Nearly seven years ago, Mr. Wonderful and I bought a great 2 bedroom condo, a block from the San Francisco Bay and walking distance to so many fun things. The condo’s was wearing all of its original 30+ year old finishes when we purchased it and we really had a great time bringing the interior design up to 21st century standards! Mr. Wonderful, under direction of a general contractor, was able to install crown molding, base boards, lighting, re-face cabinets and paint, while others installed new flooring and granite counter tops. I got to do the really fun stuff! We’ve…
One of my favorite things about our home is our large, eat-in kitchen. It’s probably one of the things that really sold me on the home, nine years ago. I really enjoy the window seat…especially changing the pillows to fit each season. This was the very last bunch of hydrangeas I could gather from the yard, I’m sad to say. We eat in the kitchen far more than we ever use the formal dining room. It’s lovely, but not nearly as warm and cozy as the kitchen. Even when friends come over, we still end up in the kitchen. What…
Jeffrey Bilhuber’s third design book, “American Style” , is due out this week. The new book showcases twelve of his interiors, and there’s a fun interview with him in House Beautiful this month. Two favorite quotes include: “When you hire me, you hire a decorator, not a resourcer.” (In response to a woman looking for a pink lamp.) And better yet, “What you love never goes out of style.” Here are a few of his rooms, thanks to “House Beautiful”… Enjoy! I understand he has a thing for painted floors! Sounds like he’s quite intense, confident and still able to…
While I love eating out, isn’t it nice to just have a wonderful dinner at home with your sweetheart? Mr. W. And I had a busy, dirty weekend and it just felt great to shower, put on some sweet smells and set a beautiful table, while the hub’s grilled a mammoth New York steak, at a fraction of what Ruth’s Chris would have charged. Sure, the scenario changes big-time, with little ones in the mix, but where there’s a will, there’s a way… Feed the kids first and bathe and bed them, or sit them in front of the current…
I’ve been part of the design Blogger’s community for about a year now and wonder why many bloggers require you to copy letters in a “Word Verification” system. It never fails that my laptop/iPad or phone gets great joy, correcting the meaningless letters I copy into the word verification box, causing me to have to re-type the “word”. Then, once I have successfully copied the letters, it tells me that my comment will show up once approved. Now, maybe I’m being extra grouchy, sitting in the airport, waiting for my flight that’s been delayed for two hours, but I digress.…
Since my dear Dad passed away, my four sibs and I have taken our share of my parents “treasures”. One of the last things to be adopted was my Mom’s bathroom vanity chair. My mother, the eternal “beauty queen”, started each and every day in this chair, “putting on her face”. How could I let it end up in the garage sale? No way! So, in a matter of just a few minutes (fit right into my rule to keep projects simple) it got a fast and free make-over, using materials on hand! I’ve never sat down, to do my…
If you’re thinking about updating your home’s look for holiday gatherings, or just your own enjoyment, World Market (AKA Cost Plus) has a brand new lighting line and a dining chair sale, that I find note-worthy. Lower-end, big-box retailers like Target and World Market are experts at taking a trend popular at their big brothers, like Anthropology, and creating a less expensive version/knock-off. Like Anthropology, you purchase the lamp base and shade separately. Lamps, like decorative pillows are a wonderful way to update a room. I switch out pillows at least a couple of times a year, to reflect the…
Here, in northern California, there are two predominant architectural styles for homes. The “ranch” style home and a Spanish/Mediterranean home. Sure there are many others, but these are the two that come to mind first. Our home (on a cold winter day) was designed to look like a little Mediterranean villa and is fairly typical of homes built here in the ’90’s and beyond. California is also home to some “original” Spanish style bungalows that were built in the early half of the 20th century, that are wonderful, especially the original adobe homes that keep cool during California’s hot summers.…
When my daughter was little, her room was done with a 4 poster twin bed, found at a garage sale, that I painted a creamy pink. Her bedding was full of ruffles and eyelet material. Sort of early Shabby Chic! Now, I’m seeing much bolder wall color choices, and lots of fun graphics and stencils for the walls.if you have a little girl or teenager in your life right now, you might find a little inspiration in these pictures! How about this for some wild wall treatment? I love the reindeer! Just what every young woman should have, looking out…
Before Betsy started at West Point this summer, we only made one annual pilgrimage to New York City every fall. We love it there and will be heading east again, next month. In honor of David Letterman, who we enjoyed seeing a couple of years ago, I’ve created my “Top 10” list about NYC. 1. The energy. I feel it in New York more than anywhere. It’s almost like you can reach out and grab a bite of it! 2. The amazing collection of people. Walking downtown, on a weekday morning, I’ve seen a stylish older lady, carrying her bird…
