“Do you know the best room I was ever in?... It’s that den of yours, or Bert’s, rather, over in Glendale. Everything in that room meant something to that guy. Those banquettes, those foolish-looking blueprints of houses that’ll never be built – they do things to you. Because it’s all a part of him. And that’s why the room is good. And do you know the worst room I was ever in?... It’s that living room of yours, right in the same house. Not one thing in it- until that piano came – ever meant a thing to you, or him, or anybody else. A home isn’t meant to be a museum full of Picasso paintings or oriental rugs, like this place used to be. It’s meant to be furnished with things that actually matter. Let’s have this place the way we want it. If you don’t like the Pie Wagon corner, I do.” – from “Mildred Pierce”
Friday, July 15, 2011
WHERE: The Brady Bunch House
Here’s the (real) story… Of that famous split level ranch. In 1969, producers of “The Brady Bunch” were looking for a home to use in exterior shots. Series creator Sherwood Schwartz, who passed away this week, told the Los Angeles Times, “We didn’t want it to be too affluent, we didn’t want it to be too blue-collar. We wanted it to look like it would fit a place an architect would live."They found a house in the San Fernando Valley that almost fit the bill. But, to help the exterior of the existing house coordinate with sets under construction on Paramount Studios’ Stage 5 in Hollywood, set designers attached a phony window atop the house to give the appearance of a full second floor.
Image courtesy tvparty.com. Info courtesy The Los Angeles Times.
WHEN: John Lautner Day is July 16
John Lautner was one of last century’s important contemporary American architects. His work was concerned with the relationship of the human being to space and of space to nature. “Shelter,” he said, “is the most basic human need.”
Lautner practiced architecture for more than 55 years, designing unusual residences in and near Los Angeles, including Silvertop, the Chemosphere, the Sheats/Goldstein resident, the Levy residence and the Elrod residence in Palm Springs, as well as many others around the world.
Saturday, July 16 would have been John Lautner’s 100th birthday. This year, California will recognize John Lautner Day, a celebration that will kick off several weeks of exhibits, lectures and other events celebrating the work and life of this influential architect. For more information, please visit johnlautner.org.
Image and info courtesy the John Lautner Foundation.
WHAT: Design Loves Art at the Pacific Design Center
Design Loves Art is an experimental arts program launched in late 2009 with the aim of providing a platform to explore art and design issues. The program addresses the design centers unique context of interior design to reflect particularly on design as an extension of artistic practice, spanning a variety of disciplines and mediums. Project room space as well as specially site-specific commissioned work is provided for artists and curators upon invitation. The program is made possible by Charles S. Cohen and is conceived and directed by New York-based curator Helen Varola.
For more information, please visit pacificdesigncenter.com.
Info courtesy pacificdesigncenter.com. Image courtesy wolfgangpuck.com.
WHO: Mary McDonald
Mary McDonald is one of California’s quintessential designers, as comfortable in front of a camera (on “Million Dollar Decorators”) as she is on a job site. She’s known for a style that infuses classic elegance with a modern sensibility – think of bold patterns, Chinoiserie and Indian influence executed with clean lines and confident color. House Beautiful described her best: “Her work is timeless and glamorous all spun together with a keen fashion sense… She’s a fearless, exuberant accessorizer.” Sounds like a perfect description for this fashion-forward former milliner!
For more information, please visit marymcdonald.com. To purchase “Mary McDonald: Interiors” please visit bn.com.
Info courtesy marymcdonald.com. Image courtesy House Beautiful.
WEEKLY Ws: California Dreamin'
This week we’re California dreamin’ and celebrating West Coast design characters from Mary McDonald and John Lautner to… Mike Brady and Mildred Pierce!
