BLOSSOMING

Cherry blossoms in bloom at the Japanese garden

It's happening now! Time to get to Portland to visit the Japanese gardens in Washington park.

One of the most beautiful gardens in the country is a must see! For more information visit here.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT ?

This is what I am looking at right now. At any one time my desk is piled with at least ten books, some of my favorites are above. Remember most of these are available at Amazon sometimes you get lucky and find gently used versions. Whenever I need inspiration I head to the "Book pile"

ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Gregory Colberts Ashes and snow

Recently I was reminiscing about a place or event that has truly inspired me in a profound way,

this is definitely one of those.

On a beautiful Sunday morning in May of 2006 on the beach in Santa Monica California I stepped into a nomadic structure designed by Japanese architect Shiqeru Ban, and to this day have never experienced anything quite so beautiful.

The stunning photography moving images sounds and written words by artist Gregory Colbert are unlike anything you have ever seen.

After leaving California the exhibit traveled to Tokyo then Mexico City now Brazil and hopefully some day back to North America. If you cross paths in the future do yourself a favor, GO.

In the meantime explore the enhanced site at www.ashesandsnow.com

ROSE TARLOW + DESIGN PERFECTION

The best thing about having to travel to the city frequently is the opportunity to visit new resources. My last trip to LA was punctuated by a visit to the new Rose Tarlow showroom. I rarely use the term perfection, if there is such a thing this is it! Rose sets the standard when designing comfortable elegant interiors and architectural integrity. Something to aspire to!

The showroom on melrose Ave in the design district of West Hollywood is open to the trade only. The Melrose house collection is available through your designer.

The "Private house" by Rose Tarlow is a must read for all who appreciate the art of design.

CREATING A TUSCAN FARMHOUSE

On a recent trip to LA we found this fantastic fireplace mantel for our tour home in Brasada Ranch, the massive scale is perfect for the great room. The Iron light fixture is one of my favorite new fixtures, we are having a pair of them made larger for the same room.

The stair detail is my inspiration for the tower staircase. After a little grumbling the framing contractor has done an incredible job! The traditional Moroccan tiles shown we are using on the stair risers, alternating patterns at each stair with wood treads. These are beautiful patterns made from cutting and fitting terra cotta and glazed tiles together.

The hand painted terra cotta tiles shown at the top are just a few of the patterns we have selected for the showcase home, they are from the new Contessa collection at Walker Zanger.

As we make more selections including some wonderful furnishings and antiques I will share them in the future.

CENTRAL OREGON TOUR OF HOMES

It's that time once again, we are planning our entry in the 2010 Central Oregon Tour of Homes.

This years tour home is located in Brasada Ranch. Working along with Rick Wright design and Blackrock Construction we feel this will be a wonderful showcase. Dont's miss the tour this July 16-18 and 23-25.

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS ?

EI8HTEEN KARAT




While waiting for the paint to dry on our Newport Coast project (literally), June and I attended the winter design show at the World market center. We walked most of the three million square feet of showrooms! There is a lot of bad design out there. and should defiantly stay in Vegas. My one glimmer of hope is a new resource (to me) called 18 KARAT. The showroom was stunning with many beautiful objects at good price points. I defiantly look forward to placing some of there products in our designs.

"IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA"

But man it pours!

After eight inches of rain in one week and a minor tornado! my project in Newport coast is officially two weeks behind. The infinity pool pictured above came through OK, but can't say that for the rest of the yard.

We leave this weekend for Newport and try - once again to install. Six trucks of furnishings and art await, time to get my directors hat on! I promise photos of interiors soon.

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

"Room of the Month" July 1978 Pacific Design Center

OK here's the background, the year was 1978 I was a couple years out of high school and I was asked to design the "room of the month" in the lobby of the then new Pacific design center in Los Angeles. This task was usually asked of seasoned professionals, I guess they wanted to see what the new kid would do?

The space was a boring 10' X 15' "box" with a glass front, so I decided to paint the entire room black. To my surprise it expanded the room visually then I laid 10" pine planks and stenciled white stripes on a diagonal. I designed the 12' banquette in white canvas and found this great frame chair covered in hand stenciled black chintz. At that time it was like experimenting with the most unusual objects together in one room, I loved it! When Designers West magazine published the photos they called it a rather "bold & brave" design. I guess not much has changed in thirty years.

SHANGRILA IN LA ?

This is it, my version of Shangrila. The courtyard gardens at Charles Jacobsen Inc. in Southern California. Charles is a dealer in the most exquisite antiques and garden ornaments, while access is to the trade only you may visit with your interior designer or find him online here.

MY LATEST PROJECT

OK, so some of you are wondering where I have been hiding the last couple months? I have been having far to much fun on my latest project at Newport Coast in Southern California. The challenge is to completely redesign the interior and beautiful gardens in just under eight weeks!

We are three weeks into the remodel, so far so good! I love my job!!! I will update soon.

A GARDEN FOR ENTERTAINING

Click on photo to enlarge

You might ask why an interior designer would design a garden? Why not! I look at it as an outdoor room with all the same concerns as designing an interior space. For this garden I wanted the "outdoor room" to flow from the interior which is one of my favorite projects in the coastal town of San Clemente California.

The challenge was to create entertaining space from an intimate back yard once covered by an expanse of lawn. I designed a grid of poured in place concrete pads surrounded by DG (decomposed granite). The central focal point is a concrete fire bowl filled with crushed glass opposite the "sofa" at just over twelve feet is the anchor for the lounge area. At one end of the garden is a floating ledge stone wall with a sheet of water falling into a black pond below. The wall is serving double duty as a backdrop to the dining area and concealing the outdoor cooking station.

Together with succulents and my favorite papyrus grass the garden is the perfect outdoor room

ready for entertaining.