Welcome to L.A.

Because I was going to Los Angeles for the Design Bloggers Conference starting on Sunday evening, February 26th, I decided to make a long weekend of it. One of my dearest cousins lives in L.A. We grew up together; my mother and her mother were like sisters. I always love to visit her and "play" in L.A. ("Play" in OUR language means shop.) Before I became a designer, that meant visiting my favorite fashion store, Fred Segal. Now that I'm a designer, it means visiting home furnishings stores that are novel for me as someone from the Northeast. Today, I'm featuring my visit to Grace Home Furnishings in Brentwood. (By the way, as part of my blog, I often hope to feature other stores that I frequent or happen upon.)

Perhaps you've seen Grace Home Furnishings' advertisements in shelter magazines. They prominently feature the store's mascot, Gracie, a beautiful chocolate brown Labrador retriever. Gracie posed for me:

                                             

The store brands itself as a mix of "East Coast refinement and Old Hollywood glamour with the comfort and ease of Southern California living." Michael Ostrow, a co-founder with Roger Stoker, told me that they have also been credited with reinvigorating the color turquoise. So much so that they had hoped to change their window display before hosting a reception for the Design Bloggers Conference. I didn't mind. What I love about the store is how important color is to their style, a passion I share with them.

It was great to see a lot of orchid--a color I blogged about several weeks ago. It was present in upholstery, lamp shades and carpets. I love how orchid mixes with neutrals, and the store's displays showcased that beautifully. Here is a beautiful orchid headboard mixed with browns and whites:

                   

                           Above: "Channing Bed" available  on Grace Home Furnishings newly-launched online shop

   

         Mercury Glass Lamp with Orchid Shade                                     Another Fave--Ikat--in Orchid Colorway.  

     

Accessories are abundant at Grace Home Furnishings, and many caught my eye. I loved this ceramic garden seat that looked like Wedgwood Jasperware--so formal and elegant but I can so see it in a casual California interior. (I think that the East Coast version of casual and the West Coast version are completely different. What is considered casual--appropriate for a family room on the West Coast--would be formal for a living room on the East Coast after what I saw at Grace Home Furnishings).

I also loved this lamp shade for a floor lamp. It looks like something from the Victorian Era but is so completely 21st Century in its colors, pattern and beading.

This foo dog lamp is great: it's sculptural in form but adds texture and pattern with the cream and brown shade.

Poufs are the "go-to" accessory these days and this one does not disappoint. It adds texture to the form in a flirty fun way.

                              

My favorite accessory of all were these illuminated bombe urn lamps. So fabulous for a console or buffet! I wish they would come in other colors (hint, hint).

Newly introduced is the Grace Home Furnishings Online Shop where you can purchase some of their classic pieces, including upholstery, case goods and accessories. (I didn't feature their famous case goods here on the blog but you must take a look. They're very Hollywood Regency.) One wonderful feature of Grace Home's custom pieces is that they're all made in the U.S.--in California in fact--so you know that quality control is tightly monitored.