Category: Home Decor/Entertaining

#ELSPANISHOASIS BY SAFAVIEH

posted by Elshane on May 1 2015, under Home Decor/Entertaining

Welcome home... Welcome home!

It's been a long journey of construction, 4 months in total, but we've officially laid down the last tile, painted the last beam, and fluffed the last pillow.

With our #ElSpanishOasis construction, we focused on 4 key areas. I'm releasing one of them to you today-- our beloved indoor/outdoor courtyard! We took what was simply a long, narrow enclosed driveway that was parallel to our house, and turned it into an indoor/outdoor peaceful abode, with the help of Safavieh Outdoor Furniture.

Here's our old space, a shot facing the street:

Notice the stark white wall hardly shading us from our next door neighbors. Also notice the concrete flooring, the unsightly black swing doors toward the front of our home, and the overall "driveway"-like feel.

Now see the same shot after the construction (but before any of our landscaping grew in)-- you'll notice the following things:

1. The white wall is 3 feet higher (and will soon be covered in lush greenery).

2. The driveway doors were replaced with reclaimed wood doors that are 3 feet taller and much more aesthetically pleasing.

3. The 800 sq. feet of floors have been tiled in Saltillo tile with hand-painted accent tiles.

4.We installed a water feature with light beams against the white wall.

5. We built a reclaimed wood pergola (which will soon be covered in lush greenery) to create an indoor feel outdoors.

6. We built a white wall towards the reclaimed wood doors to hide our garbage cans and BBQ.

7. We furnished the space with the most versatile and chic Safavieh Outdoor Furniture!

Enjoy some great shots below of the new space.

Can you imagine the endless entertaining we've been hosting? As it gets dark and our pergola market lights turn on, along with the surround sound system and soothing water feature, it's been an ideal spot to relax and watch the sunset. During the day, we use the space as an outdoor living room-- an easy flow to and from our backyard pool!

P.S.- Do you melt for these layered outdoor Safavieh rugs? I do!

The greatest part of our space is our outdoor furniture and layered rugs by Safavieh. It's allowed us to feel completely at home, as if we were indoors in our living room, while we are outside. Plus, the maintenance is practically non-existent. Sometimes I cover the couch cushions when I know it's going to rain at night. Otherwise, we just leave everything as is! The rugs are completely waterproof, and the cushions can be unzipped and washed when necessary (but we haven't even had to explore that yet)!

I can't wait to show you the progress of the space in a few months when the landscaping grows in, completing the look. We even planted a large tree in the center of the space. A tree in a living room? Sounds about right.

California living at its finest...

Join my conversation about my #elspanishoasis by following along these hashtags on Instagram - #elspanishoasis and #safavieh. Happy decorating!

Photography by Tori Aston.

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SPOTLIGHT ON: GRAY MALIN PHOTOGRAPHY

posted by Elshane on Mar 5 2015, under Home Decor/Entertaining

This Elshane's World way of life (you know, for the power chick who wants it all), really goes from head to toe, from inside out, from my closet to my living room. The keyword is GLAM!

Talk about full circle, funny story: Four years ago when I moved to LA from NYC, I visited a local flea market in hopes to bargain hunt trinkets and treasures to fill up my new home. I found myself in a booth filled with vibrant photographs that blew my mind-- donkeys, farmers, and everything else strangely southern perched perfectly in front of a lone Prada Marfa storefront. These images were very familiar to me-- I had seen them all over the internet by a famed photographer, and I figured I had stumbled into a steal of a re-print. I made BFF's with this cute local photog, and a few small bills later, the print was mine.

Within a year or two later, I had discovered the photographer Gray Malin, and recognized that he was the genius behind the Prada Marfa series. Although I knew I got my print from a tiny flea market vendor, it was exciting to know that I had a piece in my home that was inspired by the great artist. The piece was a no-fail conversation starter and lead me to follow each new series of Malin's work.

I even hung another series of Gray Malin-inspired photographs in my house after I honeymooned in Positano, Italy with my husband and had us each photograph the sea of orange umbrellas like in Malin's La Dolce Vita series. We framed our versions of "Positano Town" in our guest bathroom, and signed it with our honeymoon date.

But wait...the story doesn't end yet...

One perfect afternoon right after the 2015 new year, I decided to get my faux- Gray Malin Prada Marfa photograph re-framed professionally. And then it happened...

As the man at the frame store took my photograph out of my old frame, a business card fell off of the back of the artwork.

It read, Gray Malin Photography.

It was Gray who I met at the flea market that day. It was Gray who I bought my prized photograph from. It was Gray who was the photographer. It was, this entire time, an original Gray Malin Prada Marfa series!

My jaw dropped. I immediately emailed Gray from his email on the business card and asked him if I could come by to re-introduce myself, have him sign the work, and give me a big, fat hug. 

The rest? History. Art history, that is...

Here are some photos I took while visiting Gray's office to have my work signed:

Special sale alert! Today's birthday boy Gray Malin (happy birthday!) is running a one day mega sale on his Prada Marfa series on his website today! Shop the collection here!

And the other best news? These are only half of the photos from my amazing home tour. Find 12 new photos of different room by visiting Gray Malin's webiste here!

 

Photographs of me in my home by Tori Aston.

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GIFTS FOR THE HAUTE HOSTESS

posted by Elshane on Dec 17 2014, under Home Decor/Entertaining

It's not too late to get on Santa's your neglected friend's good side this holiday season. Online shops are still guaranteeing deliveries before Christmas, so score your favorite gifts here for that hauter than haute hostess in your life! (Ok, or yourself...)

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TURKISH DELIGHT

posted by Elshane on Oct 26 2014, under Home Decor/Entertaining

I'm six weddings deep into wedding season, and it's only been five weeks! Good thing I have a wild, wild west wedding to look forward to next spring... in Istanbul!

I remember the last time I was in Turkey-- you could find me haggling with the tapestry dealers in the Grand Bazaar or {raging} like a classic American dancer with moves like Elaine Benes (old Seinfeld reference) at clubs on the Bopshorus after midnight. I took a hefty side trip to Bodrum, the Saint-Tropez of Turkey and spent most of my time tanning topless on boats and eating Manti (Turkey's finest #eeeeasts-- essentially, spaghetti Bolognese, dumpling style).

Here are a bunch of photos that I never released on Elshane's World. I categorized this as Home Decor/Lifestyle because this culture is so rich with color and architectural inspiration, that you can't help but invite these images into your home. Dig in...

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ELCHELLA 2014!

posted by Elshane on Aug 27 2014, under Home Decor/Entertaining

Dear Diary,

I had the best 30th birthday a gal could ask for!!! Well fine, I guess I should pat myself on the back and say it was all my "fault". That #ELCHELLA theme, you know, "Elshane's Coachella", was a recipe for success the second my gals started chowing down on my Fritzi Hot Dog truck, serving up LA's finest gourmet 'dogs and accouterments topped on pretzel buns.

Also, it didn't hurt that I created possibly the most epic D-I-Y station of all time, my Harajuku Sunglasses Stand, where I ordered 500 cheeseburger, ice cream cone, and penguin mini erasers, along with pearls, rhinestones, and googily eyes to hot glue onto faux Ray-Ban sunnies.

But wait, maybe it was actually the 16-person "shotski" that made #Elchella, well, #Elchella. Or do you think it was the countless Tribe of Jewels metallic tattoos that I shared with all of my guests to put where they pleased? Ah, yes, that could be it! I remember that four hours into the perfectly chilled and forever free-flowin' Tequila Avion, all of the macho guys were begging us proper ladies to "tramp stamp" their lower backs with metallic suns and tribal symbols!

Although, thinking back, I think my favorite part was actually the 4-member Rock Band that I hired and chartered to travel all the way from Santa Barbara to rock out at 10,000,000 volts of volume to classics like Fleetwood Mac and Nirvana

Wait, now I really remember why it was the best day ever...

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MAD FOR MOSAICS

posted by Elshane on Jul 29 2014, under Home Decor/Entertaining

So, we're tiling the floor, wall, and water feature in our #elSpanishOasis. And it's giving me nightmares.

I have an image of what {I think} I want in my head, but no spot-on photos to show for it. Houzz.com (where most of these inspirational photos come from) has given me a taste of inspiration, but it seems like it's up to me to put all the pieces together (hehe).

So I went tile hopping shopping, and here's what I learned...

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PLANS FOR A SPANISH OASIS: PHASE ONE

posted by Elshane on Jul 2 2014, under Home Decor/Entertaining

I'm turning my sweet little Spanish home into an extraordinary Spanish oasis.

Living in Los Angeles, I find that outdoor space and indoor space are one in the same. I want to transform my 3-bedroom home with outdoor courtyard and swimming pool into a free-flowing space of indoor and outdoor modern luxury, while staying true to its original Spanish roots.

In short? I want an epic compound. A compound that leads you from the street through a secret garden to its golden wooden, hand-carved, larger-than-life gates. And once you've made it through the doors, anything goes...

So here's how we're executing...

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PREPARING THE ULTIMATE HOUSE PARTY

posted by Elshane on Jun 17 2014, under Home Decor/Entertaining

Hosting is a natural instinct for me, since I have always relished pleasing other people over myself. I love watching friends eat, drink, enjoy their surrounding, and leave a party with an incredible story-- especially when it's on my home turf.

It was only natural, therefore, when Absolut launched their newest gem named Elyx, a premium luxury vodka distilled from pure copper, that a genuine partnership between Elyx and Elshane's World formed. A tequila fan I always was, until I tasted an Absolut Elyx martini and unapologetically switched teams and chose to {fight for the right to party}. 

I hosted an intimate, raging, California cool house party at a friend's bachelor pad/ art gallery/ over-the-top barn/ open-air mansion in Venice, CA-- a perfect setting for my guests to experience what copper-distilled madness could taste like. A venue like this, mixed with a well-curated guest list, and shaken up with a sensory overload of tastes both to the mouth and to the touch delivered the perfect house party environment. Best part? You can re-create this memorable event for your friends, too.

Follow along for how to master the perfect house party...

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Los Angeles, CA
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HI! IT'S ELSHANE FROM LOS ANGELES, CA
(BY WAY OF NEW YORK CITY)

I STARTED MY BLOG IN 2010 AS A WAY TO ARCHIVE ALL OF THE ONE-OF-A-KIND RUNWAY PIECES THAT I OWNED FROM WORKING AS THE IN-HOUSE STYLIST FOR DIANE VON FURSTENBERG IN NYC.

THEN, IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST... BIO

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ELSHANE@ELSHANESWORLD.COM

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