But the month that really gets us fired up is December, where we have Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve, and that means decorating for family gatherings, cocktail soirées and friendly parties. Stuck for new ways to get the house—or office—festive this season? Read on, dear friend, and see what ideas LRM has for this most wonderful time of the year.

1. Garland, Traditional: Designer Kari Seydewitz loves how garlands look in the house during the month of December. She says that they “spruce up a room”, and we all agree. Whether they are over the mantelpiece or up the staircase, garlands made of pine bring the holidays into the house, especially in places where palm trees are more prevalent than pine trees. Add a little sparkle with ornaments and leaves spray-painted silver, which will reflect the light around the room and make everyone feel happy and bright.

2. Garland, Unique: This garland that uses feathers for attention caught Lisa McDennon’s eye, and inspired another version. She found this on the House Beautiful website, and she loves the vibrant colors. “I suggest tweaking the feather colors to match your décor,” says Lisa. Another idea she recommends is that those by the beach, either here in her hometown of Laguna Beach or across the country in Miami, should try using shades of turquoise and blue to reflect the colors of the ocean. “Or, use all white and dapple antique silver ornaments throughout,” adds Lisa. “If you’re really crafty, get your silver spray paint and glitter, and spray some holiday berry branches to tuck in for an added touch of sparkle and texture.”

3. A Recycled Tree: No, it’s not what you’re thinking. It’s not the pine tree from last year you carefully nurtured in a pot and brought back in after Thanksgiving, but a tree created from driftwood found on the beach. And yes, you guessed it, it’s perfect for celebrations on the coast! “I love the organic aspect of this tree, which can come in a multitude of sizes from 8 inches to 8 feet,” says Jan Smith, Senior Designer. “Beachside homes will rejoice at finally having a tree that represents the sea.” This one is available from 1st Dibs.

4. Unique Ornamental Placement: We love how Royal Copenhagen treated ornaments in this photo. This is a perfect use for ornaments that are too fragile and too special to place on the tree. This way you have a sturdy display for the ornaments that allows you to use sturdy material for attach the ornaments. By hanging them from your chandelier, you’re not only creating a stunning centerpiece for your holiday meal that shimmers with the chandelier’s light, but you’re also showcasing your precious ornaments from years past. Throw in some new ones to complete the display and to match your color scheme for the event.

5. Let There Be Light: Everyone loves candlelight, especially us ladies. It adds warmth to a room and a special light that cannot be recreated artificially. Jan loved these tea light holders from West Elm, and no surprise—they look amazing grouped together, and Jan’s a fan of grouping items to beautiful effect. Jan recommends to “mix holiday candle holders with everyday holders to create more interest and that dreamy glow to any room or festive event you have this season.”

Are you ready for the holidays? Perhaps your gift to yourself is to have your living room, master bedroom or bathroom redecorated in the new year? Call LRM Interior Designs, Orange County’s premiere and award-winning design firm, for all of your interior design needs, from window treatments to full home remodel, residential and commercial projects: (949) 497-6806

1. London Calling: Make a statement in the living room, but keep everyone guessing what exactly it was you changed. Was it the sofa? No. Was it that painting? No. It was the amazing rug from Luke Irwin, with its rich color and subtle geometric pattern. Changing an area rug can be a great way to alter the tone and feel of the room without breaking the bank. Of course, this rug, called Hex 2, comes from London, is hand knotted to order and made from wool, silk and cashmere. You can have it in any “colour” or size you’d like, so be creative!

2. Top Me Up: Let’s face it: When relatives come to stay, sometimes a drink is just what the doctor ordered. Make sure they know that you respect your alcohol by rolling out this delightful faux-shagreen bar cart that is just to die for. Why faux shagreen? Because you would not want to be setting anything containing liquid down on real shagreen—it’s just too precious. And, as our fearless leader Lisa McDennon says: “Who does not love faux shagreen and chrome together?” Enough said. The is custom made from SkateModerne.

3. Behind Closed Doors: Now, we don’t always discuss this part of the bathroom, but we just couldn’t resist—this product is about as space-age, high-tech as it gets. It’s a delicate area, literally, but you must be told about the NUMI toilet from Kohler. Listen to the list of features—wait, there’s a list of features for a toilet? Yes, we know. That’s how cool this is: Motion activated lid and seat, advanced bidet functionality, integrated air dryer, deodorizer, heated seat, feet warming, illuminated panels and—wait for it…..music. We’re thinking that the heated seats and feet warming alone could give us a wonderful new reason to linger in the ladies room….

There you have it. Three lovely, quick ways to wow your guests with simple upgrades. Call us, LRM Interior Design, for more information about these products, how to get them delivered before Christmas or Hanukkah, and how to get them expertly installed, in the case of the toilet. Orange County’s award-winning design team is at your service: (949) 497-6806.

We wanted to share with you some easy, fun and affordable table decorations for Thanksgiving that didn’t involve pumpkins, corncobs, turkeys or cranberries. We love tradition, but we love to mix it up at this festive holiday time of year. All of these items can be purchased online, except of course the Martha Stewart item, which is more of a do-it-yourself. But that just makes it all the more special when everyone sits down at your beautiful Thanksgiving table.

1. Rona Amber Placemats and Aubergine Napkins: Who can resist Crate & Barrel? We can’t pass the store without going in and browsing their products, which are always made with that perfect combination of good design and great styling. This combination is no different—the richness of the purple cloth napkins bring out the berries’ color and bring out the sparkle of the metallic leaves. And we just love the embroidery that gives these placemats a wonderful texture! Hopefully no one will spill cranberry sauce on them at Thanksgiving…

2. Acorn Vase Fillers: Even though these are made of plastic, we don’t have real acorns lying around here in Laguna Beach. We could head out to the foothills and find some under the oak trees, but Pottery Barn has us covered if we don’t have time to forage in the forest. We love the combination of the hanging jars, candles and acorns, and we’d leave these up all holiday season for a festive look that doesn’t scream “Thanksgiving!” Just please do remember to extinguish all candles before you retire for the evening, even though these are in glass jars.

3. Grape Centerpiece: Ahh, Martha Stewart. No one makes you feel lazier than Martha Stewart when it comes to decorating. What we forget is that she has a team of people creating all these stunning ideas, so don’t beat yourself up about it. What we loved about these centerpieces is that they are edible and, as Ms. Stewart reminds us, please make sure to use washed grapes and non-poisonous leaves to accompany them, just in case your guests start nibbling. With all the farmer’s markets around these days, it shouldn’t be a problem to find some big, beautiful grape clusters to use for your centerpiece! Do note in the photo that Martha has added them above the fireplace, too.

4. Gold Nest Runner: Give your table that extra sparkle with this beautiful woven gold runner from Z Gallerie. This piece adds texture and interest to the center of the table, and best of all, can be used all year round for special occasions! This would work well with the grape centerpiece and the purple napkins, but keep the placemats simple with this runner. The trick is to dazzle your guests, not give them a headache!

5. Hobnail Pitcher: We usually think “clothes” when it comes to Anthropologie, but they’ve got the same unique tastes when it comes to home goods, too. We loved the rich color and texture of this pitcher, which would be perfect to have as a water server on the table. The pitcher feels vintage, but with such a modern look that we know Jonathan Adler, one of our faves, would adore it too. And did you notice, this would definitely go with all the other pieces mentioned above…

Are you ready for family visiting for Thanksgiving? Do you need a few rooms refreshed, or perhaps new furniture to accommodate guests? Call LRM Interior Design now for a consultation—there’s no time to spare now that we are so close to the holidays. We would love to help you get your home in tip-top shape for your holiday guests. (949) 497-6806

And if you are organizing Orange County’s premiere party (even if it’s a small gathering at your home or office), you need to pull out all the stops and look at every detail. And that’s why we are looking at chairs for the dining room this week.

We’re also putting our new Assistant Designer on the spot this week with her list of favorite chairs and why. We’d like to introduce Ali Bacon, who recently joined the LRM team! Welcome!

Ali has a fresh modern take on dining room chairs, and we like it—many of us are traditionalists, and we see a dining room, or even just the table, as a sober, formal area of the home. It doesn’t have to be that way! The combination of style and function works every time. Shown here:

Eiffel Chair: Nobody, and we mean nobody, has the chair-designer recognition like Charles and Ray Eames. You’d have to be under the age of 16 to have not heard of them, or at least seen this pair’s classic stylings. The Eiffel chair was designed in 1948 and first presented at MoMA’s International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture, and it was the first plastic chair to be mass-produced. Our Ali is all over it, choosing the Eiffel chair for one of her recommendations. “Not only has this chair become a classic (like so many of the Eames’ chairs), it’s easy to add a pop of color to a room by mixing the Eiffel chairs in with more traditional dining chairs,” explains Ali. Add a bit of mid-century modern to your dining room with one of these chairs in an delectable bright color.

Marais A Chair: Ahhh….Paris… That’s what we think of when we see the Marais A chair designed by Xavier Pauchard and first produced in 1934. Each chair is still handmade in Autun, France, and because of the 100 manual operations necessary to make this chair, each one is also unique. “This chair brought the art of galvanized steel to France,” says Ali. “It is a classic café chair and can contribute to the industrial feel of a space.” Although indeed used at countless cafés around France and immortalized on the decks of the S.S. Normandy, this chair is a great alternative to a standard dining room chair. You don’t have to have a city loft to inject some industrial style into your home—used in the right setting, this chair could be the pièce de résistance. (No pun intendend, but we couldn’t resist!)

Louis Ghost Victoria Sidechair: That crazy Philippe Starck! Leave it to him to take a classic like the Louis XV armchair and turn it into a modern masterpiece. And with the Louis Ghost Armchair and the Victoria Ghost Sidechair, he has done just that. Imagine a traditional, beautiful wood dining table surrounded by the crystalline perfection of these chairs, is made of injection-molded polycarbonate. Or, for another great example of this chair’s use, visit the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles, where Starck has created a Baroque yet modern and totally unique hotel lobby. “This piece is timeless reinvention of a historical classic piece,” Ali explains. “It can adapt to many settings, including a modernist or classical aesthetic.” It is also good for outdoor use, like the Marais A, and in our mild California weather, why shouldn’t you hold your Thanksgiving dinner outside?

Please call us to order any of the chairs listed here, or for a personalized consultation on your dining area. We can help you completely remodel or just freshen up your dining room, kitchen or outside living space to create a wonderful area for entertaining—holiday or everyday! Call LRM Interior Design on (949) 497-6806 for your appointment.

The Les Alizés Collection from Brunschwig & Fils.

Everybody knows that we love Kravet—we love their furniture (especially the KravetSmart line!), we love their fabrics, we love their trimmings. And now there’s even more reason to love Kravet—they saved the esteemed fabric company Brunschwig & Fils.

This American company was founded in 1900 and has always been highly regarded in the industry, not just for their fabrics, but as a resource. Unfortunately, due to the economic upheaval, Brunschwig & Fils was forced to file for bankruptcy in late 2010.

But wait, that’s not all. Kravet president Cary Kravet swoops in like a superhero to Brunschwig & Fils’ rescue. Although they seem like a competitor, it makes complete sense for Kravet to add them to their line of offerings.

“It was pretty close to disappearing,” said Cary Kravet. “We all revere Brunschwig, which produced the most fantastic traditional and historically important patterns. It had to be respected.”

And respect it, they did. Kravet added Brunschwig & Fils to their stable of deluxe brands, right where it should be, alongside Lee Jofa and GP & Baker. Lee Jofa’s executive vice president and creative director Stephen Elrod couldn’t wait to dig into Brunschwig & Fils’ extensive archive after the transaction was complete. He was searching for historic patterns that could be adapted for a new generation, and Elrod hit the proverbial jackpot. He combed through thousands of patterns, some even dating from the 1700s, to create this season’s Les Alizés collection. The name means “trade winds” in French, and includes bold prints, substantial wovens and intricate embroideries.

Like when Jean Paul Gaultier took over the helm at Hèrmes, Kravet has brought Brunschwig & Fils into this century without damaging its dignity or integrity, while still being a little cheeky with their updates. Reducing the number of colors in a paisley and introducing a pink and orange colorway were just two of the ways that Elrod updated some of Brunschwig & Fils’ historic patterns.

We’ll be keeping our eyes out for more of Elrod’s fantastic innovations with Brunschwig & Fils’ deep archives of patterns, textures and delightful fabrics, so watch this space!

We are experts in upholstery, reupholstery and custom furniture. Do you have a sofa in your house that you love, but it needs a facelift? Perhaps some new Brunschwig & Fils fabric? Is there a piece that is missing in your house, but you just can’t find? Please call LRM Interior Design for a consultation; we have the solution for you. (949) 497-6806 or click here to use our online form.

And that just means that our job = what we love the most. Shopping! And even if we don’t shop in the traditional manner, we bookmark these items we fall in love with, both digitally and literally, to refer back to when the time is right to purchase for a project.

So, here are some pieces that were picked out by the award-winner herself, Lisa McDennon, with her inimitable taste and style.This time we’re looking at pieces that are categorized as “modern”—whether that’s Mid-Century Modern or contemporary. Enjoy!

—Acrylic Tables by ArtStyleInnovation: Are they side tables? Ottomans? Art? All three? These pieces are so versatile, we just can’t get enough of them! Especially when you can get them in clear OR smoked acrylic. We love the smoked acrylic for our  luxury bachelor pad projects; they’re masculine and contemporary all at the same time. Don’t be shy—use more than one! They’re only $450 each and you can get custom-made pieces. They’re perfect to pull out for those occasions where you have more than the usual number of people over. Not enough room for drinks? Voilá! Pull out one or more of these acrylic tables. Problem solved—stylishly.

—Buckley Chevron Lamp by Jill Rosenwald Studio: Mmmm, this lamp is delicious! The oval base comes in white and your choice of navy, taupe or coral. What a perfect lamp to brighten up a dull corner of a room! This oval-base lamp and shade are only $395, which makes it a perfect choice for not breaking the bank. And beware: Lisa loves this lamp so much she wants to design a room around it! She’s done it before—click here for that story. Each of these slender, chic lamps come with a Belgian linen shade, a nickel plated 3 way socket, and a matching finial; it was also featured in Elle Decor, so you know it’s HOT.

—Mid-Century Modern Collection by Chelsea Textiles: Say “Mid-Century Modern style” to Lisa McDennon or Jan Smith, and watch them swoon. These ladies love the clean lines and enduring design of the period’s furniture, be it true vintage or reproductions. And we all love the collection by Chelsea Textiles. Can you say “ooh, details!”? Yes, we thought you would when you saw them. The bedside tables are to die for, and the chest of drawers are just perfect. When was the last time you saw a credenza that you liked that much? A dining table where the chairs actually slot in? If the devil’s in the detail, we’re definitely in bed with this devil…

If you’re interested in any of these pieces, let us shop for you! We can procure these pieces for you easily and at a great price. Plus, we can let you know if that chest of drawers will really fit in your spare room before you buy it. Call us to find out more: (949) 497-6806.

We couldn’t quite make this a Top Five Faves as we couldn’t whittle our choices down from six. We felt that these fabrics presented a range of reasons why we squeal when the new Robert Allen fabric books hit the studio. So, without further ado, here are our top picks:

1. Romantic: The rich cream fabric sets off the beautiful, sable-colored lace overlay, and we just love how this fabric is romantic without being sentimental or too Victorian. We use this “Royalty Lace” in Slate for window treatments and bedding, just for that reason—it’s something that appeals to women but men don’t think is too “girly”.

2. Eastern-Inspired: We had two picked for this category, but we settled on this one, as it has the Chinese-painting branches plus the addition of flowers and birds. Although this is available in three colorways, we love this Vintage Blossom fabric in Jade, as it can add a great sense of color to a room without being overpowering. Did we mention we like the birds?

3. Geometric: Another favorite, Omheining in Fog, is a graphic design print in a great neutral. So? Being a neutral allows it to be used as an accent fabric with multiple color schemes and design styles, and still have it’s own sass with the pattern. We like a fabric that’s both useful and knows how to sass.

4. Color: Pillows and smaller fabric-covered items are the best items in a room to use with bright colors, if you don’t want to be too dramatic. Why? Because it’s easier, and less expensive, to change out a few accent pillows rather than painting over the mustard yellow walls. Why not choose Mesa fabric in Lemon Curry? Not only does it sound yummy, it looks yummy.

5. Animal: We do love an animal print at LRM Interior design, and we can’t get enough of a zebra print. That’s why this one is so amazing—it’s grey on grey, rather than black on white, giving it a new subtlety. This way we can sneak in an animal print and not overpower the room! Zebra Lines in Twine is very durable and great for upholstery.

6. Stripes: Last but not least. We would love this one as a wallpaper, if we only could! True Lines in Cement is a modern classic, in our opinion, because it uses both light and dark colors and the thin lines provide an optical elegance. Interior design tip: Accenting with a bold stripe adds interest to coordinating patterns and prints.

Are you stuck on fabrics? Can we help you with a consult? Or perhaps your problems go beyond fabric and you need a whole room redesigned. Don’t be afraid to call us for the whole home or office, either; we’re ready to transform your home with your taste, and our touch. Call today to make your consultation appointment: (949) 497-6806.

The main lobby for Golden Comm, an website design firm in Irvine.

We are officially over the moon! For the third year running, our bustling design firm, LRM Interior Design, has taken home awards from the ASID OC’s annual Design Awards! This year’s was held on September 11, 2011 at the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano. Although Lisa McDennon, our esteemed leader, has always had a bit of a competitive streak, she only entered our work for the first time three years ago, and has won a total of four Gold awards during that time.

This year we took home the Gold Award in the Commercial category—for the first time. Our previous three awards were for residential projects, so it means a lot. The winning project we entered was for the offices of Golden Comm in Irvine, where we created bright and modern interiors that matched the web design company’s technological arena.

“Competition in the Commercial category was fierce this year,” commented Lisa on the award. “We were up against all types of commercial designs, including restaurants and other corporate offices, and we are so honored to have won the Gold Award. It is a phenomenal feeling to be recognized in this way by my peers in the industry!”

Last year’s Gold Award in the prestigious Home of the Year category showcased our work on one of Lisa’s luxury bachelor residence projects in Newport Beach, and the previous year’s awards were for Best Living Room and Best Special Room, and both properties were in our home town of Laguna Beach.

This year’s award in the Commercial category tracks the progression of both Lisa and the design firm, as she has been taking on as many commercial projects as residential over the last year. One such project is for acclaimed lighting company Hinkley Lighting, who has hired us to redesign their national showroom in Dallas, plus we’ve also been hired for special projects by luxury Orange County resorts such as the Montage and Pacific Edge.

You may remember last year how Lisa McDennon was recognized by House Beautiful magazine as one of their Top 20 Designers to Watch and was named Top 20 Women To Watch by OC Metro magazine—obviously an accurate prediction by both publications. Lisa (and, of course, her firm!) has continued her trajectory of success in 2011, and she has no intention of slowing down in 2012 and beyond!

Are you ready for award-winning design in your home? Have you been searching for the right interior designer to take on your new office space, or redesign your restaurant? Call Lisa McDennon and her team of talented designers on 949-497-6806 now to schedule an appointment.

For some young adults, this will be the first time they really have a place to themselves. Yes, they’ll still be surrounded by tens or even hundreds of other students, but they won’t be surrounded by family. So make it nice for them! But a word to the wise—don’t take over. Let them personalize the space and make it their own. We’ve compiled some of our favorite items we think would look great and be useful in a small space.

1. 10-Hook Overdoor Hanger: Umbra’s® Birdie hanger allows for hanging bookbags, purses, hats, scarves and coats on the back of a door and voila, there’s more space in the closet! And less clutter on the floor, which makes for better relations if your child is sharing a dorm room. We also like the matching Birdie wastebasket too, all available at The Container Store.

2. Pomeroy Dream Turquoise Reed Diffuser: Our young ladies aren’t as odiferous, shall we say, as their male counterparts, but that doesn’t mean that a few all-nighters with pizza boxes and way too many Starbucks cups in the trash won’t make the dorm room smell a bit. And that’s why Mom bought them a reed diffuser that looks, like, cool and stuff and not like yours. Especially not like yours.

3. BURSJÖN Stool with Storage: We think this would be a fantastic hamper, as it hides the dirty clothes (that’s if somebody bothers to put the clothes in there), has vents at the top, but is also a stool! It can be tucked in the corner most of the time, but if a fellow student comes over and seating is at a premium, they’ll be happy this stool has a dual purpose.

4. Tvilum Blink Bookcase: This compact bookshelf is 30″ square, which means you can stack two or more side by side or on top of each other to fit your small space! We love that the shelves are not evenly sized, and that there’s a wee drawer in the middle that gives not just a pop of color (it’s reversible and has a different color on the back), but also a little hidey-hole. Note: If you do stack these shelving units, please attach them to the walls so they don’t fall on someone during a “rager”—oops, we mean small get-together with tea and cakes, Mom.

5. Large Tint Stacking Drawers: These are seriously awesome, and not your regular stacking drawers. They come in six colors, plus boring “clear”, and they are perfect for clothes, stationery or any other item that you don’t mind having a little on show. If you can’t tuck these away in a closet (which would be a shame to hide them!), we recommend choosing two colors, like your son’s favorite sporting team colors, and alternate colors on the stack. We’d choose purple and gold, naturally.

Need any other tips for your young college student’s dream dorm room? How about remodeling their old room at home into that spare bedroom, office or home gym you’ve always wanted? Call LRM Interior Design now to arrange your free consultation: 949-497-6806.

It's him! Jonathan Adler!

Frankly, we’re surprised that those fashionable, stylish Brits haven’t jumped on Jonathan Adler, bundled him up and taken him off to their damp but decadent wilds of London. Luckily they haven’t, because we feel, here at LRM Interior Design, that he’s a national treasure. And he’s all ours.

Although, of course, we will allow him to have a store there, on the ever-so-posh Sloane Avenue in South Kensington, or “South Ken” to locals and those in the know. He’ll be hobnobbing with all the top names there—Paul Smith and Joseph, two of the UK’s top clothing brands—plus be right around the corner from Sloane Square and all the fab shops down the King’s Road. But don’t get us started; we’ll be booking tickets on British Airways in a minute if we keep going on about it!

It’s not opening til next month, but to give you a preview, we wanted to show you some of our top faves from the glorious Mr. Adler. So, as the Brits say, let’s get on with it, then!

1. The iPad Cover: First of all, it’s LRM policy that everyone has some form of Jonathan Adler stationery at work, be it file folders, pencil cases or a notebook. We’ll be surprised if Jan Smith, Senior Designer and recent recipient of an iPad2 for her birthday, isn’t sporting one of these very soon. For $30, you’ll have the most stylish iPad ever made because it’s covered in one of Jonathan Adler’s signature bold designs. Don’t ever let anyone borrow it; they’ll steal the cover even if they can’t steal the iPad!

2. The Adler App: What else would you have on your Adler-covered iPad but the Jonathan Adler app? Unfortunately it cannot summon the man himself, but you get all sorts of amazing, interactive goodies, from a gift finder and the “Product du Jour” to inspirations, photos and comments from fans. It’s all kinds of wonderful, and frankly, we can’t get enough!!

3. Horse: No, not the playground game, but this midnight-glazed horse head sculpture. We love horses as a masculine décor accessory, and this one has the cleanest of lines with an unusually gorgeous color. This high-fired stoneware piece is over a foot high and just over 10″ wide, and is part of the Menagerie collection. Each prototype is hand carved, then made by a studio in Peru, which Adler found through Aid to Artisans, a non-profit organization that links American designers to artisans in developing countries. Nice!

4. Bedding: Live in Hollywood wherever you are in the world with Adler’s stunning Hollywood bedding set. We can’t decide between the simpler embroidered design or the full on grey-and-white patterned version. Of course the sheets are made of 100% cotton percale and even the duvet cover has a 400 thread count. Who wouldn’t want to sleep surrounded by a Jonathan Adler pattern?

5. Ventana Mirror: Mirrors are an essential part of a home’s décor, in our opinion, and Mr. Adler certainly has a few that make our pulses race. This Ventana mirror being one of them. It comes in brass and black—perfect for our luxury bachelor pads— and nickel and white, which will fit nicely in our contemporary designs. We certainly can’t wait to use either of them. Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the best OC designer of all? LRM Interior Design? We thought so.

If you need help accessorizing your home, we can help. We are constantly on the lookout for the perfect pieces for our clients’ homes, scouring physical and online sources to bring them the best pieces on their budget. Call (949) 497-6806 to arrange a complimentary consultation with Lisa McDennon, our fearless, and fiercely talented, leader. Or click here to send her an email directly.