A Southern California Holiday

After a week's vacation in glorious southern California, Jaithan and I are finally back at work! What a fantastic time we had, filled with family, great food and friends, both new and old. Here's the front entrance of the house in San Diego, a charming English country style cottage Jaithan's parents built about two years ago. I love the little rounded wrought iron gate leading to the courtyard.

Jaithan's mother is an avid gardener with all sorts of beautiful flowering plants throughout the property. These camellas in the courtyard were breathtaking!

In fact, they were so inspiring, I decided to do a little arrangement for Jathan's mother, all with fresh cut flowers from a local farm stand. Problem was, when we got there, the mums, by far the most beautiful, were also the most expensive! So I thought—why pay three bucks a stem for the fresh cut type when I could pick up an entire plant full of flowers for eight? Note to self: Buy the plant and grab the clippers!  

Here's the finished arrangement on the dining room table Jaithan's mom set using her beautiful set of Lenox china with a "K" monogram, together with simple wine glasses and flatware. For a little extra color, Jaithan and I picked up this pretty hemstitched golden runner at a nearby Target on the way back from the farm stand. I love it with the rust-colored mums, burnt orange roses and crab apples in the arrangement. The glittered edge leaf cards add just enough sparkle! And thank you to Kari, Jaithan's sister-in-law and a talented photographer, for the picture!

With the table set and the turkey still in the oven, Jaithan and I had just enough time to catch the sunset from the beach at nearby Torrey Pines.

So pretty...

The next day, it was off to LA to meet up with one of my closest friends from the show, Andrea Schroder, and her adorable family at their home in Topanga Canyon.

In fact, Jaithan and I were lucky enough to stay with them for two days at their beautiful guest cottage. I love the red bouganvilla together with the pretty blue of the door.

From the moment we started working together on Top Design, I knew she had amazing taste and style. Plus, she and her family are such gracious hosts! Check out the fresh cut roses from her garden on the coffee table. Everything about the place was just so charming!  

Here's the little sitting room off the master bedroom. What a great place to take a nap after a long hike through the canyon. And Andrea's design is so cozy and beautiful, I love it!

Speaking of, I thought this bathroom was so pretty. A skylight over a clawfoot tub? Heaven!

This time I wanted to save the best for last. How amazing is this kitchen? For a guest cottage, it had everything you could possible imagine—and more! Carrera marble countertops, Waterworks fixtures, stainless steel appliances. Needless to say, Jaithan and I didn't want to leave!

For a hostess gift, I found this beautiful set of old French ivory knives at a junk shop in SIlverlake. The carving I thought had a wonderful French cottage feel Andrea would love—and she did!

In fact, Andrea loves antiquing, especially at her favorite spot in Santa Monica, Wertz Brothers Antique Mart.

As soon we walked in, I spotted this beautiful Heisey bowl. Jaithan's mom collects old glass, and with that pretty scalloped edge, I knew she'd love it! This piece is probably from the 20s, yet it still feels modern to me. I just wished we'd had it for Thanksgiving. It would have been perfect for the delicious brussels sprouts we had!

Check out the little "H" in a diamond, always the marking of good Heisey glass.

Half way through the store and it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas! So many of the booths were filled with holiday merchandise, and even though it was about 70 degrees outside, I couldn't help but get in the spirit. Check out these beautiful beaded candy canes we found.

Although they're new, I still love 'em! How great would they be hung on a tree, garland over a fireplace mantel or even in a pretty glass vase set on a bedside table?

Check out this beautiful wreath made of antique ornaments and beaded garland. Love the sophisticated and unconventional color palette. So pretty!

Here's another great collection of antique ornaments, this time displayed on an old drying rack. How charming is that? I've always loved vintage ornaments and have quite a few in my collection, ever since my grandmother Dottie gave me hers years ago.

Another thing I love this time of year are vintage linens in all the fun retro patterns of Christmas. I especially love finding onsie napkins, then typing them to a bottle of wine or champagne for an elegant, one-of-a-kind hostess gift.

Check out this great footed silverplate gravy ladle that Andrea found for all her holiday entertaining. The wooden handle keeps you from burning your hands!

Speaking of holiday entertaining, with a full house of kids (all of them so sweet!), Andrea's planning on doing plenty of baking this month. So how perfect is this footed cake pedestal going to be for serving classic gingerbread cookies? I love the scalloped lip around the edge and the pretty pressed glass pattern I think is so elegant.

Here we are settling up only minutes away, Andrea told me, from where we filmed some of Top Design!

After the antique mart, her husband Rick had a great idea to hit up this pawn shop on the way to lunch at Ivy at the Shore. Talk about a city of contrasts!

Inside, I immediately spotted a display case full of flatware!

Check out what I found! It's a gorgeous set of ten mother of pearl knives with sterling silver cuffs. The price? 50 bucks. I smell a Pawn Shop Christmas table setting...

After such an amazing weekend with Andrea and her family, all of whom were so incredibly generous...and funny—you'd laugh hysterically if you could see Andrea's youngest daughter Faith doing an impression of me from Top Design!—it was finally time to head back to San Diego for the last leg of our trip. But not before a meeting with an agent from Creative Artists Agency! How pretty (and legendary) is the building located on Avenue of the Stars in Century City?

And it wouldn't have happened without my new friend Catherine, a devoted reader of the blog and an absolute sweetheart! There's so much great stuff in store for the holidays (and beyond!) here at eddieross.com, so thank you all for indulging us in some time away. Now, onward and upward!

Comments

[le@third]

loving the pearl handled knives - just so must have ! best le xox

[Delores]

Andrea's guest cottage is so gorgeous! I could move right in. Loved this post!

[Divya]

Such a beautiful house, wish could see more areas of the place, need guidance to do up my own place!!

[Livingston Montana Lodging]

Those are adorable collectibles!

[Debra]

What a beautiful and lovely home! OMG, I could just move in and not change a thing. Love those mother of pearl knives!

Eddie, you remind me of my best friend! He, too, has so much talent and class. I am thrilled I found your blog. It is so very inspiring!!! Thanks.

[Amy Beam]

I live in San Diego and I was going to go on a hike at Torrey Pines on Thanksgiving. We ended up doing another one instead. That was a great choice as the cliffs are breathtaking. It looks like the rain cleared up for you for a beautiful photo.

[Linda]

Oh! That was a great post and tour of her wonderful cottage! Wow!! Thanks. And those finds...amazing!!

[SuSu]

The Heisey piece is called "Crystolite" and was made in the 50s. It was a lower priced line that flew off the shelves because is didn't break easily and also has a very modern influence. What a lovely gift.

Our home was on a Christmas tour and the biggest hit was my dining room - painted deep pink, white moldings and fireplace and was filled with Heisey bowls of vintage ornaments as well as two antique white feather trees covered in more vintage pink & turquoise. You would have loved it!

Still lovin' the blog - glad you are own your own now - make sure you have a good lawyer review and discuss everything prior to signing any contract, please!

[Julia @ Hooked on Houses]

How fun! You two should do a show together. I know I'd watch it!

I want that guest cottage. Swooning over the kitchen!! Thanks for the pics.

[Julia @ Hooked on Houses]

How fun! You two should do a show together. I know I'd watch it!

I want that guest cottage. Swooning over the kitchen!! Thanks for the pics.

[laura @ the shorehouse]

omg...now I want to add "pawn shop" to my thrifty to-do list. Those knives!! Hey...You could do a 5-borough pawn shop tour. ;-)

[Angie D from Ohio]

Yipee... I just found your site. I can't wait to check out previous posts.

The cutlery is beautiful. And those antique candy canes are too damn cute.

Thanks for sharing an amazing trip.

[Rowena]

By any chance, would you be so generous as to share with me the Silverlake junk shop where you found the gorgeous ivory handled knives!?! I can take my answer by email! Please?

[Natasha]

I have just recently discovered this wonderful blog. I am trully enjoying every aspect of this blog. From you adventures to the flea markets and the decorating ideas.
You have given me so many wonderful ideas and now I am not afraid to paint a piece of furniture I find :)
Thank you
Natasha SF California

[lovebabz]

You have a fine eye. And You truly seem to appreciate loveliness when you see it.

[Antoine Nguyen]

I'm really enjoying your blog. It's a great mix of you! I especially enjoy the flea market/thrift store finds. It would be great to watch a show featuring you and your take on these places. a sortof fresh take on 'the antique road show' idea.

You and Andrea were the most memorable on TDII. To put it in Jon Adler's words, 'j'adorable' the pair of you!

[beachbungalow8]

love wertz brothers. Her house is beautiful. I love topagna canyon.

[DecorPad]

What a lovely home and the flowers are so pretty! Flowers at this time of the year! ***sigh*** I have the same runner from Pottery Barn! Loves it!

[Judy]

Oh Eddie how I envy your trip. I loved seeing you with Andrea. I liked her on the show and her decorating style. I love her home. It is so beautiful, I can understand why you wanted to stay. This was such a wonderful post. You always take us along with you and your ideas and finds are always stunning. I'm so glad you had a wonderful holiday and vacation, but I'm so glad you are back. I missed our daily jaunts. Have a great weekend.

[sandra/tx]

Eddie, this is one of your best posts yet. How fun to hang out with Andrea. Her guest cottage is fantastic! Lucky you!

Y'all found some great stuff. I always love Christmas ornament-encrusted wreaths, and the one you showed is really great. I especially love the new silver you got at the pawn shop. Score!

[Naomi]

What a great trip! Thank you for sharing. Andrea seems very genuine and has a true talent for creating clean but cozy rooms... usually so much white would feel too antiseptic for me, but she pulls it off so nicely.

[Melanie O.]

Andrea's cottage is beautiful! She has such great taste! Great finds on the candy canes and the wreath!

[Jan]

What a simply fantastic trip! And Andrea's home is so very very charming and so elegant -- like a magazine story! Lovely photo of you and Jaithan on the beach -- another one that would look divine in black-and-white! And brillant treasure hunting too! Bountiful blessings for all!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

[lynne]

What an incredible trip you had. I love all the treasures you showed us today. I'm wondering how many went home.. the flatware is just too marvelous for words..and those vintage ornaments are sure screaming my name...hugs ~lynne~
lynnesgiftsfromtheheart.blogspot.com

[Stacy]

So. In. Love. with Andrea's guest house. Looks like a fab vacation!

And, um, that pic of you and Jaithan on the beach? Could you guys be any hotter? LOL, a really good looking couple for sure!

~Stacy
www.19butternut.blogspot.com

[The Undomesticated Wife]

I loved the tour!

I especially love the antique ornaments. One of my (10!) Christmas trees is dedicated to antique ornaments. They are so beautiful, even though they are worn. In fact, that's what makes them so beautiful!

[Tonia]

Great post! Thank you for sharing your week with us. Andrea's guest house is fabulous and I so enjoy your shopping trips. Can't wait until the next one.....

[Jennifer]

I hope those knives went home with you! $50 sounds much better than the ones I found last week:

http://newlyweddiaries.blogspot.com/2008/12/day-523s-antique-browsing-spot.html

and Andrea's house is gorgeous!

[hanako66]

I have to start by saying that you and Jaithan are totally adoro together...loving that picture of you two on the beach!!! what a fun trip! Andrea's guest cottage is amazing, I love her style! have a great weekend Eddie!!!
Aline

[Mélanie Aussandon]

as always , Beautiful finds , you are such a great hunter

[Shawn]

I love that you featured vintage Christmas finds in this blog, my particular obsession. And it's that time of year, after all, so I hope to see more of that from you this month. I'm sure you have some great suggestions for us. I'm so jealous of that footed ladle Andrea found! Creative Artists Agency! Sounds exciting! Hopefully that's a good thing for you, and can't wait to hear all about it.

[Shelley Granata]

Welcome home Eddie and Jaithan !!

What a wonderful look through your holiday travels !!

I love the crab apples and pears you included in your recent arrangements. They were so beautiful !! I so enjoy your exquisite taste and love of unique flatware. I look forward to each new find !!

... and the Eddie Ross show (let's face it the Eddie Ross anything) - be still my beating heart !! Good for you and good luck with where ever these meetings and opportunities take you. I for one will be right there, following along, on your exciting journey !!

Again, welcome home to you both ... I am glad your are back !!

Shelley

[Scarlett]

Those knives have to be the best hostess gift ever. I always loved Andrea; she has such a grace and elegance. Her guest quarters are divine. And your shopping trip with her had to have been a blast.

Okay - I have a lifestyle TV show concept. You and Bethenny Frankel (of the Martha Stewart Apprentice and Real Housewives of NYC fame) do entertaining makeovers. You take someone that has been outed for throwing bad parties and you give them all of the tools for entertaining graciously on a budget. The two of you would be hilarious together!!! I would totally watch that show.

[maddy]

Sounds like a perfect holiday to me!

[Kate@ Kids and Cocktails]

Loved reading about your trip to CA. I wish I had your eye for great finds. I always get overwhelmed in antique stores, flea markets, etc. so I leave. Any tips for having a good shopping experience? I'd love to see a couple of posts about that after the holidays, PLEASE! :)

[Lauren]

I LOVE Andrea's cottage. It's my dream house. And the mums for Thanksgiving are beautiful. Glad you guys had a great time! :)

[Rhoda]

Hi, Eddie! Looks like a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday in CA. Loved all the shopping pics & all the thrifting you did. Those knives are just stunning, can't wait to see what you do with them. Glad y'all are back & can't wait to see more Christmas from you! Looking forward to what's in store for you too, that sounds exciting.

[Mike D.]

Eddie and Jaithan,

Wow, you guys had a great trip. Loved the lenox china at Jaithan's parent's house. Also Andrea's guest cottage was to die for, total perfection. You even managed to find great treasures in Southern CA. The gravy ladle with the wooden handle is really unusual. You must have hated to come back to the cold weather.

[Pat@Back Porch Musings]

Another great post, Eddie!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, here in Missouri and I do believe they are predicting the possibility of snow, soon!

I love vintage ornaments. We own a few.

I should remember to check Pawn Shops. I had no idea one can find flatware in these shops!

Oh my, those ivory handled knifes! Beautiful!

[Rich]

Meeting with an agent? A new show with Eddie Ross?? Awesome!!

[Kathysue]

Eddie,How wonderful to be able to connect with family and friends at Thanksgiving.I loved Andrea's cottage,I love her style and more importantly her gracious ways.Your floral arrangement was lovely and perfect for Tday.Is there another show or a new job in the works?Visiting an agent means something???!!I hope so, you have so much to give and share.Just don't quit the blog, I really missed you this last week.Hugs, Kathysue

[Arlynn from Fleur De-Licious]

What an amazing trip, it looked like a magnificnet time with some wonderful people & of course, the shopping!

I'm in love with that footed cake pedestal, I'm envisioning it right now on my buffet with a beautiful coconut cream cake (the hubs' fav) for Christmas!

I can't wait to see what you have in store for us : )

And as always, thanks for the inspiration...

[Laura Ingalls Gunn]

What a wonderful weekend! Andrea's guest cottage was so lovely. Thank you for sharing.

[brand-eye]

looks like an awesome time. makes me want to take a drive to the country this weekend and hit up some antique stores!

[Naughty Mommy]

Agent...Did you say AGENT??? Well it is about friggin time!! I foresee a whole new chapter of your life about to open up..."ETV...All Eddie, All the time." I can't wait!! Or..."Eddie Ross...Changing the world one decorating disaster at a time..."

I vow to be the first president of your fan club!! And then your fashionably evil minion/loyal follower once you have implemented a plan for world domination!! ;)

Take care and MUCH luck...
~NM

[Karena]

I lived in San Diego thirteen years and so loved having a glimpse of your trip with Jaithan to So California. That guest house is precious. I adore that reed bench. The flowers, like the bouganvilla, magnolias etc are so appreciated all year round!

[Pink Wallpaper]

love seeing pics from your trip! andrea's guest house is so pretty and i love those knives you scored at a pawn shop!!

[Evy]

What a trip! Family, friends, wonderful homes, gardens, always-perfect flowers, antiques, treasures (and you even staged Andrea's knives on the kitchen counter -- your New York look transplanted to the Canyon?)...and more seeds of the Eddie Ross branding and show!
FYI, Kari's photography is exquisite; thanks for that treat also.

[Sheila]

Wow! Looks like you had a wonderful holiday. I'm glad you are safely back and I'm looking forward to lots of new ideas.

[Meredith]

Thanks for sharing the details of your vacation. I love the arrangement you put together for Jaithan's mom, it is gorgeous. The guest cottage looks amazing, what a treat to be able to stay there! I love all of your inspiration and look forward to reading your blog everyday!

[Paloma of La Dolce Vita]

What a lovely holiday! Andrea's guest cottage is to die for. It's so beautiful! I love Jaithan's GQ pose in the picture of you guys in the dunes. :)

[Lucien]

I always knew Andrea was special, the way the judges picked on her told me so. I thought at one point they must just have an issue with her, her projects were always beautiful to me! I am glad Jaithen and you had a great holiday and thanks for sharing all the wonderful photos! Chanukah and Xmas are just around the corner and I cannot wait!

[Virginia]

Love traveling with you, Eddie! Such a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. You've had several posts/pics of the French ivory flatware. You've created a monster in me: I want some! Before your blog, I wasn't in tune with it. Is it rare? Hard to find? At most fleas? Happy holidays!

[tracy holland]

another thought about your new show, after you have on the nice designers from Top Design (the ones with good taste) and you visit Kerry in atlanta so he can finally show off some of his designs you should invite j adler on and be really really NICE to him. it will drive him crazy and you will look sooo good! also for one show, after you have become an instant mega hit please have a dining room with some form of a sofa in it. how ignorant was it to say "i have never seen that before". by the way that room did not look cheap in the least. and how nice did andrea's guest cottage look! you really couldn't tell from the show what she could do.

[barb]

Thanks for the tour of Andrea's cottage, her style is lovely and it was a joy to see it without the drama of reality TV. I too have used the "trick" of buying the potted plant for a floral arrangement - it's a good one.
Thanks for the dose of antique mall eye candy.

[TRACY HOLLAND]

a new show starring eddie ross?!! i knew it would happen! way to go eddie!!!

[Mimilee]

What a wonderful Thanksgiving you and Jaithan had in sunny California! Wow! Thanks for your awesome post and allowing me to be there too! I just loved it all. Andrea's home is so charming and lovely as she herself seems to be!.....Great, great post, Eddie!

[Viv]

I wish, I wish we could find such fabulous stuff here in Australia. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough or don't know what to look out for!

Looks like you had a great trip.

By the way, I've tagged you with an 'I love your blog award'. Love reading your posts!

http://ishandchi.blogspot.com/2008/12/woohoo-tagged.html

Viv

[Columnist]

You're friend's guest quarters are indeed very pretty. And having separate arrangements for guests is the best idea ever invented. It's so important for both hosts and guests to have their own space, and it doesn't matter how good a friend you/they are - too close a proximity has ruined many a good friendship! Enjoying reading your blog which I've only recently discovered.

[Cathleen]

Incredible Post, you are so captivating. While reading I feel as if I'm right along by your side. You attention to detail is amazing. Love seeing Andrea's Guest Cottage! It's great you have remained friends... funny I was in line next to her and the children at Disneyland a few years ago and they all seem like such a great family. ( I recognized Rick back then!) LOL, I'm sure she gets all the attention now. Thanks Again

[Debi]

How much fun was that vacation??? Looked like a great time sweetie....Love all the treasures you came across. Look forward to a lot more pics and ideas.
xo..deb