Faux Flowers

They are the thing! Not the silks. No. We are talking the obvious fakes. They are such a festive and  inexpensive accessory for one to place in either their homes or make center stage at an event.
I am not the best with flowers so maybe thats why I am so drawn to this trend but in thinking about accessorizing your house it really makes sense as you can mix, match and re-arrange as often as you like without anything dying!
Here are a few examples of these fun accessories.

Dashes of Inspiration

The past week or so has been a bit crazed. When events and "to do's" start to pile up it gets so much harder to find and take pleasure in the things that inspire. 

This is my blog ode to a few of my favorite things. (Not necessarily in this order.)

 (1) NAVY AND PINK 

(Interior by David Collins who recently passed away)

(2) HENDRICKS GIN

Preferably in a Martini - shaken w/ lots of olives

 

(3) ODD ACCESSORIES 

For Life's Hospitality Teapot - 

Brilliant rubber spout to prevent chipping & reminds me of a duck!

       
(4) BIRTHDAYS!!!!

   At Aquarello in San Francisco .... a dining experince everyone should have at least once

(5) TABLESCAPES

 
(6) PARIS

Above: Cannons at Invalides
Below: Patisserie Stoher (the oldest patisserie in Paris est. 1730)

Alameda Flea Market

Over the weekend a friend and I went to the monthly Antique fair in Alameda which is known as the Alameda Flea market. Being that I am just horrible at just browsing, this was the perfect time for me to have gone considering I am in between SF and LA with no place to call home i.e. no place for the perfect floating shelf.
Here are a few of the things I captured on camera.

Two toned with burlap and linen, these chairs looked so sweet in the open air of the market. 

Farm Family!
The red tail belongs to a rather large metal Iguana. 

Really more of a right hand "Sisters are doin' it for themselves" kinda ring. 

Tower 737 Terrace - Sneak Peak

Carter Design Group recently completed a renovation of an amazing 6th floor terrace in San Francisco. The space itself is not a big one and we were challenged with creating as many seating areas as possible for the tenants of this downtown high-rise to be able to use the space in a variety of different ways; lounging, sunbathing, BBQing etc.

Being a lead on a project always makes the install such a thrill. Some installs are much harder than others and, as this was my first outdoor install, I am very thankful that this one was relatively seamless. When the layout, color scheme and furniture all work together pretty much as planned, being able to walk away from the job site knowing it was a job well done is priceless. 

Here are a few of the images I snapped on the day of the install. 

Enjoy! 

Muuto - Copenhagen

Meeting Room

This lovely studio/office/showplace in Copenhagen is called "Muuto". They have successfully incorporated what look to be fresh and inspiring office spaces while maintaining a fantastic showroom appeal.

Muutos means new perspective in Finnish. The word couldn't be used better to describe the current look of their Scandinavian designs. Their pieces are modern and playful; while the use of color (on their mostly wooden furniture) is beautiful and refreshing. Not to mention the color blocking - oh so hot!!

Lounge Area within Showroom & Office Space

i need this

My reasons for posting this are two fold. Tomorrow, I am going to Cartier's exhibit at the Legion of Honor in SF. Amy Z. and I are going together and started discussing what each of us would do with a crown if we had one. My other reason for posting is that there is something depressing about this week. I feel slow, tired and annoyed. I think its February. I really dislike this month and so need things to cheer me up. Monarchy, dictators and anything where one being can reign supreme - I dig it. I am also big on fur. Crowns look great with fur. All these associations make me happy. I would love to own a real crown. Whenever I get blue I would put it on with one of my furs and waltz around. Immediately my snappy mood would disappear and I would be whole again. Just another thing to add to the ol' wish list.

Art Nouveau chair from the home of Jaques Grange

The chair you see here is in the home Jacques Grange. An interior designer who recently completed The Mark Hotel in New York, Mr. Grange, who is based out of Paris, has been in the business for over 40yrs. He is well known for his designs in the home's of Yves Saint Laurent. I was drawn to this chair because of the lines and the leather straps on the seat. I don't believe I have seen any Art Nouveau chairs that resemble a bistro chair so closely. Generally, I think of Art Nouveau furniture as being heavier in scale. This chair is quite delightfully the opposite. I'll take two, please.