Michael Smith... & Beautiful California Style.

Above - Micheal Smith, interior designer and his beloved pets in his garden of his stylish Bel Air Californian home.

Above - A man/ interior designer after my own heart - here Michael displays a vignette of blue & white ceramic vases, vessels and a lamp [base] on a cararea marble top console with an abundance of soft peach & white blooms accenting the pink based clay walls.

Above - The simplicity of this room is key > with neutral colour scheme and natural textural elements and only small pop of colour with the striped throw folded over the chair that Michael designed

Above - an open space with a stone table to enjoy alfresco entertaining moments - light filled and inviting.

Above - A Private garden is a perfect setting for spa area which also acts as a water feature - to the side of the house.

Above - A light filled living room with high ceilings, tall french door, natural & olive tones compliment the tall potted palms - which also draw the eye towards the gorgeous Moroccan lantern used as a main light source.

Excerpt from Elle Decor - '...Michael S. Smith’s house in Bel Air was simple in its first incarnation, a 1950s low-slung ranch that reputedly was built for a member of the oil-rich Doheny clan. A couple of walkabouts, however, and the faded mid-20th-century charms that initially caught the designer’s attention in a newspaper ad began to appear merely forlorn...'

I read an interesting article on Michael Smith, from Elle Decor, who is also known as the Obama's Interior Decorator - certainly a great credit to have on his CV for clients considering Barrack Obama's recent appointment as the 44th US President, and heavy weight leader of the free-world. Here are a few images from the article of Smith's home - I love his design integration of bring the outside in, and inside out - with the use of plants, large french doors that can be thrown open and and creating small flowing rooms [often with an element of water] in the garden spaces with a place to sit and enjoy the vista. I love Michael's approach to style & design, I think Californian style is very similar to Australian style and our love of the outside in - as quoted in the article - '...And nearly every room has a door leading to the garden or a terrace, because indoor-outdoor living is one of the best things about being in L.A....'. Needless to say - just stunning.

Images from Elle Decor