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 9th, 2010 by jennifermyers
We warned you—we have more to say about wallpaper. Not quite as much as last week, as we were able to narrow down our patterned choices to the required five…just. Where last week presented wallcoverings that were nigh on incredible, this week we’re staying more in the realm of what most people would call wallpaper. But that doesn’t mean they’re boring….
Schumacher Imperial Trellis
1. Schumacher Imperial Trellis: This pattern is a staff favorite, and although it comes in 14 colorways, including Parchment/Midnight, Citrine and Cinnabar Gloss, we love it in Charcoal. Although it’s in Schumacher’s “Modern” section, we think that the pattern has such a classic feel to it that it could be used in a traditional setting, too.
Romo Kimura in Turmeric
2. Romo Kimura in Turmeric: The name and color of this wallpaper conjure up two different Orients—Japan and India. The combination of florals, using both lotus flowers and cherry blossoms, give this wallpaper a balanced pattern, and the grey looks fantastic against the deep yellow background.
Graham & Brown Drama Wallcovering in Boheme
3. Graham & Brown Drama Wallpaper in Boheme: This pattern also comes in burnt orange and black, but we love it in chocolate—could it be the name? Actually, we love how the retro feel of this paper comes into its own in the chocolate color, but the updated pattern keeps it feeling modern. This paper would be great for a den, game room or dining room, and we can’t wait to use it to create something fabulous. And when we do, we’ll definitely post it!
Cole & Son Apana Gold on Blue
4. Cole & Son Alpana in Gold and Blue: This wallpaper made us feel like we were going to have high tea at the Ritz in London, what with its delicate gold design on the eggshell blue. Think about an elegant afternoon sipping tea and nibbling on cucumber sandwiches and scones in the most divine setting. Designer Kristen Rusert commented: “The pattern is beautiful, and I love the color combinations—it also comes in gold on black. It looks so regal!”
Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon
5. Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon: Back to the Orient, but this time—China. We’ve loved this pattern in a fabric, and we love it just as much as a wallcovering. Out of the four colorways, we love the Aquamarine over Lacquer, China Blue and Alabaster. We are enchanted with the dragon winding through and peeking out from behind the peonies and dahlias.
Tags: alabaster, aquamarine, California, California Contemporary, charcoal imperial trellis, chiang mai dragon, china, china blue, color, contemporary, decor, designer, drama wallpaper, fabrics, furniture, Graham & Brown, graham and brown, imperial trellis, inspiration, interior design, Interior Design Institute, interior designer, Jan Smith, Kari Seydewitz, lacquer, Laguna Beach, Laguna Design Center, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, London, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, Newport Beach, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, Orient, remodel, retro, retro wallcovering, retro wallpaper, Romo, ROMO fabrics, ROMO wallcoverings, Schumacher, Southern California, space, style, The Ritz, top interior designers, turmeric, wallcovering, wallpaper
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June 27th, 2010 by jennifermyers
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!
Tags: ASID, California Contemporary, coastal, coastal design, coastal property, color, colorboards, contemporary, decor, designer, elegance, fabrics, furniture, inspiration, interior design, interior designer, international interior design firm, international interior designer, Laguna Beach, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, modern, modern space, New Zealand, New Zealand Coast, New Zealand interior design, New Zealand interior design projects, Orange County, Orange County's top designer, organic design elements, organic elements, organic motifs, outdoor furniture, remodel, seaside, Southern California, space, style, top interior designers
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June 13th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Henry Road uses their Fleur Grande fabric on the front of this chair...
At LRM Interior Design, we get inspired by a lot of things. But we really love up-and-coming companies that inspire us with their creativity and innovation.
Take Henry Road, a textile studio in Studio City, California, just up north from us here in Orange County. They design beautiful, bold and modern patterns for textiles that look stunning on all types of furniture, from chairs to sofas to footstools.Their patterns look amazing on more than just furniture, as we found with their Gloria tablecloths and Havana tote. Let’s not even start on their adorable storage sacks for kids.
...and a coffee sack to upholster the back.
Or shall we? This is where Henry Road’s real inspiration comes through. In many cases, as shown by the storage sacks and with items of furniture, Henry Road owner Paula Smail combines her large-print textiles with coffee sacks. We love this combination of texture and re-use, especially in the occasional chair covered in Paula’s Fleur Grande pattern on the front and coffee sacking on the back.
They’ve also covered church benches, footrests and cubes in coffee sacks, and according to their website, they’re pretty popular–almost all of their furniture has been sold.
Paula Smail seems like a person who is as interesting and enterprising as her designs. She spent part of her childhood in South Africa, in a house on Henry Road. It was the Marimekko blinds in that home, plus seeing the African women swathed in bright fabrics, that has shaped her design aesthetic.
We can’t wait to see what she does next! In the meantime, check out Henry Road’s collection of unusual accessories and home goods. And if you’re in Los Angeles, you may just want to stop by and peruse the intriguing items in her shop that are not available online.
Tags: accessories, California, California Contemporary, children's games, church bench, coffee sack upholstery, coffee sacks, contemporary, Crystal Cove, decor, designer, eco-friendly, elegance, fabrics, Fleur Grande, footstools, furniture, gloria tablecloth, Henry Road, home goods, inspiration, interior design, interior designer, Laguna Beach, large-print textiles, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, Los Angeles, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, marimekko, modern patterns, modern textiles, Newport Beach, occasional chair, Orange County, Orange County's top designer, Paula Smail, pillows, sofas, Southern California, storage sacks, studio city, style, tablecloths, textiles, texture, top interior designers, tote bags
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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 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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February 28th, 2010 by jennifermyers
LRM Interior Design proudly presents the first of their Top Five Faves blogs. We are starting off with the topic of side or occasional tables that we love! Of course, it was so hard to whittle the list down to just five, but we did our best to present the five best table that the industry has to offer, from many talented furniture designers. So, with no further ado, let’s begin:
Hershey Table from Corbin Bronze
Top Fave Number One: Lisa McDennon’s choice was this uniquely shaped hammered bronze table from Corbin Bronze. Not surprisingly, it’s called the Hershey Table, and indeed the base looks just like the delicious Hershey’s Kiss™. This table could be tucked in the corner or next to a chair, where its unconventional shape could be discovered by the observant viewer. Or, an interior designer of Lisa’s caliber could design a whole room around the beauty, color and form of this chair. She has done it before with a single lamp! Find this and more Corbin Bronze tables at www.corbinbronze.com. (read the rest of this post…)
Tags: Albemarle Tray Table, California Contemporary, contemporary, contemporary home, contemporary styles, Corbin Bronze, custom furniture, ebony, family heirloom, foyer, game room, hammered bronze table, Hershey, Julian Chichester, library, Lisa McDen, Lisa McDennon, Lisa r, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, Macassar ebony table, Michael Gary Furniture, Michelin, occasional table, Orange County Interior designers, Restoration Hardware, side table, stainless steel, Susan Fanfa Designs, tea tray, Top five, vintage table
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