No Gaffes, No Gain

Acid washed denim, L'eggs pantyhose, Aqua Net-stiffened coiffures, velour tracksuits. There are plenty of sartorial regrets we can tick off on our fingers until the exhausting list has us ready for a nap. Concerning our homes, there's a comparably infinite number of regrettable decisions we've experienced, if not personally made. How about carpeted walls (popular in East coast basements)? Water beds? Furry toilet seat covers? Country floral tile backsplash?

We've all made mistakes. You'll get zero judgment from us. Trust me. The Lily Spindle ladies have our own regrets and we're unabashedly sharing a couple of them with you here, along with the regrettable furniture and design anecdotes from some of our esteemed friends and comrades, some of them major players in the design world, like Capree Kimball of Dog Milk/Design Milk, and Erin King, the founder of King Garden Design in Santa Monica.

And so, here you have it. Here is my most memorable "coulda woulda shoulda":

Back east, beginning in early 2000,  I ran an independent furniture store where everything we created for our clients was custom-ordered with a crazy long leadtime and made in downtown Los Angeles. The style at that time can now be described as “inordinately cushy and obnoxiously massive” -- much of what we carried in accessories and lighting was shimmering with jewels and whirligigs and ornamental doodads and we sold A LOT of blown glass Dez Ryan lamps and hulking, oversized cut-velvet chaises.

When I eventually ordered myself a rolled-arm, high-backed sofa, I selected a mulberry red viscose cut velvet with an all-over floral pattern. I thought it would be dramatic. A showstopper. I though it would be speakeasy sexy. It was none of these. I ended up selling the enormous red beast for a paltry $100 when I moved to Los Angeles years later. - Rebecca

(this is an actual example of the furniture company's handiwork. my sofa was not quite this, but not far enough off to be considered unregrettable.)

Here's Deb's: My one memorable design blunder (and I'm still living with the consequences) is my kitchen floor.  Remodeling the kitchen was so fun -designing the layout, choosing the cabinetry, countertop, etc.  When I saw those beautiful black basalt (volcanic rock) tiles I knew I'd found the perfect flooring to complement the walnut, white and stainless palette.  Maybe I had selective amnesia - I don't know but the practicality of that decision never entered my mind.  Oh it was so lovely when it was first installed - all gorgeous black and gleaming! And then my three dogs and three cats moved back in.  Dripping and drooling and shedding, they daily render my beautiful black floor a hazy, spotty, hairy mess. And I have no one to blame but myself. - Deb

---

It was probably 15 years ago (I hope it was that long ago)!!! I sponged my entire living room using a beautiful yellow and mustard combo . It stayed sponged for probably 5 years until I simply couldn't take it anymore. – Neda Aden, vegan home chef

Don't forget to wear your surgical gloves when you're making a horrible design decision.

---

Where I lived in New York there was a great flea market six blocks from my flat . One hot summer, having lost my mind during a heatwave, I came upon a 6ft wooden diary cow that had been taken off a farm bill board. For some reason she reminded me of England so I paid a guy who worked at the flea market to drag this big wooden cow back to my flat. I named her Daisy (of course) and she sat awkwardly in my living room for close to six monthsuntil a kind friend gently asked me if I'd lost my mind.
- Heather McCall,The Animal Works reiki practitioner and animal communicator

---

One of the worst/dumbest interior design mistakes I made was purchasing a viscose area rug, which is fine if it's in a room you never use and you don't have dogs or kids. But, I put it in our highly-trafficked living room and, well, I have 3 dogs. It lasted approximately 3 minutes, but what a glorious 3 minutes they were! - Capree Kimball, managing editor at DogMilk

---

My biggest design mistakes - and that word is plural because I’ve sadly done it more than once - is that I’ve bought a piece of furniture for a very specific space in my condo/apartment/house that I don’t love but I thought I needed it to fill a space. This piece is inevitably the first to go when I move. Now, the first thing I ask myself before I buy something is, “do I LOVE it?” I’d rather leave a space empty and wait for the right thing.  - Deb Thompson, owner of Nahcotta

---

We once bought a sofa from a local dealer — probably close to ten years ago, and it was such a bizarre choice, that to this day, I haven’t a clue what we were thinking. It was a sad brown color with a dreadfully high back. A love-seat that was begging for a divorce. It was even more uncomfortable than it looked; a look that said, “you’re better off on the floor”. Even our cat, Thomas, tried to knock some sense into us in by scratching the shit out of it — leaving our better choices to live claw-free, unscathed. And if all that isn’t bad enough, we managed to transport said disaster in our tiny convertible through our small town, as if to say, “Everyone look! Have a good long look at the dreadful new couch we bought! Yeah, we have the worst taste in history!” Had we any sense, we’d have driven directly to the Goodwill.

– MJ Blanchette, artist (and my sister-in-law)

---

The worst mistake I ever made was ordering 6 Saarinen office chairs in a gold velvet, sight unseen.  Off eBay.  Thought they would be just the thing for my dining room

 Turns out the chairs had been stored for 50 years and the foam was 'crunchy' and hard.  You sat on them and the dust spurted up in a cloud...cough, cough...ugh.  And the fabric!  I was hoping for 'cool retro'...but instead I got disgusting Boogie Nights vibe off them.

                             "I'm a star. I'm a star, I'm a star, I'm a star. I'm a big, bright, shining star."
                          (Chairs shown are for visual reference only. Not *actual "Boogie Nights chairs)

They were shipped from upstate NY and the shipping and packing alone cost a fortune. Buyer Beware!
- Erin King, landscape designer and owner of King Garden Design

---

Most of my biggest mistakes can be found in the bottom of my wardrobe. On my shoe rack. Many beautiful pairs of shoes from the 40s, 50s and 60s found at flea markets and vintage fairs. "Oh, look! Tiny shoes! I wear a 5 1/2! I can't just leave them here, I must take them home!" Somewhere in the back of my head the voice of reason whispers that my feet are W-I-D-E but I always ignore it. As for my house. There have been many pieces that have come and gone. At a garage sale in Michigan, I bought an Eames "style" lounge chair and ottoman from a yard sale for $30.00. The father of the man selling it had worked for Herman Miller and he thought it was some kind of early prototype. It wasn't a Plycraft and it wasn't any other knock-off that I could find. The chair was slightly larger than the classic. It was a bit wobbly. I took it home and (sort of) fixed the wobble. I moved it around the living room several times over the years to find pride of place for it. It was divine. Best $30 find ever! I loved it! I moved it across the country to California! It took up half of our small living room! I still loved it! Once day, As I was admiring the black behemoth, I realized that it really didn't fit in the room very well. It didn't really fit in our house in Michigan either. But it was great! And it was $30! And then it struck me. No one ever sat in it! It was uncomfortable! And suddenly, after 8 years of living with the behemoth, I put it on Craigslist and it was gone. I don't miss it in the slightest, but I loved it while it was mine. - Astrid Reed, curator

SHAPERS / / / LISA CHESTER SCHROEDER

A couple times a year, I'm lucky enough to be invited to dine in the magical Culver City backyard of Lisa Chester Schroeder and her husband, Denny. A lovely, warm, and gregarious couple, they never cease to amaze me and my man with the multiple courses of deliciousness (some of which has been purchased during one of their many international jaunts), accompanied by more than a few bottles of wine and hours upon hours of conversation. Ubiquitous at these dinners are artists, writers, designers, inventors, and, like any skilled hostess, Lisa assigns the seating, so you can't simply cozy up next to your partner and casually kvetch about the traffic on the 10 or your annoying new co-worker - your curiosity and amity concerning the unknown are mandatory elements of the consummate experience.

As Southern California mainstays for a long while, Lisa and Denny are close friends with many contemporary artists, so they've an enviable art collection, and having worked with Herman Miller in several capacities for nearly two decades, Lisa is a fount of knowledge about the company and its inner workings. Naturally we couldn't wait to chat with Lisa about the ultimate deities of design, Lisa's own rescue cats, and what she cannot go without during her travels in our SHAPERS Q+A*! Enjoy! ~Rebecca

---

Could you tell me a little bit about your job as a global account manager with Herman Miller? How long have you worked with the company?

I am fortunate to be entering into my 18th year at Herman Miller.  While working here, I have had many different roles.  Over the past 4 years, I have been leading the Western US as the Director of Sales for our Healthcare team.  Many people don't realize that Herman Miller has been providing solutions to the Healthcare industry for 50 years.  It all began with Robert Propst.  Providing solutions that can enhance the experience of the caregiver, the patient and the family members is incredibly rewarding. 

I imagine you have at least a handful of interesting anecdotes, having worked with Herman Miller for so many years. Would you be able + willing to share one of these unforgettable stories with Lily Spindle?

Yes, I do and yes, some of these I can not share.  But some I can.  What is interesting about your question is the way you asked it: "unforgettable stories".  After an employee has been with Herman Miller for 20 years, we become known as a Water Carrier.  In Native American societies, the water carrier plays an essential function that helps a tribe survive. Former CEO, Max DePree, introduced the concept of water carriers to Herman Miller in 1987, and described them this way in his book, Leadership Jazz: “The tribal water carrier in this corporation is a symbol of the essential nature of all jobs, our interdependence, the identity of ownership…” Part of the role of the Water Carrier at Herman Miller is to pass along stories to the newer employees within our organization.  One of the reasons we use stories is that this is a way we as humans can more easily learn.

Here's a story for you that you may not know:

In 1954, Charles and Ray Eames designed a home for Max DePree and his family in Zeeland, MI.  After residing there for approximately 20 years, he was contemplating selling the home.  Word got around town that he was considering the sale.  At the Herman Miller company picnic, one of our employees asked if he could purchase the home.  However, Max had not decided yet, if he would sell, but if he would, he would give the first option to buy to him.  The DePree family sold the home and the Herman Miller employee, Rynbrandt,  purchased it in 1975. Herman Miller purchased the home back in 2010 with plans to restore and preserve it.. The side story goes that Max began looking through old photos of the home to assist Herman Miller in the restoration.  As he spotted pieces of furniture that had been in the home, but had since been passed along to his family, he began calling his children to give it back in an effort to place back to its original "home". 

Charles and Ray Eames, posing with their chair bases. Photograph: Eames Office

Collage of a room display for An Exhibition for Modern Living, 1949. Photograph: Eames Office

You are, as far as I'm concerned, a gastronome of significant proportion. Your dinners last for hours upon hours, replete with multiple courses, many bottles of wine, and a buzzing table of artists, writers, designers, and entrepreneurs. Did you ever consider making beautiful, delicious food your full-time passion?

Rebecca, yes, I have pondered this in the past.  However, at my age now, I enjoy simply providing my gift of cooking for friends and families.  I began cooking at 4.  When I was 6, my father told me that I should be a "food taster" in a restaurant. Back then, food critics and chefs were really not on the radar of my family in my small town. 

I have a dear friend that is a chef and caters beautiful meals, upon my retirement, I would love to work for her.

---

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Morning. I get up most days between 4-5 am.

---

You and your husband, Denny, have quite a few rescue cats. What are their names and where are there most beloved sleeping spots in the house?

Nambe-on top of the cat tower
Sir Stirling-on top of Nambe
Julia Alexander-In the Eames aluminum chair
LBC (little black cat)-under the Eames sofa
Mija-on an orange pillow on the Eames sofa

---

Name your favorite Herman Miller design and describe it using three words.

Eames Molded Fiberglass Chair
-Comfortable
-Classic
-Sleek

---

It seems like you travel a lot (like A LOT a lot) for your job. What are the things you never travel without?

-My coffee press and Peet's Coffee (two things, but they go together)

---

If you could have lunch with one famous person, living or dead, who would it be? And where would you dine?

Julia Child in my backyard.

---

*Lily Spindle's SHAPERS profiles the people whom we consider to be remarkable movers and shakers, doers and dreamers, trailblazers and big thinkers, the people who are doing things a little bit differently and unconventionally, with immense heart, passion, and authenticity in what they do. Artists, designers, writers, philanthropists, iconoclasts, artisans, heroines, voyagers, and all kinds of extraordinary extraordinaires will be interviewed in our SHAPERS series.

SHAPERS / / / GRAY MALIN

Top of Aspen Mountain.

Few of us have the opportunity to get an extended, windowless aerial perspective on the world, to hover above its cacophony and bustle and, released from that ceaseless din, perceive the patterns and beauty the singular perspective of being aloft can offer. Los Angeles photographer Gray Malin, however, succeeds in both perceiving and capturing these uncommon, charming, and colorful perspectives on park loungers, beach lovers, ski disciples, city dwellers, and single swimmers. He does all this from the cockpit of a roving helicopter, no less. (sidenote: there are loads and loads of fun shots of his feet dangling from the door of a moving helicopter.)

Gray's high-contrast, vibrant photographs reflecting the unique beauty of New York, Australia, Bolivia, Italy, Greece, Namibia, Cape Town, Antarctica and then some, adorn the walls of countless designers and photography bon vivants (and his best-selling images are emblazoned on beach towels and umbrellas, bikinis, aprons, and Iphone cases, lest you prefer Gray Malin photos-to-go). 

We first stumbled upon his photography several months ago while attending an animal rescue gala here in Los Angeles, where one of Gray's photos was up for auction. We quickly joined his awe-inspiring Instagram following of 149,000 fans and are beyond thrilled he was willing to be featured in our Lily Spindle SHAPERS series!

xx - Rebecca + Deb

---

Your photography vibrates with color, joy, and life, whether it’s capturing the populous of Aspen mountain skiers or the understated humor in a pair of llamas adorned with balloons. Is your attitude relatively joyful when you’re capturing these images? And when you look at them later, framed and hung in new and different environs, what emotions do they conjure for you?

I definitely aspire to create artwork that evokes joy, so it’s accurate to say that my attitude while shooting is positive. I love seeing the work in it’s intended home, the walls of one’s home, so it’s always a happy moment to see it truly come to life in client’s homes.

Gray Malin + Stella, his beloved rescue dog.

You and your husband have a dog (of course). Can you tell us a bit about how she came to you - how old, name, et cetera? Is she a fabulous model for your photos?

We adopted Stella about 5 years ago, and she has been brought nothing but happiness to our home. And, yes! She’s a great little model. We’ve worked together a few times..haha!

Central Park Lawn. 

Maroubra Bay Swimmers.

Who are your three favorite photographers and could you describe each of their bodies of work using two adjectives for each?

1) Slim Aarons - Classic & Luxury

2) Cristo and Jeanne-Claude - Forward thinking and structural

3) David LaChapelle - Editorial Fine Art

---

If you could have breakfast with one famous person, living or dead, who would it be? And what would you order?

I’d love to meet Martha Stewart.  We’d share something delicious inspired by one of her recipes, perhaps a quiche and talk decor and entrepreneurship.

Carry-on Cocktail Sprinkle Kit? Get one here.

Velvet or Mohair? Stripes or Polka Dots?
Velvet. Stripes.

---

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Is there such a thing as a late morning person? I’d have to say I’m a bit more of a morning person, as I love to get in exercise before hitting the ground running for the work day.

What's currently on your bedside table?

A yummy smelling candle I got from Collette in Paris, while I was there for an event last spring.

---

What would we be surprised to know about your design proclivities?

Not sure if it’s much of a surprise, but I love fresh flowers. Whenever possible, I like to incorporate into decorating as they just add that extra pop of color and softness to a room.

Hamptons Lone Swimmer.

La Dolce Vita; Positano.

---

“Lily Spindle’s SHAPERS profiles the people whom we consider to be remarkable movers and shakers, doers and dreamers, trailblazers and big thinkers, the people who are doing things a little bit differently and unconventionally, with immense heart, passion, and authenticity in what they do. Artists, designers, writers, philanthropists, iconoclasts, artisans, heroines, voyagers, and all kinds of extraordinary extraordinaires will be interviewed in our SHAPERS series. Enjoy!”

Roll out the welcome mat with our top 10 doormat picks!

What better way to greet a new year than with the almighty welcome mat? From irreverent to elegant, the welcome mat says quite a bit about you in a mere 20 by 30 inches. It’s one of the very first things visitors see upon approaching your home and it’s a chance to showcase a bit of your personality and style, ‘cos you know you got it.

Incidentally, if anyone knows the history of the doormat and would care to share its anecdotal inception, we’re all ears – all I could manage to find on the information superhighway was that the word’s first use was in 1946 (allegedly). So much for an information superhighway.

In no particular order of greatness, here you go! TEN MATS to make your front, back, and side doors more awesome than you ever thought they could be. *(Lily Spindle insider tip: most of these can be just as fantastic when used indoors - for instance, a Chilewich mat by your kitchen sink is one of the simplest ways to add color and texture to your kitchen, renders sink-standing considerably more comfortable, and they're exceptionally easy to clean - just spray with cleaner and hose these babies down!)

These colorblock, textured mats made in Maine from reclaimed float rope are durable and pretty. Get 'em here.

---

Handmade in Oakland, CA, constructed using fire hoses, these beauties work in a mud room, garage, or at your front or back door. Get 'em here.

---

Proud dog owners, heads up! This jute doormat from Nino is available here

---

Made in the Philippines, using scrap flip flop foam procured from sandal factories, making these dang pretty and environmentally kind, as well. Get 'em here.

---

Hello, GORGEOUS. Make your visitors feel sexy + attractive, even if it's just the UPS dude with your Purple Carrot delivery. Get 'em here

---

In a bold graphic chevron and made of vinyl, this Catherine McDonald design is all sorts of audacious. Get 'em here

---

The Hippo mat, designed by Ed Annink and produced by the Amsterdam-based company Droog, is made of PVC and coir. Hungry, hungry hippo, anyone? Get 'em here

---

We love these Chilewich shag mats in a major way. They're spectacular inside and out and are mega easy to clean. Get 'em here

---

The Feet-Back II Radius doormat features a stainless steel base and plastic (replaceable) bristles. Made in Germany, you can get 'em right here

---

A little humor (hand-painted, no less) never hurt anybody. BYE FELICIA! Get 'em here

Hello, new year

Donut, Greta, Fred, + Lucie wishing you a healthy + creative + fun + beautiful 2016.

It's 2016!

My husband and I stayed in last night, of course, as so many of us with animals do on these bacchanalian holidays, and endured a panting, pacing, panicking shepherd mix twisting her head maniacally towards the celebratory explosions in the sky until around 2 AM. Yay! Kablamo! Happy new year! Crikey.

OK, all that wild, inconsolable canine terror aside, a new year invites the very real opportunity to loosen the grip of whatever (or whoever) isn't serving you well and to create your own damn future, filled with much more of what you love, much less of what you loathe, and an expansion of this thing we're all in together.

I read this recently on Instagram and, heck yeah, it sounds hokey as shit, but it can be enlightening + powerful, seeing the disparity in those things and recognizing that you have the power to make changes in your world.

MAKE A LIST OF THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY
MAKE A LIST OF THINGS YOU DO EVERY DAY
COMPARE THE LISTS
ADJUST ACCORDINGLY

with love from me and Deb and the rest of the Lily Spindle cohorts.
xx - Rebecca

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.

So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.
― Neil Gaiman”

FIVE SIMPLE TIPS TO SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS

I sat down intending to write this post about the best modern holiday decorations or the top ten ways to make your house sparkle with holiday cheer using things you'll easily find in your pantry and then I thought, 'Holy smokes, we can't, in good conscience, tell our readers they should gleefully be placing glittery glass balls in a bowl or wrapping the banister with silver and gold garland while singing every carol in the book.'

This can be one of the most intense times of the year and I can't pretend it isn't. The holidays have the capacity to be magical. They can be beautiful. They can be heartwarming. And they have the potential to be incredibly stressful. I'm talking, like, insomnia-inducing, heart-palpitating, breakdown-inspiring stress. The gifts to buy, the traffic to navigate, the places to be, the food to make. Are you feeling superduperanxious yet?

OK, deep deep breaths, baby. We're going to help you alleviate the holiday stress and take it in stride, by being pragmatic and present and deep breathing (no joke). You can do it.

#1 - DEEP BREATHS BRING YOU BACK

It's SCIENCE -- deep breathing positively impacts your heart, brain, digestion, and immune system. Imagine that your deep breaths are the brake that stops a careening car (your body) from gaining additional speed and crashing into a brick building. One of the best and most effective breathing exercises I've learned is this: Breathe in through your nose for a FOUR COUNT; hold the breath for a SEVEN COUNT; release through your mouth for an EIGHT COUNT. Do this a few times and I promise you, it's like a shot of endorphin tequila leveling out your soul. (And then maybe do that shot of actual tequila anyway, just in case.)

#2 - LESS TIME CLEANING, MORE TIME BEING

The dirty dishes can wait. And you don't have to clean underneath the sofa before your guests arrive or take on the landscaping project of the entire backyard to start and finish in two weeks. If it's crazy-making to even consider the elements of resolving a project, that's a sign that the frenzy will only escalate as the insuperable reality of the job takes hold. Your friends won't care (or even notice, most likely) if your home isn't spotless (tip: it will never be truly "spotless"!). What's of much greater importance are the conversations and humor and time bonding with your beloveds.

#3 - YOU CAN SAY 'NO' + STILL BE LOVING

During the holidays, we're invited to about one billion fetes and events and gatherings and "white elephant" parties. If you're anything like me, you want to say yes, you want to be able to do it all, and do it all well. But, hey, will missing an art opening across town on a Thursday night be the worst thing in the world? NO. No, it will not.

Just say NO. Try it. Practice it in the mirror to get used to the sound of it coming out of your own mouth. Now, mindfully and with love, say no to the events you cannot make, the dinners you cannot attend. Set those boundaries, baby, because you're the only one who can.

Maple walnut pie from Huckleberry Cafe on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, CA.
photo cred: Huckleberry Cafe

#4 - TAKE-OUT TIMESAVERS ARE NO-BRAINERS

Your favorite green bean and almond dish, butternut squash and arugula salad, and ginger cake with salted caramel glaze are tried and tested showstoppers. You don't need to make these delectable concoctions from scratch. Make it easy on yourself and order these elements of the holiday meal ahead of time and pick them up, ready to roll. No prep time = more time for you to breathe deeply and ground yourself.

#5 - BE NICE. BE GENEROUS. BE KIND.

Being altruistic to others makes us feel positively about humankind in general and specifically in regards to the people upon whom we're bestowing our magnanimity. And it goes both ways - the trust and connection created from kindness mirrors itself between the giver and the receiver. Giving releases oxytocin, the hormone released during sex (YOWZA!), galvanizing feelings of warmth and euphoria and connectivity. When you're on an oxytocin high, you feel more empathy and compassion towards others, and this high can become infectious, with the ability to kick off a "virtuous circle," person after person becoming generous and kind. Can you even imagine? A contagion of kindness making us all a bit cheerier and allied with one another? How phenomenal and astounding could that be?

Volunteering your time at an animal shelter, soup kitchen, hospice, community college or non-profit organization, or even donating blankets to an animal rescue you follow on Instagram and adore from afar can elevate your soul, reduce your stress levels, and, wonderfully and surprisingly, lengthen your joyful life.

Let's do this thing, holidays! You got this.

xx - Rebecca

Rubies for Rescues!

For the entire month of December, we're giving 20% of the profits of these gorgeous little limited edition 14K g/f A Stones Throw ruby necklaces to L.A.'s rescue group A Purposeful Rescue, helping to fund their veterinary bills, foster care expenses, and to save dogs from the many Southern California shelters where they are at the very real risk of never making their way out and finding loving and adoring, kind and caring homes.

Why rubies? Not just because they're dang pretty, but because the ruby is incredibly protective of the wearer's home, possessions, children, and it provides psychic protection. Warding off unhappiness, it can decrease anxiety and doubt, providing incredible inner courage and strength.  Oh yeah, it also has the ability to increase passion, bring and increase romantic love and can ameliorate heart chakra issues. Not bad, eh?

FREE SHIPPING ALL THROUGH DECEMBER! GET YER RUBIES HERE!
SAVE A DOG AND GET PRETTY WHILE YOU DO IT!

SHAPERS /// LORI WEISE

A 501c3 based in Los Angeles, DDR is changing the face of animal rescue here in California and beyond.

Downtown Dog Rescue's executive director and founder Lori Weise is a gentle, zen-infused force to be reckoned with. Since it began in 1996, DDR has made (and continues to make) an indelible impact on the socioeconomic ripple effect of homeless dogs and low-income families. In just the last year alone,  Lori Weise has been nominated as a CNN hero, Vanity Fair highlighted DDR as one of their "Charities We Love," and the Bark featured Lori in a piece titled "People Who Matter."

Beginning in Skid Row, DDR moved their services to South LA, then Compton, then Watts, and now the entirety of South East Los Angeles (part of both the city and the county). By providing spay/neuter services, veterinary care, food, and covering municipal fees for pet owners, the resulting DDR numbers are staggering. For example, in 2011, the Compton Park clinic sterilized close to 800 dogs and the number of "owner surrender" euthanized pitbulls in that same year dropped an astounding 30 percent. Truthfully, if you're a family struggling to feed yourselves and your kids, spaying your dog isn't likely to be on your list of feasible expenses. But, as these numbers reveal, spaying/neutering is a vital part of animal rescue and by making this simple fix (pun intended) accessible and free, DDR is helping to dramatically reduce LA's overwhelming shelter populations.

We don't actually know when or if Lori ever sleeps, because when she's not traveling the country educating others about the value of intervention programs, writing books like "First Home, Forever Home" (a wonderful holiday gift we'd highly recommend for the animal lover in your life), or running her own dog kennels ("Second Chance Kennels"), she manages over 80 employees at Modernica. Yeah, she's kind of a super woman. We're psyched to get this SHAPERS Q+A with such a spectacular, exceptional human. ENJOY!

---

Your ingenious approach to keeping dogs in their "first home forever home" is making an incredible, positive impact on the number of euthanized pets here in Los Angeles. Could you tell us a little bit about your South Los Angeles Intervention program and how it's affected the community and the numbers of animals being relinquished to the shelter?

The program started in April of 2013 the day the new South LA shelter opened. Thanks to Found Animals Foundation, who funds the majority of our program, we are able to have a full time counselor and we just hired a part-time counselor.  Amanda Casarez, our full time counselor, is wonderful. I have learned so much from her.  While the original goal on paper was to keep pets out of the shelter thus reducing shelter euthanasia at the South LA shelter, it has evolved into a lot more.  When I started working with dog owners who were homeless, the work was shelter intervention for the most part.  Because I had no where for their dogs to go even if they wanted me to take them, I did everything in my power to keep them together in the most humane way possible.  This was all I knew and for the most part worked well.  The same skills I learned, I've applied to the shelter intervention program. It was no surprise to me that the community needs a lot of help, stemming mostly from poverty.  I've always believed that we don't have a "pet problem" we have a poverty problem.  When we set up ways for people in a crisis to be successful, counseling them with respect, in a non judgmental way, we are offering solutions and options  Ultimately the decision is the pet owner, sometimes limited in their options because of bad decisions or decisions made for them due to living in such an extreme state of poverty.  For example if one has finally found a place to live after months even years of being homeless only to find out the housing will not accept their pet, that person is at a real crossroad in their life.  We can all think or say I would never give up my pet but most of us have never been in these dire positions.  Positions where it's a choice between keeping the human family members together so that child protective services doesn't take the children away or giving up the pet to the shelter, it's these types of cases we see, more specifically our counselors deal with on a daily basis.  Most of our families are spending more than 60-75% and more on housing for those who have housing. When you do the math, there's not much left over for anything else.

The most exciting part of the shelter intervention program is the concept of moving the services away from the shelter, so that families won't come to the shelter in the eleventh hour looking for resources.  My goal and the goal of the organization is to raise as much money as we possibly can to fund programs  that go out into the community such as free spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchips, wellness care, dog training and more, much more.  Employing people from the community, like our newest counselor Jennifer, is another aspect of helping the community.  The community we serve needs more job creation.  We are doing our tiny part but the beautiful thing is we are doing it.  

When you consider our original goal was to keep 400 pets out of the South LA shelter back in 2013 and we achieved that goal in a mater of months, it's amazing.  We are now over 5000 cases and counting.  When we started, our program was the only one in LA, now there is the North Central Shelter and East Valley shelter intervention programs.  The ASPCA modeled a program after our program called Safety Net that operates out of the Downey and Baldwin Park shelters.  I believe helping people keep pets out of the shelter is the next most important phase in animal welfare but it's always just been all that I know how to do.  Plus I love the work and can't wait to see what's going to happen tomorrow.

            We LOVE this book! Written by Lori Weise, illustrated by Nicole Bruckman. Available on AMAZON

We've heard people say (too many times, frankly), that if "people can't afford a pet they shouldn't have one" or that "homeless people aren't good pet parents." Your program confidently disproves these snap judgment theories. Can you delve into this a bit deeper?

The assumption is on a false belief, that the pet owner has always been poor and or will never transition out of poverty.  In some cases, if a pet is healthy, it's actually not that expensive to provide care for a pet.  I also think that people who love pets love pets, period.  While it might make sense to not adopt or acquire a pet until one is out of debt.  However, rules are made to be broken and some of the pet owners we meet did not plan on getting that cat or dog.  Like anyone who cares, a loved one died and didn't have a will or a plan for the pet, so they decided to keep the pet.  A neighbor moved out in the "middle of the night" type move and that's how the pet came into their life.  Rescue, often time, we don't hear the word rescue but that's what's going on.  Dogs wandering on the street for months, families putting out food and water until one day the shy little dog is their new family member.  The question we should be hearing more is why aren't there more resources for people living in poverty with pets.  Not why do they have them.  I was that person when I found my cat I had all through my 20's into my late 30's  I was broke, working, barely paying my bills and no I didn't need a cat.  She was pregnant and I couldn't just leave her.  The San Gabriel Humane Society spayed her for I think $20 and it was years before she had any medical issues and when she did, I figured it out.  It wasn't until her last years of life, at 16 years old did I own a home and could afford a pet.  

As the general manager for Modernica, Inc for the last two decades, what can you share with us regarding timeless design, its staying power, and its ability to dramatically and wonderfully change a space?

It's been a dream job and never really seemed like a job to run Modernica.  I started off finding amazing modern design in the trash, at the Salvation Army auction and other thrift stores and countless yard sales.  I've always loved architectural inspired modern design.  It has a staying power because it's functional and if vintage is usually amazingly built and beautiful. 

There are certain pieces I never get tired of looking at  I have a Nakashima lounge chair that is so beautiful.  When you acquire an amazing piece, you will always love it and it will bring you so much happiness, a few well chosen pieces still make me smile when I look at them.  I  love Finnish mid century modern design and California craft from the 1960-70  All of it inspires me daily. 

             Dabs Myla's "dream art-house" at the Modernica Factory this October.

I work with amazing team of people who keep Modernica evolving all the time.  Now, I'm interested in what the next generation of shoppers is interested in.  Partnering with artistslike our recent collaboration with DabsMyla, seeing how many people came to the show and purchased the fiberglass chairs we produced with their designs, proves the staying power of this great design.  

Modernica's collaborative fiberglass chairs, imprinted with Dabs Myla's original designs.

Have you always been so bonded with dogs? Please tell us why you find dogs to be such amazing creatures and souls.

 My mom is a major animal lover and when I was four, she got a German Shepherd from Mr Kline, my grandma's neighbor who bred GSD.  He spayed her and did a yard inspection, according to my mom.  We named her Heidi and she was basically my sister and best friend, the one I would tell all my problems to after school.  She was the best dog and died when I was 16 years old.  I'll never forget when the vet lea her to the back and I never saw her again.  That moment in my life made me understand how important it is to have families be with their old ill pets all the way to the end of their life.  However,  I'm not one of those people that love animals more than people  I like people and I'm fascinated why people do whatever they do, whether it's shopping for furniture or surrendering a dog, I'm always curious, kind of like a dog.  I love how they live in the moment, through living with lots and lots of dogs, packs of dogs, I often think more like a dog now which in turn helps me in business!

A couple kissing pooches at the DDR Kennels.

What are some easy and free ways that compassionate, caring people can help to save animals’ lives in Los Angeles and beyond?

Listen to someone who is struggling with a pet, whether they are considering surrendering the pet or they have to "get rid of the pet" because they are moving. Listening is sometimes the one thing that a person who is struggling never finds.  Too often the struggle has nothing to do with the pet, it's far more complex but helping the person helps the pet, sometimes, keeps the pet out of the shelter.  Help someone with a pet who is very close to you.  Whether it's an elderly neighbor who is struggling to walk their dog, or a family who can't afford some type of care or can't afford to pay for pet food,  pay for it, no strings attached.  Go to your local shelter and even if it's a couple hours a month, see what you can do to help  Use your talents to help get more pets adopted.  

Lori Weise and Precious, one of the thousands of dogs she's managed to save with DDR.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? 

Morning for sure.  If I could, I would be happy to be in bed asleep every night by 8:30  I live with so many dogs, I'm up every day by 4:30AM and I love it.  The morning is so still, it's a great time to think and plan and when I'm most receptive to creative ideas, thinking about a problem in a new, unexpected way.

---

If you could have lunch with one famous person, living or dead, who would it be?
And where would you dine?

Jiddu Krishnamurti I'd take him to  a vegetarian takeout place that I've been going to for 25 years called Orean Express

---

What is your favorite room in the house and what surprises would we find there? 

The kitchen at my last house in Altadena.  I had a Richard Schultz Redwood petal dining table and Bertoia wire chairs I would sit in to work.  I used that little dining table as my work table to do writing, laying out bills, it was my office, with dogs passing in and out to my huge back yard with a regulation dog park in the rear of the property.

                                                       RIchard Schultz redwood petal table for Knoll.