Design * Sponge

The phenomenally talented Jeana Sohn, who you may recall from a recent post, is guest blogging this week for design * sponge and was kind enough to include us in her posts. She popped by this week to photograph our (by appointment only) design studio as well as our abode.

Thank you to Heather for putting us in touch and to Jeana for becoming a new friend and a customer!

Hasta Semana

This has been a doozy of a month. I know what you're thinking. No it hasn't. Well don't let those pictures of me gallivanting around SF mislead you. Yes, it was a great trip and my birthday was an unforgettable weekend of celebration and silliness but it was still work. I have a habit of turning everything into work because my hobby is also my job. Special treat!

This month has not been a special treat though. This year has not been a special treat to be honest. I feel like I have been working so hard, my head spinning a million miles a minute and my ideas turning into glorified drink coasters - a stack of sticky notes littering my desk. I am the first to say that Michael and I can't do it all on our own but giving up even a little control over something so important as your business, your baby, is damn near impossible. And that ladies and gentlemen is why I am so excited about my new store manger Leslie and sales associate Max. I am sure I'll dedicate an entire post to their individual talents (of which there are many) but today I am simply going to enjoy it and the deep breaths I am able to take because of them.

By the time we reach Mexico City in a few hours I will have long since exhaled and will instead be inhaling the scents and sounds and textures of a completely different city. I have history with Mexico. It is where I studied in my teens and have returned a few times since, always leaving with brilliant memories. This trip we will be stopping first at Condesa DF





which was done by the same group who did Hotel Azucar. After yesterdays post you can imagine my excitement.

After our city fix we will head to the beach in Zihuatanejo for a long weekend and the wedding of our friends Billy and Stacey. I can't put into words how excited I am. I also am speechless over my excitement at the realization that we will be sharing this villa


with our great friends for 5 days. This is what makes all the hard work worth while. Well this and the work because any job worth doing should be worth while.

Hasta!

Hotel Azucar

My post last week got me staring at this image I had torn from an Elle Decor many months ago. It had originally caught my eye as inspiration for my wedding folder. I desired a hotel for our destination weekend that captured this relaxed mood. As the plans have evolved and our wedding has gone classic New England my folder of ideas now inspires me for different reasons.

The name Azucar is perfect for this paradise with pristine white built in seating reminiscent of marsh mellows and pillowy clouds. The permanency of built in shelves, hardwood floors and a coffee table almost fantastical for the otherwise temporary patio setting of their outdoor library, above. My eyes got wider as I flipped through additional shots of this tropical get away....






Additional images at designhotels.com that are sure to satisfy even the most hardcore sweet tooths.

Ode to Sex

I, like a lot of other lady girls, are excited for the long awaited Sex in The City movie. Above is my unintentional tribute to my favorite foursome. Icy cold Cosmo, deco "Empire State Building" lamp, and a gold luster ashtray as a throw back to Carries former pack a day habit.

Let the wild rumpus begin!

Until I left my small New England town and ventured into the world I thought everyone had the same tight bonds with childhood friends that we did. We being Marblehead. Generations of people who know each others parents and grand parents, sisters and cousins. People who really do "know what you did last summer", for better or for worse. More than half of my friends now I have known since before I had reached double digits. One of them I met before I could reach the bathroom sink.

Who knows what attracted us to each other all those years ago. Possibly the same thing that attracted her father to my mother when he brought her to see Fantasia, escorted by our Grandmothers, in the early 1960's. Could we have known then that we would be the only two girls with the balls to tell it like it is in the small private school we were eventually sent to (and basically asked to leave...)? Or maybe it was the premonition that we would be the only girls in our male dominated families (with a combined total of 8 brothers at times) desperate for a sister. Probably it was because we knew deep down that we were very different and needed one another to balance each other in life and keep us sane. Whatever the reason we are still telling it like it is, still leaning on each other as the only sisters in a sea of brothers and still very different but I wouldn't have it any other way!

I have aways felt lucky to have such great friends but the older I get and the more that I realize most people don't keep in touch with friends from their youth I feel blessed. Its been a fantastic 26 Sister, I love you, and here's to 30 more.....

Eskimo kisses in Iceland 2003

SF Chinatown 1999

Thanksgiving in Santa Cruz 1999

Miami with Michelle 2002

San Diego 2007

Two Hot Tickets
Viva!

Backyarding

I am having a little photo shoot at the house today which motivated me to tidy up the patio. Our place is small, 960 sq ft, so taking advantage of the outdoors in summer doubles our entertainment space (duh).

I love our patio. It reminds me of some of the best parties we've hosted in the 3 years I have lived with Micheal in our home. Don't get me wrong, I've had some great indoor parties as well (anyone remember New Years 2007? Me neither! Good times.) but the casual dinners al fresco with friends are always the ones I look back on often and fondly.

Fridays in the blogesphere are all "Happy Weekend" and "Off To The Shore" but for this retail girl they are just the beginning. The Tuesdays to your Thursdays if you will. Gone are the Saturdays on the sofa with my roommates watching Sex in The City while we plan our night out, inspired by Carries wardrobe and the anticipation of meeting our Big. Looong gone our the Sunday brunches where we all regroup, sometimes just in the kitchen, to howl about the previous night and trade naughty stories about dizzy naked dances (Beacon St ladies, I'm talking to you!).

In their place are dinners in, or out with other couple friends, dishing about the store. Talking about sales. Describing new merchandise. Comparing stories about conversations we had during our days. Our days spent in the store.... Thankfully, I love the store and the stories. The merchandise and the customers. I love sharing notes and discussing new fabrics and patterns and colors. At some point this became my inspiration for all else.

I'll be at the store all weekend but here's where the rest of you should be...

All Elle Decor

Happy Weekend!

domi-NO

My May Domino is looking so thin. Does Deborah Needleman not realize that for some this is the highlight of our month?! All we can hope for in times such as this is that its content is so deep and dense that what it lacks in quantity is overlooked by the fact that we our bowled over by its contents.

I'll be busy watching The Office and 30 Rock so somebody get on that right away!

Angler

Sometimes when I have exhausted all my web surf options I resort to googling people I know. And sometimes when I have exhausted those searches I google myself.

Tonight I discovered;

that I am a fishing trophy. Apparently I am an award presented to the member of the International Women's Fishing Association who accumulates the most points for the release of fish. And seeing as the lucky lady who is able to claim this title twice is gifted a diamond I'd also say I am kind of a big deal. What sophisticated lady anglers!

I also found this

Annie Crowninshield admires a stigmata arm sculpture

very normal photo of me in my natural habitat. Be aware that moments after this photo op I purchased 2 pieces of art that now reside on my floor - where most art purchased under the influence of 3 martinis should be on display. (sorry 2E, I know you dig them. I do not. But I do dig you!)

photo of Elton John and Fabio's love child discovered while searching my dudes name

stuff I am feeling right now

Art is subjective. I relate to these people....

Claire Ellen Oswalt

This painting, or one similar, will be a purchase. Wedding first, art second. We fell in love over a glass of wine at Taylor de Cordoba.

Carson Murdach

His series of red roofs transfix me. My friend Vanessa just bought an amazing piece. You can view his work currently on display at OSP Gallery here.

Jeana Sohn

This story is tragic because this painting belonged to me. In spirit. Unfortunately it belonged more to the person who paid for it first. Jeana is also one of Taylor de Cordoba's talented artists.

Babysitter

This is our summer ride, courtesy of our friend Shawn. Unbeknownst to Shawn our other friend Lisa drove her Range Rover up the hood shortly after this sweet photo op.
Ruh-Roh!

Fathers Office

Tonight we went to Fathers Office. It was the unadvertised opening night for their Culver City location. It was very Hollywood. Within 45 minutes of opening the doors every table was packed and there was a line out the door.


Interested in salt, pepper, or ketchup with that burger. Out of luck. Looking for a waitress to take your drink order while you hold down the fort at one of the coveted tables? Out of luck. The only luck we did have was sharing a table with Lauren and Stu. The most comfortable a meal with strangers could ever be.

Fantasy as good as reality

The Kaufman house in Palm Springs, a mid century landmark designed by Richard Neutra in 1946, was designed to be a desert retreat for its commissioner Edgar Kaufmann. Photographed shortly after by Julius Shulman the home became a symbol for the architecture of its time.


In 1970 Slim Aarons photographed the home more famously resulting in works more widely known such as Pool Party.


Recently the home has undergone a renovation and is at auction, estimated to sell for $15-$25 million. Well, I dont have that kind of cake but some of Slim Aarons other photo's were a nice reminder of what I do have.

These two love birds.....

have nothing on Michael (at left), with his nephews, showing off our mini model T.

Drinking anything out of a coconut is pure bliss..

Not having to share, priceless!

It was no more than two years ago that my girl Taryn and I invented the phenomenal sport of backyarding...

But this woman blows our party out of the water!

Life is so much more full when we focus on the positive. The quality of my photographs may not be as high as Slim Aarons but the content and my memories of them are top shelf.

Before & After

Noticing a trend? This vintage Bassett Furniture dresser was on the floor for a few months in its original condition - which was beautiful - but after being passed over time and time again we brought it in to our refinishing magician and had him give it a new wardrobe of high gloss creamy white lacquer on the front. Hidden behind the center door is 3 additional drawers, perfect for socks and unmentionables.

Vintage 9 Drawer Bassett Dresser
70" x 19" x 29.5"H
$1950.

Here are some other fun dressers we've redone over the course of the last couple months....

Add a...

little color...

to your...

world.

Empiric Does Domino Doing San Francisco

Well, any of you who have taken a few days to get lost up in the hills of San Francisco know that this post is going to be about a bunch of awesomeness. Whataweekend! Thank god I took pictures or I wouldnt know where to begin. I also took my April Domino Magazine with their suggestions - for better or for worse.


The Chancellor Hotel is charming. It is an old hotel and not completely renovated but they had some sassy designer come in and make just enough changes to classify it as modern. I highly recommend it. The oh so of the moment kelly green walls, cloud like bright white duvet, bold patterned valance and van dyke brown wood finished furnishings tied the regency inspired look together. The bottle of champagne and sweet card they left in the room didn't hurt my opinion of them either. Its location was just the icing on the birthday cake. A hop skip and a jump away from pretty much everything we wanted to see and do we were happy with our decision not to rent a car.

Weeeeeeeeeeeee

Our first venture out of the room was down to the Mission, unfortunately sans my Domino (more on that later). Seeing as it was my b-day, I was on vacation and I don't answer to anyone I had decided that I was going to eat and drink my face off. We gorged on tons of food right down the street from the hotel and then hopped on the Bart and headed south to play. Overall good time but because I forgot the mag I also forgot that I needed an ice cream cone from Bi-Rite Creamery. This in addition to the psycho homeless witch who almost hit me in the face with this

made this a good time.. but not a GREAT time.

Dinner on night #1, aka my actual birthday lest we not forget, was to die for. We sat under magical firework lamps and slurped up fanny bay oysters and stiff martinis.... oh shoot. Now I want a martini. Alright, lets get this moving along. Mama's got a date with her cocktail shaker....

Town Hall

Day two we popped up to Aria in North Beach where we purchased some wonderful items, a few of which are visible in the Domino photo of his space. They will be up on our website as soon as we receive them and I will expand on our experience there at another time. Post shopping we had wine and nibbles and slowly made our way to a slew of other stores from the Domino list. Although most of these stores have a similar price point to ours and are therefore not great resources to shop we did get very inspired. In LA I rarely have time to visit our peers so it was truly a unique way skip around and waste the afternoon. Overall a wonderful day complete with a dinner with friends (John & Glen) and later an indoor tropical rainstorm (where I ate second dinner :).

Tonga Room Monsoon


Is a 3ft straw absolutely necessary to drink a scorpion bowl?

Hell Yeah!!!

Less hydrated than when we arrived we woke for another day of furniture shopping fun. Sacramento Street was top of the list and, to be frank, why? Seriously, someone out there lay it down for me because I can't for the life of me figure out why Domino was pushing this neighborhood so hard. Fortunately it is kind of a hike from our humble abode so we got some exercise in. I also photographed oodles of enviable homes and architecture which I will be posting at some point in the near future. We beat it out of there and killed a few minutes in The Musee Mecanique where I was schooled in matters of domestic bliss.....

WOW! Bet you married chicks wish you knew about this sooner?

It is at some point in every non-family vacation that you must come to terms with the fact that all you really want to be doing is drinking. I am in touch with this. Day 3 we partook in some libations and nibbles overlooking the Aquatic Park where men in speedos swam in the bay as if it were 70 degrees and not 55. I don't recommend seeing Gone Baby Gone back in your room post cocktails/pre dinner but what is done is done. Sodini's on Green St however should not be missed!

I will discuss in specifics the rest of the haunts we visited but I think this paints a pretty good picture of our trip. Among the Domino recommended favorites was definitely the Dim Sum restaurant in China Town. We feasted on things we will never know the contents of and were slapped with a whopping $15 dollar tab. Quite possibly the countries last true bargain!

We had one last day cruising Potrero Hill, over eating at Tartine Bakery, visiting fellow furniture dealers we know from LA and purchasing a human spine from Monument which is going to be wildly cool in a small glass dome.

Michael, thank you for;

a) showing enthusiasm about my birthday
b) planning ahead and making it extra special
c) being my side kick for the past 4 years

Heres to at least 4 more!!! I kid, I kid - to a lifetime of birthdays and "business" trips. I love you Darlin'. I could have gone on this trip without my Domino suggestions but I could not have gone without you.

Martini anyone?