California Love

California is one of the few places I don't mind visiting repeatedly.  LA, San Francisco, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara, Napa, San Diego, wherever - all so beautiful and interesting.  As expected, San Diego hit the spot this past weekend.  Beautiful weather, beaches and good company.  Mmm, San Diego.  Drink. it. in. It always goes down smooth.

 

Because every great Spring Break trip needs an anthem........

 

Gettin' Felt Up

So excited that the felt art pieces I've commissioned are underway!  I'm working with a really cool company out of New Mexico called Submaterial and we're using one of my favorite products, FilzFelt.  Both companies really design outside of the box so it makes for a fun and inspiring collaboration.  The scale of these pieces is HUGE so they are going to make quite the conversation piece.  I can't wait to see them installed and know my client is going to love them!  Here's a sneak peak at the progress:

Katie's BDay

 

 

 

A Tahoe Thanksgiving

Spent Thanksgiving in Tahoe.  As much as I love my family, it was nice to do something different for once and switch it up a little. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Zoltar speaks.  Look familiar?  And, no, my wish wasn't to be "big".

 

 

 

 

 

Morocco - Henna

 

Sit very still.  Don't move, don't blink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let it dry for roughly an hour then scrape vigorously.

 

 

The result is a bright orange (at least it is on my pale, chalky flesh) somewhat blurry tattoo.  Over the next few days, the ink fades to a beautiful, sublte henna brown and the pattern actually becomes sharper, more closely resembling the inked pattern.  Lasts for 2-3 weeks.

Morocco - A Design Crush

I developed a design crush while in Morocco.  Doesn't happen often as there is usually something I would change about an interior.  Design, after all, is highly personal and subjective.  Our riad in Marrakech, however, was spot on how I would design a space given free reign.  And, given my interest in historic preservation, would be a dream design project.  It was sheer perfection - simple, relaxed elegance but with impeccable attention to detail. 

Stephan is the gracious and lovely owner/designer of Snan 13 and I loved my talks with him about  Marrakech, the renovation process of Snan, shopping, Spanish politics, Instagram, etc.  His eye for design, artistic interests and that he was adventurous enough to visit Morocco once, develop a vision and follow it through to reality were inspiring.  Stephan, simply put, you are a badass.  I hope we meet again!  XOXO

 One of my favorite things about Snan 13 was the effect of light on the spaces throughout the day.  Warm and earthy in the morning, cool in the afternoon and a soft lantern glow in the evenings. 

 

       Afternoon light 

 

 

 

 

My perch of choice in between braving the busy medina.  For tea, reading, henna, chats w/ Stephan, Facebooking, etc.

 

 

 

 

The seating nook of our room as seen from the courtyard

 

 

 

Our room the last night.  Glad we got to try out two different ones.

 

 

 

 

Seating Nook

 

 

 

The effect of daytime to early evening

 

 

 

Riads are mysterious in that they are plain and unassuming from the outside, without windows.  You have no indication of what lies within.  Case in point, here is a nighttime shot of the alley leading to Snan.

 

 

Entryway at Dusk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Morning on the Rooftop Terrace