The dramatic New Zealand coastline

LRM Interior Design is pleased to announce yet another new project, and an international project, no less! One of LRMID’s longstanding clients has recently decided to redesign a beach house on the New Zealand coast, and has awarded LRM Interior Design with the project.

Lisa has a way with beautiful designs for coastal properties, maximizing the natural light and bringing the organic elements of the seaside to the interior. The project is sure to be another wonderful example of the talents of Lisa McDennon and the LRM team, and it’s suggested that it will lead to another redesign project for the same client.

The team has their bags packed for a trip down under, but before that happens, there is much preparation to be done. The client is in the process of sending over photos of the rooms to be redesigned, and when we get them we will definitely share. Colorboards and space plans will be created, and we will keep you all updated with everything that inspires the team on this project.

So stay tuned for an update on the New Zealand project!

Christian Horan and his assistant Scott line up the living room shot

Last Thursday the setup started early, with accessories and home goods being carefully unpacked and unwrapped after a week of shopping. Hours of arranging, rearranging and careful placement followed. Finally, one of LRM Interior Design’s Newport Beach bachelor projects was, shall we say, ready for its close up.

It wasn’t just the LRM team that was involved in setting up the shoot, there was help from the outside. For the green touches that bring an almost unconscious beauty to a room, Instant Jungle was called in for their expert eye and green thumb. Lisa McDennon uses no one but Instant Jungle for all of her plant needs, both internal and external. Greg Wallace, owner, was on site to make sure everything looked perfect—and he should know, as he’s been supplying plants for gardens, interiors, and home staging for 30 years.

Another integral part of the team was our favorite photographer Christian Horan, whose eye for detail, light and composition beautifully complements Lisa’s interior design. He and his assistant Scott moved furniture, helped style tabletops, climbed up and down ladders like monkeys to get the perfect shot every time. Catching Christian between his international shoots in Mexico and the Caribbean was tricky, and we were lucky to get him—and his special blend of energy, humor and talent—on the shoot.

It was an exhausting day, but it will be worth it when we see those photos of the house in print….hopefully soon! In the meantime, check out Lisa McDennon’s work and Christian’s photos in the upcoming August issue of Romantic Homes magazine.

Lisa goes over plans with contractor and architect

Can you believe it’s already May?  It seems like just yesterday when Senior Designer Jan Smith and I braved the cold snow and met with our clients at June Lake to help redesign their mountain home.  Five months later, Jan and I have begun to really implement and put our design into action.   Last month Jan and I headed up to June Lake and conducted a final walkthrough with the architect, the cabinet maker, the electrician, the tile contractor and the lighting specialist to ensure that all details were set in place.

Jan and I spent a great deal of time with the tile. We showed our client the selections we had picked, laying out every design out in the house to gain a better overall perspective of the space and to see if everything flowed together well. We sat down with the tile contractor and went through each tile drawing to ensure that every detail, down to the finishing of the tile edges, was correct.  I’ve always believed that it is best to discuss everything with my contractors, because sometimes not everything translates perfectly from paper or the contractors might have a particular style of finishing that doesn’t work with our design. Strong communication is key in successful designing!

Mixing up furniture from different vendors is a great way to add character to a space.  One of the companies we contracted is called Raw Urth, who creates amazing hand-forged iron pieces and iron strapping brackets for fireplaces and furniture.  We have also acquired a selection of furniture from different other companies, including the Holly Hunt Collection, Ironware International and a selection of custom-designed pieces.

On our completed tasks list is lighting, and we made sure that the jay box heights measured correctly and that we placed the chandelier pendants in the right spots.  We have all our sinks ready, one beautiful sink from Eurobath that Jan selected and the rest made from natural stone that we ordered from GBI Tile Company, a tile and stone distributor in Costa Mesa who does amazing custom orders.

Often times in an interior designer’s world not everything falls into place.  In our case, we had a little mishap our client’s fireplace, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise in the end.  Jan had laid out blue tape to double check the measurements of the furniture, and to our dismay we found that the fireplace was sticking out just a little too much for our liking.  We decided to switch our floor plans, and luckily our client liked it better. We went back to the architect’s office to redesign the living room fireplace, and now I’m currently working on the built-in entertainment system and trying to integrate it seamlessly into the stone.  I decided to stone the entire fixture and then have the television rest in the niche so that it could have a floating effect.  As you can see, designing is always an on-going process with many changes along the road!

Our next trip will be in June, when we will be inspecting all of the cabinet and tile details and picking out the grout colors.  It will definitely be a shorter visit, but of course there is still a lot of work to be done.  Stay tuned for our next installment of our June Lake series!

Lisa tours the house with the contractor

It was still cold enough in the mountains for warm clothes and hats!

Lisa discusses the project's progress with the contractor.

LRMID transformed an 80s nightmare into a contemporary showhome.

Orange County is known for its high number of attractive, solvent bachelors, but what happens when they finally realize that they want to settle down?

“All of the bachelor clients have come to me looking to transform their home,” says Lisa. “They’re finally looking to find that special someone, and are aware that their house is not up to a woman’s standards.”

According to the clients, they approached LRM Interior Design in the first place because of the company’s use of a clean aesthetic. “Plus, we have a practical and analytical style that appeals to men,” Lisa explains.”

Lisa amazed both of her bachelor clients with her ability to transform bachelor drab into showhome fab—something that wasn’t too masculine. “We created places where guests would feel comfortable but that would also impress the clients’ dates,” says Lisa.

A sprawling, 6,000 sq. ft. Cape Cod overlooking the Newport harbor was in desperate need of an update from what could only be called a “Miami Vice” inspired design. Lisa and her team gutted the interior, and transformed the house into a magnificent, yet comfortable, showhome with two stories and a mezzanine. Plus, the Cape Cod exterior was altered to complement the modern interior, including the addition of pool railings that matched those on the the staircase inside.

Soft grays and bold patterns create a look that is suited for a man but comfortable for guests

LRMID took a so-so condominium with ocean views in San Clemente and gave it a modern Moroccan makeover, with steel greys and geometric patterned accents. Lisa also designed custom furniture, creating two chaise longues that fit together into a double bed for guests.

Now LRM Interior Design has a new challenge from a bachelor. The outside areas of his modern beach house don’t match the interior’s cosmopolitan feel. “We will be taking these traditional-looking areas and updating them by pulling finishes and adding furniture that is inspired by the home’s interior,” explains Lisa. “There are so many fantastic outdoor furniture lines now, and we’ve even found the items we want in stainless steel.”

The LRM team looks forward to using organic elements like fire and water with construction materials such as concrete and glass to create an outdoor space that will provide a hip lounging area for his guests—whether that be a small group of friends, or just that special lady.

Lisa McDennon goes through the contents of Design In A Box with her client.

After a recent meeting, Lisa McDennon was able to sit down with her client to go over her Design In A Box from LRM Interior Design.

“She was thrilled!” said Lisa, after she met with her client. “It was more than she was expecting, and she can’t wait to get started. She even showed it to everyone at the meeting we attended!”

Beautifully presented and containing inspirational photographs, a color palette and a list of where to buy products is all included in the box. It also includes a floor plan and instructions on how to apply the new design to your room.

A peek inside Design In A Box

Do you have a room or two in your house that needs sprucing up? See if LRM Interior Design’s Design In A Box is right for you, or call for a free consultation on our full design services.

Accent pillows installed in client's home

“My two favorite aspects of a project have to do with soft furnishings,” explains Kari Seydewitz, one of LRM Interior Design’s full-time designers. “I love designing and creating pillows and window treatments!”

A great example of Kari’s work can be seen in one of LRMID’s current projects in Newport Beach. “I was involved with picking the fabrics, trims, the design, and finally, the installation,” Kari says. “I’m very pleased with the result, as was the client — which is always the most important thing.”

Creating pillows to suit a space may not seem like a service that an interior designer would provide, but it is one that LRM Interior Design takes very seriously. Putting together a beautiful, comfortable and complementary pillow is also much more involved and difficult than one would think — it’s not just throwing together some trims and fabric swatches and calling it a pillow.

“This project taught me a great deal about the construction of each pillow,” Kari explains. “We were using some hand-painted fabrics and bulky trims. I realized once fabrication started that there were certain designs that you can and can’t do when working with these materials.”

Thankfully, this challenge was not a problem for Kari’s talents to overcome. Once she understood the materials’ limitations, it was easy for her to tweak the pillows’ designs but keep the same results.

“I loved seeing the final result after installation,” says Kari. “Plus, having a happy client is such a great reward for a job well done!”

Accent pillows and window treatments can be that finishing touch a room needs to be elevated from good to gorgeous, without investing a lot of money. Call LRM Interior Design for a free hour-long consultation, and find out how your rooms could be transformed.

Texture, color and pattern create the perfect pillows for the royal blue sofa.

The final installation

The finished table at the client's home

After attending the Christofle event on etiquette, a LRM Interior Design client asked Lisa if she was interested in a new project.

“He said that the event at Christofle was very timely, as he would be entertaining a special guest at his home, and wanted to host a few parties. He’s a bachelor, and confessed that he had nothing appropriate to serve dinner with or on,” Lisa remembers. “He owned some casualware, but wanted to create the right atmosphere with new silverware, glassware, china, and linens.”

Even with less than two weeks to the party date, Lisa wasn’t worried, just excited at this fantastic project. After going to the house to assess what the client had—which was practically nothing—Lisa and senior designer Jan Smith were on a mission, gallivanting around Orange County to find the best tableware and accessories to go with his home.

“It wasn’t just “shopping,” explains Lisa. “We completely designed the table around the client’s décor, and even took fabric swatches with us.”

For the first, less formal event, Lisa and Jan were able to use the client’s existing blue and brown stoneware to great effect. She alternated plates and bowls in each color, and reversed it on the next place setting, and then added in the new Christofle stemware and silverware on top of the new linens.

The client's home, before the event

Overall, the look created by LRM Interior Design matched the house’s décor, the casual tone of the event, and even the rustic Italian food that the client served.

Three nights later came the formal event, which called for place cards, tablecloths and fine china. Even the food and wine were elevated, with Jan’s husband Troy cooking the meal at the client’s home, and their friend Dave Wallace assisting with the drinks and wine. Both men work at the Montage hotels as sommeliers.

“One thing we had learned from the first party was that our client didn’t even own a spatula or salt and pepper shakers,” smiles Lisa. “We had to outfit the house with serving dishes, candleholders, vases, bowls and throw blankets for the chaise longues. We even had to install artwork on the day of the party!”

There were some small touches added by the team from LRM Interior Design that made for an extra special event, and things that even an experienced host doesn’t always think of.

Lisa made sure that there was a piece of felt cut to the exact size of the glass dining table. This way if a guest accidentally knocked over a piece of  stemware, it wouldn’t break when hitting the tabletop. She also designed and made the name cards herself, using Christofle place card holders.

Lisa's handmade name cards

“I love these place card holders,” Lisa enthuses. “They can also be used as napkin rings, and are classic in design. They are perfect for people who have little space, as they do ‘double-duty’ on the table.”

The design started in the center, with three separate floral arrangements clustered to add texture and height to the table. Lisa then added cut-rock crystal votives to add illumination, and scattered pretty, iridescent and silver pebbles  over the table. Several brands of china were mixed and matched to create a beautiful table, including a starburst salad plate that set off the whole formal arrangement.

The champagne glasses, also by Christofle, are unique, as the glass vessel separates from the silver stem and base. “This way, if you were serving a chilled beverage, you could set the glass vessels in a bucket or bowl of ice,” explains Lisa.

Both parties were a resounding success; the client was happy not only with how everything looked, but with the elegant tableware and accessories that Lisa and Jan chose for his home. It’s just another way that LRM Interior Design can help make their clients’ lives better.

Christofle champagne stemware

The formal party's finished table setting

Lisa adds the finishing touch: the iridescent pebbles

A view of the centerpiece and votives

View from jobsite

In early December, Senior Designer Jan Smith and I headed up to June Lake to meet with a client at the site where construction has begun on their mountain home.

We had worked for this Orange County-based client a few years ago, doing the remodel for their primary home. I was happy to hear from them recently, especially when they told me that they wanted me to design the lodge they were currently building. I was excited to hear that they had only started framing the 5,000 sq. ft. property, which meant that they called at the right time. So many people are unaware that it is best to get the interior designer involved before construction has been completed, but this couple knew what they were doing.

Jan and I prepared for our trip, more than a little anxious that a big storm was heading for the Eastern Sierras. Jan and I, being from south Orange County, are weather wimps. Walking a building site at the best of times in December can be cold, let alone when there’s snow on the ground!

Lisa and Jan brave the cold to walk the building site

The mountain lodge, although unfinished, is beautiful, and the trip definitely gave Jan and I the opportunity to become inspired by the colors and textures of nature, the mountain vistas and the peace and quiet that you can only achieve by being so far from “civilization.”

We also had the opportunity to discuss the plans with our clients on site, which is essential to a smooth-running project—and happy clients!

Keep reading our blog for the next installment of the June Lake project, one of the many projects that LRM Interior Design is working on at the beginning of 2010.

Happy New Year, from all of us at LRM Interior Design!

Napa Lounge is a new venture, and being built from the ground up. Lisa McDennon is pleased to announce that LRM Interior Design has won the contract, and is coming in on the early stages to design from scratch. “We’re going with a clean, modern look, with natural wood and stone, concrete floors, cool lighting and comfortable seating,” says Lisa, principal of LRM Interior Design.

Napa Lounge developer and owner Todd Melinn had seen LRMID’s work through his friends The Clemens. Both Scott Clemens and his wife Danielle are clients – LRMID designed Scott’s office; Danielle’s hair studio, Studio DC in Laguna Beach; as well as their home residence. Todd came to Scott to discuss the project, and asked for a recommendation for a designer. Scott didn’t hesitate to put Lisa’s name forward.

“Although Todd impressed with our studio’s work, he did interview another designer,” explained Lisa. “Our initial design bid was too high for his budget, and Todd thought he’d have to go with the other designer.”

Luckily, after discussing budgets, Todd and Lisa were able to come to a compromise: Lisa would design the interior, with completed renderings and all colors, furniture and fabrics chosen. LRM Interior Design would then hand the project off to Todd. Lisa explains: “That meant his final cost would not include any project management, and that shaved quite a bit off the bid.” Project management can include design meetings with the contractors, construction and shop drawings. By just providing a conceptualized template, Todd would save on LRM’s costs for design, but still provide him with a well-designed roadmap to create a beautiful space.

The hope is to have Napa Lounge open by Christmas—an ambitious goal. “Our team has just started the drawings, which will include preliminary space plans and original concepts for the restaurant interiors, occupancy numbers, and maybe a patio outside.”

Lisa and the team are excited about the Napa Lounge project, as it rounds out LRM Interior Design’s already extensive portfolio of retail, commercial, residential and resort properties.