Los Angeles Design Blog | Material Girls | LA Interior Design

Some pretty wreaths to inspire your holiday decorating…

{All images from Red Magazine UK}

In the spirit of the 4th of July, here are some images that embody the American way of life – year round.

The American flag creates a focal point in this bedroom and the red, white, and blue interiors reflect an all American style.

An outdoor deck feels festive.

A picture of a garden I took on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, CA.  Most all homes have a flag in the front of their house, year round.

And we always keep a flag on the back of our boat, seen here in Newport Harbor.

…and in Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island.

Most boat docks are lined with the flag at the end of the landing, as seen in this picture taken on Balboa Island in Newport Beach – last winter.  The spirit is year round here.

More “all American” style homes on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, where the flag is a staple in front of most everyone’s homes.  (I’ve stayed here in the midst of winter, when the winds pick up, and hear the flags blowing through the howling wind at night.)

A patriotic children’s room – so cute!

A very sophisticated bedroom decorated with a touch of patriotism.

{Photos from Houzz, House Beautiful, and me)

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

{Here are some rooms that are pink, chic, and inspiring for a romantic day!}

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a holiday tradition that has been taking place in Newport Harbor for 101 years now – it’s the oldest boat parade in the nation! While I did not attend the boat parade this year, I have many times before.  In fact, the parade route goes right by where we keep our boat and in the past we’ve entertained friends and family while watching the parade from the back of the boat. Sad to have missed this year’s parade but I was able to find pictures to share with you.  Over 100 vessels take part in the parade – everything from electric bay boats, to small craft boats, to yachts, even canoes & kayaks.  Each year the parade lasts for five nights (this year from December 16th – 20th) attracting millions of viewers.

The parade route makes it’s way through the entire Newport Harbor (where the boats turnaround at the breakwater).  Given the size of the harbor and the route it takes – there are many location spots in which to view the boats pass by.

Lights galore – apparently some boat owners have spent over $50,00 decorating their boats for the parade!

The boats really light up the water at night!

The Christmas floats make their way around a 14 mile route which passes by restaurants, yacht clubs, private homes, boat docks, and the public beaches of Newport Harbor.

Many boats are also entertaining guests aboard during the parade route (which lasts over 2.5 hours) – it’s fun to see the party-goers enjoying the spirit of the parade and the holidays!

Hopefully next year I will make one night of the parade (and take some photographs of my own!). Hope everyone had a good holiday!

{Images via The Orange County Register}

Just because we can’t always see the interiors of beautiful homes decorated for the holidays doesn’t mean we can’t judge by the exterior – it’s always so neat to see a festive front door!  Here’s a few holiday doors for inspiration…

A colorful wreath featured on a detailed door in a JCrew ad.

This white wreath is simple and sophisticated, adds contrast to the dark door (formerly featured in Blueprint magazine).

Pretty blue door with a trio of wreaths via Martha Stewart.

Traditional greenery makes for a classic holiday door (image via Martha Stewart).

How is your front door decorated for the holidays?

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend!  I spent Thanksgiving Day at my family’s house on Balboa Island in Newport Beach.  Despite living in Los Angeles for many years, I was born and raised in Newport Beach, so it’s still that place I call home.  Our house on Balboa Island is located on what is called “Little Balboa Island.”  Balboa Island is an island in Newport Harbor comprised of a larger island and a smaller island separated by a canal and accessible by a bridge. On Thanksgiving Day, we took a walk around the perimeter of the smaller island (Little Balboa Island) and I took some pictures that I thought I would share with you.  So join me on my walking tour!

So here’s your map (um, using my iPhone map).  Our walk begins on the smaller of the island where you see “The Grand Canal” at the very top (of the larger waterway, Beacon Bay) – we are going to walk around the perimeter on the water side above where you see Crystal Avenue (the water side street is E Bay Front) and then down to S Bay Front, across S Bay Front and back up along side The Grand Canal (all the homes featured are water front houses).  Hope that’s not too confusing!  Don’t get lost!

One of my favorite houses, this house sits on a corner lot right at the edge of The Grand Canal (but wraps around a bit with rooms facing the canal) and faces Beacon Bay.  This house probably takes up about four lots.  I don’t know a lot of details about the house but my dad said it has been written about/published quite a bit.

A typical Balboa Island home, this house has a spacious front patio and a cute walkway.

An older more original island home, decorated for the holidays.

The architecture of this home is more southern, but still retains some traditional Balboa Island aesthetics.

Another house that has a southern flair, reminds me of a house you might see in Florida.  (Part of the house both above and pictured below.)

The house sits on two lots, so it has a nice wide front water facing porch.

And it’s currently staged and on the market for $10 million.

So now we’ve come to the intersection of E Bay Front and Park Avenue.  Notice how even the lamp posts are decorated for the holidays! Let’s continue up E Bay Front…

An original 50′s era gem, love the front door!

In the spirit of the holidays, owners decorate their private docks too.

My dad loves this house, not so much me – but I do find the nautical shutters whimsical.

Now we’re at the corner of E Bay Front and S Bay Front.  This house sits on a corner lot with dynamic views (the picture below is taken right at this corner).

The house above enjoys this view…every day.

A newer Balboa home, lush with landscape.

A day at the beach:  Thanksgiving Day was 84 degrees, warm & sunny.  Next time bring your bathing suit!

Another Florida-esque style home.  This property was at one time available to rent.  Great location, situated on a corner lot.

Most all of the water facing homes come with their own docks, great if you are a boat owner.

We’re now at the corner of S Bay Front and The Grand Canal.  This house sits across the way on the larger island.

As we make our way up The Grand Canal, my dad stops to introduce us to a friend of his that he meets up with on his daily walk.

We’ve now just passed the bridge that connects the larger island to Little Balboa Island as we continue to make our way back alongside The Grand Canal.

A house on the canal side, more traditional and modest in size, decked out for the holidays.

Making our way back to where we started, this walkway leads up to our house.

Hope you’ve enjoyed your tour of Balboa Island! Come visit again soon!

{Images via Martha Stewart}

For my Orange County readers, there is a new Jonathan Adler pop up shop located at Fashion Island in Newport Beach for the holiday season!

There will also be an exclusive designer event on Wednesday, December 2nd for local designers in the area.

Here’s the info that was sent to me:

We are thrilled to announce the opening our new Jonathan Adler store at Fashion Island Shopping Center  in Newport Beach.

We are a pop-up store here for the holidays and would love to share our “happy chic” vibe with you.  We invite you to participate in our exclusive Designer Event to be held the evening of Wednesday, December 2, 2009 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

-          Feel, see, and smell all of Jonathan Adler’s fabulous products

-          Learn about our 10% discount offered exclusively to designers

-          Champagne & chocolate for a treat

-          Meet fellow designers  in the area

-          Receive  a complimentary gift from Jonathan Adler.

You can find us in the middle of the mall across from the Koi Pond.  We hope to see you on Wednesday, December 2^nd from 5-7.  Give us a call to let us know you will be attending.

Have a “happy chic” day!

Jonathan Adler Fashion Island

235 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, California 92660

Phone: 949-759-0017 Fax: 949-759-0016

With Fall and Thanksgiving in season, filling your home with some earthly acquisitions really branches out from the usual decor…

Chandelier from Pottery Barn

Twig mirror from Spiegel

Jewelry Tree from Pottery Barn

Branch Side Table from West Elm

Floor Lamp from Oly Studio

Table from Jayson Home

Branch Shelf from West Elm

Hope many of you are out enjoying the Halloween festivities!  Thought I would share a few pictures of homes decorated for Halloween that I took this past week while staying at my family’s house on Balboa Island in Newport Beach.  Many of the homes on this small, quaint island were decorated for Halloween.  I was hoping to walk around and take more pictures but only managed to get a few.  In the spirit of the island, everything from storefronts to island cottages to streets were decorated for Halloween…I will try to take more come Christmas time, when even the boats are decked out in holiday lights!