The Design Daily

From runway to giving Renoir a run for his money, Dorothy Willetts’ design prowess knows no boundary. Her latest work, a sixty five million dollar Coachella Valley showpiece on 37 acres, comes replete with furnishings and art which she fearlessly conceptualized. An eleven bedroom, 40,000 square foot residence boasts almost every imaginable luxury amenity, (think expansive guest quarters, golf course, horses, helicopter pad, pool & spa), plus a few imaginative ones like a date farm, canals, lake, petting zoo (every home should be so lucky), and Margaritaville, the large outdoor bar complete with custom surfboards which bear the property’s logo. Read the full article here.

Though Chris Mercier, AIA, is inarguably a masterful architect, as someone who has worked alongside greats like Frank Gehry and Daniel Libeskind, he is a visionary; not one to be constrained by walls. Founder of (fer) studio in Inglewood, CA, Chris is literally an out of the box thinker: “If you only engage with the interior, you’re limited to square footage, but if you engage the exterior, the whole footprint of the house changes.” He applies this "architectural fluidity" to entire communities and specifically, Inglewood, a city primed for renewal. As the community anticipates the arrival of professional football and the light rail, Chris and (fer) collaborate with the city, local businesses and artisans to bring a fresh blueprint to live / work and retail, one that blurs the lines between buildings and environment. Read the full post here.

Christopher Grubb is the Founder and President of renowned Beverly Hills based Arch-Interiors Design Group. Kitchen & Bath Design News named him a Top 50 Innovator, and he is the creator of two product design studios, The CG Collection, and Autograph by Christopher Grubb. This influencer, go-to presenter and HGTV personality can itemize the “ins and outs” of design direction with ease, yet he’s someone who pays higher homage to an intrinsic element of design, often overlooked. Christopher tells us what's new and next, with an emphasis on the evolution of experiences. 

The best of two worlds converge when the design prowess of Michael Amini meets the marketing ingenuity of Kathy Ireland and the young consumers who’ve come to trust her  brand. Artistry and authenticity underscore their collections, answering the call for sophisticated, accessible design.

“Art” can be perceived as one of those rare languages, spoken and reserved for translation by a discerning few, and meant for the “hallowed halls” of luxurious environments. Not so, says acclaimed interior designer, Dorothy Willetts, someone who speaks the language with fluency. With A-List clientele, and a background rich in art, antiques, and architecture, she’s east coast grounded, west coast spirited and a vibrant proponent of great art’s ability to “live” in diverse settings. Dorothy was a key contributor at Las Vegas World Market’s Art Expo, and panelist for Start With the Art, and 60 Tips in 60 Minutes. She is Founder of Willetts Design & Associates, based in the Coachella Valley.

Nestled is the name of the game, now that sunlight wanes to a crisp chill. Time to grab a warm beverage and cozy up to the comforts of color, furnishings and linens that lend themselves to a good book and a fireside reprieve.

Since Pantone introduced Greenery as 2017’s Color of the Year, we are finally falling for shades of green in furnishings, accessories, and even as a new neutral for walls. Boxy silhouettes give way to soft, swooping shapes with high end details from designers like Adriana Hoyos and Kenneth Cobonpue. The return of natural elements like rattan, caning and coconut shells keep our fondness for nature in the spotlight, and in our homes.

Ronna Griest, furniture and fabrics aficionado, and Design Director for Paul Robert, walks us through the restored 1920’s hosiery mill in High Point, NC that houses a 20,000 square foot menagerie of head turning design. The stage is set for three very different, fully customizable furniture stories: one which leans maximalist, warm minimalist, and one with a modern twist.

A page (or several) from a vintage Parisian journal sets the story line for a newly imagined furniture collection. French Modernism’s beloved simplicity and curves meets California’s iconic, artful ease in the Consort Collection by Mat Sanders and Brandon Quattrone of the celebrity design firm. Read more here.

With zero notion of a "glass ceiling," Florence Broadhurst brushed bold, new strokes across the landscape of midcentury wallpaper and textile design, and her brand is still ahead of its time. Interior designer Holly Hollingsworth Phillips, owner of The English Room in Charlotte, NC. has been named by Signature Design Archive as the first US brand ambassador for the iconic brand, focused on the Florence Broadhurst: Fearless Design campaign for 2018. A maven of maximalist sophistication herself, Holly talks about the brand's fresh appeal, her role as ambassador and her own "buy what you love, do what you love" signature style.