Inspiration on 4th Street

Whenever we need a shot of inspiration, we head over to Berkeley's 4th Street. We can count on these favorite home decor, crafting and fashion shops to always be merchandised with imagination and style.

Our first stop is often The Gardener, an emporium of exquisite handmade furniture, one-of-a-kind finds from all over the world, beautiful ceramics and jewelry (and, of course, plants). On our most recent visit we saw this wild wire-and-plant wall sculpture:

And we also admired this collection of ceramic bells hanging from rope over a long dining room table:

Leave it to The Gardener to create beautiful displays from humble pieces such as wire and rope!

Another must-see on 4th Street is Anthropologie. As we've talked about here before, we are always blown away by their store displays. Check out this great use of old cans:

Anthropologie is a feast for the eyes and the imagination (not to mention that they have the best clothes and incredible home decor!).

Some of our other favorites on 4th Street are:

Design Within Reach
Convert (the best sneaker selection for women, men and kids!)
CB2 (one of our most-shopped stores!)
Castle in the Air (a magical place full of paper, trimming, and inspiration)
Paper Source

The list could go on and on . . . 4th Street is a must-visit for anyone in the Bay Area who loves good design. Grab a coffee from Peet's and start window-shopping! (And try to make a day of it so you can treat yourself to lunch at Tacubaya!)

Modern Goes Global

The global decorating trend is still going strong. It's easier than ever to find unique objects that can take your home from "modern" to "modern eclectic."

For example, we just discovered a local treasure called Ring of Fire, which imports goods from Bali and Southeast Asia. Look at these colors and textures -- so inspiring!

Used strategically, these treasures can really add an extra pop to an otherwise modern space. We picked up a few of these gorgeous umbrellas to brighten up our backyard . . .

. . . and we found these beautiful white boxes that add an exotic touch to our modern orange bench.

And check out this painting, created by a Balinese street artist -- you'd think we bought it in a gallery rather than an import store!

Here in Berkeley, there are many import stores that offer eclectic decor options. For Moroccan treasures, check out Sahara, and African Fashion, Gifts and Crafts Center is full of goods from all over Africa.

Many major retailers have also jumped on the global bandwagon. West Elm's newest collection includes pieces created by Potter's Workshop, a South African artist collective.

Also at West Elm are the Kuba Benches, covered in a traditional handwoven Congolese textile called Kuba cloth. Each is one-of-a-kind.

And CB2 offers "One of a Finds"-- described as "original works created in collaboration with passionate artisans we discover on our travels around the world."

You can make a big impact in your home by adding unexpected items, especially when they're from another part of the world. Use an Indian sari as a tablecloth, or put your mail in a handwoven basket from Guatemala. Keep your eyes open for unique finds -- and bring a global touch to your modern space.

Outdoor holiday decorating -- Berkeley style

There are so many ways to decorate the exterior of your home for the holidays. Some people are fond of inflatable Santas, others favor lots of sparkle and shine, and still others hang hundreds of lights. At VisualJill, we're taking a more natural, low-key approach.

The front of the house greets guests with a simple evergreen wreath, large green ceramic pots, and our favorite stock tank, filled with cyclamen, cabbage plants and a tiny pine tree right in the center.

Small pots of pansies and succulents adorn the steps, which lead to our front door. We hung the succulent wreath from burlap to add a rustic appeal, which goes nicely with the simple juniper garland.

On the porch, we featured a humble little cypress tree on one side of the bench and a blooming aloe vera plant in a cool bow bin on the other. The fountain is from Flora Grubb.

To make the tree feel a little less "Charlie Brown-ish", we put it in a galvanized pot and tied a wooden star on the front.

Finally, a simple straw wreath hangs on the inside of the porch window -- bought at Flowerland.

We kept it simple and natural, yet festive -- in true Berkeley style.