Thank you C Magazine

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I was thrilled when Andrea Stanford at C Magazine asked me to name a couple of my current California design favorites for the March issue (NO EASY TASK). A few that I have my eye on right now are Kimberly Ayers, Kim Alexandriuk, Ferrick Mason, Lucas Studio and fellow blogger Scot Meacham Wood. Of course, Nathan Turner is always a favorite!

All the Best + SFERRA Cocktail Party

Last night was the first SFERRA + All the Best cocktail party to celebrate our partnership. The wonderful Nathan Turner hosted the event at his delightful store and celebrity chef Lulu Powers turned out some amazing food. Our special guest Kelly Wearstler, who is truly lovely and gracious, was there to show her new line of SFERRA linens.

The weather was absolutely perfect and the guest list stellar (more photos on Wire Images). It was beyond fun to meet many of the bloggers that I have only known via the World Wide Web, including Brooke of Velvet and Linen (and 3rd place winner of the All the Best bedrooms contest); Megan of Beach Bungalow 8; Christian of Masion 21; Scot of Tartanscot (2nd place winner of the All the Best bedrooms contest); and Jill the LA correspondent from Material Girls. You can see a great group photo on Christian’s blog.

Today I am heading to NYC and we will host another party next week at Todd Romano’s. Thank you to everyone who came out last night (there were over 200 people). It was wonderful to see many friends and talented people. Thank you for coming and for letting me share with you a little more about the wonderful SFERRA.

Aaron Stewart, Creative Director for SFERRA, with the great gift bags.


Beautiful Kelly Wearstler for SFERRA pillows.




Aaron Stewart, Lulu Powers, Nathan Turner and Ronda Carman

Brooke Giannetti, Megan Arquette and me

The LIST Updates

Last month Nathan Turner launched his furniture collection with Elite Leather. Elle Decor and Elite Leather hosted a cocktail party at Bloomingdale’s to kick off the collaboration and Nathan's New York debut.

Nathan Turner and Margaret Russell

Nathan's collection

Lisa Fine, Nathan Turner and Milly de Cabrol

Marie and Emily Turner

InStyle's Suzanne Karotkin, Nathan Turner and Elite Leather's Gabrielle Galardo

Elle Decor's Karen Marx, Jeff Lincoln and Margaret Russell


In less than a year, interior designer and style maven James Andrew continues to reach new heights with this blog WhatisJamesWearing. His blog is now read in more than 85 countries, with many exciting things in the works. Nice work James!


Not only was Little Rock designer Tobi Fairley recently selected by Traditional Home Magazine as one of the Top 20 Young Designers in America for 2009, she has also been awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year” from the Prestigious Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas where she received her MBA.


World renowned caterer Peter Callahan introduces his newest venture, PCK catering, specializing in glatt kosher catering. PCK catering has OK kosher certification and, as expected, their work is performed under strict orthodox rabbinical supervision abiding by all kashrut requirements of the OK kosher certification and Jewish law.


Congratulations to Victoria Amory. Victoria’s book Delicious Flavors has received the SILVER medal at the first annual Living Now Book Awards given by the Independent Publisher in the General Cooking category. The Living Now Book Awards are intended to promote newly-published lifestyle books and their creators.

Delicious Flavors has also been nominated for Veranda Magazine's Art of Design Award, in the Environments category.

Dinner at Nathan Turner

Last evening was one of the most fun and memorable dinners in recent memory. Nathan Turner and Mary McDonald hosted me, my family, Suzanne Donegan, Michelle Nussbaumer and Michael Billings at Nathan's beautiful shop in West Hollywood. The food, company and surrounds were sheer perfection. Thank you both for all the laughs and the wonderful hospitality.

Mary McDonald, Suzanne Donegan and Nathan Turner

Michelle Nussbaumer, me and Mary McDonald

Delicious salmon and lentils with roasted vegetables prepared by Nathan

Beautiful flowers arranged by Mary

Isn't this chair and shade of blue gorgeous!?!

The lovely Suzanne Donegan

Mary McDonald, Michael Billings and Michelle Nussbaumer

My son and Daisey

Nathan, Ronda and my husband Chris

Suzanne Donegan, Michael Billings and Michelle Nussbaumer

Much to everyone's amusement or dismay, Mary and I ended the night with our own version of Karaoke singing Phil Colin's Separate Lives. When we couldn't remember the words we had to go online. Next time we'll just have to go to a Karaoke club so we can have both the words and music.

Los Angeles

I know that I have been MIA these days, I'll catch up very soon! We've arrived in LA and we are having dinner with Nathan Turner and Mary McDonald tonight. I will be certain to post photos tomorrow.

All the best,
Ronda

All the Best LIST Update: Nathan Turner + You

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In celebration of Nathan Turner’s newest furniture collection with Elite Leather, and its New York debut at Bloomingdale’s, All the Best readers are invited to chat with designer Nathan Turner and view the newest collection.

To schedule a one-on-one design consultation on March 27 or March 28, phone 212.705.2400. Nathan can provide easy design tips on small space living, color therapy, economic décor updates and indoor/outdoor design topics. Let Nathan know you are an All the Best reader and be sure to send me a few photos.

Nathan Turner + Carolyne Roehm

I mentioned last week that I had to miss Carolyne Roehm's chic book party given by host extraordinaire Nathan Turner at his fantastic LA shop. Luckily, Nathan graciously emailed me photos to share with all of you.

The beautiful Carolyne Roehm signing copies of A Passion for Blue & White

Flickering candles, gorgeous white flowers and, of course, blue and white porcelain

Property developer John Bersci and the lovely Mary McDonald

Carolyne's books artfully stacked on blue and white fabric

Nathan Turner and the always fashionable Sally Perrin

More candles and flowers

Mary McDonald and Carolyn Roehm

Miguel Flores-Vianna holding the adorable Nacho, Carolyne Roehm and Nathan Turner

Beautiful blue and white

Home

I should be asleep right now, but instead I am wide awake! Jet lag is terrible. My two favorite definitions of jet lag are (1) When you arrive and your luggage is in better shape than you are; and (2) Nature's way of making you look like your passport photo. Right now both definitions describe me pretty well.

I am thrilled to be back home in Scotland and I am looking forward to joining my husband in Edinburgh today. We are staying at one of our favorite hotels and having dinner at Khushis, Edinburgh's first Indian restaurant. No trip to Edinburgh is complete with out a side trip to Harvey Nichols, lucky for me it's a stone's throw from the hotel.


If only there were some way to magically transport myself back and forth between two continents, life would be so much easier. It just so happens that I am missing three great parties in NY and LA. Darn! Had I known about these events when I booked my ticket back in August I would have stayed on for a few more days.

Yesterday was breakfast with Charlotte Moss to introduce her latest China pattern with Pickard (Espalier); tonight Nathan Turner is hosting a party in honor of Carolyne Roehm's new book A Passion for Blue & White at his store in LA; and next week Becca Cason Thrash is hosting a launch party at The Carlyle for PaperCity's new book Domestic Art. Becca Cason Thrash! I have always wanted to clink a cocktail with Becca, although the stress of what to wear would probably do me in for a year.



Nathan has promised to send me photos and I will post them for all to see. Oh how I would love to meet Carolyne! I can't wait to add this book to my GROWING library. If I get photos from the other events I will post them as well.

Postscript: Please forgive any typos. Also, someone recently posted a comment about going to Edinburgh and I accidentally rejected the comment instead of posting it. I am so sorry. Please post again.