Crazy for Koko Company

Outdoor rooms are big in LA and I like adding whimsy to these spaces with color. I have been loving  these colorful outdoor rugs for quite some time and came across them again while working on an outdoor project. If you want to add bright color with an outdoor rug, these are it! They are plastic and easily cleaned with a hose.

Purchase some of these online at AllModern.com and Exclusively Home

Blogger love

Thank you to the following blogs for giving me some love this week! Check out their blogs below.

Bright, Bold & Beautiful

Table Tonic

Coco Pearl

Aubrey and Lindsay's

About Face with Mindi Walters

As we prepare for spring to arrive, many of us are still dealing with dull dry winter skin. It's time to get your faces fresh for a colorful spring. I turn to esthetician to the stars Mindi Walters to pamper and rejuvenate my skin. After meeting her at her stint at the Sonya Dakar spa, Mindi went out on her own and I have been a client ever since.  I am obsessed with her Diamond and Oxygen facial treatments! They are my go to treatments for glowing skin.  She will even come to you in the comfort of your own home.   Her vitamin packed products and treatments are also favorites of Hollywood hotties Meghan Fox and Chelsea Handler. Today Mindi is sharing her results driven winterizing skin care tips to keep us glowing. Enjoy!

Meghan Fox via Elle.com

Chelsea Handler via E! online

Mindi Walters
310-740-4400

Winterizing Tips from Mindi Walters:

1. Consider switching to a cream cleanser. It is gentler and it helps to keep the skin hydrated throughout the day. 

2. It is important to have two separate moisturizers. A daytime moisturizer with SPF and a heavier nighttime cream. 

3. Clouds or sun, SPF is still crucial. Just because you don’t see the sun’s rays, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. 

4. There are so many benefits to a heavy night cream. Not only is it anti aging, but it will also combat cold weather redness and irritation. 

5. Take one night a week to give your skin a little extra love. Do a quick exfoliation with a gentle scrub to get all the dull, drab skin off the surface and follow that with a moisturizing mask. The whole process will take 20 minutes and your face will love you for it. 

Here are a few products from my line that I cannot live without in the winter: 

Cleansing Milk Crème- Gently cleanses without stripping the skin of its natural moisture balance.

Polishing Facial Gel- An oil-free, non-comedogenic exfoliator with non-abrasive granules that smooth and soften the skin uncovering a brighter, healthier complexion. 

Vitamin C Complex with SPF 15 (The Megan Fox Must Have!)- This light, nourishing formulation contains Vitamin C Extracts and Humectants to help protect skin from environmental damage while moisturizing and soothing. 

Vitamin E Crème- A rich, emollient moisturizer enriched with Pro Vitamin B, Panthenol and Vitamin C.  Hydrates and softens skin. 

Revitalizing Treatment Masque- Gently tightens and refreshes while stimulating and renewing skin cells.

Book an appointment today with Mindi by contacting her at 310-740-4400 or email her at contact@mindiwaltersskincare.com. 

Lamp shade revamp

If your lamps need a stylish update try this quick and affordable update to add your unique style to an existing white lampshade. It's a great way to add a color accent or whimsy to your space. The trim options are endless! Check out the DIY project here. 

I added a simple gray grosgrain ribbon to these vintage lamps that were from my mother's vanity

I modernized this 40 year old alabaster lamp that was also from my mother with a new white shade & chocolate ribbon trim.

Thanks Mom!!!

images via Armonia Decors

Fashion Fridays: Resort trends from Tory

With the weather warm and sunny here in LA, I have resort on my mind. I am loving these looks that Tory Burch put out for her Resort line inspired by her trip to Rajasthan. The photos are perfection with tons of color. Pop on some sunnies with these colorful pieces and a strappy sandal and you are set for the weekend. I love the color blends of fuscia, purple, blue and orange that she is so famous for. Below are some of my fave pieces from Tory's resort collection that remind me of a warm summer day.

perfect outfit for a day out and about. crushing on those beads & printed trim fedora!

poolside style with a little cardi for when the sun starts to fade

... then lounging with friends in a long blue caftan

cleaned up and out for din in a colorful dress

images via tory burch

Have a fantastic weekend!

Light it up

Whether vintage or new, table lamps are a great way to add your unique sparkle to a room. If you go with vintage, select a new white drum shade to make it modern. Even add a trim for a custom look. I am working with two clients looking for lamps and these are the top choices. Which is your fave?

Fashion Friday: ARCADE allure

It's sale season here in LA and a great time to snatch up some of your favorite items at a deal before we start obsessing over all things Spring 2011. Today's Fashion Friday post profiles ARCADE Boutique. Founded by the lovely Rochelle Gores Fredston, ARCADE is one of my fave LA boutiques where the stylists and celebrity fashionistas flock.  You might have caught it on last seasons HBO hit Entourage. I caught up with the stylish ladies of ARCADE to find out their latest deals (60% off!). Coming in February we will talk trends and must have items for Spring 2011 from ARCADE Boutique. Happy Friday!

8473 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 
323-944-0018

Yigal Azrouel suede jacket with removable crystals

Yigal Azrouel one shoulder beaded dress

Barbara Bui stud cuff

I sat down with Lindsay Lebby, Director, to ask her about the latest happenings at ARCADE.

What three words best describe the style of your clientele?

Feminine. Sophisticated. Dressed.

What do you think sets ARCADE apart from other LA boutiques?

The buy is extremely edited and unique to other stores in the area.   We focus on fit, quality, style and price. We take pride in selling collections like Doo.Ri and Barbara Bui that cannot be found in other local boutiques. Also important is the customer service offered; anything from a glass of champagne while you shop to personal deliveries.  We have very close relationships with all of our clients which allows us to know their style and needs to a tee.

How do you go about sourcing all of the amazing pieces in the store?

Our buyer (also named Lindsay) and owner Rochelle are always focused on buying for the store. They scour New York, Paris and Los Angeles for the perfect pieces and collections. They are constantly researching new lines and analyzing the business to ensure we fulfill the needs of our clientele.

The interior design of the store is unique. Tell us the inspiration behind it?

The store is modeled after 19^th century European Arcades. When ready to wear clothing came out in Europe, Arcades were built to showcase all of the beautiful clothing collections. In Paris you can still visit many of the original Arcades, such as the Palis Royal. The inspiration of the store as a whole was to bring a touch of European-like fashion to Los Angeles and it was important to owner and visionary Rochelle Gores Fredston to reflect that in the store design.

Tell us about the design collaboration on the ARCADE exclusive line?

Every season we try to develop an exclusive piece with a couple of our designers. For this past fall we did an Adrienne Landau for ARCADE raccoon fur vest. We also carried an amazing Tania Spinelli army green over the knee suede boot (there is one left of on sale!) and we were the only store in the US to sell that color. It is super important to us to continue offering exclusives so our clients can have something special that their friends won’t find down the street. We launched ARCADE Label this past season which is a collection of great basics and fashion blouses. The collection was created because we had a difficult time finding the perfect basics from other collections. The line includes silk camis and slips, leggings, scarves, a snake makeup pouch and a couple blouse styles per season. We just finalized an awesome layer tank that we will be getting in the next couple weeks as well. 

Some other favorites not yet on sale...

Yigal Azrouel metal taffeta dress....  so hot in person. love the back zipper

Doo.Ri belted rouched dress

ARCADE exclusive scarf.....one of the softest scarves I own!

Check out the ARCADE exclusive designs and follow ARCADE on Twitter @arcadeboutique or on Facebook

images via ARCADE Boutique

Retail Therapy: Abbot Kinney Venice,CA

On this past cold and cloudy Saturday in LA these are some of the delightful decor items that caught my eye.  Hope you had a great weekend wherever you were.

Plantation
1340 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291

small gold and turquoise trays 

loving this turquoise chevron print wooden frame 

golden glamour table 

 Bountiful
1335 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291

subway sign inspired matchbooks 

vintage pink glassware

my initials staring back at me on the wall :)

rustic and casual CA inspired pillow

calling all cake stand collectors... they offer all sorts of colors

Drab to Fab: Chair Conversion

Wondering how to add a pop of color to an all white kitchen? Well grab your staple gun and a colorful fabric for a quick and easy drab to fab project. I have young client living with an all white kitchen who desperately needed a kitchen chair seat cover face lift. The budget was tight so we took her existing four kitchen chairs and added a pop of color on the seat cover. This is just what her bright all white kitchen needed. Another way to add spice to an all white kitchen on a tight budget could be to paint these chairs a bright color and keep the fabric solid.

a fun seat cover conversion

the existing basic dining chairs now have a colorful face lift

out with the bland white

Some other colorful dining chairs inspirations....

image via House Beautiful

image via AllModern.com

image via Maine Cottage

image via House Beautiful

image via O&G Studio