Pea Gravel Heaven

A client in Malibu is having me recreate this gorgeous, Mediterranean look.

Transforming a grassy/weedy area into pea gravel patio. It all started with falling in love with these distressed white wire chairs from my favorite garden furniture designer, Janus et Cie. We plan to find an old metal table similar to the one shown. Can't you just imagine dinner al fresco at this table??? What gorgeous things you could serve up to your guests!


Janus et Cie items are sold exclusively through the trade. White Wire Chairs approximately $825/each.

A Casual Beach Retreat

{Take inspiration from drying squash and bits from nature}

Thought I'd share a client's beach retreat in Malibu....hope it provides a bit of inspiration!

A majority of the items shown can be found by visiting the boutique save for the one-of-a-kind treasures. Phone inquiries are always welcome if you can't hop on a plane and visit us!

Note the large wood balls in the urns. I love using an assortment of wood balls; contact us for current in-store selection...

A simple linen slipcover is given added panache with a French floral fabric border.


Sconces in waiting as we pick the perfect spot on the wall...



Reproduction wood candlesticks are difficult for us to keep in stock right now! In faint shades of blue, white, cream, black or brown....





A new Vintageweave favorite. While I'm typically not a fan of slipcovered sofas, this tailored look over the chic, elegant curves make me gasp. Custom orders are running approx 14 weeks....!

Mmmm, in luscious LINEN or HEMP in shades of natural, canvas, or celedon (sage). {Call for quote.}




Sorry, but ocean saltwater and sand are not included in Vintageweave custom orders............dipping toes into the nearest body of water is always optional! Massive thanks to Kammy Kenman--an amazing designer!!

Malibu Home Staging

In the midst of all the crazy busy-busy of filling an Italian Villa in Ojai, California from top to bottom {remember I'm doing everything from the toothpaste to the towels to the towel racks! More on this at the end of the week}, I've been pulled in to work on staging a home for one of my most favorite (and biggest) clients. It's a mega gorgeous piece of property in Malibu. With so much on my plate, I've brought in my friend Kam to work with on the interiors. I will do all the outdoor areas. Kam is part of a group who does amazing, lightening fast set ups, thus allowing clients to get top dollar for their estates; check it out here:
DESIGNED TO MOVE


Home staging, used to facilitate and expedite selling luxury properties, is a big business in residential real estate, especially in California. Kam used to own a home decor store called Creme Fresh (we met when she started frequenting Vintageweave) in an area known as 'the Valley", but has since closed it and does mainly interior design and home staging. I'm really looking forward to working with her--more pics as they develop.
Kam will do inside, and I'll do exterior, which includes three outdoor areas. How will I possibly find the time? Easy! I plan to hook intravenously to a Starbucks and fire up my clone machine.......


We're meeting at the crack of dawn tomorrow to strategize....wee hours of the morning, mainly because my Ojai project is heating up and the move is scheduled for later this week. But I get to travel along the ocean soaking in one of the most gorgeous coastlines in the world so I'm pretty excited for every stage of this project...

Of course, when trying to sell a home it doesn't hurt that BARBARA STREISAND is your next door neighbor! "Spying from this balcony" might be a selling point!

Well it's a looksy anyway!

For many of my clients,"privacy is crucial" is an understatement. While I'd love to show more of the interiors, I do not feel comfortable sharing their inner sanctuaries (we're working on getting them published in magazines and in decor books so that's another reason I'm unable to share). However, the grounds are so spectacular at this Malibu home that I think you will enjoy seeing snippets of the landscaping just as much....
I'm particularly crazy over the dramatic statement of these succulent wall planters:



I can show you this WOW piece I'm having custom made for a client!

Crafted from three antique French shutters purchased in Paris....  First cut to our need of six short shutters and then highly-talented craftsmen begin the process of  matching the entire cabinet to match the antique doors, including new frames for portions of the shutters. It's difficult to see where the old stops and the new begins!
......Antique glass and hardware will complete the look.  If interested we can craft something to fit your needs; Similar to shown: $10,000-15,000.

A perfect piece for a beach home where the owners want a light palette of Swedish and French influences. THIS, folks, is reproduction distressing at its finest!

Funny HaHa

Working on a client's home in Malibu this week measuring for carpet and such....As I drove along Pacific Coast Highway, these images made me laugh out loud as I drove alone. Laughing sometimes spurs on laughing fits, which happened today from these images (well these and a few surfers with exposed butt cracks as they walked along the highway, but I've spared you those photos).  All this catapulted me into the weekend holiday spirit....

Ok, upon seeing this I didn't so much laugh...more like cried:


Once at my client's home and after directing contractors about, I was quickly smiling again when I took a break outside to enjoy coffee while soaking in this jaw-dropping view from their front lawn. Can you imagine eating breakfast al fresco every morning looking out onto this??

While we may not all enjoy views like this from our living and dining rooms, we can certainly dine al fresco this weekend and enjoy the liberty of our Country! Happy 4th of July everyone--be safe and be merry! All my laughing today got my endorphins going and I'm merry for me and for you!

Malibu Gardens

Near Zuma Beach, feverishly working on surveying a client's home in Malibu and preparing it for a move in. The gardens have newly planted French lavender and Coleus...just how gorgeous is this??


Potted plants make for a stunning arrival.


Don't you love the chocolate walls against the stark white doors and frames? Honed black hardware add to the chic look.
Farrow and Ball paints are always a must. Their paint is simply superb given that the pigments lend themselves to an extraordinary color application....best of all this paint applies to walls like silk. The gorgeous doors and frames look extra chic in No. 239 Wimborne White. For a brown with fabulous results: 255 Tanner's Brown.


...Of course, the views may have something to do with wanting to live here more so than the stunning paint color....(click on photo to enlarge and see what I mean!!!)

Lots of work but what a setting to work in!

July 4th Preparations

Every year we have the most fun designing the ambiance for a client's annual 4th of July Beach Extravaganza. She has an incredible beachfront property, and each July 4th Malibu rewards its residents with a most spectacular fireworks display to behold {you know, because just LIVING in Malibu isn't reward enough.}

She's a huge lover of the flea market look so imagine our delight when we found several of these 1920's French enamel blue tables! Unfortunately they are too small for our needs so we'll only be using one or two to house the towers of cupcakes and brownies. (Several similar sets available at Vintageweave! Each square table come with two blue chairs.)


I squealed upon unearthing about 50 of these fantastic red and blue antique Grain Sacks. There are ten tables and these will serve as runners ($65/ea)--aren't they wonderful??


European enamelware in reds and blues and whites filled with colorful tinsel sparklers alongside glow light "sparklers" for use by the kids will complete the look.


Vintage french tea towels, which we'll monogram with her initials in old-world style fonts of red thread, will wrap around inexpensive glass vases from the floral supply.



Also incorporating several dozen of these red and blue cotton woven pillows. These just arrived to the boutique and we're gaga crazy for them! 26" Pillows w/ down feather insert: $75


Buckets of corn with greens still attached, pulled before they turn gold, will fill zinc pots throughout the buffet tables. {You can get these directly from any local farmer}

Last but not least, the thoughtful party favor for each family in attendance. This will be filled with a beach towel and several toiletries such as suntan lotion, travel size wipes, etc:


Never too early to plan your own backyard, beach or park event! Most items shown here are available in multiples so contact us soon: www.vintageweave.com or vintageweave@aol.com
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Malibu Veranda

Working on a client's rental property in Malibu....back in a couple of days with a tan and refreshed spirit...but take a peek at these...

While we use only antique French fabrics and antique Batik prints for the pillows on her own veranda, we needed very inexpensive touches for the rental. It's amazing what you can find inexpensively at Home Depot and Target. Most pillows shown here from Home Depot...yes, Home Depot!.

A variety of outdoor wire urns available at Vintageweave now! Add panache to your outdoor sanctuary with one of our many choices; shown Versailles Wire Pedestal Urn - Large $445/ea.


And the inexpensive alternative below for a touch of lavender on your patio (also Home Depot for around $150/ea)...

Vintageweave Antique French Bench in chippy white and green; contact us for prices on similar pieces

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Add an interesting color to your bathroom door!