Life Happens: A Fire

Two weeks ago, we awoke to fire alarms going off throughout our home.  As we scrambled out of bed, my husband and I entered the living room to find one of our sofas and wood valance in flames.  It's hard to exactly recall what followed.  I know that Alex found a phone and dialed 911 while we were both screaming for our children to get out of the house.  We tried pouring pots of water on the blaze, but it was too big and too hot to get close enough to make a difference. Thankfully, I thought of the garden hose, quickly grabbed it and dragged it to the doorway and began desperately spraying the flames.  The fire was put out before the fire department arrived, but not before significantly damaging the house with its smoke. 

Thank God we are all safe.  If it weren't for the smoke alarms things could have been very different.  I wanted to share our story with you all as a reminder to update and charge the fire alarms in each room of your home, to have a fire escape plan in place, and to own more than one fire extinguisher.  We only had one and somehow knew the fire was too large for it.

The kids were shaken up, but coping very well considering the trauma.  We are unable to stay in the house for a few months during the recovery and renovation.  Since our experience, I've come across many people who have either gone through a fire themselves or know someone who has.  We are so blessed that we no one was hurt and that our home had not suffered structural damage.

We believe it may have started from an ember from the fire we enjoyed that evening.  We use our fireplace often and do our routine checks  before bedtime as we did on that night, but apparently a spark must have flared.  We are humbled by the experience, counting our blessings and taking things slower these days.  I can't help but think it happened for a reason, and what the reason is, I'm still figuring out. 

PLEASE use our experience as a way to open conversations about fire safety with your own family.  We most often think it won't happen to "us", but clearly it can and it does.  Below are Fire Safety tips from the  Red Cross.  

I would like to thank our neighbors who took us in in the middle of the night and provided us with warm clothes, blankets and a comfortable place to sleep.  You are the best.

Photo Shoot: The Cass Clutch

For a recent Cass Clutch photo shoot I collaborated with Marley Jones, who attends the Academy Of Art in SF to become a fashion stylist.   After meeting and discussing my vision for The Cass Clutch's Spring look, I left for Marley to source the clothes, the location and the models.  Make-up and hair stylist, Winnie Johnson, helped bring the vision to life.  With me behind the lens, we created sophisticatedly urban [yet playful] scenes for The Cass Clutch.  Take a look:

Designing,  manufacturing and marketing The Cass Clutch allows me the opportunity to meet and work with many amazingly talented people.  Marley Jones, you top the list.  Thank you for pulling together the look and feel I was envisioning for The Cass Clutch this season.  

Stylist:  Marley Jones

Hair and MU:  Winnie Johnson

Photographer:  Debra Szidon

Models:  Birdy Lauvdal and Madison Muraoka

Before And After: A San Francisco Event Space

Cocoon Home Design began the new year decorating a space slated for San Francisco events. Generously appointed with a conference room, a lounge area, a game room AND a roof deck with grand views of the city, the venue personifies the perfect location for professional and social events alike.  

Working with existing tufted leather chairs and sofas, we helped balance the warm and masculine effect with cool colors, polished metals, and modern accents.  We accessorized the space with nature-inspired curiosities, botanicals and carefully curated objects lending it a sophisticated, yet earthy look.  

At onset, "Room Inspirations" were created for the entire space, incorporating some of the existing items and blending with new pieces to help show how the space could look and feel.  We then proceeded to rearrange the furniture in order to create a better flow and to see what other items in the space needed to be added or deleted. 

In the lounge area, we removed the existing rug and placed two identical ones to make the space feel larger and more cohesive.  The addition of leather and lucite stools added a more timely effect, while the brass coffee table brought in polish and sophistication to the space.  

A saddle bag found at The Alameda Antique Fair drapes one the sofa arm to hold magazines.  A cluster of plants and a floor lamp add interest and mood lighting the corner. 

Utilizing the color of the existing conference chairs as an inspiration, we painted the walls green and added green bound books and brass shadow boxes to the built-in shelves.  The mounted butterfly collection now hangs in the entry hallway and the globe chandeliers have been replaced with blown glass and brass fixtures that bring a more updated look to the space. 

In the game room, an antique card table was painted to match the leather chairs.  Casters were added to make the table mobile and practical.  An oversized Timothy Oulton card art helps emphasize the room's intended purpose.  

The venue now looks and feels ready to host a myriad of different private companies and organizations. 

For inquires on renting this space please contact Marcy  at (415) 692-7177.

From Our Home To Yours, Happy Holidays!

From our home to yours:  Happy Holidays!  

This year our house has taken on a more traditional holiday theme.  The tree has been placed in its usual spot allowing it to reflect in the surrounding windows, turning one tree into three.  The nativity scene, artfully arranged by Zoe in its redwood A-Frame, sits on the hearth below a garland resting on the brick mantel.  In years past, large pine cone branches or oversized wreaths adorned the fireplace, but this year I'm really enjoying the simplicity of the garland. 

Vibrant greens mixed with berry branches from the garden have been placed in hallways, in our guest room and the bathrooms.  The table dons an arrangement of magnolia leaves, fern fronds and pine branches. Vintage glassware and plates plus a capiz shell runner will set the tone for our holiday feasting.  

I'm looking forward to our Christmas Eve outing, cooking, relaxing with friends and family and watching the kids open their gifts on what just may be their last Christmas of believing in Santa.

Wishing you all a very merry holiday!  XOXO

Botanical Inspiration: Boston Ferns

This week's Botanical Inspiration is the Boston Fern:  Nephrolepis Exaltata.  I often associate them with the East Coast,  particularly with Boston, where you see them flanking brownstones' entrances along Commonwealth Avenue.  However, when I needed a hanging plant to create privacy by a window right here in Cali, they came to mind immediately.  Their dense hanging leaf pattern and vibrant color proved to be the perfect choice.  As beautiful as Boston ferns are as hanging plants, they also look amazing placed on a table or a plant stand.  Their elegant leaves drape over each other creating a mass of lush green texture and color.  Boston Ferns love indirect, filtered light, moist soil and fairly humid conditions.  Feeding them once a month will ensure they keep their vibrancy.  Luckily, in California we can keep these beauties outside most of the year depending on your location.  As long as the temperatures stay between 55-65 degrees your fern will remain happy and healthy.