Chapman Radcliff Closing; More Doors Opening

If you've had your eye on something special at Chapman Radcliff -- Ruthie Sommers' chic shop located at 517 North LaCienega Blvd. in West Hollywood -- now is the time to visit. Through October 17 Ruthie is having a huge closing sale. She will continue to sell limited custom pieces through 1st Dibs.

You can inquire about furnishings and accessories at 310-659-8062.

But the good news is that when Ruthie's long-awaited book is finally released, it should be a refreshing departure from the usual decorating tome. It's going to be about living, doing, and even making mistakes.

"Do the work, make fun of yourself, do not take it too seriously and you will be successful!" she says.

"We are never really 'there.' We never design a room, a house and say, 'that is it!' Because we travel to exotic places and buy a trinket that can change a room, our tastes change, we grow, we age. There is amazing design to be learned and seen out there."

"My store was a challenge. A notch on my belt along with living in Paris and learning to surf. I feel I mastered the challenge of creating a profit in a retail store. Interior design was just a small percentage of it. What is next? This is no dress rehearsal. I want to paint, I want to volunteer in a hospital. I want to understand the history of the Middle East better. I want to see what it is like to just live! What else can I do to learn, grow, and be interesting?

I am painting again and still designing. I am obsessed with a different artist a week. I can not believe I get home at 7 p.m. and see my daughter and actually read -- not just look at -- World of Interiors. All of these things are 'doing.' So this is what the new book is about!"

Second image courtesy Domino.