• EDGEMOOR SUNROOM :: PART II

    Our Edgemoor clients are long-time residents of Bethesda, a neighborhood of beautiful homes, large backyards, and gracious sidewalks.  A variety of architectural vernaculars decorate each tree-lined street thereby giving us license to explore a pastiche of design styles.  We devoted countless hours and many team meetings to perfecting the architectural and decorative intentions of their sunroom in order to craft a space with the perfect blend of traditional and modern styling.  It was especially relevant for us to carefully study how the new sunroom would meet and interact with the landscape, establishing a strong indoor/outdoor feel.

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    NEIGHBORHOOD VERNACULAR & INSPIRATION

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    Huntley & Co. Interior Design Edgemoor renovation

    The sunroom addition is quite modern and acts as a counterpoint to the traditional envelope of the house.   Because of the room’s strong geometry and metalwork, it was key that our interior selections complement and soften the space.

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    FABRICS & FINISHES

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     Huntley & Co. Interior Design Washington DC

    Textured linens, verdigrised metal, hand-molded porcelain and mother-of-pearl inlay are layered into the space.   Plaster walls, cerused oak, and embroidered trims also add to the tactile, warm design.

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    This project has seen seasons come and go and reminds us that projects, especially of this caliber, take time.  Dozens of hands, ours included, have touched this space.  From architects and builders, landscape designers and decorative finishers, to a variety of workrooms and the clients themselves — the phrase “it takes a village” has become especially relevant.  We look forward to sharing more with you next week as we get one step closer to the big reveal!

    xo, Huntley & Co.

    * * *

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  • EDGEMOOR SUNROOM

    November is filled with anticipation as the holidays quickly approach and designers clamour to wrap up design projects.  At Huntley & Co., we have labored long and hard for one Bethesda client in particular and are eager to put the finishing touches on their remarkable sunroom renovation.  Our goal was to create a sculptural, textural space that elegantly captures the spirit of indoor/outdoor living.  We will be featuring work product and site photos for this sunroom-cum-lounge in the next several posts.  And we’ll reveal the installation around Thanksgiving, so just a little more patience!  To give you an idea of the inspiration behind our design, we’ve shared the Edgemoor Sunroom concept board below.  Wrap yourself up in the luxe imagery and escape.

    Huntley & Co. edgemoor sunroom design concept

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  • POM POMS

    You wouldn’t think there would be any commonality among design, fashion and a dog’s tail.  Pardon?  My beloved pup had surgery on her tail recently and her gorgeous, fluffy appendage turned into something of a pom pom.  Sad? Yes. Adorable? Absolutely.  It reminded me of how delightful pom poms are.  It’s something about a shape so perfectly simple encased in fluff.  Whether it’s a detail on shoes, trim on drapes or something more unexpected – pom poms just make me happy.

     

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    The indefatigable Iris Apfel gets it.

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    (L) Rebecca de Ravenel wearing her celebrated Les Bonbons earrings;  (C) a fanciful canopy by Olive Juice Interior Design;  (R) happy yellow Billy Button flowers c/o Lisa Tharp

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    (L) Ulyanna Sergeenko’s fur “ballerina tutu” purse  from F/W 2015;  (C) Nina and her post-op tail;  (R) Camille Styles’ beautiful berry ice cream cake

    My idea of ensemble perfection!  Chloe embroidered bomber jacket, jeans and pom pom pumps.

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    Nina Seuss’ to-die-for, über fashions can be found on her eponymous blog

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    (L) En Shalle pom pom bag at Pink Chicken NY;  (C) Snowball Chandelier by Helen Foot;  (R) Shop La Lune baby hat

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    (L) Mode de Vert seafoam green Summer heels;  (C) an unexpected mirror detail at the State Department;  (R) black pom pom trim detail in a Huntley & Co. living room

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    We adore the ice princess charm of this room — a wonderful mix of playfulness, restraint and drama.

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    This is Glamorous via Flickr

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    (L) a favorite Jeffrey Bilhuber bedroom;  (C) garnet and neutral pom pom iPhone cases;  (R) purple alliums in a Huntley & Co. den

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    (L) winter glamour from Jimmy Choo;  (C) a transparent sculpture at The Phillips Collection in DC;  (R) a fuschia Robert Allen trim

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    Winter is right around the corner.  That means jackets (hooray!) and the holidays (gasp!).  Time to start shopping!

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    a magical winter cover up from Ralph & Russo

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    (L) a wreath at chez Huntley;  (C) Mingo and Tinks garland;  (R) the perfect holiday giftwrap from Anastasia1977

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    (L) It’s alive! Jung Puppy club cuteness;  (C) Elsie Marley DIY Christmas garland;  (R) Cox & Cox Cloud Pom String Lights

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    The pom pom tail has been fun for me, but my furbaby is looking forward to having her fluffy rear back to normal …

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    The [tail] End!

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  • Huntley & Co. DC Design House

    show-house // faux-client :: the reveal!

    We know you and our fabulous faux clients have been waiting for our big reveal.  The design process is nothing, if not, an exercise in patience.  From concept to installation, interior design requires vision, tenacity and know-how.  It’s a labor of love, but labor nonetheless.  So when the time finally comes to present our clients with their dream home, our excitement is hard to contain.  This particular dream home is ‘faux show’, but the thrill of the reveal remains the same … So without further ado!

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    THE 2016 FAUX HOUSE REVEAL

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    [ Our clients seem pleased ]

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    DESIGNER Q&A

    Our Huntley & Co. clients and room may have been crafted from imagination,

    but they do speak to the real methodology and design vernacular of our firm’s work. 

     Here, principal Tricia Huntley, opens up about her influences, the importance

    of breaking the rules and the best song to get a party started.

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    1. What are some of the things that influence you, aside from furniture and décor?

    Museums, music, fashion, history, parks/nature, architecture, poetry … those things that are thoughtful, provocative, moving.  I like to start with a feeling or mood before I pivot to the tangible aspect of things.

    2. What qualities of a room do you most admire?

    Substantial hardware and appropriate, expertly executed millwork.  I would rather live in an empty house with those two qualities than a shoddy new-build with the best furniture.

    3. Design rule you love to break?

    Symmetry.  I was classically trained so I believe in building a space according to the rules of symmetry.  But I also believe that breaking that symmetry in clever, nuanced ways is what brings a room to life.

    4. You know these clients will be having many a fete, what’s a good hostess gift?

    I love to give sophisticated, unusual candles and fragrances.  Aedes de Venustas, Joya and Santa Maria Novella all offer intriguing scents in stunning vessels.  And of course, good booze and wine never go out of style.  Add a beautiful ribbon with a handwritten tag and you’re done.

    5. Rapid Fire!

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    It’s been fun, but we need to dash!  Our clients told us to get out so they can enjoy their new home ; )

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    If you want another glimpse at the process, simply click on posts Part I, Part II and/or Part III.  And special thanks to our “faux clients” Justin O’Shea and Veronika Heilbrunner.  They are the coolest couple on the planet and dream clients fo sho!

  • SHOW-HOUSE // FAUX-CLIENT :: PART III

    Sourcing goods and materials for our interior fuels our creativity, but drawings take the design to the next level.  After all, a room is only as good as it is functional — we aren’t aiming for beauty just for beauty’s sake.  Working out our ideas in AutoCAD ensures that we are on target with scale, proportion and spatial relationships.  A well-trained designer can evaluate whether a piece will work in a room or not simply by looking at it.  Still, transferring its dimensions to paper (or the computer as in our case) ensures down-to-the-1/8” accuracy.  Huntley & Co. is a business built on mindfulness and our drawings are the technical backbone of our work. 

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    The Floorplan___________________________

    We start with a floor plan, which guides the flow and circulation of a space.  With our clients’ penchant for entertaining, it was important to think outside the traditional box and get creative with furniture placement.  Our ‘star’ is the four sided bench that beautifully anchors the room.  Varied seating arrangements offer opportunities for independent conversations and debate for our clients’ guests who come from a wide range of cultures, professions and political views.  The room is meant to be as warm, interesting and thoughtful as the clients are.

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    dc design house 2016 floor plan huntley & co.

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    The Elevations___________________________

    Elevations reveal how a room’s architecture, furnishings and art will work together.  A space won’t look or feel good if there are too many masses, it’s too ‘leggy’, everything is at the same level or the values are off-balance.  Deep-diving the millwork, fenestrations and other details gives us the platform we need to make good decisions.  Not to mention that “pulling the design up” and seeing it come to life happens to be pretty exciting ; )

     

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    dc design house 2016 drawing huntley & co.

    dc design house 2016 drawing huntley & co.

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    The Presentation Board____________________

    The presentation board is our opportunity to showcase the tactility of a room.  Ambience is affected by the ratio of soft vs. coarse, understated vs. luminous and natural vs. refined materials and textures.  We wanted this space to feel glamorous, but totally approachable with an air of intelligent wit.  With that in mind we combined fibers like linen, seagrass and rushing with velvet and damask.  Then we took it a step further by incorporating lacquered leather, eelskin and electric-colored cowhide.  This is a luxurious space where you can kick up your feet and have fun!

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    The Response___________________________

    And because these are the dreamiest of clients, they love everything and will TAKE IT ALLOrders are placed and construction begins.  This next phase is about site visits, management, coordination, follow-up and a lot of patience.  But we’re getting our hands dirty and seeing our workrooms do their magic — so we love it!   

    happy design client

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    ______________________________________________________________________________

     Tune in next week for a fun Q&A and the FINAL REVEAL!  We will be sharing more insights about our process and the why’s and how’s of a successful design project. 

    design installation Huntley & Co.

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    SHOW-HOUSE // FAUX-CLIENT

    A showhouse is unique in that it provides a designer with the freedom to create a space that is bound only by her innovation and talent.  With a project that lacks a scope of work and a flesh-and-blood client, we find it important to invent a narrative to guide our design concept.  At Huntley & Co. we create a “faux client” to serve as muse during the showhouse process.  We have been blessed with some pretty wonderful clients throughout the years, but our Faux Clients 2016 definitely have us crushing hard!

     

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    Concept Development______________

    Washington DC is a city filled with people of varied and interesting backgrounds.  Our Huntley & Co. “clients” are an art dealer wife with an international childhood (thanks to a father who was Ambassador to Peru) and a west coast-born husband with a Renaissance spirit.  The couple shares a love of art, music and philanthropy.  Both travel frequently to New York, California, Europe and South America.  With that in mind, our goal for these busy and passionate entrepreneurs was to create a true LIVING space that reflects their personal histories and nurtures the lifestyle of their young family.

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    dc design house interior design concept development Huntley & Co.

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    dc design house concept development Huntley & Co.

     

    Already inspired?  Fantastic!  Because Huntley & Co. will be sharing more insights into our showhouse process as well as a final ‘reveal’ in forthcoming Luxe & Lucid posts.  Subscribe to our feed or follow us on Bloglovin to stay tuned!

     

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    HARDWARE – THE ESSENTIAL ACCESSORY

    Those who won in Rio can be found post-games posing with their hard-earned medals (gold, silver and/or bronze) at news conferences, talk shows and celebrity events.  Olympic hardware is pretty delicious — and not just because the athletes like to take a playful chomp during photo-ops — the heft and quality of the medals is obvious.  That’s why hardware is one of my favorite elements in design.  Well-crafted hardware not only looks good, if feels good.  Handling a door knob or drawer pull that’s cast and detailed to perfection is like nothing else.  Install beautiful, substantial hardware throughout a residence and the home will have guaranteed gravitas and soul.

     

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    Make an Entrance

    Door hardware is often one of the first impressions a home can make; it’s an introduction to the story inside … and an opportunity to have a little fun!

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    (left) antique fish knocker from Comer & Co. (center) beautifully handcrafted and complex set via Tumblr and (right) vintage brass door hardware with starburst escutcheons via Pinterest

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    The Finishing Touch to Cabinetry

    A lot of care goes into the design of millwork, so we want to honor the craftsmanship with the right choice of hardware.  Whether it’s nickel or bronze, knob or pull, ornate or simple — all depends on the vernacular of the residence.

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    (above) We settled on this hardware collection for a Florida master suite because it has a rustic and organic elegance, a perfect fit for the casual but sophisticated beach-side residence.

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    (clockwise from top left) The following hardware styles – traditional in Darnestown, contemporary in Delray Beach, transitional in Bethesda, and Colonial in Arlington – installed in Huntley & Co. projects.

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    Jewelry for Furniture

    Sometimes the success of a furniture piece depends on the hardware.  This handcrafted gold pull wholly represents our credo of modern glamour and was just the magic this custom H&Co. console required.

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    Gold ‘Branche’ pull by Objet Insolite glows against the grey shagreen finish of the console.

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    Designing from Scratch

    Hardware is always essential, but in some cases, it is actually at the heart of the design – as it was in the case of this custom H&Co. trunk.  The antique brass English plate handle was integral to the design process and chosen specifically for our Irish client.  From inspiration, to drawings, to fabrication — no detail was left behind!

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    (above) The selection process.
    (below) Detailed drawings for our fabricator; (bottom right) the finished upholstered trunk with plate handles, nailheads, pop-up lid and concealed drop-down door.

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      custom upholstered trunk designed by huntley & co. with nailheads and hardware

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    On the Road Discoveries

    These are the kind of photos I download from my trips.  Forget tourist traps and lounging on the beach.  No, my idea of heaven is snapping shots of door hardware and cabinet knobs.  Can you say #designaddict?

          brass knobs on wardrobe, elegant and detailed lever, selection of horn pulls with tricia's hand

    (left) egg knobs and chicken wire at the Marlton Hotel(center) Incredible Van Cronenburg at the AD Design Show; (center) selecting horn pulls at Ochre

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    I could easily post a hundred more photos of hardware.  Instead, go to Luxe & Lucid’s “interior architecture+details” page on Pinterest.  This much great hardware will make you a #designaddict too! 

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  • Tableaux

    There are only two things in this world of which I will never tire.  One, cute animals.  And two, vignettes.  It’s true, nothing snaps me out of a bad mood faster than a cleverly styled tabletop or an otter eating lettuce on Youtube.  Vignettes I love because they can be pulled together in minutes.  I love them because everyday things – a branch from the yard, a child’s toy, a vintage teacup – always make them more interesting.  I love them because they have personality.  I love them because they’re artistic and inspirational.  I love them because they make me happy … even sans otter. 

     

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    A favorite vignette from my LA trip this spring.

     

     

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    Richard Holley | McAlpine, Booth & Ferrier

     

     

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    Lorenzo Castillo

     

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    Huntley & Co. (L&R) | Peter Vitale (center)

     

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    Huntley & Co. | Ellen DeGeneres

     

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    Jean-Louis Deniot

     

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    Huntley & Co. (L&R) | Elle Décor (center)

     

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    Elsie de Wolfe | David Hicks

     

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    Alexandra Kidd

     

     

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    Huntley & Co. | Ernesto Pigni

     

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    Sunday morning at chez Huntley | The National Museum of American History in DC

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    Darryl Carter | Lucinda Wharton | Horsch Interiors

     

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    Best tableau ever  by A. Shaw Antiques at Highpoint.

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    Drop by the Luxe & Lucid Pinterest page for dozens of other gorgeous, brilliant vignettes.

     

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  • THE BEST OF LA // DESIGN

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    I was in LA recently.  It’s the perfect getaway and has everything my heart desires — a warm climate, a cool vibe, a lush and luxurious urban landscape and all the shopping a girl could want.  It’s not called the “city of angels” for nothin’ people.  For designers, the LA scene offers gorgeous settings, lovely laidback staff and some of the best furnishings in the US.  Key streets are Highland, Beverly Blvd, La Cienega, Melrose Ave and Melrose Place.  Head to Blackman Cruz, JF Chen, The Window, Harbinger, Hollyhock, Nicky Kehoe, Kelly Wearstler, Galerie Half, Garde, Lief … to name just a few.  The east coast is unseasonably cold and Legends of La Cienega is on the horizon, so book your ticket for tinseltown today! 

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    Blackman Cruz

     

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    Galerie Half

     

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    Nicky Kehoe

     

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    Leif

     

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    ***

    And, of course, a little R&R is in store after pounding the pavement all day.  One night I met up with a pair of stylish LA friends at Estrella on Sunset to cocktail, nosh and chat about east coast vs. west coast life, business and girlpower.  The night ended with an impromptu manager-guided tour through the speakeasy-esque lounges and private screening room.  Fabulous.  

     

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    Estrella

     

    Another night was spent at Wally’s in Beverly Hills reminiscing with a beloved sorority sister.  A chic, casual yet elegant vibe with a stellar wine list, amazing menu and, of course, the occasional short-skirted, silicone-injected woman in the corner snapping selfies.  Only in LA.

     

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    Wally’s

     

    There are so many gorgeous hotels in LA.  But for this trip, I wanted to stay in the heart of West Hollywood.  The London was a fantastic choice.  Nestled at the corner of Sunset and San Vicente; it’s the perfect urbanite location with beautiful décor and superb service and amenities to boot.

     

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    London West Hollywood

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    OTHER LUXE & LUCID FAVES TO ADD TO YOUR LIST

     

    HOTELS:  Hollywood Roosevelt, Chamberlain, Huntley Hotel, Palihouse, Hotel Bel Air

    ————–

      DINING:  Lucques, Fig & Olive, Joan’s on Third, Son of a Gun, Norah (a must!)

    ————–

     COFFEE:  Alfred and Urrth in WH,  Nespresso in BH

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     HIKES:  Runyon Canyon Loop, Topanga State Park

    ————–

     GALLERIES:  Honor Fraser, Blum & Poe

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      CULTURAL:  Huntington Botanical Gardens, Getty Center & Gardens, The Getty Villa

     

     **  LA = LOVE AFFAIR and THE BEST OF LA // FASHION offer additional itinerary ideas **

     

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  • THE BEST OF LA // FASHION

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    I recently spent some downtime in LA.  And when I travel, I shop.  That’s just how I roll.  Shopping at home feels like a chore to me and I almost never do it (save my visits to Hu’s in Georgetown).  And it’s just so damn easy in LA.  You get in your car, you park RIGHT IN FRONT of the store, you peruse and chat with the nicest of people.  Then you walk out with a half dozen bags that you drop into your trunk.  So lovely … and um, possibly a bit too easy?

     

     

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    Beverly Hills :: Maje, Perrin, Etro, Barbara Bui

    WEHO :: Jenni Kayne, Curve, Kitson, Decades, Reurrection

    Melrose Place :: Marc Jacobs, Eoldie K, Maria Cornejo, Carolina Herrera, Isabel Marant

     

    And, of course, dozens more if your mortgage isn’t a concern ; )

     

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    ** The next Luxe List will feature LA’s best of home & design.  And it is FABULOUS!