Lately, I’ve been posting all things Los Angeles—places to eat, spots to browse, standout interiors showrooms, notable historic homes, and a few visits to homes by Schindler and Frank Lloyd Wright. But this post shifts from buildings, boutiques, and restaurants… to the people. Specifically, the people I met during a week of panels and presentations at Design Los Angeles—and more importantly, the books they brought with them.

Join me on a Los Angeles historic homes tour with stops at three landmark houses: Hollyhock House, Kings Road House, and the Ennis House. From early modernist design to bold geometry and layered texture, these homes still influence how we think about space today. Between vegan meals and boutiques, I squeezed in a few landmark buildings—and this tour was totally worth it.

We just photographed this new construction beach house, finished last summer—but we held off sharing it until the good light returned (translation: no winter shrubs or grey skies). The extra time gave us room to sort out window treatments, hang art, and layer in the final touches. The photos are in, we’ve sent them off to a few media outlets, and now we wait—cue fingers crossed, and maybe a group manifest. We’re proud of this one…

It’s been a while since we shared progress on our K Street project, and while we’ve shared updates on Instagram, the journal posts have been quiet. With six weeks (ish) left in construction, it felt like the right time to offer a peek. This brownstone renovation leans into classic architecture and timeless materials—always our favorite combination. As historic home designers, we’re always balancing restoration and reinvention.

There’s no shortage of design in West Hollywood—Los Angeles shopping and dining at its finest. WeHo has some of the coolest restaurants, brunch spots, and coffee shops around. Every meal (or break from design meetings) offered plenty of inspiration. Beyond strong Americanos and great cocktails, I was drawn to the hospitality design and retail environments—spoken like a true former commercial interior designer.

LA is full of contradictions. A city, but sprawling like a suburb. Industry-driven, yet business deals go down in flip-flops. Full of both grit and glamour; famous, yet somehow still faceless. What I learned is that LA’s architecture is hyper-varied: One block with a Spanish Colonial Revival, the next Craftsman or a Mid-Century Modern. What LA does best is to tuck it’s architectural gems into places you don’t expect.

Looking to elevate your next photo shoot or home staging project? These indoor plant styling tips, inspired by a recent LA showroom visit and a South Shore photo shoot, offer easy-care greenery ideas that photograph beautifully and thrive indoors. Before styling any space for a photo shoot, I start with greenery. Fresh-cut flowers are lovely but are often a last-minute call and are fully dependant on what’s available at the market.

Open floor plans once ruled the real estate market—but today, they feel loud, inefficient, and out of touch with how we actually live. Developers cling to them, as they lag behind real design trends, overusing high ceilings, black windows, and copy-paste layouts from proverbial ‘catalogs’. Gross. Open floor plan problems show up fast: sterile, echoey, and dated. Read on to see why we prefer smaller, enclosed spaces.

My friend didn’t need to do much convincing for me to join her for Design Los Angeles. The former La Cienega Design Quarter (LCDQ) has recently rebranded under the leadership of Rebecca Birdwell, supported by a board of notable industry figures. We spent most of our time in West Hollywood, where LA’s interior design showrooms cluster along La Cienega, and seeing them on the West Coast felt essential and energizing.

I’ve been a fan of Sarah Flint shoes for years: her pieces are beautiful, well-made, and built for walking. Recently, I met Sarah at a Boston pop-up on Newbury Street and she’s smart, warm, and full of creative energy. A local talent from Lincoln, Massachusetts, she studied at FIT in New York and did intensive ‘shoe’ training in Italy. Her mission is clear: make beautiful shoes that are actually comfortable.

Toronto’s neighborhoods offer more than just a pleasant stroll—they’re a study in layered history, evolving styles, and architectural details that still feel lived-in. On this trip, I wasn’t only browsing boutiques and admiring façades—I was gathering historic home design inspiration at every turn. From Georgian buildings reimagined as luxury storefronts to rows of Victorians, the structures hold strong.

Do you know how many times I meet new clients, and they already have a builder—who has already given them a cost—with no drawings? It’s impossible for any builder to give an accurate estimate without drawings. It’s pure guesswork. These builders promise low costs and short schedules, setting homeowners up for disappointment. So, let’s talk about how to hire a builder who actually knows what they’re doing.