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 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 18th, 2010 by lisa
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…)
Tags: 2010 ASID Designer Runway Extravaganza, Alexis Bellino, Alice in Wonderland, ASID, ASID Designer Runway event, ASID Event, California, catwalk, cheryl tiegs, decor, designer, Disney's Mad Hatter, elegance, event at Laguna Design Center, fabrics, fashion design, fashion designer Oday Shakar, furniture, inspiration, interior design, interior designer, Jan Smith, Kelly Persellin, Laguna Beach, Laguna Design Center, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, Luxe magazine, Mad Hatter, Michael Berman, MTV 2010 Movie Awards, Newport Beach, Oday Shakar, Orange County, Orange County's top designer, Real Housewives of Orange County, Sandra Bullock, Southern California, 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 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 18th, 2010 by jennifermyers
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.
Tags: bachelor, bachelor laguna beach, Bachelor Newport Beach, bachelor Orange County, bachelor pad, bachelor pad design, bachelor san clemente, California, California Contemporary, Christian Horan, Christian Horan Photography, decor, designer, elegance, fabrics, furniture, garden, green thumb, home staging, inspiration, Instant Jungle, Instant Jungle International, interior design, interior designer, kitchen, Laguna Beach, Laguna Design Center, Lisa McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon, Lisa Rachelle McDennon Interior Design, LRM, LRM Interior Design, LRMID, modern, modern space, Newport Beach, Orange County, Orange County homes, Orange County's top designer, photo shoot, photographer, remodel, Romantic Homes, Romantic Homes magazine, Southern California, space, top interior designers
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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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