Posts by Barbara Bussey
Orchid Beauty
There is almost nothing more gracefully beautiful than a blooming white orchid. They’re also an excellent value, since they’ll bloom in your home or office for a month or two. But what do you do with the plant when it’s finished blooming? Well, if you’re one of the fortunate few, you just place it in…
Read MoreMix and Match Bedding
Q: Do you want your bedding to look like it popped out of a matching “Bed in a Bag” set? A: No! Bedding is a wonderful way to express a bit of your own personality. Are you conservative, fanciful, modern or minimalist? You can change the look of a bedroom in minutes. With pillow inserts,…
Read MoreFine Design at Lorien Hotel & Spa
I try to grab every opportunity I can to surround myself with wonderful design, especially when I get a chance to spend some quality time with my daughter. Visiting Alexandria, the town where George Washington announced his bid for the presidency, and stepped down from the job, eight years later, is full of history. I…
Read MoreFlower Arranging 101
It’s simple to create a centerpiece for your table, at half the price of what a florist would charge. (I spent about $20, picking up flowers at my not-so-cheap market) First of all, start with a low profile vase, so you’ll be able to see over the arrangement, while sitting at the table. Fill the…
Read MoreFilmore, Hayes & Chestnut Streets, San Francisco’s Best Botiques
Well, now I’ve seen the best of San Francisco’s shopping meccas. We started our exploration at the “big box” fashion stores, in Union Square, followed by a trek to Nordstrom’s and Bloomingdale’s in the big Westfield mall on Market. While these stores are lovely, there’s just too much of everything! For my money, I’ll take…
Read MoreBeautiful Arrangements
While Christmas shopping at Union Square in San Francisco, I saw the beautiful, simple arrangements, that anyone can create. With cedar greens, red berries and white mums, an elegant, simple yet festive look has been achieved. I’m hoping I’ll be able to squeeze a trip to the flower mart in, before returning home.
Read MoreGift Giving for the Home or Garden
If there’s someone special on your shopping list, who loves their garden and/or making their home more beautiful, Hi Hand Nursery, on Taylor Rd., in Loomis, is worth a special trip. But don’t start anything this important on an empty stomach! Delicious lunches and dinners are served every day except Monday and Tuesday. And don’t…
Read MoreFestive Sur la Table
If you want a little inspiration to entertain, bake, or try out a new kitchen gadget, stopping in at any of the Sur la Table gourmet cooking shops should do the trick. San Francisco’s store is the chain’s largest volume store, and one of the prettiest, in my opinion. We have our very own store…
Read MoreA Powder Room Fit for Company
Holidays are synonymous with entertaining. And if you’re having friends over, don’t neglect the bathrooms, when creating your to-do list. A guest bath can be fun and elegant. Since they’re typically small, you can perk them up for next to nothing. Put yourself in your guest’s position. First on my list is that the space…
Read MoreExquisitie lighting
Last night, we enjoyed a nice dinner at a lovely restaurant, Townhall, built of brick, after the 1906 earthquake, in San Francisco. It was originally a marine repair facility, and the bricks used to build it were charred from a fire during the quake…probably previously used in a demolished building. A local artist was exhibited…
Read MoreTips from the Accessory Queen!
You know, I’ve always wanted to be queen of something,so I am the self-proclaimed Queen of Accessories! Truthfully, I can’t live without them. Plush throw pillows, pottery, artwork, greenery, personal treasures, beautiful books and family photographs are just some of my favorites things. No home is complete, in my world, without beautiful vignettes throughout a home,…
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