You're Invited: Caftans, Clutches And More....

You're invited to Caftans, Clutches And More, a shopping event with Ginger Caftans, Beauty Counter, Chicory and The Cass Clutch.  Join us at my home on Sunday, September 25th, from 3 to 5pm for light snacks and bubbly.  Try on Ginger's beautiful and super comfortable caftans, wrap yourself in a Chicory cashmere or silk scarf, explore Beauty Counter's line of natural personal products and experience the Cass Clutch.  All these items and more will be for sale at the event, and the amazing thing is that they all work well together.  Further details below:

No better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Bring your friends!

The Way We Live: Art In An Updated Ranch

Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of touring the home of Christy Mack, art lover, collector and consultant.  Her house is a mix of vintage and new mid-century furnishings, objects of interest and art, LOTS of it. She has a knack for finding and placing canvases.   Whether in a client's home or in her own, Christy combines colors, textures and curiosities in a effortless way.    

Growing up with parents that antiqued and thrift store shopped, she learned "the thrill of the find" and later, through her mother in-law's extensive art collection, she became familiar with the who's who in the art world.   As you walk through her beautiful home, you'll experience photographs taken by her and her husband and her son's art alongside noteworthy oils hanging or layered on walls and surfaces creating many visual treats.

When Christy is not out immersing herself in the art by working with artists, galleries, museums and art collectors she is serving the community.  Christy recently served as  President at the Lafayette Juniors League and is a founding member of 100 Plus Women Who Care Contra Contra County.  Both of these organizations raise funds for other local non-profits that benefit women, children and seniors in need.  

Thank you, Christy, for your efforts on behalf of many in our community and beyond for sharing your house with us! 

 For the readers who would like to know more about the non profit organizations that Christy is part of please click here and here.

You find Christy on Instagram @cmackorart

Before And After: Mid Century Bathroom Makeover (Part 1)

We recently finished renovating two of our mid-century home's bathrooms.  Since they are adjacent to one another, my first inclination was to combine them into one large space.  However, after living in the house for a few years, I realized how convenient it was to have both, especially since we are a family of 5.  Utilizing the original layout and cabinetry design, we were able to preserve most of their mid-century characteristics while updating the decor and making them more current and functional.

In choosing the finishes, I turned to the rest of the house for inspiration.  Drawing colors from the redwood, brick,  the concrete flooring and the brass fixtures throughout the house,  I choose to use soft whites, green tones and some pink hues.  I fell in love with the Fireclay tile pattern named Old Cairo a year ago, and immediately knew then that it was the one for this project.  After playing around with the color combinations in Fireclay's Color-It application, I settled on two:  Tusk and Peabody.  Tusk to brighten the space and Peabody to coordinate with the green tones of the concrete floors. 

Here's the 'before and after' of Part 1 that features the bathroom that my husband and I use.  It features a shower, a long vanity [and now] lots of great light.  Take a look:

Tile installer, Jai from Intelligent Tile, lining up the pattern on the walls and shower pan.  

Before the makeover,  this bathroom had large pink tiles, formica counters, inefficient faucets and terrible lighting.  We chose the same cabinet design because we liked its floating effect and deep drawer storage.  We replaced the outdated counter with a light colored Silestone speckled with brown tones to give it an earthy feel.

The original mirror was reused and the cabinets were painted white to make the space even brighter.  New sconces hung and agate drawer pulls installed. We even re-plated the 1950's chrome Thermador heaters and toilet paper holders in brass to match the new finishes and painted the original towel racks to match the cabinets.   Mid-century art and flea market finds accessorize the space balancing the old with the new. 

We couldn't be happier with the results!  I must add that none of this would have gone as smoothly if it weren't for the expertise of our contractors. They were efficient, organized and precise.  If you're interested in contacting them please let me and I will be glad to put you in touch with them.  Stay tune for Part 2 which will feature the second bathroom's 'before and after'.

Mood Board: Stinson Amber

 The Cass Clutch in Stinson Amber is inspired by the grasses and sandy shores of California's Stinson Beach and the classic suede bags from the seventies.  Here I paired it with a striped knit dress, tasseled earrings and some funky boots: the perfect ensemble for the modern bohemian. 

1.  Striped Dress.

2. The Cass Clutch

3. Takara Ornament Hoop Earrings

4. Macrame Wall Hanging

5.  The Willa Boot

Groove Salon and PodArt!

I'm super excited to announce that my mother in-law, Natalia, is exhibiting her PodArt at Groove Salon in San Francisco.  The salon features a different bay area artist every 3 months, thus offering its clientele and staff an interesting, rotating backdrop for their enjoyment.  Natalia's show runs until September 10th.

On August 26th there will be an artist's reception, where you can meet Natalia and learn more about her art.   Keep posted for event details.  In the meantime be sure to check out PodArt here.  Congratulations, Natalia, your work is beautiful!