Halloween is approaching and we wanted to make an arrangement using all the interesting flowers we come across on our weekly trip to the flower mart. 

Our spooky elements include: (Clockwise from top left) The feather like texture on this flower reminds us of the hair on a tarantula. The berries look like deadly fruit or tiny pumpkins. The soft orange plant looks like it resembles brain matter. And then we have some black peppers.

We rounded out the arrangement with some black flowers, cat-tails, and large black leaves line the inside of the vase 

The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950–1990

Today we popped over to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park to see the Bulgari exhibit and it was amazing! We now have our Valentine's lists typed up for our sweethearts. Diamonds are a girls best friend!! (Emeralds and sapphires are a pretty close second.)

Summer – my partner, Jessica, and I fall on opposite sides of the fence on this but I LOVE summer.  The color the sky, the warmer days, and the feel of freedom make me feel like a kid again. *SUZY

Fall/Winter- Suzy is right. I love the crunch of leaves while wearing boots, or bundling up by the fire with a good book and some hot cocoa. Besides, my birthday is in December *JESSICA

Today's design would be perfect for beach cottage or a surfers room. First take an old surfboard and turn it into a headboard, just turn it on it's side and mount it to the wall. Bedding is easy with some tie dye fabrics. Wall art could be a paper mache shark and of course a print of a curly blue wave. Add a shell planter and a laid back chair and it is a place that will evoke the sound of waves and the feeling of an endless summer...now I need to apply lots of sunblock and enjoy this weather (pass me some pink lemonade).

We love gallery walls. The overall look appears as one whole piece, a large art statement. I collect black and white photos as travel souvenirs. Seeing all the places I have been and love always brings a smile to my face. Creating a gallery wall doesn't have to be a hard process. As you can see from the images above, they can include more than just photos and paintings. I love that a TV can be hidden in the mix instead of standing alone as a black hole on a blank wall.

To create your own gallery wall in an easy three steps:

1. Gather all the images and objects you want to include. Also grab old paper bags (craft paper will work), scissors, painter's tape and a pencil.

2. Trace the outline of the frames or objects onto the bags, then cut the outlines out. Mark on the paper outlines the location of the wire or teeth on the back of each frame.

3. Tape up the bag outlines and move them around until it looks right to you (this can take awhile~ I left it for a fews days standing back and tweaking a little here and there). When you are ready just put a nail through each piece of paper where you marked the hanging point(s) earlier.

Stand back and enjoy.

Sorry we haven't posted in awhile, we have been a bit busy. Above is the current state of a clients house (from left to right), a picture from a favorite room at this years Decorators Showcase (more on that in a future post) and a fun polka dot backsplash we had installed just waiting on grout. More to come...

I grew up near the ocean so colors that remind me of the beach or the sea are soothing; like going home. So here are some pieces I found that I love for a bathroom or a daring kitchen. The countertop material even has mother of pearl and fossils in it. It would be hard not to relax in a place like this, I can practically smell the salty breeze.

We are loving this acid green color, a glimpse of brightness spring brings. It should be used sparingly: a teapot, throw pillow, piece of art, or an accent wall connecting to the colors outside in the garden. A cheerful touch of this green will brighten any space. Let us know how you made it work in your space. Apple martini anyone?

The success of 'Mad Men' has influenced the design world, bringing mid century design to both fashion and interiors.  Bar carts are a fun way to bring this infulence home.  There are a vast array of new and vintage bar carts out there.  We've selected a few with very different design aesthetics - we love the fun curves of the plexiglass cart, the cheer of the gilded cart, the simple elegance of the mid century cart, and the 'homey' style of the industrial cart.  Surely there is a bar cart for every design style.     

We have been working on a lot of bathrooms recently. So we have spent a fair amount of time in tile showrooms, slab yards, and plumbing and fixture stores. We are fans of classic elements: basket weave in stone, neutral colored marble (grey is a neutral). But the new accent items are like the jewelry for your bathroom. The latest waterjet cutting can make intricate designs with stone, tile, and glass. These custom pieces are like works of art. And our other new favorite is the shattered glass tiles, the way they catch the light is pure beauty. Time to relax in your own private spa! Ahhh, Happy New Year indeed.

The lighting trends today are quite beautiful, each fixture is almost a work of art. I love the filament in an exposed edison bulb. For those who have energy guilt the LED spike ball would give you the same industrial edge, with a fraction of the energy used. And the bubble glass fixture reminds me of one of my favorite things: bubble baths. 

Feeling the San Francsico love today. Last night the giants made it into the World Series, again. But the love for the local sports team isn't the only thing in the air, a crispness that is fall makes it perfect for adding another cozy layer and heading off to the farmers market. With some fresh fruit, veggies, and flowers the only thing that could complete the lovely excursion was some Blue Bottle hot chocolate.