Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “General”
Figuring out your furniture budget When you buy a new car, the information is fairly clear and the choices are limited. The car comes in just a few colors. You can only buy it at a few places. And the pricing is all over the internet. But when you buy a custom sofa … the choices are endless. Do you …
I love collaborating on parties. It’s so much more fun to put together an event with friends. Here are a few images from a recent winter party celebrating my husband’s running group. This crazy group of men gets up every Sunday at 6am to run 10 miles … in the hills! We chose a fun color theme to combat all …
Let’s talk about Houzz. With 35 million unique users a month, 1 million professionals, and 8 million professional photographs, it has become an incredible resource for the homeowner. Clients who used to come to me with a binder or folder of magazine clippings now have a Houzz page instead of a binder. And although I mourn the loss of paper …
I remember snowy Sundays, watching Antiques Roadshow, hoping to get a glimpse of the Keno brothers. These appraiser brothers always kept us entertained with the stories behind the history of the antiques they reviewed. Will you ever forget the time they informed the proud owner of a japanned armoire that he lost most of its value by having it cleaned? …
When we were building our home, we had several pieces of family furniture that just had to fit in. One of them was this sweet mahogany dresser from my dad’s childhood bedroom. It needed a little help, a bit of refinishing and some new ‘antique’ knobs. We placed a square vessel sink on top as the dresser was a bit …
A lot of my clients call me in for a quick fix of spaces. They don’t want to do full service design; they just want me to shop for a few items and freshen up their spaces. As part of this service, I keep up to date on trends happening at our favorite retail sources. I know a lot of …
Every year, just as spring is about to burst, I look forward to the exhibit “Bouquets to Art” at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco. Floral artists are paired with paintings in the museum’s collections and invited to interpret the work. This year opened with a 15 foot high tornado of roses, branches, and anthuriums. Breathtaking! I am amazed at …
I love this comment from Mariette Himes Gomez, one of Architectural Digest’s top 100 designers. She states that one of the biggest mistakes you can make in designing your home is ‘To replace professional advice with suggestions from a friend.’ When you hire a designer, you are hiring a professional. This professional has years of experience that they bring to …
My neighborhood was in built in the 50’s and is turning over. The ranch houses are all being replaced with Shingle styles, Craftsmen, and Mediterranean homes. But on my jog the other day, I ran across this beauty. Dutch Colonial is a revival style from the 1920s. It features a Gambrel roof with flared eaves. Predominantly seen in the Northeast, …
Ever since we lost our dog, the happiest thing that greets me when I come home is my front door! I love its cheerful blue color and so glad I chose a color. It’s not bright red or lantern green, but it still provides a brightness to our dark house. Here’s my friend, Andrea Brooks, fabulous front door in Arkansas. …
