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?

It’s no secret that we at LRM Interior Design love the mid-century modern period, not just for furniture and style, but also for architecture. Jan Smith, Senior Designer at LRMID, submitted this photograph of a home available in one of the mid-century modern havens in SoCal: Palm Springs.

“For me, nothing epitomizes outdoor living like a great mid-century modern design,” says Jan. “Large windows, like in this house, encourage the homeowner to extend the living space as far outside as possible.” And not using your outdoor space to its full potential in Southern California is a crime. Some areas, like our beloved Laguna Beach, can be a bit stingy on its lot sizes, which makes designing an outdoor living area more challenging—but not impossible. And we love a challenge at LRM!

“Oversized furniture and great lighting invite get-togethers that last into the evening, or even late into the night. Neutral palettes also bring attention to other details in a backyard; in this instance, it’s the plant life and pool,” Jan comments, discussing the Palm Springs home. “Contrary to popular belief, creating simple designs is often more difficult than creating more ornate or complex ones. With a simple design, every detail and selection must be perfectly proportioned and thoughtfully executed.”

Is your backyard ready for summer entertaining? Is it ready to be transformed from a “backyard” into an “outdoor living” space? If you’ve been thinking about it, there should be nothing stopping you from contacting us for a free consultation. Let us create a space for you that will make you never need another vacation, because you’ll have resort living right outside your door!

Yes, we said goats and we meant it!

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.