Elite Productions International

We've been working up a storm this past weekend on a fabulous gala event (check back soon for pictures!) and we sure could use a rest.  Stumbling upon the Ruschmeyer Hotel and Kitchen and seeing their fabulous little set up, it's looking mighty tempting right now :) Brought to you by  King and Grove ,  Ruschmeyer’s  plays up the nostalgia factor with a summer camp theme that doesn’t feel too kitschy. The 19 rooms–with wicker-threaded headboards, curtains strung like sails, macrame hammock-like hanging chairs, fancy gold light fixtures and Frette linens!–read more like an upscale Ace Hotel than ’50s wooded lodge, and the restaurant trades in cafeteria/campfire fare for seasonal produce and seafood from the guys behind New York’s Fat Radish. And there’s that teepee on the front lawn. They also have such activities as bike riding, paddle boarding, swimming, ping pong, kite boarding, flying balsa-wood planes and bocce ball. Seems like a perfect little getaway for us after a

The oh-so-fabulous Christian Lacroix has teamed up with Sicis to create the most stunning line of housewares!  The collection is called Theodora and it is named so and inspired by the mosaics of the sixth-century proto-feminist Empress Theodora (wife of Emperor Justinian I) that adorn the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, where Sicis is based. Lacroix’s collection features soft, womanly shapes, Byzantine exoticism, and rich embellishment. It includes 12 seats, 4 lamps and 5 models of tables and poufs. Prices range between $8,900 and $21,000 for this Turkish flair collection.  Take a peek at some of the available pieces below... “The juxtaposition of intricate work and artisanal incrustations evokes exactly what I did in Haute Couture,” Lacroix said in a release. “What really appeals when working with Sicis is the way in which we can create the trompe l’oeil effect or a treasure’s richness or a miniature’s complexity or the purity of a metallic tint achieved via tiny stone and

The first day of autumn is this Friday! As much as we love summer's bright colors and beach days, we're so excited for the palate of fall, hot coco and sweaters.  If you remember, back in August we did a post on burgundy and garnet as the hot fall colors (see post here ), but we think you should enjoy all the hues of the season! Being in Southern California, we don't get too much of the outdoor color change so we're jealous of those of you living in more versatile climates.  If you'r one of the lucky ones, get outside and get inspired by the changes! Or if you're like us, take a look at these stunning images to get your creativity flowing for this coming season! We love the idea of a fall picnic before the weather turns too cold or snuggling up with your friends or your honey in front of a blazing fire place with a nice cup of hot coco or a hot toddy (look here for a lemon-ginger recipe).  You're probably gearing up for Halloween parties and Thanksgivin

Colors are a huge part of creating any event - they help set the tone and give the "look" to your entire event.  Needless to say, it's very important to have a fabulous color palette.  There are lots of ways to get inspired and pick out those oh-so-important colors for your event, you can: Pick a theme, which often helps narrow down color choices or dictates specific colors by necessity Choose a single color and go monochromatic or find complimentary hues Find an inspiring image or piece of art to draw from One photographer we've found that has some amazing color combinations is Krentz Photography .  Their images are stunning both in composition and in their use of color. In addition, there are many different websites that have pre-selected color combinations that work well together.  Some websites that we've found helpful are ColourLovers and Kuler by Adobe. Hope this gets your creative juices flowing and gives you some helpful tips for selecting that

We here at EPI love the transformative nature of out work.  We start with a space that is one thing and we make it into something that is completely different and new.  There is no alteration to the actual structure of the spaces we use, but what we do makes people look at the space in a whole new way. Rebecca Ward is an artist who does this same thing with her tape installations.  She transforms the spaces she uses with the linear sculptures she creates with colorful tape! We love that Rebecca uses such a simple and common material in such an extraordinary way.  Her work has been used by big names such as Kate Spade in their New York and Tokyo flagship stores and she has shown her work in galleries worldwide. Take a cue from Rebecca and use common place materials to transform your room, house or event space!

Last month the ever so lovely Russian model + philanthropist, Natalia Vodianova, hosted a fairy tale themed ball at designer Valentino's estate just outside Paris. The fabulous event was a benefit for Natalia's  The Naked Heart Foundation  which aims to provide a safe and inspiring play environment for the children of Russia.  Attendees were entertained by Bryan Ferry as they experienced the incredible fashion show of one-of-a-kind dresses by Versace and other fabulous designers. How exquisite is that mirrored runway!? Celebs spotted at this sioree include: Tatiana Santo Domingo, Anne Hathaway, Margherita Missoni, Tommy Hilfiger, Christian Louboutin, and Grace Coddington.  Check out more pictures  here . What a perfect theme for an event! Paris certainly does help to set the mood for such an occasion. :)  Take a note from Natalia and throw your own fairy tale event, perfect for Halloween or the fast approaching Holiday season. We could all use a little more magic in our

We've been seeing a lot of marbleizing lately and we are loving it! There is a wide range of departments and products using this fabulous new pattern trend, so you have lots of options as to were to fit it in to your personal aesthetic. Wouldn't the stationery make great invitations for a party? And can you imagine a table scape with the marbleized dishware as chargers!?!?  You could even make some paper flowers with marbleized paper (check out a tutorial for paper flowers here ). Try adding it into your next event for an eye catching pop of colors!

We know you're all gearing up for your labor day parties and BBQs so we thought we'd put together a little inspiration for you!  There are some seriously amazing looking recipes we've come across that would be perfect for your get togethers on Monday! 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 We are especially loving No.4's hot dog condiment bar, what a fun idea! Grilled corn is always a big hit and you needn't feel guilty for enjoying it, it's good for you! Number 4 and 6 utilize this delicious grilled veggie, try them out! If you need a little outfit inspo, check out our post back from the 4th of July for some chic and festive garment ideas! Make sure you pull out those white jeans, because they will be no good after Monday :) We hope you all have a fabulous long weekend!

All this hot weather makes us want to go swimming! It sure doesn't feel like summer is on the way out, and we're not complaining.  There is something magical about the water and that feeling of floating.  Photographer  Nadia Moro captures the sensation so beautifully in her series "Behind the Surface"  that we must share it with you all! These images feel like a fairy story, completely other-wordly yet very familiar at the same time.  Don't you just love them?! The rest of her work is just as captivating so make sure to mosey on over to her portfolio and check it out!