The days of L.A. residents ordering “Peakaboo Clear Console tables” and “Molto Ottomans” online and via catalogue are numbered! Well, not numbered, but with CB2, the younger sister of Crate & Barrel, opening its brick and mortar doors to Angelenos Thursday, April 30th, there is now the option of browsing and buying in the flesh.

CB2’s location of choice is the bustling WEHO corner of Sunset Blvd. and Laurel, which is sure to create some rubber-necking for all the curious drivers cruising by at rush hour.  And, in typical Hollywood fashion, the store is kicking off their grand opening Wednesday night with a party so fabulous that there’s no more room on the RSVP list!  But have no fear, for they’ll be open to the public weekdays from 11 – 9pm, Saturday 10- 7pm, and Sunday 11 – 6pm, leaving ample time for shopping their “affordable modern for apartment, loft, and home” to your heart’s content.

CB2 Los Angeles
8000 W. Sunset Blvd.
323-848-7111

The Coachella Music festival graces Palm Springs, CA only but once a year, summoning both hipsters and audiophiles nationwide to brave the desert heat for three days of music listening, star-sighting, and style-flaunting. And, with a lineup of stars such as Morrissey, Jenny Lewis, Fleet Foxes, M.I.A. the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and the Killers (to name a few), the party doesn’t stop with the final encore. In the words of R. Kelly, “after the show is the after party and, after the party, is the hotel lobby” and, in this case, the coolest hotel lobby in town is definitely The Parker Palm Springs.

Formerly the Gene Autry residence, the Parker occupies thirteen acres of the most beautifully manicured desert landscape and gardens and was designed by none other than famed interior designer, Jonathan Adler. The décor is signature Adler style, merging molded clay sculptures and accessories with retro-regency shapes, as well as slubby textiles and bright poppy colors. Indeed the hotel’s design pays perfect homage to the area’s famed elite, both past and present. Whether staying over night or just visiting Norma’s restaurant for an afternoon snack, the Parker’s interiors are sure to leave a lasting impression on guests that very well may trickle down into their own home design style.

Color and texture is an integral aspect to the Parker’s design, as seen below in the lounge area adjacent to the front desk reception. The contrast of the colored pillows and pseudo-slip covers with the stark white brick and lamps is quintessential Adler.

There are many seating options in the lounge, from the semi-circular sofa to the leather cushions and tufted pillows surrounding the fire pit, but the most outstanding part of this space is the wall divider on the right. Sculpted out of metal, these retro shapes are suspended from the ceiling to separate the lounge from the main lobby hallway.

The rooms get a lot of sun, illuminating the white linens and walls. The Peruvian wall tapestries are a favorite among guests and are an easy way to bring a little Adler flavor to your own home.

Norma’s restaurant has food that is equally as delicious as it’s décor. Could it be coincidental that the chef’s complimentary smoothies often match the colors of the pillows and cushions?

Poolside at the Parker is an easy look to copy for your own backyard or balcony. One outdoor rug + rattan cushions + a cool lantern = Jonathan Adler-esque style at home!

4/2/09

There’s a new trend in lighting and tabletop decoration: exposed blown glass bulbs. From vintage bulbs (like the spotlight bulb found at the Agoura Antique Mart) to contemporary replicas, it seems that they are popping up in chic interiors boutiques from coast to coast.

Similar to the look of Thomas Edison’s original light bulb, these lamps and tabletop pieces are industrial in design, conveying a symbiotic look of modernity and agedness. While some of these pieces are indeed working lamps, many of them are strictly for fashion and not function. So if you are looking to shed some actual light in your reading nook, be sure it includes a plug, otherwise you might inadvertently buy one of the artistic décor pieces.

Thomas Edison in studio with his industrial “Edison bulbs”, circa 1870.

(Below) These are actual original Edison bulbs that were purchased in NYC for $25 each by LoftLife’s editor-in-chief!  I love how they glow . . .

(Below) Purely for decor and not function, these bulbs are mounted on wood blocks and were found in the window at Lawson – Fenning boutique in Silver Lake, CA. These pieces range in price from about $75 – $150 depending on size.

My own personal Edison-esque lamp, purchased in December at Luxe boutique in Charlotte, NC. I love the way it is perched on a stack of books on the kitchen desk.

To purchase edison-like bulbs online, check out 1000 Bulbs.