Southern California Spaces

March/April 2010

color inside outTrends for brightening your home and garden

Stained-glass décor breaks the color barrier

Italian chef serves up a taste of home

Canyons & Valley

Green without grief.

20% Offany custom orready-made artificial tree

So realistic, you have to touchto tell.

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No spilled dirt. No water stains. No dead leaves. Just gorgeous, all year long.

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Green without grief.

20% Offany custom orready-made artificial tree

So realistic, you have to touchto tell.

Offer valid with this ad through 4/30/10.

No spilled dirt. No water stains. No dead leaves. Just gorgeous, all year long.

Decorate like a professional.

southern california

contents

March/April 2010

spacessocal.com

Above: Warm or cool, traditional or unconventional, color can create a mood and define a lifestyle. “Color speaks to who you are, so you shouldn’t be afraid of it,” says interior designer Sara McLean, one of several color experts who offer tips for redecorating in style. Photo courtesy of Dunn-Edwards Corp.

On the cover: A vivid orange offers the perfect accent to the patio of slate gray, a contemporary hue growing in popularity for indoor and outdoor décor. Photo courtesy of greenscenelandscape.com.

SO CAL SO COOL

11 ShopTreatment Creativityknowsnoboundsasastained-

glassartisanfillswindows,doorsandatriumswithrainbowsofcolor.

16 TradeSecrets LandscapedesignerScottCohenoffers

tipsforcreatingafunctionalyetbeautifulpieceofparadise.

FEATURES

24 Boldmoves VeterandesignerBillMcWhorteroffers

apeekathismostcreativeandcolorfulremodels.

32 Colortrends Markthestartofanewdecadewithone

oftheseupdatedhues.

36 Hotproducts Fieryredandbrilliantorangeproducts

canspiceupyourspringtimedécor.

DEPARTMENTS

40 Chef’sTable ChefGianlucaSartibringshomethe

tasteofBolognatoanewWestlakeVillagetrattoria.

44 High-TechHome Newtechietoolsaddconvenienceto

thecontemporaryhome.

46 CauseforApplause Aregionalcancercenterandtalented

Valleyarchitectssharethespotlight.

50 FinishingTouch ChristinaLynnJohnsonfindsasecond

careerasawatercolorandfused-glassartist.

� spaces march/april 2010

MAKE ROOM(S).

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� spaces march/april 2010

Amongmyfavoritebirthdaypresentsinrecent

yearswasaboxof64Crayolacrayonsand

acoloringbook,giventomebyadear

friend who knows of my penchant for color. I im-

mediately cracked open that classic flip-top pack

andstartedtooutlineandshade,tomixandmatch.

Blue green! Orange red! Magenta! With these 64

waxsticksatmyfingertips,mycreativityknewno

bounds.

IfonlyIcouldbethatbraveinreallife.

ItappearsthatI’mnottheonlypersonwhosuf-

fers a crisis of confidence when it comes to deco-

rating with color. So in Spaces’ annual Color issue, we showcase

designers who provide encouragement and inspiration for in-

corporatingcolorintoourhomesandgardens.DesignerBillMc-

Whorter,whobuilthis30-yearcareeronhisfearlessuseofcolor,

shares some of his favorite and most vivid makeovers. We also

speakwithexpertsaboutthenewneutrals—sharpenyour“cadet

blue” and “periwinkle” crayons—and exciting textures to help

decorateyourhome.Andwiththeapproachofspring,thereare

alsoideasforbrighteningupyouryardandpatio.Wehopetheir

suggestionsinspireyoutocreatenewpalettesofyourown.

Haveagoodstoryideatoshare?Commentsaboutthemagazine?Writetomeatspaceseditor@langnews.com.

editor’s letter

The color of courage publisher GreggBertness

associatepublisher MeaghanMiller editor BarbaraJones nationaleditor DeniseGee designer LeeAnnNelson photodirector DeanMusgrove

contributingwritersSusanAbram,SandraBarrera,

DanaBartholomew,HollyBerecz,NatalieHaughton

contributingphotographersMichaelOwenBaker,DavidCrane,

ChristopherDow,MaryE.Nichols,JoeyTerrill

retailadvertisingdirector MikeMcMullin

classifiedadvertisingdirector MeleneAlfonso

retailadvertisingmanager SteveJameson

advertisingsalesLaurenBecker,KimMekelburg,SueChadwick,ClaudiaErek,RosannaFrank,KristinaHamson,

SandyHofacker,RobertPaschka,BunnyPetretti,CathieTowell,CibeliTregemo

marketingdirector BillVanLaningham

researchdirector LizHamm

creativeservicesmanager PaulSchraeder creativeservices Chaivat

Trongnetrpunya officemanager MaryAnneRozinsky

Los AngeLes newspAper group

president&ceo FredH.Hamilton executivevicepresident &cfo JamesSiegrist

publisher,dailynews JackKlunder

contAct us

editorial 818/713-3710 [email protected]

advertising 818/[email protected]

Copyright2010Southern California Spacesmagazineby the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. No partof this magazine may be reproduced without thewrittenconsentof thepublisher.Southern California Spaces magazine is not responsible for unsolicitedmanuscripts,photosorartworkevenifaccompaniedbyastampedself-addressedenvelope.

Comments?Southern California Spaceswelcomesstoryideasandcommentsfromourreaders.Writeto:Spaces,21860BurbankBlvd.,Ste.200,WoodlandHills,CA91367

Volume 3 • Issue 2 spacessocal.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

S M A N I AExclusive Italian Hand Crafted Furniture Since 1979

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12050 Ventura Blvd. Studio City818.755.1111 Toll-Free 877.696.2982

www.uakc.comMonday-Saturday, 10am-8pm; Sunday, 11am-6pm

march/april 2010 spaces 11

SoCal

Simon Simonian held up an amber

shard of glass, watching it bend the

sunlight streaming into Progressive

Art Stained Glass Studio. He wanted to

make sure that each dagger-like cut would

put a sliver of joy into the dome covering

the children’s wing in a Bel-Air mansion.

“We are trying to create a happy space

for kids, with ribbons and flowers,” says

Studio photos: David C

raneArtisanuses

stainedglass

toevokemood

andpassion

By Dana Bartholomew

SHOP TREATMENT

The rainbow connection

so cool

Progressive Art Stained Glass Studio15021 Ventura Blvd.Sherman Oaks 818/907-1176progressiveart- stainedglass.com

Simon Simonian’s stained-glass works spotlight his talents as an architect and an artist.

SoCalso cool

Simonian,63,astained-glassartisan.“The

combinationwillputyouinthesamemood

asaparty— thoughwedon’thaveballoons.”

For more than 13 years, Simonian has

been creating unique fused and stained-

glass artwork at his combination workshop

andshowroom.Fortheformerarchitectand

fine artist by training, creating functional

Home accents and intricate windows are crafted in the workshop at Progressive Art Stained Glass Studio in Sherman Oaks.

What he really

wanted to do was

create art within

architecture.

Big art. Public art.

art—domes, windows, doors, skylights and

churchwindows—ismorethanjustwork.It

ishispassion.

Morethan30yearsago,theethnicArme-

nian immigrated from Iran so that his wife,

Evelyn,couldstudypiano.Hehadworkedas

an architect and been a painter of contem-

porary and abstract expressionistic art. But

what he really wanted to do was create art

within architecture. Big art. Public art. And

stainedglass,whichhe’dadmiredinchurch-

es,wastheperfectmedium.

Fusedandstainedglass,hebelieves,can

transform consciousness —and life. “In

churchwindows,itcreatesaspiritualspace,”

saysSimonian,anelegantmanwhoworksin

an oxford shirt and dress slacks, as classical

music plays in the background. “In some-

body’s hallway, it creates something addi-

tional—wecancallitmystery.Everydayyou

enteryourhouseandseeabeautifulwindow

orskylight.Youmaybetired,orunderpres-

sure,itactslikemusic.Becauseitrelaxesyou,

itmakesyourlifelonger.”

His workshop in back is crammed floor-

to-ceiling with glass panels, blueprints,

plywood and lead rods surrounding a large

worktable where Simonian spends up to 12

hourseachdaydesigningandworkingglass.

Inthecornersitsakiln,wherehefusesglass

forcustompanes,oppositeahotpotforthe

12 spaces march/april 2010


SoCalso cool

greenteahepoursregularlyfrom7a.m.till

wellpastdusk.

In the front of the shop, behind a chic

showroom highlighting fused-glass plate,

bowlandmirrordesigns,isanofficerunbyhis

son,Emanuel,whohasjoinedhiminrecent

yearstohelphimmarkethistalent.Inrecent

years,theSimonianshavebuiltanearly600-

panedomeforaBeverlyHillshome,stained

glass for the St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic

Church in Pasadena, a pie-shaped dome in

BrentwoodandanentrywayinBeverlyHills

thatincludeddouble-doorsinstainedglass,

asoaringwindowandafused-glassartwork

signedbytheartist.

Prices range from $250 for a fused glass

bowltotensofthousandsforthe12-footoval

beingbuilt fortheBel-Air mansionhallway

connectingthekids’roomandtheirlibrary.

“Whenitcomestokids,traditiongoesaway,

athingofthepast.Kidsarethefuture.This

willmakethemhappy,”theartistsaysofthe

contemporary pattern of gold and amber

glass.“Iloveglass.Iloveitsvividcolors.Ilove

the way it works with light…I love to make

peoplehappy.”

Simonian’s works are showcased in a dramatic entry way in Beverly Hills, above. Top, his sketch of the stained-glass skylight he’s creating for a Bel-Air mansion,

� spaces july/august 2008 july/august 2008 spaces �

Westside Tile & Stone, Inc.“For the love of tile…”

A designer showroom in Canoga Park, specializing in decorative tile, award-winning pool design, outdoor hardscapes, kitchens and baths.

7631 Canoga Avenue n 818.704.9222 n Open 7 days a week

LIMESTONE n TRAVERTINE n PORCELAIN n GRANITE n SLATE n HAND-PAINTED CERAMIC, GLASS & COPPER SINKSAward-Winning OCEANSIDE Dealer n Alyse Edwards n Trend n Ken Mason Tile n Jeffrey Court n COBSA n LEA

Colorin a whole new dimension

Here’s what our customers have to say about our store:

“Amazing!”“Extraordinary”

“Sensational”“The best selection…”

Come see for yourself!

Established in 2005, Westside Tile and Stone, Inc. is so much more than your neighborhood tile store.

We believe we have a number of responsibilities to serve you, our customer, and to represent our industry with integrity, quality and expertise.

Visit our 9300 square foot showroom and meet our well-trained, professional staff who are happy to guide you through an unparalleled selection of materials to help you realize your design ideas. In addition to expert project planning and design, we also offer the technical expertise that is necessary to complete your project to the highest standards, assuring you years of enjoyment.

Everything that you or your contrac-tor needs to complete your job can be found in our showroom. If needed, we can refer professionals who have, over the years, gained our respect from work-ing together on projects both large and small and whose honesty, workmanship and customer service meet our standards.

Our designer showroom is open 7 days a week. Come in and experience why we do everything that we do. We do it…

“For the love

of tile”

Westside Tile & Stone, Inc.

“For the love of tile…”7631 Canoga Avenue

818.704.9222

www.WestsideTile.com

� spaces july/august 2008 july/august 2008 spaces �

Westside Tile & Stone, Inc.“For the love of tile…”

A designer showroom in Canoga Park, specializing in decorative tile, award-winning pool design, outdoor hardscapes, kitchens and baths.

7631 Canoga Avenue n 818.704.9222 n Open 7 days a week

LIMESTONE n TRAVERTINE n PORCELAIN n GRANITE n SLATE n HAND-PAINTED CERAMIC, GLASS & COPPER SINKSAward-Winning OCEANSIDE Dealer n Alyse Edwards n Trend n Ken Mason Tile n Jeffrey Court n COBSA n LEA

Colorin a whole new dimension

Here’s what our customers have to say about our store:

“Amazing!”“Extraordinary”

“Sensational”“The best selection…”

Come see for yourself!

Established in 2005, Westside Tile and Stone, Inc. is so much more than your neighborhood tile store.

We believe we have a number of responsibilities to serve you, our customer, and to represent our industry with integrity, quality and expertise.

Visit our 9300 square foot showroom and meet our well-trained, professional staff who are happy to guide you through an unparalleled selection of materials to help you realize your design ideas. In addition to expert project planning and design, we also offer the technical expertise that is necessary to complete your project to the highest standards, assuring you years of enjoyment.

Everything that you or your contrac-tor needs to complete your job can be found in our showroom. If needed, we can refer professionals who have, over the years, gained our respect from work-ing together on projects both large and small and whose honesty, workmanship and customer service meet our standards.

Our designer showroom is open 7 days a week. Come in and experience why we do everything that we do. We do it…

“For the love

of tile”

Westside Tile & Stone, Inc.

“For the love of tile…”7631 Canoga Avenue

818.704.9222

www.WestsideTile.com

SoCalso cool

TRADE SECRETS

Colorandlighthelptransforma

yardintoapicture-perfectlandscape

BySandraBarrera

Groundbreaking design

A countertop infused with recycled glass nug-gets and illuminated with fiber-optic lights adds drama to a backyard barbecue area, top. At right, bright orange accents pop against the Valley landscape.

1� spaces march/april 2010


ScottCohenawokeonarecentmorn-

ing, amazed at the sight of a giant

rainbow bending over the San Fer-

nando Valley. Cohen’s appreciation of the

ribbonsofcolorisnosurprise,givenhispro-

fessional interest in harnessing light. The

award-winninglandscapedesigner,licensed

contractorandpresidentofTheGreenScene

incorporates a variety of materials to evoke

thatsenseofmagicineachproject.

Cohen has been creating what he calls

lightscapes since expanding his garden de-

signbusinessintohigh-endresidentialland-

scaping and construction 15 years ago. An

accomplished ceramicist and sculptor, he’s

regularly featured on the HGTV series “Get

Out,WayOut.”Andthismonth,he’llbegin

shootinganewA&Eserieswiththeworking

title“LawnandOrder,”inwhichhe’llbegiv-

enaweektorejuvenatethekindofover-run

yardthatvexesneighborseverywhere.

SoCalso cool

Although his business is headquartered

in Northridge, Cohen’s television appear-

ances have drawn clients from around the

country.Asaresult,heisdoingmoredesign

work using a peer-to-peer computer pro-

gramthatallowshimandhisclientstocol-

laborate from any distance. Here, he shares

someofhisinsights:

Howdoyoudecidewhatcolorstouseinalandscapingproject?I go through a four-page design question-

nairewithclientsontheinitialconsultation,

and one of the questions I ask is: What are

your favorite colors? Because some clients

want a really colorful garden and some cli-

entsdon’t.

Nocoloratall?I recently built a moon garden for a cus-

tomer in Calabasas. A moon garden is all

darkgreens,withsomevariegatedfoliagefor

colorandthenallwhiteflowers.Duringafull

moon, those flowers really glow. Certainly

white is a “color,” and white and green are

twoofthefavoritecolorswehaveingardens.

Butit’snotarealbusycolorfulgarden.It’sre-

allycleanandclassy.

Andwhensomebodywantscolorinthegarden?We’re a little more careful of how we use

colornowadaysbecausewe’redealingwitha

drought.So,tocreatefocalpointsofhotcol-

or,Iusealotofperennialmaterialsbecause

they’reabitmoredroughttolerantthanan-

nuals. I’ll use pockets of seasonal color, but

primarilyinlittleareas—alongwalkwaysor

incontainers.

Whataresomeofyourfavoritedrought-tolerantplants?Lantanaisalow-growingshrubthatcreatesa

lotofnicecolor.Myfavoritevarietyiscalled

“confetti,”whichisablendofyellow,orange

and red all on the same flower. English lav-

ender is drought tolerant, fragrant and has

vibrantpurpleflowers.Anotherfavorite–be-

cause purple is one of my favorite colors–is

staticeorsealavender.Weseethatusedpret-

tycommonlyintheSanFernandoValleybe-

causeit’sdroughttolerant,dogtolerantand

smogtolerant.It’sahardplanttokill.

Staticeisagreatcuttingflower,too.You can cut the flower and spray it with a

littlehairspraytosetthepetalsinplaceand

itwillstayasadriedflowerforayearbefore

havingtobetossed.

Doyouhaveanyotherfavorites?A floss silk tree has a green trunk for color,

withthornstogiveitsomearchitecturalin-

terest. It also has a cool hibiscus-like flower

thatisrealvibrant. Itworkswell ineithera

xeriscape or drought-tolerant garden, or a

tropicalgarden.Andit’snotparticularlyroot

invasive,soitisagoodchoiceallaround.

Howdoyoubringcolortotherestoftheoutdoors?Colorcomesfromthefinishesweuseinthe

interior of the swimming pool, what we’re

Plant brightly hued annuals in clusters to maximize their effect, top, or use colorful tiles to accent containers of more drought-tolerant foliage.


$5,000 OFF Kitchen Remodel

reflecting in the water and the tiles that we

choose. I’lluseColorquartzchipsthatactu-

ally color a swimming pool shell. We’ll use

different Pebble Tec to create different ef-

fectsofcolor inthepool.Color isabigdeal

whenitcomestopools.Andinfact,weuse

a lot of color-changing lights. This used to

bedonewithmovingpartsandtheydidn’t

workwell.ButnowthereareLEDlightsthat

havenomovingpartsandwecancreatedeep

cobaltblues,purples,greensandcolors like

that. We’ll also use colors and materials to

createsomeimpact.

Couldyougiveusanexample?Weusedareallyvibrantreddish-orangeona

fireplace.Thatcolorcreatesaboldstatement

inthatbackyardwhereweusedalotofneu-

tralgraysandcharcoaltilematerials.Wegot

somepopbyusingthatcolor.

Youalsousecoloredglassinsomeofyourprojects.Wecastouroutdoorkitchencountertopsout

ofconcreteandrecycledglass,sowe’reable

to introduce color there. On a recent proj-

ect,weplacedfiber-opticlightsunderlarger

chunksofglasssoatnightitglowsgreenand

blueandred.Thenasyoumoveyourcocktail

glass across the countertop, the glass itself

changescolor.It’sareallycooleffect.

YourWebsitefeaturesacountertopembeddedwithbottle-shapedglasstiles.Howdidyoucreatethose?My garage is set up as a ceramics studio. I

melted wine and scotch bottles flat in my

kilns to create the tiles that we used in this

countertop.So,it’sallbeencastinplaceout

ofconcreteandthenweground,honedand

polisheditwithgranitefinishingtoolssoit’s

smooth on top. Then when the fiber-optic

lightsshinethrough,theylightupthebottles

andthechunksofglass.Werecycledalmost

300winebottlestocreatetheblocksthatwe

usedtocreatethebarbecuecounter.

SoCalso cool

“Colorisabigdealwhenitcomestopools.

Infact,weusealotofcolor-changinglights.

Thisusedtobedonewithmovingpartsandthey

didn’tworkwell.ButnowthereareLEDlights

thathavenomovingpartsandwecancreate

deepcobaltblues,purplesandgreens.”


RemaRkable ResouRcesCustom window treatments, upholstery and bedding.

Furnishings, lighting, art and accessories.Custom rugs and flooring.

Hundreds of styles and price levels. Thousands of fabrics and trims.No tedious shopping trips, no hassle, no worries.

We did our own extreme makeover…New location, New look!Visit our new design center at 960 South Westlake Blvd., Suite #6, Westlake Village.

Call us today and be inspired! (805) 418-1890www.InteriorDesignWestlake.com

INteRIoR DesIgNPasadena Showcase House of Design designers, 2009 and 2010.Construction and remodel consultation/liaison with contractor.

Residential and commercial interior design.Home theaters/media and entertainment design.

Lighting systems and smart home design.

From inspiration …to installation

RemaRkable ResouRcesCustom window treatments, upholstery and bedding.

Furnishings, lighting, art and accessories.Custom rugs and flooring.

Hundreds of styles and price levels. Thousands of fabrics and trims.No tedious shopping trips, no hassle, no worries.

We did our own extreme makeover…New location, New look!Visit our new design center at 960 South Westlake Blvd., Suite #6, Westlake Village.

Call us today and be inspired! (805) 418-1890www.InteriorDesignWestlake.com

INteRIoR DesIgNPasadena Showcase House of Design designers, 2009 and 2010.Construction and remodel consultation/liaison with contractor.

Residential and commercial interior design.Home theaters/media and entertainment design.

Lighting systems and smart home design.

From inspiration …to installation


Courageous color

You live in Southern California, but

yearnforahomeinHawaii.Orper-

haps you fancy a tranquil bedroom

retreatorakitchenthatevokememoriesof

your childhood. For interior designer Bill

McWhorter, any of these dreams is within

reach,simplybyembracingitscolors.“Col-

or is a wonderful thing, it changes people’s

lives,” he says. “It can stimulate and it can

calm.That’swhyIusecolorofeverytypeand

everyhue.”

Renowned for his imaginative combi-

nations of tints and textures, McWhorter

relishes the excitement of creating designs

thatusecolortoreflectaclient’spersonality–

whetherit’salavenderpaletteforromance,

gold for drama or persimmon to convey a

sense of the exotic. Each room is designed

Designer Bill McWhorter treats every room as a canvas

By Susan Abram

Red living room, lavender office, yellow bathroom photos: Christopher DowMauve den photo: Joey Terrill



Photos: Christopher Dow


asaunifiedwhole,witheachelementcom-

plementing the others and no detail left to

chance.

ThefounderofMcWhorterDesignrecalls

redecoratingahomeforclientswhowanted

to live in Hawaii but were tied to the Gold-

en State by work and family commitments.

He brought the tropics to them, with walls

paintedtheexactreddish-orangeoftheBig

Island’spopularohia lehua blossomandarea

rugs and furniture cushions adorned with

hibiscusandlilies.Bambooreedsframethe

dining room chairs and the fireplace sur-

round in the living room. Neutral matting

addstexturedinteresttotheceilingandthe

goldenhueofthecrownmoldinghintsata

sun-kisseddawn.

Designer Bill McWhorter used bright colors, exotic prints and natural woods to create a sense of the tropics in a Southern California home. Note the detail in the fireplace surround, left, and the crown molding and framed mirror, above.


“Helooksforinspirationfromanywhere–

from historical reference to something in a

garden,” says Brad Haan, an industry part-

ner with the American Society of Interior

Designers’ Los Angeles chapter, of which

McWhorter is a former president. “He is so

tuned in to the personality of his clients.

Forsomepeople,redmakesthemangry.For

other people, red takes them to an exotic

location. Because of his personality, Bill re-

allybondswithhisclientsandunderstands

whattheywant.Hegivesaclientthecourage

toprojectacolorintotheirownastheirown

choice.”

Designers also see brighter hues and

more exciting textures replacing conven-

tionalneutralsinotherstyleelements.Tiles

oftranslucentglass,exoticstoneandevena

varietyofmetalsarebeingincorporatedinto

flooring,backsplashes,countertopsandfire-

places.Manyhomeownersareenhancingthe

Bright hues and exciting textures are replacing conventional neutrals, adding depth to every design.

Photos: Mary E. Nichols

Canyon Tile & Stone boasts an extensive designer showroom that displays the finest product trends, including glass mosaics,

contemporary porcelain tiles and metals, natural stone and traditional handcrafted tiles.

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elegance of a space by tiling an entire wall in

complementary colors or using different

textures to create a mosaic. “We’ve started to

talk to people about how tile is an artwork,”

said Steve Slutzah, owner of Westside Tile &

Stone in Canoga Park. “Today, people want to

make a statement.”

Despite the renewed emphasis on color,

McWhorter concedes that some clients may

find it difficult to break out of their conven-

tional comfort zone—one that’s painted

white. His 30 years as a designer has taught

him that a peek inside their closet will help

him determine what hues they might em-

brace. Yet, if they’re still insistent on a pale

palette, the self-described “Johnny Depp of

designers” has the versatility to adapt. “I’ve

done all white rooms that look attractive be-

cause of texture,” he says. “But I would say,

don’t be afraid of color. Paint is the easiest

thing to change.”

A checkboard pattern proves a popular and versatile design, creating a tranquil bathroom sanctuary, top, or an exciting dining area, left. Above, a shiny black island contrasts with the redwood-red walls of a modern kitchen.

Blue bathroom photo: Joey TerrillCheckerboard dining table and red kitchen photos: Christopher Dow


Color is the most exciting element

of design—not only because it can

make the biggest impact, but be-

cause it’s the easiest to change. A weekend

spent with a brush and a gallon of paint can

enliven a staid living room, update a bath-

room or bring tranquility to a bedroom. “A

home isn’t just a house, it’s a place of com-

fort and feeling,” says Sara McLean, the col-

or marketing manager for Dunn-Edwards

Corp. “Color speaks to who you are, so you

shouldn’t be afraid of it.”

A veteran of studio design, McLean now

tracks color trends as she develops consumer

and trade-friendly tools for her Los Angeles-

based company. Dunn-Edwards offers nearly

1,700 custom colors, including those used at

the Pasadena Showcase House, so the oppor-

tunities for creativity are virtually endless.

McLean notes that some people choose

a palette because it represents a connection

to a personal experience, ethnic heritage

Use updated palettes

to transform a house

into a home

In living colorBy Barbara Jones


or even a social cause. For others searching

for inspiration, she suggests experimenting

with a color wheel, an artist’s tool which

shows the relationships among an array of

hues. Then select analogous colors—those

included within a pie-shaped slice of the

wheel—to create a monochromatic, sophis-

ticated scheme; and complementary, or op-

posing shades to evoke energy and visual

excitement.

And if a budding decorator is still feel-

ing overwhelmed, McLean advises turn-

ing to nature. “Look at a landscape, pick a

bunch of flowers. Then take what you like,

what makes you happy, and create a color

scheme around it.” To help guide that pro-

cess, McLean relies on the so-called 60-30-

10 rule. Very simply, 60 percent of the décor

is your primary color, usually the walls; 30

percent is a secondary hue, which can be

used for furniture, window or floor cover-

ings, or a focal wall; and the remaining 10

Color wheel: A color wheel

shows the relationship among

the three primary colors

of red, yellow and blue.

Complementary colors oppose

each other on the wheel—

green and red, for instance—

and are typically considered

energetic combinations.

Analogous hues, which are

located adjacent to each other,

create a cheery color scheme.

Far left: Accented with white molding, neutral colors creates a sophisticated décor while red adds drama to any setting. Left: A stripe of chocolate picks up the hue of the rich wood floors and helps warm a large space.


percent is an accent color that can be carried

out with striking accessories.

Whatever the hue, McLean adds, it’s very

important to carry it throughout the house.

“If red is a favorite color, use shots of it in

every room. It may be a throw pillow or the

mat in a picture frame, but it should feel like

it’s the same house,” she says. “Color is an

important element that helps create a uni-

fied whole.”

A member of the Color Marketing Group,

which forecasts trends in the industry,

McLean predicts that cream tones will face

stiff competition from gray as the predomi-

nant neutral shade. Cool smoky pigments

are coloring the walls in many contempo-

rary homes, rich charcoal is warming more

traditional spaces and deep slate is making

a frequent appearance on shutters and front

doors. However, beige tones with hints of

organic hues will continue to be a staple for

creating sophistication and elegance.

Here is McLean’s take on other trends for 2010:

A contempo-rary palette of brown and orange is set off with a soft aquamarine artwork.

Red: New colors are crisp, with blue undertones creat-ing rich berries and crimsons. Don’t rule out Russian red, which remains an iconic hue for conveying energy and drama, passion and femininity.

Orange: Considered a “so-cial” color, orange is an attractive accent for neutral cream or gray, and also pairs well with purple, fuchsia and red. Look for shades in expres-sions of nature, such as citrus, pumpkin and clay.

Yellow: The contemporary version of this optimistic color goes vibrant, with undertones of green, black and gold. Hues are reminiscent of faint candlelight, bright sunflowers and roasted squash.

Green: The true colors of nature—think grass and clover—come to the forefront, with blue replac-ing yellow as the predominant un-dertone in the real “green” movement.

Blue: The most peace-ful of all colors continues to evoke a feeling of tranquil-ity. Pale blue-gray creates a classic neutral shade, with red-based berry colors coming in their own.

Purple: Monochromatic combinations of blue- and red-based purple create sophistication and romance and hearken back to the days when purple was the color of royalty.

www.thompsonbldg.com

INVENTORY REDUCTION SALEEL DORADO STONE AND CULTURED STONE PRODUCTS WITH WALL CAP

AND ACCESSORIES YANKEE HILL BRICK FIREMAgIC B-B-QUE’S

Limited to Stock on Sale Items, No Rain Checks or Special Orders. Sold As Is.

1515 FLyNN ROAd, CAmARILLO 805 .484 .4391

Visit our beautiful design showroom for inspiration and materials

T h o m p s o n B u i l d i n g m a T e r i a l s

Huge design Showroom Open To The PublicCourtesy To The Trade

New flamesWarm up to spring and summer’s hottest colors —red and orange— reflected in functional works of art

By Denise Gee

Tony seatLegendary uber-imaginative designer Tony

Duquette is the inspiration behind this resin

Macao Garden Seat from Baker Furniture.

Duquette (1914-99) loved the versatility of

his original 1960 design, which can go from

side table to seat to plant stand with ease.

Shown in coral but also available in pearl

lacquer. $1,659; baker.kohlerinteriors.com or

800/592-2537 for retailers.

Right-on redWhy camouflage the source of your music

when you can show off mod style? That’s

the thinking behind this high-performance

Geneva Sound System in a red, piano-lac-

quered wooden box. It features a CD player,

FM radio and a dock

for an iPod or iPhone.

$699 for the medium

size (8"x14½") from

Design Within Reach;

dwr.com or 800-944-

2233.

Heat seekingRadiators need

not be so, well,

square. Runtal

offers a round-

tube red Versus

radiator that

quietly warms

both you and

your towels—all

the while looking like mod-

ern sculpture. From $2,383 in electric

or hydronic models and various colors;

runtalnorthamerica.com or 800/526-2621

for dealers.


PC pizzazz Fashion designer Vivienne Tam and HP have teamed

up on this light gold digital clutch “Butterfly Lov-

ers,” inspired by the classic Chinese love story of

the same name. (It’s also reflective of Tam’s spring

collection.) Weighing 2.5 pounds, with a 10.1-inch

screen, the HP Mini 210 offers a 5.5-hour battery life;

coordinated custom desktop, icons and exclusive

wallpapers; premium audio; and a durable finish.

About $599; hpdirect.com/mini or 800/230-5752.

Hot lineThese 1950s and ’60s-era rotary-dial phones

aren’t just made to look vintage—they’re the

real deal, carefully restored for Anthropologie

by Russell Johnson (who has replaced their

microphones, cartridges and cables with more

modern parts and given them more vibrant

hues). They’re compatible with landline phone

systems but not Internet phone lines. $198;

anthropologie.com or 800/309-2500.

Sitting prettyHarry Bertoia’s iconic welded steel Side Chair is seen mostly

in white or chrome—but how about red or yellow with or-

ange seat cushions? Its powder coat finish and optional vinyl

seat cushion are appropriate for outdoor use with proper

care, making them fabulous for al fresco affairs. From $460,

with cushions available in a variety of fabrics; knoll.com or

800/343-5665 for retailers.


chef’s table

A glance at the dinner menu from the

recently opened Bellini Osteria in

Westlake Village, and you know that

chef Gianluca Sarti is still a hometown boy at

heart. Eggplant parmigiana. Ossobuco alla

Milanese. And a lasagna straight from his na-

tive Bologna. “I started hanging out at my fa-

ther’s restaurant when I was 11 or 12,” recalls

Sarti, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1995. “I

liked the restaurant business, I liked serving

people and I liked making people happy in

the restaurant. That’s why I went into this

business.”

A veteran of Il Fornaio Beverly Hills, Sar-

ti’s latest culinary venture has teamed him

with Maurizio La Rosa, who has worked

25 years in the restaurant business, most

recently with the Dolce Group. Bellini Os-

teria Bar & Lounge opened in December,

showcasing dishes from Italy and Sicily.

“We are trying to give people a good variety–

appetizers, healthy stuff, some simple veg-

etarian pasta,” Sarti says. “We make almost

everything from scratch and it’s absolutely

authentic. We try to keep the focus on qual-

ity and traditional recipes.”

La Rosa was in charge of redecorating the

Tradition… with a twist

Age: 40

Hometown: Bologna, Italy

Cooking style: Traditional recipes, updated with fresh ingredients

FAvorite junk Food: Beef tacos

FAvorite gAdget: Blender

FAvorite restAurAnt: Osteria Dei Cavalieri in Bologna

By Natalie Haughton

Photos by Michael Owen Baker

Bellini

serves up

light but

authentic

Italian fare

SPOTLIGHT ON...

GIANLUCA SARTI


chef’s table

Spaghetti with Seared Scallops, Cherry Tomatoes and ArugulaServes 2

Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water, about 8 minutes or until al denté. Drain. Meanwhile,

heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large sauté pan. Add scallops and season with salt and pepper.

Cook about 1½ minutes on each side, or until golden brown and barely cooked through.

Heat remaining oil in a separate sauté pan or skillet, and cook shallots until lightly brown.

Add tomatoes, basil and salt and pepper to taste. Cook 3–4 minutes. Add spaghetti, toss

and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in arugula.

Turn spaghetti mixture onto a serving plate and top with scallops. Serve immediately.

restaurant Bellini Osteria Bar & Lounge 951 S. Westlake Blvd. Westlake Village 805/497-8482 belliniosteria.com

reservations recommended? Yes dinnerwith wine,fortwo About $90

former Mandevilla Restaurant space into a

comfortable trattoria, with a casual dining

room and a tented patio. In the open kitchen,

Sarti supplements the standard menu with

six to 10 specials that rely

on fresh, seasonal ingredi-

ents. “A good 20 percent of

our sales are the specials,

which change daily,” notes

La Rosa, who co-owns

Bell ini w ith John Spina.

In addition to Lasagna

Bolognese, the chef’s sig-

nature dishes include pasta

with homemade sausage

and ragu, seared scallops,

and a barley salad made

with finely chopped veg-

etables. Homemade ravi-

oli stuffed with mush-

rooms and ricotta cheese,

tuna tartar, beef carpaccio and tiramisu are

other popular selections. The menu re-

flects Sarti’s contemporary cooking style,

which respects traditional recipes but

goes light on the butter and garlic. “I be-

lieve food has to look good and taste good.

I don’t like to mix too many things on the

plate and I don’t use a lot of garnishes.”

Although Sarti and La Rosa have worked

in and owned several restaurants in the Los

Angeles area, this is their first venture togeth-

er. “I knew Sarti’s food was good,” La Rosa

says, “because I’d followed him for years.”

8 ounces uncooked spaghetti

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

6 fresh jumbo scallops, rinsed and patted dry

2 tablespoons shallots, finely diced

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

¼ cup fresh basil, chopped

½ cup wild baby arugula

Sea salt

Freshly ground pepper

“I don’t

like to mix

too many

things on

the plate

and I don’t

use a lot of

garnishes.”


hiGh tech home

From a “green” fireplace to your own private karaoke machine, here are the latest techie tools for your hooked-up home. —Holly Berecz

Friendly fireEnvironmentally sound and striking, the

Zeta freestanding fireplace by EcoSmart

runs on renewable denatured ethanol. A

clever fusion of timber, leather and stainless

steel, the portable unit sits on a stainless steel

swivel base and features a space-age curve.

Priced around $11,000, it’s available in an ar-

ray of leather options including ciocolatta,

Nero, ranch hide and latte.

ecosmartfire.com

Sing alongIt’s everything you might love about karaoke, without the

two-drink minimum. iKaraoke from Griffin Technology

works with your iPod, letting you sing along with your fa-

vorite songs. It fades the lead vocals and uses an FM signal

to transmit the tunes, along with your voice, to your home

stereo. Retails for $17.50.

amazon.com/electronics

Round & roundVinyl may be outdated, but it’s not obsolete (especially if you’re still a die-

hard album fan). Rediscover your records with the TTUSB turntable from

Ion Audio. It uses a USB connection to play your LPs on your home stereo or

to convert the music into digital files. A plug-and-play connection makes it

a snap to use and included software lets you quickly transfer music to your

iTunes library. Sells for $120.

ionaudio.com


cause for applause

Soft harp music and the rippling

sound of a water sculpture greeted

500 guests at a gala marking the

opening of the Roy and Patricia Disney Fam-

ily Cancer Center in Burbank. Drawing on

the combination of Eastern and Western

cancer treatments, the gala featured Asian

themes—striking floral displays of orchids,

and bouquets reflecting the Zen principle of

simplicity.

The celebration was a thank-you to those

who have contributed nearly $40 million to

the San Fernando Valley’s first comprehen-

sive cancer center. Led by the family of the

late Roy E. Disney and Patricia Disney, who

contributed $10 million to seed the project,

the local entertainment industry, physicians,

employees and the community donated

money to build the free-standing center,

which is operated by Providence Saint Joseph

Medical Center. The donations included $1

million raised by volunteers with the Provi-

dence Saint Joseph Guild.

Roy P. Disney, the couple’s son, and

his wife, Sheri, were among the honored

guests at the Jan. 30 gala. “Coming from a

background that understands the power of

dreams, we are excited and honored to help

make this dream come true,” Disney said.

“We hope this new center will serve and a

beacon of hope and comfort to families fac-

ing the daunting challenge of cancer.”

The Disney dreamGala celebrates donors at opening of Disney Family Cancer Center

Top: Larry Bowe, Barry Wolfman and Dale Surowitz, the CEOs of Providence Holy Cross, Saint Joseph and Tarzana Medical centers, respectively. Center, from left: Patricia Modrze-jewski, Dr. Rex Hoffman, Tamara Sutton, Julie Sprengel, Barry Wolfman and Theresa Meyers. Bottom : Roy P. Disney and his wife, Sheri.

Photos: S

cott Windus


cause for applause

Celebrating imagination and inno-

vation, the San Fernando Valley

chapter of the American Institute

of Architects held its annual awards gala on

Jan. 30 to honor its members for their con-

tributions to outstanding design and con-

struction. Citation Awards were presented

to nearly a dozen firms and individual archi-

tects whose cutting-edge designs integrated

aesthetics, functionality and environmental

responsibility.

Several Valley-area projects were among

those honored, including the Cal State

Northridge Student Recreation Center, de-

signed by LPA Inc.; Byrd Middle School in

Sun Valley, by IBI Group; Orion Gardens

apartment in North Hills, by FSY Architects

Inc.; and the custom Grass-Road House in

Simi Valley by Edmund Einy. Jeffrey Kalban

& Associates was recognized for its design of

Viewpoint School in Calabasas and The Ani-

mation Guild headquarters in Burbank.

In addition, Citation Awards were pre-

sented to WWCOT for its design of the

Harbor College Library in Wilmington and

a teen center in Indio; Richard Gemigniani

for two High Desert conference centers;

gkkworks for the Advanced Technology

Premier designs showcased at architects’ gala& Education Park in Irvine; John Sergio

Fisher & Associates for the Gallo Center for

the Arts in Modesto; and Lee, Burkhart, Liu

Inc., for an expansion of the Veterans Ad-

ministration Hospital in Long Beach.

RBB Architects Inc., of Los Angeles, was

honored for its design of medical centers in

Mission Viejo and Merced, and also was her-

alded as Firm of the Year.

Valley chapter Executive Director

Leslie Nathan visits with architects

Arturo Yanez, left, and Vijay Sehgal.

Architect Richard Gemigniani, left, and contractor Lance

Todd with the rendering of their award-winning project.

Chester Widom, a founding partner at WWCOT, joins Adrian Cohen, a current partner at the firm.

Architect Blair Seibert visits with WWCOT’s Aimee Thomason.

Architect Jeffrey Kalban celebrates his awards with wife Maria and daughter Jennifer.

Photos: H

ans Gutknecht


finishing touch

Red Intersect

Christina Lynn JohnsonChristina Lynn Johnson launched her art career after being laid off from an accounting firm, a happy misfor-

tune that allowed her to explore the more creative aspects of her personality. She cultivated a childhood

talent for art and discovered “bliss” in creating exquisitely detailed watercolor landscapes of rustic country-

sides. To satisfy her more playful side, she crafts abstract “paintings” by fusing brilliantly colored glass, gold

leaf and copper wire in the kiln of her garage studio. “I just start playing with pieces of glass and let the glass

lead me,” she says. And because glass changes as it melts, there’s an element of surprise in each of the pan-

els she creates. “With glass, I feel free to experiment and play with the vibrant opalescent and transparent

colors,” says Johnson, a San Fernando Valley native. “I think the pieces reflect the strength I’ve come to feel

as an artist and evoke the playfulness and joy I feel in life.” Johnson’s watercolors and fused-glass paintings

can be seen at VIVA Gallery in Sherman Oaks and at christina-lynn-art.com. –Barbara Jones

� Spaces march/april 2008

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