Mr. Smith - Classy, Timeless and Iconic

I've been having some terrible issues with my laptop and as a result, have not been able to access Windows Live Writer, which is where I create my blog. So, while I am still trying to get it fixed, I am going to republish my very first post I ever did on my blog, which was about Michael S. Smith, the interior designer, whom most of you probably already know, is the person that was selected to design the White House for the Obama family. Enjoy (again!)

I would like to focus my first blog on my favorite interior designer..... Michael S. Smith. He is one of Architectural Digest's 100 Top Designers, has had his work published in too many publications to count, is frequently hired by the wealthy and by celebrities and does a lot of hotel designs and renovations. The man is a genius! Everything he touches looks like it has been there for 100 years, but he has a way of making it look new, fresh and classic. You want to stare at his designs for hours, yet nothing jumps out at you and says, "I've been decorated". His designs are very unassuming.

He isn't afraid to combine different styles, periods and colors, which a lot of designers have a hard time doing. He exemplifies what I hope to achieve with my interior design. I appreciate his deference to classical design, but I also admire his willingness to mix modern elements ingenuously into the palette.

Michael S. Smith

Photo courtesy of his website

http://www.michaelsmithinc.com/

He has a new book coming out that I can't wait to read! It's called Michael S. Smith Houses. Together with Christine Pittel, he has created another book that walks the reader through his design process. His first book, Elements of Style is my favorite design book to reach for. It has a permanent place on my coffee table.

Michael S. Smith Houses, Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Michael S. Smith Elements of Style, Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

If it is anywhere near as good as his first book, I'm in for an afternoon of lovely reading (and daydreaming!) at my patio table with a tall glass of iced tea!


Photo from Sunset.com (Sunset Magazine)

This isn't my patio, but mine is similar to this. I love the feel of the open fireplace with the seating group around it. It's very cozy, very welcoming and wonderful for long, lazy summer evenings!

Private Homes Designed By Michael S. Smith
(from his website...www.michaelsmithinc.com)

Malibu Home designed by Michael Smith

Cindy Crawford's Malibu home...Note the Bali influence in the dark wooden table, chandelier and stool with the fretwork. Michael Smith uses pieces that blend with the environment and the architecture, rather than competing against it. Wouldn't you just love to have this space to relax in and overlook the ocean? Ahhhhhh....

Dining room from the same Malibu home. Love the dining room table and chairs. And check out that ultra-cool chandelier.

Another room from the Malibu Beach House. Although simplistic in nature, the monochromatic design scheme is perfect for this home which has dark panelling, flooring and a crisp marble fireplace surround. The tufted chaise lounge is classic. It's a perfect place to curl up with a good book in front of a warm fire in the Fall. Notice how Michael added a dark wood mirror above the fireplace to tie in the dark panelling of the room. It's the details that make the room.

Palisades Home designed by Michael Smith. The fauteuil chair stands out as a "head of the table" effect in this sitting room. It's effective because all other seating in this view is basically at the same height and is more traditional in nature. To add a classic piece like this adds interest to the room and completes the seating group. Keeping the coffee table simple and with open iron legs is perfect. I want this coffee table to display more of my design books (including Michael Smith's new book shortly!).

Michael's Product Lines

Photo courtesy of Michael's website

This is Michael Smith's bathroom line for Kallista. Again, his classic detailing comes through loud and clear.

Photo courtesy of AnnSacks.com

Ann Sacks Tile Collection by Michael Smith

A "relaxed but polished look". Love it!

Photo courtesy of MansourModern.com

Refined yet casual rug collection for Mansour Modern.

Photo courtesy of agrigaria.com

Home Fragrance Collection for Agraria by Michael Smith

Photo courtesy Visual Comfort and Co.

Lighting Collection for Visual Comfort and Co.

Hotel Designs by Michael S. Smith

Shutters on the Beach Hotel

Michael remodeled the interior (I believe) in 2006, keeping the fresh, beach aesthetic.

One Pico Restaurant at Shutters On the Beach in Santa Monica, California. Michael Smith renovated this restaurant, which re-opened in April this year. The picture on the left is the old room, the rendering on the right is Michael's design.

Shutters On The Beach Guest Suite. Very beachy and there is that standing floor lamp that Michael loves.

Shutters On The Beach Bathroom. I love the cool grey tone on the walls. I can't tell what flooring material is used, but the dark floors make the grey walls and white tub and sink look fresh and crisp - just as a beach bathroom should be. Note that Michael used dark wood on his mirror again to tie in the flooring. The shutters looking onto the bedroom area and the louvered closet door to the left of the sink are a slight nod to the hotel's name.

Rendering of The Canary Hotel, Santa Barbara, California

Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, California. Patio area and pool. Very beachy and very California. Outdoor fireplaces are popular here in California because of our climate. With the prices of homes here, it gives us another "room" in which to spread out!

Canary Hotel Guest Suite. Fresh bedding and draperies gives this room the light and airy feel. It would seem that Michael likes the turnstile design of the bedposts, as he echoes that in other designs.

Canary Hotel Bathroom

Canary Hotel Outdoor Fountain. Note how the light fixture has the same design motif as the plant holders.


I believe this is the Canary Hotel Lobby. I love the tapestry on the wall, as well as the wooden side table used next to the chair and ottoman.

Canary Hotel Patio.


(all Canary Hotel photos courtesy of Yahoo Travel website)

The Lowell, New York, Deluxe Room

I like the striping on the headboard canopy and table skirt which juxtaposes the toile-like effect on the pillows and bedskirt.

The Lowell, Garden Suite

The wallcovering, mirror and metallic fabric on the throw pillow really make this room fabulous.

The Lowell, One Bedroom Suite

Check out the symmetry!

The Lowell, The Painted Room

LOVE the mural and the carpeting. Again, the metallic fabric on the throw pillow adds just that bit of sparkle to the room.

The Lowell Penthouse

Set up a bit like the one bedroom suite with the symmetry, but none-the-less, it's classical design that best fits a conversation area.

If you have more Michael S. Smith photos you would like to add to my compilation, please email them to me! I'd love to add them to my blog!

I hope to be up and running soon with a new blog post for you all! In the meantime, have a wonderful week everyone!

Malibu Beach 1930 House

An old House on the Water in California dating back to 1930. The architecture was redesigned by Ferguson & Shamamian while the interior design was appointed to Michael S. Smith.



“It’s a 1930s ideal of a Malibu beach house,” Michael S. Smith says of the residence he designed for film producer Donna Arkoff Roth in California’s Malibu Colony.


Smith arranged a circa 1750 English chest of drawers in the entrance hall.


Nautical paintings—including a 19th-century oil of a burial at sea—hang in the living room.


“I like beach houses to have layering and depth, not the white-on-white look often associated with them,” notes Smith, who opted for a colorful, casual mix of furnishings and fabrics.


reclaimed-chestnut floors.


A sunroom—known in Mallibu Colony as a teahouse—serves as the family room.





A sitting area occupies one end of the master bedroom





Back patio ready for guests.

All images from Architectural Digest

Celebrity Homes: Cindy Crawford

Let's take a sneak peek into Cindy Crawford Upper East Side residence she shares with her husband, Rande Gerber, and son, Presley. Los Angeles-based designer Michael S. Smith was chosen to make her dream home come true.

Come on in and tell me what you think of her style.





I tend to gravitate toward heavy furniture,” remarks Crawford. “I like dark wood and solid pieces—they’re kind of homey.”


Architect Oscar Shamamian, who reworked some of the details throughout the apartment, designed the stone mantelpiece for the living room. The photograph is by Kurt Markus.


“The library feels like a library—just without bookshelves,” Crawford says.


“The guest bedroom is about creating drama in a room without a lot of architecture,” says Smith, who mixed bright colors and varied patterns in the space. The bed frame is by Smith;


“Cindy and Rande wanted a pale master bedroom,” Smith says. “It’s the most feminine, romantic room in the apartment.” Arranged before an antique Venetian mirror are a photograph of the couple on their wedding day and a portrait of Crawford.


“Cindy loves things with patinas—worn wood, old leather,” Smith says. He furnished the master bedroom with an aged bamboo chair, a circa 1900 Agra carpet and a bed and sofa of his own design. Crawford found the floral still life at a flea market in Buenos Aires.


This master bedroom belongs to another residence of hers by the sea.
This image via apartmenttherapy, all the rest and information are from Architectural Digest.

I am linking this post over at Someday Crafts for the Whatever Goes Wednesday MckLinky party. Thanks to Michelle for hosting this party.

The Raggedy Heart and Julie Marcotte

Julie Marcotte's Beautiful Raggedy Dolls

There is a local shop we have in Morgan Hill, California called The Raggedy Heart. I will blog about it more in the next week or two. They really have some wonderful products. It's one of those shops that you want to just linger in for awhile.

My absolute favorite thing that is the shop are these dolls by Julie Marcotte, called My Raggedy Dolls. I'm totally and utterly in love with these dolls. I don't collect anything really, as I'm not into clutter, but there are some things that just grab me by the arm, place me straight in front of them and sing to me. These little dolls are one of those things! And the one above, in particular, has captured my heart.

So, I just couldn't let it go.... I had to go straight to the source - Julie Marcotte - and ask her a few questions about her dolls.

H&H: Hi Julie.... I absolutely love your dolls! What was your inspiration for them?

Julie: Thank you Becky!! My inspiration is my love for all things miniature! I completely fell in love with my first little raggedy doll that I made and knew I had to keep going!! The more I create, the more ideas I get for future dolls. I have no rules and they just evolve over time. I was originally going to create traditional Raggedy Ann dolls, but I tried different things and the raggedies you see on my website are my latest styles.

H&H: How long have you been in business and where can we find your dolls?

Julie: I have been in business since January, 2006. I started selling on ebay, then created my website, http://www.myraggedydolls.com/. You can also find my dolls at http://www.collinsgifts.com/ and "The Raggedy Heart" in California.

H&H: Do you have any other products? Do you have another job/life that you do in tandem with making these dolls?

Julie: Yes, I also have patterns for some of my raggedies that I sell on my website and etsy.com. I do make other things, but I have been concentrating on these dolls for the last year. This is my life!!!! My office is just down the hall and that is where I live all week!!! It has always been my dream to be able to work at home, so I truly enjoy every moment!!!

H&H: Have you been sewing your whole life? Who taught you how to make these gems?

Julie: My Mother had a fabric store in our living room while we were growing up, so I had access to the supplies to sew clothing, purses, quilts, etc.!! She taught me everything I know about sewing, but I didn't like it until I discovered making dolls when my children were small. Now that my daughter Ashlee is 21 and my son Josh is 22, I am in a raggedy doll wonderland!!!

H&H: What is your design philosophy?

Julie: I am continually intrigued with antique items. My art began to immerge when I learned how to stain and sand the dolls to make them look worn and primitive. I cannot make a doll that is not worn out!!!!!

H&H: What is your favorite piece (of furniture, art, anything!) in your house and why?

Julie: This summer, my brother stayed with us for a month and taught me how to install knotty pine paneling in my home. Check out my blog at http://www.myraggedydolls.blogspot.com/ to see photos of my dining room before and after!! I am going to do the entire house like this because I have always wanted to live in a cabin! It is especially exciting to me, because I never thought I would be able to operate power tools, and I CAN NOW!!!!!...so my new walls are my favorite part of the house!!!





H&H: I'm impressed! A woman with power tools is a beautiful thing! This little doll above is my favorite. Tell me how you came to create her!

Julie: Belindy is from the original Raggedy Ann & Andy stories, and I have researched the history and styles of her character. This little one is my version!! I LOVE birds too!!!






H&H: Do you have children? And if so, do they play with your beautiful creations?


Julie: Josh and Ashlee admire my work, which still amazes me!! They are so young, and it seems that they would not be interested, but they are very sincere when they tell me what their opinion is when I finish a new one!!! My Dear Ashlee is still waiting for me to make the one that she loves!!! Josh is a photographer, so he lets me know when my photos might not measure up!!!



H&H: Do you take custom orders?

Julie: Yes!! Yes!!! and Yes!!!!


H&H: Thanks Julie for your time! What's next for you?

Julie: I want to create some primitive Christmas ornaments this year!!! I have lots of ideas rolling around in my head!! I have to sort them out and get busy!!

OMG!! This is Julie's home office where she creates all of these adorable dolls. It is so inventive and precious! I'm loving it and her more and more!

Another view of her office. Are those Orange Crush boxes that I see that are used as storage? Priceless! Julie picked them up at a local berry farm for $1.00 a piece (what a find!)... Julie, you could seriously be our next Mary Engelbreit!

This has nothing to do with Julie's Raggedy dolls, but is just a peak into her funky blog style at her blog....http://www.myraggedydolls.blogspot.com/.

Thank you Julie. I can't wait to see more of your dolls and your Christmas ornaments! I hope that many people see your work because you truly create beautiful dolls.

On another note...

If you have not seen the new October issue of Town and Country, you must pick it up to check out Michael Smith's (as you know, my favorite designer!) remodel of a flat in Belgravia for a Los Angeles couple. And the result is nothing short of outstanding. I tried to copy the pictures into my blog, but I'm having technical issues! I'll try to work it out and put them on my next post.

Have a great week everyone!