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Tip of the Week: Step to Me!

August 10, 2010 – 1:10 pm

My daughter Riann lives in a gorgeous loft apartment Downtown LA near her college campus, FIDM.  Her building is owned by Kor Group and all of the communal areas are under renovation by none other than Kelly Wearstler.  On a recent visit I was astounded by the newly laid marble in the main lobby.  I’m sure you will agree that Carrera marble is dazzling although commonly used but it was the patterns created by the installation design plan that mesmerized me.

The main lobby featured the marble pieces cut into triangles and installed opposite one another that initially caught my attention.  However, it was the hallway pattern that made my eyes dance.  The puzzle showcased the illusion of 3-dimensional boxes stacked on top of one another.

As I stopped to listen to the space, it was not only the boxes that jumped out at me but it was also the diamond shapes, the rectangles and all of the different shapes that my mind’s eye could extrapolate.

The new lobby tile displays the purest power of creativity for if we are only able to look at ordinary elements through fresh eyes then magic occurs.  I’m anxiously awaiting the opportunity to envision and design my own interpretation of this fabulous concept so I can leave the ‘Diann Valentine’ stamp on a space that begs for you to step to me!

Keep spreading the love,

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Diann Valentine Announces Mall Tour with We TV & Wedding Central!

July 22, 2010 – 6:22 pm

and  , the leading providers of wedding-themed programming and all-things-bridal experiences, announced an exclusive pairing that will further complement the networks’ cache of wedding offerings.  The networks have teamed up with five wedding experts –Ron Ben-Israel; Mark Ingram; Lisa “Ceci” Johnson; David Tutera; and event stylist Diann Valentine – to provide advice to the growing number of viewers turning to We TV and Wedding Central for wedding entertainment and information.

As a part of this new relationship, Diann Valentine will embark on a national mall tour with four stops around the country.  Valentine will be on-hand to provide entertaining tips, showcase fabulous and affordable invitation ideas from the Diann Valentine Invitation Collection and answer questions from brides-to-be.  The scheduled appearances for Diann Valentine are as follows:

  • August 21st – Alderwood Mall in Lynwood, Washington (Seattle)
  • August 28th – Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco, California (Valentine’s Hometown)
  • September 4th – Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California (Los Angeles)
  • October 2nd – North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Georgia (Atlanta)

In addition, Valentine will appear on-air and online in a series of customized vignettes designed to educate and entertain viewers on the many different aspects that go into planning their big day – from creating bold invitations from her invitation collection to breaking the rules and embracing non-traditional elements to create the perfect personalized wedding.  Diann Valentine will also appear at special events to interact with viewers.  Valentine brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the networks and will work with We TV and Wedding Central through the end of the year.
Valentine hopes to meet you at a mall near you this year!

Keep spreading the love,

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Tip of the week: The Gateway to the Heart & Soul!

June 15, 2010 – 6:14 pm

I’m sure most have heard the expression – ‘the eyes are the gateway to the soul’.  Well in this same vein, I believe that the eyes are the gateway to the heart and soul of a woman in love, a residence screaming for rejuvenation and ultimately the secrets that a designer uses to interpret the nucleus of any design project.  The eye of this abalone lion was used to elucidate the core for a private bar in a gentleman’s home and so much more.  It told the story of his resilience as a young man and now a successful business man; it reflected the image of his own father and remains a symbolism of his authority over his own destiny!

The eye of this dragon tub filler spoke volumes to me as I embarked on designing a master bathroom suite and ultimately drove the design for the entire space.  The strong glistening chrome, the strength in the eyes and the fierce statement gave life to an edgy, sexy and modern master bathtub enticing a visit with every glance.

But it is the look of intense love in Lola’s eyes that has inspired an abundance of my work.  The look is pure, confident yet vulnerable – free from fear, embarrassment or rejection.  It is this love that allows me to see things not as though they are but in the glory of my mind’s eye.  It is the love that is the motivating force for me to take design risks whether they are noted as the trend of the moment or not.  And, it is the source of how I can interpret love in ways in which even I never knew possible.

So tell me if I were to look through your gateway, what would be on the other side?

Keep spreading the love,

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Shayne Llamas, Champagne & Cupcakes!

June 1, 2010 – 10:59 am

For an end of summer soiree, reality star of Leave it to Llamas, Shayne Llamas called on ‘yours truly’ to design a fun, flirty and fabulous night of champagne and cupcakes with her best girlfriends and immediate family.  Calling for an all-out glamorous gathering, Valentine called on Rrivreworks to complement the hot pink color palette with just the right amount of glamour using his custom chandelier buffet to flaunt the summer treats.

When Shayne shared with me her favorite color of hot pink, my ‘Aha’ moment occurred immediately as I recalled my gorgeous beaded pair of Mui Mui heels in my shoe closet.  They echoed her spunky little personality wonderfully and became my inspiration for the simple summer fete.

We filled her backyard pool deck with custom covered ottomans, gorgeous blush pink garden roses floating in the pool, tons of candlelight and an extraordinary floral top hat and jeweled collar on an elephant topiary to serve as the core conversation piece of the evening.

In the end, Shayne had a blast and hated to see it all leave the next morning.  Happy client = next client!

So what will be your inspiration for the next summer rendezvous on your design calendar?

Keep spreading the love,

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Over 5,000 Miles in 5 Days!

May 25, 2010 – 1:07 pm

This has been a whirlwind of a week and I couldn’t resist sharing a bit of the excitement, responsibilities and thrills of my life’s journey.  Wednesday I caught a flight to NYC, arrived at my hotel, checked-in, showered and glammed it up in less than an hour (record timing for me) so I could attend the Adult Swim Up-Fronts with my man!

Thursday morning my NYC glam squad of El Leo came to transform me with an entirely new look for a full day of media training with my fellow experts at WE TV.  I shared an amazing day of learning and development with Mark Ingram, Lisa ‘Ceci’ Johnson and Ron Ben-Israel.  We are preparing for a national mall tour with WE TV that will take us all around the country with the incredible opportunity to interact and inspire women in love at 20 distinctive malls.

And after a long day, it ended with the perfect night of take-out from Mr. Chow’s and a great bottle of champagne!

Friday morning started early with another visit from my NYC Glam Connoisseur for yet another new look and then a great meeting with a Brand Development firm.  As the Diann Valentine brand grows, the DV team is preparing for the next level and they may prove to be a viable partner in our next chapter.  Leaving this meeting we made a mad dash for JFK and my next flight to Atlanta.

Atlanta was incredibly productive as I am exploring expanding opportunities in my business and personal life.  In spite of all of the work and long hours, I was able to enjoy and relish in my friendship with my dear friend and television producer Sherri McGee-McCovey while stealing a few hours for a great meal at The Lobster Bar.

As I rode on the last leg of my flight back to LA, I started to ponder and complain of my displeasure with the service and frequent unfavorable experiences I have with Delta Airlines.  To pass the time, I decided to watch the critically acclaimed movie Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman as former south African President Nelson Mandela.  This 2 hours and 14 minutes of entertainment was so humbling and precisely the jolt I needed to remind me of how blessed I am, how blessed my career is and how thankful I am for every day and every opportunity.

In the words of Nelson Mandela through Morgan Freeman…

“I am the master of my fate.

I am the captain of my soul.”


Keep spreading the love,

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