I LOVE all things retro. Like the following photo. This is the restaurant in the Standard Hotel in downtown Los Angeles designed by Derek Sanders. The Panton flowerpot pendants, the Pierre Paulin tulip chairs, the bold yellow…yep, it’s retro and it’s fabulous.

Jed Johnson Associates is a highly recognized interior design firm who’s work has been published in countless design magazines and books. Their portfolio is stunning, and includes mostly traditional designs with impeccable attention to detail. I love how artwork plays an important role in their designs. (It seems designer Mark Cutler fancies their work as well).

Sylvie Becquet is another photographer I discovered in my internet travels. The photos on her website have such a wonderful simplicity to them, which draws your attention to the details of the objects featured and the quality of lighting in each photo.

Mary McDonald is an interior designer out of Los Angeles and I adore her ethnic/eclectic style and use of intense colours and patterns. Her work has been featured on the cover of House Beautiful, House & Garden and Domino. “Through extensive travel throughout Europe and the Far East, she has created a personal signature that is eclectic, classic and clean. Her ability to combine European antiques, Chinoisery, and Indian influences, with Contemporary lines and an impeccable sense of color have made her one of the most sought after interior designers in Los Angeles.”

I have been busy the last month or trying to get my backyard in some sort of reasonable state. Thanks to my dad’s HUGE help, it’s finally done (well, about 95% done). I hired someone to build the fence and the deck, and the rest was done by my dad and I on my Mondays off and my boyfriend helped on weekends. My dad rocks. For an old guy, he sure worked his ass off. So I figured I had to toot my own horn a bit and show you the results. (Since it’s into August, the planting is at a minimum and we don’t have much furniture/accessories but it’s a start).