Giana Stanigar

Paola Lenti, a home and outdoor furniture line, is the brain child of internationally renowned Italian designer Francesco Rota. The company was founded in 2004 and has consistently won prestigious design awards all over the globe each year since its inception.

The concept behind Paola Lenti is the creation of an inherent harmony through design, where opposites balance and attract. Traditional and contemporary design elements are combined to create a serene coexistence of seemingly diverse influences. His designs are both durable and comfortable, and are available in shocking bright colors as well as neutrals.

Francesco Rota also has a passion for incorporating cutting-edge technology into his designs. Paola Lenti furniture utilizes high-tech materials that are responsibly sourced from recycled post-consumer goods. All of Paola Lenti’s natural materials are responsibly sourced from sustainable forests, and finishing treatments are non-toxic.

Paola Lenti’s designs evoke a seamless integration of architectural structure and comfort. The result is timeless, quality furniture that is meant to be enjoyed for many years. You can view more of Paola Lenti’s designs here.

Phillip Nimmo is a noted American interior and furniture designer based in Los Angeles, CA. Phillip established his iconic design firm in 1990, and began his career as a residential interior designer. He subsequently launched a product line featuring bespoke home furnishings and iron work.

Inspiration for Phillip’s designs has come from client’s requests for custom furniture, lighting, fire screens, accessories, outdoor furnishings and ironwork. His designs incorporate a sense of traditionalism, but are also elegant and contemporary. His unique combinations of sturdy elements such as ironwork with opulent organic materials like sliced agate create an air of grounded elegance.

Phillip Nimmo’s line of luxury bespoke home furnishings have been featured in many publications including in Architectural Digest, Luxe, Objekt, Elle Decor, Casaviva, Interior Design, and Traditional Home. His designs have also been feature in many international publications.

Phillip’s designs are available for purchase at select high-end design showrooms such as Jean De Merry. You can view more of his work here.

Shakuff is a blown and fused glass lighting collective that features the work of glass artists from all over the world. Their products are entirely bespoke, meaning each piece is completely unique. Shakuff’s diverse collection of glass styles including sconces, pendant lighting, chandeliers, and more.

Shakuff products cater to a diverse range of aesthetics. We are particularly enamored with their “Breath” collection, which features organic shapes that are traditionally crafted by master artisans using time-honored techniques. “Breath” designs come in a multitude of shapes and sizes, and are a combination of classic lines executed in clean glass and contemporary textures.

Shakuff products are all fully customizable, and can be tailored to suit each client’s specific taste and design style. Their plethora of color palettes and broad scope of designs make them a go-to for us when we’re looking for that perfectly unique lighting piece to enhance a beautiful interior. You can view their whole collection here.

I recently had the pleasure of taking a trip to Morocco. Amongst many adventures, I visited Jardin Majorelle, home to Yves Saint Laurent and toured the gardens and exterior of what may be the most beautiful villa I’ve ever laid eyes on. The vibrant, rich color schemes, and the seamless integration of landscape was a visual delight deeply that inspired me and I will never forget this truly rich and incredible experience.

The Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech was a lifelong labor of love for French painter Jaques Majorelle and took over 40 years to complete. The gardens feature enchanting shady lanes, meandering streams, exotic plants that sugar the air with fragrance, and pools filled with blooming water lilies and lotus flowers. Tucked away in the garden lies a vibrant cobalt and golden yellow villa, the cubist masterpiece of Paul Sinor, built in 1931. Majorelle is said to have perceived the exterior shade of blue when visiting the Atlas mountains. The building embodies Moorish charm, with a hint of Art Deco influence.

Majorelle eventually opened the garden up to the public in the 1947 to help with monumental cost of the upkeep of the gardens, to which he was devoted entirely. After his passing in 1962, the garden remained open to the public but gradually fell into a state of disrepair  and was slated to be demolished and replaced by a hotel complex. In 1980, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge purchased the property and began the process of a full restoration, including adding over 200 different plant species to the garden, and transforming Majorelle’s painting studio into a museum dedicated to Berber culture. Today, the museum is one of the most visited attractions in Marrakech.

If you ever make it to Marrakech, it’s an absolute must-see! Whether you’re an artist, a designer, or just a connoisseur of beautiful things, I have no doubt you’ll be just as inspired as I was.

We did it again! CONGRATS to the Nicole Smith Interiors design team on our new project in Newport Beach, CA. We can’t wait to give this mid-century gem a makeover!