Design for Living Larchmont Chronicle MAY 2014
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earn what it's like to live in a modern home and hear from the architects about where they got their inspiration at a Modern Home Tour Sat., May 3. (Turn to page 4)
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ind out what's trending in our neighborhood in home design. (Turn to page 8)
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design for living SAF KEEP STORAGE English country estate is Showcase House of Design SAF KEEP STORAGE
An English country estate by architect Stiles O. Clements is highlighted at the 50th annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design through Sun., May 11. Designed for Robert Phillip
Flint, a manufacturer of carbonic acid and oxygen gas, and his wife, Margaret, in 1915, the residence sits on a three-andone-half acre wooded estate. It includes a carriage house, riv-
er-rock spring house, rose garden, pool, bath house, tennis and badminton courts, green house, gardener’s potting shed and pond. Visit pasadenashowcase.org.
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Area homes receive design treatment from Betsy Burnham
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By Jane Gilman When Betsy Burnham switched vocations from fashion to interior design, she took a risk. “It wasn’t easy to find clients back then,” but a friend who hired her also referred other clients to the designer and her business took off. Today, Burnham Design is a success, and the firm’s four employees include her business partner, Max Humphrey . We spoke with Betsy in the living room of her 1927 Hancock Park home filled with a mix of patterns and colors that were compatible without being overwhelming.
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She is a collector, and scattered through the living room, dining room and library are some of her Chinese Fu dogs, bird sculptures, American folk art and contemporary paintings. The blonde Connecticut native says her style is “classic but not stuffy.” She loves working with clients in the area because of the homes’ great architectural features like moldings and baseboards. “My main focus is on largescale projects, working on a team with the client, archi-
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tect, and builder; I do mostly large scale remodels and new constructions as well as furnishing jobs,” she pointed out. Her “Instant/Space” concept began four years ago that enables the client to receive valuable design advice at a cost much less than working one-on-one with a designer. For a flat fee (a living room plan is about $1,500), Betsy creates a master schematic online, including resources and phone advice. There are no budgets, fees and markups—just a creative design plan. It is an alternative to the traditional full-service designer who comes to your house, and spends the next few years with you, she explained. Instant/Space is for people who want to receive valuable advice at a less expensive price tag. Betsy and her staff design a room or rooms, then send a box filled with a design concept board, a schematic furniture plan, flooring ideas, fabric swatches, color samples and a shopping list of nearby or online resources. “We have clients all over the country who use our Instant/ Space.” Her designer’s eye recently found a colorful woven basket while on a trip through Morocco. “I had to get off the camel I was riding to purchase it,” she said. Whether traveling with husband Mark Stern or keeping up with daughter Carson and son Will, Betsy keeps current on decorating trends.
Design for Living Larchmont Chronicle larchmontchronicle.com 323-462-2241
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design for living imprint. In addition are updated Craftsman and beach cottages where the homeowners respect the past, and slick new homes designed by local architects. Venice landscape designer Jay Griffith and community leaders Linda Lucks and Jan Brilliot founded the tour to
Blvd. and to the beach streets adjacent to the Venice boardwalk. The tour features homes by Larchmont’s Rios Clementi Hale, Koenig Eisenberg, Arata Isoaki and more with landscape designs by Gardenerd, Jay Griffith and Rios Clementi Hale. Highlights will include a startling remodel of a 1920s bungalow into a California Modern with a spacious vegetable garden. There is also an architect’s three-story light-filled solution to how to make a comfortable family 11:53 AM home from a 600-square-foot
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Guests will get a close look at artists’ studios, homes and offices of architects and designers as well as gardens that vary from lush to spare on the self-guided Venice Garden & Home Tour on Sat., May 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 21st annual tour, featuring 30 gardens and homes that reflect the creative use of indoor/outdoor living spaces, will raise funds for the Neighborhood Youth Association’s Las Doradas Children’s Center. Tour-goers can walk, ride or bike through Venice1 neighJonesesAdLC.pdf 4/24/14 borhoods east of Abbot Kinney
biking and walking are encouraged. Tax-deductible, rain-orshine tickets are $60 in advance, $70 on tour day. Children under 12 are admitted free. Call 310-821-1857 or go to www.venicegardentour.org for more information.
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THE TOUR reflects creative use of indoor/outdoor living spaces.
Venice garden, home tour to benefit children’s center
provide financial support for the childcare facility that offers full-time education-based day care to low-income working families. The tour begins at Neighborhood Youth Association, 1016 Pleasant View Ave., at 10 a.m. Neighborhood parking and shuttle vans are available;
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design for living Author talks at Ebell on classic homes in Hancock Park Douglas Woods, author of “Classic Homes of Los Angeles,” will speak at the Ebell of Los Angeles on Mon., May 5 at a noon luncheon. The talk is co-sponsored by the Windsor Square-Hancock
Park Historical Society. Woods, Windsor Village, will be covering many local architecturally significant and historic homes in his talk. His recent book, “Dreaming Small: Intimate Interiors,”
debuted in March. For tickets and more information, go to www.ebelleventtickets.com. Tickets are $25 for Ebell members and $30 for nonmembers.
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past nine years, and one of the world’s Top 40 interior designers by The Robb Report. His debut line of furniture for Schumacher combines an Old World sense of elegance with a California brand of ease for a debut collection of fabrics and furnishings that’s both chic and livable, said a company spokesman. He recently wrote a book on his experiences renovating his home in France. The book, "An Invitation to Chateau du Grand-Lucé," was published by Rizzoli.
View homes and meet the owners and the architects on the Venice/Santa Monica Modern Home Tour Sat., May 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A+D Museum in Miracle Mile is the nonprofit partner and beneficiary of the self-driving tour. The Channel HOME features double-height ceiings and Rd. home in Santa creekside views. Monica uses "natural and technological forces," generating more electricity than the house can consume; strategic orientation of the building captures prevailing winds and maximizes day lighting. Another home features a creekside setting and soaring double-height ceilings. Tickets are $30 on the day of the tour; advanced purchase is $25 through Fri., May 2 at 8 p.m. Kids under FRONT PAGE: Channel Rd. 12 are free. Visit modern- home exterior. Above, open floor plan inside. hometours.com.
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design for living MAK Center lauds Schindler, marks 20th anniversary The MAK Center for Art and Architecture at the Schindler House celebrates its 20th anniversary year by kicking off a fundraising weekend honoring the architect R. M. Schindler
on Sat., May 17. The MAK Center hosts a private sunset cocktail reception in R. M. Schindler’s How House (1925), which includes a garden designed by Richard
since 1980 •
Neutra. The cocktail event includes a brief talk with Schindler expert Judith Sheine. Tickets for the reception are $50. Visit makcenter.org.
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HISTORIC Beaux Arts-style residence built in 1911 will be at its finest for garden tour.
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‘Pathways to Paradise’ lead to Robinson Gardens tour
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Friends of Robinson Gardens will host its annual benefit garden tour “Pathways to Paradise” on Sat., May 17 at Virginia Robinson Gardens, 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The historic Beaux Arts-style residence will be at its finest, with rooms created by L.A. designers, including Larchmont Village’s Marcie Bronker, who will design the living room in the main residence. Among other design and floral participants are Hermes,
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Cartier, Scandia Home, Silver Birchers, Eddie Zaratsian Custom Florals & Lifestyle, Mayfair House, Anthropologie and Twig & Twine. The 26th annual event includes lunch on the Great Lawn, an informal fashion show, a boutique and garden tours. The annual tour is the only day the entire estate is open to the public. For tickets or more information, go to www.robinsongardens.org or call 310550-2068.
Auction features pieces by Billy Haines designs L.A. Modern Auctions will offer more than 30 custom William “Billy” Haines designs on Sun., May 18. Haines was a box office star in the 20s and 30s who went on to become an interior designer. Early clients included his Hollywood friends such as Carole Lombard, Marion Davies and George Cukor. Later, Nancy ARMCHAIRS, desk, and lamp will be aucand Ronald Rea- tioned May 18. gan (when he was governor of California) and Betsy Bloomingdale were among his clients. He also co-designed the Annenberg Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage. The designs in the auction were commissioned in 1960 by Rita Roedling, daughter of “Wizard of Oz” producer Mervyn LeRoy and his wife, Kitty. The property is being sold by Rita’s daughter, Anita May Rosenstein. The collection includes lounge chairs, dining tables, table lamps, side tables, stools and bedroom furnishings. Email Shannon@lamodern.com to learn how to bid or for more information.
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design for living Garden Tour, Party fundraiser benefits L.A. High, bees The Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society Los Angeles Garden Tour & Party April 27 paid homage to the plight of the vanishing honeybee. Gardens both large and
small were represented on the ninth annual tour, which benefits a greening project at Los Angeles High School. Cochairs were Suz Landay, Fluff McLean and Mary E. Nichols. Planting a “bee friendly”
garden was on the program at one home. A tour was led by Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson, enacted by a historic researcher. Front page photo shows area garden. More photos are at larchmontchronicle.com.
VISIT OUR NEW SHOWROOM TEXTILE and interior designer Marcie Bronkar is a fan of chairs, such as these she paired in a living room.
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By Helene Seifer Last December, the Pantone Color Institute announced that 2014 would be the year of Radiant Orchid. This pinkish purple shade would reign on fashion runways and in furniture showrooms for the next 12 months. Is violet driving our upholstery choices this season? What’s trending in furniture in our neighborhood? Hancock Park textile and interior designer Marcie Bronkar, the creative director of her fabric and wallpaper firm, Home Couture, replies that although lavender is popular, “I don’t subscribe to trends. They bore me.” Set color with rugs and art, then get serious about seating. “I’m a big fan of chairs. I put them in the bathroom, everywhere. And the quality of a sofa is important, not the cost.” Spend your money on good fabric “and it will last twice as long.” Look for a couch with clean lines that seats at least four. Her textiles are available through quadrillefabrics.com. www.marciebronkar.com *** Those of us looking to refresh our space with perfect seating are lucky to have myriad options at our doorstep. Bronkar likes Bronze Studio, which showcases designer Michael Berman. Their look is described as “20th century inspirations with a 21st century perspective.” All furniture is customizable. An unusual take on a classic swivel chair is their triangular “gran strato swivel lounge” for $4,400, plus fabric. The designer prefers greens, so the showroom features all manner of soft green hues. 7257 Beverly Blvd. www.bronzestudiola.com. *** The single-named Devall’s eponymous Devall Design Home employs local craftsman to create her pieces. “Hancock Park is very traditional in a lot of ways,” she
finds, and her style reflects that, both in her own designs and in the vintage furniture she refurbishes. Grey was in demand last year; trending now are brighter colors. Her custom $2,650 Lars chair and ottoman is tufted with a wide, roomy seat and relaxed back. 562 N. Larchmont Blvd. www.devalldesignhome.com *** For solid basics, Devall points to Landon Cole and Plantation. “Landon Cole has a modern touch and does excellent upholstery.” Their “Gracie” tufted sectional, featured in a grey-blue, is $2,400. Ninety percent of their clients select grey upholstery. 149 S. La Brea www.landoncole.com Grey is a consistently big color for Plantation, as shown by their $2,495 grey swirl-patterned swivel chair. 144 S. La Brea Ave. www.plantationdesign.com *** Two neighborhood newcomers deserve mention. Nadeau is a chain that proclaims they’re “Furniture with a Soul,” and their store is filled with homey, well-priced handmade furniture from India and Indonesia. A carved wood sideboard with turquoise color wash is $654. 176 N. La Brea Ave. www.furniturewithasoul.com *** For locally made furniture at an excellent price-point and two-week delivery, the recently opened The Joneses teems with couches, tables and accessories. Their $1,395 tufted “Mad Men” sofa has a bench seat and a speakeasy look. Although they’ve also seen a rise in grey orders, their customers aren’t afraid of teal, apple green, sky blue or bright yellow. 423 S. Fairfax. www.thejonesesla.com So forget the color experts and select a shade you like, then snuggle into a comfy chair or sofa – and relax!
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design for living
Botanical artist’s paintings on view at TAG Gallery Works by watercolor artist Sally Jacobs are featured in a new group show at TAG Gallery, at Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., D-3, in Santa Monica, through Sat., May 17. In her exhibition, “Up Close:
Plant Portraits,” botanical artist Jacobs, Miracle Mile, dramatizes a range of flowers and succulents. Her work has been exhibited in numerous juried shows in New York and San Francisco; and at museums in Minneapo-
lis and Phoenix. She was an award-winner at the Brand 37 Works on Paper exhibit, and was featured on the CNN show, “Your Money.” She is one of the artists included in “Today’s Botanical Artists,” a book of contemporary nature artists.
A Mother’s Day open house takes place on Sat., May 10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. An artist talk is at 3 p.m. TAG Gallery is a memberowned community of approximately 40 artists. Visit taggallery.net.
DETAILS are captured in Miracle Mile artist’s watercolors through a layered technique.
Use shades to lighten kitchen Lighten your kitchen by using simple shades, says Sue Pelley, spokesman for Interiors by Decorating Den. Natural light in the kitchen is essential. “Pleated shades offer a privacy treatment and still allow plenty of light,” says Pelley. If you’re using fabric, make sure it’s in a contemporary tone. “Terra cotta shades are very in mixed with greens, blacks and golds,” says Pelley. Another hot trend is Roman shades made of rattan, bamboo or other natural fibers.
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design for living
Art, photographer brothers in Rutberg studio exhibit For the first time, artists Jerome Witkin and his brother Joel-Peter Witkin will be exhibiting their work together in “Twin Visions” at the Jack Rutberg Fine Arts Studio, 357
N. La Brea Ave. now through Sat., May 31. The identical twins are acknowledged as two of the greatest contemporary artists in their field, said Rutberg.
Jerome Witkin is a figurative artist, and his brother Joel-Peter is a photographer. Their respective careers span 50 years. Visit Jackrutbergfinearts.com.
A LIVING ROOM in Presidio Heights is elegant with a pop of color.
Interior design firm moves to offices on Larchmont Blvd. MWM moved its interior design office from West Third St. to 552 N. Larchmont Blvd. in March. Founded by Melissa Warner Rothblum and her partners Carrie Miller and Julie Massucco Kleiner, the firm provides decorating, remodeling and construction, mainly for residential clients. Based in San Francisco, the MWM design firm also has offices in Seattle. One
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of its recent San Francisco projects was featured in the premiere issue of the Australian online magazine, Ivy & Piper. Several of MWM’s interiors are also featured in the book “Decorate Fearlessly” published by Rizzoli that debuted in April. Rothblum, a Los Angeles native, heads the Larchmont office. “We love the small-town village atmosphere here,” she said.
HOME was originally designed in 1974 by Harry Gesner.
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Architect Dean Larkin will lead tours of a Hollywood home he renovated that was originally designed by famed architect Harry Gesner to kick off the L.A. chapter of The American Institute of Architects new Breakfast With the Architect series on Sun., May 18. Larkin recently renovated the house that was nicknamed “the flying wing” by Gesner, who designed it in 1974 in response to his client’s request to return to the form of a bird for inspiration.
Mike Hynes, the owner at the time, was president of Cooper Lumber; the house became a showcase for their wood, including a structural system of wood poles. The reimagined house celebrates the site and the 21st century lifestyle. Larkin will lead one-hour tours of the home at 7000 Macapa Drive beginning at 11 a.m. and noon. Tickets are $25 for AIA members; $35 for non-members. To purchase, go to www. aialosangeles.org.
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design for living more challenging. You have to be careful about cutting into cove ceilings to add recessed lighting without a thorough plan, or even a structural engineer, first, he warns. “You have to make sure
staircases” to partitions. In his spare time, he buys and remodels condominiums, making two bedrooms out of one, and opening up a kitchen for a more open floor plan. Working in older homes is
you’re doing it right, because you never know what’s behind those walls. “You have to work with the architectural style.” Visit johndornedesign.com, or call 310-918-5680.
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By Suzan Filipek John C. Dorne goes back a long way, first learning his craft from his father, a custom home builder who worked in the neighborhood. He further honed his skills while stationed in Vietnam, making furniture for officers out of wooden ammunition boxes. He’s worked with wood ever since, a material he speaks of with reverence, and he appreciates older, “antique” homes. Specializing in kitchen design, working as a consultant, production coordinator and cabinet maker, he has garnered sage advice over his 40plus year career; a Schindler home is in his repertoire. He wouldn’t recommend a contemporary kitchen in a Cape Cod style home. “You have to continue the home’s architectural integrity,” he says. He carries a portable saw table to the site, a carryover practice from his early furniture-building days. It’s small enough to fit into a dining room, but large enough to allow him to cut lenghty pieces. Walk the floor plan Cabinet boxes are set in a rough mock up to let the client walk the floor plan and see where their appliances will fit in their new kitchen. From there they pick door styles, select where to put the drawers and choose paint or laminate. Working with a small crew, he works quickly—most jobs take two to three weeks—and efficiently, passing on a cost savings, he says. Maple, mahogany, oak and other varieties are cut 3/4-inch thick for solid, “bullet proof” cabinets, sturdy enough to hold today’s heaviest stone countertops. White cabinets continue to be many clients’ first choice. A butcherblock island, soapstone counters and Carrera tile backsplash complement
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