Riviera View

Here's an inexpensive way to create some interest in a hallway or stairwell. We created the diagonal photo montage for a client in Redondo Beach, California. Using existing family candids we mounted the photos on inexpensive frames from Target, similar to these . We chose white frames to match the banister, baseboard and existing fixtures. The trick to achieving an expensive look: we used a 10% coupon and had the mats custom cut at a local frame store . (Yes, some designers actually use coupons!) Finally, to lead your eye from the downstairs public rooms to the upstairs private living quarters we painted the hallway a bright red (from Benjamin Moore).

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You may already know that the Pantone Group has named Honeysuckle Pink the Color of the Year for 2011. Yes? But just in case you've been on vacation and missed the memo, here it is... "In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.” - From the Pantone website Below are a few pink products that will add small pops of pink to your home: An easy dash of pink hand wash, $3.99, from the folks at Method. Hearts for Haiti, Ornaments: $5.00 each, available through West Elm . Pottery Barn Faux Cherry Blossom stems, $19.00 each, available here . Book Boxes (with secret storage), $49.00, from Wisteria . Pink Letter Pillow from Serena & L...

When it comes to interior fabrics, are you drawn to bold colors and patterns? If so these new prints from Yoma Textiles will get your imagination going. Especially luscious are the three designs shown below. Bardot La Ronde Bijoux Click here to see the entire collection, some of which is previewed in this final image. If you live in Los Angeles you can see the line at Nicky Rising's new shop in West Hollywood. Based in San Francisco? Contact Enid Ford Atelier. And on a completely unrelated design note, check out this gorgeous caned back tete-a-tete from Jae Omar Designs.

photo credit - her e Took El Jefe to Santa Barbara this past weekend for his birthday. We stayed at the Canary Hotel - which by the way was really great. According to the front desk, Michael Smith helped with the hotel's renovation. And that makes perfect sense. We had less than 24 hours to relax (is that possible?) so we headed to Joe's Cafe for a cocktail and some local fare. The Tri-tip sandwich with au jus = Yum! My husband's birthday desire was to watch the Jets and Patriots duke it out. An easy wish granted, so after he was duly ensconced in the local scene, I headed out onto State Street for some indulging of my own. Spotted Tracy Porter walking down the street and thought, "hmmm....that mid-west girl is a long way from home?" Turns out Ms. Porter convinced her sister Robin and brother in-law George to go west. And now the trio has a store in Santa Barbara. The new shop is fabulous, bohemian and well worth the day trip. Below are two photos from a qu...

Are you ready to dress your walls in something unique for 2011? If so, designer Alix Soubiran's line of wallpapers named Princes and Crows might fit the bill. These wallpapers are designed with an eye towards children's rooms but can also be applied in other areas of your home. Lining a hallway, a ceiling or inside a cupboard or closet the designs add a touch of whimsy to any space. Prices average at $135.00 for a 27" width x 4.5 yard roll, and can be customized. Yesterday's L.A. Times ran an article about Ms. Sourbiran written by Emily Young. You can see more photos from that interview here . Pattern: Bodrum Blue Birds and Flowers Pattern: Enchanted Gipsy Ceiling pape r - Pattern: Santy Ano Ceiling detail Ms. Soubiran's studio Photo sources: Michael Robinson Chavez , Meredith Laing , and Princes & Crows website.

Soon to be EVVO We had the chance to do a little olive picking last weekend at my cousin's ranch in Northern California. According to sources ( a.k.a. my Uncle Gary ) we picked olives for 3 1/2 days, netting a harvest or 425 pounds translating roughly into 6 gallons of virgin olive oil. Part of the olive crew taking a football break... Seems like a lot of olives for a small return but it also explains why the golden liquid can be so pricey. "Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?" There are two main ways to cure olives. Green olives are best cured in lye . (Yes, I said lye) and if you prefer black olives, a salt brine works well. Truckbed olive picker Over the past few months, in addition to defrocking olive trees, my cousins have been working feverishly to ready their new wine tasting room. Below is a glimpse of their labor, but for a much better technicolor-view visit their Date Night website .