Elegant Outdoor Living

May 20th, 2011 by jennifermyers

A stunning example of mid-century modern architecture.

Spring has been quite a wet season, especially by our Southern California standards. But our opinion is that it will just provide a lush summer for our enjoyment. Here in Laguna Beach, we can tell that there’s been a lot of rain, and not just by the unusually lush hillsides, but that the goats have arrived a bit early this year. Yes, we said “goats”. They are our ecologically friendly way of ridding the beautiful Laguna hillsides of the excess vegetation. Plus, they are adorable!

But we digress. Although the spring hasn’t provided the best weather for us to enjoy the outdoors, we know that summer is just around the corner, and it’s sure to bring us some beautiful sunshine. And when the sun is shining, the locals of Southern California play, entertain and relax. And what better place to do so than in a stunning outdoor living space—in your own home? (read the rest of this post…)

Bring the Indoors Outside

August 14th, 2009 by jennifermyers
Susan Bradley's Outdoor Wallpaper

Susan Bradley's Outdoor Wallpaper

Usually designers are known for “bringing the outdoors inside,” such as Billy Baldwin, mentioned in our last blog. But now the trend is to bring the inside outdoors.

Southern California is famous for its beautiful, year-round weather, and as much as we hate to brag, we have to deal with it as designers. With outdoor kitchens and areas for entertaining, interior design no longer stops at the door’s threshold. LRM Interior Design’s Kari Seydewitz saw Susan Bradley‘s innovative idea for “outdoor wallpaper,” and thought it would be a great addition to a Southern California designer’s repetoire.

Think of a backyard area with a cluster of seating, tucked up against the home’s exterior wall. Painting the wall a color to complement the furniture is a great idea, but what else can be done? A mural is not always the answer. Using this outdoor wallpaper can add something special, as it can be used as a trellis or just as an interesting form of decoration to draw the eye.

Susan Bradley offers several damask-style designs, a beautiful design based on the Japanese cherry blossom, a very modern vine pattern and a large paisley print—all available in different colors and finishes. The company is in the United Kingdom, so be warned: the prices are in U.K. Sterling, but they are happy to ship overseas to the U.S.