Interior designer Marion Hartwich works from the comfort of her home studio, but her vision extends far beyond those four walls. Her décor style is a rich tapestry that has been woven from a life lived in Europe and both coasts of the United States. She calls it “fusion”—not to be confused with eclectic. Marion’s fusion flair is much more deliberate than a hodgepodge of disparate pieces. It manages to be warm and sophisticated, simple yet worldly. She blends different elements of the distinct cultures into a harmonious mix that never fails to delight the eye.

Marion, who says she isn’t the “floor-plan-designer kind,” applies her fusion flair philosophies to her own home as well as those of her clients, most of whom live near her Costa Mesa, California, studio. “If you have pretty things, you should put them out and enjoy them, not tuck them away in a closet,” she says. “It will make you happy to look at them.” Antiques and vintage pieces are foremost among the pretty things she displays in her home. “I’m a hunter and a gatherer,” she says. “It’s so much more fulfilling than going into a shop and buying something mass-produced or reproduced. I like the stories that come with vintage pieces. I’m giving them a second life.” Marion respects the workmanship and patina of old things. “I love their shape and simplicity—especially the creamy, antique-white color of the French style,” she says.

Her fondness for fusion flair and French aesthetic is seen both inside and outside her tract-turned-cottage home. Her kitchen and master bath are dressed in the familiar black-and-white French color palette—which she likes to contrast with red fabrics for a pop of color—and her garden table is set with French bistro fare, such as baguettes, fresh figs, edible flowers (they add a peppery taste when sprinkled over cheese, she says) and, of course, cheese set on a platter of grape leaves. “I always use real grape leaves because they make the food taste better,” she explains. “They have curly tendrils that are sculptural, and I use them in my flower arrangements as well.”

In her kitchen, Marion’s fusion flair has resulted in an interesting mix of black-and-white accessories displayed on shelves. Among the serving pieces sits a Staffordshire terrier figurine to whom Marion has conjured up an unusual pedigree. “Staffordshire dogs are normally sold in pairs, but this one was missing his mate in the store,” she says. “I felt bad for it, so I bought it so he has a home.”

Much like the birds she enjoys watching from her windows, Marion has feathered her nest into a comfortable home where she can nourish her body and soul while letting her spirit take flight as she sets course for her next design adventure, sure to be full of the fusion flair we love.

By Meryl Schoenbaum
Photography by Bret Gum
Styled by Jacqueline deMontravel

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An old-fashioned beach picnic is once again in vogue. Take a page from history and create a day you will remember forever. When life coasted at a slower pace, such outings were more commonplace. Make a beach picnic as romantic as you would when entertaining at home.

Here’s to flowing sundresses, large-brimmed straw hats, wet sandy toes, fresh flowers, seashells and sweets at your beach picnic.

Be Inspired

Start with something vintage as an inspiration piece; we used beach-themed postcards that have an old-fashioned sensibility and set our color theme for our beach picnic.

Make a Checklist for Your Beach Picnic

Baskets for collecting shells

Books

Fresh flowers

Lanterns and candles

Mason jars

Painting, coloring or writing supplies and journal

Quilts

Treats, fruit and lemonade

Umbrella

Vintage plates, cups and flatware

Wagon for toting items

Vintage pails and a camera are thoughtful touches for a beach picnic. A flower frog moonlights as a pencil holder, encouraging guests to draw and write. Hunting for seashells is also encouraged with a tin basket and paper umbrellas.

Written and photographed by Melinda Graham

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Imagine being called a blank canvas in every language known to mankind. Such is the plight of white. And chances are you’ve been guilty of perpetuating the stereotype. Have you ever uttered the phrase, “White is a good neutral background for hanging art (or photographs or decorative plates, etc.)?” Of course you have. That’s why we put white in the spotlight.

Well, it’s time to stop underestimating it and start thinking of it as a superstar, because there are as many variations of white as other colors—and they are all guaranteed not to make you feel blue.

Get the Look: White in the Spotlight

• While it’s true that the walls in this room are painted white, if you look closely you will see that it is definitely not a stark, clinical white but rather a creamy hue that gives the room a soft glow even when the sun isn’t shining on it.

• The brightest whites are reserved for the sofas, chairs and trim. By placing the clear, light shades on these areas it puts them in the forefront. The white molding serves as a separator between the walls and ceiling—a logical dividing line.

• The beige area rug anchors the room and creates the illusion of white through its texture.

• Look up at the chandelier and you will be hard-pressed to think of another color that would share its space so elegantly.

• Finally, white calla lilies on the coffee table punctuate the room with an exclamation point.

By Meryl Schoenbaum
Photographed by Mark Tanner

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During one particular drive on a road that can be mistaken for anywhere in suburban America, shiny cars take a needed break in the driveways of homes with 30-year mortgages. The occasional basketball net entertains a pickup game with the local kids. At the end of one particular street is a captivating Mission-style home. As you draw nearer, a golf course comes into view, the ting of golf balls lulling you into a meditative state.

Opening the back gate to enter the home, an oh wow moment happens. This is not a garden of the suburban variety or even one that represents its home in the picturesque seaside village of San Clemente, California. It is a garden you would expect to come upon after driving miles of pristine English terrain as a stream of hunting dogs nip at your vehicle. Once inside, a path of verdant lawn leads to a miniature maze in the intricate cutout pattern of stained glass.

Bill lived in Britain for 10 years, a period when he became learned in gardening techniques that influence his style. “It has a different feel than most other Southern California gardens—some parts being formal, such as the knot garden, and other areas more eclectic,” he says of his work.

I learn that the garden is, not surprisingly, a sought-out location for weddings and tours, and is frequented by children on class trips. “Feel this,” Bill says, tugging on a leaf. “What does this remind you of?” The leaf has the abrasive feel of two-day-old bread. “It’s the sandpaper leaf. Kids love it.”

It is easy to see how Bill’s interactive tour is a hit with the kids. Later, Sandra arrives home to join us. She discusses her love for sharing the garden with visiting children and wedding parties as well as the ease with which they connected with the couples who have been married on the property, many of whom they are still in touch with.

“What a joy it has been to be a part of the happiness of the bride and groom on their wedding day. All of them, without exception, have expressed how wonderful it was to start their lives in these gardens,” Sandra says.

The garden is an undeniable setting for milestone occasions since there is something not quite real about it. It is enchanting, the stuff that inspires.

“Our philosophy is that a garden is to be enjoyed by everyone—not just owned by the person who plants and tends to it,” Bill says.

Garden Cottage at the Green
119 Avenida Santa Inez
San Clemente, California 92672
(949) 498-0593
gardencottageinn.com

Digging for Dirt

The Jensens share their gardening tips.

• Don’t be afraid to experiment. Sometimes plants that are not particularly suited for a specific area of the garden might do quite well there—succulents in the shade, for example. Most people think cacti need hot, sunny and dry places to thrive, but they do quite well in shade.

• We choose plantings on the basis of three factors: size, color and texture. We will either use plants that are the same color or we will use contrasting colors.

• To sustain flower blooms, make sure the plants are properly watered and in as much shade as the plant will tolerate. Heat and
direct sun can often shorten the bloom life of a flower.

• To heighten the experience of a garden, add garden ornaments, fountains and outdoor furniture so that you can sit and relax. Also, include plants that are fragrant so that there is something to delightful to smell.

• When we plan for an event in our small garden, we ensure that wherever you look there is something worth looking at.

Written and photographed by Jacqueline deMontravel

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Text and photography courtesy of of the Paint Quality Institute, paintquality.com

Moving to a new house, condo or apartment this spring? Before filling your home with furnishings, there’s something you might want to do first: paint. Experts of every stripe—from realtors to authorities on painting—say that one of the very best times to do interior painting is just before moving into a new home. Here are six reasons to paint before you move in, according to Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute:

Reason #1. It’s easy now.

Interior painting is a very simple project ­and not at all physically demanding when you can move freely within a room. Why wait till later when you may have to move heavy furniture from side to side, or work around big items, to do your painting?

Reason #2. It saves time.

Painting can take a lot longer when you have to cover and uncover things, move them back and forth, and take down and re-hang artwork. It’s better to paint just before moving and short-circuit these time-consuming and unproductive steps.

Reason #3. It can save you money—and lots of it.

If you’re using a professional painting contractor, he or she can complete the work far faster in rooms that are empty. That’s extremely important, since time charges for labor typically account for 80% of the cost of painting, according to Zimmer. Bottom line: Calling in a contractor before moving into a home can drastically lower the cost of painting the space, she says.

Reason #4. It safeguards your furnishings.

No matter how carefully you or your contractor work, there is always the chance of a paint spill, or a few stray flecks finding their way onto a prized possession. Painting before bringing in your furnishings keeps these items out of harm’s way.

Reason #5. It can simplify interior decorating.

Don’t have your furnishings yet? There’s no better way to set the stage for your décor than by adding a fresh paint color scheme before decorating. Doing so greatly simplifies the selection of new furniture, carpeting, and accents, allowing you to choose just the right tints, tones, and shades to make your new home picture perfect.

Reason #6. It feels good.

Adding a new coat of paint makes any home seem cleaner, fresher, more welcoming, and best of all. . .more “yours.” To keep your paint job looking great, Zimmer recommends the use of top quality 100% acrylic latex paint; it will produce a more stain-resistant finish that will look new-home fresh for years to come.

We hope these six reasons to paint before you move in will get you thinking about painting even before you move into your new abode. If you’re sold on the idea, you can find all sorts of color tips and how-to information at blog.paintquality.com or on the Paint Quality Institute’s website at paintquality.com.

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Do you ever dream of walking through endless fields of fresh lavender in Provence? More than a daydream, it’s a desire deeply imbedded in the hearts of true romantics. If a trip to France is not in your immediate future, you can still surround yourself with the sights and scents of Provence at home.

Lovely French lavender is more than a basis for a color palette; let this tiny flower be your inspirational design guide. Indulge in the unmistakable fragrance and infuse the soft hues into your color scheme. Think of lovely French lavender as the new neutral. Add a bouquet of lavender-toned flowers to any room, then picture Provence: from the Alpine mountains through the Rhone River valley over the lush fields of lavender giving way to the Mediterranean Sea. This will inspire so much more than a color palette!

Conjure up your inner romantic and look for ways to integrate Provence into your home. Place an embroidered runner on a dining-room table and fill teacups or tiny pitchers with “bouquets” of vintage lace. Treat guests to the luxury of fine linen napkins. Proudly display antique silver without bothering to polish away the years of tarnish. Sprinkle seashells in unexpected places as reminders of the seaside towns of France.

Allow the ambience to flow throughout your home. Of course, the bedroom calls for such dreamy decadence. Place a few pillows in shades from purple to periwinkle on a creamy-white bed. Fill bowls with rich spun fibers and yarns. Display ephemera on dressers and mirrors. Line the top of a vanity with French perfume bottles and beautiful silver-handled mirrors. Fragrant dried lavender should find a home near the head of a bed; some say that it staves off insomnia and promotes sweet dreams.

Of all places for this magnificent plant, the bath should be at the top of the list, as lovely French lavender is as healing to the body as it is to the soul. Incorporate the colors and scents into your daily bathing routine. Pamper yourself in pure European splendor by indulging in exquisite toiletries. French milled soaps are a must; they are put through a two-part cooking process that creates a richer and more moisturizing soap to soothe dry skin. Add dried lavender to sea-salt scrubs or a few drops of the intoxicating essential oils to a hot bath. Close your eyes and be whisked off to Provence in a matter of seconds. You may dream of the day when you find yourself walking through the lush lavender fields of France, but you can start living the dream today. Bloom where you are planted—and if you surround yourself with lovely French lavender, you will find you are in Provence wherever you are.

Written, photographed and styled by Melinda Graham

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My favorite time to walk through my garden is in the early morning when the world is still quiet and the bees are yet to awake. It leaves me with an incredible feeling of peace and serenity. I think that nature holds the key to our well-being, and have found my sweet spot through the love of gardening. Here are a few gardening and care tips for getting your June roses up to blue-ribbon form. June roses can be fussy by nature, however with these simple steps you can have show-stopping blooms.

Planting and care: Roses tend to be sun-worshippers, so choose an area where they will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.

Getting started: Prepare your rose beds for your June roses by digging a hole larger in width and depth than the size of the root system. Combine soil with an all-purpose planting mix that’s high in nutrients and organic matter (such as the popular plant feed Scott’s Miracle-Gro®). Place amended soil into the planting hole to form a cone-shaped mound, which allows the rose to sit at the correct height for planting. Grafted roses need to be planted so the graft union is just below soil level. For own-root roses, the union should be one inch below soil level.

What to do: Fill hole with soil ¾ full then add two to three gallons of water. Let it drain completely; finish with soil and water again. Pack the soil around the root system and make a well around the base of the plant to hold water. This will ensure the plant gets a steady drink. Do not fertilize or prune new plants, except to shape, until after the first period of bloom. Newly planted roses also must be watered with one to two gallons per plant every three to four days until they’re established.

General care: Roses are deep-rooted plants. They prefer deep watering close to the plant base; avoid the foliage. Water established roses about one to two inches per week, which translates into one to two gallons per plant, per week. This water regimen must continue into October. It is also wise to water 24 hours before applying fertilizers or pesticides to ensure absorption and to prevent burning the plant.

Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring and every four weeks thereafter. To ward off pests, use a systemic pesticide; they work deep within the root system.

Pruning: Grooming is essential for beautiful roses, and stimulates new growth. Begin pruning faded blooms after each flush, starting at the fifth leaf down from the bud. Reap the benefits of your green thumb by cutting fresh flowers to fill teacups and vases.

For more information on Jo-Anne Coletti, visit vintagerosecollection.com.

Text and photography by Jo-Anne Coletti

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What You’ll Need:

Vintage plate
Candleholder with flat surface
E-6000 or similar craft adhesive
Paper towels
Beaded trim (optional)
Hot glue gun and glue sticks (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1
To make DIY cake stands, start by covering your work surface with paper towels.

Step 2
Clean and dry plate and candleholder.

Step 3
Place plate upside-down on paper towels.

Step 4
Following manufacturer’s directions, adhere top of candleholder to the bottom center of plate with craft adhesive. Let dry overnight.

Step 5
If desired, adhere beaded trim to the bottom edge of the plate using hot glue gun.

Creative Uses for Your DIY Cake Stands

• Put your treasures on display. From perfume bottles and vases to salt-and-pepper shakers and bowls, collectibles take center stage when elevated.
• Keep dishtowels and washcloths close at hand in the kitchen or bathroom.
• Organize your jewelry. The perfect place for bracelets, earrings and rings.
• Display votive and pillar candles. Use stands of different heights to create an interesting setting.
• Corral your keys and cell phone on a dresser or table.
• Place a cake stand near your front door to hold letters, bills and to-do lists.

Written and photographed by Rebecca Ittner

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With a crisp spring day as inspiration, throw a casual brunch table setting where the colors are the main event. Keeping things casual, this table, set at French General, a European-influenced accessories and craft shop in Los Angeles, California, is thrown together with no-fuss embellishments that get their frills from scallop-edged dishware and bright vivacious color. Owner Kaari Meng says that what’s important is the true joie de vivre theme—enjoying the colors of the season, the fresh natural elements and the people who will fill the table. “When setting your table, think about what you already have, things tucked away at the back of your china cabinet. Pull them out and give them new life by using them for a simple meal.” To craft your own brunch table setting, consider these tips:

Color:

Choose a few bold colors to carry out the theme without overwhelming the brunch table setting. Here, a rose red is perfectly paired with a heavenly blue recalling a field of red—roses or strawberries since they are coming into season. Creamy white balances the bold color and adds a delicate touch.

Settings:

Since there aren’t many elements on the brunch table setting, choose dishware with more intricate details. “I tend to pull lots of old ironstone, which blends with everything,” Kaari says. “Think about using special salad plates or platters to mix things up a bit. Have fun with your glassware—using elegant hand-blown glasses makes everything look festive or a set of mismatched old water glasses can look very elegant.” Here, dinner, salad and dessert plates are layered to highlight their similar lacy edges. Each element on the table carries a scalloped detail, from the tulip dessert glasses that hold sweet treats to the cake plate and the antique Cameo Ware by Harker Pottery.

Linens:

“I always begin by layering the table,” Kaari says. “Whether it’s new or old textiles, I start with a tablecloth and then add on from there. I like to add a colorful striped runner and some simple linen placemats as well as some old linen napkins—maybe even embroidered with an initial or two.” Here, a casual cotton tablecloth in a garden floral is offset by another tablecloth in pink-on-pink plaid folded to create a quick and easy runner. Don’t have a complete set of napkins on hand? No need to worry—a mix of linens adds to the casual feel. Here, a few pieces matching the tablecloth are mixed with antique grain-sack linens in creamy white and red.

Flowers and Fruit:

A generously-sized arrangement of hydrangeas recalls a grouping of lush white clouds. Red roses punctuate the bouquet, adding fun bright details. Apples arranged on a cake plate add more color for a quick and casual addition to the menu. Rosebuds are added to the decadent cake to create a true piéce de resistance to the meal.

For more information on French General and Kaari Meng, visit frenchgeneral.com.

By Jickie Torres
Photo by Mark Tanner
Styled by Jacqueline deMontravel and Hillary Black

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Yes, we know you love all things pink—and we would never ask you to not “think pink.” But there might be some potential benefit in trying out other ways to complement, and perhaps even enhance, your favorite color.

Here in this bedroom, the pink wall color may be the first thing you notice—but it is not the only thing you notice. Homeowner Carrie Davitch let her preference for pink set the tone in the room, but she was open-minded enough to consider bringing in other hues and materials to accentuate it and add interest.

Get the look: Pink Bedroom

• A dark wood bed frame and wood floor are the perfect contrasts to showcase the light colors on the walls and trim. It is the yin to the yang—a case of opposite attraction.

• Black may not be the first color you would think of pairing with pink, but look at how the outline on the cornice box and the black picture frames draw your eye to the wall
color. A bit of black adds sophisticated elegance and drama to the room.

• The area rug is predominantly pink, but it introduces other soft colors into the space that complement the color. And, of course, its soft texture aligns with the base color.

• A cushioned window seat is a welcome place to read and dream for the girl or woman who spends time there. Having a window seat in a bedroom is as welcome as a fireplace.

• Mix patterns for interest. Notice the Toile de Jouy fabric on the window-seat cushions and bed pillows, the Greek key and plaid throw pillows, and the circular design on the area rug. There are many different patterns, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Balance
is key.

• Finally, an above-bed chandelier is an elegant way to add sophistication to the softness of pink.

By Meryl Schoenbaum
Photography by Mark Tanner • Styled by Jacqueline deMontravel

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