Please vote for design #20!

LRM Interior Design is up for the People’s Choice Award for the 2010 ASID OC Design Awards! Please help us by voting—it’s simple. All you have to do is click here, scroll to Design #20 and vote. The photo should look like the one to the left.

Vote now! Tell your friends and family! The awards are this Saturday night, so please vote right away.

For 2010, LRM Interior Design has entered two projects in to the ASID competition, and both are upscale bachelor residences. The People’s Choice Award is a separate category, and we would certainly love to get that kudos!

Last year, in 2009, you may remember that it was LRM Interior Design’s first time up to bat in the ASID OC Design Awards. For the first time, LRM Interior Design entered the competition in two categories. Our fearless leader, Lisa McDennon, barely had time to sit down before she was called up to receive her first award. And if you think she was floored by that one, you should have seen her when they called her name for the second time!

Then there was the win for the Designer Runway Extravaganza and, although not technically an interior design award, it showed Lisa and her team’s ability to adapt, roll with the punches and show grace under pressure.

So for the 2010 ASID OC Design Awards, we expect nothing but the highest marks and to take home all the awards we can. So keep your fingers crossed on Saturday night, when Lisa McDennon and Senior Designer Jan Smith will be at the ceremony, sailing Newport Harbor on The Endeavor. And keep your eyes peeled for an update after the event! Best of luck!

Oly Studio's Jackson Chest of Drawers

1. Oly Studios Jackson Chest of Drawers: “Many companies make a chest similar to this, but no-one does it with the same panache as Oly,” says Lisa McDennon. “The lacquered wood looks amazing in white, but I like it in the dark colors, too.” Lisa also likes that this chest fits well as a bedside table in rooms that are contemporary, Asian or traditional, dressed up or down—it’s so versatile and practical at the same time. Talk about making a piece of furniture work well in many settings: Lisa also suggests that this white, lacquered-wood chest could look stunning in an entryway, or be a changing table for baby that will grow with them as they leave the nursery.

Barbara Barry for Baker Furniture

2. Barbara Barry for Baker Furniture: Barbara Barry is known just as well for her elegance as her design, and this bedside table is a wonderful representation of it. “I love the contemporary feel of this piece,” says Kristen Rusert. “It’s very simple, but the leg shape makes it stand out.” Kristen also points out that it’s size makes it perfect for a nightstand, but provides a handy amount of storage as well. Is the finish too dark for you? Don’t worry; Baker offers it in over 20 regular and premium finishes in order for it to match your boudoir perfectly.

Echo Table by Room&Board

3. Echo Table from Room&Board: Although technically an “end” table, Senior Designer Jan Smith loves this as a bedside table. “I think it’s a perfect choice for a non-matched set of bedside tables,” she explains. “The curving silhouette of the sculptural base and generous top is the perfect foil for a table with drawers and storage on the other side of the bed.” Made from bamboo with a lacquer finish, this contemporary table would look good in many design styles.

Milan Chest by Century Furniture

4. Milan Chest from Century Furniture: Again, this piece was not meant specifically to sit next to a bed, but it would look stunning in any bedroom, especially since Century has such a large selection of finish choices. Plus, it’s larger than a regular bedside table and has big drawers, and therefore would be perfect for a smaller home, where space was limited. “Who couldn’t use the extra storage?” asks Melissa Morgan, who was captivated by this chest. “I love the clean lines, and would love to experiment with some of the finish options, like silver leaf or sky blue.”

LRM Interior Design Custom Bedside Table

5. LRMID Custom Nightstand: When you’ve searched high and low and the perfect bedside table is nowhere to be found, sometimes you just have to do it yourself. And that’s what Lisa McDennon has done for many a client, and specifically with this bedside table. “I call this a ‘grown-up nightstand’,” says Lisa. “It has a complexity to it that makes it elegant yet fun.” In addition to an open shelf for accessories or book storage, what looks like a top drawer actually is a lined tray that pulls out when needed. “That way you don’t have to reach behind you for your hot tea or water while reading in bed,” says Lisa. She really does think of everything…!

See something you like? Have an idea for a piece of custom furniture for your home? Contact LRM Interior Design for a free consultation. The LRMID team are experts at designing and fabricating custom furniture, and love creating the perfect item for a client’s home. Contact us via phone on (949) 497-6806 or email us to set up an appointment.

Dramatic and original patterns from Les Indiennes

The beautiful and exclusive Les Indiennes fabrics and wallpapers are now available through LRM Interior Design. We are very happy to be the sole California representative for this Arizona-based company, as we love their colors, patterns and textures.

In fact, we have had custom fabrics made by Les Indiennes for use in a client project. The clients had a chair that they loved and wanted to work into the bathroom design as a vanity chair. We convinced them to have it reupholstered so that it would fit into the project. Once the canvas was designed, created and ready to be used, we sent it to our upholstery workroom so that they could recover the chair. “The finished product is gorgeous, timeless and detailed,” comments Kristen Rusert, LRMID administrative manager and lover of Les Indiennes designs.

A client's chair gets a new life with Les Indiennes fabric

The way we see it, owner and designer Mary Mulcahy deserves to have her work known throughout the world. Mulcahy fell in love with Indian textiles, and soon saw an opportunity to take the complex traditional designs and creating simple yet authentic patterns that would appeal to a Western market.

Her technique for creating the Les Indiennes patterns sounds easy, but in truth takes skill and inherent talent. Mulcahy extracted and clarified the intricate traditional Indian designs into single motifs and placed them with careful spacing onto a rich, white background. The fabric and wallpaper is made in India, and Les Indiennes is very proud of the fact that they have not tried to “upgrade” or “improve” their existing process. Les Indiennes’ production doe not cause pollution nor does it disrupt the lives of the people in the village—in fact, the company provides fair-trade employment for over 50 families.

Mary Mulcahy uses the ancient technique of Kalamkari, a process which takes 40 days, the skills of a master and the patience of a saint. The fabrics are sun-bleached cotton, and both the fabric and wallpaper are hand-blocked with patterns created in carved wood. The village and environment collaborate to produce this unique fabric with a combination of river washing, rinsing and steaming over a rice-chaff fire set the colors. Talk about natural: the ayurvedic dyes are as natural as can be, derived from plants, earth, rock and roots.

Call LRM Interior Design for a consultation on how we can use these gorgeous, earth-friendly fabrics and wallpapers in your home.

A beautiful way to use Les Indiennes fabric—for dining.

Bathroom lighting will never be the same again.

Orange County has its share of bars and clubs, but not quite on the scale of cities like San Francisco, Miami, New York or London. In big cities like that, you have to concentrate on being the next big thing, even before anyone knows what it is. As a bar or club owner, you need to create the trends so that the place is packed every night.

And how do you do that? How do you create cutting-edge design in a place that is likely going to be dark and (hopefully) packed with people? You hire a talented interior design firm. All of us at LRM Interior Design are on the hunt for a high-end, luxe bar or club to redesign or relaunch, and while we’re looking, newest designer to the team Melissa Morgan had a few ideas.

First was the Luminist sink by TOTO, a Japanese plumbing product company that happens to be the largest in the world. Known not only for their innovation but also their small living spaces, the Japanese are always thinking ahead of the rest of the world. Let’s face it—they always have the best gadgets! This sink caught Melissa’s eye because of the fact it can be lit by LED lights: “It looks so magical! I can see it in a club’s bathroom, being one of the only light sources,” she says.

The sink is translucent, made from a combination of glass and epoxy resin. It also comes with a choice of a white or black drain cover, depending on the desired look. The hybrid epoxy resin from which they are made “combines the translucence of glass with exceptional resistance to impact, heat and staining,” according to Dr. Lenora Campos, spokesperson for TOTO USA. The sink is also available in a rectangular version—also a great selection for a club or bar lavatory.

Caesarstone's Concetto Masterpiece Collection

The second idea that Melissa had was more front-of-house, and something that would make a bold, luxurious statement. Over the years, bar owners have played around with different surfaces for their bars: from the standby of wood jazzed up with unusual species, to copper and even bringing back zinc or pewter, a material that the French have been using since the early 1800s. But Melissa’s idea for a bar top is from Caesarstone’s new masterpiece collection made entirely of semi-precious stone. These extraordinary surfaces are hand-made out of individually cut and bound semi-precious stones. They have fused nature with technology for a product that architects, designers and high-end builders have only dreamt about before now.

“I can see Viola, the amethyst slab, looking crazy cool in a nightclub, as a bar top with LED lighting underneath,” Melissa explains. It’s true—the Concetto range looks amazing in its normal state, but because of the nature of the material, whether it’s amethyst, agate, quartz, feldspar or something called “Apple Jasper”, the products glow with an unearthly magic when lit from behind. There are those who feel that crystals have healing powers, and whether you believe it or not, it couldn’t hurt to bring a little energy from the stones into your establishment, now would it?

Do you know of a bar or club that’s in need of a facelift? We’d love to hear about it. Remember, LRM Interior Design also specializes in select commercial projects, and has completed several projects in this vein, including an exclusive resort in Fiji. Call (949) 497-6806 for an appointment or email us with your contact information and needs.

Quad, by Douglas--one of the many pieces from Phoenix Art Group.

When designing for clients, whether it be an entire home or just a few select rooms, the finishing touches are just as important as the basics, like wall color and flooring. What really makes interior design sing is the sum of the parts, not the individual pieces.

That said, it means that the individual pieces have to be chosen carefully! Take hanging art, for instance. This can be tricky, especially if clients have existing pieces that need to be incorporated into the design, and that means that the designer will consider that at the start of the project, taking the leads on color and style from elements of the piece.

If a designer has carte blanche to design from floor to ceiling, then artwork can be chosen later in the project, after the initial concept has been decided. Although there are times when a designer can be so inspired by a single piece that they design an entire room around it, like the Lesley Anton lamp in our luxury Newport bachelor pad project.

For several years now, LRM Interior Design has partnered with the Phoenix Art Group to find that special piece of artwork that will be perfect for a client’s home and our interior design. “They are a great resource for us because they can customize any piece of their artwork to fit our needs,” explains Jan Smith, Senior Designer. “They can alter size, color or event content—Phoenix Art Group has the ability to select areas of a piece to highlight or showcase in lieu of the entire piece.”

Phoenix Art Group was started in the 1960s by two aspiring art-school graduates, John Douglas Cline and Joseph Grassia, growing over the years to its current incarnation: an internationally acclaimed art studio and gallery. The company retains accomplished artists and has an expert business and support staff in order to provide fine art to the world’s top interior designers. But it’s not just interior designers who use Phoenix Art Group; art consultants and art galleries do too, which speaks to the quality of the artwork they produce.

Another reason that we at LRM Interior Design likes using Phoenix Art Group is their ability to produce the artwork on a wide range of media, including wood, metal or canvas. Plus they can create mixed media art pieces, digital art, giclées, poster prints or photography, and the perfect frame for every piece. “It’s this freedom of choice that allows us to complete any room to our exact design specifications,” explains Jan Smith. “Sometimes it is that last key element that really finishes a room.”

Are you looking for something new on your wall? Call LRM Interior Design for a consultation on just a few new pieces of art, or on a whole room or home design. Remember, LRM Interior Design also specializes in select commercial projects, and has completed several corporate offices that have benefited from both her designs and from Phoenix Art Group. Call (949) 497-6806 for an appointment or email us with your contact information and needs.

The Phoenix Art Group

Mamagreen's Bogard daybed

All of us at LRM Interior Design love to design with the environment in mind, but we never want to compromise on quality, beauty or craftsmanship. That’s why we were so excited when we found Mamagreen, a Belgian-born company that creates sustainable, contemporary furniture. The website says “rustic contemporary”, but we don’t see anything rustic about the sleek and sexy lines of this collection of dining, lounge, bar and outdoor furniture. All of the Mamagreen products are hand-made form FSC-certified reclaimed teak; eco-friendly, non-toxic synthetics; and recycled/recyclable stainless steel, setting them distinctly apart from the competition.

As a matter of fact, we adore their outdoor furniture, especially for our Orange County clients who usually want an interior design that links with their outdoor living arrangements. And many of us in Southern California are conscious of our skin, so Mamagreen’s range of canopied, deep outdoor sofas, perfect for lounging alone or for sharing. The Bogard collection is as handsome, rugged and elegant as the name suggests—although, we think they meant Bogart… All the furniture in this collection has brushed reclaimed teak wood or handwoven leather-look wicker, and the cushions are either in Sunbrella fabric or Batyline material.

More graceful and generous designs are evident in the Jane collection, especially this oversized corner sofa, which just makes us want to arrange a pool party in a luxury, oceanview property. Margaritas, anyone?And what about the delicious green in the Icon collection, perfect to liven up an outdoor area.

Call LRM Interior Design to arrange a consultation for a new outdoor living design. With the sun just finally showing itself, it’s the perfect time to get your backyard ready for an Indian summer! (949) 497-6806

Mamagreen's Icon sunlounger for two

Ideal lounging on the Jane corner sofa

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.”

Baker Dining Chair N. 7841

2. Baker Dining Chair No. 7841: Much more elegant and beautiful than its name, this chair from Baker has two things us LRM girls love: tufting and nailheads. The designers at Baker were inspired by chairs of the 1940s, and they’re great to pair with more simple chairs, especially in a dining room setting.

Kari Seydewitz loves how the traditional style at the top of the chair belie the modern style of the legs below. “And, as many would see the chair from the back, I love the decorative ring hardware,” Kari says.

Kravet Complex Turn Side Chair

3. Kravet Complex Turn Side Chair: Much of the detail on this chair is in the French nailheads and turned-wood legs, features that Lisa McDennon is fond of—remember the Ebanista Coimbra sofa from our Top Five Fave Sofas?

This chair is ultimately customizable for any dining room, as it allows you to choose from 60,000 fabrics for upholstery, 13 wood stains and three wood paint finishes, making this a fantastic and flexible choice for many styles. Plus, there’s a version of this chair with arms, which would be perfect at both ends of the table.

Gina B's Lexington Chairs in our luxury bachelor project

4. Gina B Lexington Chair: How much do we love these chairs? We love them so much we used them in our luxury bachelor pad project in Newport Beach. Between these chairs, the silk rug and the zebrawood dining table, this dining room has it all—sleek, sexy and still masculine.

The detail on the back of the chairs is nothing short of spectacular—carved wood sinuously climbing up the frame like a python. Kari Seydewitz speaks for us all when she says “I love the design and woodwork of this chair. It is unique and just gorgeous!”

Baker St. Germain Chair

5. Baker St. Germain Chair: These chairs look like they have been taken from a 1920s salon in Paris, where the crème de la crème of society would sit as they discussed philosophy and the great novels of their time.

The elegance of these chairs is emphasized by the white “Italian Crème” finish on the legs and the clean lines of the design. The nailheads are so close together they almost look like dark piping, and this tailored chair would create a dramatic look in a dining room scenario.

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.

Other appliance companies have followed suit with the colors, so check out LG, GE and Whirlpool, to name a few. Like with cars, many people have their favorite appliance brand, so make sure you shop around to find the color and manufacturer of your choice.

An example of a well-designed laundry room

We at LRM Interior Design are fans of the under-counter washer and dryer, and have been known to build them into a custom cupboard. Laundry rooms are supposed to be practical, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful too. Organization is key, as is space to work so that the laundry doesn’t have to be spread out all over the house; having a laundry room means that you contain your laundry in one space. There are so many ways to tuck away ironing boards, hampers and washing accessories that your laundry room will be tidy 24/7…especially when you feel like you’re doing laundry for that long!

As designers, we are space planners, and always look for the best way to design a home to suit a family’s needs. Homework doesn’t always get done at the kitchen table anymore, now that computers are essential to work, homework and play. If your laundry room is large enough, create an area for a home office. A desk can easily be built into a corner, bookshelves and cabinets line the walls around it, while the whisper-quiet laundry machines work their magic on the other side of the room.

Plus, these washers and dryers are so versatile—and so nice to look at—that you can actually consider adding them to your existing home office!

For a consultation on how to create the laundry room of your dreams, contact LRM Interior Design by clicking here or calling (949) 497-6806. Unfortunately, there’s one thing we can’t do—make the actual laundry disappear…

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.

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!”

Maya Romanoff Chevron Mother of Pearl wall tiles

2. Maya Romanoff Chevron Mother of Pearl: These wall tiles made out of real, hand-inlaid shell are sure to impress. “The chevron pattern gives this design and edge over the traditional horizontal application,” comments Melissa Morgan, LRM Interior Design’s latest addition to the design team. “Plus, this wall covering is so beautiful it can stand alone on any wall.” These 18-inch square tiles come in natural or golden pearl, and look like they were taken from a Russian imperial palace.

Phillip-Jeffries Horsehair Wallcovering Collection

3. Phillip-Jeffries Ltd. Horsehair: Kari Seydewitz, lately the model for the Designer Runway Extravaganza win for ASID, turns her pretty head back to design by choosing this textured wallcovering. “I couldn’t choose any of the colors—I love them all, and the texture,” she says. Phillip-Jeffries reinterprets a “true classic” with inspiration from the rich fabrics woven in early 19th century France. This elegant and modern collection certainly brings a nobility to any design.

The incredible Nest Collection from Schumacher

4. Schumacher Nest Collection: Yes. Real feathers. It’s hard to believe, and even more so when you see the large selection of patterns and colorways! This example is made from peacock and pheasant feathers, and all versions are crafted entirely by hand, and thankfully, the feathers are all humanely gathered. Not recommended for our clients with birding dogs or indoor cats…but for those with luxurious tastes and a lofty vision.

Innovations Murano Molto Beaded Wallcovering

5. Innovations Murano Molto: From the animal to the mineral…this wallpaper has to be seen to be believed. It is made from 100% glass beads, and as Jan Smith says, “The picture of this wallcovering doesn’t do it justice. You have to see, touch and experience the glamour of it to fully appreciate how special it is. I love it because it reminds me of a fabulous red carpet gown.” Jan also warns against the faint of heart installing this wallpaper, just for those who “have the aesthetic that’s just as bold and dazzling!”

Wallteriors Limestone Wallpaper

6. Wallteriors Limestone: Another favorite of our Senior Designer Jan Smith, this wallpaper comes in 30-foot long panels and five different widths, plus the choice of a straight or hand-torn stained edge. “This paper has it all! The look of a stone or natural rock wall, or even something you’d find in the deepest ocean. The application is so versatile that you can create patterns that are unique, evoking a feeling of nature and art.”

Innovations Grasscloth

7. Innovations Grasscloth Collection: We at LRMID love many things, and one at the top of the list is grasscloth. Why? Well, for one, it’s wallcovering with texture, and although it is subtle, it gives a room more detail. Another reason is that it’s a natural product that is more environmentally friendly, and we always like that. One more? It’s so versatile that it can work for any room in the house. Our favorites are Innovations’ Kyoto, Fuji and Sapporo-Soba.

As always, if you’d like a consultation on how to use these fabulous faves in your home, office, retail space or resort, please contact LRM Interior Design by calling (949) 497-6806 or click here for our form.

And remember, these wallpapers are not ones that are recommended for the DIY enthusiast. Many of these specialty fabrics are not only expensive, but are difficult to work with, and require expert installation.