INSIDE & OUT : NATURAL STYLE
Pure Living, a new home furnishings and accessories store in Laguna Beach, is a family endeavor.
The 3,000-square-foot store, which features funky yet luxurious items, is co-owned by Michelle Larson of Lake Forest and her mother, interior designer Connie Apple, who lives in La Habra Heights.
“Besides working with my mom, which I’ve always wanted to do, my dad designs furniture for us,” Larson said. “My aunt is the buyer for our antiques and the rustic, primitive pieces, and my sister works on Saturdays, so she can buy some of the furniture.”
Among the items in the store are chemical-free 100% cotton towels, sheets and bedding, paper and gift wrap made from recycled stock and one-of-a-kind furniture and fabrics.
Larson and Apple chose the store’s name to reflect the natural cottons, steels and woods from which most of their items are made.
Pure Living is in the Village Faire Shops at 1100 S. Coast Highway, Suite 221. For information, call (714) 376-8867.
BLOCK PRINTS
A block printing system offered by Liza Glenn of Laguna Beach and Jane Gauss of Hudson, Ohio, is a simple way to create individualized stencil designs.
Decorator Blocks are made of die-cast neoprene and come in more than 50 designs--such as leaves, flowers, fruits and stars. The blocks are used with water-based glazes that are thick in consistency and come in an array of colors.
“The glazes work on walls, furniture, floors and fabrics,” Glenn said.
To use the block printing system, the glaze is brushed onto a block, then the block is pressed and held on to the surface. Varying the pressure on the block creates different intensities of design and color.
“You can’t make a mistake, and anyone can create a stenciled effect within minutes,” Glenn said.
The blocks (about $4.50 to $5.50 each) and the glazes (about $4) are sold individually or in kits (about $25) that include four blocks, five glazes and two brushes.
Decorator Blocks are available in Orange County at the Cook’s Garden in Laguna Beach, Somewhere in Time in Orange and We-R-Fabrics in Mission Viejo.
RETRO CANISTERS
Ceramic kitchen canisters from Dallas-based Fitz and Floyd’s hark back to the days of black-and-white linoleum, a kettle on the stove, a modest ice box and dishes soaking in the sink.
The pieces are hand-painted in pastels and can add a little humor or whimsy to any style--be it traditional, gourmet or high-tech.
Also in the Omnibus Collection are other serving and condiment pieces fashioned as old-style appliances such as electric mixers, blenders, toasters and percolators, and diner-style cups, plates and saucers.
The three-piece ceramic canister set (about $85), is available in at Pottery Shack in Laguna Beach, Cristal Palais in Irvine, at department stores and from the Bloomingdale’s by Mail catalogue, (800) 777-0000.
