Holiday Tips, Tricks and Tales: Lori Dennis

We asked a few of our designer and tastemaker friends to share their holiday tips, memories, do's and don'ts during the holiday season. Here's some insight from California-based interior designer, Lori Dennis.

GDG: What was the best gift you ever received over the holidays?

LD: Easy, my brand new baby girl Elle Bell!

GDG: What would you advise that people never give as gifts?

LD: Jenny Craig Memberships!

GDG: Are you the hostess or hostee for the holidays this year?

LD: This year I'm taking it easy and being a guest for a change. This is totally out of character for me, as a Type A control freak!!

GDG: What things are crucial to keep in mind when you’re decorating for the holidays?

LD: Never buy things that cost a fortune that can ever be used again. It's just crazy to waste anything on things that can be used for only one holiday season when so many people have nothing.

GDG: What are you most looking forward to during this holiday season?

LD: I can't wait to see my daughter and cousin, both two years old now, realize what "gifts" are and watch them tear them open with the passion only a child has for a new toy. And, to cap it off, it then ends with the sweetest "Tank You" you have ever heard!

Tell us what you're most looking forward to this holiday season with a comment below.

Hot off the Press: Green Interior Design

Interior designer Lori Dennis recently published her first book, "Green Interior Design." You may have read our recent conversation with her about her “green design tour” of the DCOTA, which included many of the green showrooms she wrote about in the book.



We asked Lori to share with us a bit about her process of creating and writing her book.

"I loved writing the entire book and felt good about being able to inspire people to do the right thing for themselves and their clients,” she said. “I especially liked writing about a set of sheets I was given as a child from my aunt. Being a poor little girl with few nice things, a set of colorful popeye sheets opened my 4-year old eyes to the power of design and how it could transform someone's life!”



The cover of the book, along with the images shown here, is a project she did for a young man who has been in remission from Cancer. He spent his childhood going through chemo and radiation and came out alive and well. He was happy to find Lori, who could combine a healthy living space with hip style. “And I was happy to meet such a strong and confident man. I couldn't wait to give him a copy of the book with the photographs of his house!"



Lori's book can be purchased at the Potterton Books at the DDB and PDC.

Event Recap: Green Design Tour

Last week, Lori Dennis, author of Green Interior Design, gave a designer tour of DCOTA’s green showrooms and lines including Donghia, Creation Baumann, Gaggenau, Caesarstone and Cisco Brothers.

”It was a fabulous surprise that so many hip, Southern Florida designers showed up to see the latest in glamorous green products at the DCOTA. One of the most shocking attendees was Susan Cozzi who is one of the designers in my “Favorite Green Designers” chapter.”



The tour entailed spending half an hour in the showroom learning about the green products it offers. Every company had a different outlook on sustainability including care for the environment, human health and fair treatment of employees.

“Each showroom was selected because I featured information about their products in my book. I believe in the things that they sell for their beauty, durability and responsible corporate behavior,” said Dennis. “It's always nice to be in a cooperative environment where information is exchanged freely - and Floridians are just really nice!”

Photo credit of Lori Dennis from http://www.loridennis.com/