For the latest in stealth wealth, we turn to the LA Times, which reports on the rough-and-ready furnishings that are infiltrating our city's ritziest homes. Christened "dumpster diver chic" by former MOCA curator Brooke Hodge, the fad is marked by such Little House on the Prarie set pieces as tables made from barrels, tree stumps that double as ottomans, and lots of scratchy burlap upholstery. Several local design gurus offered up explanations for the trend— Davide Berruto of Beverly Boulevard's Environment Furniture cites bling fatigue, while Sue Cowie of Abbot Kinney's Colcha reasons it's because men are becoming more involved in family decorating decisions due to tighter budgets. Either way, these tarps and crates don't come cheap. According to the article, a grain-sack pillow from the Pacific Design Center's Dan Marty showroom will run you $600, while a pup tent-upholstered sofa at Environment weighs in at $3,000.
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