Riviera View

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's your chance to see another amazing home created by Grant Kirkpatrick's firm, KAA , as well as the work of three other innovative L.A. architects; Michael Lee , James Meyer , and James Mullen-Carey & William Beauter . From the AIA website... 2009 AIA Los Angeles Fall Home Tour A Day in Manhattan (Beach!) Sunday, October 4, 2009 11 am – 4 pm The American Institute of Architects/Los Angeles invites you to join us for our Home Tour series, featuring beautiful houses by Los Angeles's leading architects. You can see the homes, talk to the architects, and discover new designs for living. How the tours work: Houses are typically open from 11am - 4pm. Attendees receive a ticket, map, driving directions and information on each of the tour homes. Docents and members of the design team (schedule permitting) are available at each of the homes to answer questions and guide you through the houses. ...

photo: Jeffrey Ong / PostRain Productions From today's L.A. Times By LAUREN BEALE A Santa Paula ranch once owned by actor Steve McQueen and his third wife, Barbara Minty, has come on the market for $1.95 million. The pair moved to the 15.3-acre Ventura County ranch in 1979 and were married in the home's living room in January 1980. The 1892 Victorian-style house has antique stained-glass windows, mountain views, and family room and kitchen fireplaces. The ranch includes 3 acres of Syrah vineyards, fruit trees, a 3-acre equestrian facility and a 4,500-square-foot hangar where McQueen kept his car and motorcycle collection, which eventually included about 130 bikes. He picked the ranch because it reminded him of the Slater, Mo., farm where he lived during his childhood and because of its proximity to Santa Paula Airport, where he flew his yellow Stearman biplane. Known for his macho roles and tough-guy persona, the box-office star appeared in such films as "The Magnificent ...

photo credit - Bo Bridges Today I discovered a little gallery called Spit Studio in Hermosa Beach. Spit showcases the work of local artists but primary the photography of Bo Bridges. Below is some of Bridges' work starting with an exterior shot for the regional magazine, Luxury Life & Style . architecture - rockefeller partners Bridges' portfolio runs the gamut from lifestyle to action to landscapes. Monyka Hermosa Sunset Colleen Greg Lutzka F-18 Teahupoo Wave Below Spit Studio in Hermosa Beach ✝ Check out the Bo Bridges site when you have a chance and also Rockefeller Partners Architects .

My High School friend, Lauren Cohen, and her husband, Derek Steere, own and operate San Juan Canvas, a marine canvas and sailmaking company located in Friday Harbor, Washington. Aside from making all things boat related (don't ask me the details, I wouldn't know Port from Starboard) she makes these great canvas bags from sail remnants. Here's a little copy from the San Juan Canvas website: San Juan Canvas bags are handmade right here at our marine canvas shop in the Port of Friday Harbor. Our unique bags are made from leftover canvas and sailcloth, turning scrap material into useful and beautiful products. Each bag is custom made in just the colors and size you want it. Sailcloth bags can have numbers or letters that have special meaning. Recycled sailcloth can be used as well. You can learn more about these eco-friendly and adorable bags here .

Below are a few illustrations my mom did for a Bullock's Lingerie brochure printed sometime in the 1970s. For those of you who weren't around in L.A. during the 70s and 80s, Bullock's Department Store was comparable to an upscale Macy's.  Several other department stores in Los Angeles hired my mom for freelance fashion work and when she lived briefly in Detroit she also drew for Bonwit Teller. My mom drew fashion all through her 20s, 30s and 40s and then switched to painting animal portraits. She loved animals and I think painting them gave her more joy than the fashion did. Mostly she painted Thoroughbreds and dogs but every so often she'd branch out to paint a family portrait. Eventually she stopped drawing and painting altogether.  When I asked her why she replied, "It's just too damn hard." That was so something my mom would say. She did paint very sporadically on and off for the next 20 years but only if it was something that truly inspir...

Kathleen Tugwell Francuch Aside from being a wife and mother of two, my mom was a talented painter and fashion illustrator. One day I'll post some of her drawings. I promise. If she were to describe herself she'd likely use these adjectives: honest-to-a-fault generous curious painfully shy creative quirky introspective brainy and (although she'd have a hard time admitting this) stylish! It's hard for me to be objective, but from a child's perspective she was beautiful too. Five years ago today my mother passed away...and it seems like yesterday. Wherever you are, mom, I love you and miss you.

The colors and textures in this outfit from Marina Rinaldi say Fall 2009 in a big way. After staring at this photo for a bit, I wondered how it would look translated into a room. All these rich textures -- the fur, the suede skirt, the patent leather boots, the crisp cotton blouse and buttons, the matte tights -- lend to a cozy crash pad. Finally, the linen chair and the marble background add a little old school air. Tie in the deep purple with the yellow and you have a great fall color combination. I really loved it, so I decided to take a stab at it as a bohemian bedroom. To start, let's layer in this contemporary 6x9 wool rug. Kira Plum from Crate and Barrel For the bed, something simple in wrought iron. Avery bed from Pottery Barn The room would need a dresser. Avery Chest from Crate and Barrel We'd need a place to zip up our boots, right? So how about an upholstered linen bench at the foot of the bed (but change the nail heads from silver to brass). Colette - from Crat...

Worth the trip. First Thursday ArtWalk in San Pedro.