Julie Schott moved to L.A. from New York to launch Starface, her clever brand of little yellow stars that absorb pimple puss (so cool) and chills out inflammation. Her customers love them so much they tell her they can't wait for their next breakout. Amazing idea, right?
At first glance, the most exciting details in Kayla Dalle Molle’s 19’th century Brooklyn bathroom were the iconic, mid-century accessories in place of “bathroom furniture” (Kartell & Vitra make so much sense in this space, why didn’t we think of that sooner?) Kayla is an art historical researcher at MoMA and modern influences are everywhere in her home. But like I said, this was only my first impression. The more we talked, the more I realized Kayla applied her research skills to every detail of her life. Take her medicine cabinet: Italian floss, Syrian soap, a British hairbrush, Australian deodorant... It seems like wherever Kayla goes, there is a bit of discovery. The international pharmacy score was just a lucky break. My original reason for visiting was to scope out a bathroom for a D.I.Y. design contest we hosted with Remodelista & Clare paint. We hoped to transform Kayla's bathroom with fresh paint and some new Quiet Town accessories.
Alice and her family live right across the street from us in Mattituck, NY. Every weekend Michael and I see the Bucaille-Randon house burst into early action. The girls are playing in the barn, Thomas is going for a bike ride, and Alice is gardening—in a cute jumpsuit with a Victorian collar peeking out. Two weeks ago I walked across the street to say “Hi”. Alice was painting the exterior of her house black while roasting a chicken in the oven…for lunch. This woman can do anything from meticulously steering an American fashion brand to success to making you fall in love with a toilet brush. We love her and think you will too.
If you follow Alessandra’s instagram feed you get the feeling that she lives in a state of introspection fueled by Joy Division, scented candles and good coffee. As an illustrator she uses the medium to share her work. Her posts are clever and quiet featuring line drawings of a "jeans & tee" woman and often her small, fringe-faced daughter. The woman is drinking coffee or laying on the floor or reading a book (one of them is titled “Everything is Going to be OK. And other Lies I Tell Myself”). The little girl is wrapped around her mother’s ankle while her mom applies lipstick or she’s peeling her mother’s eyelids open at 5:26am on a Saturday. You get the feeling that these doodles are direct pull-quotes from Alessandra's morning. Maybe mornings inspired her up-coming kids' pajama line called Dodo Banana (adorable organic, cotton p.j.'s covered in Alessandra's work). Mornings definitely seem to be a theme so...with that in mind, let's check out the room where it all begins for Alessandra & Coco: The bathroom....
Maya Schindler is an accomplished fine artist, professor and vintage huntress. But her true super power may actually be harnesser of light. She moved from New York to L.A. and back again, bringing with her a desire to beam as much sun and warmth into a house as humanly possible. 42 windows (I just counted, and my house has 10) and an insane collection of vintage hardware and lighting later, Maya has redeemed her move back east with a home that glows. Here, a quick glimpse at her bedroom and living room before jumping into her geniusly simple and dramatic bathroom…
I love L.A. rental bathrooms. Unlike NYC ones, which are either cookie cutter new development-style or 1940’s, last-leg “charm”, you never know what you’re going to find. But in all the L.A. rental bathrooms we’ve visited, none have reflected their renter more than Jodi Balfour’s Santa Monica bathroom. Jodi is delicate and lovely like her marble-topped vanity, friendly like the beadboard walls, and as warm as all that light pouring in from the pacific. Since we shot Jodi for The Wake Up she has since moved…I wonder if the new tenant is as simpatico with the space. Or better yet, I wonder what Jodi’s new L.A. bathroom looks like…
Oh man. I have to admit, meeting Ally & Casey of Canyon Coffee was pretty hard for Michael and I from a self-confidence point of view. They are hands-down the lovliest, more gorgeous, smiliest, hardest-working and (here’s the most difficult to swallow) most real-state charmed couple we’ve ever met. And their bathroom was, you guessed it, AMAZING
Rebeca is an incredible artist, mom, teacher and old friend of ours. Her art incorporates embroidery, illustration, sculpture, painting. She is the Director of Education at Frieze art fair, loves zombie shows and still checks books out from the library.
Hopie is an onomatopoeia in that she is exactly what her name sounds like: happy, hopeful, bright, up…she’s charged with positive energy. And her home is just as you’d imagine: light-filled and soaring like a birdcage up, up, up. Her bathrooms (there are two) are flodded with color and happy (if you can use “happy” sa a noun.) She and her sister, Lily have a badass block print business based in L.A. and Jaipur, India and they donate a percentage of their profits to a women’s empowerment program…
