You don’t have to be from Long Beach to delight in an airy new toile wallpaper and fabric collection that has recently come to the marketplace. But, take one close look at this design and certainly residents of the seaside town will instantly recognize some of the city’s cherished landmarks and scenes including the iconic boardwalk teeming with bicycles, the famed bandshell, the timeless town clock and even the “Welcome to Long Beach” sign that greets visitors. The new line, dubbed “LB Soul” is the handiwork of veteran interior designer Rose Ott, 58, who moved to town four years ago from Merrick.
“It’s been such an incredible experience. I was so inspired that I started drawing and that led me to this,” she says. It wasn’t an instantaneous process.
“It took me two years,” explains Ott. “I’ve always loved toile throughout my career, and I wanted the pattern to be right. A lot of thought went into it.
I would sit on the boardwalk sketching and think, how do I create a cohesive pattern for this beautiful life I have now.’” While creating the design took time, its name – LB Soul – came easily to Ott. “I know this sounds really corny, but there is something about being in this town and smelling the salt air that gets into your soul.
There are so many people who return here and stay because of just that – it’s in their soul." And she has no regrets when it comes to her move to Long Beach. “It’s the best thing we ever did.
” Non-designe.
