Summer Time

The words to the old classic song read, "summer time and the living is easy...". I absolutely believe that's the way it's supposed to be... Don't let the price of gas or the price increases in the airline industry stop you. But if you do, there's lots you can do to turn your back or front yard into a perfectly wonderful get away. Call it the perfect staycation!...Isn't that the new buzz word for not taking a get out of town vacation? Before I head to California where I intend to immerse myself in green design... I'll leave you with some ideas on making your outdoor space a spot to relax and have a good time.

The patio off the dining and living rooms extend entertaining onto the patio. The casual red chairs are from Design Within Reach and the Montego table is from Room and Board. Plant life always softens hard surfaces.
With this lush atrium the homeowners created an indoor space that rivals the tropics. Plantings include palms, ferns, and lilies set against Chinese slate tiles. The wicker chairs add to the tropical aesthetic.
I've always loved the non conventional style of Berkeley, California. That's what attracts me to this outdoor space. The front yard grass has been replace with bluestone pavers. Although you can't see it, there is a water feature included in this design. The design team of Huettl-Thuilot Associates created the perfect courtyard staycation spot.
With gravel under foot, glazed clay pots and the deep green foliage of an espaliered fig
combine to create an organic feel to this space. The dark exterior wall adds the drama... love it!

Bring on the night! I could staycation here with my friends any summer night.

Sources: Coastal Living, Sunset, Cottage Living

Up on the roof

Hey, I have the perfect place to put all press releases that bill events as "shimmering" or "the most unique." (Hint: Circular!)

However, the so-called "Russian folk 'n' roll" band Limpopo gets a thumbs-up for chutzpah. Here's an excerpt from the band's website:

If your house parties are getting a little bit dull and predictable, I beg of you to slip a little Limpopo into your stereo and see what happens. Your most crusty house guest will be up on the house top in their underwear with a beer bong, sucking down a dozen raw eggs, and screaming at any Italians in the crowd where Rocky can go and what he can do when he gets there.

I don't know if this means the band is good, but I do know its next concert in Palo Alto is free. Limpopo plays the city's Twilight Concert Series next Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Mitchell Park Bowl.

Actually, you could plan a lot of your social life next week around free summer outdoor concerts. Also on tap:

• fiddler Tom Rigney in Menlo Park's Fremont Park on July 30 at 6:30
• the jazzy Harvey Wainapel Quartet at Stanford Shopping Center on July 31 at 6
• the Silicon Valley Houserockers (rock and R&B cover band) at Cuesta Park in Mountain View on July 31 at 6:30

Enjoy.

Pictured: One of the members of Limpopo (the website doesn't give his name, but I do like his hat.)

Sweeter than candy on a stick

Applause for Terry Tang, an AP reporter who used to write excellent stories for the Weekly like this one, and is now living in Arizona. One of her recent stories is now being splashed all over the place. The hot topic? Frosting shots. As in little cups of sugary goop you can slurp down if you don't feel up to eating the whole cupcake. Criminy.

Terry is a terrific writer and I love her toothbrush lead. But the topic kind of makes my lip curl. I can understand the appeal of food in miniature. Sometimes things just look more appealing when they're cut down to doll size, as in every teensy Japanese cookie you ever bought because of the packaging.

But frosting. My incisors hurt. I'd be stunned to find this in Europe, where all the desserts are so much better simply because they're less tooth-achingly sweet, leaving room for actual flavor. OK, I'm a Eurosnob. I should just emigrate now and be done with it.

Is the frosting-shot fad a symptom of America's short attention span, or its obsession with over-sweetening, or its obesity epidemic? I guess we can all find out for ourselves when Sprinkles opens at Stanford Shopping Center in August.

Cupcake photo from Wikipedia.

Candace Olson Fabrics

I absolutely love the easy never fussy contemporary feel of a Candace Olson design. She's a fantastic sketcher and I love to see how she brings them to life on her HGTV show Devine Design. I'm always impressed. Now, we can share in the feel of her design aesthetic with her collection of designer fabrics by Kravet. Colors are rich and versatile...can be used on window treatments and upholstery. They will definitely bring life to a reclaimed chair or sofa. They also work well with Ms. Olson' upholstery furniture line. Candace is a designer after my own heart... How divine ...






Images: Kravet

Eco Chic

As Americans become more eco minded we will continue to look for products and materials that are friendly to ourselves and the environment. While we have moved away from lead based paints, oil, and improve latex, interior paints have now evolved to low and non-VOC, it's a work in progress. Most fabric vendors for the home have incorporated environmentally friendly lines that include organic cottons and less chemically treated fabrics. Looking for ways to incorporate eco products into decor is becoming easier and more stylish. I'm always excited to find new ways to use recycled items. I hope you get busy incorporating some of these ideas into your space and thinking of new ones. Please don't hesitate to share your green ideas and products with me. There's only one earth, and ...we're all in it together.

Eco Glass - Chandelier of recycled champagne bottles that use low wattage bulbs add ambient lighting in this space. Recycled glass bulbs from Mexico hung from a ceiling.

Eco Chic - Use natural fabrics and earth tones to recreate this style.
Eco Bohemian - Natural fabrics, wicker lamp,and a few cacti

Eco Cotton- Slip covered sofas can be custom made in organic fabrics tt are washable.

Eco Urban- Kitchen cabinets made of straw board, amber bamboo ceiling, porcelain tile floors and a sheet metal wall add elegance and style to this urban setting.

Eco Cute - River rocks provide a home for a cute little ceramic frog...add cut foliage for an organic look.

Images: LA Times, NY Times, Red River Interiors, Traditional Home

Spotlight on local musicians

I really should not point at "American Idol" singers and laugh. Putting yourself out there is not a snap, especially while being judged. (Dance auditions are my personal ring of hell. If I had to do one on national TV, even my own mother would point and laugh.)

Locally, musicians have a new arena to put their art out there -- without the glitz or call for overwrought vibrato. The Media Center has a new locally produced TV show, "American Songwriter," which is seeking new artists to feature.

The first episode was hosted by Gunn High School student Alex Rusoff and featured Sugaree and the Shakedown. Band members are two recent Gunn grads: singer/songwriter Dorothy Wood, who also plays guitar and banjo; and Neva Hauser on bass and recorder. (John Bradshaw also sat in on lapslide.)

With songs such as "Old Train" and "Appalachia," the performance had a folk, Americana feel anchored by the smooth, classically trained strains of Hauser's bass. Wood's voice is distinctive, with a textured feel and lots of sobs and leaps. She cited Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez as two of her influences, and said the band name comes from the song "Shake Sugaree" by Elizabeth Cotten.

The episode is being shown periodically on channels 27 and 28 throughout July -- and you can also watch it here on the Media Center's website.

For information about appearing on the show, call 650-494-8686, extension 11.

Photo from Sugaree and the Shakedown's MySpace page.

Small Space Design

I'm one who appreciates an imaginative table scape. This setting is especially cleaver because the green frosted glass table top opens up this small space. There is an ethereal feel about this space. Everything on top of the table seems to float. It brings light and a sense of calm to this lovely dining area as it looks down on the living room below.

images: Red River Interiors

From the dining area above the eye rest on the coordinating colors in this living space and the views out side the triple Palladium windows.

click on photo to enlarge

Custom Sofas

Finding the perfect sofa isn't always an easy task. It's a place I like to start when putting together a living or family room. Once I determine how the occupants will use a room I then search for the most accommodating sofa style. Going custom allows for options. The sofa frames featured here come in more than one length. You're not boxed into one particular size. If your space is especially large there will be a length to meet its proportions. There are also options in seat cushions, welting, trims and fabric options are unending. Most vendors allow for COM(customer own materials) meaning you are not limited to the vendor's fabrics....you can find something elsewhere. Custom will cost a bit more than stock sofas but don't be afraid of that. You will have a piece that will last a lifetime and all you will ever need to do is reupholster when your color pallet changes... try it! You won't be disappointed.

Kravet -Andante Recamier

Kravet - Thornton

Kravet - Sausalito

Kraet - Tiberio

Kravet - Prelude

Duralee - Isle of Capri

Duralee - Monaco

Duralee - Westport

Duralee - Westside

French Antique

Wallpaper Talks

Wallpaper always has and always will have a place in the world of decor. It changes the entire complexion of a room. Patterns can be subtle or rich and bold. Can you imagine this bathroom without the deep wine color and floral motif on the walls? I can... and I wouldn't feel invited to spend a lot of time in this space. Yet with this time trusted pattern and updated color scheme I'm drawn in. The room beckons me to join in...sit a spell and stay a while....

Image: Red River Interiors

Khimani Plaid wallpaper from Thibaut's Cypress collection pulls this room together. It's classic and adds just the right amount of color. It's a companion to the linen/cotton blend fabric Haleema also from the Cypress collection. Cypress is inspired by the traditional block printing techniques in India. It has an old world feel in its paisley and plaid prints. The various colors in this group are subdued. These prints can be used in almost any room in the home. Anytime you want a classic, old world feel with an updated touch, update your space with wallpaper and beautiful fabrics.

Images: Thibaut

Khimani Plaid - Wallpaper

Mumbai Ikat

Haleema - Fabric

Cypress Collection - Green

Mizoram – Wallpaper