Luxury Living, California Style

“All the leaves are gone and the sky is gray…” Yeah I thought you’d be in the mood for a little California dreaming right about now. My esteemed colleagues over at Brizo Faucets asked me to review one particularly awesome coffee table tome that will definitely warm up you design senses. It is California Luxury Living: A Private Tour by John Finton.

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 Finton started his own construction company before graduating from college and he’s still building.  A vagabond by nature, Finton was inspired by travel and the great outdoors.  Today he’s added the influence of international travel to the mix and resides and works in sunny California.Check out this video for a little peek into what this luxury living is all about.This is some bold-in-your-face design and there is something in this book for everyone ranging from ultra sleek contemporary, featuring vast expanses of uninterrupted glass, to the ultimate in highly detailed Beaux Arts design,  think Versailles.  I did enjoy the balance between interior and exterior shots.  Mr. Finton is known for his sourcing and use of the highest quality materials photos ooze luxury at every turn of the page.John Finton is also a friend of Brizo Faucets.  In this video he chats with their creative guru Judd Lord to chat about what makes them tic in the creative sense.  Loving the part where Judd got faucet inspiration from those Asian style sticks in the waitress's long hair!As a designer in this world of Houzz, it’s nice to sometimes have a real book to peruse when in the market for inspiration.  This would be a good one for your design library.  It’s chock full of widely diverse styles of design, all 278 pages, totally worth $39.00.  I found it on Amazon.

Add Wearstler Hollywood Kitchen Design Appeal

Mixed Materials are featured in this design by Wearstler's protoge Lara Fishman
Did you happen to catch this morning's CBS Morning story on Hollywood designer Kelly Wearstler? She is described as the "new Dorothy Draper", the original Hollywood Design Diva.   Wearstler sports a theatric edgy personal style that flows into her work as an interior designer. There it is again, fashion informing design and vice versa.  Wearstler shared 6 tips on kitchen design with Food & Wine magazine.
A kitchen carved in stone by Kelly Wearstler
Be bold with white.  Yes, she is partial to the cooler sleeker finishes such as stone, marble and stainless steel.  White works with these materials to create a clean open sensibility.  Plus, let's face it, for those of us in Florida, white will always have a place.  Play with color and pattern. This is a great way to personalize your space and make it your own.  How about a punch of red with that white?  Open up cabinets.  Open book cases and glass doors are a great way to break up what can be a monotony of cabinet doors.  Consider using mirrored glass for a Hollywood look.  
Mixed materials, glass doors and chandelier light fixture in Gwenyth Paltrow's kitchen by Kelly Wearstler
Mix materials.  I'm often asked if it's OK to mix materials in the kitchen.  The answer is yes!  My advice is to include one unifying element such as color or texture.  Use pendant lighting.  If you're up for the drama, this lighting option is the way to go, just like jewelry for the kitchen. Gotta have a chandelier, daaahling!  Last but not least, hide those paper towels.  They are a glamor killer.   
Paper towel solution is handy and hidden

 

How do you add drama to your kitchen?