A Beautiful Surprise: Part II

Set against warm wood in a glamorous french train, my new inspiration has old-world sophistication. Enjoy these photographs of the second textiles collection, and I will be back tomorrow with more beautiful things.

Total Inspiration

I've written many a post about my "designer idols", namely Celerie Kemble, Elizabeth Dinkle, Suzanne Kasler. I admire them for their impeccable taste, glamorous portfolios and design philosophies. I love hearing their stories about how they got there, especially funny memories and bumps along the way.

After coming across these incredible images of Ruthie Sommers' 1920s-style birthday bash, she surely sits with my growing list of Design Gods. She's a cultured and classy woman who works with L.A.'s wealthy clientele, but also volunteers so much of her talent to charitable causes. As a wife and mother of two, Ruthie has eclectic taste that has developed after years of working in New York, L.A. and (drum roll) France. This calls for a whole new category: design and life idol.

Enjoy the segments below of Ruthie's honest and humorous words, and of course, her beautiful spaces.

Ruthie Sommers' first person biography:
"Decorating really is my first love. I ‘ve been pushing furniture since Curious George. When I was reworking my website I laughed out loud reading how wonderfully chic my biography sounds. Studying art and antiques in Paris is true. But what is not mentioned is that I was there searching for a Jean Pierre and dreamt of painting everyday on the Seine. Instead the only thing I came home with was a few extra pounds and canvases of fire hydrants and hairy women.

So you may understand my need to clarify.

I have been decorating for almost eighteen years. So it is very easy to write a bio on me or any decorator for that matter. But what does “mixing eras boldly really mean”? Listing all my press, advertising how magazines I have been in makes look and sound impossibly important. I guess that is the goal in any profession. Recognition is what we all crave. I do on a daily basis.

But what makes designers different? Every bio sounds the same to me. Including mine.

So here is my deal. My car is filled with fabric samples, old coffee cups and crumbled up paint chips. My office is not the beautiful neat organized office you may see on the pages of a magazine. The glossy white walls and perfectly p-touched folders are an illusion. I am proud of the homes I have decorated. I think they look wonderful on my website. But people live in them and there are stains on the ottoman and the peonies only make it to the mantel for the photo shoots and parties. I feel my success comes from something one can not photograph. The most fun I have aside designing sassy bars and cute powder rooms, is creating livable rooms and becoming part of someone’s family. I watch their purse carefully and in return I gain trust. And a great house is the outcome.

So . . . I am just a decorator. Big staff, great store or small garage office.. I have not changed. I have realized that my goal is not do so many things in this industry that I forget to decorate. I still schlep lampshades in my car and the highlight of my day is going downtown to check on carpentry in a old warehouse. Glamorous this job is not. However, I live and breathe to have a relationship with a home and the people that live in it. My goal is not have people remark at parties that Ruthie designed the most amazing aubergine lacquered room. But it is to hear that they were treated carefully, honestly and creatively. And that . . . is all I need."

Excerpt from 1stdibs Introspective by Susanna Salk: Sommers gradutated from the University of Virginia and moved to New York to start an apprenticeship with the renowned designer Juan Pablo Molyneaux. She then worked at Ralph Lauren Creative Services until her boss caught her and best friend Mary Mallard at a diner near the Lauren offices, laying out a design plan for their first personal client. 'Of course I was let go and cried all the way down Madison Avenue but Mary just laughed and told me this was a sign telling us to get our business license!'"

Ruthie's 40th Birthday slideshow (must see for any event planner out there!), click here.

All photo sources attached to link.

Classy.

Well well well. If it isn't just in the nick of time for May 2-4. Didn't I find the most beautiful LCBO brochure sitting on the kitchen table today. I know beer is the traditional drink-of-choice this weekend, but if you're feeling extra classy (or just crazy for all things french), I recommend taking a peek.

"French Lessons" is dedicated to french wines from all wine-producing regions of France (so everywhere). In amongst the intricate explanations of undertones and aromas are the most beautiful photographs of France. On some locations, there are even short videos showing incredible architecture and scenery.

I figure if this is the closest I'll get to France for a little while, a glass of wine and inspiring photos will do just fine.

All photos courtesy LCBO.com

Maison Claire

I have discovered the loveliest website of a boutique in England, named Maison Claire. The owner, Claire Gray, has a love for all-things-France and has been collecting beautiful French vintage pieces to sell. Here are a few of my favourites (unfortunately the beautiful sofa above has sold!).





Claire's unique finds have been featured in several magazines. I love this seaside spread from Country Living's August 2009 issue.

Slightly Sidetracked...

I'm cheating a bit with this post and using it for personal recruiting...if I may be so direct. I'm hoping that there's someone out there who can offer advice, information or ideas for a french adventure!

Ever since visiting France in 2008, I have been dreaming of return visits. More specifically, LONG return visits; a chance to live the European lifestyle for a few months. This is where you come in...

I've done a little research on short-term Visas, interning for designers or decorators, etc but I would love to hear from any of you who might have advice.


I'm open to any great city on France (not JUST Paris), and ideally I'd like to work on something interior design- or decorating-related while I'm there.

I realize this is a bit of a stretch and I promise The Beautiful Shelter won't become a classifieds blog! If you have any information, please just write a short comment with your email address (don't worry, I won't publish your address) and I will be in touch.

Thanks in advance!
Jenna

Springtime in Paris

France is a place you never forget. Since visiting a few summers ago, I feel like I've been having a dreamy love affair with anything French or Parisian that conjures up memories of that trip.

I was so pleasantly surprised this morning to see that {this is glamorous} had posted these stunning photographs by Liz Rusby. I'm in absolute awe of how beautifully she's captured the romantic mood and soft light of Paris. I can't imagine that there's a place more beautiful in spring than Paris. Sigh.

So if you can't live there, I say bring a little home. French Style at Home: Inspiration from Charming Destinations is an amazing decorating reference by Sebastien Siraudeau. With the same soft lighting that Rusby has so wonderfully used, Siraudeau describes the interior styles of various regions throughout France.

When I first saw a copy on my boss' desk, I couldn't wait to take a quick look through. Now, I can honestly say I've looked at it about 20 times - sometimes for design ideas, sometimes to reminisce; always loving France.


Also - Liz Rusby also has an etsy shop! Check it out here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LizRusby