Profile: Simone LeBlanc

I met Simone years ago when I hosted a baby shower for my very close friend Jessica, and later reconnected through Lauren Soloff and Beatrice Valenzuela. An artist, Parsons Paris – educated designer, personal stylist and private lifestyle concierge, Simone combined her many talents to form an incredible boutique gifting studio – which I recently featured – and has quickly established herself as one of the most trusted resources in inspired giving.

Born in Mill Valley, CA, Simone now lives with her husband in a 1912 Craftsman at the base of the Hollywood Hills – a home that instantly reminded them of their Northern California upbringing. Tucked into the mountainside and surrounded by trees, it was remodeled to create a comfortable, cozy space ideal for spending time with family and friends.

Her home is light, bright and beautiful – and so Simone. She is incredibly creative and has such a nice energy, and her home feels the same way. A highlight: her amazing kitchen and its gorgeous tile, which she and her husband discovered at an artists workshop in Guanajuato, Mexico, a city well known for its ceramics and tile. The items and objects throughout her home are much the same, tied to stories and experiences that make the space truly their own.

Simone is currently building an office in her backyard, which I can’t wait to see – hopefully she will let us in when it is finished! Another exciting project currently in the works: an exclusive series of Simone’s incredible gift baskets, which will be filled to the brim with products from my Montecito home store. I hope you enjoy this look inside her home. I know I did. XXJKE

Beauty

R+T: What are your go-to beauty products? Why?

For my face I use John Masters Organics Rose Foaming Face Wash and Green Tea & Rose Hydrating Face Serum. His products are clean, refreshing and simple.

For blemishes I use Dr. Eckstein’s Azulen Paste – it beats a blemish in an instant. For body lotion, I use custom blends that I create with a woman who lives in Northern California. We started creating these custom blends for gifts for clients and now I’m hooked. She uses only natural ingredients and the lotions are healing, light and make your skin feel like silk. Plus, I get to design the labels, which I love.

R+T: What are the 5 products you couldn’t live without?

Burts Beeswax Lip Shimmer in Rhubarb, Lavender & Calendula Healing Salve from EatWell Farms, my sandalwood & citrus custom body lotion, Dior Iconic Mascara and lavender oil for my temples when I’m stressed or run down.

R+T: Bath or Shower?

A steaming hot shower.

R+T: What do you sleep in?

My pinstriped Frette cotton pj’s. They get softer with every wear.

Health

R+T: What do you do to stay healthy and balanced?

I truly see the importance of a balanced lifestyle, even if I have to work hard to create that sometimes. I try to nurture and tend to the key areas; a balance of yoga or hiking, work, downtime with family & friends where I’m not thinking about work, and some pure me indulgence time. I achieve this balance by getting up early, have very limited late nights and being diligent about a schedule. The schedule framework allows me to really unplug in between.

R+T: Do you workout, what do you swear by?

A hot, sweaty flow class with Joe at Modo Yoga.

R+T: What do you do to relax?

I make things and tinker around in my design studio. I love to hand embroider. I love to hike and be outdoors in the early morning, when the air is fresh and crisp. I also have a phenomenal group of girlfriends that live their lives at the same pace as I do. We relax hard together when we can fit it in – trips to the Korean Spa, early dinners, indulgent early morning breakfast dates and weekend hikes.

Decor

R+T: What is your design philosophy for your home?

I build upon what I love instinctually and incorporate pieces that feel like are a natural fit and not too of the moment and trendy. I rely on pieces that will stand the test of time and offer a little bit of nostalgia somehow. Can we actually enjoy our lives with this piece and will it still look interesting to us in a few years? Did we enjoy finding this piece? That is the criteria.

I believe that what my husband Ross and I find throughout our lives somehow ends up working beautifully in our home. The more of a story there is behind an object, the better. I am also a fan of a second opinions and I’m not afraid to let things go. I trust my eye and my tastes but sometimes it’s helpful (and informative) to get an expert eye to help pull it all together. I call my interior designer friend Lauren (Soloff) when I can’t quite get the balance right and she always gives me an honest opinion. I’m a big fan of picking up the phone and asking for feedback.

R+T: What are your favorite pieces in your house?

A large carved wood serving platter that my Grandparents brought back from Africa in the 1940’s, our 1920’s dining table, a very 1960’s collaged painting from my husband’s parents and our Frohawk Two Feathers painting in the dining room. It’s of a fictitious battle painted on a massive cowskin. It’s pretty spectacular.

R+T: What are your favorite home stores?

Kneeland Co. Mercado, Beatrice Valenzuela, Garde, Nickey Kehoe, March SF, Summerhouse, ABC Carpet & Home, Merci.

R+T: What is your favorite room in the house?

Our kitchen. It’s spacious and bright and we designed it as a gathering place. It’s a room full of cooking, laughter and lives well lived.

Entertaining

R+T: Do you entertain at home?

I love to entertain at home!

R+T: What are your tricks for entertaining?

I set myself up to make the preparations as easy as possible so I can enjoy time with my guests and not be stressed out. Maybe I’ll cook one part of the meal ahead of time and bring in some extras from a favorite restaurant. Or, my husband will help with the shopping and prep – we team up and handle it together. I also try to prepare everything in the morning or as far ahead of time as possible. I love to truly be relaxed and ready to greet guests when they arrive rather than scrambling at the last minute. A lesson well learned through trial and error!

R+T: How do you set the scene when you have people over?

Fresh flowers, a playlist of songs to carry us through the evening, a candle in the guest bathroom (current favorite is Vetiver by Lite + Cycle), aperitifs for the ladies, a nice selection of eclectic spirits for the guys, and a delicious platter of whatever my current favorite cheeses, honeys or fruit spreads and charcuterie may be before dinner is served. I’m currently obsessed with pulling out my Heather Taylor Home linens for some tabletop beauty. We also have a great fire-pit in the garden so we’ll make sure we have a fire burning as another spot to gather pre or post dinner.

R+T: Are there any tips for what to do or what to avoid?

The key rule is to relax and be present with your guests as much as possible. Set yourself up so you can enjoy – after all, they’ve come to see you. At whatever level works for you, get the help you need so you can enjoy the flow of the evening.

R+T: Plated, Buffet, or Family Style for a dinner party?

I love Family Style – it inspires conversation and the innate feeling of sharing and breaking bread together.

R+T: What are your favorite flowers and where do you buy them?

I’m a peony, lilac and ranunculus girl. Those blooms appeal to my romantic nature that may not come out as often as it should. I also love the scent of herbs – white or purple sage, rosemary, basil. I could live with those scents all day long.

R+T: Do you do them yourself or do you use a florist?

I like to do a simple clipping of flowers from the garden for the bathrooms or an unexpected spot in the kitchen. For the main show, I use a florist. It’s a treat I give to myself and fortunately, my husband knows our florist well…

R+T: Who is your favorite florist?

There are so many talented florists in LA doing extraordinary and inspiring work. I love Hollyflora. Holly and Becky are brilliantly talented and everything they touch has an earthy elegance. They hit just the right note for me.

Fashion

R+T: How would you describe your style?

Understated, relaxed, classic with a touch of feminine/masculine.

R+T: Who are your favorite designers?

Isabel Marant, Celine, Rachel Comey, John Patrick Organic. I am a huge fan of both Dries and Marni even though their silhouettes don’t work great for me.

R+T: What are the 5 pieces you can’t live without this season?

My short sleeved cashmere sweatshirt from John Patrick Organic, Oliver Peoples sunglasses, Jesse Kamm trench, cream rumpled linen Isabel Marant pants, and my Dieppa Restrepo cognac patent oxfords.

R+T: What is your uniform?

Soft white oversized button down, linen or cotton pants, Dieppa Restrepo loafers, my Cartier Tank with a teal croc band and my wedding band.

Shopping & Blogs

R+T: What are your favorite stores to shop for clothing?

I love Creatures of Comfort, Mohawk General Store, Lost & Found, Mameg, Isabel Marant.

R+T: What is your favorite city for shopping?

New York, Paris, Los Angeles.

R+T: Are you an impulse buyer, or do you wait to commit?

I try to be thoughtful about my purchases. I think I should actually take a few more risks – but not impulsive risks!

R+T: What are your favorite blogs?

I’m a huge fan of Rip+Tan of course. I love LA in Bloom, The Conversation, Domaine, Keep Feeling Fascination, Nowness, Closet Visit, T Mag Blog.

Gift Giving

How and when did you enter into the world of inspired gift-giving?

I started my business three years ago. I had been working as a personal stylist, which I loved. The projects were so much about the client’s personal tastes and personality nuances and I love connecting with people in this way. These face time conversations turned into overall life-styling, where I would work with them to find an object for their home or a gift for their husband. It opened up a world for me – my suggestions and ideas became more tailored to gifting and it naturally evolved.

How does your background as an artist, designer and stylist influence your work?

About half of the gifts that we give are completely custom, built from the ground up. Having spent so many years throughout my life working with materials, composition, structure and balance has enabled me to understand what’s possible within a variety of fabrications. This gives me a world of possibilities to pull from. Inspiration is easy, light and instinctual – it’s everywhere.

I take that inspiration and turn it into a visual presentation to communicate the vision, and then pull it through the filter of fabrication possibilities. What object, what vehicle will we create to best tell the story? I keep my hands in the mix of it all, too. Being able to edit and filter between the passable and the sublime is important. I have to be hands-on and in the workrooms with the fabricators, digging for details and techniques in order to understand that. Fortunately, that’s what I love.

How do you go about sourcing your incredible gifts and products?

I’m a keen editor and I know how to ask the right questions. So many product options in every genre are available to everyone. For me, it’s really about finding that item that is just a bit better than the other version of it – a bit finer, a bit more true. I talk with people about their methods, the fabrication, the purpose, the origin. It comes from caring deeply about objects and having spent so much time around them.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Making the intangible tangible. Oftentimes a client does not know how to convey what they want to say. It’s my job to uncover this – to design and create that meaningful object or find that perfect piece that captures their message in just the right way. It can be a transformative experience for all.

Any favorite gifts that you have ever received?

My husband is an incredibly thoughtful gift giver – there have been so many that I have loved. One of my favorites was a beautiful first edition copy of my favorite children’s book – The Elves and the Shoemaker. I had told him in passing that it was my favorite book as a child and also my first remembrance of when I started to draw because I loved the pictures in the book so much. He searched high and low and found a copy with beautiful illustrations…and gifted it to me wrapped with a gorgeous pair of sequined Carven boots. He’s good!