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!

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.

Log Rocker by 10 Grain

2. Log Rocker by 10 Grain: What child would NOT want to have this in their room? Again, the team requested this necessity—ahem, toy— in the studio. We’re still waiting. Imagination can run wild with the Log Rocker—is it a speeding motorcycle? A mountain banshee, like from Avatar? A galloping unicorn? The possibilities are endless for creative minds. Rock on, my little friends!

P'kolino Storage Ottoman

3. Ottoman by P’kolino: A U.S. company with a funny name, P’kolino has created some fantastic children’s products, but this one is a favorite of ours. Why? Because LRM loves hidden storage—we’re very Bauhaus in the way we admire items with beautiful form and practical function. The lid has a wood underside for use as a side table, and yet the most clever thing about these ottomans is that they can be stacked on top of one another and pushed to the edge of the room to free up floor space for fun and frolic!

Tumpling Fish by bObles

4. Tumbling Fish by bObles: Is it a chair or a friend to play with? It’s both, and were designed to enhance children’s motor skills while playing. The range of products were created when designer Bolette Blædel was on maternity leave with her first son. She soon discovered the scarcity of children’s furniture that encourages play, creativity and physical exercise, combined with good, Danish design. In addition to the fish, there’s an elephant, crocodile, chicken, snake, worm and pig to choose from.

Wall Decals by notNeutral

5. Seasons and Elements Surface Graphics by notNeutral: These fun surface graphics can be used to decorate walls, furniture or ceilings in a child’s room or playroom, and can be changed at a whim, since they are made of completely removable and reusable vinyl. This Elements:Air design comes with multi-colored colored clouds, birds, butterflies and hot air balloons. These decals can add wonderful whimsy to any room, and work especially well with notNeutral’s Seasons decals.

Glow Lamps by TwistTogether Lamp Company

6. TwistTogether Lamps by the TwistTogether Company: This is a revolutionary new lighting feature that appeals to adults as well as children—no wonder, it’s like a full-size, illuminated Rubik’s Cube! Individual blocks connect together and illuminate with a simple twist.These blocks can be easily rearranged to create unique designs, for a wealth of entertainment and creativity. The soft glow could even be used as a nightlight for younger children—in fact, each block is illuminated with LEDs for a safe, low-voltage and long lasting light source while consuming less power than a standard night light.

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.

And we don’t just tuck them away, either. Larger agate geodes look wonderful as table-top decorations, especially paired with succulents in the living area. “Putting the two together emphasizes the organic and elemental,” comments Jan. “Plus, they come in so many shapes and colors, you can definitely find one for any room you’re working on.”

We also never forget the Bauhaus motto: form and function. You can find many agate geodes online that have been polished and split in two, perfect for using as bookends, and heavy enough to actually work. Jan explains: “They add a little sparkle to bookcases while serving a purpose.”

We’re not shy about our talent for accessorizing, and we always are available for shopping trips with our clients to pick out accessories for a room or decorating for a special occasion; the big holidays of the year are approaching rather quickly! Hallowe’en will be here before we know it. There’s no time to delay. Call LRM Interior Design now to organize that shopping trip or for a free consultation for accessorizing one or more rooms in your house. Make sure it’s tip-top for when family comes for the holidays! Call (949) 497-6806 or click here to send us an email.

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.

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

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.

Solé tiles seamlessly integrate with US Tile's clay tiles.

It’s hard to see how to integrate a solar panel at all in an aesthetically pleasing way. And now, thanks to the geniuses at SRS Energy, we don’t have to. A drumroll please….the Solé Power Tile. Yes, that’s right, it’s a mission-style tile with special powers to soak up the sun’s energy. As the website says: “the economical benefits of solar technology with unmatched curb appeal.” It’s not only ingenious, it’s strikingly beautiful.

These tiles are lightweight and glass-free, and they integrate perfectly with US Tile’s clay tiles, that are sustainable, LEED® rated and come in the biggest array of colors of any clay tile manufacturer in the U.S. Therefore, you have plenty of choice to get a sophisticated roof in the color you want with cutting-edge electricity-generating technology.

Are you in the market for a new roof, or a roof upgrade? There’s no excuse not use Solé Power Tiles and start generating electricity for your home. If you have any further questions about Solé Power Tiles, get in touch with us at LRM Interior Design and arrange a consultation. We can’t wait to redesign a home’s exterior and use these amazing tiles.

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.