This week I had the opportunity to walk up these steps and into this amazing home at 1610 Carla Ridge in Beverly Hills, which was designed and built by Steve Hermann Design. As you walk into this masterpiece you are instantly greeted by the city lights, sparkling brightly, just beyond the edge of the infinity pool.

The view from this dining room has got to be one of the best in Los Angeles.

When you have a dining room with these views, I can bet there will be lots of dinner parties. This Poliform kitchen is sure to be put to good use!

This stunning 16-foot long fireplace mimics the flickering of the lights beyond and invites you to gather around and enjoy. I love how the seating in this room allows you just take in the exquisiteness from whatever vantage point you choose.

In the bedroom, the soft gray and white palette mixed with the floral wallpaper make it feel soothing and inviting. It is modern and elegant without being too stark or stuffy. I think I could pretty much spend my entire day relaxing in the bedroom.

…and this bathroom. The Antonio Lupi “Baia” bathtub is calling my name as the Jesse Faucet is just standing there looking gorgeous. The master bathroom is filled with all the luxuries you could want; steam shower with glass tile, faucets that look like fine jewelry, gorgeous Poliform vanities and storage cabinets, and a built-in plasma TV. I dream of this bathroom…

…when I’m not dreaming about this closet! I’m going to let you in on a little trick. The Poliform closet looks even bigger than it actually is by the use of a floor to ceiling mirror on the back wall.

The guest bathrooms are also filled with glass tile from Ann Sacks and Antoni Lupi bathroom compositions. The concealed drains on the shower floors and the vanity are such gorgeous details. The mixture of materials is done with such perfection that these sleek modern bathrooms take my breath away.

As designer and builder Steve Hermann says “…this home moves you emotionally. Absolutely perfect in every way.” I could not agree more. I honestly did not want to leave! This home is currently on the market and could actually be yours!

Vauni’s Cupola fireplace is an innovative design in the rising market of wall-mounted fireplaces.

Antonio Ballatore, the Season 4 champion of HGTV’s Design Star, is ready to bring his distinct and edgy design aesthetic to HGTV audiences. His resulting HGTV show, The Antonio Treatment, premieres on March 14, at 10PM.

Antonio, a New York native, believed he would be a rock star by age 40. While pursuing his dreams of music stardom, he spent time between gigs learning how to build houses. This experience led him to design restaurants and clubs in Manhattan and, later, design sets for world-famous photographers, including Annie Leibovitz and David LaChapelle.

Antonio resides in Los Angeles with his English bulldog, Chewie.

I have to admit that while watching Design Star, Antonio had me at the hot pink ducks. It was all over for me at that point — but what can I say? I like dudes with tattoos who can build stuff from wood. Anyway…

Check out Antonio’s current favorite online reads (besides Design Milk, of course!):

Yoshiko Kajitani at Home in Tokyo [image source: The Selby]

1. The Selby
I really relate to this blog. Can’t wait for Todd to come take some flicks of my house!

2. Core77
A cool industrial design blog.

3. I Want Your Skull
My favorite skull blog!

4. Kenneth Cappello Blog/Cicciolina
One of my best friends and the one who introduced me to David LaChapelle and my set design carrier. His chihuahua’s name is Cicciolina, who stars in her very own blog.

5. 80’s Metal NWOBHM Old Metal Share
This blog reminds me of all the cool forgotten metal bands of my childhood.

[Disclaimer: we don't endorse the downloading of music without permission, and this blog is for cited for inspiration and nostalgia only.]

I was therefore not surprised to learn about Alain Gilles’ newest design for Qui est Paul? His new “Garden Party” is such a great centerpiece to encourage informal occasional drinks to spruce up long summer evenings at home and give them a little extra oomph and a bit of a bar attitude.

Available in a variety of colors, this high table has a center piece that works as a drinks/champagne bucket or a flower pot. Ladies, note the clever little hook under the stools for your bag 

If you are already set up furniture-wise, then a true refreshment center is your next buy.

I love this creation from Metalco Home — the mobile air-conditioned outdoor wine cart. Kefren is a trolley bar that comes with an integrated dual-zone wine cooler. Its upper compartment temperature is set for white wines and the lower zone is ideal for reds.

And for beer lovers, this beer cart by Alpina is a serious commitment to backyard beverages. You can fit a whole keg underneath and more! Alpina also makes a mobile wine bar.

These are just a few examples of the new “refreshment station” — so what are you waiting for? Go get your drink on!

We all work very hard, many of us spending countless hours staring at our computer screens. So I thought, why not have something pretty and inspirational to stare at? This is a new project we’re going to try out here on Design Milk — Designer Desktops. Starting this month, Design Milk will create a beautiful desktop wallpaper for you to download to your computer and iPhone, inspired by a thought-provoking quote from a renown designer. This is all in good fun, and best of all, they’re free!

This first month, we’re kicking things off with none other than Mr. Charles Eames.

Click on the size below to download:

1024×768

1280×1024

1680×1050

1900×1200

iPhone

This month’s design was created by our very own talented Eleanor Cleverly. Learn more about her here.

If you are interested in being involved in our Designer Desktop project, please email us at info@design-milk.com with more info about your design/art skillz.

Sosushi is the first sushi franchising network in Italy believe it or not. While Sosushi prides itself on their extrovert menu, they also take great pride in the design of each restaurant. This is very evident in the Turin, Italy restaurant designed by UAU Architects. Located deep in the city center of this historical urban city, UAU was challenged to create a modern and trendy space within this small old stationery store. The result is beautiful.

The shop is finished with the amazing Plexwood with matte white and magenta furniture to give an illusion of a spacious interior. The biggest challenge of the project was to optimize the space “in the deep research of order and refinement that distinguish all our architectures, not avoiding pragmatism.”

UAU was able to maximize this small space by working around the perimeter. They created benches and shelves that extended deep into the corners, which in turn, eliminated many awkward nooks and crannies and made the restaurant feel very open.

“The shop is increasing his business day by day and almost everybody who comes here is stunned by the design” — Giorgio Pettenuzzo, owner of the shop.

What an efficient use of this small space.

Love this fire basket called Baron from Röshults.

Studio Aisslinger recently completed designing the Michelbergerhotel in Berlin, Germany. It’s interior is raw and edgy, with an Urban Outfitters-meets-handmade kind of vibe. There are 119 rooms oin five categories, most small for singles or couples, some large enough for four. Owner Tom Michelberger, just 31 years old, desired his hotel to have a “young at heart” feeling, and renowned Designer Werner Aisslinger stepped up to the challenge, creating this highly character-driven anti-trendy boutique hotel experience.

The cost is fairly low as well to appeal to “dreamers, movers and shakers, lovebirds, soul searchers, artists, craftspeople, globetrotters.”

Photography by James Pfaff.