On The Road

I will be on the road to

Indianapolis, Indiana. Hope to see new friends as I present our

Sunbrella, Gat Creek and Miles Talbott Home Furnishings Collections.

I will return for Labor Day weekend.

Design Mart, Silicon Valley debuts Joe Ruggiero Collection

The launch of the Joe Ruggiero Total Home Collection was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd in San Jose, California in the heart of the famed Silicon Valley. Design Mart is a "to-the-trade" showroom which debuted the collection of Sunbrella fabrics and Miles Talbott Upholstery.

Photo Right: Carole Frances & Avani Rajguru of Avani Carole International Interior Design.

Greg Rosendale,Brand Manager, The Joe Ruggiero Collection, Sunbrella; Chrissy McCormack, VP Sales & Marketing, Miles Talbott; Sharon & Kevin Daroca owners of Design Mart.

Over one hundred designers welcomed the Joe Ruggiero Collection to the Silicon Valley area.

Design Mart: 23 Las Colinas Lane Suite 104.

San Jose, California 95119

408-229-6500

Cabana Home, Mill Valley, California

As I travel the country, more and more I find these charming design boutiques that create wonderful design services for people looking for unique ideas. Cabana Home is such a spot. With locations in Santa Barbara and Mill Valley California they have a great mix of products to offer a blend of design styles and services.

Delightful breakfast was served to welcome a group of California designers to hear about Sunbrella fabrics and the Joe Ruggiero/Miles Talbott furniture collections.

Michael Snyder introduced the presentation at his shop Cabana Home in Mill Valley a bucolic town out of a picture postcard. Check out: www.cabanahome.com.

Lisa & Michael Snyder of Cabana Home have a wonderful selection of furnishings and made us all so very welcome.

Ralph Lauren Malibu Shop

Ralph has "done it again" with his shop in Malibu. It is the perfect little Malibu Beach Cottage that just happens to be a store.

What a delight this structure is; Ralph Lauren always improves whatever neighborhood he enters.

This antique beach chair is a tribute to the South of France.
What a delightful place to shop just off the Malibu, California beach.

Bloomingayles Floral Designer

Whenever I travel, I always meet such talented people. It could be a great chef, a talented designer, artist, architect or in this case a floral designer with a very natural flair for arranging flowers. Gayle Nicoletti is not only a very lovely lady but has a delightful way of enhancing nature's gifts with her organic style of floral decor. She calls her business Bloomingayles. Check out her web site www.gaylenicoletti.com.

Sunrise Home, San Rafael, California

Just back from my trip to Northern California and an event that really stands out in my travels.
My Visit to Sunrise Home was one I will never forget. Owner, designer and extraordinary merchandiser Annie Bowman has a very unique take on design and she created such a wonderful environment for my furniture and fabrics as well as all her displays in her very unique design shop. Her staff has the best way of greeting all of the guests to make them feel extremely "at home." Thank you all for a day I shall treasure for a long time.

What a delightful group of ladies. The guests and the staff all interested in hearing about Sunbrella and the new collections. Among the guests: designer, author, film producer and blogger Beryn Hammil.





What a delightful lunch set out and designed by Annie Bowman and a wonderful setting among the furniture. The Food is from Comfort catering.

Sunrise Home. 831 B Street San Rafael, California

415-456-3939

"On The Road' this week!

• I will be On The Road this week presenting my new fabric collections in Northern California.
• August 24 Sunrise Home; San Raphael, California

August 25 Cabana Home; Mill Valley, California

August 26 Design Mart; San Jose, California.

I will have much to report at the end of the week. Stay tuned.

James Perse Shop, Malibu

Today the retail business is all about the shopping experience. Yes, you can make a case about "price off" and the major discounters, but there is also something to be said about the way we shop and how we feel when we enter an establishment like this James Perse shop in Malibu. All of the furnishings are part of the new home collection of Perse and it is stunning. They will even custom size any of the furnishings. I would say it is one of the most refreshing stores I have seen in a long time.

It Certainly is a shop that says, "come on in and stay awhile." I would call the look Malibu Beach Chic. The building itself is quite beautiful. Massive shutters, bleached floors, soaring ceilings and welcoming sales people, offering drinks to refresh.

Plenty of books to inspire the shopper with comfortable chairs to ponder purchases.

Just like a Malibu Beach house the front entrance looks like a home perched on the sand dunes.

Shopping Malibu

One of the most exciting spots to shop in Malibu, California is the Old Lumber Yard. This has been transformed into one of the most creative uses of space I have seen in awhile. The buildings, beautifully designed are constructed of materials that will weather with the elements. The shops are filled with exciting merchandise and the common areas encourage, eating on tables provided, relaxing in comfortable seating groups; even a ping pong table to enjoy while your "significant other" may be shopping too much! It is a very creative spot.