
Mother Stories
Pregnancy Style: Simone LeBlanc, Gift-Giver Extraordinaire
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Paige Jones
Sep 23, 2014
Think you’re an ace at gift-giving? Then you’ll be interested in hearing the story of mama-to-be Simone LeBlanc, a personal stylist-turned-professional giver behind her own eponymous boutique gifting studio, which has become renown in her home city of Los Angeles. Here, the stylish lady with a baby girl on the way shows us around her impeccable Hollywood Hills home, and shares her hopes and dreams of balancing (or, as she suggests, “juggling”) a busy work and home life.
- "To create a room that would inspire our daughter’s imagination, surround her with touches of heirlooms and memories that are meaningful to us (and hopefully will be to her someday, as well), and to try to keep it minimal with quality pieces and room for her to grow into and make it her own. We also wanted the nursery to feel like a nice room in our home—not an overly child-like space." Simone, in her daughter's nursery, wears a Black Crane dress.
- "They are actually silk flowers! Although I of course wanted real flowers, I thought these would be much more realistic as far as upkeep for the busy days ahead!"
- "I love so many pieces in the nursery. My favorites are the little couch—my mom made this couch and it was mine when I was a little girl. We just had it reupholstered in the chambray. The antique nursery rhymes are also so special. Those were my mom’s when she was a little girl and she used to read them to me. The little Greek shoes were mine as a little girl, as well. I also love the rug. Ross found it and surprised me. I love that he has his vision for this room, too."
- "Life has already shifted so much. I really have gotten the message that pregnancy is preparation for parenting. This is the time to let go of self-expectations, control, and any firm ideas of how the day-to-day should be accomplished. From my experience, my body and the baby have really taken over and the best remedy for me has been to accept that as quickly as possible and let go a bit. This experience has been such a readjustment both physically and mentally and a process of finding acceptance that all that matters is that I do the best I can. And when I can’t even do that, I try to go easy on myself!"
- "How quickly and drastically it has changed my perspective. I’m much more decisive (albeit forgetful) and I really have edited myself mentally, naturally. There are only so many energetic hours in the day right now! I sometimes joke that I feel like I have ‘pregnancy superpowers,' which is basically the ability to make stealth decisions and power through tasks with a new level of focus. I have also felt incredibly creative in the third trimester and have been having fun with that. The flip side is that there are many days where I’m simply exhausted, and really have to take time to slow down and take it easy...which is new for me."
- "Earth Mama Body Butter from Earth Mama Angel Baby—such a light, natural scent and it has a wonderfully soothing consistency. Herbivore Botanicals Luminous Body Oil—I use this product in some of my gift boxes and it’s a perfect body oil with simple ingredients. Black Crane dresses—they're lightweight cotton dresses that keep me feeling chic and still comfortable as my belly grows. Nars Pop Life Velvet Matte Lip Pencil for when I’m not feeling great and I need an instant boost of color (it works as an instant pick-me-up, I promise). Apple banana-mana ginger smoothie from Beverly Hills Juice. Grilled chicken chop salad from La Scala (I could eat this three times day, every day), And an at-home pregnancy massage. An indulgent treat that works wonders and carries me through for days on end."
- "To meet this little wonder of a girl and experience all that we will teach each other. "
- "That I’ll have a challenge being consistent with discipline."
- "This jacket was my absolute favorite piece of clothing as a little girl. I wore it everywhere and it was the first item that I remember feeling was ‘mine’—an early signature piece! Wisely, my parents saved it and sent it to us when we found out I was pregnant. I love to hand embroider, and the thought of our daughter hopefully loving it and passing it down at some point makes me so happy."
- "I wanted to know the sex right away. I was so excited I just did not want to wait. I feel like because she’s a girl, certain aspects of parenting will be more intuitive. I also have so many special memories of creating and making things as a young girl—hours and hours of exploration. I’m so curious to see if she’ll be born with that creative play mindset, as well."
- "I think I’ll be similar in the resilience, inventiveness, and optimism that she has. My mom has an incredible way of staying inspired by life, being open to new ideas, and curious and thoughtful about others. I hope to bring that perspective to parenting. I think I’ll be different in the sense that I’m about 10 years older than she was when she had my brother and me. I feel a bit more settled into who I am than I know she did at that time, and I think that feeling of security and self reliance will come through."
- "This may sound cliché, but I am so impressed and in awe of the entrepreneurial moms in my community of friends and peers. My own mom and I speak often about how much broader the level of support and options are now compared to when she was raising us. Because of the work that I do, the community that I live in, and the internet, I have connected with many women who have found their own way of creating a life that is fulfilling by balancing (or juggling!) parenting, the businesses that they love, their relationship, and very importantly, self care and replenishment. I see a real level of honesty and ownership of both the beauty and the challenges of the parenting process. In short, these women are the new powerhouses. A friend told me the other day that ‘babies bring prosperity.’ I feel that, as well, and I love that her focus was on expansion, growth, flexibility, and a rooted, positive knowingness."
- "Relaxed but considered, refined but diverse. Filled with meaningful objects we’ve gathered throughout our lives."
- "We had been searching for a home for a few months and I stumbled upon this house on a Tuesday afternoon. I knew the second I walked in that this was the one for us. Ross and I tried to downplay it for each other so we wouldn’t get too excited in case we weren’t able to make it happen. The feeling of the home was familiar—it felt like a grandparent’s home, a home that should be filled with family and friends and memory making. It also felt like Northern California, as we are backed up against the base of a mountain and surrounded by trees. We both really fell in love with that feeling, since we’re both from Northern California. We put quite a bit of work into the house—a lot of undoing of previous work and simplifying the space. We completely remodeled the kitchen, installed the floors, and changed the flow of the common areas. There’s more to be done and we have a vision. It will happen as our lives evolve over the years."
- "It’s a tie between the kitchen, the nursery, and my studio. I love those three rooms because they all inspire creativity and connection, because they each have beautiful light, and also integrate the outdoors. The nursery is serene and peaceful, the kitchen is where we connect, cook, and collaborate. My studio is my space where I can close the door and dive into my own creative zone."
- A conversation starter.
- "Incorporate meaningful pieces that will grow with you over time. It’s better to spend a bit more on the one thing you love than to have multiple pieces that aren’t quite right. Mix natural materials with refined and considered design—those are the pieces that hold their value and look fresh for years. Also, you can’t go wrong with well-cared-for wood, linen, or leather. "
- An earthy little nook.
- "That was a gift for my husband’s 40th birthday. It’s by the fantastic L.A. artist Frohawk Two Feathers. The hide depicts a fictional battle scene incorporating an American history that the artist completely invented. His work is fantastic—it’s genius in that it feels familiar as a part of our personal history, although it comes instinctually from his own invention. And it’s gorgeous to live with. "
- Up close and personal.
- "Absolutely. The baby gear has turned me into a ruthless minimalist! I want as little clutter as possible to make room for the inevitable baby imprint, so I’ve been cleaning out constantly. I’m in full on edit-mode."
- "I have a boutique gifting studio and create highly custom gifts for private clients. I launched an online shop this year which offers themed gift boxes for quick and chic gifting." Simone, in her studio, wears a Creatures of Comfort dress, Fog Linen Works belt, and Annie Costello Brown bracelet.
- "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. It opened up a world for me—my suggestions and ideas became more tailored to gifting and it naturally evolved. About half of the gifts that we create are completely custom, built from the ground up. I keep my hands in the mix of it all and knowing the difference 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 constantly hone that. Our online shop of gift boxes, which we opened in April , is a natural extension of the custom approach that I have with clients. I love creating these box concepts and, fortunately, people are really enjoying gifting them."
- "The unending creativity and the ability to translate that into products and production. Making the intangible tangible. Turning a nuanced idea into a beautiful product. I love working with my clients, as well. Often times they’re not sure 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."
- "I was nervous and had some anxiety about that during the second trimester. I think I’m in a good place with it all now. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but I’ll just have to take it as it comes. I have a great support team and a small but stellar group of gals working with me and we’ll just get in there and work it out. I believe that motherhood will open up many great unknowns that will translate into my work, as well."
- The adorable studio mascot.
- "Yes! I realize even more so how much I love my work, and how much I value the time that I do have to build my business. I also realize more so now that it’s really important to focus on what I truly want to create and to channel my energy into just that."
- "We have some amazing new gift boxes launching for holiday, as well as some very specialized, simple wrapping how-to’s that will be available this season through a few of my favorite publications. Next year we are expanding the shop, but what that will look like is still under wraps!"
- "We definitely collect along the way. We love the antique rugs from Lawrence of La Brea, Madeline Weinrib’s original designs, and also find some great kilims through Etsy. We love to dig deep for the vendors shipping directly from Turkey + Morocco."
- Such an inspiring place to cook and gather.
- "About 12 years. I lived in Silverlake for many years and we now live at the base of Runyon Canyon/Hollywood Hills." Simone, in her kitchen, wears an A Détacher dress.
- "Absolutely. We both love the idea of living at least part time away from the city. We have a dream of finding that peaceful little town, but at this point the search is still on!"
- "The smell of the wet redwood forests." Need a new or nostalgic scent of your own? Check out Method's new air refresher line, including French Lavender, here.
- "I love my community of friends and peers and the fact that this is a city where I can have so many things actually made. We have an incredible network of fabricators in this city. This is also a great city to be a parent, as there are endless places to visit, classes, and communities, no matter what parenting perspective you have. I also love that we are surrounded by the sea, the desert, and the mountains. "
- Pretty details, as far as the eye can see.
- We love this little guy.
- "Cafe Republique for a truly indulgent selection of French-inspired pastries. Laemmle Sunset 5 Theater for great foreign and independent films at odd hours. Olive & June for hands-down the best selection of non-toxic nail polish colors around. Trails Cafe in Griffith Park for iced chai under the redwood trees and as a spot that you will bring your kids to for play dates. Bar Stella for the most gorgeous mocktails in town. French General to satiate all of your crafty desires. Jenni Kayne for the loveliest selection of baby clothing. Also, The Pump Station and Bini Birth are two great spots for classes, breastfeeding support, parenting help, and gear of all kinds. The women that run those facilities are truly passionate advocates for parenting and children and it’s important to support the hard work that they do."
- Basket case.
- "Yes, it was amazing. It was hosted by five of my nearest and dearest girlfriends. I was surrounded by 30 inspiring and beautiful women—all offering me their words of advice for parenting, their wishes for me as a mom-to-be, and their blessings for our baby girl. I really felt so loved and so blessed by my community that day. "
- Even the bathroom art is bonkers.
- "Understated, relaxed, and classic, with a touch of feminine timelessness. Or that’s what I aspire to be. My favorite designers are Isabel Marant, A Detacher, Rachel Comey, and John Patrick Organic. I also love CP shades. I love Dries Van Noten forever and I'll filter in a piece here and there. All of these designers have a sense of cool, current, forward femininity without any fuss."
- "Yes! It’s currently all about finding the most comfort in the quickest way while still looking good. My staples are a soft white oversized button down, Dieppa Restrepo loafers, my Cartier tank watch with the teal croc band, and my wedding band." Simone, in her back yard, wears a Black Crane jumpsuit, scarf by Heather Taylor Home, Dieppa Restrepo loafers, and necklace by Jessica Winzelberg.
- "I mostly shop in person for myself. I love Creatures of Comfort, Mohawk General Store, Lost & Found, Mameg, and Isabel Marant."
- "I would love the Apiece Apart poncho in camel, the Rachel Comey Dahl slip-on mule in leopard, and a great bag that I can use as a diaper bag. For the little one, outfits by Macaron and a mini HedgeHouse throw. However, we just had the baby shower, so I’m really all set with everything. So, this is definitely a ‘want’ not ’need’ list."
Share this story