That said, every good guest knows that if you’re invited to a person’s home for an event, a hostess gift is not only a way to make yourself very popular, it’s also a great way to thank the host or hostess for spending the time and money to throw the party, plus using their home as the venue.

With New Year’s Eve just a few days away, we thought we’d give you some of our favorite tips for hostess gifts this season. Many will be available online, which will take a lot of the hassle out of gift-buying! Don’t be tempted to ship it straight to the party’s hosts—it’s much better to see their face when they open it.

1. Jonathan Adler Squirrel Canister: Who loves Jonathan Adler? We do! And we love to share his whimsical sense of design and humor, like in this high-fired stoneware canister with a matte white glaze. Fill it with a nice surprise, some home-baked cookies or, dare we say, nuts and a nutcracker? Give this gift to your friends that have quirky style and that love to laugh. “You’ve got to give it to Jonathan Adler to find humor in the smallest of things,” says Jan Smith. “This gift can be used all year round and will bring a smile not only to the host but also to everyone that feels like a ‘nut’.”

2. Solid Cashmere Throw: This is a great gift when you are already familiar with your host’s home and can pick a coordinating color for their living room or bedroom. Who doesn’t love to snuggle under cashmere!? Williams Sonoma have provided so many colors to choose from. Just don’t give it to those friends who let their dogs lie on any piece of furniture. You might get a shock on your next visit and find that Princess has claimed that cashmere. Smart dog…

3. Set of Three Oslo Candleholders: Leave it to Crate & Barrel to create something so simple and so stylish. These candleholders suit almost any table—the brilliant lead crystal has polished, beveled edges for a modern architectural feel. The receiver can use them alone or cluster them for a beautiful effect. Jan says: “I personally own these and have always felt that the best gifts are the ones that you want to keep for yourself. These candleholders are simple yet elegant and add sparkle to any lucky table.”

4. Personalized Champagne Bucket: Save this one for people you really like, and for those who do like a nice, chilled bottle of bubbly or white wine. Nothing says “elegant gift” like silver and Champagne. At almost $90 before tax and shipping, this is not a gift you give to every host—unless of course that’s a drop in the bucket of your gift budget. Add a bottle of your hosts’ favorite wine, Cava or Champagne to be the belle of the ball, right when you arrive. And if you bring it chilled—well, you might just get a glass…

Have a wonderful end to your Holiday Season, and all of us at LRM Interior Design wish you a joyous and prosperous 2012!

1. London Calling: Make a statement in the living room, but keep everyone guessing what exactly it was you changed. Was it the sofa? No. Was it that painting? No. It was the amazing rug from Luke Irwin, with its rich color and subtle geometric pattern. Changing an area rug can be a great way to alter the tone and feel of the room without breaking the bank. Of course, this rug, called Hex 2, comes from London, is hand knotted to order and made from wool, silk and cashmere. You can have it in any “colour” or size you’d like, so be creative!

2. Top Me Up: Let’s face it: When relatives come to stay, sometimes a drink is just what the doctor ordered. Make sure they know that you respect your alcohol by rolling out this delightful faux-shagreen bar cart that is just to die for. Why faux shagreen? Because you would not want to be setting anything containing liquid down on real shagreen—it’s just too precious. And, as our fearless leader Lisa McDennon says: “Who does not love faux shagreen and chrome together?” Enough said. The is custom made from SkateModerne.

3. Behind Closed Doors: Now, we don’t always discuss this part of the bathroom, but we just couldn’t resist—this product is about as space-age, high-tech as it gets. It’s a delicate area, literally, but you must be told about the NUMI toilet from Kohler. Listen to the list of features—wait, there’s a list of features for a toilet? Yes, we know. That’s how cool this is: Motion activated lid and seat, advanced bidet functionality, integrated air dryer, deodorizer, heated seat, feet warming, illuminated panels and—wait for it…..music. We’re thinking that the heated seats and feet warming alone could give us a wonderful new reason to linger in the ladies room….

There you have it. Three lovely, quick ways to wow your guests with simple upgrades. Call us, LRM Interior Design, for more information about these products, how to get them delivered before Christmas or Hanukkah, and how to get them expertly installed, in the case of the toilet. Orange County’s award-winning design team is at your service: (949) 497-6806.

We wanted to share with you some easy, fun and affordable table decorations for Thanksgiving that didn’t involve pumpkins, corncobs, turkeys or cranberries. We love tradition, but we love to mix it up at this festive holiday time of year. All of these items can be purchased online, except of course the Martha Stewart item, which is more of a do-it-yourself. But that just makes it all the more special when everyone sits down at your beautiful Thanksgiving table.

1. Rona Amber Placemats and Aubergine Napkins: Who can resist Crate & Barrel? We can’t pass the store without going in and browsing their products, which are always made with that perfect combination of good design and great styling. This combination is no different—the richness of the purple cloth napkins bring out the berries’ color and bring out the sparkle of the metallic leaves. And we just love the embroidery that gives these placemats a wonderful texture! Hopefully no one will spill cranberry sauce on them at Thanksgiving…

2. Acorn Vase Fillers: Even though these are made of plastic, we don’t have real acorns lying around here in Laguna Beach. We could head out to the foothills and find some under the oak trees, but Pottery Barn has us covered if we don’t have time to forage in the forest. We love the combination of the hanging jars, candles and acorns, and we’d leave these up all holiday season for a festive look that doesn’t scream “Thanksgiving!” Just please do remember to extinguish all candles before you retire for the evening, even though these are in glass jars.

3. Grape Centerpiece: Ahh, Martha Stewart. No one makes you feel lazier than Martha Stewart when it comes to decorating. What we forget is that she has a team of people creating all these stunning ideas, so don’t beat yourself up about it. What we loved about these centerpieces is that they are edible and, as Ms. Stewart reminds us, please make sure to use washed grapes and non-poisonous leaves to accompany them, just in case your guests start nibbling. With all the farmer’s markets around these days, it shouldn’t be a problem to find some big, beautiful grape clusters to use for your centerpiece! Do note in the photo that Martha has added them above the fireplace, too.

4. Gold Nest Runner: Give your table that extra sparkle with this beautiful woven gold runner from Z Gallerie. This piece adds texture and interest to the center of the table, and best of all, can be used all year round for special occasions! This would work well with the grape centerpiece and the purple napkins, but keep the placemats simple with this runner. The trick is to dazzle your guests, not give them a headache!

5. Hobnail Pitcher: We usually think “clothes” when it comes to Anthropologie, but they’ve got the same unique tastes when it comes to home goods, too. We loved the rich color and texture of this pitcher, which would be perfect to have as a water server on the table. The pitcher feels vintage, but with such a modern look that we know Jonathan Adler, one of our faves, would adore it too. And did you notice, this would definitely go with all the other pieces mentioned above…

Are you ready for family visiting for Thanksgiving? Do you need a few rooms refreshed, or perhaps new furniture to accommodate guests? Call LRM Interior Design now for a consultation—there’s no time to spare now that we are so close to the holidays. We would love to help you get your home in tip-top shape for your holiday guests. (949) 497-6806

This week we present the guru of mid-century modernity, Senior Designer Jan Smith. Jan is a true fan of classic styling, and appreciates the quality that only good craftsmanship and design can provide. She’s also a stickler for comfort—Jan is not one to take beauty if it’s uncomfortable. As the Bauhaus motto enforced “form and function”, so does Mrs. Smith.

To the point, this girl knows what a good dining room chair looks like! Let’s get her top five picks:

1. Møller Model 77 Side Chair: Our Lady of the Table loves the clean lines of mid-century modern, and this is a great example. “Danish furniture is close to my heart,” explains Jan. “I love the use of bent wood, the clean sweep of fabric on the seat and the overall feel of this chair.” The bent-wood back makes it perfectly comfortable for long, leisurely dinners like Thanksgiving—which is right around the corner! This chair is also very versatile, and could be used in other seating arrangements, like a guest chair in a corporate or home office.

2. Wegner Wishbone Chair: Too much Danish furniture is never enough, and especially when they’re a classic like this one. The Wishbone is one of Hans Wegner’s most identifiable designs, and it was introduced back in 1950. This Danish Modernist created a frame of solid wood, and the seat is made from “papercord”, a resilient rope woven of paper that was developed in Sweden. “I love everything about this chair,” says Jan. “It has lovely lines and a timeless style that speaks to me.” We’re sure it’s saying “Take me home, Jan!”

3. Caribou Club Armchair: Moving from Northern Europe to the Wild Wild West with the weathered look of the Caribou Club armchair. The exposed wooden frame is complemented by the dark tones of the leather and the meticulously hammered upholstery tacks that line the wings and the arms. “I love this clean yet rustic take on the wing-back chair. It makes the art of dining almost business like,” explains Jan. This would be a great chair to have at both heads of the table for a fine family gathering.

4. Coral Side Chair: After the imposing nature of the last chair, this is a softer, gentler side of Jan’s selection, with the beige seat offsetting the almost pearlescent white of the base and back. The row of upholstery tacks make this chair less feminine than it could be, allowing it to cross into more grown-up territory like the dining room. Jan comments: “I like the sculptural elements of this chair. The coral detail can go either beach-chic or glamorous.”

5. Settee: Any of them. Jan’s right when she says “I am a huge fan of settees at a dining table. It encourages snuggling and leisurely dining.” And many of us have lost the tradition of lingering over a meal, enjoying friends a food and not just finishing the food and rushing off to the next event. With a meal like the one at the Smiths’, you’ll need a settee—not just to lie down on when you’re stuffed, but because the company, the food and the libations are so wonderful you’ll never want the meal to end. And every holiday meal should be like that!

We know we’ve given you way too many choices, and some of our favorites won’t necessarily match your style or your home. Why not arrange a consultation to see how we can help you get your home in shape for the holidays? Or, if you love these selections, please call us so we can help you purchase them and get them delivered to your home. Call right away if you need the furniture before the holidays to ensure it is delivered in time.

Let LRM Interior Design provide your taste with our touch this holiday season. Call now for your consultation: (949) 497-6806.

And if you are organizing Orange County’s premiere party (even if it’s a small gathering at your home or office), you need to pull out all the stops and look at every detail. And that’s why we are looking at chairs for the dining room this week.

We’re also putting our new Assistant Designer on the spot this week with her list of favorite chairs and why. We’d like to introduce Ali Bacon, who recently joined the LRM team! Welcome!

Ali has a fresh modern take on dining room chairs, and we like it—many of us are traditionalists, and we see a dining room, or even just the table, as a sober, formal area of the home. It doesn’t have to be that way! The combination of style and function works every time. Shown here:

Eiffel Chair: Nobody, and we mean nobody, has the chair-designer recognition like Charles and Ray Eames. You’d have to be under the age of 16 to have not heard of them, or at least seen this pair’s classic stylings. The Eiffel chair was designed in 1948 and first presented at MoMA’s International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture, and it was the first plastic chair to be mass-produced. Our Ali is all over it, choosing the Eiffel chair for one of her recommendations. “Not only has this chair become a classic (like so many of the Eames’ chairs), it’s easy to add a pop of color to a room by mixing the Eiffel chairs in with more traditional dining chairs,” explains Ali. Add a bit of mid-century modern to your dining room with one of these chairs in an delectable bright color.

Marais A Chair: Ahhh….Paris… That’s what we think of when we see the Marais A chair designed by Xavier Pauchard and first produced in 1934. Each chair is still handmade in Autun, France, and because of the 100 manual operations necessary to make this chair, each one is also unique. “This chair brought the art of galvanized steel to France,” says Ali. “It is a classic café chair and can contribute to the industrial feel of a space.” Although indeed used at countless cafés around France and immortalized on the decks of the S.S. Normandy, this chair is a great alternative to a standard dining room chair. You don’t have to have a city loft to inject some industrial style into your home—used in the right setting, this chair could be the pièce de résistance. (No pun intendend, but we couldn’t resist!)

Louis Ghost Victoria Sidechair: That crazy Philippe Starck! Leave it to him to take a classic like the Louis XV armchair and turn it into a modern masterpiece. And with the Louis Ghost Armchair and the Victoria Ghost Sidechair, he has done just that. Imagine a traditional, beautiful wood dining table surrounded by the crystalline perfection of these chairs, is made of injection-molded polycarbonate. Or, for another great example of this chair’s use, visit the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles, where Starck has created a Baroque yet modern and totally unique hotel lobby. “This piece is timeless reinvention of a historical classic piece,” Ali explains. “It can adapt to many settings, including a modernist or classical aesthetic.” It is also good for outdoor use, like the Marais A, and in our mild California weather, why shouldn’t you hold your Thanksgiving dinner outside?

Please call us to order any of the chairs listed here, or for a personalized consultation on your dining area. We can help you completely remodel or just freshen up your dining room, kitchen or outside living space to create a wonderful area for entertaining—holiday or everyday! Call LRM Interior Design on (949) 497-6806 for your appointment.

The Les Alizés Collection from Brunschwig & Fils.

Everybody knows that we love Kravet—we love their furniture (especially the KravetSmart line!), we love their fabrics, we love their trimmings. And now there’s even more reason to love Kravet—they saved the esteemed fabric company Brunschwig & Fils.

This American company was founded in 1900 and has always been highly regarded in the industry, not just for their fabrics, but as a resource. Unfortunately, due to the economic upheaval, Brunschwig & Fils was forced to file for bankruptcy in late 2010.

But wait, that’s not all. Kravet president Cary Kravet swoops in like a superhero to Brunschwig & Fils’ rescue. Although they seem like a competitor, it makes complete sense for Kravet to add them to their line of offerings.

“It was pretty close to disappearing,” said Cary Kravet. “We all revere Brunschwig, which produced the most fantastic traditional and historically important patterns. It had to be respected.”

And respect it, they did. Kravet added Brunschwig & Fils to their stable of deluxe brands, right where it should be, alongside Lee Jofa and GP & Baker. Lee Jofa’s executive vice president and creative director Stephen Elrod couldn’t wait to dig into Brunschwig & Fils’ extensive archive after the transaction was complete. He was searching for historic patterns that could be adapted for a new generation, and Elrod hit the proverbial jackpot. He combed through thousands of patterns, some even dating from the 1700s, to create this season’s Les Alizés collection. The name means “trade winds” in French, and includes bold prints, substantial wovens and intricate embroideries.

Like when Jean Paul Gaultier took over the helm at Hèrmes, Kravet has brought Brunschwig & Fils into this century without damaging its dignity or integrity, while still being a little cheeky with their updates. Reducing the number of colors in a paisley and introducing a pink and orange colorway were just two of the ways that Elrod updated some of Brunschwig & Fils’ historic patterns.

We’ll be keeping our eyes out for more of Elrod’s fantastic innovations with Brunschwig & Fils’ deep archives of patterns, textures and delightful fabrics, so watch this space!

We are experts in upholstery, reupholstery and custom furniture. Do you have a sofa in your house that you love, but it needs a facelift? Perhaps some new Brunschwig & Fils fabric? Is there a piece that is missing in your house, but you just can’t find? Please call LRM Interior Design for a consultation; we have the solution for you. (949) 497-6806 or click here to use our online form.

For some young adults, this will be the first time they really have a place to themselves. Yes, they’ll still be surrounded by tens or even hundreds of other students, but they won’t be surrounded by family. So make it nice for them! But a word to the wise—don’t take over. Let them personalize the space and make it their own. We’ve compiled some of our favorite items we think would look great and be useful in a small space.

1. 10-Hook Overdoor Hanger: Umbra’s® Birdie hanger allows for hanging bookbags, purses, hats, scarves and coats on the back of a door and voila, there’s more space in the closet! And less clutter on the floor, which makes for better relations if your child is sharing a dorm room. We also like the matching Birdie wastebasket too, all available at The Container Store.

2. Pomeroy Dream Turquoise Reed Diffuser: Our young ladies aren’t as odiferous, shall we say, as their male counterparts, but that doesn’t mean that a few all-nighters with pizza boxes and way too many Starbucks cups in the trash won’t make the dorm room smell a bit. And that’s why Mom bought them a reed diffuser that looks, like, cool and stuff and not like yours. Especially not like yours.

3. BURSJÖN Stool with Storage: We think this would be a fantastic hamper, as it hides the dirty clothes (that’s if somebody bothers to put the clothes in there), has vents at the top, but is also a stool! It can be tucked in the corner most of the time, but if a fellow student comes over and seating is at a premium, they’ll be happy this stool has a dual purpose.

4. Tvilum Blink Bookcase: This compact bookshelf is 30″ square, which means you can stack two or more side by side or on top of each other to fit your small space! We love that the shelves are not evenly sized, and that there’s a wee drawer in the middle that gives not just a pop of color (it’s reversible and has a different color on the back), but also a little hidey-hole. Note: If you do stack these shelving units, please attach them to the walls so they don’t fall on someone during a “rager”—oops, we mean small get-together with tea and cakes, Mom.

5. Large Tint Stacking Drawers: These are seriously awesome, and not your regular stacking drawers. They come in six colors, plus boring “clear”, and they are perfect for clothes, stationery or any other item that you don’t mind having a little on show. If you can’t tuck these away in a closet (which would be a shame to hide them!), we recommend choosing two colors, like your son’s favorite sporting team colors, and alternate colors on the stack. We’d choose purple and gold, naturally.

Need any other tips for your young college student’s dream dorm room? How about remodeling their old room at home into that spare bedroom, office or home gym you’ve always wanted? Call LRM Interior Design now to arrange your free consultation: 949-497-6806.

The neutral color palette is perfect for relaxing and unwinding.

We were captivated by the clean lines and organic materials at the Spa Cidade Jardim, a spa hidden on the fifth floor of the Shopping Cidade Jardim mall in Brazil’s bustling São Paulo. We’re not suggesting you get an entire spa installed into your home, nor jump on a plane to Brazil tomorrow to visit this delectable sanctum of relaxation, but we can help you take some of these beautiful ideas and incorporate them into your master bath at home.

The similarities we find between the hectic energy of Orange County life (busy parents with active, social kids to ferry around, the highest concentration of entrepreneurs in the country, great dining and lounging venues, stunning natural beauty) with the busting, expanding city of São Paulo is the need to escape once in a while. And not necessarily get out of town, but escape in your OWN town. Did you know that the traffic is so bad in Såo Paulo that the wealthy commute by helicopter? Doesn’t that make your crosstown journey sound a lot easier?

One thing we’d love to see Orange County take from the Cidade Jardim building is the combination of retail, residences and relaxation all in one place. It’s a cosmopolitan idea to provide community for city life, and it would be great to mix up the OC’s urban and suburban areas to create a more European feel to our Southern California enclave.

This VIP bathing area's tub would be a wonderful addition to a master bath.

But—on to the design. We love the neutral palette chosen by Studio Arthur Casas for the spa, especially tying the copious amount of blond wood into the color scheme. Creating a soothing effect should always be paramount when designing any kind of relaxation area, whether it’s a 10,700-square-foot spa or your own bathtime escape.

Showerheads are mounted on the ceiling, echoing the country’s infamous rainforests, and plenty of custom beds and benches are placed throughout the space to provide places for lounging or conversing.The private VIP bathing areas at the Spa Cidade Jardim could double as a master bath; imagine your calm-inducing view of the Pacific ocean from your window as you soak in this extra-deep oval jacuzzi tub with freestanding faucets.

Read the full article from Interior Design magazine here, and peruse the fantastic details, fabrics and design by Studio Arthur Casas. We know of so many ways to bring these touches into your master bath to create your own relaxing sanctuary. If you are ready to change your tired master bath into your own personal spa, call LRM Interior Design today for a consultation: (949) 497-6806.

We loved this photo from the Hinkley website, since it could be our own Lisa McDennon modeling!

Remember earlier this year when we announced Lisa McDennon’s inclusion in Hinkley Lighting’s website and nationwide catalog? Lisa was extremely flattered to be chosen as one of their top picks for giving “Lighting Style Tips and Ideas from Fabulous Designers“, and was even quoted in the blog as saying she looked forward to a long relationship with the distinguished brand.

And that turns out to have been quite the prediction—we don’t want to spill the beans, but keep your eye out for some exciting news here on the LRM Interior Design blog about that very thing! In the meantime, we wanted to talk a little bit about why Lisa felt so privileged to be included in Hinkley’s cadre of favorite designers.

Hinkley Lighting has been in existence for almost 90 years, and still holds a strong reputation for quality in construction, superb functionality and beauty in design. Phil R. Hinkley founded the company in Cleveland, Ohio in 1922, and the first catalog did not feature any designer style tips, only fourteen copper light fixtures made for both indoor and outdoor use.

In the 1930s, the Hinkley company started moving from copper fixtures into specially treated steel and copper plating. They also started to include crystal moss, amber cathedral and amber opal glass into their pieces. During the 40s, like many manufacturers, Hinkley Lighting’s new owner Stanley Wiedemer shipped his sons off to the war and started making airplane parts for the government. They reverted to lighting after the war, when the need for residential housing skyrocketed.

The 50s and 60s were great times for innovation both in technology and design, and in the 80s launched their landscape lighting division, which is going strong today. We’re happy that it’s still a family business after all these years, and continues to succeed based on those same values the company was founded on. We also love Hinkley Lighting’s dedication to reducing their eco-impact, with teams dedicated to creating lighting that are more efficient and less harmful to the environment, while still embodying the styling we expect. Their outdoor lighting conforms to almost every Dark Sky requirement that exists, and they continue to provide LED conversions and fixtures for fluorescent bulbs.

At LRM Interior Design, we know how a single lamp can not only transform a room, but anchor the entire design. Lighting should be something that complements, that wows, that delights—but always provides the right quality of lighting for the room’s purpose. Interior designers like the LRM team are experts at lighting, and would love to talk to you about a lighting makeover. Call (949) 497-6806 for a consultation today!

Ooh la la! Designer furniture at a price everyone can afford.

If you think that affordable furniture can only be found at Ikea, and that any piece of furniture you get through an interior designer is overpriced—we’re happy to inform you that you’re wrong!

Ikea furniture might have some cool, European styling, but it’s not built to last. And let’s be honest: you’re not in college anymore, right? But with everyone feeling the crunch of the economy, LRM Interior Design wants to remind everyone about a product line from one of our favorite furniture and fabric companies: Kravet.

Look at the photos on this blog post. Do they look “affordable” to you? Do they look “budget”? Do they look like they come from a do-it-yourself store? No, we don’t think so either. These are all examples from Kravet’s Kravetsmart line, which we can’t get enough of.

What’s to love? What’s NOT to love!

• You can have any chair, sofa, banquette, sleeper, sectional, ottoman, bed or settee upholstered in your choice of over 60,000 different fabrics
• Those 60,000+ beautiful choices of fabric are at NO extra charge
• The sofas can be ordered by the inch. Yes, that means if you want a 73-inch sofa, that’s what you get.
• Seat cushions are made from soy-based foam and recycled fibers, and all springs are made from recycled steel
• The prices are ridiculously affordable

Interested now? We thought you’d be. Have a look around your living room. Is your sofa looking tired? Have you wanted to chuck it out and get a new one, but thought it would be too expensive? What about your dining room chairs? You could transform your dining room by just replacing them with a new style in some fantastic fabric. Need a boost in the bedroom? Have a closer look at the stunning collection of beds in Kravetsmart’s line, and you might just trade your existing bed in for a new one.

The possibilities are endless! Where to start? Start by calling LRM Interior Design to go in and look through the catalogs. Our designers can give you advice based on your style and needs, and help you pick the furniture that’s right for you.

Smart? You bet it is. Call (949) 497-6806 to set up your appointment now, or click here to fill in our online form.

Sumputous leather Dartmouth chair

Endicott upholstered bed? Yes, please!

Not your average Ikea sofa: the Yale sofa from Kravetsmart