diameter cylinders.

Place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake in oven for approximately 30 minutes or until rolls are a little hard.

Cool for 30 minutes.

Slice to 1⁄4 inch thickness and toast lightly in oven, about 20 minutes, until golden.

Enjoy

Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Best Books Review

Many years ago I made my first visit to Provincetown, a charming little town at the far end of Cape Cod. With great history, intimate architecture, meandering lanes and the ocean on three sides, it has many allures, none of which disappoint. On my first day I wandered through the center of town.

I passed a candy shop and saw, for the first time in my life, taffy being pulled. Quite the sight it was; these lethargic lumps of gummy candy stretched and pulled over and over. Great lengths of sticky sweet candy stretched high in the air hovering over the marble cutting table is an image which remains clear in my head to this day.

I am feeling like stretched taffy today; pulled here and there as the holidays descend. Time is moving fast and the lists of things to accomplish grow long and I feel like I’m staring down at that marble cutting table from an elongated span high above.

I’ve discovered a quick cure. A heavy dose of inspiring architecture ingested quickly can provide a bit of an escape; to this end, a little book titled The World’s Greatest Architecture, Past and Present by D.M. Field is just the ticket.

Lots of pictures (text if you want to come back in January and learn more about what you are viewing) and an easily carried format make this book an escapists dream. With a cup of coffee or tea you can flip through the pages and be inspired by Caernarvon Castle (built by the English King Edward I to subdue the Welsh) and then zoom around the world to look at the Kyongbok Palace in Seoul Korea.

North, south, east and west, from ancient days to modern times, you will find something real to spark your interest. It’s just what the doctor ordered.

Best Los Angeles Interior Designer: Cleaning Tips for Your Home

With closets and cupboard organization underway you’ve set a course to enjoy the holiday season. Here are additional tips to keep in mind while you make your newly organized way through your home:

1. Labels. Whether it goes on a box (unless you are a mind-reader you will never know what’s inside), plastic storage bin or even the shelves in you pantry; using a label-maker can help you help those around you keep things in their place. My theory is “a place for everything and everything in its place.”

2. Cedar Blocks. If you are storing anything made of wool or cashmere, do yourself a favor and drop in a cedar block. The moths will hate you, but your garments will love you.

3. Sachets. When you open that plastic storage bin filled with your Mother’s old recipes or photographs which, you insist will be put into albums one day; how nice to be greeted with a fresh scent rather than stale air. Drop a lavender sachet into anything you are storing (suitcases, shoes, and holiday decorations) and smile when opening the box.

4. Paper. Using paper (from drawer lining paper to old wallcovering) to line the interior of drawers, closets and storage containers adds greatly to your enjoyment when it’s time to pull things out for daily use. Do it for yourself and enjoy.

5. Notes. We all would like to think that we will remember everything. The reality is we remember very little. So when packing away almost anything that has memories attached (photo’s, books, gifts..etc.), write yourself a note to remind you of the date received, who gave this to you, who is in the picture…etc. You and your family will thank you one day for this thoughtful and helpful footnote.

Best Interior Designer Los Angeles: Entertaining Ideas

During the past weeks we have been sharing favorite holiday recipes. Prompted by a question asked of me at a dinner last night, I thought I would share two recipes of a slightly different sort. With the holiday entertaining season moving into full swing, here are two recipes for holiday success.

Steps to Being a Successful Holiday Host

1. Start on time. If you call for cocktails as 7:00pm and dinner at 8:00pm, you should begin serving dinner promptly at eight o’clock. This shows respect for your guests who have gathered at the appropriate time.

2. Have pre-selected music playing when the first guest arrives through to when the last guest departs. It helps to set the ideal mood.

3. Always seat spouses or significant others apart from each other.

4. Plan to serve dessert and coffee in the living room. It makes for a lovely transition and a relaxed ending to the evening.

5. Let the clean-up wait until your guests have left. Nothing will end an evening as fast as a host disappearing into the kitchen to clean-up.

Steps to Being a Successful Holiday Guest

1. Never be more than 20 minutes late and don’t arrive early or exactly on time.

2. If you bring something for your host, don’t expect it to be included in the evening’s meal.

3. Leave your cell phone or BlackBerry in the car or at home.

4. Be an engaging dinner partner by paying equal attention to the guests on your left and right.

5. Pay attention to the hour and plan your departure to coincide with other guests. Don’t leave early and don’t be the last one out the door.

Talented Interior Designer Los Angeles: Decorating Pet Peeves

Tis the season for holiday entertaining, and as an already reluctant guest, I hate being faced with a “used” bar of soap. It’s almost as bad as the rubber-backed rugs and the MIA guest towels. I would venture to say that few things can cause so much indigestion (and on a perfectly empty stomach) as the sight of a slimy, bubbly bar of soap, no matter how lovely the brand or how delicious the dish.

It’s unsightly. It’s unsanitary (maybe not technically, but somehow it’s just icky) and (most dear to our hearts) it’s just not beautiful. Let’s take a stroll down retail alley. Pick a store. Any store. From small chi-chi boutiques to perfectly delightful mid-size regional retailers, to the big boy, box stores you can’t sling a cat in without hitting a major display of lovely soap products.

Loads of lavender. Carts full of cardamom. Piles of patchouli….you get the picture. They are all lined up in beautiful and useful gentle-action pump containers just waiting to squirt their way into your heart. And, best of all, they come with coordinating bar soaps marvelously wrapped in the most delightful ways. This allows you to display the wrapped bars (because THESE are beautiful).

It also allows you to provide your guests with the sanitary and stylish use of the liquid as they scrub the mud off their whatever or wherever without having to pick-up that nasty glob of scented slime. And dear guest; twenty lashes with a scented noodle should you opt to strip bare one of those delicately wrapped bars when the liquid version is yours for the taking.

If you ask me, your hostess should present you with a bill on your departure for such thoughtlessly rude behavior. Were you born in a barn?

Top LA Interior Designer on Giving Back During the Holidays

Instead of a book review today I’d like to share the following link with you. I was recently interviewed about establishing The Swan Scholarship at Los Angeles City College to help at-risk students. You can read this interview at the Celebrity Do Gooders blog. I hope you will consider ways which you and yours can give back to your community during this holiday season. The book review will return next Monday.