Hello 2010!

As we countdown the final hours of 2009, I can't help but think about how incredible this past year has been for me. I've experienced milestones in my personal life,  including getting married and buying our first house.  In my career, I've had the chance to work with some great people on great projects. Not to mention that this blog has kept me busy and inspired!  Thank you to all of my readers. Your support means the world to me!  I hope that 2010 brings joy to each and every one of you. Now, it's time to start the NYE celebration!  I'm off to the Pearl in San Diego to kick back and relax for a couple of days. Happy New Year to you all!  

50 Years: L.A. Magazine and 1960's Architecture

In a few short hours, we'll be ringing in the new year and here in Los Angeles, we have many reasons to celebrate. In 2010, not only does L.A. magazine turns fifty (congrats!), but so does 1960's architecture.  Why is this important?  Well, it means that landmarks like Cinerama Dome, Dodger Stadium, the Forum, and the LAX Theme building will officially be classified as 'historic' and the Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee (ModCom) will has a much better case for protecting the outstanding architectural resources from that decade.  So, we are putting the spotlight on the 1960's!

Here are a few things you can do to celebrate these two milestones.  (1) Vote for you favorite 1960's buildings at the L.A. Conservancy's Sixties Turn Fifty website.  (2) Join us for the Sixties Turn Fifty home tour on March 14th, 2010 and (3) Celebrate L.A. Magazine's anniversary by sending in a photo of you in front of, beside, inside, on top of, or underneath (?)  your favorite L.A. historic place.  You could be featured at LAmag.com  Check here for details.

Eat.Shop Los Angeles: 3rd Edition

I was thrilled to hear that the 3rd edition of Eat.Shop Los Angeles will be coming out in May 2010! These indispensable guides have introduced me to some fantastic locally-owned businesses, not only while traveling, but in my very own city.  Ahh, I fondly recall the days spent wandering through Portland, noshing on Saint Cupcake and scoring modern home accessories from Canoe. I've also conquered the Philadelphia and Austin guides, which were equally delightful. The Eat.Shop Guides really help you appreciate the local flavor (Read: No touristy stuff here!) of big and small cities alike.

Just released in November were Boston: 2nd edition, Chicago: 3rd edition, Seattle: 4th edition, Vancouver: 2nd edition and the very first edition of New England. Here's a glimpse into these new must-have guides.  Now grab one, hop in the car or book a ticket and start exploring!

PS Modernism Week + Ace Hotel

Goodbye 2009 and hello 2010!  I'm excited for the new year and all the upcoming events that come with it. I'm currently plotting my escape to Palm Springs in February for Modernism Week. In addition to the 10th Annual Modernism Show + Sale, the schedule of events includes tours of the Albert Frey II house, a special screening of Julius Shulman: Desert Modern at the Frank Sinatra Twin Palms estate, a retro martini party at Lautner's Elrod House, and much more! This week-long event, filled with fun in the sun and mid-century modern mania is not to be missed.

Now the only question left is where to rest my head in between days spent scouting antiques, sipping cocktails, soaking in the sun, and scurrying around town taking it all in.  The answer: Ace Hotel will be offering the Frey Package, a Palm Spring Modernism Week exclusive with a special rate plus discounts at King's Highway restaurant, the Amigo Room, and the spa. In keeping with the week's theme, the hotel is a circa-1965 Howard Johnson motel and the restaurant was formerly a Denny's, both of which have been revamped with modern luxuries, but have most certainly maintained their original desert modern spirit.  Yep, I'll rest well at this old HoJo.  No doubt about it.

The Homies 2009

It's now or never. If you want your voice to be included in deciding the best home blogs for 2009, you have until December 29th to hop on over to Apartment Therapy to nominate your favorites. Then starting December 30th, you can vote on the top nominees until January 7th, when the winner is announced.  There are many, many shelter blogs out there that deliver inspiration everyday, so show them (and me! You can nominate Grace Hilton as one of your favorites) some love!

Octium by Hayon Studio

Jewelry is irresistible, no doubt about that.  It's shiny and sparkly and well, there's a reason why diamonds are a girl's best friend. So, it's quite a feat when a jewelry store can compete for your attention as much as the wares displayed in the cases. Enter Hayon Studio. For those of you who remember my two-part post on Jaime Hayon, you know I'm a fan and I was equally surprised and delighted by his latest project, Octium, a jewelry store in Kuwait which opened its doors in October 2009. The treasures at Octium, from exclusive jewelers around the globe, certainly deserve a place to shine and Hayon Studio delivers with a store that is decked out in luxurious materials, gleaming finishes, and eye-catching shapes cascading from the ceiling and emerging from the floor. It's as though you're inside a jewelry box nestled among all the precious metals, baubles and gems.

Shop At Show: Just 2 Days Left!

If I had to do my Christmas shopping in one store and one store only, I'm sure I could find a gift for everyone on my list at Show.  Brad Cook, owner and curator, has put together a diverse collection of treasures within the four walls of his small shop in Los Feliz.  While it might be small, it's mighty and packed with all kinds of goodies to give this holiday. The things that are on the top of my list include these curvaceous Bahari candlesticks, Klein Reed ceramic catch-alls in groovy shapes, these sweet handmade owls, and cheerful Pantone metal storage boxes.  Happy shopping everyone!

Christmas Countdown: Just 4 More Days!

Last Christmas, I received the most practical and certainly one of the most well designed gifts ever!  These snazzy Index chopping boards from Joseph and Joseph have a compact design, which translates to easy storage and less headache when trying to pack them in the dishwasher. Plus, they are super durable, look good even when left sitting on the countertop, and the color-coded boards mean no cross-contamination of foods.  

So, what's on my list from Joseph and Joseph this year? Well, their mixing bowl sets have won a slew of awards and the combo set below (the Nest 5) works perfectly with the color palette of my new kitchen.  Just like the cutting boards, the compact design is a total space saver and contributes to much tidier cabinets and drawers. Other smart ideas from Josesph and Joseph include a collapsible grater, a bread bin with a lid that doubles as a cutting board, and the Rinse and Chop, which is a cutting board that also acts as a colander.  Dual function items equal more space and less mess!  

The only question remaining: Where can you get these products with just four days left until Christmas?  In addition to the Moma Store, you can snag Joseph and Joseph items, amidst a great selection of affordable gifts, at Tara Riceberg's pop-up shop on 3rd Street, Tweak 99.  (Shopping tip: the store is divided into two categories - under $50 and under $100) Did I mention that the gifts are already pre-wrapped and ready to walk out the door?  Christmas shopping has never been so easy! 

 

Tara Riceberg(courtesy of the L.A. Times)

The Roxie Rancho Project: Kitchen Preview

We've experienced major victories and minor defeats over the last month as we've begun our Cliff May renovation. Well, this week we are closing in on a major accomplishment: Our new kitchen! It's been crazy busy this week with electricians, plumbers, cabinet makers, delivery people and appliance installers buzzing in and out.  So, the big question is, how is it coming along?  Well, here is a preview:

We've still got a way to go, but as you can see John McDonald from Handmade is installing some beautiful birch cabinetry and I'm listening to our appliances being put in place as I write this.  My dream of not having to go out to the refrigerator in the garage for my breakfast will soon be a reality!  Stay tuned for more photos and a wrap up of our kitchen project.  It will be finished by December 24th and we're excited to whip up a celebratory breakfast on Christmas morning!