At Home and Work with Kimberly Ayres

Kimberly Ayres could have been another casualty of the demise of Domino magazine but since the photos of her home and office were taken by my friend Eric Cahan, I get to introduce you to this Designer to Watch for 2009 instead! Kimberly, like many designers, started out renovating and decorating her own houses while she was practicing law as a way to relax. Luckily for the design world, law was not her calling and as she told me, "friends began to ask for decorating advice and I realized I might have a chance to do something I loved and I couldn't be happier with my career switch!"


"After completing studies at International Fine Arts in Miami and at UCLA in Los Angeles, Kimberly jumped head first into an apprenticeship with internationally renowned designer Kelly Wearstler, and continued her development with designer Michael Lee in Malibu. In 2000, Kimberly launched Kimberly Ayres Interior Design in Los Angeles where she quickly established a notable clientele and reputation for deftly mixing eras and cultures. In 2006, she opened her much admired Kimberly Ayres Home furnishings and accessories store in San Francisco."

In the breakfast room, the parterre and curtain fabric is from Raoul Textiles in Santa Barbara. The table is vintage from Blackman Cruz. The chairs are vintage from Kimberly's friend and boutique owner Gabriella Sarlo. The chandelier is vintage. "For parties, we clear out the chairs and this table becomes the bar," says Kimberly.

The room above is the dining room in Kimberly's apartment. Her description cracks me up! "This apartment was loaded with mirrored walls when I found it. Really scary on a bad hair day. Most were removed, but I kept this one. The artwork is a collage created by Lulu de Kwiatkowski from an Eric Cahan photograph. My all-time favorite ebay purchase is the blue pigskin/suede sideboard. The parson's table and the chairs are vintage. The chandelier is Moth Design from my store."


In Kimberly's bedroom, the bed is from Oly and the lamp is from Christopher Spitzmiller. The wallpaper is the Montague print from Twenty2. The curtain fabric is from Nina Campbell and the table is the Bungalow 5 Jacqui Side Table from Eboniste. The painting is vintage.

A beautiful bedroom vignette close up.

In the guest room, the headboard is custom and the pillow fabric is Christopher Farr - Cloth. Kimberly says, "I love this quilt. It's designed and made by hand by my friend, Michael Pechenski." Moroccan lantern is an ebay find. I think the best thing about Kimberly's apartment is all the new sources and vendors that she has introduced to us all!

Kimberly's desk in her office is by Jonathan Adler but the cabinets and chair are vintage. The wallpaper is grasscloth from Twenty2 and looks like a great alternative to Phillip Jeffries, my usual source. "The french plaster sconce is by Moth Design, one of the lines we sell in the showroom," says Kimberly.

I posted this photo once before and it received a very positive response and now I can tell you that the vintage desk, lacquered in Farrow and Ball Dix Blue, is where Kimberly's lucky assistant, Angel Tasso, sits. The wallpaper is grasscloth in Neptune from Twenty2 while the lamp and chandelier are Moth Design in silver leaf finish. The chair is vintage and the drawing was found at Blackman Cruz.

"This room is in my office in San Francisco. The building is a tiny 1890's cottage in the Design District, serving as both my design studio and a showroom for the furnishings I sell. We carry new lines of lighting, accessories, wallpaper and fabric, as well as all sorts of vintage furnishings."

I think we can all agree that interior designer Kimberly Ayres made a great career switch and the design world had better look out! She's definitely one to watch and I can't wait to see what she does next!

Photos by Eric Cahan

Gwyneth Paltrow Chandelier Update

I'm so glad everyone enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the Gwyneth Paltrow photo shoot for House and Garden. I don't want to beat a dead horse but there was a lot of interest in and questions about the Tord Boontje for Swarovski Crystal Palace Blossom Chandelier that hung in Gwyneth's dining room that I thought I would take a second to answer everyone.

House and Garden has Gwyneth Paltrow's Decorating Notebook posted online today but they failed to mention the chandelier, probably because they knew you would fall over from shock when you found out how much it costs! The large Blossom Chandelier which is what Gwyneth has costs $37,500! And in case that's too much for you, the small Blossom Chandelier costs only $22,500. A veritable bargain! Just kidding. I think it's actually quite ridiculous for something that was designed in 2002 to cost so much. An 18th-century antique is understandable to me but Swarovski chandelier kind of boggles my mind. But then again, I'm not a movie star with an unlimited budget. In case you aren't either, then I suggest the Garland Light suspension lamp below also from Tord Boontje at a must more reasonable $90. It comes in brass or silver and would be fun in a kid's room or a modern apartment. Or you could always find something cheap and vintage and spruce it up. That's usually my first inclination but I'm curious as to what you all think.

I also thought you might want to see another photo Eric Cahan sent me of Gwyneth during the photo shoot. I guess we can add stylist to her new list of job titles. I thought it was a cute photo. Of course, if they were shooting my home, I would probably be obsessing just like her! And I promise no more Gwyneth Paltrow posts this week!

Photos courtesy of Eric Cahan and Moss

At Home with Gwyneth Paltrow - Behind the Scenes

As I mentioned earlier this week, I love photography and always check the photography credits in magazines. Another favorite photographer of mine is Eric Cahan. You may not have heard of his name but you have surely seen his work. He recently shot Patricia Herrera Lansing and Carolyn Murphy for House and Garden which I loved and had to post on my blog. Eric apparently googles himself quite often because he always seemed to know when I profiled his work and was one of the first people to leave me a comment. He was also and still is very encouraging and supportive of my blog from the very beginning. I joked it was just because I kept featuring his work but I really appreciated his kind words. So my loyalty and hard word was rewarded this week when Eric offered me a peak behind the scenes of the photo shoot!

I think it is so much fun to see the different set ups and how they resulted in the final photos like the cover shot at the top and the photo above. Notice how they changed out the artwork? The three soft-focus works by photographer by David Armstrong usually hang above the fireplace below.

And the two sunrise pieces usually hang above the little sofa...or maybe it's the other way around. Who knows?! See how stylists move things around in order to get the best photo. Very tricky!

Eric works his magic on the cover girl in the next two photos while Gwyneth practices her poses.

Below, Ms. Paltrow checks out some of the photos on the laptop. It used to be that photographers shot on film and never knew what they had until it was developed back in the darkroom. As you know, all that has changed in the digital age. Now the photographer as well as the editors, and in this case, the model and home owner, can check out the photos immediately and make any necessary changes or adjustments.

It's also fun to get too see the large painting that didn't make it into the final magazine feature. I wonder who it's by. Any guesses?

Decisions decisions. Wonder what they are discussing! Look at how many people and equipment it takes to make it all happen!

And look who wanted to get in on the fun. First she tackled the interior design of her own home and now it looks like we might have a budding photographer on our hands!

Is there anything she can't do??? I hate her! Just kidding! I love her! She's fabulous and so is Eric Cahan! I'm working on trying to repay his generosity by having him shoot one of our celebrity clients. I really hope it happens so I can get my own first hand account of the behind the scenes action of a photo shoot. Until then, I hope you enjoyed this sneak peak into what it takes to create your favorite magazine!

Photos courtesy of Eric Cahan

At Home with Gwyneth Paltrow - Part One

I have to say, the November 2007 issue of House and Garden magazine is already one of my all time favorites. It might be because it's all about New York with fabulous interiors of fabulous people or it could be because I was granted access to a behind the scenes look at the Gwyneth Paltrow photo shoot in the Hamptons. Either way, it's spectacular! I thought it would be fun to show you the photos from the magazine first and then in the next post, I'll show what went into creating them. Enjoy!

Gwyneth describes the aesthetic of her home in the Hamptons as minimalist with a feminine twist and that's clearly evident from the preponderance of pink! Apparently Chris Martin is in touch with his feminine side as well. The home is surprisingly modern yet completely homey and comfortable looking. In the living room above, pieces from the Domus Design Collection are paired with Madeline Weinrib's Hollywood Regency chair and china and vases from Calypso Home.

In the foyer above, a Bolero chair by Mariette Himes Gomez for Hickory Chair is upholstered in Schumacher's Lace in Aqua while a Directions' Glam console table topped with a découpage barnacle lamp from John Derian. The art is actually needlework by Ann Carrington and seems to be a cheeky nod to Chris Martin's English heritage and their other life in London. I love the mix of patterns of the aqua chair fabric against the Zoffany Cordoba wallpaper in Gray.

"Paltrow took charge of the house's design nearly from the beginning. The spec house was already under construction when she first came upon it, but she worked with Washington, D.C.-based architectural designer Michael Minkoff to tailor the house to her family and her taste." She also had a little help from House and Garden editor Kim Gieske who gave her design source suggestions and produced this feature for the magazine. Tom Dixon's Mirror Ball pendants, from Property in New York hang over the staircase.

Paltrow splurged on the Tord Boontje blossom chandelier in the dining room but saved on the appetizer plates from CB2.

One of my favorite rooms in the house is the kitchen and apparently, I'm not alone. Photographer Eric Cahan told me that it was getting a lot of attention. Probably because we all dream of having a kitchen that spacious and beautiful. I usually prefer white kitchens but I love the dark grey/black cabinets. There is something slightly English looking about it. Also, a little Kelly Wearstler looking too. I am definitely rethinking my dream kitchen after seeing it!

"The kitchen is lined with custom cabinets by Minkoff while the pair of striking chandeliers are by Home and Co. for Birgit Israel in London. Seamless concrete counters are by Remik Studio, in Brooklyn, NY, and are punctuated with a stove from Jade Range, Brea, CA. The island's butcher-block top is from Bally Block Co., Bally, PA. Windows and doors throughout by Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co."

Paltrow's daughter, Apple, chose the fabrics for her canopy bed. I'm having flashbacks to my own pink canopied bed from my childhood. The custom canopy bed by Jonas in New York. We use Jonas for a lot of projects and I can attest that he is the best! The showroom with all the furniture styles in muslin is so much fun to wander through. The fabrics are from Raoul Textiles. Monogrammed pillows by Lori Jayne Monogramming and More, Palm Beach, FL, and the headboard is Ballard Designs' Stevenson. The floor is covered in Stark Carpet's Silverton in White.

I wish there were more photos of the master bedroom but I guess I can understand the desire for some bit of privacy. From what we do get to see, it looks dreamy. The bed is Usona's Thurman and is covered in Edelman's Cashmere Calf in Super White, and Wendell Castle's Muse side table topped with Vaughan?s Lausanne Crystal lamp. Wallpaper is Wook Kim's Feu in Gray. Carpet by Tai Ping. All bedding by Donna Karan.

When Paltrow couldn't find a vanity that she liked, she had one made out of a Paul McCobb dresser. I love the little kiddie stool. So cute!

Photo shoots can't be all work and no play right?! And they're probably even more fun when you're wearing a dress by Etro.

And now for the part of the tour that made me VERY jealous! Ms. Paltrow has her very own tea house looking pilates and yoga studio! Biatch! Ok, that wasn't very nice or professional of me to say that but you know you were thinking it too!

I was surprised to see the interior look to be covered in what appears to be plywood. Paltrow says she would like to cover the walls, floor and ceiling in bamboo so maybe that's the reason. Oh yeah, and in case you weren't already really jealous, the pool house has furniture by Janus et Cie and her dress is Calvin Klein. Sigh. Must be nice.

Photos by Eric Cahan