The California Edit

Welcome to The California Edit, a twice-monthly roundup of the things that inspire me most right now. From beautiful interiors and coastal decor, to effortless California style and entertaining finds, this is where I share the best of Golden State living.

As we say goodbye to March and hello to April, I start daydreaming about summer. I know it’s still early spring, but I’m looking forward to warm (and dare I say even hot?) days. I want to spend more time outside and I feel inspired to improve what little outside areas that we have.

Here in San Diego, our yard amounts to little more than a forlorn strip of grass out front — though it’s hard to complain when we’re looking out at the Pacific. We’ve begun laying the groundwork for a long-overdue transformation: reimagining that modest patch into a vibrant, intentional landscape layered with drought-tolerant native coastal plants. I can’t wait to see what our landscape architect conjures up.

Today’s Edit

In today’s edit, I’m sharing an inspiring LA landscape designer, some chic summer clothes, my favorite mug, fun finds for the home and more.

Inspiring Spaces

I wandered onto this website by accident. I follow Kelly Wearstler on Substack and she recently featured the L.A. landscape design firm Inner Gardens. Inner Gardens is a Los Angeles-based landscape design firm, nursery, and shop led by celebrity designer Stephen Block, whose work is guided by the “principle of wabi-sabi, the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”. The site functions as both a curated shop — stocking statement planters, sculpture, antique garden pieces, and outdoor furniture — and a portfolio showcase for Block’s high-profile residential and hospitality projects across California. For anyone serious about creating a genuinely beautiful indoor or outdoor space, it’s well worth a look.

For the Home

A Lovely Spindle Chair

The latest addition to our home is this pretty spindle chair. I’ve been looking for a chair for our office/guest room for a while and happened upon this at HomeGoods. The pale wood and neutral upholstery complement the other beachy tones in the room. Plus it’s comfy to sit on.

If you’re looking to add a spindle chair to your home and can’t find one at HomeGoods, here are a couple of other places to look. The budget option on the left is the Millissa Spindle Solid Wood Accent Armchair from Wayfair. On the right is a more expensive version from Williams Sonoma.

A Divine Diffuser

My daughter and I strolled into Pottery Barn recently and one sniff stopped us in our tracks. This Jasmine and Crisp Linen reed diffuser from their Bloom Scent Collection is the most lovely floral-scented diffuser I have ever come across. The large one went home with us that day. According to their site – “Scent notes include: Meyer lemon, Comic pear, water lily, star Jasmine, Tahitian Tiare, Moroccan neroli, white Amber, creamy sandalwood, and solar musk.” Heavenly!

For the Table

Look no further for the perfect coffee mug – I found it at Willams Sonoma. The Rory Dobner x Williams Sonoma Zodiac Mug Collection is the perfect gift for the coffee and tea loving people in your life. Its large 20 oz size is perfect for those mornings when 8 oz just won’t cut it. Plus, you can choose from any of the 12 zodiac signs. I love that my sign has one of my favorite sea creatures on it – the octopus!

Getting Dressed

Crochet Column Dress

I just bought this comfy Mirage Sweater dress from Marine Layer and it’s really flattering on. I’m thinking it will work well as both a casual summer piece and as a swim coverup. I would get your regular size, unless you want it looser, in which case size up. It’s also currently on sale.

Rails Sandals

Rails just came out with a footwear line and these sleek Lagos sandals with silver-plated shell hardware caught my eye. They are the perfect balance between casual and dressy and are available in brown and black.

Raffia Tote

This Bellport Raffia Basket Tote by Polo Ralph Lauren is an investment piece but should last for many summer seasons. It has a classic shell shape and leather trim, along with a matching pouch. It’s the perfect summer tote, which is why I also included it in this post: California Coastal Style: 8 Summer Wardrobe Essentials and How to Style Them.

Here are some other great woven totes at different price points.

On My Radar

Currently Reading

I like to collect coffee table books, especially ones about interior design. The three below are my newest recommended reads. I should add that I don’t just buy design books for decoration – I read them cover-to-cover! If you only look at the photos of your coffee table books you’re really missing out on a lot of great information.

The Layered Home: Inspiration for Crafting Cozy, Collected Rooms – A fantastic collection of maximalist homes from around the world. Written by Benjamin Reynaert, marketing director at Elle. https://www.instagram.com/aspoonfulofbenjamin

Pacific Natural Everywhere – This is the third installment of the Pacific Natural series by fashion and interior designer Jenni Kayne. It’s full of gorgeous photos of minimalist homes that organically blur the line between indoors and out. @jennikayne

Patina Homes – I surprised by how much I loved this book by Steve Giannetti and Brooke Giannetti. It features an eclectic collection of stunning homes designed by architect Steven Giannetti. The projects are located across the U.S. from California to the East Coast. @patinahomeandgarden

Currently Listening To

A-ha MTV Unplugged Summer Solstice

If a-ha has held a place in your heart since the eighties, their album Summer Solstice is essential listening. Stripped back to intimate acoustic arrangements, it reimagines many of their greatest songs in a way that feels both nostalgic and entirely fresh. It’s already on repeat here, and I have a feeling it will be the soundtrack to my summer. The full album is streaming on YouTube — settle in and enjoy.

California Moment