Your New Friend
February 2, 2010
Bridget Biscotti Bradley’s new book, The Green Home, A Sunset Design Guide, hit the shelves (both real and virtual) a few days ago. I received my copy a several weeks ago and was pleased to find it comprehensive, easy to understand and full of beautiful photos and expert tips. (Full disclosure here; I am one of the experts on the panel, but that is not why the book is so good.)
Bridget, who’s online store Reclaim Home is a fantastic go-to site for eco-home-and-decor-basics, lays out the guide in sections (flooring, counter-tops, etc.) She gives the pros, cons and various levels of sustainability for each type of product within each category which, I can imagine, will make it so much easier for people to go green on their own– as with most of the Sunset Guides, I believe it will be especially embraced by the Do It Yourself-ers.
Thanks Bridget, for your amazing work!
Portfolio: Upward Bound House, Part Three
January 30, 2010 
After two weeks of living in my painting clothes, I finally pulled it all together, finished the project and donned a civilized outfit today for the opening ceremony at the brand new Upward Bound House in Culver City. It has been a wild ride and I am tired but it was worth it when I think of all of the families who will be helped by what we did.
I’m just going to come out and say it. I did not manage to make my project 100% green and I have to admit that I am having trouble with that. I bought my comforters and duvet covers at Ikea– the normal cotton kind with no special eco properties– because, at the end of the day, I just simply did not have enough money or time to do it right.
That hurts.
It hurts because, while I always tell people that “there is no such thing as eco-perfect,” I sort of like to believe that I am the human exception to that rule, that I am the girl who can make an eco-miracle happen. But, as it turns out, I am not eco-perfect either. Walking through the aisles of Ikea yesterday, my yellow and blue bags stuffed full of bedding, I felt like I had lost my religion. I failed myself and, as I watched Taylor layering the organic Coyuchi sheets with the non-organic Ikea stuff, I realized that it is going to take me some time to process that failure.
If you are not utterly disgusted with me at this point and ready to stop reading my blog forever, I will now share three things that my team and I WERE able to accomplish.
1) Re-purposing. We really went to town with this basic concept. Chairs and tables from Craig’s list, mirrors and chandeliers from our favorite junk store, rugs drapery, lamps and seating from clients and friends. We spent an entire week painting and re-upholstering (with low VOC paints and remnant fabrics) so that it would all go together.
2) Doodling. We stole the concept from one of our favorite French magazines and had a great time drawing all over the furniture– which allowed us to keep the walls simple and to infuse a bit of naughtiness into an otherwise cutesy design concept. We even had help from a local Venice tattoo artist (the wings on the headboard.)
3) Support. I was extremely lucky to have received support from some amazing individuals and companies. Because of them, I was able to make my project 95% eco-friendly and that, despite my self-deprecating diatribe, is really nothing to shake a stick at. I thank you guys, truly, from the bottom of my heart.
Matthew, Heidi and Mia LaPlante
Rick and Linda LaPlante
Robert Kwak and Eunhak Bae
Amber Trueblood
Lori Swanson
Rachel Kuppinger
Sydney Shapiro
Elena and Bob Krail
Diane Solomon
Reynaldo
and, most of all, Dennis, Taylor, Mike and Stas.
What Would Kelly Wear: Room 1 (Guest Blogger Katherine Brown)
January 27, 2010I am so horrible! I promised Katie I’d post these at the same time that she does and I am already a day late! Up to my eyeballs in the Upward Bound project, I do not even have time to format the adorable posting for my own blog so I am simply going to give you the link to Katies:
http://chanaristyle.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/wwkw-a-little-sleek-glamour-casually-of-course/
I love what she came up with–especially those little golden shoes!
Upward Bound House, Part Two
January 25, 2010I’m at at that part of the project.
That part where I look at it all and wonder– is this the project where I will finally be revealed as a total fraud of a designer or will a miracle occur in which I am actually able to pull this thing together in time?
All last week we worked in the rain storm, which delayed the construction and deprived us of bare essentials like running water and electricity. The rain also meant that the paint wasn’t drying the way it was supposed to. So, paint dripping and puddling, we quickly became known as the messy designers on the project. Lovely.
Over the weekend we were given a reprieve of sunshine, paint that dried properly and running water. Still no electricity.
But the worst part is that I am having trouble sourcing everything that I am supposed to buy for the residents. The organization specifically asks us to provide things like Tupperware, alarm clocks and plastic cutlery. Yes, these things do have counterparts in the green world, but they are expensive and we are on a very tight budget.
Kohl’s was kind enough to donate $500 in merchandise to each designer on the project and so I drove out to one of their stores this afternoon with the ridiculous hope that I would find things like organic sheets and toothbrush holders made of recycled glass. HA! I left bedding-less and settled for stainless steel bathroom accessories (because most metal is recycled.) I later found alarm clocks with solar strips to extend the life of the batteries. That was the best I could do.
I often tell people on a tight budget that it is little decisions that make the difference. They should buy the most eco-friendly thing they can find within in their financial parameters because, after all, we vote with our dollar in this country and blah blah blah. Now, being forced to follow my own advise, I feel defeated and angry.
Mostly at my big-mouthed self.
Polls Are Open
January 18, 2010
I was pretty excited about being named one of Traditional Home Magazine’s “Twenty Young Designers to Watch”– until found out that they are pitting us all against one another in a Reader’s Choice contest!
I don’t have to win, but I would really like to not come in last place. Therefore, I’m begging you all to go to this link and vote (for me, preferably.)
http://www.traditionalhome.com/duralee/
Arts and Crafts Revival– Sneak Peek!
January 13, 2010The model rooms are almost done at the historic Bancroft Hotel in Berkeley! Just a few little details to go and then we will begin converting the rest of the guest rooms… then it’s on to the hallways, the lobby, the great hall…
Each room will feature the work of a different artist from the community (many of them are graduate students at the university.) The artists are given the task of creating a series of 15 pieces for a salon wall above the bed, framed in FSC certified wood and the pieces will be available for guests to purchase. Energy efficient ceiling fans provide much needed circulation in the old hotel as well as soft lighting that really makes you feel like you are stepping back in time.
The rooms have headboards designed by the hotel’s original architect in 1928 (back when it was the College Women’s Club.) I gave the headboards a mini-facelift so that the details would be more pronounced.
The headboard detail has a cousin in the bathrooms, where reproduction lighting has been updated with the very latest and greatest florescent technology (I mean it, you would NEVER know!)
And the draperies were made with 100% recycled polyester by Q-Collection, who just happened to put out the perfect collection of fabrics for this Arts and Crafts/ Art Deco hotel!
Help Jennae’s Daughter
January 12, 2010One of my favorite compatriots of the green movement, Jennae Peterson of “Green Your Decor,” posted yesterday with the devistating news that her 4 year old daughter has been diagnosed with leukemia.
Jennae and her family have no health insurance so this fight is going to be very tough on them, both emotionally and financially. A friend has set up a fund for donations.
It would mean so much to me if my readers and friends would take a moment to donate any amount by clicking the link below, which also shares Jennae’s story. (The donation panel is over on the right, with the ads.)
Thank you.
http://www.greenyourdecor.com/3848/sharing-familys-story/
Instant Formal Dining
January 11, 2010In my little house, there is no formal dining room. Instead there is a very large kitchen with a table where we can seat up to eight people. This is very, um, convenient. But that is really the most complimentary word I can find to describe it.
Trying to make the best of the situation, I put a dimmer switch in the kitchen when we moved in, figuring that at least we could have nice lighting while we eat. But after more than a year of dining with pots and pans in my line of vision, I was craving something more special.
It was so easy to create an impromptu dining room for two! I simply pushed back my living room furniture a bit, and moved the floor lamp, entry table and two garden stools into place. The whole thing took less that 5 minutes and Mike’s face when he walked through the door was worth the effort, times a hundred.
Introducing Katie and WWKW!
January 6, 2010Ladies and Gentlemen, the adorable Katherine (Katie) Brown!
Katie, who is a graduate of FIDM, is the owner of Chanari Style and Design, the leading Wardrobe Styling and Personal Shopping service in Kansas City. Starting soon, Katie and I will be co-publishing a new blog series that she is writing called What Would Kelly Wear?
Katie will be my first ever guest-blogger and I can’t wait to see what kind of fabulous looks she comes up with for WWKW. We have a similar sense of style (I even own that same Fashion Loves People tee that she is wearing in the pic above) and I think it will be a lot of fun to see how that style is manifested in two different ways– interior design and fashion. I’ll let Katie take it from here and tell you a little more about herself and what she’ll be doing in the blog series:
I am inspired by the simplest of things in life: sushi, nature, love and color! I take my style inspiration from the spunk of Audrey Hepburn, the classic and chicness of Jackie O and the flair to be daring from Sarah Jessica Parker. Those ingredients mixed together make one flavorfully delightful ensemble! Oh yes, how could I forget a garnish of color from Kate Spade ; )
Where does your style inspiration root from?
Do Kelly LaPlante’s Organic Interior Designs have you wishing you could wear your own room? Now you can! Let’s get inspired by her portfolio and transformed those looks into everyday ready-to-wear style!
It’s time to get Eco-Chic! I can’t wait to take you on this wonderful journey!
Tough As Nails
December 31, 2009What would the last day of the year be without a bit of reflection?
In the wee hours of 2009 I posted that it was going to be “Another Very Good Year.” Had I been told that this was actually going to be the toughest year of my life, I probably wouldn’t have made such an optimistic statement but, as it turns out, my prediction was not false. What a wonderful surprise, my toughest year was also my best!
For me, 2009 will be remembered as a year full of creativity, love, friendship and adventure– all things that were strengthened, not weakened, by the exact same things that made the year tough. Looking at the beautiful memories below, I feel so blessed that these are a reflection of a difficult year. More than blessed, really. Something beyond blessed.
Happy New Year, may it be tough as nails.