The Way We Live: A Fashion Designer's Home

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Nanette Mervin of Ginger at her home in Berkley.  We got together to discuss collaborating on a photo shoot featuring her stylish caftans and The Cass Clutch, but I had an ulterior motive.   Having seen images of her home on Instagram and admiring her style, I knew it was going to be an amazing space to photograph for my blog.  Sooo, I brought along my camera and without any advance notice, I convinced her to let me take some snapshots of it.  She was a bit apprehensive at first, but as we discussed what makes a house a home (in my opinion*), and the criteria at play before I consider doing a "The Way We Live" feature, she graciously obliged.

Nan's passion for art, vintage glass and fashion is showcased in each of the rooms adding warmth, creativity and substance to the entire home.  Her caftans are offsprings of 'something old made new again' just like The Cass Clutch is.  

I'm so glad to have met her and look forward to working together in the future.  In the mean time, take a tour of this very unique home.

Thank you, Nanette, for sharing your beautiful home with my readers!

*"The Way We Live" features spaces that reflect the character, interests and personality of their inhabitants.  Spaces that are both lived in and deliberately appointed. 

Botanical Inspiration: My Very Own Image

About 6 months ago, I was asked by Tucker, an Organic T-Shirt company, if it could feature one of my botanical images on its tops.  They chose a photo of a Phormium plant I had taken in Berkeley for their Swing shirt.  I just received mine and I love the way it looks and feels.   Check out it here.

Life Happens: A Fire

Two weeks ago, we awoke to fire alarms going off throughout our home.  As we scrambled out of bed, my husband and I entered the living room to find one of our sofas and wood valance in flames.  It's hard to exactly recall what followed.  I know that Alex found a phone and dialed 911 while we were both screaming for our children to get out of the house.  We tried pouring pots of water on the blaze, but it was too big and too hot to get close enough to make a difference. Thankfully, I thought of the garden hose, quickly grabbed it and dragged it to the doorway and began desperately spraying the flames.  The fire was put out before the fire department arrived, but not before significantly damaging the house with its smoke. 

Thank God we are all safe.  If it weren't for the smoke alarms things could have been very different.  I wanted to share our story with you all as a reminder to update and charge the fire alarms in each room of your home, to have a fire escape plan in place, and to own more than one fire extinguisher.  We only had one and somehow knew the fire was too large for it.

The kids were shaken up, but coping very well considering the trauma.  We are unable to stay in the house for a few months during the recovery and renovation.  Since our experience, I've come across many people who have either gone through a fire themselves or know someone who has.  We are so blessed that we no one was hurt and that our home had not suffered structural damage.

We believe it may have started from an ember from the fire we enjoyed that evening.  We use our fireplace often and do our routine checks  before bedtime as we did on that night, but apparently a spark must have flared.  We are humbled by the experience, counting our blessings and taking things slower these days.  I can't help but think it happened for a reason, and what the reason is, I'm still figuring out. 

PLEASE use our experience as a way to open conversations about fire safety with your own family.  We most often think it won't happen to "us", but clearly it can and it does.  Below are Fire Safety tips from the  Red Cross.  

I would like to thank our neighbors who took us in in the middle of the night and provided us with warm clothes, blankets and a comfortable place to sleep.  You are the best.

Photo Shoot: The Cass Clutch

For a recent Cass Clutch photo shoot I collaborated with Marley Jones, who attends the Academy Of Art in SF to become a fashion stylist.   After meeting and discussing my vision for The Cass Clutch's Spring look, I left for Marley to source the clothes, the location and the models.  Make-up and hair stylist, Winnie Johnson, helped bring the vision to life.  With me behind the lens, we created sophisticatedly urban [yet playful] scenes for The Cass Clutch.  Take a look:

Designing,  manufacturing and marketing The Cass Clutch allows me the opportunity to meet and work with many amazingly talented people.  Marley Jones, you top the list.  Thank you for pulling together the look and feel I was envisioning for The Cass Clutch this season.  

Stylist:  Marley Jones

Hair and MU:  Winnie Johnson

Photographer:  Debra Szidon

Models:  Birdy Lauvdal and Madison Muraoka

Before And After: A San Francisco Event Space

Cocoon Home Design began the new year decorating a space slated for San Francisco events. Generously appointed with a conference room, a lounge area, a game room AND a roof deck with grand views of the city, the venue personifies the perfect location for professional and social events alike.  

Working with existing tufted leather chairs and sofas, we helped balance the warm and masculine effect with cool colors, polished metals, and modern accents.  We accessorized the space with nature-inspired curiosities, botanicals and carefully curated objects lending it a sophisticated, yet earthy look.  

At onset, "Room Inspirations" were created for the entire space, incorporating some of the existing items and blending with new pieces to help show how the space could look and feel.  We then proceeded to rearrange the furniture in order to create a better flow and to see what other items in the space needed to be added or deleted. 

In the lounge area, we removed the existing rug and placed two identical ones to make the space feel larger and more cohesive.  The addition of leather and lucite stools added a more timely effect, while the brass coffee table brought in polish and sophistication to the space.  

A saddle bag found at The Alameda Antique Fair drapes one the sofa arm to hold magazines.  A cluster of plants and a floor lamp add interest and mood lighting the corner. 

Utilizing the color of the existing conference chairs as an inspiration, we painted the walls green and added green bound books and brass shadow boxes to the built-in shelves.  The mounted butterfly collection now hangs in the entry hallway and the globe chandeliers have been replaced with blown glass and brass fixtures that bring a more updated look to the space. 

In the game room, an antique card table was painted to match the leather chairs.  Casters were added to make the table mobile and practical.  An oversized Timothy Oulton card art helps emphasize the room's intended purpose.  

The venue now looks and feels ready to host a myriad of different private companies and organizations. 

For inquires on renting this space please contact Marcy  at (415) 692-7177.