Like Nail Polish For The Walls

This week Kendra is back blogging about her love affair with wallpaper!

I love wallpaper. Ever since I was a little girl I was drawn to wallpaper. Thankfully it was very easy for Craig and I to talk Mama Pat into re-papering any wall in our home on a whim.

When I talk wallpaper to clients their eyes get all big and they look at me like I have 3 eyes. I see their minds take them through a time warp straight to grandma’s kitchen with cabbage rose papered walls with that matching border.  They definitely are not feelin’ the paper love…at first that is.

Is this where your mind takes you?

Today there are so many great patterns whether your taste is subtle with just texture, a tone on tone pattern or a making a bold statement-there is a paper out there for you.

Here is a basic grass cloth shown in a natural way and then my way (bold with pattern of course!)

I use wallpapers in almost every design project. In fact, wallpaper is usually my starting point. I find that great pattern and build my design from there. Often I will have to explain wallpaper to my client and pull them out of their grandmother’s kitchen but I have never had a client not love the outcome.  I would suggest using wallpaper sparingly- it is not for every wall in your home.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAV'S:

Modern wallpaper designs by De Joode design have this amazing rythmic repition of Ladies and Gentlemen but it isn't something you discover until you are up close!

This tree paper comes in many colors from a cream tone on tone to black as shown

Moorish prints always grab my attention

A Parisian Toile? Without the jetlag? I think so!

HERE ARE SOME OF CRAIG'S FAV'S:

Elysian Fields Bat paper in Cobalt Blue

Butterfly Jubilee

If you look closely Ms. Ward is being transported by various insects

Woosdtock had nothing on this!

Recently Craig and I used this great paper on an episode of HGTV’s Room Crashers. We applied the paper horizontally instead of vertically (as intended and as shown below) for a fresh look.  

Check out our episode in the link below. Notice how the homeowner comments on the loving the paper over and over and over …….keep in mind we were “ghost designers” so you won’t see us (only quickly in the background if you really pay attention)and our design (and words) were placed into the hosts hands but this was OUR brainchild NOT his.

http://www.hgtv.com/video/modern-beach-cottage-video/index.html

This fish paper was used in a client’s powder room- she was NOT afraid of paper!

In design a large portion of our job is to educate the client and show them how to make their space their own. When you walk into your home you should look at your furnishings as a reflection of yourself. It should make you smile. It should make you happy. Yes, furniture must be functional but it should also be an extension of your personality. It’s like fashion. We have items we wear that we love for comfort and also items we wear because it’s our personal style. Jewelry has great meaning. Our old high school sweatshirt is comfy and takes us back in a good way.

So get comfy, get colorful and love your walls!

It's as easy as A-B-C!

This week Kendra is blogging about Vintage Industrial Letters.

Lately Vintage wall letters have been making their way off the old dilapidated buildings and into our homes. Who would of thought that I would have a partially rusty, chipped K hanging in my home? I do, and I love it!!

This K proudly hangs in my son’s bedroom. It is 30” tall so it holds a huge presence. I love the sharpness of the red against the blue and the unexpected marriage of these 2 colors.

Putting initials up on a wall or spelling out a name is not a new concept. I like to think of these industrial letters as the natural evolution to the wood version. Take a drive around your city.  Many old buildings will have owners that have no use for these “scraps”.  Which probably means you can get it for free, or simply visit the CRAIG OLSEN showroom on La Brea and pick your favorite letter fresh off the wall! 

This one still has part of the building on it as well as old glue, a penciled in number (probably to tell it's place on the marquee line up) as well as an electric company sticker.

Recently at the CRAIG OLSEN showroom we had an opportunity to buy up a load of these huge letters, which came from an old Motel. My guess is they were born in the 50’s.

Originally we thought we would take them and powder coat them giving them color to last them another 50 years but once we saw them we fell in love with their character.  

Beat up and in the raw, bent a little and sagging in certain area’s these definitely have seen better days but really, haven’t we all?  

Up they went!

Not exactly the order they originally hung in but I can spy my middle name, which was an artistic accident by Craig and wasn’t noticed until a day later. Craig’s assistant wanted him to spell a word but Craig wanted to use his imagination via a collage of letters. I challenge you to find a word.

Me next to KAY

Hollywood NOIR is the NEW REGENCY

Being the "style maker" that I am (I know my sister Kendra is rolling her eyes at this one!) I'm going to break down the difference between HOLLYWOOD NOIR and HOLLYWOOD REGENCY.  


If you haven't hear of the HOLLYWOOD NOIR design style, then I'm coining it as my re-discovery, I'm brining NOIR back! (calm down everyone...I know, I am excited too..;)


The Regency look started with William Haines in the later 1940s, while Noir pre-dates it by a decade or two.

HOLLYWOOD REGENCY

Both looks are an attempt to recapture Retro Hollywood but the styles couldn’t be more different.

HOLLYWOOD NOIR

Well known designer Kelly Wearstler reprised the Hollywood Regency Style a decade ago.  Remember the belted, full-skirted mom look, lots of chintz and hominess.

The colors are techno-brilliant with sunflower gold, powder blues, greens and that unfortunate shade I like to call Pepto Bismol pink.  It’s definitely eye-popping with low modern furniture, all buttoned-down with Asian chinoiserie and painted furniture.

Personally, I think the look is TELEVISION vs. the GOLDEN SCREEN. 


Backing up to the Hollywood Noir look of the 20's and 30's is like stepping into a richer and much more sophisticated era.

Think of that pale silhouetted glamour girl in her emerald satin gown descending the staircase into the gentlemen’s club.

The lighting is moody; the colors are crimson, sapphire, with lots of high gloss  glamour. It is unapologetically opulent.

You can bring the dramatic expressiveness of this legendary era into your home by seeking out the sumptuous furnishings of the period. Pair them with good vintage lamps and gleaming polished wood.

Draw the eye to classic movie posters featuring movie idols such as Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart or Joan Bennett. 


The search for the right furniture and accessories will lead you to some unique collections.  Don’t get frustrated if you're not able to find the NOIR look at your regular shopping spots.  Check out estate sales and auction houses, or drop into our showroom and find pieces to add a little NOIR style to your home!

Adding fur blankets, pillows or possibly if you're daring enough, a Sheepskin Pouf in grey in the right setting will create a fabulous NOIR appeal.

Any kind of Hollywood lighting, theatrical or cinematic will give the NOIR appeal.

Don't be afraid of sapphire blue and emerald green!  A modern fabric on an old french chair paired with a contemporary rug can give NOIR decadence.

Putting it all together can give you pure HOLLYWOOD NOIR STYLE!

Come into the CRAIG OLSEN design showroom to further your education and STAY TUNED FOR MY NEXT BLOG, in which I will invite you into MY OWN BEDROOM (get your mind out of the gutter;) and show you how to update your style with a few subtle changes to your personal space that will make all the difference in the world! 


CRAIG OLSEN, INC
130 N La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036


323.677.2111

What’s Hot and What’s NOT From The Minds and Mouths of Craig and Kendra

In the world of design there are so many trends that come and go.  My sister Kendra and I can be quite the Dynamic Duo and are often referred to as the “Donnie & Marie of Design.”  She’s a little bit country and I am a little bit rock and roll!  You can imagine when we put our head’s together and started talking about all of yesterday’s goods that need to go “Buh-Bye” the list became rather long.

At the top of my personal list: CORAL! Ugh!

I have been asking nicely for years, and ask again, please people NO MORE, send it back to the reef!  While you are at it, box up whatever Monkeys you have, let them be free already!

If you want a new furry creature it is the year of the rabbit (FYI) and they are ready to embrace their newfound place in your space.

Time to get back to America as the wedding is over!  This being said please rid yourself of the British flag draped items.  I admit I was on board, I loved the trend as well but use it as a token.

Diamond tufted sofas, DONE!  French lacquered mirrors need to stay “over there,” especially if they are resin framed, and I know they are!  One more thing, the French Dome Chair, Please go away!  This chair has been SOOOOO over done, it officially died when Ru Paul's Drag Race featured one in gold leather, BYE!!

Kendra’s top item to go: Cube Ottomans!  Kendra says, “I get it, they are easy and cheap, can be picked up almost anywhere for nothing but like halogen floor lamps- they need to be left out on the curb.

Try a new shape like a hexagon, a star or an emerald cut, ANYTHING, just stop being such a square!

Something I really pay attention to is what Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn are doing, why you ask?  Because once it is in Restoration or “The Barn,” It’s over Johnny! It is now being mass-produced and anyone, anywhere can open up their mailer magazine and order it.  Restoration Hardware single handedly ruined the French Industrial look for all of us. The diamond back tufted sofa and the dome chair (recently seen on Ru Pauls drag race in gold-‘nuff said) use to be so chic but they put it in overdrive and burned out the clutch.“

One thing Kendra and I both agree on is our love for Hollywood Noir. Don’t get this confused with Hollywood Regency, which, you will hate to hear it and won’t want to believe it but it is over, done, finito, goodbye.  Hollywood Noir is our new look. To us this embodies all things classic, timeless and fabulous in design.  Style your space with actual vintage studio lighting or large scale vintage movie posters that demand attention just like Joan Crawford did in the 30’s.

We are also loving the functionality and lines of modular furniture. Anything that can change itself to fit your needs is a plus in our swatch book! African textiles, natural woven window treatments, zebra prints on washed linens along with a hounds-tooth anything make a classical statement.

Last but not least let’s talk about colors. Orange and turquoise haven’t worn out their welcome in our showroom and that is fine with us, however, baby blue and chocolate should stay in the nursery. We are coming out of the “beige age” and our clients seem to be splashing a bit more color on their walls and furniture. Find your splash by playing with color on small items such as hand painted fabrics for pillows, lampshades and blankets and accessories that will stand the trend of time.

Stay tuned for the next blog where I will explain the difference between Hollywood Regency and Hollywood Noir.

Not Everything That Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas!!

Kendra’s Blogging this week!

As an interior designer, my  favorite time of year is the International Furniture Show held at the extravagant World Market Center.  This is when designers and shop owners from all over the world travel  to Las Vegas to see what is hot and new in Home Furnishings.    

   WORLD MARKET CENTER-LAS VEGAS, NV.

Okay, okay so it helps it is in Las Vegas,  home of the jackpot party slot machine where you can put in a penny and leave with $900 (I was once so lucky!!!) or put in $900 and leave with a penny (no comment).

          This must have been a good run….

This is a trip my brother and design partner Craig and I make every year. Once we plan our trip and arrive in Vegas we instantly consume the desert air and the excitement of the sparkly city. We make our way to the hotel where we check in and vow to be in bed by 10pm so we can get up bright and early to make the best use of our day at the show. After a small donation to the hotel casino and one cocktail for good measure I make my way to my room and will myself to sleep. I seriously feel like a kid at Christmas, with anticipation of all the new furniture I will soon feast my eyes upon. I am sure somewhere Sarah Jessica Parker is willing herself to sleep in much the same manner in anticipation of Dior’s winter runway show.

The next day we are up and out!! With 3 buildings and 14 floors to each building we have to keep it moving to see it all, and I MUST see it all! Every year we find that gem, that new thing, that must have for our front window and this year was no different. Check out our find below.  We both agreed this fantastic piece of furniture was coming to Los Angeles where it would live at the CRAIG OLSEN showroom on La Brea.

Meet the Bergman sofa below in supple dove grey leather (with many custom leathers to choose from) shown in 3 ways:

Shown here as a 3 cushion 90” long Sofa. This sofa can work in so many different settings from Industrial to Classic.

Shown here as 3 chairs all in one!! Perfect for a family with kids where mom and dad are sick of hearing, “Moooom, her leg is touching my leg, her arm is touching my arm, she won’t scoot over!!!” As a mother, I have heard this sentence in every language possible!

               

Shown here as a small settee and a chair. Can’t you see this in a waiting room or an office?

Isn’t it fabulous?!  This sofa is so smart it can make itself a sofa, 3 chairs or a small settee with chair all in the flip of a small cushion, therefore making it the perfect piece for an office, a TV room, a formal living room, and with its masculine angles I can even see it in a man cave!

    To purchase one of these gems contact the CRAIG OLSEN showroom at 130 N. La Brea in Los Angeles or visit our website at http://www.craig-olsen.com/

 Stay tuned for the next blog which will be about Craig and Kendra's LIST of WHAT'S HOT and WHAT'S NOT in design today!

Meet the REAL Modern Family Behind CRAIG OLSEN

CRAIG OLSEN is more than a beautiful showroom offering full design services, we're a family.  Those who know me well know my family is of utmost importance, followed by my business.

If you've had the opportunity to visit my showroom on La Brea you more than likely have met my beautiful and extremely talented sister Kendra Kay.

Kendra has been creating beautiful spaces and bringing new and exciting furniture design concepts to the business for years!  She is married to Shane Pahukoa (former NFL player) and has three amazing children.  Her husband Shane is also in the furniture design world, creating furniture concepts for a design showroom I partnered and launched years ago. Kendra's personality is sure to win anyone over and the dynamic between the two of us is undeniable, and very entertaining I'm told!

This is what happens when we don't see eye-to-eye on a design concept, of course I always win, LOL!

Meet "Girl Saturday," AKA Mom Pat. Without her, none of this madness would have been possible :D

If you happen to be shopping in my showroom on a Saturday you will more than likely have had the pleasure of meeting Girl Saturday.  Girl Saturday is here to lend a hand, chat with cliental and if you're lucky she may even sing you a little tune! :D

Having had several successful design businesses over the last 15 years, I have had my share of great assistants.  I take much pride in my previous assistants as many of them have become great designers opening showrooms of their own and continuing on in other design related endeavors, successfully!  My latest assistant, Daniel Paulson, is a budding designer continuing his design education at the Design Academy of Craig Olsen :D 

Visit our showroom on La Brea and let Team CRAIG OLSEN help make your Interior Design DREAMS a REALITY!

Lighting Up Drai's - Hollywood and Vegas!

Aside from creating beautiful residential interiors, we at CRAIG OLSEN also pride ourselves in the many posh commercial spaces we've designed over the years.  When working on a nightclub nobody does it better than my friend Victor Drai. 

I recently had the pleasure of creating custom lamps for the exclusive Drai's Nightclub at the W Hotel in Hollywood and the newly re-modeled Drai's Afterhours Club in Vegas.


The challenge was to design and produce a bulk order of custom lamps from the ground up in a very short time frame.  Creating such a piece requires working with several skilled craftsman as well as Victor to turn a vision into a reality!

The first step in the process is sketching the vision and reviewing it with the client.  After a vision is agreed upon, a sample is produced and presented. The design concept was a wood turned base with an antique gold leafed finish which would later be electrified by another party (as shown in the photo below.) 

A beautiful lamp base requires an equally stunning shade!  In this case, a red silk shade was designed and brought to life to compliment the shape of the antique gold leafed base.

Since every shade needs a harp to prop itself on, custom harps and hardware were also created.  I then consulted another skilled craftsman to produce acrylic diffusers to be fitted on top and bottom of the shade to create illumination fit for Hollywood and Vegas' hottest clubs!

Last but not least, my Girl Saturday (my mom Pat) assists me in carefully wrapping each lamp to be shipped away...and my work is complete:)

You too can have one of these beautiful custom lamps in your own home! Stop by our showroom on La Brea or give us a call to place an order. Different shade colors and finishes are also available!


Craig-Olsen
130 N La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA  90036


323.677.2111