Top Five Faves: Patterned Wallpaper

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

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

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

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

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

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.

New Project, New Zealand!

June 27th, 2010 by jennifermyers
The dramatic New Zealand coastline

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!

ASID OC Designer Runway Extravaganza: OMG We WON!

June 18th, 2010 by lisa
Kari Seydewitz, aka The Mad Hatter, on the final catwalk run for the ASID Designer Runway Extravaganza 2010

Kari Seydewitz, aka The Mad Hatter, on the final catwalk run for the ASID Designer Runway Extravaganza 2010

We prepped. We planned. We found out what TO do and what NOT to do. Kari worked on her makeup for hours. We built the maddest top hat outside of Disney. And we frantically worked for 90 full minutes at the Fremarc showroom on Wednesday night turning designer Kari Seydewitz into the Mad Hatter. (read the rest of this post…)

Henry Road’s Creative Textiles and Furniture

June 13th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Henry Road uses their Fleur Grande fabric on the front of this chair...

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.

...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.

Support LRMID at the 4th Annual Designer Runway Extravaganza!

May 21st, 2010 by jennifermyers
Lisa McDennon

Lisa McDennon

This year Lisa McDennon and the team at LRM Interior Design will be participating in the 4th Annual Designer Runway show. This event is like a combination of Project Runway and Divine Design, but even more challenging. Teams of four will have 90 minutes, seven yards of fabric and one sewing machine, and their task is to create a couture outfit for the Laguna Design Center’s runway.

Forgive us for being biased, but we already think that Lisa McDennon looks like she’s just stepped off a runway most days. Hopefully she’ll be the one to shimmy her way down the Designer Runway next month, after giving her superb fashion advice to the others on her team.If so, the other teams won’t have a chance!

There will be martinis, wine and hors d’oeuvres for the audience to enjoy while the evening’s events transpire. The team’s outfits will be judged: not by Heidi Klum, but by a panel of celebrity judges hand picked for the occasion.

Tickets are on sale now! Prices start at $35 for general admission, and $75 for VIPs. Join us at the Laguna Design Center on June 16th at 5:30PM to cheer on LRM Interior Design as they strut their stuff down the runway at this exciting event.

Lights, Camera and Action for LRM Interior Design!

May 18th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Christian Horan and his assistant Scott line up the living room shot

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.

June Lake Update: Mountain Lodge Design

May 16th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Lisa goes over plans with contractor and architect

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…)

What Separates Us from Other Designers?

May 9th, 2010 by lisa
Details are an important part of interior design

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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…)

Focus on Furnishings: Part One

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.

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…)

Top Five Faves: Sofas

March 28th, 2010 by jennifermyers

This month’s Top Five Faves from the LRM Interior Design team features the focus of the living room, that one essential piece that should speak as much to aesthetic as it does to comfort: the sofa.

As usual, it was an effort to narrow the list down to five from the 30 or so that the team originally picked. We did actually cheat a little bit and add a sixth, as it is technically a settee rather than a sofa! But here, in all their glory, is the shortlist:

Kravet's Quartet Sofa

Kravet's Quartet Sofa

The Quartet Sofa from Kravet

This sofa is a perfect example of classic styling and soft-as-a-cloud comfort. The team, especially designer Kari Seydewitz, loves a sofa you can sink into for complete relaxation. But the dreamy cushions weren’t the only appeal for this sofa: the nailhead detailing on the arms and along the bottom edge added to the elegance of the design. Being a Kravet sofa, it is also available in two sizes and 60,000 different fabrics, which makes this a great choice for many types of clients and rooms—dress it up in a more expensive fabric for the living room, and a casual, long-wearing fabric for a family or game room. Team the Quartet up with its matching sectional and chair for a complete set. Call LRM Interior Design and have them create the perfect Quartet sofa for your room.

Crate & Barrel Petrie Sofa

Crate & Barrel Petrie Sofa

The Petrie Sofa from Crate & Barrel

The mid-century modern look of this sofa appealed to the whole team, and could all imagine themselves lounging on it gracefully, like a female member of the TV show Mad Men, or as a modern-day Mary Tyler Moore. The wide bench, covered in supportive but extremely comfortable cushions, is the main reason for the sofa’s high rating amongst the LRMID team and Petrie purchasers, but another is the tufting on the back cushions—a detail that is hard to resist. Choose this sofa and you’re buying American, too; Crate & Barrel has this sofa made by a small, family-owned furniture manufacturer in West Virginia. Both beautiful and affordable, this sofa is a timeless, and favorite, choice.

Baker's Sofa-By-The-Inch

Baker's Sofa-By-The-Inch

Baker’s Sofas-By-The-Inch

Not only does this sofa have great lines, it’s also amazingly easy to customize and size for rooms big and small. This sofa (6519) can be ordered in any width between 60″ and 102″, making it an interior designer’s dream. The styling is contemporary, with the long, sleek back pillows and extended seat cushions; but with touches of traditional, in the curvature of the arms and the perfection of the dressmaker’s flounce. The pleated skirt is what really drew the attention of LRMID’s designers. The only drawback to choosing this sofa would be if a client had their heart set on leather, as it’s not an available option. LRM Interior Design can customize this Baker sofa for your home; call for a consultation.

The Ebanista Coimbra Sofa

The Ebanista Coimbra Sofa

The Ebanista Coimbra Sofa

Ebanista, the sofa’s manufacturer, prides itself on an “old world charm with modern sensibility,” and they’ve definitely combined the two fantastically in this piece. Although it’s the turned-wood legs and stretcher bars of the Coimbra sofa that captivated Lisa McDennon, not least because there are four choices of wood finish. This elegant touch makes this sofa a great fit for so many California homes, especially any with a Spanish style. The Coimbra sofa’s high back would showcase strongly patterned or colored fabrics well. Such a tall sofa would sit just as easily against a room’s wall as it would standing separate in a large room, in order to break up the space. Equally as beautiful is the stately Coimbra chair. LRM Interior Design can recommend the nearest showroom to view Ebanista furniture in Orange County.

The Geoffrey Sofa by Bradley Hughes

The Geoffrey Sofa by Bradley Hughes

The Geoffrey Sofa by Bradley Hughes

If you’re looking for a sofa that provides comfort, beautiful design and privacy, the Geoffrey Sofa is the ideal choice. This sofa’s arm height was not designed for setting actual arms on, as they stand at over 3′ high. The sofa is also 38″ deep, allowing for extreme relaxation, and would be as great in a small home theater room as in a large living room that demanded dramatic, large seating. It wasn’t the size that grabbed the LRMID team’s attention, but the exquisite attention to detail on the double row of nailheads that march up the arms and along the back of the sofa; and the simplicity of the pleated skirt along the sofa’s lowest edge. A consultation with LRM Interior Design will tell you whether or not this sofa is right for your home.

J. Robert Scott's Medallion Settee

J. Robert Scott's Medallion Settee

The Settee: The Medallion by J. Robert Scott

We’re sneaking this one in on the end, as it’s not technically a sofa. “I’ve pined over this sofa for years, waiting for the right project to use it in,” explains Lisa McDennon. “This sofa just says, in no uncertain terms, that ‘you’ve arrived’.” And it does—it looks like a modern interpretation of something found in one of Versailles’ many rooms. And the craftsmanship matches its looks, with hand-carved wood covered in 22 carat French gold leaf with antiquing. If this settee has captured your heart too, call LRM Interior Design right away; Lisa will be happy to find a way to place it in your home!