lisa holt inspired

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:11:00 +0000

Spring Colors that Pop

This spring everything is about bright, eye-catching color. Some of the most vivid hues we see in nature are being translated to everything from throw pillows to the runway. There are fresh, bright gem tones everywhere we look.

The green of the spring vines in the Napa Valley is an inspiring and wonderful accent when you’re looking for something polished, yet fun. It’s incredibly versatile and easily paired with another bold color or better yet, the muted tones, such as cream or slate grey.

Double bed with pillows and floral duvet/Stop Images/

the agency collection/Getty Images

Throughout my career fashion has always inspired my design style. I covet being brave and bold with color choices, and this season we are seeing a barrage of color in magazines and on the runway. These intense combinations can work harmoniously, but be sure they share a similar brightness, or it can come off the rails easily.

Young woman in dress made of ribbons/Image Source/Getty Images

If you’re not ready to take a big leap, but want to try experimenting with these eccentric hues, I suggest finding a single piece you can use as an accent. It’s an easy and subtle way to incorporate a pop of color.

Winter Colors/Amateur photographer still learning/Flikr/Getty Images

Bracelets/Flikr/Lemuel Montejo/Getty Images

One color that seems to be everywhere I look is Tangerine. It’s surprisingly versatile and looks great used in a multitude of ways. You can use it to accent a wall, cover an ottoman, or even go for a Tangerine manicure! A favorite pairing of mine is bright orange and fuchsia, but if this is just too radical for you, the classic indigo is always stunning!

High heels in a vending machine/Rubberball

Productions/the agency collection/Getty Images

Nature has always been another big inspiration for me. I love waking up in the spring to observe the brightness of Napa’s blue skies, the fresh green of the vines, and the yellow butterflies everywhere. Naturally, I’m a big fan of anything that brings the outdoors in. I love these Spring Butterfly Pillows. They look amazing in any room, or even in an outdoor seating area, such as a patio or porch.

Napastyle- http://www.napastyle.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=5629

Another look that’s trending this season is pairing classic and elegant elements with these vibrant hues. It’s surprising how well this combination works with one another, creating an interesting tension and freshness.

Lisa Holt design Group- http://www.lisaholtdesign.com/

The feel of this years’ spring is to do it bright and fun! Go bold, be daring and take some risks! You may surprise yourself…

Have a vibrant May!

Please visit my website: www.dezignwrks.com
www.lisaholtdesign.com

My interview with the lovely folks at Decoist.com!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:21:00 +0000

Interview with Interior Designer Lisa Holt

Lisa Holt is a Napa Valley-based interior designer obsessed with all things related to art and design.

Born in California and educated in London, it’s often said that her talent is to come up with sophisticated and contemporary designs with a sense of casual elegance, refinement and wit. And we can vouch for that. Lisa nothing short of creative.

Free time is spent in her own vineyard, while work — designing hotels and residences for clients throughout the U.S. and internationally — is being done from the Bay Area offices in San Francisco.

Some of Lisa’s work include the amazing Milliken Creek Inn and Spa or the Hotel Yountville, both of which are located in the beautiful Napa Valley. But we’ll let you find out more about her in this enticing interview. Read on!

(Editor’s note: Lisa is a hell of a person; and her website music is addictive)

Lisa, you have extensively traveled throughout the world. What is the one culture that has influenced your designs the most?

I actually have two, Italy and Southeast Asia. Those are the areas of the world that I consistently refer to when I am thinking about design and creation.

What is your favorite city skyline? Have you ever incorporated it into a design?

One of my favorite city skylines is Rome’s, because it has multiple hills, the ancient ruins, and those incredible cathedral domes. Although it is an amazing site, I have never actually incorporated the skyline into any of my designs.

On your “Lisa Holt Inspired” blog you have a chair that appears to be hanging upside-down by a leg and you list “chair whores” as one of the sites that influenced you. How did your love affair with chairs start?

The upside down bergere chair on my blog site is a sketch I did a number of years ago for a client. The bergere is a reproduction of a Louis XV seating item. I think my love affair with chairs started because they are the primary item in a space that we interact with. We see them, we sit on them, and sometimes we even dance with them. Utilizing fabulous chairs gives you the opportunity to have an artistic expression, along with the ability to introduce multiple materials. Chairs are just an incredibly versatile design tool.

You say one of your most highly prized assets is your ability to listen. Did you ever have a situation where the customer did not quite know what they wanted and just said “go for it!”? Tell us about what you did.

Regarding my ability to listen … that comes out in a number of ways. Many of my clients are usually surprised that I deliver what they are imagining with the first presentation. That’s because I am trained to interpret all kinds of information a client gives me when we begin work together. A great example is my recently completed project, Hotel Yountville. The client did not have any specific design criteria other than the expected hotel programming. Given this flexibility, I created a design statement that is a consummate updated version of the napa valley wine country experience, with a hip European overlay. The project has already won a number of awards for the design.

What are your favorite two or three projects and why?

One of my favorite residential projects I have actually just completed was a project involving the renovation of an old church into a residence. The client is a very talented couple, with great vision. They were wonderful people to work with and the product that we developed for them was quite sophisticated and unexpected. Another project that I am very fond of is Spa Acqua, which is a freestanding 5,000 sq ft hotel spa. Conceptually, it was to feel completely different from the hotel, and so I created a very contemporary space, yet it is very warm and relaxing. It has been well received by all of the spa guests and was featured on the cover of American Spa magazine.

You have completed many luxury hotel renovations throughout the world. What are some of the challenges in incorporating some of those ideas into a luxury home? Obviously there are space and scaling issues.

In regards to doing residential work that feels like my hotels…some of the challenges definitely involve scaling issues because the power of the space of a lobby is difficult to replicate in most residential experiences. You normally don’t have the ceiling heights or 5,000 sq ft clear to work with a residence, so there are definitely some issues there. However there are some elements that I typically make sure that I always incorporate into my residences that come directly from hotels. I love the use of moving water and the elements of fire or fireplaces, these are always elements that people are attracted to on a subconscious level, and can easily be brought into the residential experience.

Can you remember when was it that you decided interior design is what you want to do for the rest of your life?

Well I was pretty hooked from the moment I started running around, working on window displays in London. I can remember being heartbroken over the fact that we would work ourselves to the bone over a display that would only be up 2 weeks, and then it would be gone. I remember saying that I wanted to create things that were more permanent.

Still remember your first project?

Yes. It was the worst (laughs). It was the engineering office for a gentleman I was dating’s father, and it was a disaster! But it was definitely a learning experience.

How do you manage to be so creative. What is it that inspires you to create?

Almost everything around me inspires me to create. I am very visual I spend a lot of time in nature, despite the fact I have lived most of my life in cities. Because of this I am constantly being exposed to the colors, forms, massing and volumes that occur in nature, and when combined with mans’ interpretation, it becomes even more interesting. So fashion, art, architecture, dance, music, theatre…all of those elements are big inspirations for me. Just people watching can be inspirational, because when you watch how people behave in a space, you learn what you need to do to solve the problems that come up in design. That’s really what designers are, we are problem solvers.

If you had to describe your work in three words, what would these words be?

Three words is pretty limited in terms of how I would describe my work, but I would say textural, experiential and sensual. I would also add the descriptor sophisticated.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

There are actually two phases to the work that are very rewarding for me. When you first start construction on a job and it begins to lay out in 3 dimensional form is a incredible experience. This is when you see the truth in the phrase “creating something from nothing.” In that moment you see the space you are creating that people will live into, and that’s a very exciting experience. Another gratifying point is when you see the people you have created the designs for beginning to interact in the space. This is incredibly informative because it tells you what you did right and what you didn’t do right. When people come into spaces and don’t want to leave them…you know you have done your job as a designer.

In the end, tell us how you’d like to change the world if you wanted it to be a better place.

If I said world peace right now I think I would sound like a Miss Universe contestant, but I have to admit that if I could wave a magic wand, I would make all of us more conscious of our decisions on an everyday basis about how we impact the world around us. We live in this very special place on this exquisite blue orb in the universe, and we want to preserve and protect it.

Thank you Lisa for taking the time to answer our questions.

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:23:00 +0000

The Gorgeous
London: St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel!

I love the combination of historical restorations with modern day luxury. The gold-leaf ceilings, grand staircases and mural covered walls look absolutely stunning! I can't wait to get over there and check it out in person....

March 24, 2011

LONDON: ST. PANCRAS RENAISSANCE HOTEL

By Dispatch Departures Travel, Hotel, London

For proof that the British are big on preserving their history, one needn't look further than the new St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, now in its soft opening in London's Kings Cross neighborhood. The Victorian Gothic building, first opened in 1873, served as both a railway station and the Midland Hotel for decades and was saved from demolition thanks to a campaign led by poet laureate Sir John Betjeman in the 1960s. Its glory faded when it became an office space, but over the past ten years, the red-brick structure has undergone a staggering $200 million renovation and reopened—with a blessing from the Queen, no less—as a new Eurostar terminal and a 245-room hotel that bridges the gap between present-day luxury and historical authenticity. Thirty-eight of the rooms are in the heritage part of the building, and another 207 are located in a new addition called the Barlow House, as the addition is called. The hotel's public spaces seem from another era, with grand staircases, 50-foot windows, gold-leaf vaulted ceilings, mural-covered walls and the Ladies Smoking Room, the first space in Europe where it was acceptable for women to smoke. The original Booking Room has been converted into a bar and restaurant, while the spirit of other olden-day institutions, namely the barbershop and members-only club, has been preserved. The official opening date will be May 5, exactly 138 years to the day the hotel first debuted. Rooms start at $485; Euston Road; 44-207/841-3540; stpancrasrenaissance.com.

Photo Courtesy St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel

http://www.departures.com/blogs/luxury/2011/3/24/london-st-pancas-renaissance-hotel

Kudos! to the New Setai, Fifth Ave!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:28:00 +0000

Another Kudos! post, to the design team of Gwathmey-Seigal and das concepts, inc. on the new Setai Hotel, Fifth Avenue!

Recently I did a quick spin through New York, and the good news is that despite the malaise of the US hospitality industry, there actually are several great new hotels out there. As always, some managed to disappoint, but the shining star on this trip for me was the newest addition to my list of Great Hotels in New York, The Setai on Fifth Avenue.

Hats off to the incredible architecture of Gwathmey Siegal, www.gwathmey-siegel.com, as the ground-up building is quite stunning, with gently rounded corners, the angled windows and a sexy streamlined porte-cochere that extends to the curb.

Inside the main lobby of the hotel, they’ve created a stunning spiral staircase up to the second floor, which houses Ai Fiori, their fine-dining restaurant. The art program is exceptional as well. Note the gorgeous piece behind the reception desk, and their "homage" to the garment district, the two mannequins at the far end of the lobby.

Another gorgeous space is the lobby bar and lounge, where you while away the evening to the early morning hours enjoying a nice tapas menu, as live jazz that's actually worth listening to...

But huge Kudos! goes to the interior design team at das concepts, inc.; they have done an amazing job with both the public spaces and the guest rooms. Beautifully outfitted with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling and doors (with exquisite fine cabinetry hardware) they are contemporary but inviting and luxurious, which can be a tough combination to achieve. This was our room on the corner, with a great view of the Empire state building from the 14th floor....

As a designer myself, I can appreciate the impact of the white carpet, but I do wonder how long that will last.... Gorgeous and comfortable Duxiana platform beds, excellent lighting, and automated drapery systems made the room quite livable, tho. The only problem with this beautiful fenestration detail is that the top half, due to its angle, needs cleaning virtually all the time!

Bathrooms are wonderful, with unusual stone selections, a fantastic shower and tub, (great Grohe fixtures) and what is becoming the prerequisite mirror with TV screen. But best of all, with all the stone and cool surfaces, the bathroom has it's own little power heater; so staying warm after a shower is as simple as turning a dial!

Note the wonderful attention to detail with the millwork hardware....

Even the Spa was great, very simple, warm and inviting, unusual in a NYC Hotel...

The most impactful part of my stay was actually the staff and their Capella management. Mr. Guenter Richter, the GM, has trained a fantastic group of front-of-house and concierge (referred to as "personal assistants") and virtually recreates the experience of the Grand Hotels, when delighting guests with anticipating their every need was a normal event. Upon mentioning that I was catching the show The Book of Mormons, I arrived back at my room to find the CD of the shows’ score, with a lovely note from the lead concierge, KImberly. A completely unnecessary gesture, but a very memorable one, and one that virtually guarantees that guests will return.

If you find yourself needing to hit the Big Apple, be sure to give the Setai a try, and let me know if you aren’t delighted!

Buon Viaggio.....

Top Ski Destination, the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:31:00 +0000

Ski Season...

There's literally hundreds of resorts, how do you begin to choose? Do you stay in the US, or do you head to Europe? Do you want great conditions, maybe a fabulous scene, or someplace a whole family will be happy?

The Little Nell in Aspen is the Euro favorite, combining a heady mix of Hollywood types and the well-to-do Euros. It's quite the scene, but if you don't already have resies, forget about it for this year....

and yes, the Little Nell is still the best place to stay in Aspen, period.

Vail is easily accessible from Denver, so it's loaded with lots of young college types, so the bar scene is busy, if not a bit common. Park City is the second home for a lot of Westport financial types, so the crowd there is definitely specific. Plus there not really any great resorts, which makes this more of a "ski condo" destination, so if you're going, bring friends and someone who likes to cook!

Whistler, B.C. is beautiful, but colder than you can believe, and the resorts are definitely mid-market...even the Four Seasons is completely unacceptable for a five-star resort. Also, sadly, the fires they had a couple of years ago have changed a lot of the views, so I would give Whistler a few years before I went again, if at all....

When staying in the states, I really like the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch for the best all-around winner for a ski resort.

It's just a half hour trip up the road from Vail, but it feels a world away. This was one of the first Ritz Carlton forays inte the ski resort genre, and they have done it the best in this location. (Can't be said about their new Lake Tahoe project, but more on that later!)

The design is well done (not quite Kudo-worthy) but totally appropriate, and there's lots of well-programmed amenities, such as a Ski Concierge, boot warming stations, an outdoor bonfire bar for apres activities, and one of the BEST spas for a ski resort I've ever been in...

The resort has several restaurants, even a little Spago outpost, which is great for quick dining, and of course, has a fun, casual atmosphere.

The rooms are passable for a ski resort, with fireplaces, and some with balconies overlooking the base of the run.

Naturally, they get better if you are on the Club level, or decide to grab one of the Penthouses or private residences....

But the real star of the show here is the mountain itself. Unique in that most of the runs can be considered "green diamond", so beginner skiers can enjoy being up at the top of a mountain, not just stuck down on the bunny slope with the "ski-pandas" whizzing through your legs...but don't worry, there are also plenty of black diamond runs for expert skiers as well, so everyone gets the chance to enjoy the experience. And then, afterwards, theres that Spa....it spells "winter-get-away bliss"!

Here's to a chic and fabulous Holiday escape...we'll chat again in the new year!

Love this great Design-Inspired Wrapping Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:18:00 +0000

I'm currently designing a wonderful series of offices that will include walls filled with photo super-graphics featuring amazing images from the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. Naturally, now, my "antenna" are up on innovative uses of photography. I just ran across these fantastic customizable photo wrapping papers from Gift Couture on the Design Milk blog. See more of them at... http://design-milk.com/page/3/

It appears that Gift Couture is an innovative start-up, with their first complete wrapping set to be the "Cheeseburger", but they have many more themes and concepts that will soon be released to online retailers.

Tell me what you think about these cool ideas! Share some of your innovative holiday wrapping inspirations.....

Lisa

Five great hotels for winter getaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:54:00 +0000

The Thanksgiving holiday is over, and now we all start thinking about our winter travel plans. In my next few posts, I plan to cover a few good holiday getaways, ones that you may not know about...the whole range from great spots for those sun-seekers (like me!) to ski resorts that you'll love to share with family or friends.

The first one is a little-known gem in the BVI called Peter Island Resort...and like many destinations in the Caribbean, this one is ALL about the water and the beach! Peter Island is found just southwest of Tortola, in Sir Francis Drake Channel, so it's the typical arrival pattern of long flight, short flight, boat ferry, car or van, and the final flourish of a rum punch of some sort as you are being checked into your room. Ok, now the skinny about the rooms is this; the Resort has two DISTINCTLY different levels of rooms. DO NOT, Under any circumstances, book anything but the beachfront rooms! The harborside rooms were built back in the 60's for a convenient "overnight" for boaters and sailing boats, and are categorically unacceptable for any length of stay. (In my opinion, they need to be scraped, or only held for overnight stays.) Cramped, with dark decor and unacceptable bathrooms, they aren't consistent with any resort experience. So, the beachfront rooms are the only reasonable option, and be sure you ask for the recently renovated ones, as they others are quite shabby. The beachfront rooms, like the ones at Caneel Bay, on St. Johns, feel a little like an old Rock Resort, with one stone wall, and peaked wood ceilings. The renovation is reasonable, but really, this resort is ALL about the beach, so make sure your room has a good view, and if you must move to get the great setting, do so, as it's completely worth it!

So, did I mention that Peter island as ALL about the beach?! Take a look at one of the most beautiful natural curves of soft white sand you'll find in the Caribbean....perfect levels of shade and sun, and located in a cove to keep the waves gentle enough for a little fun, but not too strong to deter you from swimming. Warm, clear and filled with turtles and a moderate amount of tropical fish, you can spend entire days in a straight line from your room to the water(with an occasional diversion to the beach bar....)

If you're feeling extra adventurous, you can check out a Hobie cat or a kayak, and explore around the island, happy in the knowledge that this perfect beach is never far away....

Like most of the islands in the BVI grouping, Peter Island is a central spine of small hills cascading down to the beaches, and has a good bit of lush foliage, so it's the perfect dosage of "tropical", especially as we face these short, dark, cold winter days.

Here's a shot of the renovated beachfront rooms, of which this one's a second story (I prefer ground level, so I can walk straight out to the beach, but the view from the second story balconies is fantastic)

Another shot of the bathrooms in the renovated beachfront rooms, replete with the "tub with a view"...this is a favorite design feature of mine, and it's executed here in a cheery combination of colored tiles and plenty of glass.

This image is the dreaded Harbour side rooms, and at a quick glance, they look reasonable, but the moment you step inside them, youll insist upon being moved...

So, I think I've mentioned that this resort is all about the beach and the water, right? That's because the other amenities and services are average, at best! The main ding room is the typical stone-clad "sugar plantation" style building, the food is completely forgettable, the spa is not worth spending any time in, and the pool needs to be redone. What does truly exceed expectations is the staff. Many of them have been there since the resort opened, and are absolutely charming and delightful, going out of their way to care about the guests, and make your stay memorable. They are truly exceptional, and actually make the difference between this being an average resort with a great beach, and a truly delightful winter getaway...

The resort's staff can accommodate almost any request, and will happily arrange for deep sea fishing and diving trips if you are feeling the need to stir from your beach chair.

When you go, be sure to catch a sunset on the top of the mountain. The staff will arrange for some champagne and a lite bite, and will take you up to the best spot. If you're lucky, you'll even get to see the infamous "green flash" as you watch the sun sink below the water...

Peter Island Resort is an "almost" perfect antidote to winter... stay posted, more to come!

Ciao,

Lisa

Holiday Decor Q & A Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:17:00 +0000

Today, I had another opportunity to host a Facebook Q&A, this time with a focus on Holiday Decor. You can check out the event log here, or just scroll down a bit for a rundown. A special thanks goes out to fellow Bay Area interior designer/blogger and colour consultant Chelsi Liddell over at the Designer File for joining in on the fun!

Q:
Hi Lisa - would love to know what colour trends you think will be big for holiday 2011?
A:
Silver will be big this year. And silver and gold combos, basing off of fashion which is doing a lot of gilded stuff!

Q:
What are some less traditional holidays colors that I can use for my holiday decor? Besides red & green.
A:
Silver and gold, blue and silver, and red and white are great combos that are holiday related without going red and green. Great question!

Q:
I have a small house and a ton of family. About 25 people in a three bedroom house. We have a nice sized basement (has carpet and a two long tables with bench seating) and we usually have dinner down there. What can I do to make it look NOT like a basement? Last year I hung strings of lights up, but it just ended up looking like a dorm room.
A:
Rent table linens in a single color. Create a nice table top design and make sure to include candles, random lighting points around the room, and you can hang lights but how you hang them up makes a difference. Create a table that will look great. You want them to ignore the basement element and bring in tremendous looking tables and linens and lots of glowing candles that sparkle.

Q:
I'm doing Thanksgiving dinner at my house for the first time. My parents hosted it for the past 35 years and I'm taking over this year.We have a big dining area with huge arch doorways. Our design aesthetic is rustic/wine country. What can I do with these arches? I want to decorate it for Autumn and Winter parties and especially make a big impression on this Thanksgiving dinner. I don't want it to look gaudy though and I'm afraid it will.
A:
I would get some fresh magnolia leaves and I would create a bough, which is a long string connecting the leaves/branches and frame the arch in a single row. The mag leafs are beautiful and two toned dark green/soft brown looks perfect for the entire season. To source the magnolia leaves, check in with a florist or if you have a flower mart near you, have them order some in. What's great about these is that they will last for many weeks without wilting or getting papery, and they look great the whole time!

Hey guys, another stumper is getting holiday hostess gifts that don't feel gimmicky, here's some Italian candles that I love, and are perfect grab and go gifts for friends...

Italian Prayer Candles

Photo Credit: Napa Style

Another thing I love are these goblets. They will only work as a gift for someone whose tastes runs this way, but they are great looking, and I'm sure sturdy to last through all the toasting that goes on...

Olivo Etched Glass Goblets

Photo Credit: Napa Style

Q:
Lisa - any suggestions for creative gift wrapping ideas?
A:
I love getting the recycled brown "butcher paper" and doing your wrapping with this. Add some great colored bows with natural twine for a tasteful simple look. Keeping all the packages similar colors is always best as well.

Q:
Alright, I gotta ask: The Christmas Tree. I recently moved all my furniture around my living room to make it a bit more inviting, which left an ideal space for the tree in a now-out-of-the-way corner of the room. What can I do to bring the attention back to the tree? Should I re-re-arrange?
A:
No! Don't bother to re-arrange, just keep the tree in the corner, but add TONS of little white lights! Also, keep the rest of the tree decor simple, and themed, and you'll have a corner tree that GLOWS for the holidays. It's a great look!

Q:
I need some closet solutions, immediately. We have two bikes in there and I'm not sure if boxing clothes up would be the best solution -- can you help?
A:
Space bags are your friend. It feels goofy because you buy them at CostCo but they work. Big vacuum pack bags and suck all the air out of the bag and give you so much space! You'll have plenty of room for holiday entertaining if you can move more items into the closet.

Q:
Any ideas or unique ways to seat both an adult table and a kids table in the same space for the holidays? I always have a group of children who love sitting at a table together for the holiday dinners, and the adults enjoy watching them sit together.
A:
If you can't fit the tables together, create a smaller version of the same table top decor so they feel part of the festivities! Remember you don't want them to feel like they are at a different party than the adults. Avoid hallway tables!

Q:
What do you think about floor lamps vs. overhead, attractive decorative lighting?
A:
Overhead lighting is great for task areas, such as kitchens, but you always need to make sure they are dimmable for when you're not working in the area. Floor lighting is great for creating ambiance or near reading chairs, etc. If you have high ceilings, torchieres are great to bounce light and create some ambiance there as well. Get a great fixture that has multiple light points, and this will create a nice ambiance, then add two other floor or table lamps so that you have three points of light in the room you can work with. This helps the space feel less task based, and more like a room you can "live" in!

Q:
What would be a good stocking stuffer this year? I am always seeking new ideas for the holidays stockings we hang up.
A:
I just stumbled across these clay rosaries, which are fabulous rustic decor items...

Clay Bead Rosaries

Photo Credit: Napa Style

Q:
One more question, what would you suggest for office party decor and gifts?
A:
Office parties are multi-denominational, so be aware of that when choosing themes or decor. Plain white lights always looks festive, and crosses all cultural boundaries. For the classic "Secret Santa" event, take a look at these ideas for appropriate corporate gift giving...

Oh, and one last comment from a participant regarding holiday traditions. This is a scream:

"Holiday traditions...a fun one....every year we fill an entire envelope full of holiday confetti disguised as a card, and send it to Grandma on the East Coast. We make sure to pack it just right because when she opens it, the confetti immediately falls all over her. Grandma never seems to remember that tradition :) but she still gets a kick out of it."

Napa Style Holiday Design Q&A on Facebook Nov 9th

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:49:00 +0000

Napa Style Holiday Design Q&A on Facebook

with me, Lisa Holt, this Wednesday Nov 9th from 10-11 AM (PST)

RSVP:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=258236540880201

Huffington Post's Stylelist, Napa Style, and Design Advice

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:34:00 +0000

I'm delighted to announce my new gig at Huffington Post’s inspirational new resource, Stylelist Home

This blog, along with my NapaStyle blog, will cover a wide range of design topics. My first post is all about utilizing these early November days to get organized and inspired for the design and decor solutions needed for the holiday season ahead.

http://www.stylelist.com/lisa-holt

Through these posts, I’m hoping to create an inspirational dialogue about all sorts of design and decor solutions needed at this time of year. And if you're feeling a little overwhelmed with what needs to get done, join me as I host an upcoming online event about that very topic next week!

Please be sure to join me at my NapaStyle Q&A Facebook chat on November 9. I’ll be discussing wine country holiday style from my perspective, and I’d love to hear about your holiday decorating traditions as well! These events are a lot of fun, and a great source of ideas and inspiration.

RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=258236540880201

Sustainable and Seasonal - Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:41:00 +0000

Recently, I was a part of a huge Charity Buzz auction to benefit Plastic Pollution Coalition. Plastic Pollution Coalition is an organization aimed at eliminating single-use and disposable plastic's toxic impact on our world and ourselves. I was honored to be listed on the auction with other PPC supporters like Jackson Browne, Ben Harper, Linda Ronstadt, and Ed Begley, Jr. We all helped to raise thousands of dollars for this important cause.

With Halloween coming up at the end of the month, I've been thinking about how we can all start reducing our plastic footprint. All of my key staff are LEED certified designers, and we strive to implement sustainability and energy efficiency into our design projects. The holidays are a great time to be eco-friendly, and especially Halloween - the worst for throwaway plastic candy wrappers and costumes!

Here's a quick list I got from my friends at Plastic Pollution Coalition. Be sure to pass this list around and repost so that everyone can have a plastic-free Halloween, and we can all do our good deed for the environment this month.

UPDATE! Plastic Pollution Coalition just announced a "Plastic Creep Costume Contest" that you should definitely check out. Daphne Zuniga (One Tree Hill, Melrose Place) is going to be judging! They are going all-out for Halloween this year! http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org/2011/10/plastic-creep-costume-contest/

Honolulu's Bright New Thing, The Waikiki Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 06:03:00 +0000

Hawaii...

Such a great getaway, but not my favorite destination for great hotels. Two things have happened, though, in the last year on the lodging front that have put the Aloha state back on my list of musts again. And honestly, you can't argue with this view coming into Oahu....

First is the absolutely gorgeous partial renovation of SOM's masterpiece on the Big Island, the Mauna Kea. I say partial, as they have only renovated the guest rooms in the main tower, (although these were the ones that hadn't been touched since the structure was built for Rockefeller, in the late "60's!) More on this on my next post, as this deserves it's own space, it is a masterful re-interpretation of that classic architecture.

This week I'm all about the newest little thing to hit the tired hotel and nightclub scene in Waikiki, the hot little Waikiki Edition. Super little design gem, it's located right across from the Yacht Club in Waikiki, so it's easy to get to, and not buried inside the mess that is lower Waikiki....

As a side note, as of this posting, the hotel may be changing names to the Modern Honolulu, but that doesn't affect just how cleverly they have re-positioned the property to be a hip little place in Honolulu to grab a night or two before heading over to other islands....

Designed by a combination of Ian Shrager and Yabu-Pushelbergh (who did the seriously HOT Morimoto's Restaurant on the ground floor) this is my new favorite stop-over in Oahu.

Check the desk...

Great reception area, with sharp staff, who were quite ready to please (I was a drop-in reservation, and of course, in my usual fashion I asked that they show me EVERY room type before I decided which one)

Actually, loved the "broken surfboard" sculpture behind the minimalist white check-in desk...

To be expected, the rooms were "Shrager-esque" in their minimalism, but I found they were quite soothing done in all white, as Hawaii really does tend to drench the eye in color....

But note the pop of color and ornamental detail:

This also is a great technique to remind you that you're not in some anonymous white hotel room on the planet, in a clever way.

And of course, as Shrager always does, the public spaces were excellent. This is a shot from the reception desk of the "swinging wall" detail, that opens at night to reveal, what else, but a Bar!

This is the outdoor lounge space between the pool and the restaurant, and very inviting to grab a Mai-Tai while waiting for your dinner reservation at Morimoto's, where you simply cannot miss his stellar Tuna Tartare....

So, while not a place to spend your full Hawaiian getaway, this newest little spot in Oahu is a great stop-over. It's almost worth a day just for a little shopping and to indulge in some crazy amazing seafood...

Napa Style Facebook Event starring Lisa Holt - Q&A

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:15:00 +0000

Join me!

September 14, 2011, 10:10 am (pacific) live event page facebook Q&A! Join Napa Style's facebook page to join the event. RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124748234290666

"NapaStyle Introduces Celebrating the Flavor of NapaStyle, A New Blog Offering Free Design Advice for Bringing Wine Country Living into Your Home. Design expert and Wine Country resident, Lisa Holt, provides inspiration and practical advice for creating indoor and outdoor living spaces that express the casual elegance of the Napa Valley." Go to http://www.napastyleflavor.com/

-Napa Style

Kudos! The Brilliance of Pierre-Yves Rochon's new Peninsula, Shanghai

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:40:00 +0000

Another in my series of Kudos! to brilliant hospitality designers throughout the world...this week I'm celebrating Pierre-Yves Rochon's PYR offices www.pyr-design.com for a truly magnificent job on this new and incredibly exciting Peninsula, located on the tip of the Bund, in China's most dynamic of cities...

Shanghai

This beautiful shot I took at night, looking down the Bund from across the street from the hotel. The Peninsula is a magnificent Deco landmark building that blends seamlessly with all of this incredible mix of late 19th century architecture. I will talk soon about the superb job done by David Wells Beer, of BBG on the building, but today I'm focusing on the Guest Rooms, which are truly breathtaking.

Yes, the views are amazing, but it's the incredible attention to detail that truly sets this Peninsula apart...in fact, it stands apart from many five-star hotels throughout the world...

This gorgeous wall unit has a sliding panel that has a lovely painted panel that hides the (already invisible!) TV when not in use, and manages NOT to look awkward when closed.

Of course, in the land that excels in lacquer finishes, even the quality of this unit stands out, and I loved the tasteful way all of the often messy "mini-bar"details were handled. Even down to glassware with etching to continue the statement.

I loved the overall color scheme, the rich brown and blue is always a favorite of mine....and look at the calibre of work on this gorgeous throw pillow!

Peninsula's trademark welcome amenity, local fresh fruit presented with a simply divine china service, (as was all of the room service I ordered, of course!)

This is another favorite detail I love to use in my interiors, the cove lighting wrapping a space...it always serves to lift the ceiling plane, and gives a lovely glow when all other room lights are low or off...and let's face it, we can all use some "indirect lighting" on occasion...

But what really is divine about the rooms are the bathrooms, and the dressing areas. These are simply beyond...To give you an idea of the level of luxurious detail, this set of sliding doors separates the actual guest room from the dressing and bath...lovely unto themselves.

Gorgeous relief carved panels above the tub and toilet, and note the etched glass panel detail at the vanity apron, no less....and then there's the closet and dressing area!

Note the marble floor with woolen carpet inset in the dressing area. There's even a wall mounted infrared nail polish dryer (just in case your manicure was rushed!)....this area of the guest room alone pushes this property into the six-star level, in my opinion.

Kudos! to the teams that worked on this most exceptional of hotels, both from the Peninsula Group, and PYR, as it is no small feat to accomplish something this of this calibre.

I will be featuring the incredible public areas in another post, but if you'd like to see more right away, check it out at www.peninsula.com/Shanghai. You can also see more of PYR's exceptional projects at www.pyr-design.com

And for all of you heading over to Venice for La Biennale, I will be talking about some must-see hotels and places next week, so stay tuned!

The Spirit(s) live on in Bodie, CA State Historic Park

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:48:00 +0000

August is a time for almost everyone to be able to take a few days and enjoy the astounding riches of the U.S. Park System. The most famous of them, Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc. are known for their natural grandeur and the incredible power of nature to awe us. Recently, though, I stumbled upon a small park in the California Gold Country that has a different power to awe...the little "ghost" town of Bodie.

Like many of the California Gold Rush towns, there's not much left to Bodie, except a few buildings with remnants of the inhabitants that once lived and thrived there, but the texture and tooth of the buildings is captivating...

This was the largest of the homes in the town, owned by the local judge. I love the delicacy of the grayed wood fence still standing in front...

And of course, the town had a main "Hotel", which rented rooms out above the local saloon....I love the texture of this door!

Inside another wooden structure was the other saloon, with the bar and the rough floor still intact...

Yet another building's rooms were still covered with many layers of paper, some decorative, and some purely to help keep out the wind and cold of the winters in the Sierras. The textures they create are just fantastic!

I couldn't quite read the date on this edition, but apparently Bodie was inhabited from it's founding sometime in the 1860's through to the 1940's, when, like many Sierra towns, it was abandoned.

The texture of these two buildings together is magical, and I love the accent of the bucket and nail, (which, incidentally weren't used much, most joinery was done without the use of nails, as you can see below...)

Naturally, the Park historians have posted a little local lore (tales of gun battles and expected bawdiness) in what was left of the barber shop...

Bodie is a fascinating glimpse into a little gem of a park, and I find it wonderful that, through the park systems, we have managed to save both the grand and the delicate...

Coming next, is my review of the best (and the worst!) of another incredible set of parks, the Grand Tetons, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming...

Aman Beijing Kudos to Jean-Michel Gathy and Jaya Ibrahim

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:13:00 +0000

This is another in my series of Kudos! Posts that recognize the brilliance and refinement of some the world's best hospitality designers...This week it is the dynamic combination of Jean-Michel Gathy, of Denniston www.denniston.com, and Jaya Ibrahim www.jayainternational.com working together on the Aman at the Summer Palace in Beijing.

Beijing...

Not a city who's name conjures up the same level of sex appeal as say, Shanghai, for instance. However, if you find yourself in the capital, (and there are many great things to see, so don't miss it), the hotel par excellence is absolutely the Aman at the Summer Palace.

Built on the grounds of the Summer Palace, specifically the Qing dynasty pavilions, it has classical Chinese structure and detailing, but the new buildings are pitch perfect for the guest experience.

You can see the formality in the main entry courtyard, and all of the public buildings are fashioned after the royal palaces, with a rhythm of pavilions and open courtyards.

This is the center lobby pavilion, note the similarities to an actual pavilion at the Forbidden city...

Exquisite reference to classical detailing is everywhere, including all of the corridors!

Throughout the hotel is a sophisticated blending of contemporary elements into the classical structure of the royal palaces' envelope...

I simply loved this "Moon Gate"!

I also loved taking a tea service out in the musicians' courtyard, (and of course, making sure the koi were well fed...)

The guest rooms were warm, rich and dark, very inviting, with plenty of contemporary touches that made them easy places to linger....Like this classic draped bed alcove with divine sheeting and perfect reading lights..."Really? I have to get out of bed?"

"Fine, then I'll go luxuriate in the bathroom..."

Again, this is where Jaya and Jean Michel really did a masterful job of creating a modern experience, but retaining the references to classical Chinese decorative expression.

Where you really see them push the property up another notch is in the Spa, where they masterfully combined local materials in the sparest, but inviting ways...

But the Spa's true masterstroke is the pool, all completely underground, and very sexy....

Again, my hats' off to the team of Aman Resorts, Jean Michel Gathy and Jaya Ibrahim, who have created an exquisite oasis in the hustle and bustle of China's capital city... I look forward to returning!

Also, be sure to check out other wonderful projects in Asia that Jean-Michel and Jaya have done at:

www.denniston.com

www.jayainternational.com

And of course, I always look to see where the next Aman Resort is, as they are consistently "of the place" and a designer's dream....you can find others they have at:

www.amanresorts.com

Hurray!!! The new LHDG Website is live!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 22:53:00 +0000

Drum roll, please.....the Lisa Holt Design Group Website is (finally) live! Please check it out at: www.lisaholtdesign.com

(Natch, I'm very excited to hear your feedback...and be sure to have your volume up on your computer!)

As a design firm, we are naturally drawn to flash sites, so I apologize in advance for all of you using Iphones and IPads, the html version is on it's way...

I would also truly like to thank my partner, David Shapiro, for his incredible (!) attention to detail, and for his perseverance with this.....

Please leave comments below and let me know what you think!

Enjoy.

My Top 10 Napa Valley Summer Favorites...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:12:00 +0000

How do I love the Summer in Napa Valley...let me count the ways!

The incredible Heirloom tomatoes at the Farmer's Market, you can eat them like candy, or drizzle some of the artisan olive oils from McEvoy Farms over them, they're a meal in themselves...This is a fantastic olive oil ranch, and you can get their amazing products at the Farmer's Market at the Ferry building in San Francisco, or go on line at mcevoyranch.com

The fantastic Lavender blooming all over the valley, next to all the happy vines...

Isabel Mondavi's "Isabel Rocks" cocktail made with her fantastic Rose'...see the recipe and all their other fantastic wines at www.imwines.com

Straw Tote Bags! I get to trade in my typical leather tote for something fun and straw...I've had this Fendi one for a couple of years now, it's perfect for a jobsite meeting or the market....

Dining Alfresco! There are so many great places where you can enjoy the summer evenings, and new one I just stumbled across is Diavola, in Sonoma, where they specialize in hand-made salumi, gorgeous pizzas, and having a good time! Natch, they have great wines to go with...check them out at: www.diavolapizzeria.com

Using colorful outdoor fabrics everywhere. These are from Trina Turk's line of Home Textiles. I love the combinations of Hermes' orange, navy blue and crisp white to add to a room or outdoors for this season, it's just happy! You can find her products through www.fschumacher.com

The AMAZING fields of sunflowers, especially the one just south of Frog's Leap Winery. Frog's Leap is another specialty winery that specializes in organic and sustainable practices for their wines. In the summer I drink their Sauvignon Blanc, which you can purchase through them at www.frogsleap.com

Flat sandals, of course...I just got these little Tory Burch ones from my fav shoe store on the planet, FootCandy, in St. Helena. If you can't go see Page Piland over there, look them up on line at www.footcandyshoes.com

Playing Bocce late into the evening! There are number of Bocce courts around the valley at various wineries, and if you're serious, you can join the Yountville team, who plays weekly all summer long....look them up at yountvillebocce.com

#10

Robert Mondavi Summer Concert series! www.robertmondavi.com/concerts

Sit on the grass, under the stars, take a picnic and listen to some astounding sounds from the likes of; Dave Koz, Chris Isaak, k.d. lang, David Foster, and many others!

Summer is fantastic so many places in the world, but if you're coming to the wine country, be sure to partake in some of these local specials..and Salute' to a wonderful summer....

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:07:00 +0000

Big news, friends!

I was nominated for California Home + Design's Readers' Room Contest: Pools and Outdoor Rooms. If I win, I'll be on the next cover! Please help me by voting for my design at:

Click here to vote now California Home + Design

No registering or email addresses required to vote. Vote once a day if you would like!

Thanks-

Lisa

Kudos! Mandarin Oriental Hotel Las Vegas / Adam Tihany Design

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 01:38:00 +0000

This is my first of a series I'm calling Kudos!, where I celebrate the work of other fantastic hospitality Designers. So often, when credit is being given for a new project, the architectural firm is mentioned. While good, (and important, I'll admit) it is truly the work the Interior Designers that comprises all the details and things that people love about staying in hotels. So thank you to all of you out there that never get (enough) credit for making travel such a delight for so many of us!

I am in Las Vegas fairly regularly for business, and I'm never a particularly happy camper. I loathe the weather (always too cold, windy, or WAY too hot) and the hotel scene isn't much better. So I was pleasantly surprised to stay at the new Mandarin Oriental, designed by Adam Tihany, that had been open about 8 months when I stayed. It is located in the new complex called City Center, which is tricky to get to by cab, but once you're there, all is well with the world...

It is delightfully similar to the wonderful one in New York, where you enter the tower at ground level, and then are whisked up to the lobby on the 23rd floor, overlooking City Center and the Strip. (Always a pleasanter view from a distance....)

I LOVE this lobby wall, just as you enter from the elevators...Adam's work always feels slightly like fine jewelry to me...

This is the all-day dining restaurant, which is quite lovely and sophisticated. They've done a great job with the acoustics, which is so tricky with an open kitchen! It also does the room service, which was superb...

I was here on this trip for the American Express Luxury Summit, so I spent a bit of time in their convention area, luxurious, but not too serious or stuffy, which makes it head and shoulders above other meeting spaces in Vegas.....

I also always check out the Spa spaces, to see how well they tie into the overall feel of the property. This one, while handsome, was a little on the obscure side, feeling neither glamorous OR restful...they did do a great pedicure, tho.

Perfect example, this is the spa waiting room chair, which, while pretty, is just wound Way too tight to induce a relaxing experience...

They did a fantastic job on the rooms, however. Quite refined, with lots of fabulous details such as sliding panels separating the bath from the room, and the floating Capiz shell detail on the headboard...

I also loved the seductive use of obscured glass throughout, it does a great job of creating a sense of space in the guestroom.

The amenities presentation was a nod to the locale, of course...clever, tho, and well executed with great graphics.

My hat is off to Adam and his team, they have finally brought some serious sophistication to Las Vegas!

Check out other hotels Adam Tihany has done at www.tihanydesign.com

And of course, next time you're heading to Sin City, check out the Mandarin at www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas

Monique Péan's Jewelry with Purpose

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:55:00 +0000

Part 1

This is some seriously hot jewelry! These gorgeous wooly mammoth cuffs inlaid and carved are designed by Monique Péan, the eco-jewelry designer that is burning up the fashion press lately.

Monique is becoming a favorite of the Washington elite, including Michelle Obama. I'm loving the mass, the scale and the sophisticated use of materials...

This is wooly mammoth, recycled gold and conflict-free diamonds...

And then, of course, there's her use of color!

To learn more about this amazing designer, go to moniquepean.com

Part 2

I was recently introduced to Carla Bobrowicz, a production manager for CFDA-winning jewelry designer Monique Péan. In a couple of snaps of Carla's apartment, you can see the cross-pollination of color and shape influence going on...I LOVE the blue of the walls!

Prints by Carla Bobrowicz

Multi-talented, Carla also has her own fashion collection, available online at http://www.etsy.com/shop/brooklynbranch

Brooklyn resident Carla Bobrowicz, a ten year plus veteran of the fashion industry, has been focusing on jewelry and accessories for the past seven years, and designed her stylish NYC apartment from top to bottom. Carla has previously worked in product development for designers Meredith Kahn and Anna Sheffield. Carla is the co-owner of online vintage shop Brooklyn Branch. She has studied screen printing at Post Expose Studio in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to her career in products, Carla is an occasional DJ and avid cyclist with a passion for travel, food, and all things visual.

Recco, a hidden gem of the Italian Riviera

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 03:14:00 +0000

It's finally SUMMER! Long, hot days make me want to hit the beach, and only eat outside. I love the Italian Riviera, and Recco is one of those little towns that only the Italians visit...small, simple, and exploding with color. Recco is between Portofino and Genova on the coast, and, like the rest of this region, it's famous for their trompe l'oeil on their buildings, which just knocks me out...

There is one other little secret about Recco that the Italians will occasionally share...it has been well known for centuries for making the best Foccacia on the planet! Plain, olive, and the best of all, formaggio...make sure you get it before the panifico closes, and then eat it on the beach...

The Brilliance of Black and White

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:42:00 +0000

As much as I love color, I also love the power and restraint of black and white, especially in photographs. This is some new work from one my favorite photographers, Sally Seymour of Seymour and Macintosh, in Napa Valley.

Her work really captures the essence of the wine country, whether she is shooting in Napa or France (she's a total Francophile!)

Here's a couple that are from her newest show, presented by Preservation Napa Valley, (www.preservationnapavalley.org)

I want to hear the stories these hands can tell!

Bejing "shabby-chic"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 04:46:00 +0000

On a recent business trip to Bejing, I had the opportunity to take a day to see some of the countryside, and I asked my guide to show me something authentic. We stopped at a portion of the Great Wall that is not on the regular visitor route, and hiked through some lovely walnut groves to arrive at this divinely simple house...

Get ready, the texture and simplicity of this home is simply marvelous...

This is exterior stucco wall, so fabulous!

Of course, the pre-requisite "tribute wall"...note how neatly everything is kept, and so clean.

I love the juxtaposition of the walls against the ornately embroidered fabric at the doorway, the rich red of the cabinet, all the colorful tea tins...and yes, lunch was divine also!

My New Favorite Venice Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Holt, ASID) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 03:11:00 +0000

This is absolutely SWOON material...my new favorite hotel in Venice, Ca' Sagredo, right on the Grand Canal. It's a private palazzo that's been converted into a boutique hotel. Now, Venice is always a bit over the top from a design perspective, a little ornate for me personally, but you can't deny the impact it has visually...

We stayed on the "piano nobile" or the second floor, right on the Grand Canal, at the perfect bend to hop on the water taxi to everywhere you want to go...

This was the grand salon, complete with art from the 16th and 17th centuries. (Early Luceplan designer at work on that chandelier, obviously!)

As you enter, this is the staircase up to the second floor, complete with period frescoes and perfectly cherubic putti....

If only you could pinch marble!

Ca' Sagredo (www.casagredohotel.com) is a member of the SLH Group, which I tend to like, they usually include properties that are unique in some way, with excellent service and staff.