Tag Archives: Beverly Hills

Window Display

Chinoiserie is front and center at Lily Et Cie

April 23, 2017 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Lily Et Cie, Beverly Hills, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier

Lily Et Cie, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier

Lily Et Cie, a renowned Vintage store in Beverly Hills, has one of the most stunning window displays that I’ve seen in ages. I quite literally stumbled upon this gem while out for one of my late night strolls last week. It was one of those, hit the breaks and back up moments… while on foot. I love it when something is so beautiful that it stops me in my tracks.

For over 30 years this luxury vintage boutique located at 9044 Burton Way has been home to some of Hollywood’s most exquisite haute couture designers, such as Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Gucci and Chanel. When I peered through the glass of the front door, I could see racks of remarkable black and white vintage gowns, waiting for their next walk on the red carpet. Even in the dim light of the showroom, excitement stirred in my soul. I waved at the overhead camera, took my photos, and headed for home with a little extra bounce in my step.

Since I wasn’t familiar with this boutique, I did a little research online. Reviewers on Yelp were not kind to Ms. Rita Watnick, the stores owner. That said, I totally understand her point of view. If you’ve got museum quality gowns worth tens of thousands of dollars each, the last thing you need or want, are ‘shoppers’ riffling through your merchandise with no regard for how delicate or special these items may be, especially when considering their provenance. This isn’t the Goodwill and you’re not there to find a designer bargain. Her dresses are pure art, and need to be handled as such. As a small business owner myself, I’m very sensitive to how people handle the items on my retail shelves. So yes, I’m going out on a limb to defend a woman I’ve never met, and a store that I’ve never set foot in. Why?Because when something has special or extraordinary written all over it, you should proceed with caution and kindness.

And on a side note, Chinoiserie seems to be a hot fashion trend this season. I’ve seen several jackets at retailers from Bloomingdales to Kitross, with embroidered dragons and other chinese motifs.

Here’s a fun video with Rita Watnick and Leon Talley, discussing the nuances of a vintage dress reportedly loaned to Princess Margaret.

Interior Design

Artful Living with Romi Cortier

October 13, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com 1 Comment

Artful Living with Romi Cortier, After photo

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, 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.

Art

Salvador Dali on view in Beverly Hills

July 15, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com 1 Comment

Dali's Persistence of Memory, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Persistence of Memory, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Triumphant Elephant, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Triumphant Elephant, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Dance of Time II, Beverly Hills, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Dance of Time II, Beverly Hills, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Surrealist Piano, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Surrealist Piano, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Dance of Time I, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Dance of Time I, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Unicorn, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Unicorn, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Saint George and the Dragon, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Saint George and the Dragon, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Salvador Dali, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

The sculptures of Salvador Dali are on view in Beverly Hills at Two Rodeo Drive. Yes they’re for sale, but that certainly won’t stop you from walking around them, taking selfies with them, photographing them, and simply enjoying them as public art.

In total there are 12 iconic Salvador Dali Sculptures on display, which have been presented by Two Rodeo Drive and Galerie Michael located at 224 N. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. There are additional smaller sculptures for sale inside Galerie Michael, as well as Dali paintings, lithographs and etchings. One of the things I really like about the presentation of this art, are the placards attached to each piece giving you an overview of what you’re looking at. There are no prices attached to the outdoor pieces, however the smaller works inside the gallery are priced in the tens of thousands, such as $25,000 and up. Therefore, I’m guessing the large exterior works have to be priced in the hundreds of thousands. Whatever the case, with any art that is sold, a percentage of that sale will benefit Operation Smile, an international non-profit. If you’re interested in making a donation to them directly, follow this link: Donate

Dali’s full name is quite a mouthful: Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali i Domenech, Marques do Dali de Pubol. Whew! Born in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain, on May 11, 1904, he lived to be 84, passing on January 23, 1989. The Surrealist artist had an expansive repertoire including film, sculpture, and photography, as well as works in the mediums mentioned above.

Whether you’re a huge fan, or just looking for something fun to do with friends on a leisurely weekend, check out these large scale works which are on view until September 23, 2016.

Galerie Michael

Architecture, Interior Design

1280 Angelo Drive in Beverly Hills

May 3, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

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

Window Display

Rodeo Drive Holiday Window Display

December 26, 2015 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Dior, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Coach, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Versace, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Ralph Lauren, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Bijon, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier — Bijan, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Dolce Gabbana, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Hermes, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

I Love strolling down Rodeo Drive to enjoy the Holiday Window Displays. No matter what my mood, I’m always happier for having made the trip. If you’ve read my previous posts, then you know what a fan I am of this art form.

Every retailer has a different point of view when it comes to luxury branding, which is what makes the experience so enriching. I’m not normally a Ralph Lauren kinda guy, but when I saw their window displays, one of which included a black jacquard tuxedo jacket, it made me swoon for a chic 2016 New Years eve party to attend. And when it comes to feeling like a king, who wouldn’t want the gilded throne in the windows of Dolce Gabbana. Where on earth do they find such spectacular items? They must have a wear house stacked with European treasures solely for this purpose. I didn’t think I was a fan of Bijan, but the black and white striped ties for their formal attire were simply stunning. I also loved the peacock inspired windows at Coach. Do they dismantle and reuse those materials, or are they stored away for a hopeful museum show? As I’ve said before, I would so love to have something like that hanging in my home. I find it much more interesting then some of the modern or contemporary art I see hanging in museums. And when it comes to ingenuity, Marc-Philippe Guerig takes the cake for his floating octopus in the windows of Hermes.

There’s still another week left in the 2015 holiday season, so if you’re anywhere near Rodeo Drive and Wilshire boulevard, take a walk or a late night drive and soak up some of this amazingness.

Where Art Inspires Beauty