{design: The Fashion Influence}

Photo Credits: House Beautiful, May 09

I mentioned in Spaces Magazine last month that Design and Fashion always go hand in hand. So I was not surprised to see in House Beautful and Town & Country magazine, similar color palettes for Spring/Summer. It's going to be a beautiful season! Go out and buy some bright and happy pillows to freshen up your spaces!

Photo Credits: Town & Country, May 09

Photo Credits: Spaces Magazine April 09


Click Here to see the Spaces Magazine
article on Sur La Mer

{a tribute: Momita and her city, Granada}

Momita, 2008 on one of her courtyards with the dogs.

1903-2009

She was the Matriarch of my father's side of the family, and the oldest living person in Granada, Nicaragua, at 106 years old. My brother Andres, and my Dad were both there when she gave way to old age yesterday- in her birth home (literally the house she was born in), with friends and family at her side. Andres sent these pictures back of her beautiful home (and the home my father grew up in), and felt compelled to show them in tribute to a wonderful woman who lived a simple and good life. Something we all should strive for.

The foyer opening to the main inner courtyards.

Very old original tiles.




Beautiful 100+ year old tile floors.

Formal dining room has views to both pool and center courtyard.

Living room with 14 foot ceilings.

The center courtyard from which all rooms open up to.

Facing the pool courtyard from the formal dining room.

Out to the lush Courtyard.

The Cathedral of Xalteva, Granada built in 1583 a block from Grandma's house

Morning in Granada.

Lake Granada in the distance. The only fresh water lake in the world with sharks.

The house under construction is typical of Granada with a center courtyard/garden with all rooms facing it. Most homes don't have windows facing the street, just large doors which people keep open during the day to socialize with passersby.

The rich colors and Colonial architecture are everywhere.

A grand doorway.

More of the Old City...the oldest in all the America's.

This is a great Arts school right off Central Square

It has an amazing tile face of a German painter from way back when.

They sell the paintings made by the students in a shop nearby.

They also teach guitar,

and violin.

Church of La Merced built 1534.

This is the lifesize Jesus in a glass casket that was in Grandmas bedroom when we were children, and used to scare my brother Andy.

Now it sits at the entrance to the Church of La Merced.

In the belltower.

The handles that ring the church bells.

All Photos and some copy courtesy of Andres Enriquez

{happy earth day: TerraCycle.net}

This company is revolutionizing the way we think about trash. These creative geniuses have figured out how to recycle the non-recyclable to turn something as simple as a cookie wrapper into consumer items- such as a kite, or a school bag for the kids, or fertilizer or cleansers. You can go to their website and register to send in your cookie bag wrapper, corks, yogurt containers, chip bags, cell phones, energy bar wrappers!

click here to go to their website

{book: Peace Meals cookbook}

I recently was told about this book, and promptly ordered it here .

This time of year makes me start thinking about Spring dinner parties and the summer spent with friends and family. These occassions, whether casual or formal, always revolve around food- and I'm always looking for new ways to entertain. I love this book not only for the recipes (which all come from The Junior League of Houston, and some of their chef friends), but also for their tablescapes, complete menu ideas, and party prep/setup.

Those Texas girls have lots of great ideas! Now all I need is to get an invite to one of their parties and check it out first hand.

{blog: PVE Design}

I mentioned on my blog a while back that I had some beautiful work commissioned for my store Sur La Mer , by artist Patricia van Essche. Well, here is a blog mention from her that I

just saw.

She did such a great job with my ad campaign and I still look at these pics and love what she did.

The original picture she worked from

Thanks again Patricia!

{garden: Spring is springing}

I'm back at home in LA, and I was noticing yesterday that it's beginning to feel like Spring! All my rose bushes are bursting with buds, the yard is green, and the weather is warming up. It's so nice to see green again, especially since most of my winter was spent traveling around skiing in various places.

I'm an avid gardener and lover of gardens. I prefer to fill my house with flowers I've grown or with large fronds I've picked from around my house. Although, it's nearly impossible for me to not stop and buy flowers when I'm in the grocery store or near a florist. When I'm in NY, it's so amazing to see all the corner markets bursting with their fabulous array of sidewalk florals.

Happy Spring!

{house(wife): Kelly Bensimon's Hamptons house}

I have an addiction to see inside peoples homes. It's a sickness, a passion, a love for design, and a curiosity to see how they are doing it. Here is Kelly Killoren Bensimon's Further Lane house in East Hampton. I found these pics on this blog dedicated to nosing around peoples pads, fun!

I love the Hamptons and have been spending my summers there for many years. We rented a great house in Southampton last summer and had the best time. Is it June yet?

SELLER: Kelly Bensimon
LOCATION: Further Lane, East Hampton, NY
PRICE: reported to be $10,900,000
SIZE: 5,800 square feet 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms (as per listing)
DESCRIPTION: ...On 1.2 glorious acres close to the ocean and surrounded by historic estate. Four bedrooms, four and one half baths, plus maid's quarters. Large living room with fireplace, country eat-in kitchen with attached family area and fireplace, large playroom, and master bedroom with fireplace and luxurious master bath. Grounds feature sunny, open lawn area and heated gunite pool. There is also a two car garage and a full basement.

If you don't know who Kelly Bensimon is, then you are clearly not watching the Real Housewives of NYC and SHOULD BE. I wonder if Kelly is aware of the fact that the housing market in the Hamptons has tanked with the economy and not only is she overpriced in an oversaturated market, but there couldn't be a worse time to sell. Ugh, sorry Kelly.

Click here for more info on The Real Housewives of NYC.