Home Wizards Radio, gotta love it!
March 20th, 2009
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Cindy Dole is LA’s home improvement and design go-to gal on the AM dial. You can hear her “Home Wizards” show each Saturday morning for a full hour on KRLA 870-AM. Cindy chooses all of her music openers and transitions – each number is whimsical and creative. The morning I appeared, she opened the show with the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song “Our house is a very, very, very fine house . . . .” – A perfect segue into a conversation about home, haven, design and interiors.
I appeared on the March 14, 2009 edition of "Home Wizards" radio in LA
Cindy invited me to be a guest on last Saturday’s show to talk all about my favorite subject: personal backyard escapes (aka SHEDS). We’d been waiting several weeks to do the program, mainly because at this time of year I have too many Saturday lectures or trips. What a treat to finally arrive at her studio in Glendale early last week and meet Cindy in person. She is vivacious and knowledgeable, serving as both executive producer and host of her long-running show.
We found an instant rapport, along with my fellow studio guest, a Los Angeles floral and garden designer George Woods. George and his partner and wife Evonne Woods own The Woods Exquisite Flowers in Culver City.
When Cindy introduced my segment, she promised that we’d talk about “Man Caves” and “Gal Palaces.” I’ve heard lots about the man-cave movement, both here in the U.S. and also in the U.K. But I really love the gal-palace correlary. Looking forward to using those distinctions in my upcoming talks – it’s often not too hard to tell the difference between the styles.
If you want to listen to the interview, Cindy has it posted on her web site in two parts, about 15 minutes total. Enjoy and let me know what you think! Part One and Part Two.
When I saw George Woods’ beautiful floral arrangement that he and Evonne brought to the studio, I knew they were kindred spirits – people who appreciate flowers in season and who are far from traditional in their design approach.
Cindy Dole with George and Evonne Woods - and their gorgeous arrangement of spring blooms
Displayed in a low, square glass vase, combining a palette of greens and vibrant oranges, reds, and purples, George’s design drew from a wonderful mix of flowers and foliage.
His fresh, new “happy” spring green came mostly from a surprise ingredient: ephemeral Maidenhair Ferns; plus, Algerian variegated ivy, pale green viburnums and hydrangea blooms. Parrot tulips, ranunculus, roses, anemones and some pretty awesome dark purple and fuchsia-colored sweet peas comprised the brighter hues. So breathtaking. Plus, all the stems of these cut flowers and foliage were hidden in a woven “nest” of just-sprouting willow that George used to line the vase.
A lucky listener won the arrangement, but I certainly lusted after it, too. I can’t wait to see what else George has designed (he promised to take me to a certain garden on a Malibu hillside very soon!).