Welcome to sunny Los Angeles, CA....
Residing in Los Angeles for the past 30 years, Suzi and her husband Jed have lived in a Spanish Revival historical building (built in 1929) for the last 20. With plastered crown moldings and crystal chandeliers, one can't help but feel transported back in time upon entering this wonderful old building. A few years ago, Suzi took a one bedroom apartment to use as her studio. She refers to it has her Playhouse. I am featuring her Playhouse this month, and I will feature her real apartment another time.
As you enter Suzi's casual cottage style apartment, you are greeted with old iron gates that grace her entryway. As you pass through the gates and into her living room, you can feel a warm embrace greeting you, and it feels like home. Suzi describes her decorating as casual 1940's Florida style, with lots of big beautiful flowers and practical things mixed in and used in different ways. Even though she lives in an apartment, Suzi loves the idea of an open screened door and the sweet smell of the front garden gently flowing inside. So she has made her playhouse feel and smell like that! When she is "home" she throws open the door, puts on Frank and does her thing. Decorating isn't just her style, its her way of life. While speaking to Suzi for this Feature, she mentioned some of her decorating influences. Her Florida upbringing makes her love of casual living no surprise.
In regards to her color palette, Suzi explains "Right now, I am in leaning towards peach and pink, with a little green thrown in for good measure. Also yellow is a color that makes me smile every time". When it comes to decorating, Suzi says "The person whom I try to emulate, and was before Rachel or Martha, is Nina Campbell. Her style is casual and elegant. The two really can exist quite nicely together and nothing need be shabby! Check her out, and you will fall in love with her work too!"
When asked about her favorite places to go antiquing, Suzi replied "I have had the good fortune to have shopped all over the world for my treasures, and the truth is, my own back yard is really my favorite place to shop. There is the Orange Circle in the City of Orange. And up a bit North, is Ventura. The little shops, while a bit pricier than scouting things out in a flea market or garage sale, have done some of the work for you. You don't have look so hard to find that perfect piece to go on that odd shaped table". And Suzi reminds us "Because of ebay (another favorite) those little shops are a dying breed. I think if we want them around, we'd better support them"!
While she collects many things, Suzi's philosophy is "If you have 3 things, you have a collection". She scouts out Flow Blue China (Abbey only) and Bakelite Jewelry. Also, Suzi shared with me a few great decorating tips: When you get that picture just where you think it goes, lower it 3 inches. Also, always use an odd number of items when displaying. Great tips, Suzi! If you are interested in shopping her terrific website, you can visit her at www.thecottagelook.com -JG
(Photographs and article by Jennifer Grey, owner of The Old Painted Cottage)
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