Phillip Jeffries Wallcovering

Grasscloth has never taken a hiatus in the desert, and for good cause, it's durable, ages well, and really dresses up a room! Some of our favorite new patterns are from a recent collection from Phillip Jefferies- called appropriately enough- "Fashionista."

Braniff Airlines Pucci Display in Palm Springs

During Modernism week a fantastic collection of Pucci and Halston Braniff Airines stewardess uniforms was on display at the Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs. Though not entirely interior design related, Braniff Airlines wanted to create an visually uniform experience for its customers, a revolutionary approach to airlines which is now common practice in business.

The collection is available on ebay with an opening bid of $250K.

A little background on Braniff Airlines from Wikipedia:

To overhaul the Braniff image Lawrence hired Jack Tinker Associates, who assigned advertising executive Mary Wells as account leader. First on the agenda was to overhaul Braniff's public image — including the red, white, and blue livery which they perceived as "staid" (although, "The El Dorado Super Jet" Braniff livery from 1959 had won design awards). New Mexico architect Alexander Girard, Italian fashion designer Emilio Pucci, and shoe designer Beth Levine were called in, and with this new creative talent, Braniff began the "End of the Plain Plane" campaign.

At Girard's recommendation, the old livery was dropped in flavor of planes painted in a single color, selected from a wide palette of bright hues. Girard wanted the planes painted from tail to nose in colors like "Chocolate Brown" and "Metallic Purple." He also favored a small "BI" distinctive logo and small titles. Braniff engineering and Braniff's advertising department modified Girard's colors, enlarged the "BI" logo, and added white wings and tails. This, ironically, was based on the 1930s Braniff "Vega" Schemes, which also carried colorful aircraft paint with white wings and tails. The new "jelly bean" fleet consisted of such bold colors as beige, ochre, orange, turquoise, baby blue, medium blue, lemon yellow, and lavender (lavender was dropped after one month, as lavender and black were considered bad luck in Mexico). Girard also outfitted the interiors with 57 different variations of Herman Miller fabrics. 15 colors were used by Braniff for plane exteriors during the 1960s (Harper & George modified Girard's original seven colors in 1968). Many of the color schemes were applied to aircraft interiors, gate lounges, ticket offices, and even the corporate headquarters. Art to complement the color schemes was flown in from Mexico, Latin America, and South America.

Pucci used a series of nautical themes in overhauling the crew's uniforms. For the stewardesses, Pucci used "space age" themes, including plastic bubbles (resembling Captain Video helmets) which the stewardesses could wear between the terminal and the plane to prevent hairstyles from being disturbed. However, the "space bubble" was dropped after about a month because the helmets cracked easily, there was no place to store them on the aircraft, and jetways at many airports made them unnecessary. For the footwear, Beth Levine created plastic boots and designed two-tone calfskin boots and shoes. Stewardesses were called "hostesses" at Braniff and were attired with uniforms and accessories composed of interchangeable parts which could be removed and added as needed. In 1969, Pucci designed "Pucci IV", for the intro of "747 Braniff Place" (1971). The collection was debuted at the Dallas Hilton by Pucci himself, in 1970. Today all of the vintage Pucci attire designed for Braniff is valuable.

In 1968, under the leadership of Mary Wells and Jack Tinker, Braniff expanded the advertising campaign that showed the likenesses of Andy Warhol, Sonny Liston, Salvador Dali, Whitey Ford, the Playboy Bunny, and other celebrities of the time, all flying Braniff. It became one of the most celebrated marketing efforts Madison Avenue had ever produced, blending style and arrogance. One advertising slogan was "if you've got it — flaunt it!" Although management considered the campaign a success, Braniff's core customers were outraged by the grandiose behavior and perceived "bragging", causing many corporate accounts to leave Braniff.

Movie Sets I Would Live In: Pillow Talk

Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson is a perennial favorite at my house. The sets are amazing, and they have to be, as Doris Day plays an Interior Decorator. The movie displays all of the hip trends of the day: long low built in shelves and upholstered furniture in both main character's New York apartments, lots of hanging pendant lamps for accents, oodles of geometrically shaped pillows, dark-strained teak for his apartment, and light finished birch for hers.

It's a lush technicolor dream to watch, at least until the end when the decorator gets her revenge, making a gothic nightmare of Rock Hudson's pushbutton jet set bachelor pad.

Movie Sets I Would Live In: Mildred Pierce

Mildred Pierce is a classic film noir made in 1945 starring Joan Crawford. You've probably seen the movie, but it has been remade by HBO into a miniseries set to release in 2011, which is more closely modeled after the book (you didn't know it was a book, did you?). It's a great read, pick up a copy if you can find one!

Anyhow, back to the set: I love Monte Beragon's beach house. It was actually a real home (in the external shots at least) which was owned by Anatole Litvak and was in Malibu on the PCH (CA HWY 1). It was a beautiful 2-story Queen Anne-ish cottage style with a steeply pitched roof, and big porches with views of the Pacific, and little narrow windows. The house fell down in a storm in 1983, but it's actual address was 26652 Latigo Shore Drive, Malibu.

The interiors were all designed for a good time. Lots of curved surfaces, a winding staircase, a bamboo bar...all the great ingredients of a fun home in the 1940's The set designer was George James Hopkins, who worked with silent great Theda Bara, and movie credits include: Hello, Dolly!, Who's Afraid of Virigina Wolfe, Palm Springs Weekend, and Dial M for MMurder.

Jonathan Adler Staffordshire Lamp

One of my favorite things at the new Jonathan Adler Newport Beach boutique were these Staffordshire Spaniel Lamps...They are a very thoughtful update of the traditional English Spaniel figure, and they look great on this desk!

Update: La Quinta Tight Timeline Remodel!

Friday, Nathaniel from Old World Stone was working on installing the new porcelain tile that is replacing the awkward (not to mention hideous) combination of hardwood-and-tile that existed at the time of the client's purchase. Carpenter Construction is also completing the framing for the new media center that will be in the living room. November 1 is our deadline!

Jonathan Adler Newport Beach Boutique

Last night was the invitation-only opening of the Jonathan Adler boutique at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California. Jonathan was there autographing whatever buyers brought to him. I was loving the child's room, the fantastic colors and patterns, and his signature ceramic accessories. I fell for the squirrel with an acorn. They had great goodie bags, with a set of "shoe" salt-and-pepper shakers. I bought an iPhone case. It's great to see a designer opening stores in this economic climate!

La Qunita Remodel Update

This is not an episode of Hoarders!

Once you get into a remodel, you find out things are sometimes not what they appear to be at first. The wood flooring is glued down so securely, that it has to be all cut out, some of it pried away, which is not what the contractor expected it to be like...in the words of the homeowner "Looks like you've got quite a mess!"

We have removed existing dated built INS , raised the firebox, added framing for a raised hearth which will receive granite. A new carved stone fireplace surround and entertainment center will complete the wall to add more importance and focal point for the room .

In the dining room, the walls and ceiling have been stripped of old grass cloth and wood molding (it was soooooo cute and quaint!) Now, it's ready for new wall texture and paint.

Remember, we're working with a deadline here. so everything has to be done before Thanksgiving!

Bed Down in Luxury!

There are a wide variety of options for creating comfortable luxury , and transforming a basic bedroom into the most luxurious bedroom possible. From simple additions to your existing decor to elaborate re - make of the space or anywhere in between, A luxurious bedroom is always within your reach.

For example, just a mere coat of paint or accenting the bed wall with a spectacular wall covering or faux finish, can do wonders for a bedroom. Before deciding on a wall finish, determine how the color will look within the room and with the existing bedding and materials you already have.

Updating your bedding, duvet cover and accent pillows is another way to achieve a luxury look without re-doing the entire room. Again choose fabrics and colors that will blend with your existing scheme. There are many ready made quality items available to create a new look for your bed. Of course William Miller Design of Palm Desert, California, can also help you with custom bedding as well ! When selecting bedding on your own, make sure the fabric quality is excellent. Many fine fabrics will require dry clean only. but don't let that scare you off, remember you are going for "Luxury". Sheets should always be at least 500 to 600 thread count to really "feel" the luxury look you are going for.

Headboards and bed wall built in treatments can not only give you a luxurious feeling but can add a focal statement to your bedroom. A new upholstered headboard with a wood trim perimeter will lend a rich and inviting look to your bedroom. When choosing a headboard make certain that it is the correct height. A lower headboard will give a more sleek contemporary look, where as a taller headboard will have a grand and luxurious feel.

Adding a few new accessories can also work wonders for the bedroom. Lamps at the bedside, and rich looking quality glass pieces will add new sparkle and life to complete a luxurious look.

Whatever your taste, traditional or contemporary, a luxurious bedroom can be yours. For help in creating a personalized luxury bedroom, contact us William Miller Design Inc.

Cooking in Colorado!

This outdated suburban kitchen received an entirely new lease on life with creative design solutions from William Miller Design of Palm Desert, California. Starting by gutting the existing kitchen, new warmer toned alder cabinets were designed and installed. The cabinets at rear of kitchen feature seeded glass and are lit from within to display the clients crystal. A tumbled travertine backsplash is accented with inset copper filigree tiles, giving a subtle old world feeling with an updated twist. State of the art appliances were used such as a Wolf professional range, warming drawers, and double ovens as well as a Subzero side by side refrigerator.Juperano granite counter tops and a custom designed range hood complete the comfortable elegance of this kitchen. Our clients are in love with their house again after 26 years!