Style Curator-Local Favorites Montanta Ave

Every morning I am so thankful that I live in a cute, bright apartment a block and half off Montana Ave in Santa Monica. Montana has always been a chic shopping destination, however, over the past year many stores closed down. But in the last few months or so there is a small resurrection of stores cropping up and the stores that have lasted seem revitalised. Here are my favorite stops…

Inner Gardens Is the New Kid in Town. A Los Angeles mainstay for unique garden furnishings, this is the first Westside location.

The store is really well done.

Aura Boutique

The Most Well-Edited Boutique on Montana. Proenza Schouler (check)

Zac Posen (check) Isabel Marant (check)

R and D Kitchen-Part of the Hillstone Group (Houston’s, Bandera) Quite possibly the only restaurant that will survive at this unlucky former address of Wolfang Pucks and a string of other unsuccessful restaurants.

Rooms and Gardens-A   charming boutique full of John Robshaw bedding and other unique, beachy, bohemian objects and furniture.

Honorable Mentions

Planet Blue

Jill Roberts

Kiehls

Father’s Office

Cafe Luxe

Jonathan Adler

Wanderlust Wishlist

Lately I’ve been suffering from a severe case of wanderlust-must have something to do with the warm weather. All I want to do is go on a fabulous vacation somewhere. Here is my wanderlust wish list:

The Surf Lodge, Montauk

While nothing beats a private home in The Hamptons/ Montauk-I like the laid back vibe of The Surf Lodge.Seems like a fun gathering spot.

A Private Home in La Barra, Uruguay

Punte Del Este, Uruguay is the South American playground for the rich and famous. However, there are ways to escape the scene-case in point this secluded private home in La Barra.

La Residencia Hotel, Majorca, Spain

After seeing the Francois Halard photos of the Venturis’ fabulous home in Majorca (Vogue, April 2010), I want to be surrounded by lush lemon and almond trees while relaxing by this pool.

Sri Panwa Resort, Phuket, Thailand

This world-class resort is unbelievable. It has every amenity imaginable.  Phuket seems like the ultimate resort getaway.

Glamping in Kenya

Going on Safari in Kenya is my ultimate Wanderlust Wishlist Destination. Luxury tent-check. a glimpse of the Big Five-check.Cruising in a Land Rover-check.  It would be the most unbelievable experience. Abercrombie and Kent are the leaders in organizing exotic itineraries.

Spotlight: Casamidy

Symi Copper Lanterns

Casamidy is well known in the design industry for there amazing lanterns, leather items, and iron  furniture. They are located in Mexico and do quite a lot of business with California designers. What I didn’t know, is they also do interior design and have four rental properties in Mexico( in my favorite town of Sayulita) and Paris. The interiors are amazing and are exemplary of my favorite style-effortless, lived-in, eclectic and just plain cool. How great would it be to stay in one of these amazing spaces? Take a look….

Casa Almidi in San Migue de Allende

Hotel DHallwyll in Paris

Villa Olivia in Sayulita

Their website has many many more images of their products and design services, but what I love most are the images of local artisans that create the pieces-what a nice way to recognize the skill and talent behind the company.

Packing in Style

Lately I’ve been slightly obsessed with the chic weekender bag. One day, I really want the edgier Balenciaga weekender and other days, I think a classic LV or Goyard seems like the right choice. I really think that if you carry a nice handbag during the day that the quality and thought should translate into your travel bag. Plus it makes packing that much more fun. Here are some of my favorites.

Balenciaga Weekender

Although this bag reached the peak of popularity a few years back, I consider it to be a Modern Classic.

Goyard Duffel

The  French label has been around since the early 1800s. Love the Forest Green.

Both available at Barneys.

Louis Vuitton Keepall

Simply a Classic.

Available at Louis Vuitton

Bottega Veneta Intricatto Duffel

Another classic-more understated than the LV or Goyard. Imagine how soft the leather must be.

Available at Bottega Veneta

Want Organic's 72 Hour Duffel

A much less expensive options than the rest of the bunch yet it doesn’t skimp on style.

Available at J. Crew

Valextra Travel Bag

Valextra is perhaps the most understated label out there. It’s all about the leather and not the label.

Available at Barneys.

A Weekend Getaway In Napa Valley

Weekend Getaway-Napa Valley

I’m dreaming of a weekend getaway to Napa Valley. Here are my Napa Valley Essentials.

Pack– Striped Sailor Shirt, Boyfriend Jeans, a great leather jacket, perfect flats, a scarf and a crazy purse all tucked into a Balenciaga Weekender.

Stay–Auberge Du Soleil for the ultimate weekend getaway.

Eat- French Laundry-where else?

Shop– Jan De Luz for french inspired linens and home accessories and Martin Showroom for inspiring interiors by eclectic interior designer Erin Martin.

Read– C Magazine for all the the latest information that’s happening in Napa.

Gypset Style-Boho Chic

Lately, I have been inspired greatly by the gypset lifestyle. If you are not familiar with it, read my post here on the 2009 publication by Julia Chaplin and also read my post on Boho Chic. I went through my inspiration file and picked out a few rooms that capture the essence of this boho chic look I can’t seem to shake. What they all seem to have in common are an effortless, lived in look heavy on ethnic prints and treasures collected from around the world. Many of the rooms also have modern touches that keep the rooms from looking like a Moroccan or Turkish bazaar.

Kym Canter's Living Room.I love the dark framed windows

Lydia Pearson's Living Room

Jane Mayle's Living Room. Notice the collection of textiles

A Collection of Textiles belonging to Madeline Weinrib

The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs-Designed By Commune Design

Amanda Peet's Family Room as seen in Domino

As I was researching this post, I figured out that Commune Design did both the Ace Hotel and the bottom picture. I’ve decided they are my new favorite LA based designers. Their aesthetic is so inspiring to me. Please check out their website.

Sayulita, Mexico

Pachamama Boutique

A Tahitian Pearl Necklace from Pachamama

I’m heading down to Sayulita, Mexico for a friend’s wedding this weekend. It is a small, bohemian fishing/surfing village about an hour North of Puerto Vallarta. I am so excited to eat fish tacos from a street stand and shop at Pachamama, a small boutique owned by gypsy, bohemian sisters-Nathalie and Sophie Mignot.  I first read about them in Gypset-one of my favorite new coffee table books. I am hoping to come home with one of their Tahitian Pearl Necklaces.