{design: incredible bathrooms}

This incredible bathroom is in Ralph Lauren's Bedford estate. The white marble, fireplace, and gorgeous tub make this my number one pick. I'm loving that when you look at all these bathrooms, you can almost guess where they are located. Each tells a story about where they are and what the needs of the homeowner are. They all seem to have drawn inspiration from their surroundings, and incorporated them in the home, specifically the bathroom. It can be difficult to personalize a bathroom. Here are ten that did it right!

Nairobi

London

Los Angeles

Kohala Coast

Istanbul

Hollywood Hills

Hamptons

Colorado

Chicago

All photos Architectural Digest

{artist: Ed Burtynsky}

I first saw Ed Burtynsky's art while visiting the Hamptons Designer Showhouse this summer. There were several pieces hanging in the living room (seen in the back left). Unfortunately, I did not make a note of his name, and it quickly left my mind. Fortunately, as I was scouring the latest House Beautiful magazine, there he was again, in a picture of the living room of the same showhouse. I featured this a while back, and you can see my pics here.

Nickel Tailings No. 34,Sudbury, Ontario 1996

Carrara Marble Quarries # 11,Carrara, Italy, 1993

Did you ever wonder where your table top, or marble floors came from? It's a miracle in itself how they can do this.

Iberia Quarries # 8,Cochicho Co., Pardais, Portugal, 2006

Oxford Tire Pile No. 8,Westley, California 1999

Shipyard #15,Qili Port, Zhejiang Province, 2005

I'm trying desperately to buy this one, but waiting for the gallery to call me back. Isn't it incredible? His work is so relevant today, and is beautiful and eye-opening at the same time.

Click Here for information on the artist

{design: vintage reclaimed wood floors}

Historic Barnwood Oak

If you've ever replaced your floors, or even had them refinished- then you know how daunting of a task it can become. There are so many choices, colors, textures, new, old, engineered, reclaimed, etc. UGH. I've made some mistakes in my life when it comes to floors, but mistakes no more, I know what I need in my floors. For example, my store has engineered flooring due to the high traffic and high usage of the space. We are constantly sliding heavy things and need the floors to be scratch proof. However, in my main residence in LA- we made a hasty decision to have three bedrooms refloored while we were on our honeymoon, and came back to less-than-desireable floors. The moral of the story, don't leave town while your floors are being done unless you have them sign off that they will give you their first born if they are not done to your exact specs....

Coopersmark Oak Barrels

Fortunately, the rest of the house has gorgeous 85 year old Oak floors that were laid in 1923 when the house was built, so we just tolerate the other floors in the bedrooms. Which leads me to my cabin, which in case you didn't notice, has become a bit of an obsession. I've been determined to not settle on even the tiniest point, which has led me on a search throughout the country for the perfect wood floors. While we were in the Hamptons over the summer, we found a little shop in Bridgehampton with the floors I desperately wanted, but hence, could not be shipped across the country without quite an ordeal and large expense. We were also weary of ordering them, having them shipped, and then taking the chance of them not being exactly what we wanted. So, the search continued, until I found Vintage Wood Floors right here in Southern California.

Sample boards in the showroom

The view inside one of their warehouses

Old red barnwood from a dismantled 50+ year old barn in Wisconsin. I'm going to pick each piece myself (they said I could!) and have all my windows and doors trimmed in this.

This is a sample board of wood that we discussed as a possibility for the exterior horizontal finish with chinking. We decided it was too rustic and picked a different wood and finish. This is a great way to ensure you are getting exactly what you asked for and envisioned. If they can't provide you with a sample board, or you don't ask for one, then you just may not get what you want.... Clearly not an option for me.

To see more of their work and about their company click here

{shop: Deyrolle rises from the ashes in Paris}

One of my favorite shops in Paris is the nearly two centuries old, Deyrolle. For lovers of natural history,curiosities, and a bit of the dramatic- this shop is housed in one of the most beautiful townhouses on rue de Bac. Amid exotic animals and birds, are shelves and drawers full of insects, fossils, and shells. Sadly, around this time last year, the store nearly burnt to the ground due to an electrical fire in the walls. The city rallied to pick up the pieces, with even some customers donating their purchases back to the store. In grand Parisian fashion, the store is back open, and is a MUST see.

46, Rue Bac75007 Paris, France

+33 1 42 22 30 07

http://www.deyrolle.com/

{design: reclaimed fireplace mantels & stone floors}

$22,500

I've been on the hunt for some interesting pieces to incorporate into my cabin, and have stumbled upon some incredible finds. When my husband and I designed the new addition, we put in as many fireplaces as possible, and then were left with the task of making each one unique and special. These fireplaces are the hub and focal point of all five rooms they are in. Most importantly to me, was the library, my sanctuary. One the flip side of the library fireplace is the family room fireplace, so I wanted them to have a cohesive feel, but not the same mantel.

These antique French limestone mantels are pieces of art and can give a room that homey, rustic feel-while still keeping it sophisticated and simple. I just couldn't stand the thought of staring into a cookie cutter fireplace when we will be using it so much and with lots of friends and family. These are from Exquisite Surfaces in Beverly Hills. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely think these are extravagant purchases, but these types of details will absolutely MAKE your renovation. You really can tell the difference, I promise.

$18,200

$32,500

$8,200

This flooring, rescued from a very old estate in France is absolutely gorgeous. They bring it back as a large slab and make 3 horizontal cuts in it to reveal three different grades of stone. This one is the first cut, and the most expensive at approx. $58 per s/f (based on over 500 s/f). My little toes were in sheer heaven walking on this!

{designer: Michael S. Smith gets the White House gig}

Available for purchase on Amazon

I can't live without my design books, and Michael S. Smith's designs have always served as an inspiration for me. I use his books as design references all the time. MS knows how to mix just the right amount of what you'd expect, with a pop of what you wouldn't. Let's hope we get a taste of what he does for the Obama's with a nice glossy spread in Vanity Fair or such.

{design: reclaimed antique Indian doors}

There are several dealers I work with who bring in reclaimed items from all over the world. I seem to gravitate towards really old wood and things that were used for many, many years and in seemingly ordinary ways. These wood double doors are from India, and are gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, art pieces. They range from 50 to over 100 years old, and can make the difference between a ho-hom entryway, and a knock-em-dead experience.

I've used a smaller set going into a guest bathroom, and am going to use one of these as an entrance into a guest bedroom. My contractors will have to cut down the wood frame a bit to make it fit into the width constraints of 48", but the height of about 9' will ensure that the dramatic effect of the doors is intact.

Whether you are working on a new house, or vamping up an older one- try to find some unique ways to make your house stand out from all the rest. You'll be glad you did!