DECOR FILE : FABULOUS!

THE CORAL CASINO

The fantastic vein cut travertine. I have selected this stone for two projects- one for a pool house and guest baths in Geyserville and for the replacement entry floor in Palm Desert.



The vein cut travertine will replace this icky tile in Palm Desert. Fingers Crossed

About a week ago, I had a brief - but  exquisite- stay at the Biltmore Four Seasons in Santa Barbara. The mission was two fold-  1) To research costal design that had a slant toward luxury for one of the healthcare facilities I am working on in Santa Cruz, CA. and 2) to try and get some R & R.  The stay was fabulous and the private cottage proved to be full of helpful design hints and inspirations...like crewl headboards, color pallets and even the furniture cabinet that house the tv components and mini-bar proved to be helpful for my Geyserville project. (Each guest house needs such a unit to house the very same!) 

Personally, the best treat was access to the Coral Casino across the way! It is not a real casino rather a beach club....This is my kinda beach club... revamped by Peter Marino. It is the perfect blend of modern simplicity, impeccable service, and beach attitude.  In fact, I had just selected a vein cut travertine for the Geyserville project ... and here I stumble on a gorgeous pattern in which to apply it. Add an unbelievable ocean view - and well, friends, it was simply divine!

From their website:

The Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club is a private membership club, situated atop Butterfly Beach at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara. Built in 1937, this legendary establishment and historic landmark has a rich history steeped in the glory of Hollywood, celebrated architecture and fine hoteliers.

In the fall of 1936, the Biltmore Hotel’s owner, Robert Stewart Odell, put into motion plans for a grand, first-class social club where prominent families of the area, and Hollywood’s elite could gather. Odell commissioned San Francisco architect Gardner A. Dailey – already well known for his contemporary style – to design the original “Biltmore Beach Club” on the triangular-shaped grounds adjacent to the hotel. Its look was in contrast to the Spanish-Colonial architecture of Santa Barbara, instead featuring clean, modern lines and Scandinavian contemporary furnishings. 

The curious name “Coral Casino” was inspired in part by its unique oceanfront setting; while “casino” was a term widely used in the era that defined the establishment’s social club status. The club’s most celebrated feature is a larger-than-Olympic size swimming pool (50 meters + 1 foot), which earned its irregular size during an evening of gentlemen’s poker. It is said that an argument transpired between Mr. Odell and the Olympic Commissioner of the time that resulted in the pool’s size being slightly increased so that it could never be used to host regulated events. 

Since its grand opening on July 24, 1937, the Coral Casino has hosted some of the world’s foremost dignitaries, Hollywood stars and filmmakers, musicians and noted philanthropists. In 2005, current owner Ty Warner closed the club to begin an extensive, $65 million rehabilitation effort. Warner hired New York based architect and designer Peter Marino to lead the project – no easy task, given the building’s status as a designated historical landmark. Marino’s team meticulously restored the club to its original splendor, along with notable improvements that include upgraded locker facilities, fossilized marble decking, and a new second-story restaurant with panoramic ocean views. Marino looked to the vision and principles of Gardner Dailey for guidance in restoring the original theme and purpose of the club while embracing the Coral Casino’s most beloved feature—its spectacular setting on one of the most beautiful beaches in California.

In the summer of 2008, 71 years after its original début, the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club re-opened its illustrious glass double doors to reveal a brilliant world-class club, complete with all of the comfort, elegance and restrained glamour of the original design, once again welcoming back members and guests of Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore. 

Oh to escape back there this week.....

Happy Monday Folks.

DECOR FILE : FABULOUS UPDATE

PALM SPRINGS MOVING ALONG

new floor and paint....yippee...now waiting on the rest...dont ya love the current luxe bedding? ick. Wait until we get the new bedding, furniture and leather headboards...yum.

Floor love. Paint Love

I'm loving the new roma stone halls and the chevron pattern we installed in the dining room....its just the beginning folks.

Ok.  It has been a long time. Very.  However, in my defense- it has been wicked crazy. And that is not a show on Broadway, friends.  Juggling these projects and dealing with the various players is a tad bit stressful but I always say that this job is like being and armchair psychologist.  The good news is that things are really starting to show progress and those who once were not excited (no names shall be mentioned) are now getting excited. Of course, its a long, noisy, and often dirty process so it is not all roses for those living through this.  Neither for me- but it is all par for the course.  "Is that gray? Is that blue? Can I have this? Are you doing that? " All questions I hear daily. The best questions are those that come from the passing nurses -- goes something like this---" I am painting my bathroom...what green should I choose? "  Um, I don't know- how about Lichen? Anyways, its to be expected and I am happy to dole out free tid-bits of the magic to those in need. If its going to make them  or their homes better --well, you know my motto:

Everyone deserves a life infused with style and beauty.

So, as the days go on and I continue to deal with people who refuse to communicate in a productive manner, fail to meet deadlines, or  plain just have nothing better than to complain for complaining sake...I will repeat to myself...

style and beauty, style and beauty, style and beauty.

Happy Sunday.

DECOR FILE : FABULOUS VINTAGE!

FRUITY

I am in love with these vintage Italian marble fruits. From Bluebell Bazaar. Yum.

TGIF

DECOR FILE : FABULOUS UPDATE

THE DIFFERENCE A WALL MAKES

Yesterday, I was at my Hayward, CA. facility to check its progress, finalize paint colors, and see the beginning of the lobby transformation. First dramatic change will be the walls. We are installing a contract grade texture that looks like grass cloth. It is this silvery- gray-lilac that will set the tone for the new sophisticated update I have in store.  As you can see above- the walls have been in poor shape for a while.

This the texture up close. You have to see the color in person...it is divine!

Just one wall done. What a dramatic improvement. We still have to paint the doors, trim and ceiling. Install 5" crown and 6" base...plus replace the lighting!

I am loving the new corridor semi-flush lights in brushed stainless steel and molded art glass. Fantastic.

DECOR-ATE

EATIN' RIGHT

Being that it is practically summer and that the days are getting hotter and the nights a little longer...well, I just hanker for yummy food that is light and filling.  And even though I like to err on the side of being healthy - I don't ever like to compromise my gourmet pallet.  As one of my good friends says, " is simply frightening how fast James can turn any meal, snack or cocktail hour into a gourmet experience.  " What can I say? I think about food like I do an interior...full of textures, colors, and multiple layers. That being said- I like to prepare food that is also simple and easily accomplished with little effort. (Yes, this does mean that I have interesting staples in my pantry or fridge most times). After all, the less time you spend cooking means the more time you have to enjoy a great meal on your own or with your friends!

I concocted this hearty, and healthy, meal with items I had on hand. While I grilled the ear of corn (which took 6 minutes) you could take it or leave it.  Trust me- this is good stuff. 

Summer Black Eyed Pea Salad

1 can black eyed peas- rinsed and drained

1 hot house cucumber roughly chopped

1 green bell pepper roughly chopped

2 handfuls grape tomato - halved

2 stalks celery  roughly chopped

1 large shallot diced ( you could use onion- but I prefer the milder taste of shallots)

1 handful Kalamata Olives roughly chopped

1 ear of sweet corn grilled directly on the 'que

sprinkling of raw goat milk feta

vinaigrette :

California olive oil

pomegranate red wine vinegar (any acid will do, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, etc)

salt and pepper to taste

Add chopped vegetables and black eyed peas to a large bowl. Mix vinaigrette in separate bowl. Drizzle over veggies. Plate and sprinkle with feta. Enjoy!

You can serve this alone as a generous salad with slices of crusty ciabatta that have been grilled on the BBQ and rubbed with garlic , drizzled with good olive oil.  Also, it would make a delicious side to grilled halibut, lamb, or steak.  ( I think I am going to heap some in a grilled pita with home-made roasted garlic hummus and have it for lunch...Yum!)

Happy Monday Folks!

DECOR FILE : FABULOUS UPDATE

BABY STEPS IN PALM SPRINGS

This would be a current patient room. You like?

I have been talking about these 5 health care projects that I have going on at the moment for sometime now. Having just returned from the Palm Springs project--after final approval of paint samples-- I thought it time I shared a little bit of its current state and give you a sneak peak at its transformation. And while this is just a tiny morsel- you can bet I have a lot of fantastic changes in store for this building.  

Some basics you should know...This building has not been renovated- I mean major- for, oh, about twenty years. It exudes cliche desert colors of really bad teal and pink with flesh colored walls. Oh, and it also has what I call the Green Monster. Add to this a very tight--and I mean to the penny-- budget and you have a recipe for...well, I don't know what- but let us just say its not that tasty. Personally, I like tasty. And lucky for them (the health care company) a little bit of Clean Sweep training I had a few years back as a designer  on TLC and my champagne tastes are just the ticket that this puppy needs. Building rather.

So what's a fellow to do? Well, luckily, I can see past all the goobly-gook and imagine something clean and sophisticated with a modern desert twist! Trust me, they won't know what hit em when I am done working my magic.

Remember when I mentioned that I came across one of those monstrous agave plants during a desert walk. Well, inspired by its silvery, blue-gray color, the desert sand beneath it, and some tumbled  ivory rock quartz in the rock bed- I had found my desert reference that was unexpected and contemporary.

The new patient room flooring is translated from the silvery, blue-gray of succulent agave plants. The organic "stream" pattern adds texture and interest plus hides imperfections from wear and tear and because of the actual material this tile is composed of - it only requires a simple dry or wet mop with soap and water. Unlike the current VCT floor which requires stripping, waxing and buffing. This will, ultimately, reduce labor cost, time, and eliminate the use of toxic chemicals for upkeep. This means that, while this product may cost more upfront- it will continue to return savings over the long haul. Form and function- check!

A last minute aha moment. This deep grayish-brown taupe ( a Ben Moore Historical color!) serves two purposes on the patient room closets and bath vanity. It will hide scuffs and damage and it makes them look like new. Oh, you can bet the paint is as low VOC as we could get and still maintain its tough durability.

The new floor tile against the new, cool,  silvery wall color. The ivory peaking in is called Macaroni. I love that!

Here is the old vs. the new test vanity with the dark taupe. I simply pulled out a color that was in the horrible plastic "marble" top. Not bad-eh. 

Now we come to a real doozie- the existing floors! Don't you just love em?

And...here comes the "sand" - rather the limestone. I am replacing all the teal, pink and ick with this fabulous luxury, commercial product that will give the corridors and public spaces the look and feel of a rich, warm stone floor. It is pretty divine. Again, no chemicals needed for up keep.

The new corridors with their calming Kraft Paper walls and the refurb of the old hand rails now stained with an opaque ivory. Not only will these corridors be chic and sophisticated but the contrast between the two shades of color will help the visually impaired residents distinguish what wall, door, or handrail and make navigation a whole heck of a lot easier.

And remember this light?

Well, it replaces the very institutional one below.

This is the test to make sure I liked it...and, I do. Wrapping the paint on the ceiling helps me to create more emphasis on a simple fixture that really, to my liking, would be best a tad bit bigger in diameter.  We get this fantastic, large, reflected circle of light (Compact Flours) and suddenly it has more presence.

There is still a great amount of work to tackle and many beasts to tame- but I am liking where everything is headed. Now it is off to the next facility :)

Happy Weekend Folks!

SNAPSHOT DU JOUR: THE EXTENDED VERSION

PISH POSH AND PAINT COLORS

Inspiration hit while taking a morning desert walk- the perfect paint color for the exterior of one project

Kind has that cactus color within this tile mix

Simple alabaster bowls for the patient corridors- and so in the budget!

Palm Springs Art Museum- lovin it

A Treat after a long day's work- don't you love the raisins still on the vine!

It is off, once again,  to the desert to approve paint colors this morning. Macaroni, Kraft paper, Light Raffia, Salmon Skin, Cloth, and C...all these are names of the paints that have been swatched in various locations. (How I would love to name paints!) Paint colors for me are one of the most laborious portions of any project. It seems to be just one of those things that can be a very long and arduous process. Inevitably, you have everyone chiming in  with their opinion of what colors are best and they are certainly vocal about what colors they think are a terrible choice. In this instance you are dealing will a 100 bed facility with a full staff and 100 residents. So you can imagine how many times I hear-" I don't like this - or I don't like that". I have even been told that a paint color is too laborious to keep up... disliking paint colors because you are lazy or find it bothersome? Isn't this why we have a maintenance crew on staff? Just sayin'. Buckle up ladies. Here is how I see the whole situation- I'm so sorry you can't see the vision or the final product in your head but this is why people and  companies hire interior designers.  And its only logical that we are going to put our best foot/work forward because its our "name" on the line, right?  Pish Posh to these people with their lack of vision and certainly lack of experience or training. We are moving onwards and upwards -- without you--  and we will see you at the finish line when you are trying to kiss up to us and praise our fantastic work that when we began ,armed with only our vision in our heads,  we knew would be fabulous all along! 

So- go forth with a smile my friends because you know that all is going to be just fine:) 

Happy Half Week  Folks!