Anytime I have the opportunity to listen to a person who is this successful, I take it.  Mr. Montoya is in his 70s and is going strong after decades due to his common sense approach and passion for interior design and architecture.

 One of the things I love so much about being an interior designer, is that if you’re good,  you get better with age- like a fine wine.  It was reassuring to hear someone I hold in such high esteem, espouse the same principle that I hold dear- a green approach to design.  No he didn’t use the words “sustainable” or “eco-friendly” or “green” but he practices these things none the less. In most of his designs he uses furniture, art and accessories from the 20s, 30s and 40s, some of my favorites being  Jean Michele Frank and Jacques Rhulmann. 

(This one is actually one of my projects, but it’s a Rhulmann table and chairs in the Frederick Lowe Estate.)

 He rarely uses carpets  and instead creates design in a hard (more easily cleaned and longer lasting) surfaces.  He is well known for his liberal use of exquiste veneer on columns, walls, ceilings- but always prefers to restore what is there vs. ripping it out and installing new.  And the greenest of all is his attitude, his very best advice being to smile a lot.

But what was unique about this tea set and the reason we loved it so much was that it is green, made from 100% recycled, plastic, milk bottles retrieved from curbside collection.  The back of the recycled cardboard packaging gives a little information about how much energy green toys can save. In this case it’s equal to using 3,000 AAA batteries or enough energy to power a TV for 3 weeks or run a lap top for a month.  This set also contains no BPA, phthalates or lead paint.  Just a box of good ole’ fashioned, girly fun- and best of all- made in the USA.  You can find one at GreenToys.com.

Our lunch consisted of free range, beef fillet sandwiches, beans, green salad, custard with blueberries (everything organic, of course) and a bottle of Champagne- not organic, but French- and we all know Europeans have higher eco standards for things that go in their mouths. It was served on 19th century Limoges china, an antique table cloth, with matching cloth napkins, silver utensils and hand blown glasses.  Instead of cut flowers, we brought two pots of fragrant herbs to decorate the table.  (Later that day they were planted in the ground at our house).   

At the end of the picnic, we had almost no trash, which delighted everyone at around the table.  Everything we brought was eaten, reusable or recyclable with the exception of the champage cork/wrapper and a little plastic wrap used to cover the custard ramekins.  Soon we will be able to buy biodegradable plastic wrap and we can walk away as if we never visited. 

THAT’S IT FOR THE TRASH!

After our lunch, we loaded up the car, left the herbs in the baby stroller (because it looked cool) and circled the lake for some more fresh air and exercise.  Europeans aren’t the only ones who know how to enjoy a civilized outing.

And now we can enjoy our “decorations” for many meals to come.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Fresh, green goodness! Enjoy.

This may be the coolest way I ever seen to display a doily.  Designer Kristen Wicklund showed her collection of porcelain dipped dolies at Greenwich House Pottery this holiday season.  She dips them in porcelain and fires them in a mold until the fabric evaporates.  I’m wondering if I can dips granny’s doilies in starch and get the same effect. 

1. Kelly Wearstler- licensed everywhere, hosts Top Design, is entirely FAB.

2. Rose Tarlow- old guard, always refined, boyfriend isn’t too shabby

3. David Phoenix- designs for governors, streamline traditional, entertainment industry darling

4. Lori Dennis- green guru, rustic modern, organic chic

5. Karin Blake- AD 100, Americana, Malibu Mama

6. Kathryn M. Ireland- European flair, relaxed fabrics, joie de vivre

7. Nathan Turner- smart retailer, impecable style, location location location

8. Martyn Lawrence Bullard- exotic tastemaker, bold interiors, excellent name

9. Molly Luetkemeyer- Wearstler protege, funky vintage, no charity is too far

10. Barclay Butera- west coast answer to Ralph Lauren, hell of a sweetie, knows a good outdoor lantern

 and there you have it.

Last night I was thrilled to come home from dinner at a friend’s and see a box from China. It was a stack of Kira Krumm’s new book, featuring world class designers, their projects and ten coloful pages of our designs.  The book is written in Chinese and English and will sell all over the world.  So exciting! 

This week we shot film and photography for Blue Jay Way in Hollywood Hills and The Keys Estate in Rancho Mirage with Ken Hayden who is a photographer for Architectural Digest.  Throughout the days I had to keep reminding people not to throw batteries in the trash, to recycle their glass bottles and turn off the lights when we left a room.   It was such a pleasure to come back to the hotel and see, not one, but  two recycle bins on each floor’s lobby by the elevator.  I can’t say the Spa Casino and Resort in Palm Springs is the nicest hotel I’ve ever stayed in, but it is rated 5 stars.  To see  recycle bins in a five star lobby just made me smile. Now if people can figure out how to use them… we’ll be in business.