The Polished Pebble: July 2012

summer is here and so are the veggies

time to get picking

while I love them all...it really is the tomato's that make me smile and feel like I am doing something right in my garden

basil and eggplant

the colors and shapes and the abundance of the tomato's

is really amazing

lettuce is my second favorite and perhaps my year around

"go to" crop...

I am never with out a nice bowl

of little green leaves

I hose everything off and then bring it inside

for a few days

to use as needed

tomatoes

banana peppers and cucumbers

parsley and spring onions

I am not sure why the things

that grow in the garden are so beautiful...

but they just are

everyone should try a little garden this summer

it is never too late to start

kelley

I'm sure most of you know that actress Reese Witherspoon purchased a little (7 acre) ranch a few years ago, in the historic, Arbolada area of Ojai, California.

This month, Elle Decor
shares her newly re-done interiors
and I thought I would share a few of the photos with you too!

But hey...how do we get there?

Well... my dog Millie knows the way, because she
walks by there every day

let's go Millie

up the road

doggie bags....check

water...check

camera....well just for today

First stop is my friend Christine's fruit stand...

it looks like she had quite a few visitors yesterday!

This is a very private area,

known mostly to locals as the Palomar trail.

Horses and dogs love it

and so do the people who are with them!

Millie usually likes to look at the goats up the trail,

but she never gets too close...

she gives me this look like...who are those dogs

and why do they smell so funny?

There are some wonderful homes along the trail,
with great vintage details
like this scalloped picket fence!

We love to stop and look at the tomato's
this family sells at their little stand...
only locals would find this
and I never have any spare change... but yum!

Remember this house? Read my post about it here
What an amazing and beautiful restoration they did....I am soooo jealous!

Are we there yet?

Millie says yes,

so lets go inside and see what is new

Reese worked with Los Angeles based designer Kristen Buckingham and the feel of the house is really different from when she originally purchased it,
about 4 years ago.

Designer Katheryn Ireland,
known for her great use of color,
owned the property prior to Ms W.

Kathryn spent quite a few years upgrading and renovating this wonderful home and you can find more details and wonderful photos in her book:

Creating A Home

I love her work,
and have posted about it quite often,
you can read more here

Above is the newly re-done office area

The office before; really quite a change.

Kathryn was responsible for refurbishing

all of the original hand wrought fixtures and fittings,

original to the house and forged right here on the property.

This is Reese's daughters room...I just love this room don't you!

The colors are so soft.
Look at that closet door!!!!

The little bedroom before.

Notice the cute little lamp above the chest
in a Kathryn Ireland fabric and how different it looks today
with the new pink shades.

A new dining area, very chic and so much more formal,

but really beautiful with the old saltillo tiles and original iron work.

Kathryn used many of her signature fabrics throughout the house,

when she lived here

and the feel was very Moorish

and vintage.

I happen to really love the curtains above

and think they would have worked with the new decor as well.

This historic home originally was designed as a stables

for the Libby family's horses and cows,

then re-worked into a family home by Austin Pierpont.

It is full of these wonderful nooks

and details that are so charming and typical

of early California architects

Kathryn's work above...what a beautiful daybed with the Fortuny inspired pillows!

The little nook today...very spare and sharp
but I love it!

Amazing iron work!

The huge fire place with Kathryn's

signature details and casual flair for color

Notice how the huge beams and hand troweled plaster

works with both of the decor styles

The living room today...don't you love the little Juliette balcony to the left.

I love this room, with the exception of the plant on the ledge.

Could that be the work of a stylist? I think so!

Kathryn's bold living room before...so her and so grand.

New version above... and guess what kids?

The rug is from Pottery Barn!

I'm in love with those chairs

What a difference!
The Robert Kime fabric on the chairs
and the earthy tones of the couch and quilt...

But don't we love them both?

Another feature of this property,
are all of the little out buildings and guest houses.

Above is the forge for the iron workers of long ago.

This area of Ojai is an old growth Oak forest,
which that is why it feels so secluded and majestic...
perfect for dining al fresco.

The temperature here tends to be at least 10 degrees cooler
than any where else in the Ojai valley.

Portico's, walks and stone work are everywhere.
Reese has dogs, chickens, horses, ponies
and probably dozens of gardeners too ...
which is why this place so wonderful.