Holiday Gifts Celebrating Home and Hearth
HAGY BELZBERG
Architect
Hagy Belzberg of Belzberg Architects designed the Joachim Splichal restaurants Patina and Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse in Los Angeles.
“Something that’s so beautiful but too often overlooked is a bowl. It can be any shape or size. Bowls are utilitarian in that they can serve food or display other objects. They work in the kitchen, the dining room, the living room, even the bathroom or bedroom. My house is filled with bowls made of wood, stone, glass or ceramics. I started collecting them because my mom makes pottery, and I’d save the broken pieces she would toss out.
“There are three bowls from the Museum of Modern art that I’d recommend. One is the Satellite Bowl, which, though it’s contemporary in design, will fit in any decor. Its complexity is served so well by its simplicity. The Chilewich Boomerang Bowl is just exquisite and unlike any other--mesh fabric stretched over steel, elevated off the surface it rests on. In fact, I’m going to buy it for myself. And the Babyboop Four-Section Bowl is a beautiful stainless-steel bowl, very organic, with many, many uses. Giving any of these is like giving a piece of art to someone.”
Carlo Contin’s Satellite Bowl, $45, Sandy Chilewich’s Boomerang bowl, $38, and Ron Arad’s Babyboop Four-Section Bowl, $60, are available through the Museum of Modern Art in New York City at https://www.moma.org.
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KELLY WEARSTLER
Interior Designer
Kelly Wearstler of KWID redesigned the interiors of the Avalon and Maison 140 in Beverly Hills and is remodeling a third hotel, the Estrella in Palm Springs.
“I like to give throws because they’re so cozy. They’re functional, and they look good too. I’ve given Pratesi cashmere throws to certain clients, ones I’ve worked with for a long time, and to very close friends. They come in great colors, have about a 2-inch fringe, and they’re 100% cashmere, so they don’t pill up. Four years ago, I gave one to a friend who really loved it, and now I have a black one.
“I’ve also given Matteo throws--the ones made of mohair or boucle--which I use a lot when I decorate homes for my clients. No matter what kind you get, though, the great thing about throws is that people are able to use them all the time throughout the year. You can curl up in one in the bedroom or take it with you downstairs to the den when you watch TV.”
The Pratesi cashmere throw, $1,200, is available at Pratesi Linens, 9024 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, (310) 274-7661. The Matteo mohair throw, $394, and wool boucle throw, $270, are available at Dormire, 1345 4th St., Santa Monica, (310) 393-9288. For other Matteo locations or more information, call (888) MATTEO1 or log on to https://www.matteohome.com.
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WAYNE WOODS
Floral Designer
Wayne Woods of the Woods Exquisite Flowers created flower arrangements for last month’s Dining by Design gala and counts John Travolta and Harrison Ford among his customers.
“I love fragrance, and it’s so nice to walk into a house and smell candles this time of the year. There are different scents for different people, of course, so you have to know what they prefer--a musky fragrance or a white-flower or fruity one. Giving candles lets you match the scent to the person and their environment. And they come in every price range. If you don’t want to buy a big three-wick candle, you can sometimes buy a small travel-size one that’s good for hotel rooms.
“My wife and I have a collection of favorite candles at our house. Besides the candles we sell, there’s pomegranate by Santa Maria Novella in Florence. It’s spicy, kind of masculine and makes your nose tingle. And Eau d’Hadrien, the most classic scent by Annick Goutal, the perfumer, is very lemony, very citrusy. Candles are a personal thing, but not as personal as clothes. The beauty is they’re meant to be used up and enjoyed.”
Santa Maria Novella candles, $35 to $55, are available at Umberto, 416 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 274-6395, and 452 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 274-0393. Annick Goutal candles, $10 to $60, are available at Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 550-5900. The Woods Exquisite Flowers will open Dec. 10 at a new location, 11715 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, (310) 231-7606 .
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KATHRYN IRELAND
Textile and Interior Designer
In addition to decorating the homes of clients such as Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, Fran Drescher and Steve Martin, Kathryn Ireland continues to expand her own line of fabrics .
“In the past, I’ve given needlepoint or tapestry pillows. They’re easy to ship, and you can never have too many. Vintage books on decorating, like David Hicks’, are always another good idea for the home. But William Yeoward glass would make a really great gift--especially a set of six wineglasses. They’re hand-cut crystal, made in England and wonderful old designs, really big and really heavy. They feel substantial.
“I’ve known William forever. In fact, I’m opening a shop next to his in London. But I’m not saying this just because he’s a friend. Anything from William Yeoward would be fantastic because it’s manufactured by one of the great old glass makers in Europe. There are decanters, bowls, just an amazing variety of things. I would like a pair of Lucia hurricanes myself. They’re such simple, classic designs.”
William Yeoward wineglasses, $600 to $1,200 for six, and Lucia hurricanes, $525 each, at Hollyhock, 817 Hilldale Ave., West Hollywood, (310) 777-0100.
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NANCY GOSLEE POWER
Landscape Designer
Nancy Goslee Power of Nancy Goslee Power & Associates redesigned the Norton Simon Museum sculpture garden in Pasadena and is working on a master plan for the Arboretum of Los Angeles County in Arcadia and new landscaping for Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena.
“I like to give my own watercolors as presents, but I’m having trouble finding the time to paint them all. The Clayhouse in Santa Monica has been in business for 30 years. It specializes in ceramics and pottery. They teach classes there, and everything they sell is made by the teachers or their pupils. It’s wonderful. Back when I was furnishing my house, I’d go there, looking for containers to turn into lamps. I’ve continued to shop there over the years because I like to support artists and I’m looking for individuality, something special.
“I just bought a collection of shallow bowls by Carol Aronowsky, who turns out to be one of the teachers. The bowls have grayish-white backgrounds with blue-green abstract designs. So much of what’s out there in stores today all looks the same. That’s why these things make good gifts. They’re unique, and they’re so reasonable!”
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Ceramics and pottery by local artists, with most items priced $15 to $40, are available at the Clayhouse, 2909 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 828-7071.
