July 30th, 2010 by jennifermyers
There are so many elements in creating the perfect dining room that it’s hard to focus on one aspect. But for you, readers, this week we’ve managed it. Behold our Top Five Favorite dining room chairs, and from the looks of it, we at LRM Interior Design like to be comfortable while we eat.
And why not? A good designer should be able to choose or create a chair that suits its purpose, i.e. an occasional chair need not be as comfortable as a reading chair, where one would spend much more time. When entertaining, as a dining room suggests, we want to make sure that our guests are happy in their seats, not waiting for the moment that dessert is finished so that they can retire to the softer furnishings of the living room!
Three of our five chairs are tufted, suggesting maximum comfort and luxury while dining; the remaining two are certainly plush. But please, dear reader, choose your own Top Fave…
Kravet Ensemble Chairs
1. Kravet Ensemble Chair: If you are ever lucky enough to be invited to Senior Designer Jan Smith’s home for dinner, don’t dare say no. It’s no wonder that her choice of chair includes arms—one bite of her husband’s cuisine and you’re likely to fall out of your seat with delight.
Jan is the ultimate hostess, and prefers staying at the table to being in the kitchen: “Dining is an experience for me, and I prefer it to last for hours and through multiple courses,” Jan explains. “These chairs are perfect for extended periods of sitting. Plus, I like the idea of using a “club-style” chair at a dining table.” (read the rest of this post…)
Tags: bachelor pad, baker, Baker chair 7841, baker chairs, baker dining room chairs, Baker Furniture, baker saint germain chair, baker st. germain chair, beautiful, California, California Contemporary, chairs for entertaining, Crystal Cove, customizable dining room chairs, decor, designer, Ebanista chairs, ebanista coimbra sofa, ebanista sofa, elegance, elegant dining room chairs, furniture, Gina b, gina b chairs, gina b furniture, House Beautiful, inspiration, interior design, interior designer, Jan Smith, Kravet, kravet chairs, Kravet complex turn side chair, Kravet dining room chairs, Kravet ensemble chair, kravet furniture, Laguna Beach, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, masculine, modern, Newport Beach, newport beach bachelors, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, paris salon, plush chairs, Southern California, space, style, top interior designers, tufted chairs, tufted dining room chairs, upholstery, woodwork
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July 23rd, 2010 by jennifermyers
Blue mission-style tiles? Yes and no...from SRS Energy.
With government tax credits and the amount of sunshine we get in California (granted, we haven’t seen much sun yet in Laguna this summer!), solar panels seem like a fantastic addition to a roof, especially if you’ve already planned to update or fix your roof, or even if your home is under construction. Economical and eco-friendly—what’s not to like?
What’s not to like? How about a grey rectangle stuck to the side of your roof? In the coastal areas like Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Crystal Cove and Emerald Bay, there can be fierce criticism about solar panels from your neighbors, especially if it is in their view. And from the homeowners, too—what’s the point of spending a huge amount of money on a gorgeous mission-style roof when you have to ruin it with a slab of a solar panel? And in Southern California, from San Diego up to the Central Coast, red-tile roofs reign supreme. In fact, Santa Barbara has strict rules about the height and style of buildings in their downtown area. (read the rest of this post…)
Tags: beautiful, California, California Contemporary, central coast, contemporary, Crystal Cove, designer, eco-friendly, ecofriendly, economical, elegance, Emerald Bay, exterior design, home construction, interior design, interior designer, Laguna, Laguna Beach, Laguna Design Center, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, mission, mission-style roof, mission-style tiles, modern, new roof, Newport Beach, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, red tile roof, red tile roofs, roof, roof construction, san diego, santa Barbara, solar panels, sole power tile, Southern California, space, srs energy, style, top interior designers, upgrade roof
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July 16th, 2010 by jennifermyers
The Electrolux washer in Red Hot Red
Who says laundry can’t be fun? We love designing laundry rooms, and can’t wait to use a washer and dryer from Electrolux’s latest collection. When it comes to laundry, we all want our whites white and our colors bright, right? With Electrolux’s new line, what we want on the inside is right on the outside. The washers and dryers come in Red Hot Red, Mediterranean Blue, Turquoise Sky, Island White and Silver Sands, and will add that extra spark to a laundry room.
There are so many features that make the machines themselves wonderful (18 minutes to wash, 18 minutes to dry, extremely quiet and eco-friendly), but we also like how they, ahem, stack up. From a design standpoint, their versatility is very attractive; they can stack, be freestanding or under a counter, the doors can be reversed and they have optional pedestal drawers. (read the rest of this post…)
Tags: appliances, ASID, beautiful, beautiful laundry room, cabinetry, California, California Contemporary, color, colored appliances, contemporary, decor, designer, dryer, eco-friendly, eco-friendly dryer, eco-friendly washer, electrolux, electrolux dryer, electrolux washer, elegance, GE, hampers, home office, home office design, homework, inspiration, interior design, interior designer, ironing boards, Jan Smith, Laguna Beach, laundry, laundry room design, laundry rooms, LG, LG washing machines, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, modern, Newport Beach, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, pedestal drawer for dryer, pedestal drawer for washer, remodel, Southern California, space, stacking washer and dryer, style, washer, washer and dryer, Whirlpool
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July 1st, 2010 by jennifermyers
First confession: this week we fudged. Just a little bit. We were beat at our task by the multitude of wonderful, exquisite and downright fantastical wallpapers on the market, and we could only narrow our Faves down to seven. Don’t hate us because they’re so beautiful!
Second confession: we couldn’t even fit all of our favorite wallpapers into one Faves blog! So watch out for part two, when we present our favorite patterned wallpapers.
But now, for our favorite—shall we say off the wall?—choices:
Schumacher Kyoko Mica
1. Schumacher Kyoko Mica in Silver: Jan Smith wowed us with this one, especially since we have used it in one of our high-end bachelor pad guest bathrooms. “For that project, we used a bronze colorway of this paper, and in the small bathroom, it added sparkle, texture and a much-needed presence,” Jan explains. “It is the first thing you notice when you enter the room, and the impact of it stays with you after you leave.” It’s a lot to ask from a wallpaper, Jan admits, “but it delivers!” (read the rest of this post…)
Tags: 19th century France, ASID, beaded wallpaper, beautiful, bling wallpaper, California, California Contemporary, color, decor, designer, eco-friendly, elegance, expert installation, Fuji, glass bead wallcoverings, glass bead wallpaper, horsehair, horsehair wallcovering, horsehair wallpaper, Innovations, innovations grasscloth, inspiration, interior design, interior designer, Jan Smith, Kyoko Mica, Kyoto, Laguna Beach, Laguna Design Center, limestone wallcovering, limestone wallpaper, limestone walls, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, Maya Romanoff, Maya Romanoff Chevron, Maya Romanoff Chevron Mother of Pearl, Maya Romanoff Mother of Pearl, mica wallpaper, mineral wallpaper, modern, Murano Molto, Newport Beach, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, peacock, peacock feathers, pheasant, pheasant feathers, Phillip-Jeffries Ltd. Horsehair, red carpet gown, Sapporo-Soba, Schumacher, Schumacher Kyoko Mica in Silver, Schumacher Nest Collection, shell wallpaper, Southern California, space, style, top interior designers, wallpaper, Wallteriors
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June 4th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Your home is your castle--protect it!
After spending the time, money and resources on interior design or on a remodel, be it one room or the entire home, doesn’t it make sense to protect that investment?
Insurance is an obvious way to do so, but did you check with your insurance agent after you finished the remodel? Your insurance needs may have changed, and if you don’t get it amended, you may think you are covered when you’re not. Installing a hidden home safe can save you on your insurance premiums, if you make sure to keep all valuables locked inside.
Security systems have come a long way over the last few years, and can be customized to your needs. From alarms to carbon monoxide alerts, home security can keep you safe when you’re away, but even while you’re sleeping. Security can also be combined with home technology, which has become so advanced that you can control your entire home, from turning on your coffee maker or jacuzzi to closing blinds–all from your iPhone, using Savant AV technology.
Do you have children or pets, or perhaps have furniture in direct sunlight? Protect your new furniture with the revolutionary product MicroSeal. And don’t discount the ability to discourage burglars with window treatments–safety can be beautiful, too. Have you thought about your entry doors? If you’ve wondered if you can have glass in your front door and still have privacy and security, we can help you answer those questions.
Always keep your plumber’s emergency number in your cell phone. When water is pouring out of a sink or burst pipe, it’s not the time to be scrambling for a phone number! And even if the plumber gets to your home quickly, you still may need to repair some water damage. Make sure to have the number of a reputable fire and water clean up and restoration company in your contact list.
And last but not least, you should remember some annual home maintenance, including checking the roof, changing your heating and air conditioner filters and getting a termite inspection.
If it sounds like a lot of time and effort to complete everything on this list, think of what the cost would be of not doing it. Your home and your family’s safety is worth it!
Contact us at LRM Interior Design for a complete list of our preferred vendors, or for us to organize a personal introduction to the professional to help you with any of these home security issues. We are always happy to help!
Tags: annual home maintenance, beautiful, California, California Contemporary, carbon monoxide alerts, contemporary, Crystal Cove, designer, eco-friendly, emergency plumber, entry doors, fire and water clean up and restoration, furniture, glass entry doors, hidden home safe, home insurance, home safe, home security, home technology, homeowners insurance, insurance premiums, interior design, interior designer, Laguna Beach, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, microseal, Newport Beach, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, plumber, protect furniture from sun, protect furniture from sun damage, remodel, savant av, security systems, Southern California, termite inspection
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May 28th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Chandeliers are the cream of the lighting crop, adding elegance to the practical nature of room lighting. Even the sound of the name sounds highbrow and expensive, and we at LRM Interior Design love the many different styles and materials that chandeliers are made of. As usual, it was very difficult to narrow down our list to just five, but here they are.
Jaeger 6-Tier Horn Chandelier
1. Jaeger 6-Tiered Horn Chandelier: Our love affair with capiz-shell chandeliers is still strong, don’t worry—after all, they helped us win one of our ASID awards! But it will have to share our hearts with this Jaeger horn chandelier, as the color and shape of the horn pieces are gorgeous. The hammered antique brass canopy is beautiful, as is the light diffused by the polished pieces of horn. This is a light fixture that does not melt into the background, but is rather more of an attention-getter—we must feel like it’s one of the LRM gang… (read the rest of this post…)
Tags: 2nd Ave, 2nd Ave lighting, Alison Berger, Alison Berger Glassworks, antique brass, ASID, beautiful, Carrillo Chandelier, casablanca, decor, designer, double-story entry hall, Ebanista, eco-friendly, elegance, elegant design, entryway, European classics, fireflies, furniture, great room, hand-scripted pendants, handcrafted in the United States, horn chandelier, House Beautiful, inspiration, interior design, interior designer, Jan Smith, Laguna Beach, Laguna Design Center, large dining table, large outdoor space, lighting for great room, ligting for entryways, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, Moroccan-inspired, natural horn, Newport Beach, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, outdoor lighting, pendant chandelier, pendant lighting, polished horn, princess, royalty, Saint Tropez Boutique, Southern California, space, Spanish accents, Spanish-style, style, top interior designers, United States
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May 16th, 2010 by jennifermyers
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! (read the rest of this post…)
Tags: architect, beautiful, brackets, cabinetry, California, California Contemporary, chandelier, chandeliers, contemporary, decor, designer, elegance, fabrics, fireplaces, floating television, furniture, GBI Tile, hand-forged iron, hand-forged iron pieces, Holly Hunt COllection, House Beautiful, inspiration, interior design, Interior Design Institute, interior designer, Ironware International, Jan Smith, June Lake, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, modern, mountain lodge, natural stone, Orange County, Orange County's top designer, remodel, space, stone fireplace, style, tile, tile design, tile finishing, tile installation
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May 9th, 2010 by lisa
Details are an important part of interior design
I believe that it is a combination of our innovative design skills and our impeccable and savvy ability to manage our projects. So often we hear tragic stories of clients working with designers that display talent, but fall short when it comes time to carry out their business practices. Or just as often, we witness atrociously designed interiors, obviously done by unqualified designers who misled their clients—and got paid for it.
At LRM Interior Design, we help our clients avoid both circumstances by following our infallible formula for success. Here are our top 10 qualities that help us continually achieve that success.
- We start by listening to our clients’ needs. From that, we create a cohesive design plan starting from the very beginning. We follow through on that plan, never straying away from it. This ensures consistency and efficiency.
- We build trust by educating our clients throughout the entire process, ensuring that they understand every reasoning behind our decisions. We have established such a reputable rapport with our clients to the point where they consult us even for the minutest decisions. (read the rest of this post…)
Tags: ASID, beautiful, billing process, California Contemporary, client communication, communication with client, contemporary, creative, decor, designer, drawing skills, elegance, fabrics, furniture, House Beautiful, innovative, innovative design, inspiration, interior design, interior design drawing, interior design renderings, interior designer, Laguna Beach, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, listening to client, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, modern space, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, quality control, remodel, Southern California, space, style, top interior designers
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April 30th, 2010 by jennifermyers
All of the designers at LRM Interior Design love to accessorize, and there’s never a room that wasn’t improved by their confident style touches, whether it be on the floor, on tables or on shelves.
This month’s Top Five Faves capitalizes on those elegant pieces that accessorize a room. As always, it was tough to narrow them down to just five, but we managed to…
Sea Urchins from Oly Studios
1. Sea Urchins in cast resin from Oly Studio
Lisa McDennon chose these from many wonderful accessories and gift items at Oly Studio. “I like the depth. It makes them interesting and eye catching,” remarks Lisa. “They are chalky and organic, but very modern.” The three sizes are unusual and make them fun to use; there’s a 10-inch, a 11-inch and a 25-inch version. “Two large sea urchins would look great under a console, while a smaller one would be perfect on a small bookcase shelf.”
Black Stallion sculptures from Gump's San Francisco
2. Black Stallions from Gump’s
Both the style and the terra-cotta composition make these complementary stallions look like they were recovered from Ancient Rome. Made entirely by hand using techniques by Tang-era artisans, these pieces have a washed and distressed black glaze that allows glimpses of the clay beneath to shine through. “These are fantastic accent items for shelves or consoles,” says Jan Smith, senior designer at LRM Interior Design. “They are neutral, interesting and masculine—without being offensive.”
Manzanita branches can be made into a beautiful jewelry tree, like this one from Viva Terra.
3. Manzanita Branches from Gold Leaf Design Group
Lisa loves the twisted branches of the manzanita tree as a decorative item. “They work so well as a room divider, or just as a sculptural accent,” says Lisa. “I’ve even used smaller ones in tabletop floral designs.” Manzanita branches are very versatile, and can be painted using any type of paint and transformed into almost any type of decor. They look great in a planter, combined with succulents, as a retail or home display of jewelry and even as contemporary holiday decor, whether it be Christmas or Easter.
One of three sizes of horn boxes from Roost Co.
4. Horn boxes from Roost
“These boxes’ laquered finish is absolutely beautiful, the interior is crafted from natural wood—and they make perfect gifts,” comments Lisa. Choose from three sizes to add to a desk, a coffee table, bookshelves or even a chest of drawers. “I keep paperclips in one of the small sizes on my desk, and they are perfect for hiding the remote control in a nice family room or game room.” These boxes are a firm favorite with the entire LRM Interior Design staff.
Corsage Vintage Brass Accessory from Arteriors Home
5. Vintage Brass Corsage from Arteriors Home
Arteriors Home has brought on board their first branded signature collection with Laura Kirar, a noted interior and product designer known for being inspired by nature. These brass flowers look like gardenia dipped in metal, and are perfect for a coffee table. “Coffee tables need a hint of glamour,” says Jan Smith. “And, if the item is from a top-rated designer, that helps too!” The flowers come in two sizes: a 5″ x 4.5″ and a 7″ x 6″. Pair them on a coffee table for a double dose of glamour.
Tags: Ancient Rome, Arteriors Home, beautiful, black stallion, bookshelf, brass flowers, California, California Contemporary, coffee table, contemporary, Crystal Cove, decor, designer, desk accessories, elegance, horn boxes, horse sculptures, horse statues, inspiration, interior design, Interior Design Institute, interior designer, jewelry tree, Laguna Beach, Laguna Design Center, Laura Kirar, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, masculine design, modern, Orange County, Orange County's top designer, remote control hide, Roost home furnishings, sea urchins, style, top interior designers
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April 16th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Custom furniture for one of LRM Interior Design's clients. These two chaise longues can be combined to make a spare bed for guests.
Many people think that they know what an interior designer does. They design the whole room, the whole house, the whole project. Right?
Actually, it doesn’t have to be that cut and dry. A large part of many interior design firms’ business, including LRM Interior Design, is actually to do with furniture and purchasing.
Designing a house is not just about paint colors and fabrics. LRM Interior Design can furnish an empty house with lighting, furniture and upholstery, case goods, beds and bedding, pillows, artwork, accessories, rugs, plants, containers, patio furniture, tile and plumbing fixtures. We can also replace any and all of these items in a fully furnished home!
For example: recently a woman called us for her services after she had used the “free design services” at the store where she bought the furniture. The recommended furniture arrived at the house and, to her great surprise, was completely the wrong size for the room. She called us, and is now a new client, fully aware of the value of an interior designer’s services. As it turned out, those “free” services weren’t so free after all. (read the rest of this post…)
Tags: accessories, artwork, beautiful, beds and bedding, burned by home store design service, California, California Contemporary, case goods, coffee table, colorboards, containers, Crystal Cove, custom furnishings, decor, fabrics, free design services, furnishings, furniture, furniture and upholstery, furniture wrong size for room, home store design services, interior design, interior designer, Laguna Beach, lighting, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, modern space, Newport Beach, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, outdoor furniture, paint colors, patio furniture, pillows, plants, plumbing fixtures, purchasing, purchasing furniture through an interior designer, remodel, rugs, Southern California, tile, wallpaper
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