The Sheats Goldstein Residence

One thing I regretted about travelling all the way to the West Coast of America from London last summer was not visiting the Sheats Goldstein Residence in Los Angeles. Despite the limitations of access to the property as it's mostly only ever open to the public for events, I would have loved to have even stood outside it and take in all its aesthetic and sculptured surroundings. For a number of years now I have been completely infatuated by this robust piece of architecture of which obtains the very materials that define sixties modernist interior design.

Located in Beverly Crest, in the hills of Westwood, this 1963 John Lautner-designed estate embeds itself into a sandstone ledge creating its levitating appearance. Featured in films such as 'Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle', the property has also been used in numerous photo shoots for the likes of American Vogue and GQ. The residence also receives famous recognition for its role in 1998 comedy 'The Big Lebowski', however being twenty two; I obviously wouldn't have been watching this at the age of four!

From what I have read, the house has had two leases of life following its completion in the early sixties. The property was originally built for a doctor and artist couple (the Sheats) and their five children who moved out a couple of years after completion.  In 1972, multi-millionaire James Goldstein who’s fortune has raised eyebrows in confusion as to how he acquired it had purchased the house. He then had teamed up with prolific architect John Lautner in 1980 whereby major renovation commenced.

The Sheat-Goldstein's structure is almost all original however key elements have been upgraded and modernised in order to preserve and maintain its very existence. Upgrades and alterations include motorised sliding doors, skylights and walls as well as a refit of all glazing according to information supplied by the Lautner Foundation.

What I admire about this largely concrete construction is that we identify it as both a relic to another era and inspiration for the eyes of today, a prime example of broken architectural boundaries and a reminder of the true iconic sixties interior design.

Scrolling through the images of this residence, it really does define sixties interior design for me. A design era which so many deems as dated and rather ugly, I feel this piece of art successfully argues my case and portrays this era as a stylish and desirable one.

‘The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’ has since acquired the residence by Goldstein’s wishes which promises to tentatively preserve and upkeep this piece of architecture for the many years to come. This reassures me that hopefully one day I’ll be able to strike off my visit here from my ever growing bucket list.

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To Follow - My Top 10

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Snapchat... I can't keep up, and to those of you who can, i'd love to find where you find all the time to do so!? I've never been one of those people who manage to maintain a successful and substantial social presence on each and every social media platform out there. One or two is enough for me being that I’m not too great at multitasking and i also don't have the time!

When it comes down to the two i frequently use, these would have to be Instagram and Pinterest. Sorry to those Twitter lovers out there but it's not for me unfortunately. Twitter reminds me of the tamagotchi I used to have as a kid. I would try to attend to it and feed it but i would always forget about it and quite bluntly, it died.

Being an incredibly visual person and often opting for image rather than text, Instagram and who i follow severely impacts my interests and thoughts when it comes down to everything cool and creative. I also find it as one of the perfect tools for seeking inspiration, ideas, gallery's and current exhibitions.

So who am i most inspired by? Who has the best Instagram account? Who do i follow? Here i have listed my top ten favourite accounts to follow on Instagram. Check them out and see if their day by day photographic updates of their creative work and busy lives intrigue you as much as they do me.

1. Ben Frost. Instagram: 'benfrostisdead'.

2. Donald Robertson. Instagram: 'drawbertson'

3. Plastik Magazine. Instagram: 'plastikmagazine'

4. Architectural Digest. Instagram: 'archdigest'

5. Owl Design. Instagram: 'owldesignlondon'

6. Mary McDonald. Instagram: 'marymcdonaldinc'

7. The World of Interiors. Instagram: 'theworldofinteriors'

8. West Elm. Instagram: 'westelm'

9. Ryan White. Instagram: 'ryanwhitedesigns'

10. Osbourne & Little. Instagram: 'osbourneandlittle'

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Marble Mayhem

What was dated not too long ago, marble is back and i am obsessed. Here's some 'Marble Mayhem' inspo to get you through the day. Images courteous of Pinterest.

Check out my Pinterest page for more inspo and my forever expanding boards!

https://uk.pinterest.com/CharliePope94/

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The Beverly Hills Hotel

So if any of you have the app 'Timehop' and have ever been on a half decent holiday, you will share my excruciating pain when it comes to "revisiting what you did this time last year" year after year. It's a feeling far from pleasant...

This time last year i had just begun the trip of a lifetime with my best friends in Los Angeles to what was the very start of a month travelling the West Coast of the USA. Being a big believer in 'splashing out' and never doing things by half, we decided to book in to the Beverly Hills Hotel a few days in to the trip, just off Sunset Boulevard for brunch in the world renowned Polo Lounge, and to of course sneak around the twelve acres of landscaped gardens and bungalows to see if we could spot someone by the likes of Joan Collins or George Clooney.

 I had seen photographs of figures such as Greta Garbo and Elizabeth Taylor on the loungers beside the pool and scenes from American classics which depict the forties Hollywood interior design however i wasn't remotely prepared for what i was about to encounter.

Turning off Sunset Boulevard and up the driveway dressed in palm trees and banana leaf, pastel pink and leaf green rendering marks the frontage of the 1912 building. Instantly, the time warp effect is in full swing. This continues when walking in through the main lobby. This entrance plays a vital role in giving off the best impression for the guests and visitors of the hotel. The 1995 renovation of the Sultan of Brunei owned hotel was evidently driven by the intention of creating this time machine effect for visitors.

 Out through the hotel to the Polo Lounge and the pink patio, it's pretty hard to ignore the rest of the hotel decor. Banana leaf print by Martinique line the walls with the occasional gold bell boy trolley dotted about with Louis Vuitton casually slumped on top of each other. Feeling rather financially inferior by this point...moving on...

 After brunch, we walked out through the back of the hotel out to the pool area to suss it all out. Instantly greeted by a sign which prohibits any photography in the pool area. Probing the very question as to why and who we are not to be photographing? The pastel pink lounge padding marks this iconic watering hole for Hollywood stars whilst the white linen cabanas shade the movie stars from those harmful ageing rays.

 The design of this pool area could be described as dated however i think in this case it just works. Whereby taste and design has evolved since this original fit-out, it has been preserved through meticulous upkeep, enabling us to appreciate it for what it is. Unlike other hotels in the Dorchester Collection and those that tower over London and Dubai such as the Shangri-La which are renowned for the extremely extravagant interiors of marble and gold, the Beverly Hills is far more innocent and understated with its decor.

 If anyone is planning on making a trip to Los Angeles in the future and either has an eye for interiors or an appetite for eggs Benedict and buttermilk pancakes with champagne then The Beverly Hills Hotel is perfect for you.

 So basically, i really need to visit again. I often find myself in places where there is too much to take everything all in and i need a second visit...anyone buying this excuse?

I hope that one day i am in a financial position which would enable me to pay another visit to the hotel and stay in one of the bungalows or rooms off the pool area to really live the Beverly Hills experience. Keep dreaming...! I also hope to go back to take in the decor and interior design once more. I wouldn't mind a glass or two whilst lounging by the pool.

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Copper Confession

As some of us have noticed, copper home accessories have been making appearances here and there lately. A fashion which has now infiltrated down through the likes of Wallpaper magazine and other high end bespoke home interior brochures to the more financially reachable retailers for us consumers. Retailers which include those such as John Lewis, Habitat, Tiger and smaller sellers on Ebay.

Below i have put together (again) some images of both home interiors and accessories which have caught my eye and found their way into my screenshots and camera roll over the last few weeks.

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Concrete Jungle

It may be cracked and covered in gum when paved along the streets of London but this versatile resource can effectively transform domestic and commercial spaces into something far from ordinary. Below i have put together a collection of images which depict concrete used internally and the aesthetic impression this portrays. Some of which can be found pinned to my 'Concrete Jungle' board on Pinterest.

Drop a comment and subscribe to my blog!

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What Floats My Boat

When it comes to what I do and do not like, I find myself to be far more vocal on what I don't like rather than what i do. As awkward as that may seem, it's my own personal method of ruling out nearly everything else apart from that one or maybe two things which are a tick in the box for me. 

I tend to document the styles, themes and looks i do like throughout my Pinterest page. I find Pinterest to be the best form of mood board, visual diary and method of documentation when it comes to interiors and anything aesthetically pleasing. I love being able to have my boards and 'pin' what i like to each of these. Lately i have been visually addicted to anything palm print, tropical and anything copper or marble. I have a feeling that flamingos will be making an appearance on my page rather soon...check out my Pinterest page as i am constantly adding to this day in and day out.

Fashions will come and go. That's why i don't always follow them. Just because something is 'in' doesn't mean i will run with it. What is the point in spending hundreds of pounds on something which you're going to fall out of love with in a month or two and be stuck with something which will then look dated? Unless you have the money to not have to worry about that! 

Despite this, i am a big believer in investing in statement pieces. I would argue that splashing out on a nice bed frame or chest of drawers is essential, just make sure they aren't so style specific and are more versatile in their appearance.

I'm fairly open minded when it comes to styles, colours, themes and so on however there are a few things which have been and always will be a big fat no. Off to a slightly negative start, I know, however I will balance this with weighing up what I do like.

Red - nope. I'm not sure why but I loathe the colour red. I find it a very hard colour to apply within the living environment, that is of course a completely false statement to make if you are someone who likes red. Maybe i'm afraid of taking these kinds of risks and making them work? Who knows. However, i don't see myself opting for a scarlet chair or wallpaper anytime soon!

Despite this, I am a huge fan of contemporary art and there's nothing to say that it ticks the boxes for me here. Wide open white spaces, blank canvas style interiors with the bold use of colour-dominated contemporary art is something which i am a fan of. 

In particular, artist Donald Robertson (http://www.donaldrobertson.com/) is one of my all time favourite artists and also has the best Instagram account which you need to follow! His little boys  are so cute! Robertson's work is my favourite kind of contemporary art, frequently using bold and vivid colours through a fashion theme most commonly. His work has been used in campaigns for London Fashion Week and can be often found dotted around parts of London such as Covent Garden.

Floral's - Some of you girls (and maybe guys) may love them but i tend to stay away from these. Don't get me wrong, i love flowers and think they look great in my mum's living room however that's as far as it goes for me. I'm not a fan of Cath Kidston however i know many people  are. I find it too fluffy however if someone was in need of kitting out their thatched cottage in Cornwall, this would be the perfect place to pick up your linens and other soft furnishings.

Monochrome - Yes yes yes. The sky high level of versatility when it comes to monochrome home design is one of my main attractions to this style. I'm drawn to the "anything goes" approach and especially with black and white. Unlike working with patterns and colours where we need to be far more cautious in case of clashing. Additionally, from more of a cost effective perspective this style ticks many boxes for me. I know that i can go into one shop and pick up discounted white bedding and be certain that they will go well with my glossy black chest of drawers. I also like how i can add the odd pop of colour whether that be art, cushions or a rug adding depth to this two toned palette.

Shabby Chic - It's been done too many times. Yes, it's sweet, delicate and a fan by many however for me it is going to have to be  a 'no'. I used to work for home interiors store Laura Ashley where similarities of this style were quite prominent. Don't get me wrong, i love tones such as ivory and cream however the ornate plaster mirrors, white metal day beds and scroll photo frames got a bit too much for me. I think this style is very liked by young teenage girls however with me, i think this is quite route one. I could however see myself taking an essence of this style and creating a hybrid style of my own. There's nothing to say i wouldn't like a large gold leaf style mirror in a room with ebony black furnishings?

There are of course many other styles and themes which i do and do not like. As the content of my blog expands, my taste will be documented throughout my posts. I am not the Leonardo Da Vinci or the Picasso of interiors or all things creative... trust me! I am an individual with an opinion who's taste is forever developing in what i do and do not like. We are all entitled to our own taste.

Please comment below and also check out my Instagram and Pinterest pages!