The City Sage

HD Buttercup Santa Monica Popup

The word popup conjures images of cute little kiosks or guerrilla shopping installations. What it certainly doesn't suggest is a 35,000 square foot furniture extravaganza housed in a former department store. But when you're HD Buttercup, and your main location is a whopping 150,000 square foot retail environment, anything smaller truly is a popup. And after 10 years as the most extensive and expansive decor purveyor on the West Coast, HD Buttercup has earned the right to use whatever words it likes.

A visit to HD Buttercup Santa Monica is like a trip into the pages of your favorite shelter mag. Each shoppable vignette is created with a thoughtful yet effortless mix that speaks to today's movement towards genre-busting interiors. In other words, there's no cookie cutter style here! Just quality furniture ranging from midcentury modern to coastal cool; pillows, tables, and rugs with a globally inspired feel; and a brilliant selection of lighting and art for memorable finishing touches.

HD Buttercup is also known for its superior in-house design consulting services, and the Santa Monica popup has a full roster of experts on hand! You can cozy up on a linen chaise longue and get advice on your latest bedroom makeover, or brainstorm upholstery options over a burger and fries at the store's adjoining Umami Burger. Don't be surprised if you end up spending way longer than planned at the store, because once you pop in to this popup, you'll never want to leave!

P.S. For design junkies outside of California, HD Buttercup has a sample selection of their best goodies online! Or if you're passing through, visit the popup at the historic Fred Segal building, 500 Broadway Santa Monica, California 90401.

Soft Neutral Modern Decor

As temperatures here in LA blaze past the 100 degree mark, I'm craving an escape to gentler climes. Not only does the heat bog me down, but the harsh light bouncing off baking asphalt makes going outside a squinty exercise indeed! So I'm finding myself especially drawn to the idea of pale modern neutrals that evoke a sense of peace and serenity—for the eyes and for the soul!  

Subtle and nuanced are the key words to getting this look. Shapes are simple and utilitarian, with rounded corners and gentle edges. Hues are faded and desaturated, as though dug from beneath desert sands after a century's hiding. Textures range from brushed metallics and marble to bleached pine and untreated leather. And when it comes to style, anything goes! Vintage industrial mingles with refined rustic and Scandinavian modern, all in the interest of a luxe yet laid-back vibe.

Make it happen at home no matter what the weather outside! Suede and pickled oak soften up the right angles of an armchair. A pink porcelain pitcher serves up juice or water with rosy flair. A task lamp in white powdercoated steel gets grounded with a disc-shaped birch base, and a faux cement drum table does triple duty as an ottoman, an end table, or a plant stand. It's a look that whispers minimalist spa chic, and it's exactly the retreat we need from summer's relentless glare!

Shopping Guide: 1. Suede Modern Chair 2. Pink Porcelain Pitcher 3. Triangle Print Pillow 4. Cement Drum Table 5. White Modern Task Lamp Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

How to Hang a Gallery Wall with Framebridge

When it comes to the question of how to hang a gallery wall, there's a ton of decisions to make. First you have to select the right mix of art. You have to choose the frames. Then you've got to design the ideal arrangement for your space. Oh, and don't even get me started on the actual hanging! I've been suffering from decision-induced art-paralysis (the official medical term!) since moving into my house a year ago. Yet with the recent passing of my grandmother, I was spurred into action by my desire to create an homage to my family—inspired by one of my favorite photos of her as a young woman.

However I still felt overwhelmed by the decisions involved in hanging art. That's where Framebridge stepped in. The custom framing site not only had tons of unique, sophisticated frames to mix and match, they also held my hand throughout the entire process of creating a unique gallery wall that has transformed my space—and done my grandma proud! Together we came up with an arrangement whose dynamic flow and eye-pleasing proportions highlight each photo, print, and painting. They recommended frame finishes that work well together, gave direction on how to work with my TV, and even made a gorgeous print of my grandma's photo using only a negative from the '50's!

The end result feels personal, thoughtful, and utterly stylish. In addition to the portrait of my grandmother, there's a Kristine Claghorn moon watercolor (framed in Irvine Slim) that nods at my dad's love of astronomy; a custom commission from Colore' Grace calligraphy of my grandma's favorite saying (framed in Newport); a photo of Los Angeles palm trees by my friend Naz Films (framed in Bolton, which is constructed of oiled steel!); and a cheeky cassette drawing for my music-loving better half (framed in stunning burl wood Cairo). It's a combination I'd never have dreamed up without help from Framebridge! And speaking of help from Framebridge, now it's your turn to overcome decision-induced art-paralysis by using the code THECITYSAGE20 for 20% off your first custom framing order of $59 or more! Operators are standing by to make all your art wall dreams come true!

Disclosures: Discount code expires 11/30/2015. This post is in collaboration with Framebridge. I received product and compensation in exchange for creating this original content for you. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The City Sage going!

Fall Style with Custom Hats from Preston & Olivia

I'm a total romantic when it comes to the lost art of dressing. Gents in proper toppers! Ladies in gloves and silk stockings! Sure I'm comfy in my jeans and Birks most days. However there's something to be said for the sense of poise and pride that comes with being polished and put-together—and if your daily habit is casual, it only takes one special piece to create the effect. Which is why I'm loving the fall collection of custom hats from Preston & Olivia!

Based in NYC, Preston & Olivia is a hat company that combines the grand tradition of millinery with a modern twist. Each hat is made-to-order and offered in a seemingly endless range of colors. Plus each style boasts refined proportions, subtle details, and sumptuous textures ranging from velvet and felt to grosgrain and silk. Company founder Dara Kent clearly has a head for hat design, which comes as no surprise given her millinery training from the Fashion Institute of Technology!

So just like in days of yore, these hats are outfit makers of the first order! Pair a black, wide-brimmed stunner with one of this season's knit skirt suits for a 70's editrix statement; or channel laid-back cool with a boater, beat-up boyfriends, and a bomber jacket. Check out the Preston & Olivia Fall Lookbook for a dreamy dose of fashion nostalgia!

Modern Industrial Design Ideas with Marvin Windows & Doors

After 20 years in their Toronto home, my parents are embarking on a major renovation. Built in 1873, the house is full of charm and original details, but it's long in need of some TLC. As well, my mom has always lamented the dim interior of the narrow urban row house. Now not only is she excited to update the space while remaining true to the history of the structure, she can't wait to let some light in at last! In order to open up the ground floor and set the tone for the rest of the refresh, mom will be removing several non-load-bearing walls and replacing them with panels of interior windows. 

Because I'm so thrilled for my mom to have her dream home at last, I asked the folks at Marvin Windows & Doors to render some of their custom options so we can visualize the end result—and I'm loving the direction we're headed! The model here is the Marvin Ultimate Swinging French Doors, with an ebony finish and a contemporary handle in satin chrome. Gridded panes and crisp black casings have a 19th century vibe in keeping with the home's original construction date (so Belle Epoque chic!), yet the windows' simple, utilitarian architecture feels utterly modern too. 

With the windows in place, the rest of the ground floor will come together beautifully. The panels' clean, graphic appearance lays a striking foundation for plenty of texture in the form of marble and ceramics, woods and leather; and the overall look fosters a modern industrial sensibility that both complements the home's past and sets the tone for its very stylish future. And of course with nothing to stop it, the light streaming in from the front and back of the house will radiate freely throughout the space! 

Shopping Guide: 1. Leather Director's Chair 2. Marble Cheese Boards 3. Marvin Windows & Doors 4. Modern Wood Wall Clock 5. Patterned Table Runner 6. Bestlite Pendant Lamp 7. Modern Terra Cotta Vase 8. Ceramic Container with Lid 9. Marvin Ultimate Swinging French Doors in Ebony Finish with Contemporary Handle in Satin Chrome Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Disclosure: This post was created in collaboration with Marvin Windows & Doors. I received compensation in exchange for sharing this content but all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow me to bring you fresh ideas!