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

Yep. That's me. I am not a very good freelancer. Since I have a part-time job — until just three months ago, it was a full-time job — that pays my bills, I haven't devoted much effort into expanding my freelance relationships. (Most of my freelance work these days is with the SF Chronicle.) But I was intrigued by this piece, "10 New Year's Resolutions Every Freelancer Should Have for 2010," which I found via an Alt Design Summit tweet.

1. Raise your rates
2. Increase your productivity
3. Expand your brand
4. Trim your fat
5. Improve your client communication
6. Revive your customer service
7. Continue your education
8. Enlarge your network
9. Reignite your passion
10. Reject annual resolutions

I think I should print out the article and read it over and over until I actually start doing some of these things!

Posted at 08:13 PM | Link | Comments (1)

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)

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)

Yesterday's SF Chronicle included an article I wrote about easy-peasy holiday entertaining. Jordan Ferney and the ladies of Studio Choo provided some awesome DIY ideas. For example:

Here are two of the brilliant invitations that Jordan devised. The third, which you can see in the story, was a larger box invitation with an ornament tucked inside.

Studio Choo came up with several projects, such as the mini winter forest and a garland made of shelled nuts that were painted matte white to resemble porcelain.

The amazing interior designer Paul Vincent Wiseman and Judy Sieber — who owns one of my favorite shops, Emily Joubert — also offered some simple and affordable tips.

All photos were taken by Mike Kepka for The Chronicle.

Posted at 07:49 AM | Link | Comments (3)

Pssst ... My guest post for Victoria's site, sfgirlbybay, is up! It's about fashion illustrations as home décor.

The above photo is from the June/July 2007 Domino, which I found myself re-reading the other day. It was a really great issue and Krista Ewart's home (that's her guest bedroom) remains one of my favorites that the magazine published.

UPDATE: Well, the post is sort of up. sfgirlbybay is experiencing some technical difficulties, so you may not be able to access the post from its home page; the link above works though.

Posted at 01:57 PM | Link | Comments (1)

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)

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Derek and Lauren of the Curiosity Shoppe on several occasions now, and I always walk away completely in awe of them. The Datebook section of today's Chronicle includes an article I wrote about them and their Mission District apartment. It is seriously cool and showcases their DIY talents.

P.S. Did you see that Victoria also has an article about this lovely couple in the new issue of Uppercase?

Posted at 08:26 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)

I was brunching yesterday with Christiana — who, as the proprietor of Hygge & West, has a pretty cool job. And she commented that *I* have a pretty cool job. Well, I have to admit: I feel really, really lucky to have my regular freelance gig with the SF Chronicle. In the coming weeks, I've got profiles running on a bunch of amazing interior designers. Such as:

Palmer Weiss

Melanie Coddington

Matthew Leverone

P.S. Both Palmer and Matthew are participating in this year's San Francisco Decorator Showcase (April 25-May 25). So if you're local and get a chance, I highly recommend checking it out. I saw the house — excuse me, mansion — a few weeks ago and it was a construction mess. So I'm super excited to view it once it's been completely transformed.

Posted at 04:47 PM | Link | Comments (5)

So the SF Chronicle recently revamped its Home&Garden section and added a weekly feature called, "Stylemaker Spotlight." I am thrilled that I'll be writing these are a regular basis now because I basically get to hit up local designers whose work I have long admired and get their feedback on various topics. This week's Spotlight? It's on Grant K. Gibson, who you would have seen in this year's "Domino 10" if the magazine didn't fold. (The annual list of up-and-coming designers was supposed to run in the April issue.) Here's a small sample of his work:

And next week, you can read Jay Jeffers' thoughts on mixing finishes, great color combinations, and bringing pattern into a space without going overboard. Now I've got to get to work on lining up more experts!

Posted at 06:22 PM | Link | Comments (8)

As someone who considers her sister her best friend, I really enjoyed writing my latest piece for the Chronicle about Sabrina and Eunice Moyle. They are the talented, charismatic and close-knit duo behind letterpress stationery company Hello!Lucky.

Although I had seen photos of their homes on Design*Sponge, visiting them each emphasized just how different the two are, despite seeming so similar on the surface.

Posted at 07:26 AM | Link | Comments (4)

I'm not much of a cook, but I still enjoy watching the Food Network. I recently had the pleasure of meeting one of the channel's stars, Tyler Florence. You can read all about my visit to his Mill Valley home in today's Chronicle.

In the photo above, Tyler was putting the finishing touches on a salad that took him about 10 minutes to prepare. It was SO GOOD.

Posted at 09:02 AM | Link | Comments (10)

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)

I have been a big fan of ReadyMade since its launch in 2002. So I am thrilled to have an article running in the current issue, which focuses on small spaces. I can't thank Monique and Richard enough for allowing me to write about their fantastic San Francisco apartment — which is under 1,000 square feet and looks so much larger!

You can check out more photos on Monique's blog (Day at a Glance) and over at Apartment Therapy. (Both of those sites have better images because I was too lazy to scan, and just snapped a pic of the article.) The issue is on newsstands right now, through November.

Posted at 09:27 AM | Link

Today's AT:SF House Call was a real treat to put together. It's the home of Maggie Mason. Yes, THE Maggie Mason, aka Mighty Girl. This painting has got to be one of my favorite things in her place:

Maggie and her husband, Bryan, commissioned the awesome painting by Diane Feissel.

Posted at 12:19 PM | Link

A couple of months ago, Lisa (of Good on Paper) graciously allowed me to visit the condo she shares with her husband, Nick, for an article. It's running in today's SF Chronicle, and the photo of the couple beneath two framed prints is too cute:

It's too bad there aren't more room shots to accompany the story. But the condo was in the process of being sold when it was photographed, so it was more staged than when I visited.

Posted at 07:14 AM | Link

Today's H&G section of the SF Chronicle includes my article on the owners of Heath Ceramics, Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic. Their home is just as fantastic as their pottery and tiles, and they have one of the coolest kitchens I've ever stepped foot in:

Posted at 07:52 AM | Link

I pulled together a new house tour for AT:SF today, and it's really really good. So please go have a look. I promise, you'll be glad you did. Jennifer did an amazing job with her small apartment. (I think she should've entered AT's Small Cool contest.)

Posted at 01:44 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

There are times when I'm working on an article and it definitely feels like work. And then there are times when I'm working on an article and I can't believe I'm: 1) getting paid to hang out with such cool homeowners, and 2) getting paid to write up their story. Plus, I usually end up with some great design ideas.

Here's a peek at one of the homes I recently visited as part of a freelance assignment for the SF Chronicle:

I've actually got three deadlines this week, so posting may be lighter than usual.

Posted at 07:13 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

I am a big fan of Small Stump. And Rose and Radish is one of my favorite local shops. So I was not the least bit surprised that Jill Pilotte — the founder of SS and the creative head at R&R — has an amazing home. You can check it out right now in my latest "House Call" post for Apartment Therapy.

A couple of details that I especially like: the design painted on the magazine holders, and the wall of plates with the scalloped painted background.

Posted at 11:30 AM | Link

Pssst ... Erin over at Design for Mankind kindly invited me to participate in her "The Dailies" series. You can read all about my Saturday — and check out some never-seen-before photos of my house — right here.

Posted at 09:16 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

The first AT Giveaway of the year! And it's a really good one. One I wish I could enter to win: The wall sticker of your choice from Ferm Living.

I love the application of the "pine" design above, but in our house, I think the "hydrangea" would be perfect in a corner of the living room.

Posted at 01:42 PM | Link

I've got a 2,500-word story that I need to cut in half. By tonight. Before I go to bed. Wish me luck, please.

Posted at 03:39 PM | Link

*sigh* I wish I could win this prize package — which includes a Rex Ray book, journal and notecards. Head over to AT:SF if you want to enter!

Posted at 11:17 AM | Link

I am home sick today. Which is a shame because I was looking forward to hitting up the newsstands so I could pick up multiple copies of today's SF Chronicle. I've got a story in the H&G section about houseware stores that double as art galleries. This was such a fun article to work on because I got to interview the lovely people behind some of my favorite local shops (including The Curiosity Shoppe, Rare Device, Rose and Radish, Doe).

Posted at 10:28 AM | Link

I've been writing for Apartment Therapy for about six months now and my favorite types of posts usually fall into these categories: House Calls and Giveaways. The former because I get to peek at other people's homes (who doesn't enjoy that?). Plus, for this new-ish feature on AT, I usually get to work with artists and designers whose work I admire. And Giveaways — what's not to love about giving readers free stuff? And they offer a great excuse to contact shops and businesses that I adore.

Starting next week, I'm cutting back on my writing with AT — basically, only posting either a House Call or a Giveaway every Thursday. Today, I've got a nice little feature on Diana Fayt's apartment and studio.

Please take a look — because I think you'll like what you see. I am off to prepare for an upcoming trip that I have not given enough thought to yet ...

Posted at 11:03 AM | Link

I liked this weekend. On a scale of 1-10, it was an 8.5. (Points were subtracted because I spent most of Sunday in the office.) Cal beat Oregon. I made a bunch of jewelry. My niece turned 12. And I got to catch up with Jill at her art opening.

Speaking of Jill! I'm pleased to announce that I will finally be crafting more blissen products this holiday season. I can't wait! Unfortunately, with my renewed interest in jewelry-making and blissen-goods-making, something has to give around here. So after this month, I'll no longer be an editor at AT:SF. I'll still be writing plenty though — continuing as a contributor over there, blogging here, freelancing for the SF Chronicle, and who knows where else you'll find me in the blogosphere.

Posted at 06:30 PM | 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

Today's SF Chronicle includes my article on therapist Rachelle Goodfriend, who works with couples to help resolve their design dilemmas.

I'm currently working on another freelance piece that I'm super excited about, as it's giving me an excuse to reach out to some great people in the design community.

Posted at 07:59 AM | Link

Hey! Look what I got in the mail today: a copy of Hungry? San Francisco — which includes some restaurant reviews by yours truly. Since they had plenty of writers willing and able to write about places in the city, most of my contributions are Peninsula-based. The book also covers the East and South Bays.

(I am so pleased that they managed to spell my name right. Years ago, I did some fact-checking and research for a book. The authors ended up misspelling my name in the credits!)

Hmmm ... Maybe I should pick up a few copies to give away as stocking stuffers this holiday season ... I know! I'm already thinking about the holidays. Crazy.

Posted at 02:27 PM | Link

The AT:SF Fall Cure officially gets underway next Monday. And I am really, really looking forward to it! This will be my first time participating — plus, I'll be posting about the Cure for AT:SF.

Jon and I have been in our house for about 2.5 years now. When we moved in, we made a lot of changes throughout. Now that we've given ourselves some time to settle into the space, I feel like it's time to launch the Nesting 2.0 campaign. There's still a lot we want to do in the house — isn't that always the case? — so I'm going to use the Cure as a big motivater over the next eight weeks. I'm hoping to declutter a bit, as well as finish up some areas that have been works in progress for far too long.

So that's my goal! You can catch it all over at AT:SF, and of course, you should join in the fun!

Posted at 12:21 PM | Link

Psst ... Over at design*sponge, she's running Part 2 (of 2) of her Bloggers' Guide to Online Shopping. And I'm so flattered that she asked me to participate! So click over and check out some of my favorite online shops. It was hard narrowing it down to just a handful!

And Part 1 of the guide is right here.

Hmmm ... I just realized that I'm the only blogger in the guides whose domain is actually her name. It's not narcissism, I swear! I initially started this site as just a personal place to write about whatever I fancied, and my name happened to be available as a domain. Although these days I'm writing mostly about home and design, over the years I've been a bit random in the topics I cover!

Posted at 07:11 AM | Link

Over at Apartment Therapy, we're launching a new (hopefully) recurring feature called "House Call." We ask the same questions (more or less) to various designers, artists, shop/gallery owners, etc. We present the answers, along with house photos (because aren't we all house voyeurs?).

First up is Suzanne Shade, who curates The Beholder — a fantastic online art gallery that you should bookmark if you haven't already.

A big thank-you to Suzanne for allowing us to highlight her home. And also to the Chicago Tribune's "Snoop Patrol" and Design*Sponge's "Sneak Peeks" — which were the inspiration for House Call.

Posted at 12:02 PM | Link

If you live in the Bay Area, you should really head over to AT and check out our photography giveaway. One lucky reader will win a $500 gift certificate towards a photo session and prints/products with Nancy of Bug and Bean. I wish I could enter!

Posted at 12:41 PM | Link

Today's H&G section of The Chronicle features my profile of decorative painter John Baden's 450-square-foot studio. Of all the pieces I've written for the paper, this is one of my favorites. It was so easy because John's apartment is full of so much good stuff.

Posted at 08:31 AM | Link

In today's SF Chronicle: My profile on restaurateur Anne Le and her home.

(BTW, her Palo Alto restaurant, Tamarine, is one of my favorites in the Peninsula.)

Posted at 04:52 PM | Link

Admit it: You love peeking into other people's homes. So do I. Especially when they're as cute as AB Chao's. She's the latest AT:SF House Tour. Check out her awesome home right here.

(The House Tour is one of the reasons I haven't blogged in a few days. Technical difficulties led to many hours of frustration that could only be combated by consuming a double-helping of Dutch Goose spicy deviled eggs.)

Posted at 01:26 PM | Link

I just got back from NYC ... More on that later — when I'm a bit more rested ... While I was gone, the SF Chronicle ran a story I wrote about renters who spend their own time and money fixing up their places.

(I must say: One of the downsides of being a freelancer is not knowing when an article is scheduled to run!)

Posted at 08:21 PM | Link

Just in time for Lotta's SF visit this weekend (she'll be at Lavish on Friday and the Maker Fair on Saturday), the SF Chronicle is running my write-up on her book, Simple Sewing.

Oooh! Also: Over at her online shop, she recently added these adorable checkbook holders:

Posted at 06:19 PM | Link

On Saturday, the SF Chronicle ran my story on renovation blogs. The homeowners I interviewed for the article were all so generous with their time and information. So this was probably one of the easiest pieces that I've done. And because their projects are so interesting, I now find myself checking in regularly on several of the housebloggers I interviewed.

Elsewhere: Starting today, you can also find my writing over at Apartment Therapy: San Francisco! Excited is an understatement here. I'm really looking forward to being a more active part of the community that Leslie and Lisa have done a fabulous job of cultivating over there.

Posted at 07:48 AM | Link

I just published my first guest post over at Victoria's SF Girl by Bay blog. If you're a fan of Orla Kiely's work, you should definitely check it out.

Posted at 08:48 AM | Link

I've got a short piece on Kiln Enamel in today's Chronicle, part of the weekly "Hot Stuff" column. I've long been a fan of their work, so was excited to be able to write about the Brooklyn company.

Posted at 07:30 AM | Link

I'm on deadline, so can't write much here ... But I highly recommend that you check out today's Chronicle story on Victoria Smith (aka "sfgirlbybay" to you design blog fans out there). Not just because I wrote it! But because Victoria's place is really cool. See for yourself!

Posted at 07:18 AM | Link

I read this article in the NY Times this morning, and two sentences in particular stuck with me:

There are homes that make a statement the moment you walk through the door. Mr. Chambers’s place says hip, successful, and photo-ready — except for the kitchen, which hasn’t been renovated because he needs a break from the contractors, or the den and guest room in the basement, which is still being furnished. Still, it packs an unequivocal style and color punch. Chocolate, you’d have to say, if somebody asked for a fast impression, and we’re not talking Milky Way. Strictly Valrhona.

Isn't that so much better than saying, "The walls are dark brown"?

Posted at 02:09 PM | Link

Now that I'm doing more freelance writing, I'm struggling with how to stay organized while juggling half a dozen stories at the same time. So I decided to treat myself to the Audrey tote:

Posted at 11:47 AM | Link

I've got nothin' today ... But if you need to read something, I did have an article in Saturday's Home & Garden section: Finding Your Way Back Home — Grown children return to the family nest and update it for the next generation.

Posted at 03:55 PM | Link

In celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year (which happens this weekend), I wrote a story for the SF Chronicle about symbolism in Chinese decor.

The article actually ran in yesterday's paper, but I was reminded of it when I got a pair of lì xì (red envelopes) today from my parents.

(Oh Joy! posted about these beautiful envelopes a while back.)

Posted at 09:06 AM | Link

Today's SF Daily Candy missive? It was written by yours truly — with some (much-needed) heavy editing. Nailing that DC tone is a lot harder than I thought!

In other related events: I spent all of last night completely re-writing a 1,500-word article. FUN.

Posted at 08:49 PM | Link

While I was away last week, the SF Chronicle ran my article on a lovely little double-wide trailer in Woodside, CA. It was my first house/homeowner profile, so I was nervous about it. But — thanks in large part to Nick's editing help — I'm really pleased with it.

Posted at 07:53 AM | Link

The SF Chronicle is running its Home&Garden Holiday issue today, and I was delighted to contribute three stories:

• Holiday decorating in a small space
• Welcoming holiday guests
• Affordable holiday table settings

It was the first time that I've juggled multiple articles with (sort of) the same theme (holidays) and with the same deadline. I admit: I got confused at times about who I was interviewing for which piece!

Posted at 07:27 AM | Link

So about a month or two ago, I made a comment on this very blog about how "ridiculously awesome" it is to get paid to write about shopping. And it is. But you know what ranks right up there? Getting paid to write about crafts. Oh, and in the process, getting paid to actually make the crafts.

Today's SF Chronicle includes my article about Craft magazine. I tested out three of the projects featured in the publication: the re-upholstered light switch plate; the wood and Plexiglas frame; and the custom paint-by-numbers kits. Two of the finished projects are featured in the photos accompanying the article. (The bit that I wrote on the switch plate was actually edited out almost entirely.)

The Jen Corace print is from Tiny Showcase (I love that site)


That's Jon's parents' dog, Dulce

Posted at 07:46 AM | Link

Today's H&G section of the Chronicle includes a profile I wrote on Danny Seo, who is often referred to as the Martha Stewart of eco-friendly living. (You may have seen his chalkboard fridge featured on Apartment Therapy/San Francisco a few weeks ago.)

Also in the paper, check out Mary Jo Bowling's piece on interior designer Katherine North's condo. Very cool.

Posted at 07:42 AM | Link

With Movable Type working out quite nicely for me now, I have no excuse not to participate in National Blog Posting Month. I failed miserably at NaNoWriMo last year, but this! This I think I can do!

Posted at 02:05 PM | Link