An example of Jan's inspiration

Jan Smith, Senior Designer, is always focused on the client. Her inspiration is definitely one she takes home with her—everything at her home, from the spare room down to the dinner table, is thought through to the last detail. “In 2011, I want to emphasize the importance of completing the room design to our clients,” says Jan. “Paint, wallcoverings and furnishings will only give you part of the design story, not the full picture. It is essential to complete the room or home with soft goods and accessories. A finished look is a layered look, and at LRMID we stress the importance of those final touches, which include art, accessories, window treatments, accent rugs, portable lighting…the list is as long as the imagination!”

Even a simple arrangement adds warmth to a room.

For designer Kari Seydewitz, the new year brings flowers. “My New Year’s design resolution is to promote adding live flower arrangements to at least one room in their house,” says Kari. “And I don’t mean just for special occasions, but to have arrangements all year round!” Kari feels that having flower arrangements brighten and liven up any space—think of it as temporary interior design that can be changed and updated at your whim! “It can really change the look and feel of the room, adding warmth and a sense of completion to the space.”

An antique clock is an interesting accessory to use over the fireplace.

In 2011, Kristen Rusert is focused on the details, starting in her own home. “I want to put on those finishing touches and accessories to make the house feel complete,” says Kristen. Some of her plans are to find a great piece for above the fireplace, shop for some cool accessories, find a runner for the entryway, buy some new pillows to add color to the bedroom, find a ceiling fixture for the bedroom and finally, purchase some frames to line the hallway walls with personal photos.

An example of work by California Closets

Melissa Morgan, assistant designer, has resolved to get organized! “Although I’m looking to organize my whole home, I’m starting with my most important area: my closet,” explains Melissa. “Having an organized closet makes life—especially mornings!—a lot less hectic. Either you choose to install a custom, built-in closet organizer or a do-it-yourself kit from retail stores like The Container Store, you can’t go wrong.” There are many custom closet builders, like California Closets or Tailored Living, who will come to your home and give you a quote on the spot. If you’re feeling industrious (and were good at Lego® as a kid), then get to The Container Store, design a closet using their Elfa system, drag it home and start building. Your closet will be tip-top in no time!

Lisa is looking forward to making her garden grow, and succulents are in!

Lisa McDennon, our fearless leader, has been saved for last. “This year my new year’s resolution for my home is to pay more attention to my outdoor spaces and provide more “TLC” to my plants, flowers—and actually replant all of my empty containers.  I have several areas that are finished and look appropriately sweet and quaint for a 1920s cottage in Laguna Beach. However, they are mostly in the front, of course, and I have several small spaces and nooks that have so much potential. I walk by them with swirling ideas, and then life gets in the way and the idea has soon faded until I pass by the space again!  So, this year I want to turn my thoughts into reality and take a few weekends to care for and create the spaces that have been neglected, so that we may enjoy them as to what they aspire to be.

My first project: I have a great spot below my kitchen windows that makes for a great sitting area – I would love to jazz it up with a contrasting paint color or wainscoting.  I would love to finally fill my terra cotta pots with something that won’t die – so, thank goodness succulents are in, so let’s see if I can avoid killing them this time.  I have two great footstool ottomans that need cushions, and I am going to put them together to create a coffee table, and pick up two benches that I can flank them with and add tons of mix-and-match pillows.  A bright rug will finish off the space, and I think the result will be fun, cozy, and a bit bohemian—a place that my daughter and I can set up a great tea party, or I can sit and sip wine and watch the sunset with my husband.  That sounds much better than the uninspired catch-all that is it right now.

We will definitely post the results of these resolutions as we go through the year. LRMID wishes everyone a prosperous 2011!

Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House in gingerbread

1. Gingerbread Modern Houses: You don’t need to throw tradition out the window; that’s not what we’re saying! But how about getting a little creative with the spiced-and-baked architecture? Gingerbread houses can easily be built from using a kit that you buy at the store, but that’s too easy. How about a gingerbread house inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House? Before you think you need to be an Ace of Cakes—oh wait, yes you do. This one was created by April Reed Cake design and took over 25 hours to make! And you don’t even want to know how much it cost….but 15% of the proceeds went to the restoration project in the works for Farnsworth House when it was damaged in a flood a few years ago.

Dress up your pillows for the holidays

2. Pillows as Presents: We’re not advocating that you take your sofa pillows, wrap them up and start distributing them as gifts; not at all. (You could give someone a new pillow as a gift though!) But in the spirit of the holidays, why not take your pillows and wrap them with ribbon just like a present? Be creative: mix and match colors and ribbons to create a festive room. “It’s like a gift for your sofa and chairs!” says Jan Smith.

Z Gallerie's antler candlesticks are great alternative decor

3. Reindeer, Interrupted: Don’t worry—this is not Rudolph or Prancer, and they have not lost their antlers. These Marquette candlestick pair from Z Gallerie are cast in brass with a pewter finish. No animals were harmed in the making of these antler candleholders! Melissa Morgan says that these are “a fun, unique, and festive way to dress up your table!  Can be used for either a formal or casual dinner party.  These would also look great on a mantle or anywhere else in the home.  I love these!” But still, perhaps not the best choice for those with small children…

Use found items and gold paired with an unusual color

4. Ban Red and Green:  “I love the use of colors not normally used for the holidays like teal, brown and aqua,” says Jan Smith, Senior Designer. Many of us near the beach like to use found objects for decorating, especially for special occasions.  “I like the use of shells for not only the napkin holders but as table accents. Great for a sophisticated, beachy motif.”

Make your own centerpiece with branches and glitter

5. Get Your Glitter On: Nothing’s more fun than creating decor or gifts by yourself. With or without little ones to help you, get the Elmer’s glue out and as many kinds of glitter you can find at a craft store. Take a walk in your nearby nature area, be it a park or actual nature, and pick up some twigs and branches. Cover the table with newspaper and just go crazy! Melissa Morgan, a fan of all things glitter, found this idea from Martha Stewart, Queen of all things decorated, baked, sewn and generally gorgeous. “I love to use glitter in all of my holiday decorations, says Melissa. “This is sure to impress your friends and family, young or old.” For detailed instructions on the Martha Stewart site, please click here.

And without further ado, here’s our staff’s top picks:

Palmer by Niche Bedding

1. Palmer by Niche: Anyone who knows Senior Designer Jan Smith knows that her favorite colors are black and white, preferably together. So no surprise that she picked out Niche Bedding’s Palmer line, a modern but versatile bedding ensemble. “You can never go wrong with a crisp, white duvet cover,” says Jan. “And you can always add a pop of color to this set to make it your own.” Jan’s favorite part? “The graphic design on the shams is just delicious.” It brings a new meaning to eating in bed!

John Robshaw Indigo Turban Bedding

2. Anything by John Robshaw: Lisa McDennon is a fan of John Robshaw, and although we chose the Indigo Turban bedding pattern for the photo, all of his patterns are hits for her. “He has a great niche in the market,” explains Lisa. “His patterns have an ethnic, Moroccan and Indian influence that I love. The color and patterns are amazing—subtle yet unique.” Robshaw traveled to India as many young people do, but he fell in love with the textiles, and has decided to recreate them back here in the U.S. And we say thank you!

Giacosa by Designers Guild

3. Giacosa by Designers Guild: Melissa Morgan loves this British textile manufacturer. “They always have on-trend fabrics and wallpapers—and now bedding!” she says. And sticking with our gorgeous to touch theme, she also notes that the Giacosa collection is made from cotton sateen, so it doesn’t just look great, it’s feels great too. Those Brits understand the importance of a warm, comfy bed, we’ve realized…

Yvonne by Wildcat Territory

4. Yvonne by Wildcat Territory: Don’t worry, this bedding won’t attack you, but rather keep you snug in it’s stylish and modern design. Can you guess who picked this one? Yes, it’s Jan Smith again, loving the monochrome look. “This is a simple, classic bedding design that is like a blank canvas for whatever you want your bedroom to be,” Jan explains. “The sky is literally the limit with this ensemble,” she says, as it can be paired with either contemporary or traditional accents for a beautiful result every time.

Gate Ash by Dwell Studios

5. Gate Ash Duvet Set by Dwell Studios: This is a monochrome set too, but in a different way, as it starts with a rich, dusty brown. The bold pattern caught Melissa’s eye: “I absolutely love this pattern! Being monochromatic, you can add any color you wish to the palette.” Again, the LRMID designers are always looking at ways to customize even “off-the-shelf” products for their clients.

LRMID can create custom bedding and furniture

6. Custom Bedding by LRM Interior Design: Okay, this one’s cheating. But we were really pleased with how the custom bed turned out in this room. It wasn’t just the linens that were custom designed and made, the headboard, the curtains and the pillows on the window seat were all made to order. This bedroom won an ASID award, by the way! So when you can’t find the perfect bedding, just call us at LRM Interior Design, and we’ll design something that’s completely unique and just right for your room. Kari Seydewitz loves creating soft furnishings; she’ll be happy to get started right away. We also make custom furniture. It’s the perfect idea for a holiday gift for that person who has everything!

Saarinen Round Dining Table

1. Saarinen Round Dining Table, Room&Board: Here’s one for the youngsters or twenty-somethings just starting out. Or, maybe even those with a new family who are trying to establish their own holiday traditions, and only need to seat about six around the table, but do it with style. This version from Room&Board is inspired by Earo Saarinen’s graceful 1956 design, and is still as beautiful and relevant today as it was over 50 years ago. Some designs never seem to get dated! “Unconventional but always stylish,” comments Jan Smith, Senior Designer. “This table is great for that hipster couple or bachelor looking to make a statement. That statement being: ‘I know a great design when I see it.’”

Benchwright Dining Table

2. Benchwright Dining Table, Pottery Barn: Rustic, simple and versatile, the Pottery Barn’s Benchwright table is perfect for a large family gathering, especially Thanksgiving, which celebrates our early American roots. This table is inspired by early 20th century style of work tables, and the emphasis on craftsmanship. The extending table will seat 12, and shrink down for daily use for regular-sized family gatherings, and its weathered hardwood and wrought-iron construction will create a bold backdrop for entertaining. “I love the exposed hardware,” says Kristen Rusert. “I also like how it can take on different looks in so many types of spaces.”

Cross Extension Table

3. Cross Extension Table, Design Within Reach: Jan Smith explains: “I have always loved the modern lines of this table. We used this table for our beach-front condo project who wanted that clean contemporary feeling with a beachy vibe, even with a busy family.” As you know, Design Within Reach does not compliment an item that they don’t feel is top notch, and we don’t either. This table is a perfect blend of contemporary styling and the warmth of classic English furniture, and the design is truly amazing. It easily pulls apart in order to add two leaves, both of which store easily in felt-lined compartment on the table’s underside when not in use. Fancy that! No hiding the leaves under the spare bed until next year’s Christmas dinner!

Jeff Soderbergh's Vanderbilt Table

4. Jeff Soderbergh’s Vanderbilt Table: This table is stunning in itself, what with the reclaimed wood top and geometric polished chrome legs, and to top it off it was used in the House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year. (Winning designer Jeff Lewis is also the star of Bravo’s show Flipped, but it seems that stardom hasn’t dulled his design talent!) Jeff Soderbergh’s table was created using traditional hand tools and re-claimed vintage Southern Yellow Pine rafters and beams from the Vanderbilt family stable at Sandy Point Farm in Portsmouth, RI. With timbers dating back over 200 years, you can’t beat the authenticity of the grooves and marks on this timber. Truly a unique piece that will add drama to any event—hopefully distracting the family from the usual holiday dramas!

LRM Interior Design Custom Dining Table

5. LRM Interior Design’s Custom Dynasty Dining Table: Yes, we saved the best for last—our own custom dining table that was part of the home that won us our Home of the Year from ASID this year. “We used this in my favorite project—a contemporary home in Newport Beach,” says Jan Smith. “This custom table was designed to complement the unusual lines of the chairs. It is made from Macassar ebony wood and is the foundation for this gorgeous room.” When a home is this beautiful, sometimes a piece of furniture needs to be designed to make that room look perfect. That was definitely the case here, and the judges obviously felt the same. This dining room will make any meal eaten there a special occasion!

Lamp from Room 135

1. Room 135: We’ll start with the far away locales, and luckily they have products available online. Our dear Kristen Rusert left part of her heart in Colorado, and we don’t blame her. It’s a world away from Southern California, and this little shop in Steamboat has captivated Kristen: “I found this quaint little boutique while walking down the main strip of downtown Steamboat Springs,” says Kristen. “Their little space tucked at the base of the mountains provides a treasure trove for visitors, with gorgeous lighting, scents, antiques, Parisian maps and painted bamboo floor coverings. It’s a true gem, and a must-see when in town.” We definitely agree.

Fleur de Lys, Costa Mesa

2. Fleur de Lys: Want to take a trip to Paris without leaving the state? LRMID’s designer Melissa Morgan recommends a visit to Fleur de Lys on 17th in Costa Mesa. “This boutique has great home furnishings and accessories,” says Melissa. “Whenever I’m looking for something different or unique, I make my way to Fleur de Lys.” The store aims to feature an eclectic urban style as you’d see in San Francisco or New York’s SoHo, and it’s a great source to have in our backyard.

Need a hand? AREO can help.

3. AREO: Hmph. Lisa and her team have been shopping at AREO for years, well before Sunset Magazine got wind of it. But that’s because it’s filled with wonderfully whimsical items for home and garden. From antique, over-sized apothecary bottles to boxes of pinned butterflies, AREO is a fantastic experience, whether you’re window shopping or looking for that item that sets off the whole room’s decor. AREO is only down the road from LRM Interior Design, and we feel very happy it’s there.

This shop is so secret you can only find them on Yelp.com

4. Laguna Colony Company: This place is so secret, it doesn’t even have it’s own website. For reals? Yes, it’s true. This place attracts tourists, for sure, but that’s because it’s not selling the usual tchotchkes. Find Laguna’s own Voluspa candles in every imaginable scent (our favorite of the moment is Vervaine Olive Leaf), peruse the most amusing card collection and browse fantastic home accessories from all over the world. Laguna Colony Company manages to be totally “of Laguna” while still injecting a sense of adventure. It’s a place you can always find a gift, especially if you’re on your way to a dinner party and need a hostess gift. Not that we’ve ever been empty handed…

Marimekko wallpaper at Vertigo in Laguna Beach

5. Vertigo: We have saved the newest Laguna spot for last. This little diamond just popped up on the radar in the last few months, mainly because they do upholstery and pillows. But the difference is that their filler is made from recycled plastic bottles, but feels like down feathers! How fantastic is that? Also, they specialize in Northern European design, which means fantastic items from Marimekko and Normann. Fancy finding that item that no one else will have? Vertigo is the place for you.

Our luxury Newport Beach bachelor pad took Gold in Home of the Year Award! (over 3,500 sq. ft.)

This year’s ASID OC Design Awards took a nautical turn, as they were held aboard the Endeavor as it cruised through Newport Harbor. “It was a beautiful night,” recalls Lisa McDennon, who attended the awards with her husband Kevin, Senior Designer Jan Smith and new design staff member Melissa Morgan. “It was lovely to glide through the harbor and sip cocktails on the deck while mixing with some of Orange County’s top people in the industry!”

Before the evening’s events got started, Lisa, Jan and Melissa had the pleasure of chatting with the owners of Del Mar Lighting, a Tustin company that they’d had a chance to work with in the past. In a stroke of fate, Lisa, Kevin and the couple from Del Mar Lighting were seated at the same table, and they carried on their conversation as the event started.

Lisa also met Charise Buckley, another member of the interior design and ASID community, who had entered in the competition this year. Although she’d been a member of ASID for 20 years, this was the first time she’d entered a project. Lisa was especially happy to meet her because Charise lives and works in both Orange County and Colorado, and will be introducing Lisa to some great suppliers at the Denver Design Center. After scouring the OC for the right fabrics for her mountain home project, Lisa was happy at the prospect of a new trove of vendors in just the right market.

And then the ceremony started. The first award was for Best Living Room, and LRM had decided to enter this category at the last minute, but unfortunately, we didn’t win. “After that, I was too nervous to eat my dinner!” says Lisa. “I was on the edge of my seat during the entire dinner, waiting for the second to last award.”

That award was for Home of the Year over 3,500 sq. ft., and LRM had entered one of our luxury bachelor home projects that we had poured our heart and soul into. The minutes ticked on…the moment finally arrived.

And yes, we won! LRM Interior Design took the Gold award for Home of the Year over 3,500 sq. ft.!

“It means so much to receive such a prestigious award for this project, especially from my peers in the industry,” said Lisa after accepting the award for the team. “This project’s win reflects more than just the creativity and effort we put into it; it illustrates our design aesthetic and the height at which we place the bar for each of our projects.”

Of course, this follows our first-prize win at the popular ASID Designer Extravaganza event this summer, plus two awards last year at the ASID OC Design Awards 2009. The first was for Best Living Room and the second was for Best Special Room.

Lisa McDennon has also been recognized by House Beautiful magazine as one of their “Top Designers to Watch in 2010”—and what an accurate prediction that was on the part of the House Beautiful editors.

Are you ready to have your home transformed by award-winning design? Do you want to have a home that’s worthy of being featured in a national magazine? There’s no two ways about it—call LRM Interior Design for a complimentary consultation. Start with one room, or change the entire house! Arrange your appointment by calling (949) 497-6806 or via email.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Mixing up furniture from different vendors is a great way to add character to a space.  One of the companies we contracted is called Raw Urth, who creates amazing hand-forged iron pieces and iron strapping brackets for fireplaces and furniture.  We have also acquired a selection of furniture from different other companies, including the Holly Hunt Collection, Ironware International and a selection of custom-designed pieces.

On our completed tasks list is lighting, and we made sure that the jay box heights measured correctly and that we placed the chandelier pendants in the right spots.  We have all our sinks ready, one beautiful sink from Eurobath that Jan selected and the rest made from natural stone that we ordered from GBI Tile Company, a tile and stone distributor in Costa Mesa who does amazing custom orders.

Often times in an interior designer’s world not everything falls into place.  In our case, we had a little mishap our client’s fireplace, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise in the end.  Jan had laid out blue tape to double check the measurements of the furniture, and to our dismay we found that the fireplace was sticking out just a little too much for our liking.  We decided to switch our floor plans, and luckily our client liked it better. We went back to the architect’s office to redesign the living room fireplace, and now I’m currently working on the built-in entertainment system and trying to integrate it seamlessly into the stone.  I decided to stone the entire fixture and then have the television rest in the niche so that it could have a floating effect.  As you can see, designing is always an on-going process with many changes along the road!

Our next trip will be in June, when we will be inspecting all of the cabinet and tile details and picking out the grout colors.  It will definitely be a shorter visit, but of course there is still a lot of work to be done.  Stay tuned for our next installment of our June Lake series!

Lisa tours the house with the contractor

It was still cold enough in the mountains for warm clothes and hats!

Lisa discusses the project's progress with the contractor.