The Style Files: Susan Feldman

Since its inception in March of 2009, One Kings Lane has grown to be a household name and daily destination for all types of design aficionados. The company celebrated its fifth anniversary this year and over the course of its first five years, One Kings Lane has attracted millions of regular customers and has completely revolutionized the way in which we shop for products for our homes. One Kings Lane was born out of co-founder Susan Feldman’s very real need to furnish her home in Los Angeles after living in apartments in New York since her college years. Susan found the process of finding exactly what she wanted and needed for her home extremely daunting and longed for a one-stop-shop of sorts. As fate would have it, Susan met her business partner and co-founder of One Kings Lane, Alison Pincus shortly thereafter. The rest, as they say is history—in this case, trailblazing, game-changing history.

I have long admired Susan for her business acumen and moxie—it takes a lot of courage to try something so huge that no one has done before. I’ve recently had the pleasure of getting to know her on a more personal level and she is one of the sweetest, most upbeat people in this industry. If I had her busy travel schedule, I don’t know that I would have such great energy, so kudos to Susan! Susan is exactly the type of woman that young girls should look up to and aspire to be like. She is kind, intelligent, forward-thinking, and had the ability to identify a true need in the marketplace, subsequently creating a truly unique company that continues to differentiate itself from the competitors that have come along over the years. Susan and I recently had a conversation about her decorating style, travels, and favorite things. Enjoy!

Paloma Contreras: Has living in Los Angeles influenced the way you decorate?

Susan Feldman: Living in a home in LA after living in an apartment in Manhattan for so many years has definitely changed the way I decorate and think about my home. Living in LA is just easier and more laid back.

{Susan’s Living Room in Los Angeles}

PC: What do you think your home says about you?

SF: My home is warm, inviting, and comfortable. I think it becomes apparent that my family is my number one priority when you look around. I enjoy entertaining in a relaxing and easy-going manner, and my home has many great nooks in which to unwind. I think you’d also be able to see that I love decorating with a good neutral palette.

PC: What do you love most about your career as Co-Founder and Chief Merchandising Officer of One Kings Lane?

SF: The amazing team of people that I get to work with and be inspired by every single day.

{Susan has an active hand in selecting the merchandise for One Kings Lane. Here she is atop a stack or rugs she selected!}

PC: Where do you turn for inspiration?

SF: I love to travel. I’ve found that visiting new places and destinations always gets my creativity flowing.

{Susan on a Recent Visit to India}

PC: What is your guilty pleasure?

SF: Accessories. A girl just can’t have enough.

{Susan on the hunt for more great accessories!}

PC: What trait do you most admire in a person?

SF: Integrity.

{Susan’s Office in Los Angeles}

PC: You travel a lot, scouring the globe for fabulous finds for One Kings Lane. Do you have a favorite destination that you never tire of?

SF: It has to be India. I have been there eight times since starting One Kings Lane. Every time I go, I am so inspired and discover something new and fabulous about the country.

  {Susan with Famed Designers Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Mary McDonald during a Trip to India that was featured on Million Dollar Decorators}

PC: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

SF: On a personal level, it is my family. Professionally, it is founding One Kings Lane.

{Personal and Professional Mementos in Susan’s Office}

PC: What is your idea of living “la dolce vita”?

SF: I dream about living in a villa in Tuscany and having a constant stream of family and friends come to visit. I imagine exploring and allowing my creativity to go wild.

{Musician Ned Lambton’s Spectacular Tuscan Villa in Siena, Italy via Architectural Digest}

PC: What can we look forward to next from you?

SF: We debuted two proprietary brands named Celandine and Delfinia last year. They are two distinct lines of bedding and bath products that our customers have absolutely loved because of the quality and style. This year, we are working on introducing more proprietary product that continues to be an incredible expression of the One Kings Lane brand. I’m excited about what we are developing.

{Susan’s Desk in her Los Angeles Office | Office Images via One Kings Lane}

Go-To Outfit: Fall/Winter—Jeans, Navy Silk Blouse, Black Leather Jacket, Hermes Belt, Black Suede Boots; Spring/Summer—Grey T-Shirt, White Jeans, Strappy Sandals

Style Mantra: Classic with a Twist

Scent: L’Artisan Premier Figuier and on the weekends, Shalimar—a throwback to my younger days

Jewelry: diamond study, Rolex watch, and wedding band

Color I Never Tire of: Navy

Flower: Peonies

Indispensible Design Element: Gorgeous doors

Era for Design: It’s hard to pick one. My aesthetic is so eclectic that I gravitate to many types of design

Dream Project: To Build A House

Hostess Gift: Vintage Lassi Cup from India or a Mint Julep Cup with a Lottery Ticket inside of It

Meal: Breakfast at the Chateau Marmont

Drink: Water with Lemon or Wine

Way to Unwind after a Long Day at Work: Dinner with my Husband, Bob

3 Things I Love about LA: the weather, creativity, and the fact that everybody wants to come and visit.

Weekend Destination: I enjoy trying lots of different places. Cabo, Colorado, Big Sur, Malibu, and Paris

Hotel: Pavillion de la Reine in Paris

Museum: The Tate Britain in London

Artist: Robert Rauschenenberg

Song that Always Puts Me in a Good Mood: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”

Actor/Actress: Audrey Hepburn

Prized Possession: My Kids

Greatest Extravagance: Getting my hair blown out a couple of times a week

 

An Elegant English Country House in the Hollywood hills

While I was perusing Los Angeles real estate for fun over the weekend, I came across this charming English Country style house just above Sunset in the Hollywood Hills. The black and white awnings, Tudor-style architecture, and high-gloss black trim are so chic. The great thing is that both the exterior and interior are equally fabulous! While Tudor architecture isn’t really my favorite, I cannot help but be charmed by this gorgeous house. According to the listing, the house has had multiple celebrity owners over the years and was also featured in ELLE DECOR, but I can’t seem to find any other information about it online. Do any of you know who might have lived here or who designed this stylish abode?

{The house has loads of charm thanks to original architectural features such as this fabulous beamed ceiling. I dream of restoring a beautiful older home one day and marrying original charm with modern comfort and amenities.}

{An Alternate View of the Living Room | Image via Zillow}

{What could be better than saddle leather, square-back Louis chairs paired with a chic Lucite desk and classic lamp? | Image via Zillow} 

{How lovely is the library? It looks so inviting. I can envision working, reading, relaxing, and even entertaining in this space.}

   {The kitchen was obviously gutted and completely remodeled in a very tasteful way that suits the owner’s modern needs but complements the original style of the house.}

{The dining room features a beautiful navy velvet, tufted dining banquette paired with an antique table and chairs. | Image via Zillow}

{I am not really sure what this room is. It could be a den, guest bedroom, or possibly a sitting room off of the master, though the ceiling beams are a different color. I love the easy mix of furniture and textiles—ticking stripes, zebra hide, a bold ethnic rug mixed with striking photography and an antique chest and rustic antler chandelier.}

{I adore the overall simplicity of this house. The palette is generally pared down and nothing feels fussy or overly “done”. The house is effortlessly elegant and comfortable. I adore the master bedroom. Check out the ceiling and that AMAZING view!}

{The master bathroom, like the kitchen has been very tastefully remodeled. While I prefer to limit pedestal sinks to powder rooms because of their lack of storage (I like my fair share of beauty products!), they are a good fit aesthetically within this particular bathroom.}

{The terrace has sweeping views over the whole of Los Angeles. Notice the cabana stripes, Greek key, and boxwoods—it’s as if they were trying to appeal directly to me! Ha ha! All I need now is $2.795 million dollars.}

     {A View of the Pool}

If any of you know more about this house, I’d love to hear the details! It’s so lovely—chic without an ounce of pretense. To see the house in its full glory, check out the fullscreen images on Sotheby’s website.

{Images via Sotheby’s unless otherwise noted.}

Los Angeles Dream House

{This house had me at hello. How chic is this entrance?}

If you’ve been reading La Dolce Vita long enough, chances are you know how much I love Los Angeles. Over the years, it has become my home away from home; my veritable happy place which is funny because the first time I was there I hated it. Over time, the city seduced me and I became besotted with its unique light, beautiful homes, laidback yet chic sensibility, and the fact that it is an epicenter for design and creativity. I dream of living in L.A. someday and when that day comes, I’d love to live in a beautiful home such as this magical 1940s colonial bungalow. Most people associate Spanish, mid-century modern, and craftsman-style architecture with Los Angeles and while it is a Mecca for those types of architecture, my favorite is the classic neoclassical meets Georgian architecture that can be found throughout the city from Los Feliz all the way west to Brentwood.

This particular home is a classic colonial bungalow built in the 1940s in central L.A.’s Miracle Mile neighborhood. Designed by DISC Interiors, the design honors the original architecture of the house, but plays into a masculine, mid-century-inspired vibe. The juxtaposition in such a traditional house works quite well. I love that the palette is fairly neutral with a few pops of color by way of upholstery and textiles as well as saturated paint colors in the dining room and master bedroom. I’d love to know two things. First, who owns this gorgeous house and second, is it for sale?

{The handsome living room faces out to the garden.}

{I am mad about the mix of traditional elements and art with the sculptural brass sconces.}

{This vignette in the living room peeks out onto the dream worthy entrance.}

{I adore the juxtaposition of the glamorous crystal chandelier with the more modern, masculine elements of the Saarinen Tulip Table and leather dining chairs. The room is perfectly framed by the French doors. I have a similar brown paint in my house and just bought a Tulip Table for my breakfast room, so this is totally resonating with me.}

{The breakfast nook is a bit more relaxed, but no less stylish.}

{I’m curious as to how many bedrooms there are in this stunning house since only the master bedroom was photographed. Have you noticed the great art throughout the home? The flat black walls offer maximum visual impact against the colorful textiles within the room and the beautiful garden just beyond the windows.}

{The hardware on this dresser is fantastic. The rope-wrapped table lamp is by Thomas O’Brien available through Circa Lighting.}

{The house is just as fabulous outside! I love the trees, hedges, and this dining area featuring white Bertoia chairs.}

        {Since this is my dream house, I’d love to assume that this door leads to a separate guest house that I could use as my design studio. What could be better than a poolside office in beautiful, temperate L.A.?}

Where is your happy place? Where do you dream of living some day?

{Images via DISC Interiors}

Currently Obsessed: December 2013

Can you believe that tomorrow is the last day of 2013? This year absolutely flew by! The older I get, the faster time seems to fly. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. We had a lovely Christmas, but I came down with an awful cold this weekend, so I am feeling pretty miserable today. I'm hoping to feel better by the time we usher in the new year. In the meantime, here's what I am currently obsessed with.

TV Show(s): I am newly obsessed with Scandal! I binged on all of the episodes on Netflix and Hulu and watched every episode so far in about 10 days. I can't wait for it to come back. It's juicy, full of suspense, and Olivia Pope's wardrobe is fabulous.

Song: I spent most of this month listening to Christmas music. My two favorite Christmas songs of all time are Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas" and Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree".

Instagrammer: I am so hooked on Instagram. I just love the visual aspect and getting a sneak peek into what people are doing. I follow quite a few people and have a lot of favorites, but lately, I've been loving Miguel Flores-Vianna's account. Miguel is an incredibly talented photographer who has shot for every important shelter publication and who lives a jet set lifestyle, regularly visiting and capturing some of the most beautiful places in the world through his lens.

Pinterest User: Gabrielle Savoie of Savvy Home always has fabulous pins and I find that we have very similar tastes.

Fashion Muse: Kate Moss. Sure, she's made some unsavory choices in her personal life, but her style is flawless.

Inspiring Designer: While Aerin Lauder isn't an interior designer, she has done an extraordinary job of building her lifestyle brand, AERIN over the past year with her foray into home decor. Her collection includes exquisite fabrics, rugs, furniture, and lighting proving that she can go way beyond beauty. Aerin's first book, Beauty at Home was released this fall and is my favorite new book of 2013.

Color: I'm currently loving various shades of green-- more on this soon!

Inspiring Quote: One of the quotes featured in my "Wise Words for 2014" list from this morning is currently resonating with me as the new year approaches: "Never allow waiting to become a habit. Live your dream and take risks. Life is happening now."

Drink du Jour: Lots of sparkling water

Triumph: I think I did a pretty good job with the gifts I got for family and friends this year. It makes me happy to give thoughtful gifts and to see the recipient enjoy them!

Bane of Existence: This heinous cold. When my husband asked me how I felt this morning, I told him that yesterday I felt absolutely miserable and today I feel terrible, so I am getting better slowly but surely.

Favorite Accessory: I've worn this green tassel necklace from a bientot quite a bit this holiday season. I love it!

Trips being Planned: Fabian and I are currently planning a trip to San Francisco and Napa in either February or early March. We love both places and haven't been there together in a few years, so we are really looking forward to it.

A Cozy Winter Home

The other day, I was perusing the Houston MLS, looking at homes in some of my Houston dream neighborhoods when I happened across a listing for this charming home in River Oaks. Built in 1938 by renowned architect, Charles Oliver, the home was recently renovated by Bobby McAlpine and Susan Ferrier. The house is on the small side for its price tag of $1.9 million, clocking in at 2,698 square feet with two bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. While it may not be the biggest house on the block, it has charm and character to spare. I am glad that the extensive renovation left many of the home's original architectural features in tact and that it was done in such a thoughtful way.

While this home would be beautiful on any given day of the year, something about the current owner's furniture immediately brought winter to mind. The house feels like a warm, cozy respite from a chilly day with its mix of textures-- velvet, cowhide, lambswool, marble, and antique mirror in a palette of cool grey accented with pops of gold and silver.

{Charming Courtyard}

{The Stairs are Swathed in a Leopard Runner}

{The living room really evokes chic scenes of winter, doesn't it?}

{I love the gold console table in this hallway.}

{I can't tell for sure if this is a formal dining room or a breakfast room off of the kitchen. Either way, it's lovely. I love the oval Saarinen Tulip Table with the chairs with gold frames and blush velvet upholstery. Be sure to take a good look at the stunning marble fireplace on the right side.}

{I love the color of the cabinetry in the butler's pantry and the fact that it matches the walls and moldings. It provides great contrast to the Calcatta Gold Marble.}

{The kitchen is decidedly sleek and modern, but maintains the warmth that permeates the rest of the house. Notice the back wall which is covered in a Calcatta Gold Marble slab. So luxurious! I also love the waterfall island.}

{I like that the simple window treatments which do not detract from the beautiful windows.}

{I wish there were more photos of the library because it is one of my favorite rooms. I love the simple Parsons-style desks, Kubus-covered desk chair, and wall of built-in bookshelves.}

{The master bedroom is calming in its various shades of white and grey. I do think it's kind of odd that there is a ceiling fan in the corner of the room.}

{The master bathroom was beautifully renovated. I love all of the marble, the cabinetry, and the cabinet hardware.}

{The second bedroom is being used as a nursery by the current owners.}

{The backyard features an alternate view of the beautiful house with painted white brick and black shutters-- my favorite!}

Am I crazy or does this house make you want to curl up under a blanket with a cup of tea, and a good book on a cold winter day? To see the real estate listing, click here.