Wood Tables Warm Up a Space

A home tour that ran a few weeks ago in DesignSponge really caught my eye. It featured the home of designer Michael Freimuth, who has a cool rustic-meets-vintage-modern space in Brooklyn. In particular, I loved the way he used a real tree stump as a side table.

(photography by Bob Martus and Jessica Weit)

In the sneak peek, Michael said, "I’ve been hauling this tree stump with me for the last decade; it’s the best part of moving. It probably weighs close to 100 lbs and enjoys rolling down streets, stairs and traveling cross-country (it’s originally from a park in my hometown of Chicago)."


Since we're not lucky enough to have found our own beloved stump, I started looking for alternatives -- and there are quite a few good ones out there.

These Teak Trunks from VivaTerra are beautiful -- and on sale for $319 for the set.

VivaTerra also offers the favorite Twisty Stool -- also on sale now if you buy a set of two.

West Elm offers this appropriately-titled Natural Tree Stump Side table, for $199.


And for a slightly different twist on the cut wood theme, try the Timber Side Tables from CB2 -- $169 for a set of three. 

Whatever your decor style, a touch of raw wood will add warmth and ground your space. 

Five Reasons to Use White

This week we once again visited the SF Benjamin Moore showroom, where we were treated to a presentation about the power of white in interior design. It may seem strange for Benjamin Moore, which is known for its vibrant color selection, to be promoting white. It also may seem a little strange for us, self-professed color-lovers, to get excited about white. But we learned from the experts on the panel (Linda O'Keeffe, author of Brilliant: White in Design, designer Jay Jeffers, and designer Elizabeth Martin) that there are plenty of reasons to love white in your decorating scheme.

1. White is timeless. White walls, white sofas, white rugs -- they always look modern, and they never go in and out of style.

(from Brilliant: White in Design, photographed by Carlos Domenech)

2. Everything looks good against white. Think of bright green lettuce or red peppers on a white plate, or a colorful Jackson Pollack painting hanging on a white wall. And, as Linda pointed out, "almost every person looks great in a crisp white shirt." White provides a background that showcases everything around it. It certainly makes these macarons pop!

(from Brilliant: White in Design, photographed by Carlos Rodriguez)

3. White is not distracting. When a rug, or a vase, or a computer is white, you can really see the form of the piece itself. Your eyes take in the curves, angles or texture, instead of being distracted by the color. Check out the different texture layers in this all-white room:

(from Brilliant: White in Design, photographed by Barbel Miebach)

4. White is expansive. It is definitely true that white walls open up a space. White allows you to think, and to imagine what else might be possible. It is the perfect canvas for enjoying variations in light and shadow, as seen in the photo below.

(from Brilliant: White in Design, photographed by Undine Prohl)

5. White is flexible. When you use white, you don't have to worry about if other colors will complement or clash. White plays well with every other color in the rainbow.

Of course, there are some challenges in working with white. Elizabeth cautioned that stark, bright, glacier whites are difficult to use in real life. It's best to stick with slightly off-whites with either warm or cool tints. It's important to paint samples of your chosen hue on your walls and watch how it responds to different light throughout the day -- you might find that the white you love during the day turns lavender at night.

Anyway you look at it, as Linda said, "White is as much at home on a picket fence as a spaceship." We couldn't agree more, and we look forward to working more white into our projects.

Going Green

In honor of St. Patrick's Day (which is tomorrow), this post is all about green -- the color of grass, trees, four-leaf clovers . . . and one of our very favorite decorating colors.

We're not shy when it comes to painting rooms a lovely shade of green . . . whether it's just one wall, as we did in this bedroom for a recent Style to Sell house:

(Benjamin Moore Split Pea, 2146-30)

Or an entire dining room, this one for a Berkeley client:

(Benjamin Moore Pear Green, 2028-40)

This month's House Beautiful also focuses on green, and we loved this collage of great green items they put together:

And in Chicago, they take their love of green even farther this time of year . . .

(image via Mavea Inspired Water blog)

May the luck of the Irish be with you this weekend! Go out and get yourself some green!

Color at the Flea Market!

Bay Area decorators, collectors (and shoppers) hit the jackpot last weekend -- the Oakland Museum's White Elephant Sale was on Saturday, and Sunday was the monthly Alameda Flea Market. We scored some great stuff at both events . . . and most of it was, of course, colorful.

We are always on the lookout for unusual lighting fixtures, and the Alameda Flea did not disappoint. Jill picked up two cheerful vintage orange table lamps -- $100 for the pair.

She also scored this groovy wooden multi-layered spherical lamp for just $175 -- a great investment for such a unique item.

We loved (but resisted) these bright glass and ceramic plates and trays.

Of course, the color wasn't limited to just home decor items. Jill picked up two vintage purses in the season's hottest fashion color -- bright yellow -- for less than $20 each.

At the White Elephant sale, we found two vibrant paintings that we've already hung in our space. 

Flea markets and rummage sales are excellent places to find unique art, and much of it is very affordable. It doesn't matter if you have no idea who the artist is; in fact, it's fun to imagine who might have created each piece, and when. Feel free to mix up high art and vintage "anonymous" finds on your walls -- as long as you love it, it doesn't matter.

What treasures and deals have you discovered at the flea market lately? Let us know in the comments below!

Design in a Snap!

We just completed a quick interior refresh for a lovely client who wanted to bring more color to her living space. This is an "after" picture . . . .

The "before" pictures are very tasteful as well. Her home was remodeled two years ago, saturated with browns, beiges and off whites -- as seen in the next four photos.

In preparation for spring, she asked us to refresh the rooms with brighter colors. We used her new doormat as our color inspiration:

We set out to find accessories in these key colors -- chartreuse and aqua blue. We visited Lotus Bleu in San Francisco and discovered just the right pillows, plus a throw and a basket. Then we added ceramics and glass accessories from West Elm in complimentary whites, blues and greens. Here are the results . . .

 We also incorporated some items she already had to create new displays for her dining room table and for the window shelf in front of her sink.

This is a fun and quick way for us to work with clients -- bringing a burst of energy to their rooms at a reasonable rate.

Going Global in Your Home

The global/ethnic craze that started a couple of years ago with Ikat fabric and Moroccan rugs is still going strong -- and we are glad! Check out the new book by Australian designer Sibella Court, Nomad: a global approach to interior style. It's packed with textures, patterns and colors from around the world, all incorporated in brilliant ways within the home.

This book it truly a feast for your eyes, and inspirational beyond belief. It's making us look at our artifacts in new ways. And even if you've never traveled farther than the next state, you can find global treasures in antique stores and flea markets everywhere.

The new West Elm catalog, called roads less traveled, features goods handmade in Morocco.

The photos are breathtaking and just invite you to jump into these rich colors and luxurious textures.

Of course, it's always great to see how real people incorporate these trends within their own homes. The new Elle Decor features the space of designer Steven Johanknecht. Look how he carefully combines the kilim rug, a throw from Mexico, Navajo-inspired pillows, and raw wood.

And his outdoor space is just as inviting, with an eclectic mix of copper bells, colorful pillows and bright globe lights.

Yesterday we found our own great example of a global-chic Indian-inspired pillow at Nest, a unique boutique on Fillmore in San Francisco. We love the little shells at the corners and the tiny mirror sewn in the middle.

What do you have hidden away in your cupboards that might make interesting decor? Textiles, knick-knacks and ceramics from your travels might be just what you need to bring more individuality to your home.

Loving a Little Lavender!

As much as we love bold, bright colors, we appreciate the power of more soothing hues too. Right now we're noticing lavender -- everywhere we look.

Photo from think Color by Tricia Guild, still one of our favorite books.

The cover home in the February 2012 issue of Elle Decoration UK features the iconic Egg chair and a simple pillow in lavender.

And the relatively new HGTV magazine showcased a beautiful lavender sofa in a recent story.

Even Ikea is showing the lavender love via their Isala laptop table:

In our own home, our cozy lavender cashmere scarf has been keeping us warm. Here it's shown with a vintage Takahashi laquer tray we just picked up at the Alameda Flea Market. Love the contrast of the orange with the lilac!

And the vintage stools we sit on every day in our office (also from Alameda Flea) have subtle lavender cushions.

Don't be afraid to combine this soothing shade with brighter elements, as we've done above. It's the mix that makes it fun.

Color Trends for 2013

Last week we attended the Color Pulse 2013 presentation at the Benjamin Moore showroom in the San Francisco Design Center. These yearly Color Pulse shows give a fun preview of what colors will be most prominent in the design world for the year ahead.

The theme for 2013 is Intersection, broken down into four categories: Interflow, Intercycle, Interanimate, and Interconnect. The colors are inspired by art, design and architecture from around the world, and have three-dimensional references within each group.

Interflow is all about reintroducing colors and textures of the past in a new and modern way, retaining what is comfortable and familiar. Think colorful chunky knit pillows and quilts made in a fresh way.

Intercycle refers to upcycling “disposable” materials, repurposing elements through unusual pairings of color and material. Some examples are structures made out of old tires, and artwork from discarded license plates.

Interanimate is about play – using bold and dynamic color to escape the everyday life and connect with our inner child. This category is inspired by bright legos, marbles, and comic books.

Finally, Interconnect explores the juxtaposition of what is virtual vs. what is real. Color strikes a path through the virtual, illuminating the familiar and material world. Think digital photography and computer graphics.


So what colors will be "hot" in 2013? According to Benjamin Moore:

• Reds -- those that are sophisticated, with blue undertones
• Pinks -- both soft and feminine and bright pinks
• Oranges -- deep corals and camel tones
• Yellows -- when offset by red and oranges
• Greens -- darker kelly green and very pale green
• Blues -- watery blues, soft blues are starting to trend (influenced by popular website colors)
• Purples -- smokey, almost mauvey, purples
• Neutrals -- animal prints contrasted with bright colors

And what colors won't be popular next year?

• Black and white -- this harsh contrast is going away
• Metallics.

It will be fun to see how these predictions play out!

Bringing Color to the Table

This week we spent some time in Ikea, where the Reidar chair really caught our eye. It comes in 4 colors, including this vibrant blue -- and it's a great deal at $49.99.

It's no secret that we love color, so the idea of bright chairs around the dining or kitchen table really appeals to us. You can even mix an assortment together for a really fun look, as shown here:

image via Pinterest via Summer Allen

If you want to achieve this look in your home, here are some other great options for colorful chairs in stores and online right now.

These are both from CB2: the Echo Orange Chair is $89.95 and the Fleet chartreuse chair is on sale for $129 (regularly $149).

If you're ready to make more of an investment, Design Within Reach offers the 111 Navy Chair for $260; or the Era Round Armchair for $225 (both chairs are available in other fun colors too).

And for a nice shot of Kelly green, try the Ming Green side chair from Crate and Barrel, $199.