At some point awhile back, I pinned a photo of this wallpaper, from British company Paper Boy. Called Hand Made, it's a graphic pattern made with shapes of shadow puppets. Upon seeing it on my kid room board this week, I found myself charmed all over again, and decided to take a closer look at it.
Read MoreHow to update a traditional chair
I've been scoping out lots of dining rooms lately, doing research for some new clients. They want to incorporate their existing table and chairs in the design. It's a matched, formal set: pretty, but rather tame. So I came up with an idea to make it more lively and unique, and perfectly suited to the young family that lives in the home.
Read MoreDeck the walls: photography by Jon Siegel
I'm excited to share with you today the work of Jon Siegel. Jon is an American expat based in Singapore. He works as a creative director for a digital agency by day. By night, he uses his camera to immortalize the streets of his adopted home. I spoke with him recently to discuss why he took up photography, the evolution of his style, and how he captures his subjects on the sly.
Read MoreWallpaper by Marthe Armitage
If you thought this gorgeous wallpaper was devised by a firm run by hip young things, you'd be mistaken. It's the work of an awesome British lady, but she's no spring chicken. And her papers are taking the design world by storm.
Read MoreDeck the walls: art by Jill Galloway Sherman
I'm excited to share with you today the work of my friend Jill Galloway Sherman. The Philadelphia-based artist originally trained as a sculptor and photographer, but counts many mediums in her skill set, including drawing and book design. We spoke recently to discuss her career path, her sources of inspiration, and the direction of her newest work.
Read MoreMaharani wallpaper and fabric by Osborne & Little
I'm fortunate to have a great side gig: I write about interior design and style for Oakland and Alameda Magazines. One of the most fun parts of that job is suggesting photos to accompany my articles. When doing research for my most recent assignment, I came across this wallpaper. The pattern is called Maharani, produced by the legendary design house Osborne & Little. It also comes as a fabric, and they're both pretty amazing.
Read MorePalette inspiration: the art of Mary Blair
The other day, we grabbed the kids, packed a picnic, and headed out to the Presidio. I thought we'd scope out the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, enjoy some redwoods, and maybe toss a ball on the wide grassy fields. When we got there though, we saw signs for something that made my husband draw in his breath: an exhibit on Mary Blair, the extraordinary Disney artist. As I looked at her work, I was struck by her masterful use of color. It occurred to me that any one of her pieces would serve as a great palette for a beautiful room. Check out these pairings.
Read MoreAn appealing edible landscape
Here in Northern California, spring is officially sprung. For the first time in my life, I have a whole garden to play with, and this has me pouring over Better Homes & Gardens, Sunset magazine and Country Living for hours. I want a space that's pretty to look at, of course, but productive, too.
Good news is that it's very possible to have a garden that's lush with both flowers and vegetables, and it's very possible to make it all pretty. You just need to follow some simple design rules, which I'll walk you through.
Read More