Little Designer Book » in the home

Couture in the kitchen?

andrea — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:13:29 +0000

That’s no Stepford Wife. That’s Kitchen Couture! All I have to say is…why didn’t I think of this! Of course, I would have to spend time in the kitchen for that to happen. (my poor husband)

But who really knew an apron could look oh so couture! Michele Fox and her mother Dalyne Easley, are the design minds behind this fabulous line. And I’m so excited to bring their new collection to you for the first time.

Not only does Kitchen Couture include several adorable designs, colors and fabrics to choose from, they have also discovered a new use for all of your dusty bridesmaid dresses. (and let’s face it…we all have them) Did you ever think that aquamarine dress with puffy sleeves from 1987 could actually be a fabulous couture apron?! Well, dust that puppy off and send it in!

In a recent interview with Michele, I asked her to tell me more about this concept, they call the “27 Dresses Collection“. Here is what she had to say:

I have to give the ‘kudos’ to my mom for this one. She has been a seamstress for over forty years. When I was little, she even used to sew my dresses and bikinis! When my husband and I got married, she really wanted to sew my wedding dress- but of course, I wanted to enjoy shopping for a dress, rather than stressing out about having the perfect dress made for me. So she asked if she could sew the bridesmaid dresses for my wedding. I had nine bridesmaids, so I knew she had a big job ahead of her- but she exceeded my expectations (as always). And they turned out BEAUTIFUL. When we started making the aprons, she found my bridesmaid dress pattern again and some extra fabric left over from my wedding. So she decided to recreate the dress, but to modify it for an apron. I was skeptical, but when she brought the completed dress/turned/apron to me I was floored! It is amazing and the concept is so unique. We just knew it would be a great new service and collection to offer.

The 27 Dresses Collection as well as many other Kitchen Couture designs are reversible. If you get one side dirty, just turn it around in time to greet guests at the door. You’ll always be the hottest housewife. Fabulous!

I also asked Michele where she is when she isn’t working. And I found her answer very interesting:

When I’m not working, I’m usually at the gym or spending time with my boys and my amazing husband. I used to be a professional event planner and recently started to volunteer my time to plan fundraisers for a non-profit called Sail Through Cancer where proceeds from charity events go to benefit Susan G. Komen and the American Cancer Society. Kitchen Couture is actually a sponsor for the events and, starting in June, we will be donating 10% of all sales to the Sail Through Cancer Foundation. We are also looking to coordinate boutique sales to benefit STC as well.

Michele and Dalyne are looking for great boutiques to carry their line and super hot housewives to wear these great aprons. If you fall into one of these categories, click here.

Great work, ladies! And best of luck on your new line.

Simply Sarah is Simply Fabulous

andrea — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:38:54 +0000

Purse Parlor Handy Hold All- $30.00

We have another great designer! I recently discovered Sarah Shaw from our network of SUPER talent we are building here at LDB. I just couldn’t resist telling you about her products, especially a fabulous organizational tool perfect for the fall.

In our interview, she gave LDB an inside look into her business beginnings and some of her design favorites. Sarah has been in the business for over 10 years and has accumulated both extensive experience in design and her share of accolades!

Here’s what she had to share with us from her studio in L.A…

LDB: You’ve created a product called the Handy Hold All™. Tell us about it. What problem does it solve and where did you get the inspiration for the idea?

SS: This is the perfect item for tiny living, a small closet or just for someone that has a big handbags collection! Just hang it on a hook or nail inside the closet or on our over-the-door hook and voilá! Your handbags, scarves and BB caps never looked so neat. I created the Handy Hold All™ because my BFF was moving into a new house with very small closets and she had a big collection of my old line of handbags. We realized that we needed to devise some sort of vertical hanging thing so she could maximize her shelf space.

LDB: What do you enjoy most about the process of creating a new item?

SS: What don’t I love about creating? I love the whole idea of making something out of a simple idea or recreating an existing item to make it so much better. The part I like the best is picking out the fabrics and watching the whole thing come together.

LDB: When and how did you decide that this was the right career for you?

SS: I had actually been working in the film industry for 12 years and had an idea for a pink-edged handbag. I never thought I’d actually go into business for myself but when I made a few and showed them to friends everyone wanted some so I just sort of fell into it.

LDB: What has been the most exciting experience since beginning this business?

SS: Simply Sarah is my 5th business and the 3rd in fashion accessories. The most exciting thing that has happened so far is that we just got accepted into the largest catalog in Japan!

LDB: Which piece in your collection are you the most proud of?

SS: The item I am the most proud of is the Purse Parlor Handy Hold All™ as the handbags on it come from my old collection. It was an homage to my handbag line and I never told anyone until today!

LDB: Where are you when you aren’t working?

SS: When I’m not working, I’m with my 19 month-old identical twin girls, Alix and Madeline. They are super scrumptious and keep me on my toes. We spend a lot of time at parks, their little pool and visiting with friends. I also love to entertain so we have people over all the time for BBQ’s and to hang out. My husband is a great BBQ chef.

LDB: Do you have a favorite online/boutique shop?

SS: I have a few favorite online sites I visit for inspiration mostly:

http://decor8blog.com/

http://realsimple.com

https://www.frenchgeneral.com/

As I spend most of my working time online, writing or designing, I spend a lot of time in mom forums promoting myself and learning how other moms do things. There is a lot to learn online and I try to learn something new everyday.

Well said, Sarah! Best of luck with Simply Sarah Shaw.

Design at your Door

andrea — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:37:03 +0000

Girl's Studio- After (Super Chic!)

I’m looking around my living room, a “work in progress” for the almost five years we’ve lived in this house. Someday I’ll get around to finding that one-of-a-kind-handpainted-in-Italy coffee table for a really great price. (Yeah right!)

But I recently learned about a new service that I’d never heard of before. And I’m thinking that amazing coffee table could actually come true in my living room. Today I spoke with the Lara Fishman, founder of a new company based in Los Angeles called Designers Call. Designers Call uses their connections with hard-to-find suppliers of vintage pieces and designs and brings them to you at a cost that is…for once…affordable! Brilliant! Lara, where have you been all my life? Take a look at the “After” picture above and click here for the “Before”. Wow!

I recently sat down with Lara and learned more about her business ideas and what she hopes to offer her clients.

Best-Selling Tottoman

Lara expressed to me that Designers Call is about making the previously unaffordable design expertise, affordable for you. In addition, Lara offers a line of unique and functional design items that can also help dress up your room, including this fabulous “tottoman” that is adorable and functional in a child’s bedroom. The top comes off to reveal much-needed storage space without sharp corners or rough edges, avoiding the risk of pinched fingers.

But the best part of the Designer’s Call experience is their “designwagen“, a studio on wheels! It comes right to your door unloading option after great option right into your living room. But when I asked her if someone across the country could take advantage of this service, she quickly said “yes”. Their online capabilities have made the process of designing homes out of the area just as easy.

Here is Lara speaking more about Designers Call and how she loves to take unwanted pieces and redesign them before they hit a landfill. Learn why she is a favorite of so many people including A-listers like Christina Applegate.

Click here for more information about what this design team can offer you. We’ll be updating you on upcoming Designers Call news and events including “Trash to Treasures” coming in July. So stay tuned for more!

Thanks, Lara.

Redesign: Shop In Your Own Home

andrea — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:56:01 +0000

We recently sat down with Jill Seidner, an interior designer in L.A. She works within a person’s style and budget. Often, that includes working with existing furnishings like a family heirloom or a favorite piece. Because she uses existing pieces so often, I asked Jill about her ideas on ways to use what you already have in a room to make the space “new” again. Here is what she had to say:

It’s so often stated that at times when you can’t afford a new wardrobe addition to look within what you already have, or in other words: ”shop in your own closet.” I’m always tiring of a handbag and when I go to look through the big box of purses I have, and come across the bag I haven’t used in the past few years - I always feel like I just went out and got a new purse! Not so new, it’s just I haven’t used it in quite some time and what was old feels new again! Likewise, you can take the same approach in your own home!

Here’s how:

*Artwork & Accessories: Many of my clients seem to have some spare closet stashed with some old prints or posters. some framed, others unframed. Likewise, with accessories - perhaps some gift items that got put away, never quite knowing what to do with it or where to display it. Make use of artwork, postcards, posters, prints, etc by having them framed or purchase your own frames. Create a collage on a wall or display artwork on bookshelves, tables, lean artwork against the wall or on a bookshelf, etc. I enjoy creating little vignettes - I will stack big coffee table books and lean a small picture against the books or place a candle on the top of a stack of books. Decorating with books is another great use of styling - stacking several books on a coffee table is a great way to make use of what you already have.

*Furniture: Working with an interior designer to use your existing furniture may often be the best alternative to going out and purchasing all new furniture, especially if it’s not in your budget. I often walk into a client’s home and see furniture that is in good condition but just not in the right places. I can visually see a better alternative to the furniture layout and by using the furnishings they have already can help better define a seating grouping or entryway. Consider taking inventory of what pieces you have and where they may be better placed or rearranged. Don’t be afraid to move things around (they can always be put back!).

*Repurposing: It’s been said many times over - someone’s trash is another person’s treasure. Whether in your own home or someone else’s those old times can be spruced up: re-painted, re-stained, re-covered, new hardware - and it has a whole new life again! I was just working with a client who has a ton of furniture but it all looks so dated. The little writing desk that was in her boys’ bedroom is now in her daughter’s bedroom and we are going to paint it white and add crystal knobs; it’s a perfect fit for her 8 year-old girl but the boys have outgrown the desk. Another client of mine, rather than buy a new bed frame for her two daughters, took the existing oak bed frame, cut off the footboard, painted the headboard white - and now it looks like a whole new bed! She had so much fun painting the bed - the girls are now going to do the same to two little nightstands that were in the master bedroom and make them theirs by painting it a fun color and adding new hardware.

There are so many more things you can do with items in your own home. When I am styling on a photo shoot, I will take platters, vases, trays from the kitchen and stack them on a coffee table, the breakfast table, etc. If you look around your own home, you may discover what’s old is new again with a little creativity.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Jill. Great design ideas! For more inspiration from Jill or for more information on how she can help you, visit her website.

Gorgeous Glass!!

andrea — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:19:30 +0000

Andy Gersh- Omni Hotel in Chicago

I have to admit that glass is not a medium I have thought much about before now. My only approach to glass in my house is to remember to NOT give one to the kids at the dinner table. But as a designer myself, I’m always intrigued by the design process of others, so when I was approached by Andy Gersh of Los Angeles about featuring his glass designs,I was excited to meet with him and learn more about this new world of glass.

Andy graduated from CalArts, a prestigious school for the Arts near L.A. with a degree in animation. But he soon discovered that his interests were elsewhere. What began with a little dabbling in

Aqua & Yellow Stringer Plate

mosiacs, followed by stained-glass, has now become an obsession with a method called fused glass.

Because he was talking to a novice, Andy simplified the process for me by describing how he first cuts the glass pieces, matches them together and cooks them in a very large kiln. And…VOILÀ! A new necklace, bowl or platter is born!

See more samples of Andy’s work at his website. I’m told that no job is too big. So if you’ve been meaning to demo that wall in your living room and replace it with a fabulous glass alternative…well, you know where to go!

Thanks for taking the time to talk with LDB, Andy. Best of luck!