Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi CortierWaldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca, Photo Romi CortierWaldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi CortierWaldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
There’s so much to love about the new Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills, especially the views from The Rooftop JG restaurant. Standing at twelvestories above the streetwith unobstructed views, the city of angels has never looked more beautiful. That said, the only concern that I have regarding the 12th floor, is the height of the glass railing. It appears to be only about 4 feet high, and for the life of me, I can’t imagine how the city of Beverly Hills allowed this. There’s a cactus barrier on the north wall, but for the rest of the bar and restaurant, I fear for the safety of anyone who might have a few to many cocktails.
The Rooftop at JG, Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi CortierThe Rooftop at JG, Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
On a more positive note, getting to the rooftop is a beautiful experience. The elevator banks all have striking vignettes with custom rugs and well appointed side tables, complete with lamps, vases, and object’s de art. Oh, and did I mention all the gorgeous wall paper? So elegant. There seems to be a running theme among their tonal palettes, with beautiful shades of green, even in the wall mural seen below.
Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
Another design element that I love about the Waldorf, is how they’ve reinterpreted 1920’s Art Deco. Take a look at the fireplace below. It’s tiered in three layers, which is a common hallmark of deco. I also love how they’ve tied in the soft shades of green with the chairs and frosted glass, which also relates to the images above. Large open spaces, especially in hotel lobbies, can be very stark and severe. This hotel strikes a perfect balance of warmth and comfort combined with modernity.
Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
The driveway and entrance feels a bit more Mid-Century then Art Deco, but it still oozes elegance with all of the uplighting on the landscaping. However, the use of all of those elements combined, create a sense of grandiosity that never goes out of style… especially in Beverly Hills.
Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
Peter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPeter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPeter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPeter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi CortierPeter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
Stepping inside the Peter Shire Studio in Echo Park, is like walking onto a playground for art geeks. It’s a kaleidoscope of color and texture everywhere you look. Shelves are lined with completed sculptures and pottery waiting for a new home. Other areas are work zones with active projects being completed for upcoming art exhibits in New York and Milan. And the most surprising element in the room…. Peter, actively working on a massive table sculpture, for a show opening in a few weeks.
Peter Shire, Peter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Melanie Engle
Here’s his inspiration, compliments of Shire’s Studio…
Peter Shire Painting, Compliments Peter Shire Studio
This is an actual working studio, which is very different than a gallery setting. That’s what made this experience so special for me. In a gallery setting, works are placed on pedestals and are beautifully lit, having been curated with a specific point of view. As you can see by these photos, it’s about creating and storing the works of art, until they’re ready for their next exhibition. That’s why stepping into Peter’s Studio was so exciting, my eye could do the editing, jumping from piece to piece. I also felt like I was on sacred ground, invited to see the master at work. God knows I could never do a painting with someone standing over me, I need to be in a very comfy and quiet environment.
Peter Shire Studio, Echo Park, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier
If Peter’s work looks familiar to you, it’s because he’s been around since the 1980’s. He first burst onto the scene with The Memphis Group, an Italian design and architecture group founded in Milan, in 1982. He was the only American sculptor invited to be a part of this international group. And several of his pieces were included in the movie Ruthless People starring Bette Midler and Danny Devito. But his work hasn’t stopped there. He’s continued his iconic style, making chairs and other everyday items, into major works of art. And in case you haven’t been to one of Peter Shires exhibition’s, here’s a glimpse of a his recent show that closed on Saturday.
Peter Shire Installation, Kayne Griffin Corcoran Gallery, Photo courtesy Kayne Griffin Corcoran Gallery, Photo: Flying Studio, Los Angeles
As for L.A. experiences, this is on par with meeting famed photographer Julius Shulman in 2004. Artists shape the world in which we live, giving it life and meaning, and sometimes a whole lot of humor… which we can certainly use these days.
Thank you Peter for letting us spend a very special day in your studio.
Romi Cortier, Melanie Engle, Coco (aka MalibuPom) and Peter Shire, Photo courtesy Peter Shire Studio
Pink at HD Buttercup, Spring 2018, Photo Romi CortierPink at HD Buttercup, Spring 2018, Photo Romi CortierPink at HD Buttercup, Spring 2018, Photo Romi CortierPink at HD Buttercup, Spring 2018, Photo Romi CortierPink at HD Buttercup, Spring 2018, Photo Romi CortierPink at HD Buttercup, Spring 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
On a recent visit to HD Buttercup, I was wowed by all the shades of pink furniture. Sofas, bar stools, dining chairs, accent chairs, all ranging from subtle to striking. I’d never seen so much pink furniture in one room… clearly pink is making a comeback in 2018.
I’d heard about Rose Quartz, but Millennial Pink? What a beautiful soft shade of pink, something reminiscent of the pastel tones from the eighties. But it was paired with copper, giving it an extra burst of fire and freshness. And now’s there’s also Blooming Dahlia. A smoky shade of pink with hints of coral, reminding me of the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills
Rapture Rose and Spiced Apple are much more saturated tones of pinky red, and red with brown undertones, respectively. In fact, at a glance, they remind me of great shades of lipsticks. I love that Pantone chooses so many rich trend colors each season, and I’m also very elated that designers and furniture manufacturers are embracing these colors, making furniture more fashionable.
A rule of thumb to keep in mind, trend colors don’t last forever, so if you find yourself drawn to these colors, or they’re in your personal palette that suits your coloring, I highly suggest snapping them up while you can. Otherwise, having these items custom made can be very very expensive.
Halloween Table Ensemble, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierVintage crystal bowl with silver trim, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierVersace Wine Decanter, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble with Skull Ornaments by Kurt Adler, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble, Bowl by Alessi, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Recio Young
Here’s some inspiration for your Halloween table ensemble, with an upscale vibe. I’ve been collecting gorgeous goodies for years, and it’s so fun to pull them out and mix and match them.
I started with a black brocade table cloth made from two yards of fabric from International Silks and Woolens at 8347 Beverly Blvd, LA, Ca. 90048. Next up I used a vintage Silver Tray from my mother’s estate, dating from the early 1970’s. I love this vintage tray and use if for all of my parties. It also makes a great serving tray for bottles of wine, or chilled bottles of sparking water.
I picked up the rectangular vase at GM floral for about $20, and filled it with roses from Trader Joes, cropping the stems to about 3 inches. On the foreground of the tray are two Skull Christmas ornaments by Kurt Adler, each retailing for $15. I also used 3 vintage Art Deco tumblers filled with tea lights from Ikea. And lastly on the tray are black sparkly butterflies also from GM Floral.
For a little height on the table I used two skull candle sticks by DL & Co., each about $90, with gold candlesticks from Target. I also used two Reed and Barton Martini glasses to serve colorful M&M’s and Candy Corn. Two other items on the table that I absolutely love, include a Versace wine decanter with frosted medallions and a smashing bowl by Alessi known as the Cactus Bowl. I frequently use this bowl as a fruit bowl, however, with colorfully wrapped candy, it adds so much sparkle to the table (about $120). The glass votives on the table I picked up at Marshall’s or TJMaxx for about $2 each.
The secret to this successful ensemble was mixing and matching items of the same color, either chrome or silver. By doing this, it allows all of the colors from the candies and flowers on the table to totally pop. Some items are certainly more upscale and expensive than others, but it’s the art of mixing and matching that make this Artful Living at its best.
I’m thrilled to announce the debut of my new TV pilot Artful Living with Romi Cortier! The concept has been years in the making, inspired by my multiple DIY mural making videos on Youtube, of which I have over 1,500,000 views. Yes, that’s 1 1/2 million views!!
Artful Living with Romi Cortier is a celebration of Art, Architecture and Interior Design. As an artist and a purveyor of good taste, I want to focus on what’s right and beautiful in this world. There is so much to be explored, and that’s our concept for this show. Interviews with designers, artists, architects, scholars, all threaded together by the history of the built environment. Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, Post Modernism… they’re all words we’ve heard, but what do they really mean? I’ll help you understand that in my show, and I’ll also show you some fun DIY tricks for things that you can do around your own home.
Romi Cortier and Coco, aka Malibu Pom on the set of Artful Living, Photo Recio Carrington Young
And did I happen to mention that my co-host is the cutest white Pomeranian you’ve ever seen? Her name is Coco, aka Malibu Pom, which is the name of her Instagram page. (Hey, this is Hollywood and all the cool pups here have their own Instagram accounts). But what’s even more fun is that she actually LOVES riding around in the car with the top down, cruising Rodeo Drive and brunching at Villa Blanca. If there’s a camera around you can bet Coco has a smile on her face… and with that cute mug she makes friends everywhere she goes.
Coco, aka Malibu Pom, Rodeo Drive, Photo Jacob Kelso
In this pilot episode you’ll learn a little bit about the history of Palm Springs and some of the hallmarks of mid-century modernism. You’ll also see a beautiful mid-century inspired table setting that I created, which was done in front of a mural that I’d painted earlier that day. The Mural was inspired by the drawings of Saul Lewitt whose work I’d seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. I like to think of Op Art (optical illusion art) as an art movement that dovetails nicely with mid-century modernism, because it has it roots in the early 1960’s.
Romi Cortier on the set of Artful Living, Palm Springs, Ca., Photo Recio Carrington Young.
Here’s a close up look at a few of the details on the table. The plates with the platinum dots are from my personal collection of Bernardaud (fine china from France), and the crystal glass is by Reed and Barton available at Bloomingdales.
Table setting for Artful Living with Bernardaud plates and glasses by Reed and Barton. Photos Jacob Kelso
Here are our two cameramen making the magic happen while on set in Palm Springs: Willy Lazlo and Jacob Kelso… it takes a village, especially when it’s over 100 degrees!
Cameramen Willy Lazlo and Jacob Kelso, Romi Cortier, and Coco aka Malibu Pom, Palm Springs, Ca., Photo Recio Carrington Young
And lastly, here’s a great photo from our wrap party with our editors Antone Hammers and Amanda Bliss Taylor. They were hands down an extraordinary duo. Antone was our story editor and created the rough cut, and Amanda created the finished product complete with a final polish. And most importantly, meet our producer Recio Carrington Young of Red Carpet Recio Productions. He pulled together this amazing team, spent countless hours with our editors choosing music, directing cuts, and creating the overall tone of the show.
Antone Hammers, Romi Cortier, Coco aka Malibu Pom, Recio Carrington Young, and Amanda Bliss Taylor. Artful Living wrap party, Beverly Hills, Ca.
We’d really love your support and hope you’ll check out the pilot while it’s available on Go Indie TV. Please follow the link below to watch the entire 22 minute pilot for free.
