Beyond Napa...

or nowhere near it for that matter...this was all new for us...


last weekend we decided to do something on a whim, off the beaten path, and we ended up wine tasting in unfamiliar territory "Apple Hill"...See typically we are Napa/Sonoma people...but this ended up being a blast!!!

Boeger

First stop on our list, for a cloudy cold day this place was packed with couples. Lovely estate, lots of free tastings, and a really fun staff...try the Carson Peak if you like Chards...

Lava Cap

The best "affordable" Petite Sirah...and I don't normally like Sirah! But this place was great, small and charming, the staff is friendly and the wine is ever better. Pack a picnic and eat out on the terrace over looking the vineyards...

(The perfect winery picnic set up...from Williams Sonoma. And see Toast and Tables blog for more picnic baskets!!)

**Other stops on our venture, a cute family owned and operated winery called Woffard Acres, and because my parents own a Jack Russell...the Jack Russell Brewery!!**

Mary knows...

(Image via Style Court)

DETAILS...Am I right? Her design talent amazes me time and time again. Recently House Beautiful has featured her latest project in the Hollywood Hills on their website, showcasing a glamorous bachelor pad that any gal would love too!

For the love of safari, where can I get that Rhino??

She knows scale too, which is often an after thought...

Perfect placement...

Again, the scale of these nailheads is what really makes it work...

I beg you Mary McDonald, put me under your wing and teach me the way!!

Maybe I will...

Okay this is going to sound crazy, but this morning I was thinking...maybe I should just show up for the Top Design casting call this weekend...

SAN FRANCISCO

Saturday, January 26th : 2008
10:00am – 2:00pm

The Art Institute of California - San Francisco
1170 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102-4908
www.artinstitutes.edu/sanfrancisco

I've got nothing to lose, I guess...and who knows, right??? I've been remodeling my home for the past year, so I can patch drywall and paint...plus the whole design side. Maybe you should too, I'll meet you there!!!

I don't believe it!!!

I really don't. Great prints at under $10/yd., where have you been all my life!!! It's seems to good to be true, and I think I may just have to buy a yard to see for myself...

**You can find these prints at BuyFabrics.com , and I can't take credit for finding this great source on my own, I actually became aware of it when I stopped into UrbanGraceInteriors blog...**

Keywest in Chocolate, $8.95/yd.

(Doesn't this resemble an inverted version on Lulu DK's outdoor fabric called Madison, shown here...)

Marbella in black, $8.95/yd

Kimono in Olive, $8.95/yd.

Keywest in yellow, $8.95/yd

Wow, I guess being in the industry, I'm a bit accustomed to using fabrics that are at least $60 +/yd. and I don't think anything of it... What do you think of these? Are these pretty good prints for the price?

Happy Friday!! Hope you have a great weekend!!

A little shop in Firenze...

A few years back I traveled to Florence to study Architecture and Design for a while, through my University program at the time...one day while wondering the streets after a siesta I stumbled upon a cute little purse shop called Sol Gabriel...

Needless to say, I dragged my friends in there to find the lovely owner arranging her merch...tons of unique handmade bags, which she makes herself...

She has a great eye for detail and even the insides are not forgotten...

**So the other day when I came across her business card, I thought it might be nice to share her work on my blog. Let me tell you though, her designs come in and the are snatched up pretty fast....worth checking out her site if your interested! I bet she would even do commissions...**

New Pieces...

Love these Foo Dog lamps just in at Pieces, Inc.

For the birds...

(Image via Desire to Inspire blog)

I'm not a big bird person, or really any size bird person for that matter...but I do love their homes!! The image above caught my eye last week, what a lovely lil home for some birds, but better yet a great way to accessorize your home...

Chinese 19th Century Birdcage from Belvedere Antiques


Birdcage from Inside Avenue

Wrought Iron Birdcage from Architectural Artifacts, Inc.

Decorative Birdcage from Georgica Creek

++ I just love the image above from Peak of Chic blog where a birdcage is used as a display case, to see her post on birdcages, click here... ++

Orange + Black and White...

I was recently browsing Robert Passal's portfolio online when I came across his work from the annual "Kips Bay Decorator Show House" in 2005. Then I remembered this brilliant space with it's orange high gloss walls, and fell back in love with this it all over again...

Notice the center piece above the settee, so innovative how he layered art pieces over the mirror, and see how the mirror is mounted...

A nice lil surprise to the back of this chair...

Rainy days...

...like these call for some major "waterproofing". I don't own a pair of rain boots but I've always wanted to, and then seeing these at Ballard Designs makes me wanna actually venture out in this madness...

++ Going for $59.95 a pair ++

Fantastic Lighting...

If you're not familiar with Fuse Lighting...well then make yourself. A company with so much to offer in the way of lighting, I dare you not to fall in love with them...and wanna buy up everything they have!!!

Whisper Chandelier

Aquitaine Chandelier

A bit different from their typical lighting, but I love this Baldwin Sconce...

Ramona Chandelier

The Manhattan Sconce

This is a Mark Cutler Design where a custom Whisper Chandelier was used...

Every girl deserves...

Emma Jane Pilkington, via Style Court

a glamorous dressing area of sorts...whether every square inch is covered in glitz or a small area. Still who wouldn't love a fabulous space to get ready for the day in...here are some of my favorites, each unique in their own...

(Michael Simon, via House and Garden Feb. '07)

(Lee Mindel via Elle Decor Dec. '06)

(Ashley Stark via Domino, March '06)

(Kendall Wilkinson)

(Francis Elkins via Studio Annetta)

(Darren Ransdell via Instyle Home Spring '07)

A new year is upon us...

Really...where does the time go?!?! Oh, wait I know...into our work, our house, and our house again. I am sad to see 2007 gone and past, but I look forward to 2008 and what's to come.

Another dang resolution...

You know what, my resolution this year is to no longer use "stick to my diet" as my New Year's resolution every year! Cause, it's my resolution every time I wake up...I know I'm not alone on this...and I warn anyone interested in remodeling that one of the side affects is feeding your soul with yummy snack cakes...so be ready!

What this year means for me...

Hopefully continuing to grow in all the appropriate and manageable ways, taking time out from our money pit, I mean house, to have a lil down time, preparing for my California Interior Design certification, working on making our house a place I want to come home to, and my blog...giving it the energy it needs to continue on and supporting my fellow bloggers...

What about for you?

As for the lil house that could...

Things are coming along and we are going to hit the bigger areas soon, like our main living and our kitchen, oh and new windows!!! I pray that we can stick to our budget. For Christmas this year, Santa promised to wrap up the construction in our spare bathroom...and he did! Know it's time to work on the details...window coverings (cause these old windows are scary), finding drapery for my shower curtain, towels...etc!

The lovely before...

The almost lovely after...still needs some work, but we'll get there...

but, I love the my flooring the bathrooms, can you believe I got this for only $6/sq. ft.!!

I wish you all a Happy New Year!!! Hope 2008 brings you happiness and some peace of mind!