Today I’m at the International Kitchen and Bath show in Las Vegas, the annual event where brands across the world gather to showcase the latest in renovation and design. I haven’t been since before the pandemic so it’s exciting to be here. Time and again the statistics reflect that kitchens and bathrooms are what sell…
Oh how destinations inspire me, whether I’m present at a new and unique place or dreaming from browsing online. I adore eating and drinking establishments that use tile in a dramatic way, I pin all the ideas for future renovations and bookmark them to refer back to them if renovating a kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor…
The term ‘wabi sabi’ has no direct English translation, rather it’s a Japanese aesthetic rooted in tradition. The word ‘wabi’ refers to harmony and tranquility while ‘sabi’ loosely translates to beauty achieved over time. The design philosophy reflects nature’s colors and textures and honors the beauty of imperfection. Modesty, simplicity, and handmade are prioritized, whereas…
Winter greetings from this rainy part of the world. I spent the weekend watching football on the sofa and working on a DIY paint project that I’ll share soon. One of the nice things about January is that it’s much less busy than the other months so I’m enjoying the slower pace for the moment.…
When Pinterest announced its 2024 trends, it reported that cool tones are “so hot right now”, a pendulum swing from the love affair with gold. Oh how we love to look at trends in design to see how people are dressing and decorating from year to year, but it amuses me to think that somehow…
Hello everyone, I’m back from Florida and the great news is the house is rented through the end of March, so that’s a big relief and a big box checked off! While I was there I was thinking about all the little purchases I made in the last two years to make the house look…
Whenever I consider a dark tone paint color, my eye always goes straight to the olive green or slate blue families. Rarely do I consider a dark red or deep burgundy as a color to layer on walls, but that’s a personal preference. I will admit that wine and burgundy tones do have an allure,…
I’m in Paris this week staying in a very small but very chic Parisian apartment filled with light and plants in the Latin Quarter. I haven’t been back in seven years so it’s lovely to be here in the fall running around town with my girlfriends. Parisian design has mastered the timeless yet contemporary mix…
Friends, welcome to a corner of my home you’ve never seen! Since I started this blog way back in the dark ages (2009) I’ve never shown you this corner of my abode. The reason was that it was just a plain wall painted dark tan for about fifteen years. I’d walk by it every day,…
I gave our hallway a makeover this week with a DIY furniture upgrade and a gallery of art, I’ll share pictures next week. The Minimalism Game began on the 1st and already I’m busy purging my home of things I don’t need, a few sales of big ticket items but the majority will be donations.…
The floors in our California home are finally done after three long weeks of waiting, starting with their repair and ending with a rich dark finish. Hardwood floors, while beautiful, are not good for spaces with water (bathrooms and kitchens) and our recent toilet overflow proves it. However, now that the floors are done and…
I’m flying to Florida next week to meet my daughter and her friends to spend a few days in Sarasota at our house. Next week I’ll be giving the guest room a refresh in a sunset hues inspired by the palette we see as the sun sets over the Gulf Coast in the evenings. I’m…
I’ve been taking relaxing baths before I go to bed lately, on average about four a week. The feeling of climbing into bed being extra clean is so appealing. I finally got around to upgrading the niche in my bathtub zone, it’s been plain for years so I bought two floating shelves and added a…
My local shop is taking shape and will be opening in Sonoma County, California in May. I’ve had a few people stop by the studio and ask me about the picture frames I’m using to showcase the art and photography, so I’ve rounded up six frames I’ve used repeatedly (in the shop and in past…