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The Good Shepherd Charity Design Project

Finally, the day has come! We are so proud to announce the Open House for the Good Shepherd Charity Design Project will be this weekend and we invite you to join us. This has been an incredible undertaking – 30 designers took on the challenge of decorating 30 rooms dedicated to transitional housing, rooms that hadn’t been touched for 15 years.

The project was exciting and so humbling and it felt so good to challenge ourselves while giving back. Not only have we met some Extraordinary women (we even had the pleasure of meeting our tenant!) but we have also seen some Extraordinary rooms. It is astounding what this group of talented designers did with the likes of a 10″ x 12″ space, just beautiful… I must admit, I loved flexing the decorating muscle again…it’s been years since decorating film sets and though Paul and I have enjoyed doing friends’ and family’s homes for years, this project was very special and close to our hearts. We never met a group of more inspiring and big-hearted women than the residents at the shelter and the excitement they had for the project had us in tears.

I’ll be posting more on it soon, with before and after photos and the whole nine yards once we get clearance. But for now, hopefully you will join us and see the rooms in person. Wait until you see the chandelier!

Please come and join us for our Show House in downtown LA as 30 interiors designers transform the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women & Children into a beautiful space to benefit deserving area women and children. All 30 rooms will be open for viewing and each designer will be there to present their room. This is an event you don’t want to miss!

Saturday and Sunday July 23 and 24th from 11-3pm
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTER FOR HOMELESS WOMEN & CHILDREN
Hawkes Building
1650 Rockwood St.
Los Angeles CA 90026
PH 213 482 1834

Food and refreshments will be served.
Parking available on all side streets.

*No RSVP is necessary we look forward to seeing you!
*Please feel free to pass the invite along.

The BLOG: http://gscharitydesignproject.blogspot.com/

ABOUT GOOD SHEPHERD CENTER FOR HOMELESS WOMEN & CHILDREN
The mission of Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women & Children is to provide, with dignity and love, a continuum of care from homelessness to self-sufficiency for women and their children, through services offered by professional and volunteer staff. For over 25 years Good Shepherd Center has provided food, clothing, shelter and supportive services for homeless women and children. From mobile outreach to transitional shelter to long-term housing for mothers with disabilities, help is available every step of the way. Good Shepherd continues to serve more than 900 women and children a year through comprehensive programs, providing long-term solutions to poverty and homelessness. www.gschomeless.org

Participating Interior Designers: Ames Ingham, Olivia Williams, Charmean Neithart, Dana Doumani, Erica Islas, Form LA, Heidi Bendetson, Hillary Thomas, Irene Lovett, Jenifer Porter, Jessica Pakzad Bennett, Jordan Cappella, Julie Thigpen, Kelly Edwards, Kelly Schandel, Kirsten Hanson-Press, Kristine Page Kamenstein, Lily Menjivar, Megan Janzen, William Schneider, Marcia Zia & Paul Priven, Laura Clayton Baker, Meg Joannides, Michele Alexandra Kay, Michelle Workman, Mollie Ranize, Nadia Geller, Sasha Emerson, Shirry Dolgin, Lisa Harper, Susie Ho, Tamara Kaye Honey, Typhanie Peterson, Vanessa De Vargas.

Zia-Priven, Inc.’s room was made possible by the generosity of:
Tucker Robbins, Smith+Noble, Atmosphere Interiors, Karastan, Glidden Paint, Against the Stream, Filmore Clark, Bungalow 5, Dwell Studio, Pacific Lighting & Electrical, Inc., Flooring America, Carpet Empire Plus, Alan & Cheryl Priven, Nancy Chavez, Zia-Priven, Inc., Paper Mosaic Studio, Sofa Club, Cliff Spencer Furniture Maker, Modern Chic Home, Mend Etc. and Liz’s Antique Hardware.

All lighting supplied by Zia-Priven, Inc. Extraordinary Lighting

We look forward to seeing you there and thank you for making this a great success.
Photos of the project will be on our website this fall.

Posted on July 21, 2011 by admin | Categories: Design Events, Good Shepherd Charity Design Project, Home Decor, Inspiration, interior design, Interior Designers, Zia-Priven | Tagged: chandeliers, design tips, inspiration, interior design, Zia-Priven | Leave a comment

Project UDesign- Sustainable AND Sexy?

Project UDesign. Simply put, it’s a brilliant concept. BiOH® polyols‘ Project UDesign teamed up with Century Furniture, and Toray Eco-Design Ultrasuede and challenged 15 Savannah College of Art and Design students to create an upholstered wing chair that would be both sustainable and salable. The contest with the help of YOU will crowdsource “the next generation sustainable wing chair.” That’s right, you get to vote on who should win. None of the participating partners have any input in who wins, only you the voting public does. I love it.

And here’s the beauty of it—each participant is contributing a very important factor to this wing chair. BiOH® polyols are soy-based ingredients that replace a portion of petroleum chemicals for flexible foam in products you use daily – furniture, mattresses, carpet cushion, and more. For every 1 million pounds of BiOH’s soy polyol ingredient sold to the major foam manufacturers, 84,000 barrels of petroleum are saved.

Toray Ultrasuede (America), Inc. (TUA) is announcing the debut of EcoDesign™, an environmentally responsible line of products that utilize 100% recycled ultra-microfiber that will be used to upholster the chair.

Century Furniture, a leading manufacturer that produces incredible furniture including collections from Oscar De la Renta and Kelly Hoppen will manufacture the winning chair!

And of course, the talented and fortunate student designers from Savannah College of Art and Design will contribute the winning design. You can see videos of students and their designs here.

I find all this incredibly exciting and hope you will take the time to vote.

What does the winning designer receive?

1.$1000 from BiOH immediately
2. Their winning design will be produced and put into Century’s regular line up for intro at the Spring 2011 High Point Market.
3. The winning student will be paid royalties by Century on all sales of their winning chair once it’s produced.
4. A lot of publicity!

How can you vote?

There are currently 6 designs and 5 semi-finalist students. Between now and Oct. 3rd at 11: 59 pm, all can vote for the 3 finalists. They will be selected only by those who vote online and the 3 finalists will be announced on Monday, Oct. 4th on www.facebook.com/BiOHFans

The voting for the three finalists announced on Oct. 4th will end at 11: 59pm , Tuesday, Oct. 19th and that person who has the most votes will win. The winner will be chosen only by online votes. It is completely the public’s choice so don’t forget to put in your 2 cents.

The winner will be announced at High Point Market on Wednesday, Oct. 20th in the Century Courtyard at the start of Withit’s student mentoring day-approx. 9:15 am.

Now, I have to admit, I was quite impressed by all 6 designs, but one really stood out to me: The Alifair Chair by Ryland Quillen. It is a sensual silhouette, a mixture of modern and traditional lines with an innovative use of cut-outs in the wings. I find an understated and sophisticated glamour to it, which if you know me, you know I’m sold! Here’s what Ryland had to say about his design…

Alifair is shown here upholstered in Charcoal Ultrasuede with contrasting Black Onyx piping. The legs on the chair are tapered and shown in dark mahogany. Alifair will utilize Cargill’s environmentally conscious BiOH foam.

“I thought about the concept of a wing chair, the wings providing comfort and a sense of enclosure. I realized, however, that if the wings are too imposing, they can block vision to the right and left when sitting in the chair. To cope with this, I decided to employ cut offs, creating a window large enough to see to either side when sitting. The gently swooping curve on either side suggests the feeling of warmth and comfort without hindering sight.”

I find this incredibly insightful because Wing chairs, which first appeared in English manor homes somewhere around the 17^th century, were often called fireside chairs, and for good reason. Their design was perfect for enjoying the warmth of a fire while your back and sides were protected from chilly drafts.

Wings were a practical design element, especially before we had indoor heating to depend on and didn’t have to rub two sticks together to heat ourselves. But, nowadays we have the advantage to be more social during the colder months instead of shivering behind the wings of our chair! The open wing concept acknowledges the warmth and comfort of the original design while embracing modern technology, our need to be social and they also make it easier to see if the killer is coming! Okay, I jest, maybe not the killer (I’ve seen a few too many horror movies), but it IS nice to see the world around you while feeling warm and cozy. Besides the practicality of the design, let’s be real… I think the sensual curves of the wings are just stunning.

Shown in Kagan Red Ultrasuede

I chose the Alifair as my favorite for all of these reasons but most importantly it was the chair that I could best envision in our home and in The Century Furniture Collection. In my inspiration board, I chose to demonstrate this by not only using pieces that I would personally own (and some I already do), and mix in some of the beautiful furnishings already existing from the Century line–The Signature Sofa (upper left) and “The Classics” Drawer Chest (bottom center). The Alifair is an effortless fit, blending beautifully with the other pieces and even adding a little extra modern flair. Of course, I had to throw in a dash of Zia-Priven lighting to up the glam quotient–The Solano Chandelier and The Omega Table lamp , which are both housed with a choice of energy efficient low voltage LED’s, Halogen or CFL bulbs.

Please click on the photo to enlarge.

The Charcoal grey UltraSuede was the perfect tone for me, especially with the black piping. I chose to pair it with a deep magenta and dark taupe with accents of gold and white. I find the color combination smokey and sexy, yet timeless and classic. Moving clockwise, I chose the delicious plum and cream “Feather” rug by Thomas Paul, a shapely Laura Kirar Jolie Mirror for Baker and a vintage Fornasetti plate (it can also be purchased new here). The Gold Rorschach painting by Andy Warhol is my new obsession (if you’ve been reading this blog, you’ll know I plan to do my own for our Living Room… I know, yet another project…). And to prove that good design can be affordable, the graphic brown wallpaper is by Target (called Mode Illusion) and the Norwall Colored Plains wallpaper is by Lowes.

This was my take on my favorite chair from the competition, what’s yours? Take a moment and check out all 6 chairs and vote for your favorite–you’ll make one design student very happy and get a chance to take a peek at the exciting new direction in eco-friendly design. Remember, you can only vote online- www.facebook.com/BiOHFans

If you have the opportunity, please check out Wanda S. Horton’s Interior Concepts and Maybelline Te’s Frou La La blog entries about Project UDesign and see what chairs they selected. They have some fab ideas, great input and insightful comments about the competition and green design plus some beautiful inspiration boards!

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Marcia Zia-Priven | Categories: Design Events, Green design, Home Decor, Inspiration | Tagged: Century Furniture, High Point, interior design, ProjectUDesign, wing chair | 8 Comments

Eco-Designer Kelly LaPlante Launches Standard Magazine

Leading interior designer Kelly LaPlante, who taught the design community that “green is a standard, not a style” is raising the bar once again. Sustainability now represents only a single component in LaPlante’s ever-evolving criteria– a criteria which will illuminate this fall with the launch of LaPlante’s first periodical publication, Standard.

The February 2010 issue of Traditional Home Magazine names LaPlante among the “Twenty Young Designers to Watch.” Her work has also been published in magazines such as Elle, Vanity Fair Online, California Home and Design, Blackbook, Interior Design, Hospitality Design, Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Magazine . She regularly appears as an expert on programs including Sundance Channel’s The Lazy Environmentalist and Big Ideas for a Small Planet, Discovery Home Channel’s Greenovate, Good Day New York, KTLA News, Good Day Dallas, Good Day Atlanta, and Martha Stewart Radio. LaPlante was also the executive producer of “Brilliant Green,” a special for Ovation TV which aired in January of 2009.

LaPlante’s first book, écologique (benefitting The Blank Theatre Company and Global Green USA) was released in 2008. She is co-founder of jak, a luxury eco-furniture collection designed in collaboration with designer James Saavedra.

I am thrilled to share this conversation with Designer Kelly LaPlante, known for her “Green” design long before it was cool to be eco-friendly. Today her new online magazine, Standard debuts and I’m sure it’ll make a definitive mark in the publishing world. Kelly’s work ethic is astounding; juggling family, interiors, furniture design, a book and now an online magazine and amazingly, she happens to be one of the nicest people around. Hope you enjoy her interview as well as the fabulous Standard magazine!

TSL: Kelly, congratulations on the launch of Standard Magazine! You must be very excited—what exactly inspired you to start the magazine and what kind of content can we look forward to?

KLP: I just felt it was time for a magazine where sustainability is not touted as a special feature. For a long time I have been saying “green is a standard, not a style” and I got to the point where I felt like green should just not be special anymore… it should be bottom-baseline criteria. And journalism runs deep in my blood so I guess it was only a matter of time before a publication came into my circle of projects.

Kelly’s original Venice Beach loft

TSL: I’ve had a sneak peek at the magazine already and it’s quite exiting! I love your manifesto–design should be captivating, timeless, built to last and, of course, produced in a way that honors people and the planet. What originally captured your interest in green design— did a shift occur or was it something you’ve been conscious about from the beginning?

KLP: When I started my design company I was just out of college. I’d been working at some very high-end firms through school and I was so young and broke that it always made me want to cry to see the beautiful things that our clients would be throwing out in order to facilitate a new design. So when I started with clients of my own, I always worked in what was existing. I didn’t know that I was being “green,” at the time, but I started thinking then about how else things could be re-used and then, a few years later, the design industry started evolving and before I knew it I had sustainable NEW materials to work with (that was amazing to me!) 12 years later, I feel like it is SO easy to design sustainably.

Lexus Hybrid Suite Washington DC

TSL: What would you say is the biggest misconception of eco-friendly living out there and can you offer any tips to being more eco-friendly?

KLP: I think people still think that eco is a style, which cracks me up. I’ve designed sustainably for clients with incredibly diverse tastes. My best tip is to really evaluate what you already own and how you can use it. Nothing is more green than not buying anything new. In the premiere issue we have a feature about two friends who moved in together and did not buy one new thing, even though they are both total design-aficionados. They just used what they had and it was incredible.

Private Residence Hancock Park

TSL: Nothing could be easier or more cost-effective than not buying something new, but it seems impossible to be completely “green” in this modern world. What’s the least “green” item in your home that you can’t seem to let go of?

KLP: My 16 month old. He wears disposable diapers but I cannot let him go.

TSL: Ha! I’m sure he’s worth hanging onto, even with the disposable diapers! You know, you’re always referred to and revered as an eco-friendly designer, but apart from that, you’re really an incredible designer, eco or not. What would you say most influences your aesthetic?

KLP: I suppose it is the same things that affect us all… politics, music, art, fashion, world events, nature. I let these influences run around in my head until they collide into one another and create unexpected combinations. I love a good juxtaposition and to infuse a little bit of humor in my work.

Lexus Hybrid Suite, San Francisco

TSL: The thoughtfulness in your work shows. I find so many of the rooms quite beautiful, yet very livable and I love that so many outside influences inspire you. Who in the design world inspires you?

KLP: I am more interested in what my contemporaries are doing than in what my predecessors did…. I’m not sure why that is. James Saavedra is one of the most brilliant and detail oriented designers working today. Erica Islas is amazing at space planning and customizing to make the most of every square inch. Vanessa DeVargas and David Jimenez both do beautiful rooms that are always brimming with vintage pieces. I love to collaborate and pick the brains of other designers. We are all sort of out in this brave new world together and I’m glad to have them to bounce things off of.

TSL: That’s wonderful that you can be so collaborative, I think we can all learn so much from each other. I learned something about you I didn’t know while researching this interview! I was fascinated to find out you did the home office of Heather “Dooce” Armstrong in 2007—that must have been a blast—how was that experience?

KLP: That was incredibly fun. I met Heather and Jon through my brother who is a journalist in Salt Lake City where they live. It was a quick turn around—we were doing the design for inclusion in my book and we were on a deadline—and so we all got to know each other really quickly (and over many drinks!)

Private Residence Hancock Park

TSL: You graciously contributed your time to The Upward Bound House Family Shelter in Culver City by designing one of the rooms. What were some of the trials and tribulations?
(Note: Upward Bound House is a Santa Monica-based agency, which provides transitional housing for homeless families with children. The project united some of L.A.’s most well known designers to makeover an 18 unit converted motel in Culver City. All designers gave freely of their own time and worked with a minimal budget and donated items. Zia-Priven is proud to have been one of the contributors providing lighting for many of the rooms.)

KLP: Lack of budget, lack of running water, lack of electricity and a two-week long rainstorm. It was such an incredible experience, though. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Upward Bound House

TSL: Alright, time for the fun questions…Can you name 3 living people you’d love to have dinner with?

KLP: Richard Branson, Barack and Michelle Obama (I’m counting them as one but I really want them both to be there) and an incredibly powerful and unapologetically self-actualized woman like Madonna or Angelina Jolie (whomever will be the most forth-coming.)

TSL: Nice choices. I have to respect a woman secure enough to sit down with Madonna or Angelina! What is the worst thing a client has ever requested?

KLP: That I listen to all of the ideas her friends and (non-immediate) family had for the house.

Private Residence Silverlake

TSL: Oh my. I can’t imagine how you got past that. Touchy situation. The next question is a bit easier… or is it? If you had only $100 to spend on something for your home—besides paint—what would you buy?

KLP: I’d pay the piano tuner to come out for an hour to work on our 1928 baby grand.

TSL: Great piece to have… And if you only had $20?

KLP: A big white phalaenopsis. They last so much longer than cut flowers and need almost no maintenance.

TSL: Can you envision where you see yourself in 5 years?

KLP: I suppose I’ll be due for another re-invention/ evolution of myself and my career. I think that is important to do every 5 years or so. I’m in the middle of that now with launching the magazine, a show in development and re-locating the companies and my family to Austin. Five years from now this will all have evolved into something that is greater than I could ever imagine. Maybe I’ll be ready to tackle another country…

TSL: Or run one! Well Kelly, I wish you and Standard magazine the best of luck, not that you need it. Thank you so much for the interview.Don’t miss 5 Twestions with Kelly!
It’s my homage to Craig Kilborn and the old Daily Show (though I’ve learned he’s back on the air with a new show) “5 Twestions” are intended to be fun, fast and furious and yes, tongue in cheek! They’re ONLY for the Twitter crowd–they will NOT appear on the blog–and are a part of every interview. They will be tweeted at 10am and 6pm Eastern ONLY on the day the interview is first posted. We tailor them to each person for the most interesting results and each “Twestion” and answer must fit within the 140 characters. Follow us on Twitter and see what happens!

{You can also read Kelly’s blog at kellylaplante.com or follow her on Twitter at @standard_mag.}

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Marcia Zia-Priven | Categories: Green design, Home Decor, Inspiration, interior design, Interior Designers, Interview | Tagged: inspiration, interior design, Kelly LaPlante | 3 Comments

Designer Spotlight: Karen Young of Hammocks and High Tea

I was so pleased to sit down and have a great conversation with Karen Young, Owner and Designer of Hammocks and High Tea, who is about to launch her first pillow line. And let me tell you, they’re not your run-of-the-mill pillows, the designs are sophisticated, luxurious and well thought out. Karen has also become a dear friend through Twitter- the girl is not only talented but witty and incredibly kind, not to mention a very exciting up and coming designer. Plus, we got a bit of a scoop, Interior Designers, you’re going to love this…

Karen Young is the founder and designer of Hammocks & High Tea, an organic home decor brand that fuses traditional Caribbean style with a modern aesthetic.

The eco-friendly line is comprised of drawer liners, tea towels, pillows and other tabletop items. The products are made from 100% certified organic cotton or organic cotton/hemp blends, and printed with water-based inks. The overall result is a line of contemporary goods infused with vibrant colors that appeal to many homes and aesthetics.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Fordham University. Prior to founding Hammocks & High Tea, she worked as a sales account executive in the fashion industry with brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Cavalli, and Ferre.

TSL Hi Karen! After being such a fan of your textiles for so long, I’m excited to announce your modern new line of pillows launches August 16, 2010. They’re incredibly chic—what inspired these new designs and where will they be available?

Karen The designs are usually inspired by my memories paired with things I am fascinated with now. I am that girl that stares at an iron gate and breaks down a pattern (linden print), or traces the root of a shape and remakes it in a modern version (maya print). The new collection will be available at my shop and can be found at my retailers as well.

TSL It really is a wonderful collection and I’m happy to know that staring at iron gates has finally paid off! But there is even more exciting news; you’re also introducing a to-the-trade line this Fall, which we’re sure designers will be thrilled about. What will that consist of?

Karen Yes, I am so excited to offer my fabric by the yard to the trade. It will be a small collection of some of my most popular prints in spectacular color ways, some which are almost like fine art. I wanted to really explore and push my boundaries, as well as show that just because it’s eco doesn’t mean it’s the color of dust.

TSL I’ve seen a little preview of these prints and I think people are going to be blown away- the colors are so unexpected and vibrant- anything but dust inspired! And the fact that designers can now tap into these fantastic patterns and be creative with them in their own way is incredible. Drapery, duvets, custom pillows-the possibilities are endless. So, I’m curious, I’d really like to know more about your background in design and how you came up with the idea of Hammocks and High Tea? And tell me, what inspired the name?

Karen I actually have a degree in Psychology. About a year before I graduated, I decided to give myself the chance to explore the fashion industry, which I was so fascinated by. I got an internship with a major Italian design house, which led to a recommendation and a job offer from another house, and the day after I graduated I found myself accepting a job as account executive for D&G Dolce & Gabbana. Excuse the name dropping J That showroom carried a lot of amazing brands and I was soon buried in clothing with impeccable tailoring and details. I had aspirations of being a fashion designer but soon found that I would prefer to dress the home. Hammocks & High Tea was born 7 years after that first job as my way of telling the story of multi cultural design, the same design that I had grown up with in Guyana, South America. It was a mesh of many different influences, including the predominant British paired with a mix of Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, etc. It was something I couldn’t find it at the time in product design. The name symbolizes this (in a lighthearted way), Hammocks (Relaxed/Caribbean) & High Tea (British/Victorian).

TSL I had no idea about your fashion background, very interesting, I can see the influence. And I love hearing the inspiration behind the company. How have you managed to take your ideas and translate them into a successful business?

Karen The most honest statement I can make is that I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to fit my work in. I looked at a lot of trends and tried to see how I could fit it into my style, because I thought that’s what people wanted to see. When you see it twenty times a day you figure everyone must like it. Hello? Mushrooms? Mustaches? I soon realized that the things that I liked best from my own work had a certain thread, and felt most authentic to me. Once I took a breath, stopped, and did what I loved, everything flowed from there and the response was, and has been, incredible. It is one thing I will never let go of again.

TSL I’m so glad you followed those instincts, the beauty of the designs speak volumes. I think it’s a lesson every good designer needs to learn in order to do great work; it’s got to come from the heart. Now, I know a lot of your design is influenced by your Caribbean upbringing. What are some of your most vivid memories of growing up in the tropics and how did it shape your design aesthetic?

Karen My most vivid memories were the architecture, the colors, nature, and of course the food. I don’t know why as a child I would have been interested in the filigree that decorated the roof overhang of the houses, but I was. I remember vividly my aunt’s Japanese rock garden that was surrounded by palm trees, the Holi festivals where we would douse each other in the streets with colorful powder, and some of the ceremonies where I was honestly most excited to see what food and fruits would be a part of the celebrations. I’d sleep during the Hindu ceremonies and be bright eyed for the food. I am still a major foodie like that. I’m a big believer that in order to experience a culture, you must experience their food. These are the things I look to when I’m ready to design and my mission is to show that like the rock garden & palm trees living together, good design has no boundaries.

TSL Your grandmother was a great force in your life, especially during those early years. What made her so special to you and what do you carry on from her?

Karen Granny rocked! She let me know that I could do anything I wanted, and to never let myself get in the way of my dreams. Maybe it was from her own experience (she had 9 children, was widowed fairly early, and was a caretaker all of her life), but she seemed determined that I should do whatever made me happy. She was also the first person to sit still while I painstakingly drew her for an hour or so, and smiled at the stiff, double jointed results, bless her heart. My homage to her is doing exactly what I love, and I know she’s somewhere showing off her granddaughter’s work.

TSL What a great lady and a great influence. What would you find to be the latest influences on your design?

Karen Currently I am obsessed with shapes found in architectural details and in vintage textiles (kilims, blankets, etc) throughout the world. I try to modernize them by paring them down very simply and adding bold or unexpected elements of color.

TSL And, who are your design inspirations?

Karen Sheila Bridges is my favorite interior designer. My sister, who is an architect, and can solve a Rubix cube in minutes.

TSL Shelia’s great and your sister is obviously a genius, especially if she can still find a Rubix cube these days! So, let’s have a little fun and talk about some not-so-serious design topics…

What’s the one thing you have in your home even though you know it’s just not cool?

Karen Sometimes comfort trumps design, or the two haven’t caught up yet. I don’t have a cool office chair; mine allows me to sit for more than an hour. Also, I have one old school fan and a tower fan. Good design gets me hot & bothered, but when the weather does the same, an old school fan wins.

TSL Name 3 living people you’d like to have dinner with?

Karen Michelle Obama, Cornel West, and the Dalai Lama.

TSL What is “SO 5 years ago?”

Karen It may be more like “SO 15 years ago” but I would appreciate it if people took those wavy mirrors off their walls. They look like fun house mirrors. And it’s so Caribbean to have plastic on the furniture. I’m talking velvet covered, gilded sofas, which are then covered in plastic…in 100 degree weather! I cannot tell you how many years I spend shifting from side to side in a hot house, unsticking one leg at a time from plastic covered chairs. Baaaad memories.

TSL What IS the “new” black?

Karen Being at ease with yourself and your life.

TSL Do you have any great Caribbean recipes you can share?

Karen Here is a very easy, delicious one for Baked Plantains:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
2-3 whole ripe plantains
Butter or 1 tbsp olive oil
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Cayenne Pepper
1/4 cup brown sugar
-peel plantains and slice in half lengthwise
-place in 9 x 13 baking dish with flat side up
-coat lightly with a pat of butter or olive oil
-sprinkle the tops generously with nutmeg, cinnamon
-sprinkle cayenne pepper to your taste
-top with brown sugar

Bake for 10 minutes covered, remove cover and bake another 5 minutes until golden brown.

TSL That sounds so good! Not only can you cook but you have a great sense of humor and have so many people smiling on Twitter- where does that come from?

Karen I grew up with my three uncles who naturally had lots of foolish banter between themselves. Maybe it was the environment too, but there was a lot of silliness and jokes going around. It’s now my way of putting people at ease, or just cracking myself up. I’m quick to “LOL” at my own corny jokes. The most surprising thing people find about me is that I’m quick to laugh (loudly), and at myself, because I appear very serious most of the time.

TSL Where is Karen in 5 years?

Karen Karen has a small studio that churns out a range of eco friendly home goods from bedding to tablecloths, made with the same attention to detail and consistency as they are now. One aspect of the studio focuses on working with her interior design clients, and she is expanding into hospitality and furniture design. She’s riding high off the success of being featured on Oprah, but she’s not one to show off you know.

TSL You always make me smile and I’m so glad you joined me for this interview-Thank you! I wish you all the best with this new line and I cannot wait to see the trade only line, I know it’s going to be simply beautiful.

With Karen’s interview we are introducing a new segment- 5 Twestions!
It’s my homage to Craig Kilborn and the old Daily Show (though I hear he’s back on the air with a new show) “5 Twestions” are intended to be fun, fast and furious and yes, tongue in cheek! They’re ONLY for the Twitter crowd–they will NOT appear on the blog–and are a part of every interview. They will be tweeted at 10am and 6pm Eastern ONLY on the day the interview is first posted. We tailor them to each person for the most interesting results and each “Twestion” and answer must fit within the 140 characters. Follow us on Twitter and see what happens!