From Our Home To Yours, Happy Holidays!

From our home to yours:  Happy Holidays!  

This year our house has taken on a more traditional holiday theme.  The tree has been placed in its usual spot allowing it to reflect in the surrounding windows, turning one tree into three.  The nativity scene, artfully arranged by Zoe in its redwood A-Frame, sits on the hearth below a garland resting on the brick mantel.  In years past, large pine cone branches or oversized wreaths adorned the fireplace, but this year I'm really enjoying the simplicity of the garland. 

Vibrant greens mixed with berry branches from the garden have been placed in hallways, in our guest room and the bathrooms.  The table dons an arrangement of magnolia leaves, fern fronds and pine branches. Vintage glassware and plates plus a capiz shell runner will set the tone for our holiday feasting.  

I'm looking forward to our Christmas Eve outing, cooking, relaxing with friends and family and watching the kids open their gifts on what just may be their last Christmas of believing in Santa.

Wishing you all a very merry holiday!  XOXO

Botanical Inspiration: Boston Ferns

This week's Botanical Inspiration is the Boston Fern:  Nephrolepis Exaltata.  I often associate them with the East Coast,  particularly with Boston, where you see them flanking brownstones' entrances along Commonwealth Avenue.  However, when I needed a hanging plant to create privacy by a window right here in Cali, they came to mind immediately.  Their dense hanging leaf pattern and vibrant color proved to be the perfect choice.  As beautiful as Boston ferns are as hanging plants, they also look amazing placed on a table or a plant stand.  Their elegant leaves drape over each other creating a mass of lush green texture and color.  Boston Ferns love indirect, filtered light, moist soil and fairly humid conditions.  Feeding them once a month will ensure they keep their vibrancy.  Luckily, in California we can keep these beauties outside most of the year depending on your location.  As long as the temperatures stay between 55-65 degrees your fern will remain happy and healthy. 

Before And After: Mid Century Bathroom [Part 2]

It's been a while since I posted part one of our mid-century bathroom renovation and it's high time I share Part 2 with you.  Since the bathrooms are adjacent to one another, I decided to keep the same "feel" going by using Fireclay's Old Cario tiles in both spaces.  Keeping their original layout, we updated the all fixtures and finishes in both baths.  We now have a brighter, more functional bath for our children and their guests.  As in our bathroom, I combined new and vintage items to keep the space interesting, and, for the first time in all of my amateur photography avocation, I enlarged and framed one of my very own photos. 

Take a look at the before, during and after images:

Installing artisan Jai, from Intelligent Tile, laying out the pattern.

A flea market found mirror and towel hooks from Anthropologie offset the spaces "newness" and add contrast.

Oversized Boston ferns and a bamboo hedge lend the space privacy and add visual interest to the indoors.

The mix of artsy patterns with Kelly Wearstler's Channels wallpaper in gold, transform an ordinary hallway into an eye-catching one.

Cass Clutch: Where You Headed, Pardner?

Since its successful Kickstarter campaign, The Cass Clutch has been shipped and received by campaign supporters throughout the country and just recently a big bag order was mailed to Niebuhr.01 in Berlin!  There's a new color, an inside pocket and small, coordinated zippered pouches which will be released at the SF Renegade Craft Fair the weekend of November 19th and 20th.   I'm also looking forward to Cass Clutch participating in the Childrens' Health Guild Holiday Boutique & Luncheon on December 2nd in San Francisco.  A portion of proceeds from the event will help provide local children and their families with much needed healthcare services.  I hope to see you at either one or both of these upcoming events.

In the mean time, check-out Cass Clutch's recent photo shoot.  A vintage MG sets the stage for The Cass Clutch in Big Sur Green and Stinson Amber.  The bag's simple shape, color and flexible design combined with the season's fashion showcases how The Cass Clutch is both classic and current.   It's a bag built to last.  Take a look:

Many thanks to Beverly Jane Peatross for modeling, to John for lending his car and to all who have and continue to support The Cass Clutch.

Before And After: Guest Studio

After 4 years of being our children's stuff catch-all, we finally renovated the studio apartment above the project room.  Since it enjoys a private entrance, a functional kitchenette and oodles of natural light we decided to turn into a rental.  Before we began, with its wall to wall carpeting and muted blue tones, the space wasn't exactly inviting.  Afterwards, it became a bright, comfortable and functional haven for short SF or East Bay visits.  

Firstly, we removed the carpet and replaced it with a gray-wash laminate flooring that made the space feel larger.  The bathroom was enlarged, so it could accommodate a sink and a full size vanity for storage.  Secondly, we created closet space and repaired the kitchenette.  Lastly, we gave the studio distinct sleeping, lounging, and eating/working areas.  The space is now officially listed on Airbnb. Take a look:

Who wouldn't like to spend a little time in this studio above the tree line?