The New Downtown Women's Center

For the past two and a half years, my good friend Nicole Coffman and I have been involved in the relocation and renovation of the new Downtown Women's Center. Nicole came to me with the brilliant idea to help and I am forever thankful to her for that.

"The mission of the Downtown Women’s Center is to provide permanent supportive housing and a safe and healthy community fostering dignity, respect, and personal stability, and to advocate ending homelessness for women."

The new DWC is located in skid row on S. San Pedro Street, a few blocks away from the original location. Purchased for $1 from the city of Los Angeles, the new location just completed its $25 million facelift. What makes this new location so wonderful is contains a day center for homeless women on a day to day basis, 71 studio apartments for permanent residences, and the first medical and mental health clinic on skid row.

Nicole and I had the pleasure of designing the Elevator Lobby for the DWC. The completed room was unveiled with the rest of the amazing designed rooms on December 8. Check out the photos below.

You can help out too! Please donate to the Downtown Women's Center! Click here to learn how.

My Monogram Obsessions

Some favorite monogrammed items of mine... maybe a few gift ideas for you.

Pottery Barn Vintage Flash Decanter

Jonathan Adler Letter Pillow

Layla Grace Wall Decal

Ballard Designs Monogram Stamps and Embossers

Horchow Diamond Monogram Notecards

Saks Fifth Avenue Personalized iPhone Case

Hermes Enamel Bracelet

Waxwing Jewelry Monogram Cufflinks

Add Style with a Bar Cart

Bar carts are fun and tasteful solutions for storing your alcohol bottles without technically having a bar. Whether you have lots of space or just a small amount, they can add a little pizazz to a dining room or living room.

Southern Accents

Arteriors Home

1960's Vintage at Dragonette

CB2 Tray Table

Zodax

Powder Rooms of Perfection

Powder rooms are very important rooms in the home. They are essentially for your guests. Why not wow them?

Love these:

House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Veranda

Get Floored!

Don't neglect your floors! They need dressing up too.

Wild for Animal Prints:

Safevieh:

Domestic Modern

Plantation

Go Bold:

Calyposo

West Elm

Jonathan Adler

Updated Traditional:

Anthropologie

Jayson Home and Garden

Williams-Sonoma Home

I Discovery Something New Everyday

This past weekend I took a trip down to one of my favorite places, San Diego. As many of you know, I used to live there and nowadays when I go back, I am constantly discovering places that I never knew existed. Well this time I discovered a place that I used to drive past four days a week and never gave much thought.

I was brought to the Self Realization Temple in Encinitas. If you are ever in the neighborhood, you must go! Take a look at the view:

Photos courtesy of IGOUGO, ActiveRain, Awake is Good

The Best Chaise To Relax In

The last couple of weeks have been so much fun designing rooms for my new client. It's always such a cool creative process to try and get into the minds of my client to dream up a home that is unique to their taste and lifestyle.

When it came to furnishings, my client had one request... a chaise lounge.

Here are some of my favorite chaises for all types of homes:

Stylish, chic, and comfortable - L-O-V-E

Looking for a modern showpiece - On permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art, Le Corbusier designed this chaise, which was dubbed, "the relaxing machine."

Can't you just picture this chaise nestled into a corner of a wood paneled library of an estate? George Smith brings traditional style with this piece.

Clean lines, simple, no fuss... Fantastic!

Feeling frugal? This budget friendly piece is from a little secret store called Target. Shhh... just tell your friends you got it at a flea market.

Becoming Modern in a Mad World

The 1960's are back! Well... maybe. Fashion, at times, tends to be a revolving door. Styles that once had it's day seem to always arrive back in full force years later.

With the phenomenon that is Mad Men, the influential era is once again in the spotlight screaming glamour and drama.

I admire the fashions on all fronts, from the costumes to the sets. Take a look at what makes it so cool....

Joan Holloway

Betty Draper

All of the men

And the decor...

Love that headboard

Hello square pillows

A fantastic foyer

Bold statements with art

Wallpaper Bliss

One surprising question that I get all the time is, "Is wallpaper in or is it out?" Just like all designs, the style designates whether in fashion or not. If it found in your grandma's house or in the year 1987 it's out. The good news is that there are many wallpapers you can use that will create a fresh look for your room today. I've compiled a few that I love below. Let me know what you think.

Chinoiserie:

F. Schumacher

G.P. & J. Baker

Florals:

Cole & Sons

F.Schumacher

Graham & Brown

Geometric:

LULU DK

Graham & Brown

F. Schumacher

Interior Design Santa Monica