Tudor meets white box

With a fair amount of wind under the bluest of sky, Luna’s garden moved ever so gracefully while remaining contained with its potted succulents acting as punctuations in this adult playground of tinker toys and crayons.

front yard water feature keeps the street sound away

Bamboo plume sways over cabana like a ' fascinator'

Crayola picket fence

clever split level water moat

graphic bed for a mighty king

perfectly placed potted succulents

round meets square

bubbles invade the laundry room

a working kitchen, no exposed cabinet hardware

water wise greenery, day lilies splatter their color

friends await

Roy's marvelous finishes exhilarate me

Art, Roy and Mike

a view from cabana

I was in a heaven that felt like a past childhood comfort zone.  Never wanting to leave, and knowing that a return would once again remind me of that zone where everything has order and place.  A time that had me coloring in my lines whilst tweaking at any opportunity.  Comforting to know that this characteristic does not live solo and that growing up is to once again become a child.  ~Suzan Fellman

stylish front porch says hello and goodbye

Every year, designers and stores on the street of La Cienega reinvent their front windows in celebration of a specific theme – this year, the Legends of La Cienega event honored legendary artists that provided inspiration for designers who participated.  Legends of La Cienega is a convergence of fashion, design, culture, art and education.  Suzan and I visited the La Cienega Design Quarter last Friday and went on our own self-guided tour.

What I found most interesting was to see how each designer interpreted their chosen artist.  Some  windows worked, and some didn’t but even the ones that didn’t exactly do it for me did have identifiable elements from their inspiration.

While the theme of this event was about honoring legends, it is also about interpretation.  The interplay between the designer, the designer’s chosen inspiration and the showroom’s furniture proved to make some very interesting displays, with creativity stemming from many different people.  Each window had it’s own tone, mixing different textures, fabrics and furniture pieces to create unique displays.

The first window we stopped at was created by SPI Design and honoring Donald Judd.  Judd is known for the minimalism in his creations.  In the early seventies, he moved to Marfa, Texas – a small town an hour from the border of Mexico.  It was in Marfa where Judd purchased the abandoned buildings of a former army base, and converted it into an artist compound.  Today, The Chinati Foundation exhibits the work of artists such as  Dan Flavin, John Chamberlain, and more.  Judd’s main goal for the Chinati Foundation was to bridge three things: art, architecture and nature.  I visited Marfa last summer, here are some images from Chinati.

Donald Judd's Boxes at the Chinati Foundation, photo by me

Dan Flavin exhibit, photo by me

Donald Judd's boxes through a window, photo by me

 As we headed south, we came across the George Smith showroom that was featuring David Hockney, designed by the talented people at Commune.  David Hockney was an important contributor to the pop art movement in the 1960s, and was inspired by Los Angeles to make his series of swimming pools.  What I liked about these windows was that they really did resemble Hockney’s paintings.  The colors are identical to those used in his work.  Hockney is known his use of colors to create the structure and the shape of his paintings, and the incorporation of 3-D shapes and objects adds movement to the displays.

Designed by Peter Durham, this window was in honor of Henri Matisse at the Pat McGann Gallery.  

In 1936, Florence Owen Thompson’s face became an iconic American image – “The Migrant Mother.”  Heading west in search of work, Florence and her family set up a temporary camp in the Imperial Valley, where photographer Dorothea Lange snapped these famous photos.  The Migrant Mother represents the backbone of the family – doing everything in her power to keep her family afloat.  Florence worked in a kitchen washing dishes for fifty cents a day so she could feed her children.  For many of us, mothers are the epitome of strength.

While it’s true that our mother’s might enjoy the conventional bouquet and a card on this celebrated day, we complied a list of our alternative Mother’s Day recommendations:

Brunch: Cora’s Coffee Shoppe in Santa Monica – Cora’s is located on Ocean Ave and has been serving breakfast and hot coffee since the 1920s.  While it’s small, they have a gorgeous ivy-enclosed patio and offer a wide range of food from pancakes to frittatas to steak.

 Hike/Horseback Ride: Sunset Ranch Hollywood Stables – Established in 1929, the ranch has been offering guided rides of the best view of Hollywood for over 50 years.  They also do evening rides – including a ride to Viva Fresh Mexican Restaurant in Burbank!

Sunset Ranch Stables

Groundview at the stables

The view from the trail at night

View of the Hollywood Sign on the way to the Stables

Clearly that last photo isn’t at the Sunset Ranch Stables… but it is a Mother/Daughter horseback ride nonetheless… From left to right – My mother Diane, Me, Krysta, and Krysta’s mother Bianca.  This was taken during a family camping trip to Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.

A Gift Certificate to One Kings Lane  - perfect for a last minute gift! One Kings Lane partners with designers and manufacturers to give you access to great deals and amazing finds – all curated by today’s top tastemakers.  Shop for timeless gifts or little luxuries for Mom!

Red Door Spa: Treat her to a Red Door Spa Day!  For over 100 years, Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Spas have been built on the idea that every guest who visits should leave refreshed and rejuvenated.  With 31 locations across the United States, you don’t have to be in the same city as your mother for her to take her spa day.

A Vintage Brown Alligator Handbag — Available at the Salon Laissez Faire store here

In honor of our own mothers, we proudly share:

Three Generations: Me, my step-grandmother Norma, my momma Diane

Another 3 Generations: Cranston Granny Fellman, Babs Fellman, Baby Sarah & her mom Nancy Hoyle-Fellman

While I may not actually know what it is to be a mother, I know that my momma raised me well and I am grateful for that.   Although not all of us can be physically with our mother’s on this day, her spirit is always present. Gift giving can be humble, it can be decadent , or it could be as personal and as innocent as just a phone call.

Throughout the Iron Age, the Bronze Age, the Medieval Period, the Industrial Revolution and so on, metal working has continuously and rapidly evolved.  Today we have access to an extensive range of metal materials as well as a great deal knowledge about working with this element.

Today we will highlight and bring attention to the different ways metal is used.

- Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover is an artist, designer and a self-proclaimed mad scientist.  He resides in New York City and casts interesting objects (and snack food) with pewter.

- Guns, Germs & Steal 

Since Spring of 2010, my best friend and I have been making brass metal wallets based on an old cigarette case mold.  My roommate took a metal-working class at Parsons, which is how we started making the wallets.  We hand-stamp the rap quotes, which adds to the handmade feel of collection.

-Suzan Fellman

The Chain Maille Lumbar Cushion designed by Suzan is made with stainless steel chain maille.  Generally, you wouldn’t think to pair steel with a pillow but in this case, it works.  The strong and tough look of the chain maille adds to the overall sleekness of the cushion.

- Naja & Merveilles

French designer Naja & Merveilles uses a special process that makes each piece unique.  Clearly very attentive with the quality of her creations, she selects specific Parisian workshops for their expertise and the unmatched quality of their work.

- Sarah

Shell gravel paths illuminate themselves on dark nights.

Spirit of Cape Cod architecture.

A forest community at the coast.

From there we head up the 101 towards Forks, Washington, made ever so popular by the author, Stephanie Meyer, as she sets Forks as the backdrop in the Twilight Series. You can feel the climate, smell the moisture, and hear the massive silence the forest makes against the Pacific coast, so spot on perfect for her young and pure vampire characters.

Though cloudy skies were accompanied with snap and chill, the Washington coast still gently vibrates with summer energy. About 2.5 hours outside Seattle, a teeny tiny speck of a town lies amongst the vast pine forest. It sits along the Washington coast, with its expansive beach and cement colored wet sand. This new community and town, Seabrook, is the brain child of Casey Roloff. Casey’s ultimate goal is for Seabrook to become a model for new communities across America.  He states, “Seabrook is a place of the soul, rather than a bunch of houses based on a builder’s formula.”

A pre-developed plot.

The exterior of the Coastal Living house in Seabrook

Windows: Andersen Windows, Power Screens: Sunbrella, Decking and Railing: AZEK

Outdoor Furniture: Agio

Tim Clarke, the designer, Nicole Hendrick, Idea Homes Manager and Sara Peterson, Editor of Coastal Living Magazine – visit Tim’s website here.

On opening night July 15th, Coastal Living Magazine and Seabrook, played host to Tim Clarke’s, ‘Ultimate Beach House’.  With a list of American vendors as sponsors, skilled builders, carpenters, and new local talent, Tim has filled his dream – for what could be his best work to date.

Wallcoverings: SJW Studios, Rug: Dash & Albert, Upholstered Chaise: Lee Industries, Paint: Pratt & Lambert, Flooring: Armstrong, Window Treatments: Hunter Douglas

Lighting: Circa Lighting, Sofa & Ottoman: Lee Industries, Wallcoverings: SJW Studios, Sink Basin: J. Tribble Collection, Faucets: Brizo, Rug: Dash & Albert

Lighting: Circa Lighting, Wallcoverings: SJW Studios, Rug: Dash & Albert, Beds: Lee Industries

Seabrook is not your ordinary beach town, though I doubt any beach town would want to be regarded as such.  Seabrook is new, 4 years old to be exact. So new and unspoiled that if one were to litter, they likely could be considered a bona fide criminal.  This town is based on old fashioned principles; that community comes from knowing thy neighbor, watching out for thy neighbor and socializing with thy neighbor.  Literally.

Homes are built very close to one another, forcing the intimacy.  Within its rows and rows of Cape Cod style homes, Seabrook feels like its very own civilization. One that includes the importance in preserving the forest, and using the forest as the blanket that keeps its town safe from storms, allowing the massive pines to do what they do so well, standing tall and proud while providing stunning beauty.

Community Bicycles

For most of the 2 days that I spent there, I could not help but feel that I was on some sort of film set for a story that teams Twilight with Desperate Housewives (without the sun of Wisteria Lane).  Nothing seemed completely real.  It is as if the people were just placed there in this new town to exist.  There is a market – the Seabrook market – self-proclaimed ‘the best market in Seabrook’, well heck, it is the only market in Seabrook, and across  the spotless asphalt street is the Seabrook cafe.  Open for lunch, dinner, and cocktails… yes, the only bar in town!  Funny that they will garnish a sundae with whip cream right next to the caddy of scotch, bourbon and gin.

Seabrook Cafe - Only restaurant/bar in town!

Sitting at the counter for lunch,  I chatted it up with a fine young man who tells me that he is with Starbucks.  Heads up the digital ventures department for Starbucks, and resides in Seattle with his fiance and two dogs.  They jaunt twice a month to their cottage in Seabrook.  I ask him why Seabrook?  ‘The beach, my dogs love the beach, the community’.  What about the winters? I ask.  “Oh, they are great, rain comes down sideways, we stay in and build fires.”  He can see his dream of starting his family in Seabrook, and the newness of it all.   He is the first to live in his new cottage, he is the first to reside in this new town, he is the first of his many generations to come that will inhabit this town and bring with it a sense of history that he and his neighbors will create.  That sounds like one clean slate to me but perhaps more likely, he is a breed of new pioneers.

Sofa: Lee Industries, Lighting: Circa Lighting, Wallcoverings: SJW Studios, Rug: Dash & Albert

Check out our picnic baskets at Salon Laissez Faire.

A Tim Clarke beach vignette.

Charmed?  I am charmed, and, I am on the fence.  Could I manage a life there, one that is so almost nothing, with respect to the complications we make living in an urban community?  Driving, rushing, texting, manicures, and plain old hustling. Could I fill out my wildest dreams of creativity?  What about depravity of culture?  Or, could I find solace in the calmness of just living. That’s right, merely waking and walking, eating and breathing, tending and mending.  Almost sounds like old times, very old times, with a brand new meaning.

Window Shade Fabric: Sunbrella, Siding: Best Shingle Sales, Inc

Art Luna creating wildflower displays for Opening Night.

Art Luna Gardens, Lighting: Circa Lighting,

What ever you might think about this town, something holds true and shiny like a brand new nickel.  You can start a new life, you can reinvent it with a new beginning, one that you might of never imagined. Seabrook wants you, welcomes you and has you in its plans.

Suzan stands in the gazebo under a pelican weather vane.

-Suzan Fellman

Cecil Beaton is a legendary costume designer, diarist, fashion photographer, stage and film designer.  Using floating brushstrokes sourced from his archives of sketches, his fabric collection brings the worlds of fine art and couture fashion into the home interiors market. Cecil Beaton achieved great success during his 60 years in the industry. Described as “timeless and determined”, Beaton has always been at the top of the design field. His impact has been so great that nearly thirty years after his death, a collection of textiles have been created from his famous drawings and designs.  The specific collection we are showcasing in this post are his beautiful Beaton Rose patterns.  Suzan Fellman represents the Cecil Beaton Textile and Wall Covering collection.

These wallpapers are available for purchase through Suzan Fellman

Beaton Bloom Wallpaper (Left), Beaton Boquet on Chair (Left)  — Beaton Rose on Chair (Right)

Suzan stands at the Paul+ Raulet showroom in Atlanta, where they hosted a trunk show for her and the Cecil Beaton collection on August 12th, 2010.

An original Beaton beauty dressed in an iconic Beaton Rose Dress

Switching over to fashion – on the runway this season, many designers are incorporating floral patterns into their clothing.  Above we highlight four designers – Paul & Joe,  Zahair Murad, Elie Saab, and Tory Burch – who all made use of flowers.

I was flipping through the pages of Hidden Gardens of Spain by Eduardo Mencos and came across a section my eye was immediately drawn to – San Segundo. I started reading in the middle of the page and began to realize I had actually been to the city this garden resides in – Ávila, Spain.  What initially drew me to the pictures was the contrast of the stone against the roses – solid, rigid rock paired with the delicateness of a rose.  Ávila is an entirely walled city and the highest in Spain.  The San Segundo garden is laid out in the shape of a cross with a diamond in the middle – the pool.  To the owner, Paco, the garden was about taking “time to appreciate all that is exquisite and fine about it, how one feels simply being in the space itself and what one brings to the space as an individual.”

San Segundo

Broughton Castle

Not only is the rose the national flower of England, but also roses are extremely prominent in English gardens.  At Broughton Castle in Oxfordshire, roses decorate the stonewalls that line the garden.  This castle was built in 1306 and both the castle and gardens are enclosed by a moat, according to David Hicks, the author of Cotswold Gardens this castle “offers one of the most romantic settings anywhere in the Cotswolds.”  Just like wallpaper, the ancient walls are enveloped with old-fashioned roses giving the cold stonewalls a soft and charming aesthetic.

There are over 100 species of roses – the Jackson & Perkins catalog provides readers with a vast selection of exclusive new strains.  The 2011 Floribunda of the Year is called Shazam! They write, “Only one word is needed to describe this year’s Floribunda of the Year. Shazam! packs a punch with large clusters of sassy hot pink and yellow blooms and a spicy fragrance that will knock your socks off.”  Just flipping through the pages of the catalog, it amazes me how many kinds of roses there are … Miniature Roses, Antique Roses, Disease Resistance Roses, Climbing Roses, and so on.  The science behind rose-growing is truly remarkable.

Krislyn Komarov of Krislyn Design creates beautiful, decorative botanical pieces.  This unique and organic art is truly gorgeous. This piece was made with dried red leaves to appear like a rose.  While the rose is delicate – Krislyn’s piece has a touch of ruggedness by adding the hard outer shell.

These charming rose silver-plated spoons are made by French designers Naja & Merveilles.  The set of six adorable spoons is $345, and the designer uses a special process that makes each piece unique.  They couldn’t be more perfect for eating Rosewater Sorbet…

In honor of the rose, we’ve listed our favorite rose items on the Salon Laissez Faire eBay store:

Guns N Roses Wall Hanging

Vintage Matlasse Cotton Throw with Peach Roses

Vintage Cabbage Rose English Glaze Yardage

To celebrate we’re heading over to Mashti Malone’s Ice Cream to taste the famous Rosewater Sorbet. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, be sure to check out the delicious flavors –

1525 North La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90028

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and to end, we will leave you with a quote…

“One may live without bread, not without roses.”

-Jean Richepin

By Sarah Stevens

Rabbit from Celia Birtwell's "Beasties"

Chinese Lunar New Year falls on February 3rd and is celebrated with two weeks of feasting, parades, fireworks and family reunion. The year of the Rabbit is said to be a year in which everyone can and will be calm and tranquil.  Those born in the year of the Rabbit ( like our lucky associate, Chelito) are said to be ambitious, talented and financially lucky. In Chinese culture, color plays a significant role throughout the year, but it becomes even more important during the celebration of the New Year.  When celebrating this holiday, many wear the color red. Red symbolizes  virtue, truth, and sincerity and is meant to ward off evil spirits and back luck.  Children are given red envelopes with specific amounts of money inside, but avoid any association with the number 4, because in Chinese is phonetically sounds similar to the word death. .

Photo taken by Suzan walking around Chinatown before the Chinese Lunar New Year

While red in considered to be an auspicious color, flowers such as red chrysanthemums, red peach blossoms, yellow daffodils and yellow sunflowers are all widely used flowers during this time and their colors carry great meaning.   Yellow symbolizes Yin and Yang, implying balance and centrality.  Many Buddhist temples are decorated with yellow, as it also signifies neutrality and good luck.  

While browsing the Suzan Fellman library I came across a book called More is More Tony Duquette by Hutton Wilkinson.  The book contains countless photographs of the amazing and stunning Duquette house, along with other photos chronicling this mans life.

Tony was heavily influenced by Chinoiserie – a 17th century French term “Chinese-esque” used to describe the European appropriation of oriental styles,.  What  started out as an act of imitation had  eventually become a Western style on its own, as Europeans would pastiche their own Rococo and Baroque elements.

The image below is a sitting room at the garden level at the Duquette’s Beverly Hills home .  Tony created this small bed out of gilded and lacquered carvings from  all over the Far East, including China.  The fantastic use of red underlines Tony’s admiration of Asian culture and color symbolism.

There is even Chinoiserie here at the Suzan Fellman studio – This oriental sconce has elements similar to the building pictured below it.  The sconce emphasizes the horizontal, which is similar to the design of a Chinese pagoda that accents the width of buildings,  rather than their height.  The sweeping slopes or upturned eaves on both the top of the sconce and the roof of the pictured building are normally reserved for temples and  signify harmony and grace as it reaches towards the heavens.

On a final note, can we talk about  this gorgeous vintage Chinoiserie fabric ?  Based on the fabric’s width, it  was most likely made in the  40s or 50s.  Stunning tones of turquoise, pink, and metallic gold make this amazing glazed and printed linen-rayon blend an exceptional treasure.

As quickly as the years and trends go, much like a speedy rabbit, chinoiserie will always remain golden.

Wishing you all the best and most prosperous year of te Golden Rabbit!

Gong Hee Fat Choy!

-Sarah

Personally, what makes these towers so amazing is that Simon Rodia had absolutely no drawn out plans for the construction and barely any money to spend on this project.  With such little resources and little help, he created something completely his own that still flourishes over fifty years later.

Located in Southern Los Angeles, Watts has had a history marked by racial injustice and violence, but this city also has an interesting art history. The late Watts resident Simon Rodia constructed the now famous structure from 1921 to 1954, using materials that he found around the neighborhood.

For decades, Rodia felt compelled to obsessively collect the broken and the discarded , such as seashells,ceramic tiles,  bottles, porcelain and scrap metal to create a labyrinth of 17 interconnected structures with two spires reaching 19 feet in height.  Initially, the local community were scared and confused by this curiosity, but would soon embrace the project and be proud and inspired for generations after.

The idea of “sustainability” and the re-appropriation of “recycled objects” has been around forever and using found objects to create something new is inspiring for all fields of art – interior & furniture design, architecture, fashion,  and even music. However, it’s still important to highlight specific projects such as this one, and the Watts towers are a perfect example of re-using discarded objects to create something.

As we walked around the perimeter  within the neighborhood we captured the frontyard of a home across from the site. Check out the pitbull with the leather belt around his neck sitting among the trash bins and a toilet bowl! The dichotomy between a rundown and dilapidated neighborhood with the tall striking towers proved that beauty can and does exist even in the most unassuming of places.

The Sunday after our trip Stephanie found 1961 issue of Vogue and flipping through it she noticed a two page spread on the Watts Towers – it must have been a sign!   Even though it is believed that Rodia never returned to the towers after he left Watts in 1955, his legacy has became a defining characteristic of this community.  While trends may come and go, these immense sculptures will always remain “en vogue.”

Photography and writing by Sarah Stevens

Email us at info@suzanfellman.com with any questions you may have about these great pieces.

Stay tuned.  We still have more for you next week!

Pair of Chinese Ornate Copper Lantern Wall Sconces: Our Price-$4500 , Your Price-$2800

Pair of Snapping Turtle Sconces: Our Price-$950, Your Price-$450

California Artist Modern Pottery: Our Price-$350, Your Price-$175

Battenberg Lotus Tea Set: Our Price-$250, Your Price-$100

Etched Crystal Decanter with Numbered Stopper: Our Price-$495, Your Price-$299

Still Life Needlepoint Pillow: Our Price-$350, Your Price-$150

French Charcuterie Curing Rack: Our Price-$700, Your Price-$300

Hand Made Copper Bar Sink: Our Price-$550, Your Price-$295

Pair of Antique Hearse Drapery Panels: Our Price-$4500, Your Price-$2500

Popsicle Stick Hanging Pendant: Our Price-$750, Your Price-$300

French Chandelier: Our Price-$2200, Your Price-$900

Carved Wood Side Table: Our Price-$2300, Your Price-$900

Pair of Large Scale Brass Planters: Our Price-$3500, Your Price-$1700

Antique Calcutta Teak Double Caned Sofa with Khaki Linen Cushion: Our Price-$15,000, Your Price-$7500

Antique Calcutta Teak Double Caned Sofa with Robin's Egg Blue Linen Cushion: Our Price-$15,000, Your Price-$7500

Antique Calcutta Teak Double Caned Chair: Our Price-$7500, Your Price-$3500

Antique Calcutta Teak Double Caned Chair: Our Price-$7500, Your Price-$3500