House Hunting: Urban Or Suburban Part 2

Architect Fred Langhorst, who trained under Frank Lloyd Wright, designed the suburban home that my husband and I are also considering. Unlike its urban equivalent the house is more spacious, offering 4 bedrooms, an office, 2 living room areas and 3 full baths (all of which need updating but completely functional at present). The conflict remains the same, do we take the plunge and head for the suburbs or continue enjoying the conveniences of a more urban setting. While we continue to ponder, take a peek at a modern suburban home:

Lighting Genius: Lindsey Adelman

Ever since reading last Sunday's NY Times Style Magazine feature on lighting designer Lindsey Adelman, I can't seem to get enough of her work.  With intricate details made from metal, glass and custom bulbs these lighting fixtures take on shapes that resonate as nature's treasures.  Take a look at a few of my favorite designs:

House Hunting: Urban Or Suburban?

After finding out that this house was virtually inaccessible by a small rental car (let alone a mini van), my husband and I continued the search for an East Bay home.  Having spent 4 days combing the steep winding roads of the Berkeley Hills and the wide tree lined roads of Orinda and Lafayette, I'm conflicted on whether we should continue living in a urban situation similar to ours now, or to take that seemingly inevitable plunge and head out to the suburbs [!!].  We found  two great houses:  one urban, one suburban.  Each mid-century designed, one smaller , one larger.   One with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the other with a large private yard.  Take a peek at the urban dwelling we're considering, and later in the week I'll show you its suburban equivalent.

Are you currently living in an urban environment and if so, would YOU consider moving to the suburbs?

Obsessing Over...

I'm currently obsessing over:

1. A dusty rose handbag .

2. Anthropologie's Isleta bedding, boldly graphic yet softly hued.

3. A refreshing lemon tart.

4. A pefect sweater for cool Berkeley nights.

5.  A dreamy sofa.

6. A funky pillow.

Botanical Inspiration: Bonsai

This week's botanical inspiration is the Bonsai.  A recent trip to Bonsai West in Littleton, Ma. turned out to be both visually and mentally inspiring.   A multitude of young and very old bonsai trees of all varieties and zone preferences fill a series of greenhouses (we visited in early March).  The miniature trees take one's breath away and can be studied and admired for hours upon hours.  There's so much to appreciate about the art of Bonsai, the disciplined  root trimming, the constant pruning and limb training and, particularly, the micro gardens that sprout at the base of the shallow pots (which I absolutely adore).

 The trip to Bonsai West was triggered by a pinboard we put together for a client in an effort to add warmth, texture and points of interest to their living/office area.   To see it click here and stay posted for photos of the bonsai tree we selected for their space.