a n h - m i n h . c o m

Twice a week, SFGate.com runs "The Walk-Through" — a feature which highlights "a local home on the market that caught our eye for its architecture, history or character." Usually, the homes actually don't impress me much. But today's tour is a condo in Pacific Heights that includes quite a few lovely wallpaper treatments. (It seems like most people strip this kind of personality from their home when they decide to put it on the market.) I especially like this idea of covering an accent wall PLUS the door panels:

P.S. I've been working on a special editorial project that I'll hopefully be able to share more about really soon!

Posted at 07:32 AM | Link

So we're nearing the end of April and somehow I managed not to write a single post this month until now. I've been pretty busy with writing-related stuff, as well as a few other things ...

• We went to Mexico. And it was awesome. Nothing but hanging out by the pool and eating churros. Or going into town for mango popsicles and tamales from a lady with a cart. And one day, Jon went out fishing with friends and caught 15 tuna and a mahi mahi.
• Any place that serves beignets and bbq pork buns for breakfast is pretty much my idea of heaven. OTD on Bush Street is my new favorite and I'm on track to becoming a regular at this place.
• I always think that test-driving cars is going to be fun. But you know what? It never is.
• The SF Decorator Showcase is opening this weekend (I've been following the home's progress as part of an article for the SF Chronicle). In case there are still people reading this blog, I thought I'd give a little peek of the Showcase.
  
  Michael Burg

  
  Benjamin Dhong

  
  Gregg De Meza

  
  Darin Geise

  Disclaimer: My photos are not good, not good at all. If you're in SF during the month of May, it's definitely worth checking out for yourself.

  Posted at 05:37 PM | Link

I had the pleasure of interviewing Nate Berkus a couple of years ago (too bad it was just over the phone!) and he comes across EXACTLY as you'd think: warm, friendly, knowledgeable without being condescending. I regularly check his online portfolio because it's constantly getting updated. And even if I've seen a lot of the photos before, I can still sit there for hours looking at them again and again.

Here are some recent additions (I think) that I especially like:

You can also see the apartment in Milan that he designed for boyfriend and accessories designer Brian Atwood here. His own Chicago abode here. And the place he created for an Oprah TV producer here. (All three homes were published in Elle Decor.)

Posted at 11:57 AM | Link | Comments (2)

Wow. I love this chair, available at Anthropologie.

It's designed by Tord Boonje and designed for outdoor use. Too bad it comes with a $3,000 price tag.

Posted at 05:21 PM | Link | Comments (5)

Since stepping foot into the bathroom designed by Benjamin Dhong for the 2008 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, I've been coveting this mirror:

I think it would be a great replacement for the mirror currently hanging in our entry:

That wall seems to lend itself better to a vertical, rather than round, mirror. Now I just need to convince Jon!

P.S. I bought the Madeline Weinrib rug on sale at ABC Carpet & Home, which now has an online shop.

Posted at 02:11 PM | Link | Comments (5)

Are you familiar with Fyndes? It's an online marketplace for dealers, artists and designers. I browse the site regularly, but have yet to make a purchase. I wish I had a place for this chrome lattice headboard:

It looks like the same one in interior designer Jay Jeffers' San Francisco home:

Posted at 01:03 PM | Link | Comments (7)

When we were in Savannah last month — it's about an hour from where Jon's parents live — we visited the Circa Lighting showroom. I've been obsessed with this store for a while now and have been wanting to check it out for myself. It's not a large place, but boy is it packed with gorgeous lighting of all sorts.

I'm looking to replace the sconces in our master bathroom and the ceiling fixtures in our closet. For the latter, I'm leaning toward one of these:

Circa has so many options, it was hard to narrow it down to just these two!

Posted at 09:23 AM | Link | Comments (2)

Yesterday, after a delicious lunch at Boulette's Larder, Grant introduced me to two neighboring Russian Hill spots: Loving Cup Cafe (which serves yummy rice pudding) and Homme (which, coincidentally, was written up in Daily Candy yesterday).

The latter was actually closed when we arrived, but as we were about to leave, owner Michelle Homme pulled up in a U-Haul. She had just come back from a buying trip in Southern California. Although the goods that were in the truck aren't on her 1st Dibs site yet, I already know I'm going to love them if her current inventory is any indication. Look at these arrow side tables!

Posted at 03:17 PM | Link | Comments (4)

Hmmm ... The latest installment in the NYT's "On the Cheap" series features a 550-square-foot studio that is furnished for $10,000.

Is that really considered cheap? I know he's starting from scratch ... but still. It doesn't strike me as a small budget for a space of that size.

UPDATE: OK, I just finished reading the article. And he already owned the antique Biedermeier dining table and chairs, as well as the wood armchair. And he spent $500 on painters. If this was really done on the cheap, that would be a total DIY.

Also: This is the most contentious "On the Cheap" yet. Serious drama!

Posted at 09:07 AM | Link | Comments (8)

This week, Habitually Chic featured not one but two posts on closet organization, a subject that I have a keen interest in.

In our previous house, we utilized every single closet to store our clothes. Shoes were in the office. Coats were in the hallway. The hampers occupied all of the floor space in the master bedroom closet. It was a horrible system.

Now we're lucky enough to have a master suite with a walk-through closet (it has a door on each end). When I first saw it, I decided that I was going to do two things: 1) hang my clothes by category and color, and 2) replace all of the hangers so that they match.

These two things make the closet — well, at least my side of it — look so organized. And it makes finding what to wear a snap.

Below is one of my favorite closets, which I don't think was included in HC's round-ups. It's from an old issue of Living, Etc.

Posted at 10:03 AM | Link | Comments (4)

I don't really do New Year's resolutions, but I really like San Francisco artist Lisa Congdon's idea for 2010: photograph or illustrate a collection every day for the entire year.

At the end of 2010, I hope Lisa compiles all of her collections into a book. I would totally buy that. (I am a big fan of her artwork and have a couple of original pieces in the house.)

Posted at 08:41 AM | Link

I was reading the Material Girls blog this morning and spotted this room in their post about library designs:

It got me thinking about hanging a row of small framed artwork high up, on one wall in the guest bedroom. But I think I might need to keep the rest of the walls fairly simple if I try this in my own house.

(The room in the photo was designed by T. Keller Donovan and featured in the January 2008 issue of House Beautiful.)

Posted at 01:47 PM | Link | Comments (1)

I am revisiting the desk in the guest bedroom. I'm just not sure I'm loving the CB2 Peekaboo console in there, so I've been scouring the Internet for other options. One design that I keep coming back to is the Parsons from West Elm. It's definitely the right size (the mini version is just 30" wide) and price ($250).

I love the way interior designer Martha Angus incorporated the Parsons desk in two showcase spaces last year:

Metropolitan Home - Modern by Design - Boy's Room
{ Photo by Matthew Millman }

Millenium Tower - Icons of Design - Guest Bedroom
{ Photo by Peter Medilek, via SFLuxe }

Posted at 07:59 AM | Link | Comments (5)

So my house was sort of in the SF Chronicle the other day. Interior designer Grant K. Gibson and I spent several months collaborating on an article about transforming inexpensive flea-market finds. Since the "after" photo shoot took place at my house, you can see snippets of it in the images below. All of the projects were Grant's briliant idea.

The chair needed a little TLC and new fabric, which Grant found at the flea market for just $5/yard. Such a bargain shopper, that guy.

I love these fashion illustrations, which were $7 each, that Grant framed himself. And I never would have thought to take a handful of watch faces, also $7 each, and turn them into artwork. That's why he's the designer, and I'm just the reporter.

The bar cart was really ugly when we picked it up for $25. With some paint, Grant made it cool. I especially like the way he styled this photo, too.

The vintage tennis rackets, which were only $5 each, were probably my favorite of the makeovers. I'm still trying to find the perfect spot to hang them.

It was such a treat to work with Grant on this story — it didn't feel like work at all!

Posted at 10:03 AM | Link | Comments (5)

Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kelly Hensley over a delicious lunch at Modern Thai. Kelly is the owner of Leftovers, a pair of consigment shops in San Francisco. Soon after opening the first location on the corner of Polk and Bush, she realized that she needed more space. So a few months later, she signed the lease on a larger storefront around the corner on Sutter.

After lunch, Kelly was sweet enough to show me her nearby home as well. Given her impeccable taste, it's no surprise that it was absolutely beautiful.

The next time I'm in need of furniture or accessories, I'm definitely hitting up Leftovers. In fact, I'm stil thinking about a pair of lamps that were for sale last week. I might have to make a return trip to see if they're still there.

Posted at 09:57 AM | Link | Comments (1)

This room from the Greystone Estate, the Veranda showhouse in Beverly Hills, is on my list of favorites:

It was designed by Elizabeth Dinkel, who is also responsible for these lovely rooms:

P.S. The Greystone slideshow includes 57 photos of spaces designed by 28 top interior designers. Definitely worth a look!

Posted at 05:45 PM | Link | Comments (2)

I just got a peek of the West Elm spring collection, which is launching at the end of the month. There are some really great pieces. (I'm already trying to figure out where I might need some of them in my house.)

The "martini" side table in the second image (maybe for the home office?) and the set of lacquered boxes in the fourth image are at the top of my wishlist right now.

Posted at 10:47 AM | Link | Comments (8)

I love, love, love the NY Times series, "On the Cheap," which pairs homeowners "with a furniture budget that feels too tight" with interior designers. Julie Scelfo's third article, "Newly Married, in Search of Style," is my favorite so far.

The couple's original budget for transforming their living/dining room was $2,000. That was later increased to $4,000, to include a better quality sleeper sofa. And the final tally was $5,175.

{Photo above by Donna Alberico}

If you think that's impressive: I'm working today on an article for The Chronicle about a local writer who furnished her ENTIRE one-bedroom apartment for under $4,500. The story is probably running later this month, but here's a sneak peek:

I saw the completed place a couple of weeks ago and it looks fantastic. I wish I could write more articles like this.

Posted at 09:51 AM | Link | Comments (4)

Did you know that such a place exists?!? Canadian House&Home's Morgan Michener wrote about it on the magazine's blog a few weeks ago:

"[I]t's under a hotel that they own for corporate guests visiting their headquarters.We entered through a funny door in the basement, and there before us were rooms filled with Ikea history and furniture examples since the company’s conception in 1943."

{All photos by Morgan Michener}

Posted at 09:25 AM | Link | Comments (2)

It's no secret that High Street Market is one of my favorite Etsy sellers. Kelly Galvin Robson has such a great eye! I knew she kept a blog, but didn't realize until today that she posts photos from her own home. I love these shots of her guest bedroom:

Posted at 02:02 PM | Link | Comments (3)

During our wedding-planning years, Jon and I frequented Flax Art & Design for all sorts of stationery needs. We could never go there without first stopping in for breakfast at neighboring DeLessio Market.

On Saturday we went to Flax to look for gifts for my nephews and, of course, went to DeLessio. It had probably been at least a couple of years since we last ate there, so the chalkboard-covered walls were new to us.

I loved the old bright yellow and red interior, but thought the chalk drawings were pretty clever.

Posted at 07:51 AM | Link | Comments (4)

Wow. Some of my favorite local designers — including Kendall Wilkinson and Martha Angus — are getting together this weekend to put on a huge sample sale. Head to the SF Design Center on Saturday or Sunday to score fantastic deals (10am-5pm).

In addition to the sample sale, 15 designer showrooms at the Design Center will be offering savings of up to 70%. (Admission to the sale is free. Admission to the Design Center showroom event is $10, and the proceeds benefit the design program at SF State University.)

Posted at 12:30 PM | Link | Comments (1)

I've purchased about a dozen shelter magazines in the past week. One that I don't usually buy, Coastal Living, caught my eye because of its Idea House coverage. Here are just a few of the rooms:

You can view more photos of the 2009 Seawatch Idea House right here.

Posted at 10:37 AM | Link | Comments (2)

For my weekly column with the SF Chronicle ("The Stylemaker Spotlight"), I keep a list of local interior designers who I'd like to write about someday. Among them is Kimberly Ayres. Here's why:

I especially love the color palettes, textures and patterns in these photos.

Posted at 12:19 PM | Link | Comments (4)

In case you haven't heard and were planning to go to the Alameda flea market this weekend, I just got word that it's been cancelled. And future events are also questionable. (Thanks for the tip, Lynn!)

The flea market website now has a message on top that says: "Proceedings have been commenced for the voluntary dissolution of Antiques By The Bay, Inc. As a result the show scheduled for Nov 1, 2009 will not take place."

I have no idea what this means, but it doesn't sound good. Boo.

UPDATE: The note on the website has been removed, but the voicemail message for the show still says it's cancelled. Since it's only four days away, hopefully there will be a definite answer about this soon!

UPDATE #2: As of Thursday, 10/28, the website now confirms that the event will be held this Sunday. "The Sunday November 1st show will be held as usual. For information call (510) 740-0220 x104." I did call the number and the outgoing message states that the show is on! (Thanks, Sean!)

Posted at 04:43 PM | Link | Comments (3)

I remember watching twin sisters Joan and Jayne Michaels on a decorating show several years ago, but had no idea they had such an interesting back story until I read 1stdibs's "The Talent" article on them. The Salt Lake City natives moved to Milan to pursue modeling careers, but quickly became disenchanted with the industry. By chance, they ended up renting a penthouse apartment that belonged to the wife of Roman architect Marco Albini. Surrounded by Albini's furniture, they found their true calling. Upon returning to the U.S., the pair studied interior design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Today, they're partners in the firm 2Michaels.

Posted at 12:57 PM | Link | Comments (1)

Someday, maybe I'll be able to afford to shop on 1stdibs. In the meantime, I'm perfectly happy visiting the site to browse and check out the content. There's a lot of really good stuff there. I especially like the "Style Compass" feature.

These photos are from the piece on Steven Gambrel:

And these are from Miles Redd's "Style Compass":

Posted at 12:49 PM | Link | Comments (3)

For our anniversary this year, Jon and I headed north, spending one night in Santa Rosa (Jon rode in Levi's GranFondo on Saturday) and two nights in Sausalito. The weekend's dining highlights — of course there had to be some dining highlights! — included Cyrus (that place is amazing) and Murray Circle (loved the "Elvis" dessert with pancetta ice cream).

We also made a trip to the Heath Ceramics factory yesterday. And today, I got another ceramics treat: Meeting Emily Brown of Emilia Ceramics. I am smitten with these lamp, which come in three colorways, and am trying to figure out where I can put one in my house:

 

Oh, my least favorite part of the weekend? Getting a parking ticket today in San Francisco. Boo.

Posted at 05:23 PM | Link

During a recent visit to Emily Joubert, I experienced one of those moments where I really wish I was the type of person who could throw an elegant dinner party. This lovely table, in perfect fall hues, was set up in the tented outdoor area of the store:

I dig all of the Juliska pieces on the table. (Note to self: Get some dried Chinese lanterns for the house.)

Posted at 04:21 PM | Link | Comments (2)

OK, I know a lot of people out there think that wall stickers are a trend that should go away. But as someone who has incorporated them into my own home, I disagree. It's all about the design and placement. Greener Grass Design just added a bunch of new vinyls and this is my favorite:

"I Love You More Than Sleep" is by Rob Ryan, papercut artist extraordinaire.

Posted at 07:22 AM | Link | Comments (1)

As of this week, I've officially scaled back to part-time hours at my day job. The main benefit is to have more free time for freelance writing. A lesser benefit — because it requires that I spend money rather than make money — is the additional time to focus on decorating projects. The first on my list: the guest bedroom.

After seeing Lydia's headboard on design*sponge, I bought the same Horchow upholstered headboard kit. I briefly considered using a patterned fabric because I love this headboard and matching bedskirt from Palmer Weiss' portfolio:

The only thing is: We already have patterned bedding — Dwell's old "Trellis" design in butter — and I'd prefer to keep it. Looking around the Internet some more, I came across Erinn Valencich's website, Omniarte Design, and was smitten with this room:

Now I'm thinking the best option is a combination of these two: Solid headboard with matching bedskirt + neutral wallpaper pattern on the wall behind the bed. I think I've finally got my fabric and wallpaper picked out, so hopefully the new look will be complete in a couple of months. (I have a ridiculous number of fabric and wallpaper samples lying around my house right now.)

Posted at 08:41 AM | Link | Comments (4)

Pink Wallpaper is one of my must-reads. And now Shannon — the interior designer behind the blog — has started a new website. The Designer's Attic offers up fantastic products at deep discounts; perfectly good things that she just doesn't have room for anymore.

She recently sold a pair of hand-rubbed antique brass Thomas O'Brien "Vendome" sconces for just $90 for the pair. They normally retail for $189 *each*. (I want this sconce for my master bath, but I think I need to buy mine in polished nickel, like the one in the photo below.)

I also love that Shannon includes decorating ideas for the items she's selling. If you haven't already, definitely check out The Designer's Attic!

Posted at 09:53 AM | Link | Comments (3)

Yesterday's SF Chronicle included an article I wrote about the upcoming American Institute of Architects' Home Tours Weekend in San Francisco. The event is scheduled for September 12 and 13, and includes a dozen properties. I posted before about one of my favorites, and below is a photo of another home I really liked:

The Ames Cottage is located in a small alley in the Mission District. Decades ago, it was the Betty May School of Dance. Now, it's a 720-square-foot studio that is amazing in so many ways. The fireplace surround in the center was made with reclaimed ceiling joists and serves as a closet (accessed on the bedroom side). There's additional storage built into the wall between the bathroom and living/dining area. The best part may be the outdoor spaces: there's a rooftop deck and a small courtyard complete with a soaking tub.

P.S. You can see some exterior shots of the cottage on Flora Grubb's blog.

Posted at 02:41 PM | Link | Comments (1)

We got back last night from a visit with Jon's parents in Hilton Head Island, SC. I got my hush puppies and sweet tea fix — and managed to consume plenty of other fried foods as well. (I'm going to count that round of miniature-golf and the hustle through the gigantic Charlotte airport as exercise.)

Since I've still got South Carolina on my brain, I thought I'd post a few new snapshots from Charleston interior designer Angie Hranowsky's online portfolio. I love her work.

Posted at 08:04 AM | Link | Comments (1)

I was browsing Jay Jeffers' website for some inspiration and noticed a new item in his porfolio: his own design firm's studios.

If only all of our workplaces were this gorgeous! (Much better than my beige cubicle.)

Posted at 08:03 AM | Link | Comments (2)

I do a fair amount of my shopping online — for clothing, home goods, books, pretty much anything. A few months ago, I started looking at a source that I had never previously considered: HSN. That's right. The Home Shopping Network's online store. (I think all of those TV skits and "The Soup" jokes left me with a bad impression of shopping channels.)

I bought a bunch of John Robshaw bedding that was significantly discounted (and is still full price on his site!). And now, I see they have this Nate Berkus hexagon cocktail ottoman.

As cute as it is, I've got no need or place for it. (Plus, I've got a million other decorating projects to spend my time and money on.) But see? HSN can be cool!

Posted at 09:22 AM | Link | Comments (3)

I was looking through San Francisco architect Malcolm Davis' online portfolio and came across the lovely home of Susan Hable Smith (one of the sisters behind Hable Construction).

The Manhattan loft was featured in the December/January 2004 issue of Elle Decor. You can check out larger photos — and make out the text for the article — right here.

Posted at 09:19 AM | Link | Comments (2)

My sister gave me a subscription to Cookie magazine and even though we don't have kids, I always enjoy their interior design-related stories. In the September issue, these cool kids' desk areas caught my eye:

You can get detailed instructions for the painted wall projects on Cookie's Nesting blog.

Posted at 05:19 PM | Link | Comments (6)

This is one of the homes I visited yesterday:

When you walk up the stairs, you're greeted by this insanely cool swing.
On the left side of this photo, you can catch a glimpse of an equally cool staircase.


Here's the staircase from another angle.
The treads are made of old floorboards from the top level of the house.


Love the glass barn door and the exposed brick.


Is it wrong to be so jealous of a two-year-old's bedroom?


A library ladder in the kitchen takes full advantage of the 11-foot ceilings.
Also, those are leather cabinet pulls.


The stained glass is a remnant of the home's days as a hippie haven.

The homeowners retained so much of the history of the house, yet modernized it just enough to suit their aesthetic. I toured it for an article I'm writing, but if you want to see it for yourself, you can! It is part of next month's American Institute of Architects Home Tours Weekend. There are also ten other residences participating in the event. Even though they're all considered modern, it's a diverse mix.

P.S. If the house above looks familiar, that's because it was featured in the NY Times last fall. For more (and better) photos, check out the slideshow that ran with that article.

Posted at 08:01 AM | Link | Comments (4)

I love Madeline Weinrib's rugs, but it's always frustrated me you could really only find her collection at ABC Carpet & Home. But now, Auto is selling some of her pieces online!

I just happen to need new rugs in the entry, kitchen and master closet.

Posted at 11:31 AM | Link | Comments (4)

This Santa Monica office designed by Vanessa De Vargas of Turquoise has been in my inspiration file for a while now. I love the look of the Lucite shelves with the wallpapered accent wall.

So when I noticed that CB2 and Container Store both carry wall-mounted acrylic shelves, I started brainstorming places where I could replicate this look in my own house. (No verdict yet.) The CB2 shelf is 30" wide, while the Container Store version is available in three widths (12", 18", 24"). The latter is much cheaper ($20 for the widest one versus $50 for the CB2 shelf).

Posted at 12:01 AM | Link | Comments (4)

I love love love Christiana's apartment — especially the fact that it's always evolving and, therefore, always providing inspiration. I've been toying with the idea of getting an acrylic console instead of a more traditional desk for the guest room, and this recent photo of her bedroom has me leaning that way:

It's from the latest issue of DIY magazine, which has a spread on Christiana's apartment. You can see more photos on the Ferm Living blog.

Also: I am totally into those wallpapered wall cubes! I might have to steal that idea from Christiana, too.

Posted at 05:21 PM | Link | Comments (3)

So my life right now basically consists of work, writing, driving up to San Francisco for interviews, and enjoying this lovely summer weather. I made time today to catch up on some blog-reading and saw that Maggie posted another installment of her Mighty Closet feature. Yay!

This one includes some awesome outfits, courtesy of Margaret Stewart. But a click here, a click there, and I ended up getting totally sucked in to Margaret's Flickr set about her Eichler house. (See, I have a thing for Eichlers. Last year when we were house-hunting, we looked at some in Menlo Park and Palo Alto, but it just didn't work out.)

There are 190 photos in the set, so it took me a while to look through them all. It's well worth every minute, but now I need to get back to being productive. If you're as fascinated as I am about Eichlers — or just other people's home renovations — check out Margaret's photo documentation of the process.

Posted at 02:31 PM | Link | Comments (5)

Met Home celebrated the opening of its first San Francisco showhouse yesterday, and I stopped by to get a tour. Sadly, deadlines kept me from attending the party later in the evening. Luckily, Grant K. Gibson — a fantastic local interior designer (and an awesome blogger) — posted about it.

It was a real treat to see several designers who I've had the pleasure of interviewing in the past. And there were so many rooms that I liked, but my photography skills suck so I'm only sharing the decent ones here:

Living room by ODADA

Dining room by Jiun Ho

Bedroom by Julie Dowling

Bathroom by Gary Hutton (the divider is made of Ivory soap bars!)

Room by Min Day

Media room by Erin Martin (love that hanging seat!)

None of my photos of Jay Jeffers', Steven Miller's, Martha Angus' and Nicole Hollis' spaces turned out very well — my photos definitely wouldn't do them justice — so hopefully you'll be able to see those in person for yourself. The showhouse is open to the public starting this weekend; more details are right here.

Posted at 08:27 AM | Link | Comments (2)

I'm a little overwhelmed right now because I'm working on half a dozen writing assignments. I feel like I'm scheduling interviews with designers every day! (And this is in addition to my full-time job.) One of the designers I've had the pleasure of talking with lately is Steven Miller. I initially met him a few years ago at the SF Decorator Showcase, which he has participated in several times. The bedroom he designed below remains one of my all-time favorite Showcase rooms:

Steven is currently completing the kitchen, family room and powder room in the Met Home Modern By Design showhouse that opens later this week. I can't wait to see what he's come up with!

Posted at 09:04 AM | Link | Comments (1)

Four Walls and a Roof — one of my new favorite blogs — posted the other day about Emily Walker's abode. A designer in the merchandise department of Canadian House & Home, Walker lives in a 900-square-foot bungalow. How great is this place?

You can read more about Walker's place on the House & Home site.

P.S. I love House & Home and pick it up whenever I'm lucky enough to find it on the newsstands, which isn't very often. So I've already submitted my birthday request for a subscription (a month early).

Posted at 09:19 PM | Link | Comments (5)

I was at Kepler's this weekend and picked up a couple of French magazines: 100 Idees Deco and Marie Claire Maison. Although I took three (or four?) years of French in high school, I cannot read a single sentence in either of these publications. Still, I find that the language barrier doesn't prevent me from gathering up inspiration.

I'm thinking of picking up a pair of inexpensive fans, similar to the ones bookending the mantle above.

I am a fan of wood, but I can appreciate the bold color on the beams and railings in the upper-left photo.

This nook was completely transformed with the addition of a pair of wallpaper-covered wall-mounted shelves (maybe the IKEA Lack?); hanging lights (love that they're just installed on hooks); a headboard made with a collage of photos and illustrations; and small drapes on a wire.

We have some solid white drapes in our guest room. I was going to spruce them up with some ribbon trim, but it might be fun to paint a floral motif like this on them.

I like the way Deborah Bowness' wallpaper designs are displayed in this spread.

I know, I know. Scans would have made for better images, but I was lazy and went with photos of the magazine pages.

Posted at 11:09 AM | Link | Comments (3)

Serena & Lily is a local design company that is probably best known for its charming baby/kid decor. But they've got plenty of lovely grown-up bedding and products. Like:

Leather Mirror - Reminds me of this one that I've been obsessed with!

Key Valance & Border Panel

Drum Table - Can you believe it's papier-mâché?!

And I love their fabrics by the yard.

Posted at 05:13 PM | Link

I was at the car wash last week and I think they recently replenished their selection of books (yes, it's one of those car washes with a gift shop). I spent most of my wait looking at all of the pretty pictures in Atlanta Bartlett's Easy Elegance.

If you're a fan of Emily Chalmers' books — Flea Market Style, Contemporary Country — then this one is right up your alley.

Posted at 03:56 PM | Link

I somehow landed on Charlotte magazine's Home & Garden site this morning and found all sorts of pretty pictures. I especially like these children's rooms:

Read about these rooms and see more charming photos in the "Hey Kids!" feature.

Posted at 11:17 AM | Link | Comments (4)

I am in love with this indoor swing from one of Jay Jeffers' recent projects:

It has me daydreaming about Pottery Barn's Chesapeake Hanging Lounger — which I could totally picture on our lower deck. (This warm weather has me thinking about all the cool outdoor furniture that's out there now.)

Posted at 09:17 AM | Link | Comments (3)

Did you see this article and slideshow in the NYT today on creative ways to display art? These are my favorites of the ideas Helen Allen, who oversees the Affordable Art Fair, suggested:

Do Frame adhesive tape from Droog

Reproduction antique shirt display from Urban Archaeology

Posted at 10:03 AM | Link | Comments (1)

I was going through all of the photos on my memory card and found another shot from the SF Decorator Showcase that I wanted to share. I love this dresser in the Sports Room designed by Audrey Brandt:

Painting multicolored drawers would be a great way to revamp an old dresser if you have one stashed away somewhere.

Posted at 03:41 PM | Link | Comments (3)

I'm finally going to do it. I'm going to have a Gift Wrap Room. We have a closet downstairs that is currently crammed with I don't even remember what anymore. Inspired by the Wrap Closet designed by Gale Melton for the SF Decorator Showcase (see below), I'm going to transform our little neglected space into a dedicated place for all things wrapping related.

(Apologies for the poor photo quality.)

I have already cleared out some of the items in the closet — which basically means the office is even more of a mess right now — and have taken all measurements. It's a funky space, but I'm ridiculously excited about the possibility of turning it into something cool and useful.

Posted at 07:44 AM | Link | Comments (5)

I took over 1,000 photos during our recent trip to Italy. It's going to be a while before I get through them all, separating the good from the bad (oh, and there will be plenty of bad, I'm sure). I took this snapshot of a window across the street from a pasticceria that my sister and I visited several times during our stay in Florence:

This wouldn't work at all in my house, but in this setting, I love the way these neon "curtains" look.

Posted at 07:49 AM | Link

While I was busy stalking George Clooney's villa in Lake Como last week, the Decorator Showcase was holding its Media Day. Since I missed it, the Showcase people were kind enough to let me come by on Friday to see the house without any of the usual crowds. Later in the evening, the house was packed for the Opening Night party. (Thanks, Jordan, for being my date!) These are some of my favorite design spaces from this year's house:

Entry Area by Nicole Hollis

Her Study by Benjamin Dhong

Guest Bath by Lynn Amon

Dining Room by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy

Breakfast Nook and Family Room by Matthew Leverone

Penthouse by Heather Hilliard

P.S. I had a story running in yesterday's Chronicle about first-time Showcase designer Anastasia Faiella's powder room. And, for my weekly Stylemaker Spotlight series, I interviewed seamstress Madina Aryeh — whose handiwork you can see above, in Matthew Leverone's and Benjamin Dhong's rooms.

Posted at 07:31 AM | Link | Comments (8)

This morning, I'm catching up on my usual online reads. Penelope Green had a fun article in yesterday's NYT about the San Francisco home of skateboarders Jay Shapiro and Claire Bigbie. I like it a lot.

You can check out the entire slideshow here.

Posted at 08:15 AM | Link | Comments (4)

I have been wanting to paint stripes in our master bathroom for a while now — I've got the paint can on standby — and seeing these photos yesterday in a D*S sneak peek may be the final motivation I need:

My only concern is that, initially, I was planning to only paint one wall with stripes. And then I thought it might be better to paint one section of the bathroom — the section with the double-sinks. But then the rest of the bathroom (commode, shower and tub area) would be stripe-less. Which might look really odd. Hmmm ...

Posted at 11:20 AM | Link | Comments (2)

The NY Times has an interesting series running today, chronicling the attempts of five designers to revamp one room each — for $300. Only one was successful; the others managed to stay under $500.

• Two-Story House on Long Island
• Downtown Brooklyn One-Bedroom
• Shared Apartment in Murray Hill
• One-Bedroom in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
• West Village Studio

With the studio shown above, I'm surprised that they spent $54 (of the total $326) paying a handyman to install the bookshelves. The Long Island living room was one of the more expensive makeovers ($452) because a set designer and seamstress were hired to stencil the walls and sew pillows, respectively. Overall, I think the lessons learned here are: 1) paint and fabric can go a long way, and 2) doing things yourself will save you a bunch of cash.

Posted at 09:49 AM | Link

When I was in grad school, I worked part-time at a store on Berkeley's Fourth Street. During my breaks, I would often venture into Erica Tanov and gaze at all of the pretty things. (I couldn't afford any of it at the time!) I loved not only the clothing and accessories on the shelves and racks, but just the overall feel of the store. So it's no surprise that I am besotted with Tanov's home, featured today on AT's Re-Nest site.

Posted at 04:54 PM | Link | Comments (3)

Pretty, right?

But check out the details: Bike wheels! Chains! Handlebars! I like this Two-Speed wallpaper by Flavor Paper.

(The price, however, I like a little less: $198/roll.)

Posted at 06:03 PM | Link | Comments (4)

I posted about Aimée Wilder a while back, but just learned via Swiss Miss that her wallpaper patterns are now available for purchase.

And next month, Vans is releasing shoes and apparel featuring her designs.

Posted at 02:40 PM | Link | Comments (1)

The Target near my work sucks. I know quite a few stores have already started stocking Orla Kiely goods, but not the one I can see from my office. However, it looks like products are starting to hit the Target online store and can now be ordered and will ship in the coming weeks. I can't decide whether to just order online or keep stalking the local Target. I kind of want the instant gratification of finding things in the store, rather than waiting up to six weeks for them to arrive.

Posted at 10:56 AM | Link | Comments (8)

Last week — hard to believe it was just a week ago! — when we were in Park City, I wandered into the fantastic Barclay Butera showroom. I had never heard of Barclay Butera before then. But now, I see that today's NYTimes Style section has a "shopping with" feature with him. One thing worth noting is his recommendations for pillows on a bed:

On the other hand, he can answer with great certainty the question that has long troubled philosopher-decorators: How many pillows should be on a bed?

“Ten.”

Permit him to explain. “Three Euros, they would be 30 inches by 30 inches, or 26 inches by 26 inches,” he said over lunch at Bergdorf Goodman, where nearby diners leaned in to eavesdrop. “Then, depending on the size of the bed, you want four standard king-sized or queen-sized for the purposes of the people in the bed.”

These would be the actual sleeping pillows?

“Yes, but the sleeping pillows still have decorative elements,” said Mr. Butera, who splits his time between Newport Beach, Calif., and Park City, Utah. “In front of those, two 18-inch-by-18-inch or some small decorative pillows and a small boudoir pillow.”

Wow. Ten. Although come to think of it — with sleeping pillows and shams and decorative pillows all counted — we have seven on our bed.

Posted at 10:12 AM | Link | Comments (5)

I went to last year's San Francisco Decorator Showcase, but somehow missed this bathroom designed by Benjamin Dhong. The green accents are just perfect.

Note to self: This year, if you go to the Showcase, allot several hours so you don't miss fantastic rooms like this again.

Posted at 03:09 PM | Link | Comments (1)

After reading this article about Portola Valley's new-ish Town Center, I decided to go see it for myself — and snap some photos, of course.

And check out the library! One of my favorite features is the use of tree trunks as columns.

Posted at 08:22 PM | Link | Comments (1)

Did you know that there is a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home on the Stanford campus? I didn't until two or three years ago, when Jon clued me in. And it's taken us *this* long to finally get around to scheduling a tour of the Hanna House. (We went yesterday morning.)

That narrow door is the entry to the home; it's actually located on the back side of the house.

In the mid-1930s, Stanford professor Paul Hanna and his wife, Jean, recruited Wright to design a home for them and their three young kids. It's based on the hexagon, and even much of the custom furniture inside was fashioned in that shape. Unfortunately, photos are only allowed outside. (This Via story has more details on the home.)

If you're in the area, I highly recommend taking an hour out of your day to tour the Hanna House.

Posted at 12:56 PM | Link

Not a huge surprise: Pottery Barn is now selling a knock-off of the BDDW mirror I have been coveting.

The more I look at the BDDW Captain's Mirror and then the less expensive versions, the more convinced I am that I need to save my money for the BDDW one.

(I really like PB's crest-shaped pinboard — also a new product — but have no need for it.)

Posted at 03:57 PM | Link | Comments (6)

I have been admiring the If You Could posters for months and months, but with the currency conversion rates what they were earlier this year, I was hesitant to buy. Plus, I wasn't sure where I would hang them. Now, there is a solution to both problems: an affordable book that includes all 24 prints that were created in 2008. It's just $15 and will take up just a small amount of real estate on my coffee table.

(Every month, If You Could asked two artists to create a print answering the question, "If you could do anything tomorrow, what would it be?")

Posted at 08:41 AM | Link | Comments (3)

Victoria's post this morning about Daly City's Westlake district brought to mind: 1) many childhood memories because I grew up in the area; and 2) one of my favorite coffee table books, Little Boxes: The Architecture of a Classic Midcentury Suburb.

As a kid, I didn't care much for the brightly painted, quirky homes. But I have forever held a soft spot for the architecture of my elementary school, which looks like this:

If you're looking for a good holiday gift for a midcentury architecture fan, I highly recommend Little Boxes by Rob Keil. You can find out more about his book and Westlake on his website.

Posted at 07:56 AM | Link | Comments (4)

I have loved this Julia Rothman wallpaper ever since I saw the red and yellow version in Christiana's home earlier this year.

Now that "Daydream" is available in yellow and gray, I think I may need to install this pattern in the guest bedroom closet. Yes, the closet. Wouldn't that be a nice surprise when you pull back the closet doors? Now I just need to get Jon on board with this idea.

Posted at 09:13 AM | Link

Apartment Therapy linked to Sharilyn's sewing nook yesterday and I couldn't help sharing the photo:

I wish my fabrics and sewing accessories were that organized!

Posted at 09:45 AM | Link | Comments (3)

As soon as I saw Holly's post about Port2Port today, I immediately went over and picked up the 2009 Port2Port calendar. I was planning to buy it anyway, but the 20% discount (enter code "decor8") and possibility of the calendar selling out motivated me to act quickly.

I currently have the 2008 version on display in my entry (I also saved the 2007 calendar):

I love that the 2009 calendar features photos and letterpressed illustrations:

Sadly, this is the final year that Port2Port will be offering the calendar.

Posted at 11:32 AM | Link | Comments (1)

According to the December 2008 Elle Decor: "Designer Madeline Weinrib travels widely and collects well." Indeed she does.

You can read the entire article and see more photos of her loft right here.

Posted at 07:36 AM | Link

There are four things I especially love about our home office:

1. The natural light.
2. The access to the lower deck.
3. The built-in desk (see photos of it fake-wallpapered at Apartment Therapy).
4. The storage, thanks to a pair of good-sized closets.

Unfortunately, #4 on the list also comes with bland sliding closet doors. Inspired by Benita's (of Chez Larrson) closet door project shown below, I think I may try to paint them out.

The only thing is: The built-in desk with the Ferm living "Feather" wallpaper is right next to the closets, so whatever I paint on the doors has to complement that pattern.

Posted at 10:31 AM | Link | Comments (4)

Ever since Please Sir blogged about Honey Interiors a few weeks ago, I have been obsessed with this house featured in the firm's online portfolio:

(I can't link to it directly, but it's the residence in South Pasadena, CA.)

Posted at 10:37 AM | Link | Comments (4)

With the elections over,* the next big thing on the calendar this month is Thanksgiving. Although I don't like cooking, these invitations by Lisa of Good On Paper make me want to throw a turkey feast for family and friends:

The Thanksgiving invitations are available at Tiny Prints.

* I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that Prop 8 here in California doesn't pass.

Posted at 07:21 AM | Link | Comments (2)

I am a big fan of Christopher David Ryan's work. And, just in time for Election Day tomorrow, I discovered that he is offering a free download of this Obama poster on his site:

P.S. You can purchase his prints at Little Paper Planes. I picked up two that are waiting to be hung in the home office.

Posted at 06:11 PM | Link | Comments (1)

I love this DIY! The folks at Olli & Lime — which has a great line of children's home stuff — posted about this mobile on their blog:

It's made out of triangular pieces of wallpaper. Such a great idea for those scraps left over from various projects!

Also, I am trying to figure out how to incorporate Olli & Lime's "Carrie" wallpaper into my closet:

Posted at 01:14 PM | Link | Comments (1)

Jenna Lyons is J.Crew's creative director. So it comes as no surprise that her house rocks. Seriously.

This is the *real* envy-inducing shot for me:

"At home, Lyons has the great luxury of allowing her extensive wardrobe a room of its own." That's right — she not only has the fantastic clothes, but she also has that as her dressing room/closet. *sigh* View the entire house tour here.

Posted at 03:38 PM | Link | Comments (5)

What a weekend! My sister and I arrived in NYC around midnight on Friday and, 48 hours later, I was already back home in the Bay Area. One of our first stops was ABC Carpet & Home, where we spied these seating options:

I couldn't resist getting a pair of these stools (on sale!).

We loved this petite upholstered chair, but it was $2500. Yikes.

Obama chairs, but no McCains or Palins to be found.

It was a great trip, but too short! Still, we managed to cram in lots of good eating and shopping. Now I need a nap. (And my credit card needs a rest, too.)

Posted at 09:52 AM | Link

So I have a confession: I really REALLY miss the white kitchen in our old place. It was so light and bright and clean and fresh and just so good to be in — even though I hardly ever cook.

I recently visited with a local chef for a future SF Chronicle article; his white kitchen was so beautiful and inviting, it made me miss that old kitchen of ours even more. Here are some of the photos from my visit:

I covet those Heath tiles used for the backsplash. And the drawings and text on the chalkboard wall — inspired by Parisian outdoor blackboard menus — are so cool. The rest of the house was just as fantastic, and I loved that the chef referred to the mix of vintage and modern pieces throughout as "a collected look, rather than a purchased look."

Posted at 07:58 AM | Link | Comments (3)

Just as we were about to land in Tokyo, I realized that I had forgotten my wallet at home. Usually, I forget to pack pajamas. This time? Just all of my credit cards.

That oversight, coupled with the fact that we were trying not to check-in any luggage (I hate waiting at baggage claim), cramped my shopping style. But I still couldn't resist picking up a set of these "Design Chair Cushions" at Sempre.

In the store, they displayed them with several different chairs — including the Eames fiberglass design that we have in our kitchen. I had actually been looking for cushions for these chairs because I always feel like I slide back too far and then the table ends up feeling a tad too high. Even though they didn't fit in our suitcases, I managed to successfully carry four of them home with me on the plane.

Posted at 10:18 AM | Link | Comments (5)

I love everything about Summer and Josh's house tour on AT:Chicago, especially this window seat. Gorgeous!

You can view more photos — and additional projects that Summer has worked on — in her online portfolio.

Posted at 11:04 AM | Link | Comments (4)

Love these new arrivals at Rare Device, available in several color combinations:

Muscat

Saplings

If only I had a spot in the house for them!

Posted at 07:42 AM | Link | Comments (2)

While doing some Internet research for a story I'm writing, I came across the "House Obsession" blog. (Again, another fantastic site that I wasn't previously familiar with!) Check out Leah's stunning kitchen remodel:

BEFORE

AFTER

Love it. Now I need to stop staring at these photos and get back to work!

Posted at 09:07 AM | Link | Comments (5)

There are so many bloggers out there who do a fantastic job of finding vintage pieces and making them work in their homes. (Anna at Door Sixteen and Victoria at SFGirlbyBay come to mind.) I, however, do not seem to be one of them. I just don't have that eye. But reading the blog of Eddie Ross — the Martha Stewart editor who is a contestant on the current season of "Top Design" — is still quite inspiring. Earlier this week, he posted about some gems from his local Salvation Army. Not only does he show photos, but gives ideas on how he might update an object and/or use it in a space.

Here's one of his past before/after projects:

P.S. I came across Ross' blog through Habitually Chic, which is a must-read for me. And she linked back to Brilliant Asylum, which I cannot believe I hadn't read before today.

Posted at 08:33 AM | Link | Comments (8)

A couple of months ago, I was on the hunt for a shower curtain and ended up getting the Pottery Barn "Tile" pattern in chocolate/white. Now I wish I had held out for this DwellStudio "Home Geometry" curtain:

It's available in sky — which is shown above — or primrose. It's tucked away in the DwellStudio Baby/Kids section of Design Public's site, but I think it would suit a grown-up bathroom just fine.

Posted at 02:49 PM | Link | Comments (1)

Doesn't Laure's family home in France look straight out of a magazine spread? Beautiful.

Read more about it on her blog, At Home At Home, and see more pics in her Flickr set. (I hope she continues to add photos!)

Posted at 09:31 AM | Link | Comments (1)

From Angie Hranowsky's porfolio:

I may borrow this idea for the wall space above our dining room credenza. (The mirror purchased for that spot isn't going to work ... more on that next week.)

Posted at 01:39 PM | Link | Comments (2)

I absolutely love this place, featured in Suzy Hoodless' portfolio:

Can you believe that someone gets to call this home?!?

Posted at 07:55 AM | Link

I am smitten with this paper crane mobile from Cheri Messerli and David Rager's home, which is featured on The Selby:

We have high ceilings in the living/dining room and I would love to make something like this for one of the corners.

Posted at 04:09 PM | Link | Comments (2)

The July issue of Real Simple had a great piece on easy bathroom makeovers. Check out these three befores/afters:

I love that none of the makeovers required any demolition or major renovation work. It's all just new paint, wallpaper (in 2 out of 3 of them) and accessories.

Posted at 02:46 PM | Link | Comments (4)

I came across this photo on the Ferm Living blog and immediately went over to their online shop to order the "Branch" wall sticker for our bedroom:

See, we live right along the San Andreas Fault, so hanging anything above our headboard makes me nervous. This is the perfect solution for adding a little visual interest, without the risk of anything falling on top of us if there's an earthquake.

Also found on the Ferm blog: A sneek peek at a couple of new (not yet available) designs!

Posted at 07:26 AM | Link | Comments (5)

While going through some old pictures on my camera's memory card, I came across these two from this year's Decorator Showcase in San Francisco:

I love the fashion illustrations hanging from lucite hangers in the lady's dressing room. I think I'm going to have to search Etsy later today for some illustrations for my own closet. (BTW, the DS room was designed by Melanie Coddington.)

I wish I had some old grade school math exams or homework that I could blow up into artwork similar to the one shown in the bottom photo. Maybe I can take one from my nine-year-old niece or seven-year-old nephew? (Unfortunately, I don't remember which room the artwork appeared in, so I'm not sure which designer was responsible for this selection.)

UPDATE: The artwork is an original by Michael Scoggins. (Thanks, Hannah!)

Posted at 07:21 AM | Link | Comments (4)

Must. Mark. Calendar.

Earlier this week, the de Young announced a 40-year Retrospective of the Work of Yves Saint Laurent. It opens November 1, and the San Francisco museum will be the only venue in the U.S. for the show.

I can't wait!

Posted at 03:24 PM | Link | Comments (1)

It looks like JHill Design has released even more cities in the "Places I Have Never Been" series, including:

Traverse City, Michigan, might be my favorite of this bunch.

Posted at 11:26 AM | Link

Oh. My. Goodness. On my way to Holly's Nintendo party last week, I just had to stop the car, get out, run across the street in my heels and snap a few photos of this house:

I am totally in love with the exterior. How could you NOT be in a good mood if you came home to this house every day?

Posted at 07:32 AM | Link | Comments (7)

Remember when I said that I must have this teak mirror for the dining room?

Well, the problem is that it's $725 at Neiman Marcus. I was starting to calculate how long I'd have to save up for it when I saw that Pottery Barn came out with this one, for about $200:

I thought maybe, if I stained the wood on the PB one, it might come closer to the look of the pricier one. I finally resolved that I shouldn't settle if what I really want is the teak version. BUT. Look what I spotted on the Brown Design blog:

The shape looks a lot like the PB one, but the color of the wood is similar to the Neiman Marcus mirror. So now I'm reconsidering the cheaper option, with a nice, rich stain. Hmmm ...

Posted at 08:22 AM | Link

One of my favorite television shows right now is Bravo's "Flipping Out." I recently came across Ryan Brown's design website — that's Jeff Lewis' business partner on the program — and I especially like these shots from his portfolio:

P.S. Brown Design, which Ryan runs with his brother, also has a blog.

Posted at 07:35 AM | Link

Got ugly tiles? Swedish company Allrum's tile stickers might be the solution to the problem:

Posted at 09:22 AM | Link

Hmmm ... It looks like Pottery Barn's latest pillow collection was inspired by some other designers ...

PB "Orange Leaves" and Orla Kiely's "Stem" pattern

PB "Velvet Appliqué" pillow and Adam & Viktoria's pillow

I know the Adam & Viktoria colorway is different from PB's, but it's got the same vibe — with the velvet design on a linen back. And A&V have actually done pillows in the same deep reds and pinks as the PB one shown above:

Very interesting.

Posted at 09:04 AM | Link

It's no secret that I love the displays at Anthropologie, and one of my favorite locations is the Carmel store. We were staying at Pebble Beach for the holiday weekend, so of course I had to pop in and snap a few photos. Sadly, I only had my cell phone with me, so they're not very good.

There was a small wall in the back of the store that had been given a woven treatment. Buying some wide ribbon in bulk could make this a budget-friendly project:

UPDATE: In case you're wondering, the material above is jute upholstery webbing. (Thanks, Anna!)

And this project costs absolutely nothing. Turn some found rocks into tabletop accessories with just a permanent marker and a cool pattern in mind:

Posted at 08:02 AM | Link

All available at Huset.

I would love to line the back of my shoe storage area with this Lisa Bengtsson wallpaper:

Nanni Holén's "Nero" shelf is a contender for a wall in the new house:

If only these weren't $80 each! I would love to line up half of dozen of these porcelain birds (which also come in black and white) near the entry:

Posted at 10:33 AM | Link

I don't drink much hot tea during the summertime, but I'm thinking I should pick up one of these Paige Russell teapots for future use:

I love that repurposed and felted striped cozy.

Posted at 08:50 AM | Link

How fantastic is this idea?

Pocket-sized floor plans! With measurements and paint chips! I am all over this.

Posted at 02:10 PM | Link

Back in April, when we were in Paris, I spent a few hours wandering around the housewares department at Printemps. I couldn't stop looking at the Kenzo home collection. I didn't buy anything — in part because I sometimes couldn't tell if I was picking up a tablecloth or a bed sheet — but, thankfully, Unica Home carries some Kenzo Maison pieces.

Lovely stuff.

Posted at 04:23 PM | Link

One of my souvenirs from April's trip to Paris was a roll of wallpaper from Habitat. It was a multicolored Marcel Wanders pattern that, by the time I got it home, I had fallen out of like with. And I kept thinking about the Barbara Hulanicki design that I had passed up. Look how good it looks hanging in Eden & Eden:

It's fantastic, right? Well, here's something even more fantastic: A co-worker strolled into the office and handed me a roll! His brother is visiting from London and, upon hearing of my wallpaper regret, brought it over for me.

It's going to take me a while to figure out how/where to best put it to use.

Posted at 09:48 AM | Link

I am liking this table ($115), available for pre-order at Urban Outfitters.

But our house is full. No more room for any new furniture.

Posted at 03:57 PM | Link

Thanks to Laure, I now know that you can get all sorts of window treatments in Dwell patterns at The Shade Store. Awesome.

Pssst ... The Shade Store also carries a Chilewich collection.

Posted at 07:55 AM | Link

Yikes. It's been about two months and I have yet to upload my photos from our trip to London and Paris. Terrible! But here are a few shots from one of my favorite shops, Liberty:

Posted at 02:36 PM | Link

I have admired these lovely invitations by Mr. Boddington's Studio for quite some time now. One of these days, I'm going to have to throw a Tea and Cupcakes Party.

Posted at 09:23 AM | Link

While browsing at Crate&Barrel this weekend, I noticed that a lot of their furniture set-ups include books covered in plain, kraft paper. This reminded me of an episode of "Room Service," during which host/designer Sarah Richardson covered what must've been hundreds of the homeowners' books. She used a pretty cream-colored paper and then adhered labels to each and every one of the books.

I think this might be a cool project for the living room or guest room — where we keep a handful of books — but couldn't imagine doing this for an entire room.

Posted at 12:56 PM | Link

Lorena of Petit Collage just released this new poster:

If we had a kid (and a kid's room), I'd be all over this.

P.S. In case you missed it, I did a house tour of Lorena's place for Apartment Therapy last year. It's definitely worth sitting through the wonky AT slideshow system to see her lovely home.

Posted at 01:53 PM | Link

On Saturday, Christiana (of Ferm Living) came over for the wallpaper project do-over. Prior to her visit, I ripped off the wallpaper that Elizabeth and I had installed. It was surprisingly easy! (The task may have been helped along because — following the advice of the guy at the local paint/wallpaper store — I applied a coat of some sort of special primer.)

It took Christiana and I about an hour to complete the re-wallpapering of the 8'x3' area in the entry. Figuring out the cut-out and trimming the left side were the really tricky aspects of the job.

My sister has this lovely cabinet that she wants to give us, and Jon and I were planning to place it against this wall. But now the wallpaper just looks so good, I don't think I can do it.

Posted at 07:32 AM | Link

In June's Home magazine, interior designer Jeff Andrews' L.A. home is featured as the "Just Right House."

I especially love that his guest room doubles as a dressing room. I proposed that to Jon, but he vetoed that idea.

Posted at 07:53 AM | Link

How cool are these pendant lamps by Rachel O'Neill? They're made of velcro. Yes. VELCRO.

Seen — and drooled over — at ICFF.

Posted at 08:05 AM | Link

I am a huge fan of Neisha Crosland's work, but didn't realize until recently that she has a very talented sister, Charlotte, who is a London-based interior designer. You can spot a lot of Neisha's fabrics and wallpapers in Charlotte's rooms:

By the way, Charlotte's home is featured in this month's issue of Easy Living. I picked up a copy just for that spread.

Posted at 02:04 PM | Link

One of the booths I'm most looking forward to at next week's National Stationery Show is that of Mixed Co.:

Last year, some of the super-talented ladies who make up this collective shared a booth that was one of the best I saw at Javits. And I can't wait to see what they've come up with for this year's show!

Posted at 08:22 AM | Link

I've been doing a lot of wallpaper research over the past few months, and just today, noticed that Hanna Werning has a link on her site that offers pics of the factory where her designs are produced.

One of her finished products:

The process:

See more photos here.

Posted at 11:09 AM | Link

I was at the car wash the other day and was immediately drawn to these two books (yes, my local car wash has a shop with lots of cool books!):

Flea Market Style

Bazaar Style

Flea Market Style was published a few years ago, and I actually wasn't sure if I already owned a copy. (I didn't, but will soon enough!) And Bazaar Style is photographed by the same person, Debi Treloar, and was just released this month. You can check out several shots from Bazaar Style in author Selina Lake's Flickr set, and below are a couple more images from Flea Market Style:

Posted at 07:55 AM | Link

I'm in the middle of one of my quarterly magazine purges. Every time I go through my stack of publications, there's an issue in particular that I can't resist flipping through over and over: Sunset, April 2007. It includes features on:

Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic of Heath Ceramics

Vanessa De Vargas of Turquoise

A Palo Alto patio facelift in two weekends

And I also really liked the story about a Palo Alto Eichler. So much good stuff in one little issue!

Posted at 07:11 AM | Link

Pssst ... If you are planning to check out this year's Decorator Showcase in San Francisco, do NOT miss the rooftop terrace. Here's just a snippet of the sweeping views of the Bay:

The month-long Showcase officially opens to the public on Saturday (unfortunately, I can't post more pics from my press visit). There are so many rooms in the 16,000-square-foot mansion — yes, SIXTEEN THOUSAND — that you are bound to find good design inspiration in at least a dozen of them. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Posted at 10:13 AM | Link

It's been about a year since I was first introduced to the awesomeness that is designer Ivana Helsinki's work. (Eden&Eden, a fantastic store in SF, is one of the few shops in the country to carry this label.) Recently, I was doing a search to see if I could score some IH goods online and I came across Huset — which specializes in items from Scandinavian. In addition to IH dresses that I love, there's a lot of cool housewares. Such as:

Huset is definitely getting bookmarked.

Posted at 09:20 PM | Link

I'm a little late posting about this, but ... April's design in the JHill calendar is just too sweet not to share. (I have one of these hanging in my cubicle.)

Posted at 12:11 PM | Link

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to get a tour of the Heath Ceramics factory with owners Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic. Check out the post about my visit on AT:SF.

Posted at 10:30 AM | Link

We recently finished replacing all of the ceiling light fixtures in our house. It was a bit of a challenge because we have the standard ol' eight-foot ceilings, which meant we were limited to flushmounts in most places. I wish I had known that this Jonathan Adler fixture existed:

It's available in bronze or brushed nickel for $185.

Posted at 07:17 AM | Link

I totally need one of these ... okay, maybe three of them: Grobal is a cool plant container (designed by Karim Rashid) that has a self-watering system. It's available in lots of colors and in two sizes.

Posted at 07:11 AM | Link

I could go on and on about why I find today's House Tour on Apartment Therapy so inspiring. But I'll try to keep my editorial short and simple here: I love that Holly and Sean have taken affordable pieces from the likes of Target and World Market (so are we not calling it Cost Plus anymore?) and IKEA, and completely made you forget that they came from these big-box stores. Rather, the focus is shifted to their many travel finds — which are beautiful and steeped in personal significance. Their decor isn't about trends or showroom pieces. It's such a reflection of the two of them, and their history together.

P.S. Holly has a wonderful blog (Nothing But Bonfires) that has become one of my must-reads.

Posted at 11:22 AM | Link

While I like the slogan on these posters, my favorite thing about them is that they're hand-letterpressed on to antique maps. No two are alike!

Posted at 12:15 PM | Link

Look what arrived! UPS just dropped off Cutting Edge, which includes over 250 patterns (and a CD with 50 of them). There are a lot of designers whose names I recognize, as well as plenty who are new to me. In the latter category, I am loving Aimée Wilder's patterns:

Posted at 10:08 AM | Link

I am loving Missoni's latest bedding collection, now available at Auto.

Posted at 07:36 AM | Link

That's right. Jonathan Adler just released a collection of wallpaper.

In addition to the ready-to-go patterns and colors, you can actually have any of the designs done up in a custom color. Nice!

Posted at 02:33 PM | Link

I have a real problem. I can't stop buying fabric! I have stacks and stacks of great textiles that will not be put to use any time soon. Still, I keep picking up more! But can you blame me when there are so many wonderful artists selling hand-screenprinted fabrics on Etsy? Like Melbourne-based Aunty Cookie:

I think the "Home Sweet Home" design (top image; also available in black) would be perfect for a pillow in the living room. But who knows when I'll actually get around to sewing that pillow ...

Posted at 08:11 AM | Link

Hable Construction has teamed up with Pottery Barn Kids to make nurseries even more stylish. You can now order slipcovers in Hable patterns for most of the PBK seating. Cute!

Posted at 10:04 PM | Link

We are running out of empty wall space in our house, which may be a good thing. Because otherwise, I would be tempted to purchase some of the silkscreened posters in UK-based Soma Gallery's "It's Pop It's Art" collection. With the dollar falling, these are about USD300 each.

Posted at 09:03 AM | Link

Wow. I have been a fan of Paula's work for some time. And I am really, really loving her new products for spring.

Pillows shown above: Blossom, Patch and Fleur.

I may need to treat myself to one of her Panama shopper handbags ...

Posted at 07:00 AM | Link

The DwellStudio line at Target that is geared more towards adults is supposed to officially hit the stores this weekend, but some of the bedding and table linens have already arrived online.

Posted at 03:24 PM | Link

One of these days, I'll get around to adding a blogroll to my side nav. But until then, I'll just post from time to time about my favorites. Like a fairly new-to-me blog: Design for Mankind. I especially love "The Dailies" feature, which traces the life in the day of a creative type. Neat.

Posted at 01:43 PM | Link

I am a big fan of Xenia Taler's tiles. But what I love even more? Her new tile boxes:

And did you know she also designs installation tiles? If only I had a surface that needed retiling ...

Posted at 08:17 AM | Link

Although I don't think I want my own bedroom to be bright and bold, I can appreciate well-designed rooms that are. For just a couple of nights, it would be fun to stay in a room that looks like this:

Or this:

Photos from the Maison 140 Beverly Hills.

Posted at 01:03 PM | Link

I've been meaning to post about this for a while now, but just kept forgetting. During our Christmas 2007 trip to Hilton Head Island, SC, we had a four-hour layover in Atlanta. While Jon napped in the Delta lounge, I flipped through the half-dozen magazines that I had picked up at the airport shop — including Decorating, which is one of those "special interest publications" released by Better Homes and Gardens.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there were several features that I really liked. My favorite was the profile of Erika and Joel Snayd's Savannah home. Check it out:

Apologies for the poor quality of my photographs of the magazine. I couldn't get the double-pages to fit on the scanner, so figured I'd go this route. Luckily, if you're interested, I think you still have about a week to try to track down the publication on the newsstands. Now I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for the next issue in case it's as good as the winter one!

Posted at 06:58 AM | Link

Over at Apartment Therapy, I posted today about Christiana's San Francisco apartment. Here are just a few of the photos:

Christiana is the U.S. rep for Ferm Living; she incorporates their wonderful wallpapers throughout her apartment. I love love love her place.

Posted at 10:24 AM | Link

I really really really want one of these somewhere in my house:

Posted at 07:41 AM | Link

Cute. The Happy Porcelain collection by Tina Roeder:

The strawberry and croissant are both on sale at Lekker.

Posted at 08:07 AM | Link

Wow. How lovely is this:

It's Lisa Wong Jackson's living room (yes, the talented designer behind Good on Paper) — posted on the Bluelines blog today by Joy.

Posted at 03:06 PM | Link

I am still searching for just the right wallpaper for our entry. Today, I found another contender: Camilla Meijer's patterns. The UK-based designer makes wallpaper, lampshades and cushions.

(You can also find some of her work in Soma Gallery's online shop.)

Posted at 08:49 AM | Link

I really like Monsoon's collection of wallpaper for Graham & Brown, especially the Chrysanthemum pattern.

(You can order samples of any of the G&B wallpapers ... which I just did.)

Posted at 09:44 AM | Link

I think I need this:

"Roller Stop" is a new piece in Harry Allen's "Reality" collection. How perfect for our new shelving unit! (Available in April.)

Posted at 07:04 AM | Link

If the nursery line is any indication of what the grown-up stuff will look like, I am going to be buying all sorts of the Dwell for Target goods when they drop next month. Anyone with a baby to shop for can pick up lovelies like these right now:

Posted at 07:12 AM | Link

There are so many good resources out there for lovely textiles. I just discovered that you can buy Virginia Johnson fabrics by the yard.

Pretty soon, my entire house is going to be covered with the fabric that I've been hoarding over the years. Wall-to-wall. Floor-to-ceiling.

Posted at 04:15 PM | Link

Oh, man. This may be the perfect solution for a small wall in our entryway. I was thinking of ordering up some Neisha Crosland wallpaper, but now the custom-size option at Wall Collection has won me over.

Above are designs by Mette Løber and Julia Rothman. You can also upload your own graphics for your very own wallpaper design. (via the Ferm Living blog)

Posted at 10:37 AM | Link

Lara Cameron, of Kirin & Co., has launched a new online shop! Unfortunately, everything's sold out right now. But I'll have to check in on a regular basis so I can pick up more of her wonderful fabrics.

I purchased her "Gingko" fabric a few months ago, after Holly posted about it. I think I'm going to use it to make a pillow or two in the office.

Oh! Check out the cool wall decor Lara blogged about — created with embroidery hoops and her own fabric:

Posted at 12:50 PM | Link

Another reason to be sad that Blueprint is shutting down: Great projects like this one, featured on the magazine's blog.

With a pair of floor cushions, a custom-cut piece of wood and some castors, you too can have this ottoman in your home! I especially like that the cushions are sturdy enough to be used as a side table as well.

Posted at 08:47 AM | Link

Heath Ceramics just redesigned its website, and one of my favorite new features is the tile installation photos. Such as:

Gorgeous stuff.

Posted at 03:25 PM | Link

Well, at least the name of this fabric was found:

This is the upholstered chair that was in our hotel room in Mexico — the hotel we stayed at in early 2006 and then again during Thanksgiving 2007. So I've been coveting the pattern for a while now. And thanks to the current issue of Domino, I now know that it's Donghia's "Casino."

Now if only I could source this fabric ...

Posted at 08:00 PM | Link

This is the guest bedroom in the Austin, TX, home of Steve Shuck and Bobby Johns — the duo behind Mercury Design Studio:

The house is featured in the latest issue of Home magazine, which arrived in my mailbox yesterday. While flipping through, I couldn't help going back to this page again and again.

Posted at 07:37 AM | Link

One of my favorite features in the most recent (and final) issue of Blueprint is the profile of the Chicago home of Suzanna Bierwirth — one of the co-founders of Binth. On the Bluelines blog, there's also a post with photos of the company's studio:

I love peeking into well-designed studio spaces to get inspiration for my own home office/craft room — which we're in the process of revamping. (Yes, we'll be taking advantage of the fantastic Elfa sale going on at The Container Store!)

Posted at 03:03 PM | Link

Oh yeah ... I'm the guest-blogger over at Design*Sponge this week and all of the posts are about last-minute gifts. One of which I couldn't resist picking up for myself: the 2008 Colour Calendar. Unfortunately, by the time I tried to buy it, Unica Home had sold out of it (based on several experiences with them, they seem to have a really bad inventory management system).

Luckily, the Wexner Center's shop still has it in stock! The spiral-bound calendar is described as being "a bit like a Pantone book with a Pantone code for each day (365 colors) and blank pages for memos."

Posted at 07:38 AM | Link

2Jane carries several Third Drawer Down designs, each is $38. These are so lovely — to perk up a kitchen or to frame on a wall:

Posted at 03:25 PM | Link

Wow. I love Helene Ige's Wise Ol' Owl mobile ... But that love has its limits. Still, I applaud astar328's tattoo, which is based on the owl design! Neat.

In other Helene Ige news: The latest issue of Lucky (I think?) features a 2008 calendar that she created. It's all on one sheet and is very cool, but I can't find it anywhere!

Posted at 01:47 PM | Link

I admit it: I record "Oprah" every day. But I usually only watch the episodes that are home- or design-related. (Yes, Nate Berkus would be welcome in my home. Any. Time.) When I saw that today's episode featured Ivanka Trump's apartment, I expected it to be look really expensive and gaudy.

I was so wrong.

While I'm sure it is a really expensive place, I loved the décor. Here are a few photos I managed to take of the TV screen:

How cool are the blue built-in shelves in her study? It doesn't appear that she's afraid of color or pattern (check out the striped upholstery on the chairs).

Love the glossy chartreuse tables, as well as the petite artwork in the background that repeats the color. I am also crazy about her narrow doors.

According to the voice-over, one thing she always has in her apartment: fresh flowers.

I am so impressed by all the pops of color. Like with those foo dogs here ...

... And the lamp and pot here. Also, I am coveting that mirror. (Perhaps WS Home's "Harlow" is close enough? Or the lower-priced "Bellesol" at Ballard Designs.)

In case you want to see better photos (yes, better than my shots of my TV), check out this post on Stylecourt from a few months ago.

Posted at 06:28 PM | Link

You know those cute little businesses where you can go in and make your own purse? You choose the shape, the handle, the fabric and a few weeks later you've got a custom piece. Well, Freddy & Ma is one such business. But the great news is, they've expanded into home accessories! So now you can customize your own pillows in various shapes, sizes and textiles. Oh! And you can also design your own melamine plates. I just know I'm going to have a lot of fun with this new feature this weekend.

Posted at 02:33 PM | Link

Over at AT:SF, I wrote a post today about the Covent Garden Hotel, which is one of my favorite hotels. Aside from a great location and superb service, I'm crazy about the use of color and pattern in the place. Firmdale — the company behind the Covent Garden Hotel — is responsible for several other London hotels that also feature lovely decor:

Haymarket Hotel

Soho Hotel

Drawing Room at Number Sixteen

Posted at 10:11 AM | Link

You may recall that a couple of weeks ago, I was lamenting the fact that the Umbra wallpaper collection had yet to appear on the Graham & Brown site. Well, thanks to Google, I finally found it today — but it appears to only be available on the UK online shop. Darn it.

Posted at 02:09 PM | Link

I'm not even sure how I — a person who does not enjoy cooking — ended up with a subscription to Food & Wine. But every month, I flip through it cover-to-cover. I especially love the articles about entertaining. The latest issue includes some really lovely table settings. In one shot, Alyssa Ettinger's vases are used as breadstick receptacles and her bowl holds a pot pie. Brilliant.

I also really like the following settings — which include pieces by Kiln Enamel, White Forest Pottery, Coe & Waito (top) and White Bike Ceramics, dbO Home and Gleena (bottom):

Magazine spreads like these make me wish I was one of those people who regularly throws dinner parties. So pretty.

Posted at 07:27 PM | Link

Although I'm still waiting for Graham & Brown to release its collection with Umbra (seen earlier this year at ICFF), I am beginning to think that maybe what our house needs is a Linda Barker wallpaper. I am especially fond of Tranquil and Serenity:

Posted at 07:26 AM | Link

One of the products that I was most drawn to at Jill's art reception/Kelly's store re-opening, was Loyal Loot's Log Bowls:

I love the contrast between the outside (the log's rough texture) and the inside (smooth and shiny). In exploring Loyal Loot's website, I came across all sorts of other cool designs — like the Cupcake Table and Monsieur Dress Up.

Posted at 06:52 PM | Link

Back in July, when I visited the Orla Kiely flagship store in London, I couldn't help but inquire about these lighting fixtures.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one interested in them. The sales associates told me that the lamps would soon be available for purchase. And — hooray! — that day has finally come. Check 'em out in the homeware section of the Orla website.

Posted at 11:46 AM | Link

One of my favorite tasks over at AT:SF is putting together giveaways for our readers. And this week's involves the Strössel Design window film below:

The very kind ladies over at Rare Device are responsible for this giveaway. And I so wish I could enter to win! I can't. But you can. So you totally should.

Posted at 10:39 AM | Link

I like this as a bedside table:

There's also a larger version (more red than black).

Posted at 12:16 PM | Link

Did you know that Apartment Therapy/Kitchen is currently holding a market-bag design contest? Indeed they are. They've already posted three of the finalists (1, 2, 3) as well as some honorable mentions (like the one pictured here).

Jon and I have several bags we take to the farmers' markets and grocery stores. My favorite in our stash: this Erica Mulherin design that I've had for a couple of years. (She is a fantastic illustrator who also keeps a blog.)

Posted at 10:13 AM | Link

If I had a home with really high ceilings, I would definitely buy this indoor/outdoor swing:

And several of these "flying" hangers:

Someday. Maybe.

Posted at 10:36 AM | Link

One of the design decisions I've been struggling with in our house is lighting. There are several ceiling fixtures that need to be replaced! There are table lamps that I'm tired of looking at! There are corners that are dark and scary! I've been waiting for Perch to make their new designs available online, and today I noticed that they are.

I especially like that — since it's made to order — the Zooey mini chandelier can be purchased at any length. (We don't have high ceilings, so most chandeliers are out of the question for us.)

I also have one of Perch's early bird pendants, but haven't figured out where to place it yet. I picked it up at last year's Mod Economy sale — which, by the way, is happening again later this month and is not to be missed!

Posted at 02:05 PM | Link

I've never really been a fan of Lladro. The porcelain figurines always struck me as a bit granny. The kind of thing you'd find in a little ol' lady's curio, next to floral couches that are covered in plastic. But now that Jaime Hayon is serving as the company's new-ish Art Director, I decided to take another look. And, much to my surprise, I'm actually coveting a few Lladro pieces:

white vase with handmade floral appliqué ($1,000 — ouch!)

magic forest open necklace

ram bottle stopper (that's my high school mascot!)

Haydon's own collection for Lladro, Re-Deco, doesn't seem to be available for purchase just yet.

Posted at 07:18 PM | Link

I just got back from a special sneek peak of the Decorator Showcase, which opens this weekend. If you are deliberating about whether or not to go, let me make this simple for you: GO. This house is so fantastic. The views alone — of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown SF — are well worth the price of admission.

Even though the mansion on the corner of Broadway and Baker is massive, there are still lots of design ideas that the rest of us small-space dwellers can steal.

Posted at 01:34 PM | Link

I was perusing local designer Steven Miller's web site and came across the guest bedroom he created for last year's Decorator Showcase in SF:

Posted at 08:49 AM | Link