What I Saw Today :: Bette Davis on Hollywood

I have always been intrigued by old school Hollywood: the glamour, the fun, the magic.  I read up on the history of not only the actual city but the business and creation of the movie business.

It leaves me wishing I could have witnessed it for myself (see Midnight in Paris and perhaps not).

Clips like this one give you an idea on how things have evolved.

{taking chances is what stood out the most to me here}

Bette Davis is one of the original screen sirens whose passion is apparent in everything she does.

As Oscar season is upon us, let us not forget that Bette Davis was nominated 10 times and walked away with the golden statue twice.

When she speaks, I listen.

What I Saw Today :: Stylish Kitchen Ideas :: A Series on Small Space Living :: 2

One of the things I love about living in small spaces is the amount of inventiveness it takes to really take ownership over a space.  Anyone can buy pretty things and set them out but authentic creativity is what makes a home personal and alive.

Often times there isn’t a ton of space to display photos and what I love is doing the unexpected, especially in the kitchen.

{first of all, i literally just died from the amount of adorable that exists in the space…dead…literally}

{secondly, the picture arrangement is unique and makes this home just scream warmth and greetings}

{close up of the details}

{the moss and greenery add texture}

{the eclectic nature of this kitchen lends itself to a mish-mash of colors that really add tenderness and appeal}

{my favorite combination :: purple and green}

{the use of wall space is ridiculous}

{the utensils are a gorgeous stainless steel that tie the entire kitchen together}

{plus, they hang in a manner that is fast and easy to use and crazy stylish}

I often take a step back from my kitchen and ensure that every view point has something unexpected to break the style rules and boxes.

Style is what is out of style.  Sit on that for a minute…

What I Saw Today :: Best Hat Shop in LA :: Goorin Bros.

As you may have already found out, I am a hat girl.  So, naturally, since I am a hat girl, I am always in search for the perfect hat and the perfect hat store.  Eugenia Kim makes a lovely hat.  Expensive but lovely.  Alas, her hats are hard to come by and, frankly, don’t always fit my noggin.

Enter Goorin Bros.

{wall to wall hats of varying sizes and colors :: vintage and modern styles}

They just opened another eponymous store on Larchmont after the success of their Melrose shop {Pasadena next!}  As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by a friendly staff that allow you to browse with ease {I hate it when sales people are up your butt} and they definitely know their hat history.

{i had to restrain myself from not buying every hat i tried on}

While the price point isn’t for the weak {$110 for the cloche pictured}, keep in mind you are paying for a hat that will last you for years to come {kinda like a diamond…no, it’s nothing like a diamond}.

I can speak for the uniqueness that each hat possesses, the right one feels as if it were made just for you.

{find a great summer hat on the shelves that was made just for you}

I can also speak for the quality of the materials of which they are made.  Soft yet strong and made with great attention to detail.  Personally, I love to wear men’s hats just as much as the lady ones.

Go in to Goorin hat in hand and leave with a hat in your hand {oh, c’mon!  Idiom meets pun!}

What I Saw Today :: Stylish Bedroom Ideas :: A Series on Small Space Living :: 2

For me, the bedroom is a sacred space.  Not only is it the most intimate of all rooms, for obvious bow-chicka-wow-wow reasons, but also it is where I do my meditating and where many of my creative ideas are spawned.

I don’t believe in televisions in the bedrooms.  Don’t get me wrong, sometimes it would be nice to curl up with a soothing cup of tea and watch When Harry Met Sally; alas, it detracts from the idea that romance thrives in that space.

{a simple chandelier in lieu of a lamp hangs perfectly}

{a trio of plates instead of ubiquitous pictures seals the deal}

{almost the feel of a hotel :: only warmer with personal touches like a monogrammed pillow}

{sort of hollywood regency meets cape cod cottage}

{blue and orange}

{opposite colors on the color wheel do wonders for a room}

{storing the books under the table looks well-kept but jazzy}

{who said crochet was for grandma?}

When it comes to my bed, I love to sleep in a cloud.  A soft, fluffy, dreamy cumulus-looking cloud.  I love to get buried in sheets and embrace dreamland.  While most of my bedroom may look quasi-disastrous, I always make my bed.

It gives the illusion of being neat and tidy.

{while the print over the bed sort of freaks me out…}

{i included the above picture to illustrate the essential use of color :: the print ties in with the pink from the pillows with creepy perfection}

I often ask myself: what makes a room romantic…candles?  The perfect lighting.  Personal pictures.  The right colors?  Even in a small space, you can fit and/or do a few of those touches to add warmth and make it your own little haven.

Here’s to your little piece of haven…

What I Saw Today :: Stylish Kitchen Ideas :: A Series on Small Space Living

I spend hours mulling over the perfect kitchen.  It really is the center piece of a home.  Not only do I love to cook {I don’t nearly get to do it as often as I would like}, but I love details:  I love a good knife.  A gorgeous tumbler.  A breathtaking set-up.

{the dark wall}

{contrasting bright door}

{in perfect congruence with the chandelier makes a statement in a small space}

Home is one of my favorite words in the English language.  I have always worked really hard to create a home for myself, no matter where I am or what my budget happens to be.  You can have a lavish house but until you decide to claim your space, it doesn’t become a home.

{instead of a traditional back splash, hang a silhouette}

When picking out pieces for my home, I make a list of a few key words that I want to come to mind when I walk in.

{glamorous}

{eclectic}

{stylish}

{warm}

When purchasing a new item for my home, I ask myself whether or not it fits all of these four words.  Furthermore, I feel your home is an extension of you.  I use these same words when picking out clothes or when I think about my style in general {I add the word sexy in there a bit more though}.

{i love open shelves and hanging pots}

{i invest in beautiful pots, plates, and bowls :: this way you can display them and have easy access}

When dealing with small spaces, I find great solutions in making sure every inch is utilized.  Have an empty wall?  Put up a shelf for cups or cookbooks.  Often times, there is a ton of empty space high above the cabinets in a kitchen.  Store your seasonal items up there in cute tins or vases.

Claim your space and let the magic unfold.

What I Saw Today :: Inspiration :: Paintings

On Sundays, especially, I look for inspiration, even in the smallest forms.  It is one of my days for input into my soul as an artist and as a human.

This morning, I came across this video about Holton Rower, who is a New York based artist.  The initial swirls caught my eye, and as I watched a video of his art, I found myself mesmerized {or maybe it was the acid washed, high waisted jeans some gal is wearing in the video that mesmerized me…}.

His paintings have a very Jackson Pollock type of vibe to them.  Many look at them and judge their simplicity, yet the tiniest details is what I find moving.  The way the colors flow and respond to each other is magical.

The video is what really sold me.  A performance piece that leaves me serene and joyous.  Here is a sample of a piece being made into artwork:

Performance peace indeed.

What I Saw Today :: Papaya King

The rumors are true: Papaya King is coming to LA folks.  Hollywood to be exact.  Hollywood and Wilcox to be exact exact.

Years ago, when I lived in NYC, I was under the delusion that Gray’s Papaya was the hot dog du jour.  Then, my last week in the city, I met the Papaya King.  It is the perfect combination of dog meets chili.  I am a fan of both.  The more chili the better actually.

So, today, I was informed by a friend of mine that while the store front doesn’t open up until May 20th, they were doing a one hour window of hot dog awesomeness over at Capitol Records in one of their food trucks.  If you park it, they will come.

And come they did.  To increase my ebullient mood: one piña colada and chili dog please!  Perfection.

What I Saw Today :: Shutters on the Beach

Today was an absolutely stunning day here in LA (yeah, yeah, I know that it is gorgeous here often but I just flew in from Boston so I was more than happy to welcome the warm weather) and when the sun is out, I love to flock to the beach.

One of the best things about Cali is having some of the most stunning beaches in all the world just a drive away.  The ineffable natural beauty of beaches always inspires me.

I hardly ever make it out to the west side of town but when I do, I make certain that I do it up right.  So, Shutters on the Beach it was.

One of the best thing about Shutters is that they have many different areas to sit and dine (3 areas from what I could tell) and each has a different menu.  I was definitely in the mood for sun and sky, so we opted for patio/bar awesomeness.

Not only does this place hit someone in the heart with its charm, it has character for days.  Just as I was leaving, I noticed there were bicycles placed ever so casually in the corner, begging to be ridden.

All I needed was a friggin’ basket and a yorkie and I would have had my best Audrey Hepburn moment to date.

(All the photographs were taken on my iPhone with the exception of the Audrey photo, unless I had a time machine that allowed me to travel back and take that amazing photo of her and her yorkie, I digress…)