Friday, September 4, 2009

Bountiful Style


Eve and I decided to make a journey to Venice Beach yesterday. One of our all time favorite places to visit is there on Abbot Kinney Boulevard. It is a store named Bountiful, owned by interior designer Sue Balmforth.


Before heading to Bountiful we met Ben at the new Tlapazola Grill for a fun lunch, the legendary icon artist of Los Angeles, Ed Ruscha, was also there having lunch.


When we arrived at Bountiful they were away at lunch, thus, we decided to walk Abbot Kinney and hit some of our other destinations like the Vintage stores.


Most of the photos in this post were taken by Eve, she was on a role. I am particularly found of this self portrait she did of herself in a few mirrors on the street.


And of course what is a day to Venice without Jin Patisse!


Bountiful was inspiring, as we suspected. Soon our little wooded house will begin looking like this. That is our intention, a cross between Anthropology and Bountiful. I found this article to get us started. We will also be creating an inspiration board in the kitchen to keep our idea fresh in our minds eye.





The beeswax candles smelled amazing. These were the only botanical aromas in the store. All the perfumes and scented candles were created with synthetic aroma chemicals. Botanical perfume has not yet arrived at Bountiful.






There is a quality to Bountiful that reminds Eve and I of the Estella's home in the film Great Expectations.







Between the fluffy pillows and the crystal chandeliers I am reminded of my grandmother's apartment on Avenida Libertador in Buenos Aires. Wonder what happened to those chandeliers? I sure do miss that apartment and my grandmother.



Next time you need to go on an Artist's Date I recommend Abbot Kinney in Venice, lots of inspiration to be found.

6 comments:

Myy said...

I'm excited to see the results!
These shops are amazing!!

Illuminated Perfume said...

I'm excited too!!

ScentScelf said...

Artist's dates...an idea/commitment worth keeping. So glad you got to enjoy one with your daughter. I recently enjoyed a prolonged such time with my older son, and I think we both came away energized & inspired.

On one of those small note things...there is a shop in northern Michigan which has much the same effect on me...which your pictures doubly reminded me of because I light my fires with those very dragonfly box matches from there. (The ferns are the candle matches.)

Illuminated Perfume said...

Hello ScentScelf,
Artists dates are truly magnificent and such great fuel for the creative fires.
When I go to Michigan please remind me of the inspirational shop you mention. I'd love to go!

Meridith said...

Thanks for posting! Sue is my favorite!

Illuminated Perfume said...

Hi Meredith, welcome.
Gosh, Sue is so amazing, being in the store restores my creative spirit. I can't wait to go back!