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.

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

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

From the beginning...

The fabulous Ms. Dorothy Draper, mother of the Interior Design profession once said, "Never look back, except for an occasional glance, look ahead and plan for the future. Success is not built on past laurels, but rather on a continuous activity. Keep busy searching out new ideas and, experimentally, keep ahead of the times, or at least up with them."

This quote has always inspired me to reach new heights with my designs. I invite you to follow along with me, and learn what inspires me in my work and pushes me to the next level. I am lucky to call my profession my passion, and feel blessed to share it.