Tag Archives: Interior Design

Inside the SLS Hotel in Las Vegas

Elevator Art, SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Photo Romi Cortier
Elevator Art, SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Photo Romi Cortier
SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Photo Romi Cortier
SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Photo Romi Cortier
SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Photo Romi Cortier
SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Photo Romi Cortier
SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Romi Cortier Selfie
SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Romi Cortier Selfie
SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Photo Romi Cortier
SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, Photo Romi Cortier

I recently spent a night at the SLS Hotel in Las Vegas. I was there in late August of 2014, just a week after it opened, and I promised  myself that I’d return. It took me three years, but I made it.

I’d never seen the rooms before, only the lobby, which I loved!! To be honest, I’m not a big fan of Vegas, where every hotel  is pumped up on steroids. So I instantly fell in love with the scale of the SLS, as well as how artfully the interiors were laid out. In fact, I previously wrote about the hotel in an earlier blog post, and I’m thrilled to be able to follow up that post with some images inside the hotel rooms.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a big fan of all things black and white. It’s such a strong design trend right now, and includes everything from luxury auto’s, to building exteriors, as well as commercial and residential interiors.

Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Range Rover
Range Rover

It took my eyes a moment to focus as I entered the hallway leading to my room. Yes, it was disorienting, but I loved it. I forced myself to move slowly so that I could absorb every detail: the chrome door handles, the textured carpet, the ah-mazing wall paper with the organic grass vibe… it was fantastic. And then I entered the room itself.  What a great color pairing, palest pinky salmon, mixed  with black and white. It felt oddly 1940’s, in a good way. I turned on every light in the room and marveled over how brilliant it was. Soft soft soft, setting  the mood for a  perfect selfie. And that really cool chrom-ish tree stump as end table has been on my must have list for ages. Yes I left it behind when I checked out, but I did wonder if they’d notice. And to make things even more perfect, they had a large scale piece of black and white art in the bathroom. Love it!!

I hope you’ll consider the SLS Hotel the next time you visit Vegas. It’s a little off the beaten path in the north end of town on the site of the former Sahara Hotel. They also have a dedicated stop for the hotel on the Las Vegas Monorail.

And lastly, while we’re talking about Artful Living, check out the sizzle reel for my new TV Pilot Artful Living with Romi Cortier, produced by Red Carpet Recio Productions. The full 22 minute pilot can be seen for free on Go Indie TV. It’s a celebration of Art, Architecture and Interior Design… all things that are very close to my heart.

 

Artful Living with Romi Cortier

Before Photo, Artful Living with Romi Cortier
 Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Before photo
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, After photo
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, After photo
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Recio Young
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Recio Young
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Recio Young
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Recio Young
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Romi Cortier, Coco aka Malibu Pom, and Recio Young
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Romi, Coco aka Malibu Pom, and Recio Young
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Romi & Coco, aka Malibu Pom
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Romi & Coco, aka Malibu Pom
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Coco aka Malibu Pom, Photo Romi Cortier
Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Coco aka Malibu Pom, Photo Romi Cortier

Artful Living with Romi Cortier is a new hybrid reality show that I’m currently working on with my fiance Recio Young. The show will be co-created with Red Carpet Recio Productions, Recio’s newly launched production company. Initially it will be viewable on my  YouTube Channel Romi Cortier, and our longterm goal is to sell it to a network.

The concept for the show is an upscale reality show that’s hopefully drama free, with a focus on the arts and  interior design. Imagine Huell Howser’s California gold combined with Paris Hilton and her cute little dog.  Cue Romi and Coco walking into Lalique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills having a conversation with their manager about what it took to bring one of their finer pieces to market. Or having a private tour at LACMA or MOCA, discussing the latest acquisition to their collection. Or better yet, how about a trip to a thrift store looking for a few lost gems to add to a newly styled room.  I want to help my viewers develop their eye to better appreciate the beautiful things around us.

One of my passions when it comes to interior design is how we curate our spaces, adding in family heirlooms with new modern pieces. It’s about mixing the old with the new, creating an environment that’s not full of disposable goods from China. I’d rather have fewer but finer things… they always last much longer. Take for example the blue rug seen above. I purchase it over 20 years ago for about $1500 from the now defunct Dialogica furniture store. It’s made of wool and features 5 different shades of blue. It’s still stunning after all of these years, with an average cost of $75 per year.  On the other hand, I’ve got beautiful paintings in my personal art collection that I paid as little as $50 for at auction, and I love them just as much as my expensive pieces. It’s all about how we mix and match.

The educated eye is a marvelous thing, and it doesn’t happen by accident. Hours spent window shopping or going to art openings, ultimately pays off. I want to share that journey with you.  Stay tuned for our sizzle reel coming soon. In the mean time,  show a little love to my co-star Coco by following her on Instagram at MalibuPom.

Up Up and away, @ The London West Hollywood

The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier
The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier

Friends of mine recently stayed at The London West Hollywood, and I was invited to spend an afternoon in one of the rooftop cabanas. What a blast!

I nabbed my guest card at the front desk to access the elevators, and went straight to the top. I had no idea the hotel had such  extraordinary views…  it was nearly a 360 degree view. From the Hollywood Hills, to downtown LA, to Century City, the city sparkled in the afternoon sun. The overall vibe was hip, yet relaxing. To be honest, we were probably the rowdiest of the guests with 8 of us sharing two cabanas. That said, the staff  was kind and helpful, and kept the beverages and food rolling in for over 5 hours.

Even though I’ve lived in LA for over 20 years, this was a completely new way to experience the city. It’s rare to find a pool with this kind of view. The designer  in me has so many engineering questions, such as how much does all of this weigh? A simple gallon of water weighs 8 lbs, multiply that by a full pool, the concrete that supports it, and all of the potted palm trees and you’ve got a whole lot going on.  I can’t begin to imagine what it takes to support all of that. Questions aside, I loved swimming laps in the pool. It made me feel like I was back in my massive mid-century pool in the back yard of my Palm Springs home.

I took a stroll around the hotel and found myself completely fascinated by the artwork adorning the elevator doors. My favorite was the woman in the red dress, submerged in water on the rooftop elevator door. I can’t seem to find any information about the artist who created the images, but I think the overall effect is quite fantastic.

If you’re a local Angelino, you should consider making your next vacation a ‘stay-cation’  at the London West Hollywood.

For more hotel info click HERE.

 

1280 Angelo Drive in Beverly Hills

 

1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier

Imagine someone sends you a text and asks you to meet them at 1280 Angelo Drive in Beverly Hills, because they need your help ‘staging’.  My mind wanders… is it a photo shoot? A video shoot? Something for TV? Knowing my friends, it could be anything. I happily showed up on the steps of this stunning home, ready for an adventure. Never in my mind did it dawn on me that I’d be helping stage a home for a private VIP Preview that would be happening just a few days later.

Now lets be honest, it was really more about ‘editing’ than it was about staging, because the home was already spectacularly furnished.  You know the old saying, less is more, which is what was needed to  expose the glorious details of this remodeled modernist compound, complete with 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, a pool, 3,000 square feet of patios on multiple levels, and over 7,500 square feet of interior space.

My primary goal in the main living space was to create an opening from the front door, all the way out to the large patio with the panoramic city views, thus drawing the guests right out onto the patio. Normally, this would be a feng shui no no, as it’s important to keep the chi of the home, in the home. A straight path from door to door  would allow the chi to keep moving out of the home.  But, since the home is for sale, I wanted the guests to be drawn right out to the view  with absolutely no obstacles. Therefore, you’ll notice that the two white leather sofas on the ice blue silk rug  have been separated and pulled apart. My tweak for the dining room was quite simple. I removed the chairs at either end of the table and placed them in the corner of the room, making the table feel  more inviting. Ten high back chairs around a table can be a little bit off putting, making you feel like you’re not welcomed… and we wanted our guests to feel very welcomed.

As for the master suite, the bed had a lot of conflicting patterns going on.  I reversed the large pillows to hide the Versace inspired print that was conflicting with the duvet cover,  utilizing their softer yellow side. We brought in an ottoman for the foot of the bed, draping it with a faux fur throw and matching pillow, all from the guest bedroom.

As we began rolling up rugs and taking away excess furniture, I noticed how remarkable the floors were. I realized that the same materials had also been used on all of the patios, the only difference being that the exterior surfaces had been honed as opposed to polished. What a superb way to marry the interior spaces with the exterior, especially once the floating glass walls to the patio were rolled away. There’s nothing  I love more than  cohesive  design.

As of May 1, 2016 the home is currently listed with Sotheby’s International Realty.  Visit the link below to see current photos, and if you’re in love with the home and would like to make an offer, feel free to contact Ferdinand Prinz von Anhalt at 714.260.7697 or Catherine Marcus at 310.795.8521 of Sotheby’s International Realty. (ferdinand.anhalt@sothebyshomes.com/catherine@catherinemarcus.com)  I’m sure they’d be more than happy to arrange a private viewing for you.   www.1280angelo.com

Oh, and one last detail… the home is listed for $17,000,000.  Welcome to Beverly Hills darling.

Romi Cortier, Skyler Campbell, & Recio Carrington Young at 1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills
Romi Cortier, Skyler Campbell, & Recio Carrington Young at 1280 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills

A June Celebration at The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica

The Huntley Valet, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley Hotel Valet, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley Patio, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley Hotel Patio, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier

I was recently invited to a dinner party at The Penthouse in The Huntley Hotel , for a very special surprise 90th birthday celebration.  The guest of honor for this intimate sit down dinner was none other than June Lockhart. Since I arrived early, I took the opportunity to explore the Hotel which I’d never been to before. I have to say that I really loved  their interior spaces,  especially the tented garden patio on the second floor. I can see why this chic destination was chosen for our dinner.

Ms. Lockhart was born in June of 1925 after her parents were introduced by Thomas Edison… yes that Thomas Edison, inventor of so many things including the light bulb and the motion picture camera.  I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that June is one of the most vibrant women I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. When her granddaughter Christianna walked her into the bar at The Penthouse where 15 guest were eagerly awaiting her arrival, she lit up like a christmas tree and screamed with joy. Guests included architect Harry Gesner,  her son and his wife, daughter June who organized the soiree,  her trainer Linda with whom she’s worked out 3 days a week with for at least 2 decades, loyal family friends, and myself, her occasional hairdresser when her regular gal is out of town.

Our hostess, daughter June, had reserved us a table at the end of the restaurant by the massive picture windows, giving us a magnificent view of Santa Monica. Name cards were in place, and our specially designed menu was already taken care of.  Hors d’ oeuvres came out platter after platter, the wine was poured, and we enjoyed our salads and entrees during the coming hours.  I thought our 6:30 reservation would easily have us out by 9:00 … wrong. It was 11:30 before we all rolled out into the lobby of the hotel. It was one of those magical evenings that no one wanted to end. And I feel so lucky to have been included.

Did you know that the Lockhart family has 5 stars on Hollywoods Walk of Fame? June’s father Gene Lockhart has 2, one for Motion Pictures, the other for Television. Her mother Kathleen Lockhart has one for Motion Pictures, and June has 2, one for Motion Pictures, and the other for Film. June made her stage debut at 8, and has been making a living as an entertainer for over 80 years as she so eloquently told me at the salon one day. What a truly inspirational woman.

June Lockhart and Romi Cortier, The Penthouse at The Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, Photo June Lockhart - Triolo
June Lockhart & Romi Cortier, The Penthouse, Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, Photo June L. Triolo
June Lockhart, 90th Birthday Celebration at The Penthouse, Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, Photo Romi Cortier
June Lockhart, 90th Birthday Celebration at The Penthouse, Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, Photo Romi Cortier