Top Five Faves: Ready-Made Bedding

November 30th, 2010 by jennifermyers

Now the nights are drawing in, and there’s a nip in the air. Our thoughts turn to snuggling, and that can mean one thing: BED. We at LRM Interior Design love bedding that is so beautiful, soft and decadent that the first thing you think of when you wake up is getting back in to bed that night!

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!

Great Chairs and Decor for Kids’ Rooms

October 13th, 2010 by jennifermyers

We don’t just design for grown ups here at LRM Interior Design. We like designing great spaces for children to play, learn, grow, imagine and create—after all, that’s the primary joy of being a child! As Lisa’s little ones grow up, we wanted to present some of the coolest items on the market for everyone’s “little angels!”

Livingstones by Stephanie Marin

1. Livingstones by Stephanie Marin: Leave it to the French to invent something so fun that’s also so aesthetically pleasing! “These would be a great addition to any child’s room,” comments Melissa Morgan, LRMID designer. “These are comfortable, but a the same time a major step up from the traditional bean bag.” All of us on the team agree. And we wanted some for the studio, but Lisa hasn’t approved it…yet. We’re also working on introducing an post-lunch naptime. Wish us luck. (read the rest of this post…)

We Like to Rock and Roll

September 17th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Even bachelor pads deserve to shine.

Even bachelor pads deserve to shine.

As you know, we at LRM Interior Design love a little sparkle, whether it’s sinks, wallpaper or chandeliers. We like to add it somewhere in most of our designs. Hmmm…you may think. Isn’t LRM Interior Design known for designing Orange County’s best luxury bachelor pads? Well, yes we are. So how do you get sparkle in a gentleman’s home?

Sparkle can be masculine too, especially when it is in rock form—agate geodes, specifically. “Agate and other geodes are nature’s sculpture,” says Jan Smith, Senior Designer at LRM Interior Design. “We like to include them in rooms, as they are great for added abstract shapes and color.”

In LRMID’s Newport Beach luxury bachelor pad, which just won the 2010 ASID Award for Best O.C. Home Design over 3,500 sq. ft. (don’t worry, more on that soon!), an agate geode mounted on a stand creates a wonderful accent for the powder bathroom on the ground floor. The metal veins running through the agate are brought out by the organically shaped, solid bronze sink and faucets, and creates a look that is elegant—but not girly in any way. (read the rest of this post…)

LRM Needs Your Vote!!

September 8th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Please vote for design #20!

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!

Top Five Faves: Bedside Tables

September 3rd, 2010 by jennifermyers

It may seem like a simple thing to source, but good bedside tables are hard to find, believe it or not. We decided to help everyone out with our Five Faves and highlight some of the best on the market—even if they weren’t labeled “bedside tables.” A good designer knows how to convince a piece to do something it wasn’t made to do, and do it well. This month’s selections are no exceptions. So with no further ado, here are our Top Five Fave bedside tables:

Oly Studio's Jackson Chest of Drawers

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. (read the rest of this post…)

LRM Presents Les Indiennes Fabric and Wallpaper

August 27th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Dramatic and original patterns from Les Indiennes

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. (read the rest of this post…)

Customized Artwork for Clients

August 11th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Quad, by Douglas--one of the many pieces from Phoenix Art Group.

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. (read the rest of this post…)

LRM Loves Sustainable, Contemporary Furniture

August 4th, 2010 by jennifermyers
Mamagreen's Bogard daybed

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. (read the rest of this post…)

Can Solar Panels Look Good?

July 23rd, 2010 by jennifermyers
Blue mission-style tiles? Yes and no...from SRS Energy.

Blue mission-style tiles? Yes and no...from SRS Energy.

With government tax credits and the amount of sunshine we get in California (granted, we haven’t seen much sun yet in Laguna this summer!), solar panels seem like a fantastic addition to a roof, especially if you’ve already planned to update or fix your roof, or even if your home is under construction. Economical and eco-friendly—what’s not to like?

What’s not to like? How about a grey rectangle stuck to the side of your roof? In the coastal areas like Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Crystal Cove and Emerald Bay, there can be fierce criticism about solar panels from your neighbors, especially if it is in their view. And from the homeowners, too—what’s the point of spending a huge amount of money on a gorgeous mission-style roof when you have to ruin it with a slab of a solar panel? And in Southern California, from San Diego up to the Central Coast, red-tile roofs reign supreme. In fact, Santa Barbara has strict rules about the height and style of buildings in their downtown area. (read the rest of this post…)

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.