Velvet & Linen

our veranda photo shoot!

Thank you to Veranda Magazine's Leslie Newsom, Los Angeles based Photographer Peter Vitale and Harry Greiner for two fantastic days at our home in Channel Islands Harbor. We had so much fun during the photo shoot!

me, Peter Vitale, Harry Greiner, and Leslie Newsom.  

Unfortunately I can't show you the photographs that Peter took (don't want to spoil the surprise!), but Steve did take a few quick shots while we were getting ready.

We created a beautiful setting on the deck. The gravel arrived the day before the shoot and helped tie the look of the deck with our front courtyard.

 

The best part of the shoot was getting to watch Peter Vitale in action. I've been an admirer of his work in Veranda for years. His book, The Divine Home: Living with Spiritual Objects, is also wonderfully inspiring. 

 

Steve and I really appreciated being a part of setting up each shot. Leslie and Peter were great collaborators! 
 

All of the succulents that I planted a few months ago were ready for their close up!
  

Peter caught me on the way to do some last minute planting. I liked this picture so much that I decided to use it as my new picture on my blog. Thank you Peter!
 
 We finished shooting the house just in time to attend the Veranda/Dennis and Leen party thrown at both the Dennis and Leen and Formation showrooms. Several people from Veranda are here in Los Angeles, including editors Lisa Newsom, Carolyn Englefield and newly appointed editor-in-chief Dara Caponigro,  for the Veranda Art of Design Event at the PDC tomorrow. It should be a great presentation! 

In the afternoon, I'm planning to pick up my copy of the new Annie Kelly book, Rooms to Inspire in the City. Stop by if you get a chance. I'll be there around 4:30 before I head back to Santa Monica for Nick's band performance!

I hope you are having a fantastic week!

xo

Brooke

getting ready for veranda....

Last week Venice....

 
 

This week...

The Veranda Magazine shoot with Leslie Newsom and photographer Peter Vitale. We're still a bit jet lagged, but today we went up to Oxnard to get ready for tomorrow!

 

Note to self... bring light bulbs!

The flowers are in buckets, and the props are in the fridge... We're going to try to shoot as much as possible tomorrow, because there is rain in the forecast for the rest of the week here in "sunny" California.

xo

Brooke

 

Palazzo Fortuny

Our final evening at the Design Leadership Summit was truly an experience of a lifetime. What could be more inspirational than a presentation by Axel Vervoordt at the Palazzo Fortuny? 

The Palazzo, where Mariano Fortuny lived, is now the Fortuny Museum filled with Mariano Fortuny's original artwork, fabrics, and inventions. 

 

All of Fortuny's paintings are sensual. The subjects and the colors he used capture the essence of Venice.
  

 

 
  

It is easy to imagine Mariano Fortuny creating this unfinished work at this easel. 
 

A bust of Mariano Fortuny. 

The pigments Fortuny used in his paintings and fabrics reflect the colors seen in the city of Venice. The muted red of the bricks, the aqua color of the water, the ochre of the plaster walls...

 
 

 

A Fortuny dress would be perfect for traveling. You could twist it into a small ball, and it would unfold into an elegant dress. 

 

 
 The walls covered in panels of Fortuny designed fabrics are a dramatic back drop for his artwork.

 

Of course, Steve loved this Fortuny designed industrial light!
  
  The highlight of the evening was a talk given by art dealer and collector, Axel Vervoordt! It was like listening to poetry...

"Time is an Artist."

 

"An Accident can be a Present."
 

"Leave Space for Nature."

 
   

"Artists feel things 50 years ahead."
 

Axel Vervoordt has created several art exhibits at the Fortuny Museum. The idea of showing artwork in a space that isn't stark and white seems so obvious now that Axel Vervoordt has done it! He truly is an innovator. 
   

He bought this little street in Antwerp before anyone appreciated its beauty. 
 
 Thank you to the Riad Family for hosting such a wonderful event and to Axel Vervoordt for sharing his passion with us. 

The next day, Steve and I walked through Venice taking in all of the beauty before heading home. 

 

 

For those of you who asked, Steve and I were fortunate to get on a flight out of Paris before they shut down the airport due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland!         

Thank you again to Meg Touborg and Peter Sallick of Design Investors and Keith Granet of Granet and Associates for hosting one of the most memorable experiences of our life! A special thank you to Dana-Christine Colla for all of her hard work in organizing this event. I can't even imagine how complicated it was, but she made it look so easy!

xo

Brooke

design leadership summit venice - highlights and fortuny...

First off, I want to explain a mistake in a post I did a couple of days ago, which I have since deleted. Apparently, it is unwise to do a post at 1:00 in the morning, especially after a 14 hour flight! As several of you noted, I called Peggy Guggenheim, "Patty"! Bloggers are only human, and as much as I try to edit my posts, sometimes I am a bit blurry eyed!  Ok, let's move on.....

Yesterday our schedule started with several incredible speakers, two of which I would like to share with you. 

We were fortunate to have Amy Martin of Digital Royalty talk to us about using social media such as facebook, twitter, blogs, etc... to grow your business. I think most of us haven't quite realized how important it is to take advantage of these new venues.

Amy has used social media campaigns to successfully grow Shaquille O'neil's digital brand. Her other clients include the Chicgo White Sox and the Cleveland Indians. I just started following her on twitter. I definitely have some things to learn about tweeting! Thank you Amy.

During the morning, we were also inspired by short presentations given by several of the talented designers in attendance at the summit. One of my favorite talks was given by Interior Designer Suzanne Tucker. Suzanne spoke about her sources of inspiration. She explained how spending time in the gorgeous gardens of the homes in Santa Barbara where she grew up has influenced her work. She also showed us samples of her exquisite new table top line and the mosaics that inspired their design. I was thrilled that Suzanne's discussion also included stories about her beautiful fabric line as well. Stunning!

 I was also fortunate enough to talk privately with Suzanne about her new fabric line that she just started designing. She is definitely one busy talented woman!  To check out her work click here. To view her new book click here. 

After an amazing day, we were off to the Fortuny Factory for cocktails.

 

Interior Designer Suzanne Kasler, Architect Thomas Kligerman, one our Design Leadership Summit hosts Keith Granet of Granet and Associates, and I taking in all of the beauty of the Fortuny showroom. We were honored to have Barry Dixon give us a tour of the showroom that he designed. The fabric on the walls, the Murano chandelier! Loved it all.

 

A close up of the wall upholstery and a Fortuny  floor lantern.

 Suzanne and I loved the new Fortuny color ways. They're so fresh!

   

 

Every detail throughout the showroom is exquisite!

 

The space actually feels like a gorgeous paneled library.

 

Barry Dixon explained that he didn't want to ruin the beautiful fabrics when he hung them, so he used Fortuny designed leather straps that gently clip onto the fabric.

 
 
   

Behind the factory we discovered the stunning gardens...

 

The raised pool allows the pool to feel more like a significant garden feature. It also adds seating and makes sure people don't fall in! 

 

The whimsical round pool stairs are a wonderful detail.

 

These are the best looking changing rooms I've ever seen! 

 

Several Fortuny lanterns hung from the trees.

 

This beautiful factory is next door to the Fortuny factory.
 

We were serenaded by the gently music of this string ensemble. 
 

After the group photo, it was time to leave...
 

I got to sit next to the talented gorgeous Darryl Carter on the boat ride to the Fortuny Museum. 

I'm still working on the post about the dinner. You are going to love it!

Ciao!

xo

Brooke