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It looks like it’s going to be a lovely sunny day in San Francisco (is the August fog over??). So we’re going to try and get out and about to the park, the beach maybe. In making our plans, I was reminded of this lovely photo, spotted on Flickr a while back, of a window in the Marina District.
The Marina, with its views of the Bay, beach and space to run or walk, is a great place to spend a sunny weekend in SF. The extremely grand houses overlooking the Marina all have these fabulous picture windows. I’d love to explore some of these houses one day and look through those windows from the other direction. I like the way this photo captures the reflected sky and picks up the yellows in the flowers and the exterior paint. Tranquil yet happy – just right for a sunny Saturday morning.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Every once in a while you find a place that somehow restores your spirits. Of course, if you’re lucky, your home has that effect too. But I’m talking about finding another place, perhaps a B&B you escaped to one weekend or the home of a friend who hosted a weekend wedding party. Somewhere that still evokes happy memories many years later. Well, I have a feeling the house in which we stayed in the Hamptons this month is such a place.
Perhaps it was because we were so exhausted when we arrived. Or maybe it was because this was the first time our whole extended family had been together for over a year (and the first time ever since my nephew was born). But a big factor in our enjoyment was certainly the house itself. Now that I’ve finally downloaded all the photos, I thought I’d share a few. I hope you can see what I mean when I say this was an unforgettable vacation…
Well, that’s it there. Beautiful isn’t it? The house was actually built in three separate phases, spanning centuries. The original structure is on the far right. The central and left portions were added later by subsequent owners (and, in some cases, descendants of the original owners). Part of the building was even shipped from Pennsylvania. It also reminded me of the houses you see scattered around the English countryside.
This is the entry hall. You can see straightaway that this is first and foremost a home. Yes, it’s a big house and the exterior is stunning. But the interior is not at all ‘grand’. It’s sweet, charming and comfortable – although, admittedly, every room does also have enviable proportions and light. The style is slightly Gustavian – the whitewashed floors, striped walls, lots of pale painted furniture. But it’s also uniquely personal. This is a home occupied by artists and you can see evidence of that in every room.
We were in the house over July 4, so these little figures on the hallway mantelpiece were quite fitting!
This is the dining room. It’s the heart of the house physically and metaphorically. It’s supremely practical (you can walk over those white painted floors in your bare feet straight from the garden and the table will stand up to a child’s idea of table manners – and then some). But it’s also really pretty. I love that wallpaper and the chandelier.
This little bar area in the dining room is so cute. Brilliant use of colors – and yet it doesn’t look at all contrived.
Yet another dining room detail. I love the way this painting is propped up casually on a child’s chair.
We didn’t spend much time in the living room (couldn’t move off the patio or out of the dining room!). But this is probably the perfect beach house blue.
We did, on the other hand, spend a lot of time in the sunroom. This covered porch is a later addition to the house but it’s perfect for cooling off when the sunbathing gets too much (!).
More Swedish style in evidence. And those lamp bases that look like milk pails are a stroke of genius.
The oldest part of the house includes a library. I can imagine this would be a great snug for winter. I’m partial to walls of books, so here’s a little hint of the room for those who, like me, hanker after floor-to-ceiling reading material.
The master bedroom is also in the oldest part of the house. The windows are the best vantage point in the house for spotting deer in the garden!
I love this wallpaper in one of the bathrooms. With the dark blue tiles, it looks sharp, not chintzy.
I hope I’ve done the place justice. I’m no photographer. And you can’t capture all the details that make a house so welcoming: the paintings with personal notes from the artist, the collection of old copper kettles in the hallway. But, at least you can see how the owners have eschewed the showiness of much of the Hamptons and instead created a stylish home that makes you want to kick off your shoes and settle down to a great book. Now that’s a restorative vacation…
If you’re interested in renting this house for a vacation, you can do so through CyberRentals. I guarantee you’ll return home a new person.
If you’ve ever wondered where interior design magazines stage their photo shoots, you should check out some of the location agencies’ web sites. I’ve been browsing Light Locations recently. There are dozens of wonderful homes (mostly English, although some are overseas) to ogle. Granted, they’re a little depersonalized, as you’d expect. But this is the cream of the crop when it comes to light, space and architectural details. I even recognize a few from memorable features that have graced the pages of my favorite design mags.
There are country houses:
Quirky houses (this is a knitting barn!):
Elegant town houses:
Eclectic houses (remember this from this photo shoot?):
Drop-dead fabulous houses:
Eccentric houses (I remember this one from a Rug Company shoot):
Cool Britannia houses:
Victorian houses:
Farmhouses:
Uber-stylish houses:
‘I-want-to-go-to-Marrakech-now!’ houses:
Go on, I challenge you to find one that isn’t your style…
If you’re looking for a little romance in your interiors, look no further than this house from the pages of Marie Claire Maison. Part Gustavian, part Baroque, this home in France is the perfect combination of rustic and elegant. If this place doesn’t inspire some sense of longing in you for bygone eras then nothing will!
The photos are by Phillipe Garcia, by the way.
Enough already. I can’t look any more!
That’s it. Stop the clock. Call off the search. I’ve found my dream home.
We’ve long-harbored a dream to live in Sonoma. Fantastic views, delicious food, great wine, warm weather – what’s not to love? And now I’ve found this house, there’s nothing stopping us. (Apart from a few million bucks of course…)
The house was completely remodeled by Dowling Kimm Studios. Apparently it’s located on 32 acres of vineyards overlooking Dry Creek Valley (which happens to be my favorite part of the area) and also has a pool. Sigh…
I was in Seattle yesterday and, while waiting at the airport for my flight home, I picked up a copy of Seattle Homes. I was pleasantly surprised to find this stunning and unusual home inside. I like North West style with all its drama and outdoorsy-ness. This home evokes some of that same spirit, but is made entirely of concrete, cedar wood and glass.
The amazing thing is that the house was built on an incredibly narrow, steep lot. Getting natural light into it was a huge challenge. But, somehow, they managed it and the result is really beautiful. Quite a feat for a concrete building!
The architects were Hutchison & Maul Architecture – their site has lots of other equally light-filled contemporary homes so well worth a peek. The photos are by Alex Hayden.
If I were fortunate enough to have Jonathan Adler design my house, I would want this entire living room…
This picture wall…
This look for a study…
This reading nook…
And this outdoor patio…
No chance of any of this happening, mind you. But it doesn’t hurt to dream…
All photos are of Jonathan Adler interior design projects from his web site. For another Jonathan Adler-designed home, go to Peacock Feathers. Elizabeth has posted pics of an amazing house filled with countless surprises. I won’t spoil it by showing all the rooms, but here’s a taste.
More here.
There’s only one week left of the San Francisco Decorator Showcase. So, before it’s over, I thought I’d share a few more reasons to go and visit it. Here’s a clue: they’re all very small, but very important reasons…
The great thing about the Decorator Showcase is that every single spare inch of the place is decorated – which means every closet and every corner has a treat in store. It is in some of the tiniest spaces that you can discover the grandest ideas.
Check out this amazing wine cellar, for instance. Only the size of a deep walk-in closet, it is an absolute treat for the eyes. I can actually imagine sitting down and checking off my wines on that leather wing chair. The best feature, however, is the wall – a commissioned mural. It really opens up the space.
Vintner’s Vault, designed by Zumaooh, picture via access.decorati.
Then there’s the Powder Room. A tiny sliver of a space, it is so simple yet so very stylish. There’s a mosaic tile design with an ‘S’-shaped curve which continues up the wall in a single tendril. The same shape is echoed in the colored glass window. It’s fanciful but very subtle.
Powder Room Revisited, by Marsh & Clark. Picture again via access.decorati.
For even more tiny spaces, how about this windowless closet on the second floor landing? It’s been converted into a sweet wrap room by Gale Melton. Much as I can’t imagine ever having the space for a wrap room, I have to admit to coveting the custom shelving, a perfect fit for rolls and rolls of ribbon, sheets of luxurious wrapping paper and various other finishing touches.
Wrap Room by Gale Melton, photo via Anh-Minh.
And it’s not just the little rooms, it’s also the little details. There are lots of (almost) hidden tips and tricks to spot. Silk drapes backed with coarse linen, for example, were a surprising twist in the living room. A glorious bar filled with silver and crystal, was tucked away inside a gentleman’s closet (!). I also really liked the use of black task lights against dark chocolate (almost black) walls in the study, by John Wheatman & Associates. The lamp almost disappears and all that’s left is the little pool of light underneath.
The study, by John Wheatman & Associates, photo via Inside SF Real Estate.
So even if you’ve been once, maybe it’s worth going back for a closer look…
I’ve just come back from the 2009 San Francisco Decorator Showcase. It’s in a stunning four-storey mansion on Pacific Avenue. Since I used to live on the same street (several blocks away, in a far less posh area, I might add!) I’ve passed the house many times and often wanted to look inside.
It certainly lived up to expectations. The house has beautiful high ceilings, wide stairways, moldings and lots and lots of natural light. It’s hard to imagine anyone ever living there – but then that’s kind of the point, it’s supposed to be slightly dream-like.
You can’t take pictures in the house so I found some on other sites. In particular, Anh-Minh has a great sneak preview. I hope they make more photos available after the event though.
This is the family room, designed by Michael Leverone. This was probably my favorite room in the house. It somehow manages to be extremely special, while also being comfortable and eminently livable. I think that’s because of the proportions of the furniture. The coffee table, for example, is enormous. It’s made of teak – apparently the trunk of six trees that fused together. I can’t imagine how heavy it must be. Then there’s the sofa which is about twice the length of a normal sofa. Because Leverone has chosen fewer pieces, but on a larger scale, the result is a much more simple space. The other thing I loved about this room is all the texture – again it makes you want to actually sit down and stay for a while. The stools are covered in fluffy mohair, the teak table is smooth as silk, and the sideboard by the window is covered in linen with a pattern in brass studs. Oh, and those little glass ornaments under the wall light are old fashioned electric bulbs!
Leverone also did the breakfast room. I could definitely enjoy a morning coffee here…
Also via Anh-Minh.
The kitchen is by Jennifer Weiss. I learned in this room that stainless steel countertops don’t have to feel cold and industrial. [UPDATE: I've just had an email from Jennifer and they are actually zinc, which explains why they seemed much lighter and warmer than steel]. I also love the white tiles with oval reliefs on them. I’m going to think about that for our kitchen (if we ever get it done). Photo via Apartment Therapy.
This is the dining room, by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy. I forgot to count how many you can seat at this table, but it has to be about 14. I’m really into white ceramics at the moment so this was a fun room to browse in. Photo via Anh-Minh again.
Here is one of the bedrooms, by Cecilie Starin. I like the gray and lilac. The Louis sofa and the screen behind the bed are both really pretty. It looks a lot more serene here than when I was there, though. Probably because there weren’t 15 people all crammed in when this pic was taken! Photo via Apartment Therapy again.
Palmer Weiss did the teenage daughter’s bedroom. This was one of the brightest rooms in the house. I would have loved this as a teenager. She really hit the nail on the head with this. You can’t see it, but there’s a black (I think) leather Louis chair in this room too!
On the top floor is the penthouse, by Heather Hilliard (photo from her web site). This is a much smaller space, but I really liked it. It felt much more like home. The views, though, are incredible – right across the bay. Heather has done a wonderful job: those peacock blue chairs against the orange flowers are great.
In the basement there’s a silent auction. If you want to buy the shooting script from Milk, signed by Sean Penn, this is the place to get it. Last bid is $1250 though…
I’ll post some more on the Showcase later. Meanwhile, enjoy!
If you hanker after a state-of-the-art home with your own theater, TVs that rise out of the floor and centrally-controlled lights, then here’s some eye candy for you. Electronic House magazine has just announced its Home of the Year.
The gold winner is just a cozy pied-à-terre in LA…
Ah, a triceratops skull. Just the accessory I need for my living room!
Now, that’s a bathroom with a view.
Here’s the silver prize winner – a Manhattan penthouse.
And look at the home theater in the house that won bronze. That’s a theater?! Where do I lie with my bowl of chocolate ice-cream?
These are all stunning homes. Of course, I wouldn’t turn down the chance to live in one of them. But, you know, after the excitement of being able to control everything at the touch of a button, I think I would get a bit tired of the extreme convenience of it all. I secretly quite like the slightly chipped paint and the faded squashy sofa in our house. At least I can eat ice-cream without worrying about spills. And there are no triceratops…
What do you think? Would you love to live here, or are you more of a squashy sofa type too?
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