katiedid

ROOMS TO REMEMBER: The Classic Interiors of Suzanne Tucker

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:00:00 +0000

I have been a fan of Suzanne Tucker's work for years now, and had been anxiuosly awaiting the release of her new book: Rooms to Remember: The Classic Interiors of Suzanne Tucker from The Monacelli Press. So you can imagine my elation when I received a copy from the publisher! As soon as I received it, I spent the whole evening perusing it's beautiful glossy pages. These are my personal impressions of the book:

The cover is gorgeous. The book is beautifully put together with huge full bleed photos on most of the pages. The organization of the book is just how I like it: the chapters are arranged by catagories of information. For example, Chapter 1 is titled Bones and Architecture, Chapter 2 is Scale and Proportion, Chapter 3 is Balance, Contrast and Harmony, Chapter 4 is Individuality and Personality, and so on. The other great thing is that the book is written by Suzanne Tucker herself, so you really get an inside look at how Suzanne thinks about design and the processes she uses in her work. It is truly a "great read": fascinating and colorful.

Suzanne Tucker is one of those versatile designers that can create magic in any style and pull it off without a hitch. Contemporary or traditional, classic or "California Style", she can do it all with chic aplomb.

I highly recommend it not only as a wonderful resource and something simply stunning to look at, but also as a book that was fun to read. It will be one of my "go to" books when I need ideas or inspiration for my work, or just my life.

I was lucky to have a chance to coorespond with Suzanne and ask her a few questions. I hope you enjoy enjoy our conversation and some of my favorite pages from her book (these are but a fraction, I assure you!) ....the first of many to come, I hope!

Suzanne, your book is just so beautiful and the projects are so varied. Where and how do you begin the process of conceptualizing your designs for your clients?

SMT: I’m so glad you used the word ”process” because that really is what great design is all about! Too often the client thinks of the tangible “project” but it’s much more about the intangible process – getting to know the client, listening to them, asking questions, learning about their dreams and desires, picking up on their nuances and then of course the house or apartment or room itself – the mood, the quality of light, the architecture, the bones, and the challenges. I’ve developed what I refer to as my design Rorschach test where I’ll quickly show countless textiles, furniture, colors, textures and photo images to a client. Just by gleaning their initial responses I am able to pretty quickly discern what their style and tastes are and from there I begin to paint the picture.

What/who inspires you in your work?

SMT: The “what” can be almost anything around us on a daily basis which is all about keeping your eyes and mind open! But I find I’m most inspired when I travel and the exposure to different cultures, architecture, local crafts, and even indigenous paint colors can become my greatest source of ideas. Travelling with my digital camera is a must (daily!) and I always have a slim one to slip into an evening bag as you never know where or when your curiosity will strike. I take snapshots of everything from the obvious rooms and architecture to floors, grills, ceilings, hinges, bark, leaves, you name it! Sometimes I know what I’ll do with what I’m shooting or perhaps it will evolve like the curve of an antique chair leg, which could end up inspiring a repeating swirl in a mosaic floor pattern. I look for curves, shapes and colors. I’ve even photographed shadows. Returning with 600-800 pictures is the norm!
And the “who” inspires me are certainly the great designers from the past, John Fowler, Nancy Lancaster, Henri Samuel, Frances Elkins, Michael Taylor, Billy Baldwin, the great architects – Adams, Kent, Soane, Le Notre, Palladio, Mizner, George Washington Smith – my library of books! And from the present, there are many colleagues whose work I admire but if I started listing them I could get in trouble with those whom I don’t mention! Ultimately, I feel it’s really my clients who inspire me to be creative, to seek out something special, and to make a house unique to them.

You were lucky to have worked with one of the Masters of Design, Michael Taylor. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Mr. Taylor?

#1 BIG! He was a tall man, had tremendous presence, thought big and designed big! And #2 - That I miss him! And I often times wonder what he would be doing today and think about how his work would have evolved.

How has your aesthetic evolved since your days with Michael Taylor?

I had an entirely unique education with Michael in that I saw both sides of his work – the big, bold, white “California Look” signature rooms which sold magazines, made the phone ring, and paid the bills to the more elegant, collected, exotic, antique filled rarefied world he so brilliantly juxtaposed for others. The latter resonated with me most strongly and I’ve honestly never had a desire to create a “signature look”. I’ve always been much more interested in the mix, in combining antiques, custom furnishings, contemporary art and personal collections. Michael also felt strongly about architecture. From that mentoring I’ve always been in pursuit of “good bones”, expanded my passion for architecture and am always the architects advocate.

Describe your “perfect client”.

SMT: Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as the “perfect client” but there is definitely a really wonderful good client and a truly dreadfully bad client! Most people think it’s about deep pockets and carte blanche but that’s not the case at all. The best client is the one who can trust – trust the process, trust the professionals, trust the time it’s going to take to do the best job. Michael Taylor often said you are as good as your client, meaning if your client has good taste, it’s a walk in the park. But I’ve also found that the clients who don’t necessarily have great taste but know enough to trust me and my taste, then it can be a dream.

How would you describe your own personal style?

SMT: Outwardly my style is fairly classic – elegant, comfortable and timeless. But inside there’s perhaps a little of the mad scientist! An architect friend referred to my living room as my “decorating laboratory” which isn’t far from the truth at times as I’ll bring in furniture or objects to live with for a while, try them out, rearrange the furniture, test a piece, mix it up, get bored and move on to the next experiment!

What are you working on now?

SMT: There are projects all over right now in all sorts of phases, sizes and styles on which my design staff and I are presently working. We have a fantastic Spanish Revival project south of San Francisco on 12 acres, a spectacular mountain house on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, a city apartment with breathtaking views, a massive, very Michael Taylor-scale house in Sun Valley, Idaho, and various others mostly in California.

What is happening next?

SMT: Well, in addition to the September publishing of my first design book, “Rooms to Remember” and upcoming signings and lectures, I am about to launch Suzanne Tucker Home in January 2010 with a fabric collection in Paris at Holland & Sherry! Très excitant! In February we’ll be launching in San Francisco at Shears & Window and in Los Angeles at Thomas Lavin in March. Holland & Sherry’s New York and Chicago showrooms will have my fabrics after February as well, and it looks like Dallas, Atlanta and Florida may be the next stops. I have also been asked by a major tabletop manufacturer to design a line of china which I find so exciting as it’s one of the things in life I love. And I’m constantly working on custom furniture designs for our clients homes so perhaps 2010 will be the year to launch that line! This past year has been quite busy, to say the least, including installing six projects! Those, coupled with the ones yet to be finished or photograph, create enough material for a second book! Stay tuned!

What color are you and why?

Yellow! A buttery yellow…. Warm, flattering, mixes well with all other shades, makes you happy!

What is on your nightstand?

A photograph of my daughter when she was 4 (she’s now 23!), another of my husband and me on our honeymoon 13 years ago, about 2 ½” of stacked magazines (osmosis?), a silver mint julep cup holding pens, pencils, a nail file and a scale, a notepad from the Quisisana Hotel on Capri, a bottle of water, a clock radio which I mostly ignore, The Help by Kathryn Stockett (a wonderful southern read), A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink (fantastic book!), a really lovely pierced porcelain blanc de chine antique lamp (a client “reject” which I love), and we won’t bother going to the shelf below!

What is your favorite place to escape?

SMT: A beach and the ocean - the best for me to really decompress - the Mauna Kea on Hawaii. Capri for decadent, dreamy romance (my husband calls it “Shop-pri”!), Lake Como for La Dolce Vita, and Villa Feltrinelli on Lake Garda, Italy for the ultimate romantic, indulgent hideaway.

What is your most favorite place to shop and why?

San Francisco antiques dealers because they are knowledgeable and professional; New York because it has everything under the sun and you can never exhaust all the sources; Worth Avenue, Palm Beach for its killer window shopping and the custom linens I order from Kassatly’s; Via Condotti in Rome for the people watching alone!; Paris flea market because one always shops with naive hope that you’ll find the undiscovered treasure; Bergdorf Goodman because it’s Bergdorfs!

Describe a typical day in the life of Suzanne Tucker.

6:30 alarm… snooze button …. Get on the elliptical (pretty rare these days!)…Mad dash to dress, juggle calls, blackberry and breakfast all at the same time… design meetings with staff and/or clients… emails, phone calls, working lunch (always)… put out fires… solve problems… can I ever get out the door to shop… work too late… come home to what my husband calls “dinner-in-a-drawer” (can’t live without my Thermador warming drawer) wonderfully prepped by our housekeeper…emails, read, zone out falling asleep in front of the TV… too late to bed…zzzzz… And thus the “glamorous life” of a decorator!

Classic and full of personality, Suzanne's work is heady and rich. This is just a taste of this beautiful book. Might be a good thing give this Christmas, to those on your list and to yourself!

Oh! And between you and me.....Suzanne is planning to open a Suzanne Tucker Home section on her website January 2010.....so remember to check it out!

All photos courtesy of Suzanne Tucker and The Monacelli Press

AND THE WINNER IS!.......

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Phew! Thanksgiving was a whirlwind of family, friends, delicious meals and hunting for Christmas trees in the the Sierras.

But now, I am anxious to announce the winner of these beautiful Crane Stationers from the Martha Stewart holiday Collection! Thank you to all of you who entered. I enjoyed reading all of your holiday comments. It went a long way in putting me in the holiday spirit.

I wish I could send a box to you all! After a very scientific statistical analysis ( ehem....pulling a name out of the proverbial hat) the winner is...........

LETI!

So Leti, I hope to hear from you this week so I can get these sent out to you ASAP! There was no return email address, so I hope you are reading!

Thank you all again for playing along.

I wish you all the Happiest of Holidays!

The Hall Upstairs

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:45:00 +0000

Our lives are made up of bits and pieces aren't they? Things we've done, memories we've captured, stops and starts, all put together to make the composition of our life and what we are right now. Which isn't to say we might not change tomorrow or in the next moment. We will add another memory, big or small...perhaps monumental, or maybe just a whispered thought.

Our hall upstairs seems to have become a place where memories are stored. We pass by them everyday. The scene changes when the mood strikes or a memory is added. At the end of the hall I have a Biedermeier secretary that has been in my family for a very long time. Inside are old picture frames, and new. There are pictures of my Mom and Dad, my daughters when they were little, my in laws and grandparents. There are shells from beaches we have visited, and folk art from New Mexico, where my mother once lived. There are fortune cookie fortunes taped to the window glass and stuck into the frame from our many trips to our favorite Thai food restaurant and China Town in San Francisco....just the good fortunes though. There is a post card from a trip to Bodega Bay showing a scene from the Hitchcock film, "The Birds", which had been filmed there.

On top I have put one of my favorite Ironstone footed bowls, a branch I found in the street in front of our house, and a pair of exercise pins from the antique shop that Mom had once upon a time. The mirror I found at a garage sale, the faded mercury reflecting one of the star pendant lights I put up when we moved here.

I have an American Indian Rug that came from New Mexico on the Fir Plank floors. I think the floors are beautiful, being so different from the quartersawn oak floors on the first floor. The story as to why they used fir on the second floor I am sure is a good one. Often it was to save money by putting less expensive materials in the private areas of the home, but I wish I knew exactly why.

I put a faux bois table here. I love the color and the texture of the concrete with the wood of the floors and the white painted walls. The mirror on the wall above this table came from another life in Southern California when a new bride was trying to furnish a tiny house in Newport Beach. I have hung a little tramp art frame on top of the larger mirror. It frames your face when you walk by.

Life happens every minute. Before I took the picture, my daughter left a perfume bottle on the table before I noticed. But I like that it's there.

Every time I walk through this hall, I am reminded of things that make me smile. I hope you all have wonderful memories to be thankful for this coming holiday. I am thankful for you all and your sweet support for my little blog.

I wish you all the Happiest of Thanksgivings!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Please Help Me!

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:05:00 +0000

I have never done this before. Promote myself in a contest or give away. And I am kind of feeling a little ambivalent about it now too. But here goes.

The lovely Brooke Giannetti at Velvet and Linen blog has been offering a give away the last couple of weeks: a gorgeous Brickmaker's coffee table from Bobo Intriguing Objects.

Brooke had been discussing how things from retail catalogs such as Restoration Hardware or Wisteria can be made to look personal in one's own home just by how each person puts it together in their own style. She received a comment from Mark Sage, owner of Bobo Intriguing objects who offered three tables for a give away. His generosity is so amazing!

Well, I have been trying to furnish my office space, and on a budget, sometimes things can be a bit tough. I think this table would be so perfect!

So, I am hoping you all might help me out and send a vote my way. (pretty please?)

If you hop on over to the Velvet and Linen blog HERE, you will find the voting link on the upper right hand side of Brooke's beautiful blog and be able to read all about the contest and see all of the finalist photos. There are ten finalists, and three tables. I am hoping to be one of the three winners. (please!) Voting began today and runs through Nov. 29th.

I am not proud. ...PLEASE help me win one of the three tables? Thank you, thank you!

Gift Giving Season: Try Antiques

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:42:00 +0000

Beautiful French vignette. The settee was covered in a gorgeous yellow linen. I may be going back for this!

I always have my daughters fill out a little list of things they would like for Christmas every year. When they were little, we would take them to stores like FAO Shwarz and HearthSong and watch their faces light up with wonder. Things are a little different now. That kind of magic is fading to a degree, and I am apparently less equipped to surprise them, at least in a "good" way. Their lists have becomes much more specific of late. It can't be a white t-shirt from Target. It must be the V-neck "perfect t-shirt" from the Gap. And I have pretty much been banished from getting any "surprise" clothing. (And I thought I was one of the "cool" Mom's who had a handle on what kids were wearing.)

So this is my dilemma. What can I get them that they will remember and care about. An iTunes card is fine, but not a memory builder kind of thing. They are becoming young women with tastes of their own. They are well aware of the economic hardships we and others are facing this year and are very thoughtful about that. They are asking for a few necessities and a couple of books and some theater tickets. And we will be adopting a family this year from the Sunburst Project. But what is Christmas without some surprises?!

The girls are getting to an age where they think about their rooms and how to decorate them the way they want to. I was thinking that perhaps it is time to get them things that will stand the test of time. Things they can take with them into the world to feather their own nests.

Sienna Antiques

Last week I took you on a little tour of Chelsea Antiques, a wonderful shop in Petaluma, California. I had gone with my Mother to see her friends from the shop. We also had a chance to visit Sienna Antiques, which is right across the street. At the time, I was not thinking about Christmas. (One holiday at a time please! )But I have started to think about antiques as a perfect way to give my girls gifts that are more than the expected items on their lists. Antiques can be so much more: they can be stories and memories, they can be something worthy of carrying with them into their lives.

Spectacular Stained glass window. Couldn't you see this in a loft space?! And the settee and leather chest were very handsome.

I suppose in the past, young women built up a "Hope Chest". That sounds so crazy old-fashioned doesn't it?! Maybe the idea just needs a new name. (If you come up with one, I'd love to hear it! )

This dealer had so much to love in a tiny space: Vintage leather chaise with mattress ticking cushions, monumental concrete lamp, copper tub (!), and leather chairs....all wonderful.

So....what could I start putting together for them that is portable, useful now and in the future, and classic enough to translate into many different styles? Right off the bat, I come up with silver candlestick holders, decorative boxes, and plant containers. Perhaps mirrors or wall sconces would work as well.

The staircase is even used for display. The combination of the gilt mirror and concrete troughs...perfect!

But I am not just thinking about my daughters here. A gift from an Antiques shop may well suit almost everyone on your list. It will always be something no one else can give, and it can many times work double duty for you. For example, there are beautiful trays that can hold glasses for you bar, or accessories for a coffee table, or perfume bottles on a make-up vanity. There are mirrors that can be used in a plethora of different situations. There are pots that can hold an orchid or wooden spoons in your kitchen. I am thinking that a weathered metal box like the one in the photo below might be the perfect bread box I have been looking for. Imagination is all you need.

Industrial chic metal boxes paired with Empire styled mirrors and a silver patina dresser.

Pretty settee with garden gate as art. Love the sconces!

In going through the photos of the vignettes at Sienna, I was thrilled to see how things were displayed in ways that were not immediately expected. Case in point: the garden gate above is being used as a room divider and "art" above the sofa. Below you can find Streetlamp glass globes used as accessories. I can also see that they might make wonderful lamp bases.

Streetlamp Globes paired with Asian ans seafaring inspired decor.

I think many of us feel the pressure to go to a mall to buy gifts, like it is the "go-to" shopping experience of the season. I don't know about you, but the anticipation of the crowds, non-existent parking and the mass market homogeny of it all just knocks the seasonal joy right out of me.

The colors are what drew me into this space. So different that the other spaces with the graphic Zebra art, vibrant rug and bright fuchsia pink walls.

Time to cut the ties and try a new kind of shopping. Sienna Antiques is a grouping of individual antique dealers sharing the same space. But that is where it's similarity to a "mall" ends. There are three floors of personal magic here. Each object was picked with care and is wholly unique. And the styling is just beautifully done by each dealer. Each space has it's own distinct personality.

I wanted to just sit and have tea in this charming room with it's Empire marble topped table and white and gilt chairs.

Boat model with it's own trailer. So very cool for a beach house!

This rolling table is so, so cool! And column fragments always work. Lots of Ironstone here.

These religious plaques would make a great wall grouping

LOVE these lamps!

More Ironstone on a beautiful green metal table

Great grouping of objects: bamboo chaises, chest of drawers, and I love the pagoda candle holders

Beautiful colors: apple green walls, marine blue chaise cushions, the cobalt blue elephant, turquoise pots and moss green fish.

I thought the unexpected periwinkle blue chair perfected this otherwise traditional vignette.

Lots of collectibles here, and one dealer specializes in all things wine related.

Using the gates on either side of this huge mirror - loved it! Again, this periwinkle blue cabinet freshens it up.

The candelabras here on the table and the carved chest were beautiful, and I loved the green inside the black shelves. And the capitals on top of the shelves, great idea!

I hope you all have a chance to get out and try a different approach this year. I'll let you know how it goes for me! It might be a little too soon for a couple of teenagers to appreciate, but a mother can always hope!

Sienna Antiques, Open Daily 10-5:30

119 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952

707-763-6088

Auctions and Art, What Could Be Better?!

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:30:00 +0000

15012 W Avenue D, by Richard Gilles

Art is such a personal adventure. What appeals to each of us is emotional and varied. Many of us think that art is beyond the envelope of our pocketbooks. So we put off collecting art that would enrich our environments until we think we can "afford it".

Witness, by Deladier Almeida

So.....this is one of the things that is so great about Sacramento. It has a burgeoning art scene that is vibrant and very much alive in this somewhat hazardous economy. The thing is....Sacramento is an inspiring and still affordable place for talented artists to work. It is growing and there are many artists that are coming here to set up their studios. This atmosphere translates into a lot of good things for you and me.

Portrait of a Young Woman, by Ruth Coelho

And....I have very good news. This Saturday, November 21, the Ce nter for Contemporary Art is having their 2009 Benefit Art Auction for all of us who love art and would like to add to, or start a collection. Whether you love photography, paintings, etchings, sculpture or beautiful objects, you will find something to intrigue and satisfy your desire for art.

April Tailings 2008, by Julia Couzens

There will be a live auction, as well as a silent auction, so every price range will be represented. Many, many pieces have been donated for this event. I am showing just a smattering here.

Serenbe, by Lisa Barker

So, if you are in the Sacramento area this weekend, and enjoy amazing art, I hope you will join me in support of the Center for Contemporary Art at the Auction!

Darryl Forney, Darryl Forney Self Portrait

Tickets are $25 each or 2 for $40 if you purchase in advance (at the door, tickets are $35 each or 2 for $50). Tickets may be purchased below, in advance at CCAS or you may call the museum for credit card sales.

The Center for Contemporary Art is located at:

1519 19th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811-5202

A grouping of pieces for the silent auction

I hope you will be inspired to add some art to your life!

HOLIDAY GIVE AWAY!

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Four of the six pre-designed Martha Stewart Holiday Cards

I thought it quite fitting that I start out my Holiday Season doing something that I find the most heartwarming this time of year: the giving of gifts.

There is something about finding the perfect thing for each person on my list and wrapping it just so that puts my heart in the spirit of the season. This will be my third Yuletide of writing katiedid, and I thought it was high time that I show you all my appreciation for your visits and comments over the last few years. I enjoy putting out katiedid so much and you all make it all so worth it!

Crane Stationary in partnership with Martha Stewart, has been very kind in working with me to bring you a very special gift. What could be better than Crane, an American company that has helped us with our holiday cards, bridal stationary and invitations since 1801, joining with the doyen of holiday entertaining to create the new Martha Stewart Stationary Collection for this Holiday Season? This Collection includes a line of beautiful, personalized holiday cards and invitations, and pre-designed boxed cards available now through select Crane stationers and Crane's Website HERE.

Calligraphy Santa, inside message: "to be jolly"

I am so excited about this give away! Typically, the Boxed Holiday cards come in sets of 10 cards of one design in their beautiful light blue Crane box and are priced at $20. But for this give away, I worked with Crane to put together a special box of twenty cards with envelopes, made up of four different designs (five each). Isn't that kind of great?!

Peace, inside message: "on Earth"

So, I will be sending out this box of Holiday Cheer to a randomly selected reader and this is all you have to do:

Leave a comment of your own thoughts on Holiday Cheer, be they family gatherings, decorating, food, travel, or any special thing that puts you in the spirit. I will pick a winner at random and announce the winner the day after Thanksgiving, November 27th, 2009!

Calligraphy Tree, inside message: 'Celebrate the Holidays with a flourish"

So please don't forget to check back!!!! I will be needing an email from the winner so I will know where to send your gift!

Under the Sea, inside message: "Wintertide. Christmastide. Yuletide. Hope they're All Merry!"

And thank you so much for coming to visit me at katiedid. I look forward to your comments everyday, and appreciate you all so very much.

I wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year!!

Where Do Designers Find It All? Chelsea Antiques

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:39:00 +0000

Beautiful vignette: Linen covered chairs, hotel silver, gilt mirror. A simple painters drop cloth as the backdrop ~ good trick!

My mother used to live in the Northern California town of Petaluma, where she was one of the dealers in an antique shop. She moved to Sacramento to be near me and my family about 5 or 6 years ago leaving behind a very close knit community of friends. Sorry Mom!! She had her birthday recently, so I drove her over for a surprise lunch with all of her antique loving compatriots. We had a delicious lunch and much reminiscing, then off to the antique shops to see what had changed since the last time we were here!

Front window of Chelsea Antiques

The Northern California town of Petaluma is known for it's abundance of extraordinarily good antique shops and Chelsea Antiques is one of the best. This is where Mom was a dealer. Chelsea Antiques is a two story collective of many dealers who all have their own unique style. They are all excellent at merchandising and putting together beautiful vignettes. Wouldn't you just love to have five minutes in each of their own homes?! I always wonder what they keep!

Great combination of intriguing pieces: vintage airplane model, English riding boot forms made into a lamp (love that!) a root table, and medical illustrations.

While Mom was visiting with her pals, I took the opportunity to take pictures of all of the amazing talent that goes into making Chelsea Antiques such a success story. It has been in business for about 20 years now, catering to top designers, the "rich and famous"and all of the antique lovers that flock to town. But if you think that has turned the heads over at Chelsea, you would be mistaken. The dealers and staff are welcoming and down to earth, making the shopping experience easy and so much fun.

I have a "thing" for mounted fish, specially when used in an unexpected way. Love the wire basket to the left, the shutters and large candlestick holders.

So...you may be asking yourself about prices. The prices are set by individual dealers and, for the most part, are very do-able for most of us. Antiques are an investment, and more often than not, if you decided to sell an antique, you will be able to sell for what you paid, if not more. And mixing an antique into a room of things from national furniture stores will give it character and make it "yours". And let us not forget that antiques are about the greenest way to furnish your home. So...go on...splurge a little every once in awhile. It will be something you will treasure.

Metal chairs on the wall become "art". The linen chairs were such an interesting contrast.

There was so much inspiration here. Just the way things are displayed made me look more closely at how I might use furniture pieces for my own design work, and my own home. There are those who sell French, English, Industrial, Swedish and Early American here, and the combinations the dealers put together is inspiring.

Still Life painting and wine bottle rack, nicely put together with an interesting slatted sideboard.

So I hope you enjoy this little tour of Chelsea Antiques. If you are ever in the Northern California vicinity, it is well worth a trip to Petaluma. But keep it under your hat, 'kay? I don't want all the Northern California designers after me for blowing their secrets.

This Swedish style settee was so fresh and pretty with it's white linen upholstery.

Early American mixed with Northern European. Very large scale things for that "California" look.

These concrete baluster lamp bases still have moss on them. So great!

Very sweet roll top desk, collection of pewter steins, a lovely mix

Again, it's in the mix: a Madonna, silver trophy, French pottery and beautiful concrete baluster lamp.

Grandfather clock was just marvelous....and already sold.

This dealer had a decidedly French flair: great urn lamp base, framed tapestry, and I loved the horse head plaque.

More French flavor with the Provincial Armoire, market baskets, glazed pottery and cane chair.

Beautiful Gate leg table, and the hug piece against the wall was used at one time in a kitchen no doubt.

There were a number of French smoking chairs in Petaluma on this trip. This pair was gorgeous! The mirror was a really good size for so many applications: above a fireplace, or a sideboard, or on a wall as "art" like it is used here.

Amazing architectural salvaged pieces. An if you look closely, you can see the metal balloon forms sitting on the back table next to the mirror. Lots of French wine bottles, and very well priced!!

Lovely French Bergeres and Armoire!

The gilt jester head almost came home with me, and I also loved the propeller!! Pretty gilt mirrors too. Again...great combination of stuff!!

Nice range of folk and fine to be found at Chelsea.

Chelsea Antiques is open daily from 10-5:30

148 Petaluma Blvd N

Petaluma, CA 94952-2905

(707) 763-7686

No....there is no website for Chelsea's I am sorry to say. But isn't the experience that much better in person? You can call for a list of dealers, and some do have individual websites.

And if you are planning a little antiquing and wine country vacation after seeing this, I don't blame you. Email me...I'll give you all the 411.

OMG Moment

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:03:00 +0000

To all of you in the Sacramento area this Holiday Season....you are soooooo lucky!!

For those who are not....I am so very sorry.

Here's what Ginger Elizabeth has to say about the photo above:

This year our Thanksgiving Tart features one of Ginger’s favorite fall fruits...the pear!

Vanilla Poached Pears, Chocolate Frangipane Tart, Garnished with Vanilla Bean Infused Whipped Chocolate Ganache...$38

9" Tart serves 12-16 people.

Please place orders by Tuesday, November 24th.

Available for pick-up November 25th & 26th (Please provide 48 hours advance notice).

Please note our upcoming Holiday hours:Open Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26th) 9:00am – Noon

Closed Friday, November 27th

Open Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas Noon – 5:00pm

Open Monday, December 21st – 10:00am – 8:00pm

Christmas Eve, December 24th – 8:00am – 2:00pm

Closed Christmas Day and Saturday, December 26th

1801 L Street, Suite 60 Sacramento, CA 95811 916.706.1738

Thank Goodness for Elle Decor

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:19:00 +0000

Elle Decor December 2009 Cover

After the very sad news today about the closure of Metropolitan Home, all I could think of was holding on tight to what we have left. There is nothing out there quite like Metropolitan Home for modern design, and perhaps it will make a comeback in another form after the economic dust settles. You can be certain I will be holding on to every issue I have ever had of what has been a classic in the world of shelter magazines.

But there is a ray of sunshine here. Elle Decor is holding it's own quite well. In fact Margaret Russell has been able to keep advertising dollars at a healthy rate and it seems the magazine will grace our magazine shelves for the foreseeable future.

I hope you all had a chance to hear the interview with Margaret Russell over at The Skirted Roundtable last week. It helps to see just how Ms. Russell is able to accomplish what she has: keeping a magazine fresh and current over the years while maintaining it as a profitable business. Check it out HERE.

So here is a little taste of what's coming up in the December issue of Elle Decor. It is going to be exceptional I assure you!!!!

Can we ever see enough of the work of Miles Redd?! I can't. If this New York City hallway for a young family is any indication, this feature alone is worth running right out and buying a copy. Drama!

And for all of you Charlotte lovers, we will get to see Ms. Moss' getaway in the Colorado Rockies. I will be stoking my fireplace, making a cup of Chai tea and settling in for this issue. You may not see me a for a day or two.

You will also be seeing:

~ the Manhattan home of Phillip Gorrivan

~ An upstate New York Home by Ernest de la Torre

~ 12 things Simon Doonan cannot live without

~ Trend alert: plaid is making a comeback in a BIG way (Mr. Tartanscot, you were definitely on to something!!)

~ What's Hot: McAlpine Home Collection from Lee Industries and Shelia Bridges new bedding for a start.

Elle Decor, thank you for fighting the good fight and providing content with something for everyone. You never disappoint and we look forward every month to your fresh ideas and insightful view of the world. We are rooting for you.

And to Metropolitan Home,

Metropolitan Home, the December 2009 issue will be it's last.

you will be sorely missed.

P.S. Thank you so much Anons for the correction!! I was given incorrect info on that one! I apologize.

New York Social Diary: James Bleecker

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:43:00 +0000

I am always so excited and happy when good things happen for good people. And even more so when they are people I care a lot about. Recently, my good friend James Bleecker (married to my cousin Jenny) had a feature about his work, home and family in the New York Social Diary. You may remember couple of posts about James HERE and HERE.

There is a wonderful interview and loads of pictures of every nook and cranny of their lovely apartment in New York. Perhaps the most striking thing about it is the use of James' beautiful art photos throughout the home.

So, hop on over HERE to see the whole thing. I love looking at homes that show off the talents of those who live there. Personal and unique.

And to see more of James' work, please visit his website HERE.

(I think that's my Dad in the photo with the three children on Jenny's vanity table! He is the one with the pageboy haircut on the left.)

Photos courtesy of New York Social Diary

Working Here Today

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:00 +0000

I have been here all day working away and realized....have you seen my office? I think not!

Here's a bit of a peek.

During our remodel, we dug down four feet under the house to turn our glorified crawl space into living space. We poured a concrete foundation which is now the finished floor. My husband and I sealed it ourselves with a high gloss concrete sealer, just leaving it the same color. I painted the walls Dunn Edwards Whisper White so I would have a clean background for my design work.

My thought for this space was that it would be a work space where I could create any number of things: interior designs, art projects, sewing projects. I also wanted to have the space be appropriate for client meetings. I wanted a professional looking space, but also one that I could really use as a laboratory. So, my plan was to have all of the furniture either be contemporary and white, or antique to provide a neutral backdrop to any project, but to also be interesting and easily changeable. I have this tendency to bring things home from here and there (like the wire lantern in the picture or the branches on top of the shelves) and I like to move things around a lot. An experiment always in progress...like life, no?

The conference table is West Elm. (It may soon become my desk, as I have thoughts on a new conference table.) The chest of drawers is perfect for my drawing storage. It is an antique specimen chest. The antique armoire is originally from Texas...nailed together with old square-headed nails. And I am sure you recognize the ikea Expidit bookcases (of which there are five total down here!) They hold my obsessive magazine collection, design books, samples and catalogs. That's about it for this little peek!

Now that you are all here with me, I am not feeling quite so lonely here by myself today.

OK...now back to work!

Dream a Little Dream: Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz and ABYU

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:36:00 +0000

I wanted to be there. I even had a dream about it....flying off to New York to be at the Opus Lumen installation party featuring lighting by ABYU ( And Bob's Your Uncle). And why wouldn't I dream about it? It is very dreamy after all.

Over 20 light designs were exhibited in the new ABYU studio space and I heard the party was a huge success. For a little look see at the festivities...click on over HERE.

ABYU was started by Steven Wine and Michael Landon in 1994 to showcase their creative talents by bringing light to us all. Sadly, Michael passed away in 2008 leaving the company to "continue his vision of quality lighting products that infuses fantasy and fashion, a couture collection. "

Designer Benjamin Noriega Ortiz has long had a close relationship with ABYU contributing his own dreamy confections of lighting design. His design company, BNO Design, became the parent company in 2007.

I have long been a fan of Mr. Noriega-Ortiz and his unique sense of style. Clean and refreshing with a touch of fantasy, his style keeps you guessing. Mr. Noriega-Ortiz put a new spin on the ABYU studio which you can see and read about HERE.

And here are a few more fantasy fixtures for you all to dream about:

Twister Sconce

Nimbus - Nordstrom Stores Nationwide

Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz and Steven Wine Private Residence

Lenny Kravitz Private Residence

Glass Maille

Lawrence Isaacson Private Residence

Lenny Kravitz Private Residence

Battery Gardens Restaurant

To see more of these frothy fixtures click on over HERE.

And Dream a Little Dream.

All Photos courtesy of ABYU and BNO Design

Did You Know About This Show?

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:30:00 +0000

"Launch My Line" Cast

I received an email this morning about Architect David Applebaum becoming a contestant on Bravo's latest Reality TV Design Competition: Launch My Line. David is an L.A. based architect who has worked with celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Diane Keaton, Rupert Murdoch and Cuba Gooding Jr. Curious, I went on over to the Bravo website to check it out.

So here is the deal. Ten fashion designers already in the biz are being paired with ten professionals (in creative fields like music, architecture, event planning and so on...) that have always wanted to have their own fashion line. The teams will battle it out to see who creates the best fashion line. Dean and Dan Caten of DSQUARED2 host and judges including Stefani Greenfield and Lisa Kline. Click HERE to read all about it.

I guess what caught my attention is that one of the contestants is an architect (that's David Applebaum, bottom row, second from the right), which brings me to the point. Fashion and Interior Design are so intertwined and interdependent aren't they? You can just look at the recent auction of the amazing collection of furniture and artifacts of Yves Saint Laurent to realize the close connection. I suppose that anyone in a creative field thinks about what they are wearing and will fantasize about designing their own clothes. Haven't you always thought, "if I could just find a blouse ( sweater, dress....) like the one in my head, I would be happy!" Well now we get to see how that works for us creative types.

The show starts December 2. What do you think? Will you be tuning in?

Dan and Dean.....or Dean and Dan

It will be fascinating in and of itself to watch Dan and Dean in conversation. They complete each other.

Things That Go Bump In The Night

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:33:00 +0000

There are houses in my town that have mysterious histories. There are stories of macabre happenings and things that perhaps are better left unsaid. I am all too familiar with one such place......and the stories told here are not for the faint of heart.

For most of the year, the place goes mostly unnoticed by unsuspecting passersby. But in the Fall....strange things begin to happen. And it is only a matter of time before even the most addle minded begin to cross to the other side of the street.

Strange music and muffled screams....wicked laughter and mysterious crashes. Only the most curious dare to peak behind the fence.

I .....was one of those curious few....and the pictures I took....before I fled...tell a heartbreaking story of death and love from beyond the grave. Come with me, but...I warn you... enter at your own risk...for you may never be the same.

Year after year, a story has been spun of the perils of Myra Maines who resided here in life.....and now in death. This....is the Maines Mansion....where many are kept close by.... even after they are gone from this life.

There is to be a wedding tonight...and every night until All Hallows Eve. You may watch and partake of the festivities....if you dare.

It begins at dusk, and you will be prepared for the experience outside. Others will be there to enter with you....they say there is safety in numbers.

Although I was not so sure...

I could not stay to take too many photos....

Before my blood ran cold....was that a man in the doorway?!?

I was lucky to escape when I did....but not before I gave from my heart to those in need...

I hope you will find it in your hearts to brave the Mansion and it's secrets! The Mansion will be open tonight through Saturday where you will be witness to the Wedding of poor Myra Maines and be a part of the Melodrama.

Located in the heart of Midtown Sacramento on the corner of 25th and "I" Streets. Appropriate for all ages and a very good time...it is a great way to spend Halloween.

Donations are gladly received on behalf of The Sunburst Projects serving Children and Families living with HIV/AIDS. And I cannot think of a better cause to bring back light to children's lives.

Have a safe and

Happy Halloween!!!

Couple of Things I've Been Working On:

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:14:00 +0000

Secondary Bath in Contemporary Ranch House

Sometimes life throws us a curve ball, or lemons, if you will. If we are lucky, we do catch a glimpse of it coming. Last winter, the recession had hit Sacramento particularly hard,and it had a big affect on our family. The position I had held for 10 years as Senior Designer with another design company was eliminated at the end of last year. I had seen it coming. I had prepared myself to make a go of it and open my own design studio. Call me crazy....open a business in this climate?!?! But I felt I had a few things going for me: I had just finished a remodel of my home which included a large home office/studio space (so no overhead to speak of), I had a pretty good reputation in the area, I had a couple of clients that came with me with the "OK" from my ex-boss, and I had started my blog, katiedid, almost two years prior. I cannot tell you what a huge help the blog has been to me in so many ways.

Perhaps most important to my design business, I have been very fortunate to have wonderful, wonderful clients. They have been staunch supporters, and such a pleasure to work with. I wake up everyday thinking how lucky I am. I have been busy with so many fun projects of all kinds, and some of them are almost ready to "show off".

Secondary Bath

So here are a couple of preview pictures of a house I have been working on with a couple who have become good friends in the process. They purchased a midcentury contemporary home that was in need of a face-lift. Most of the house was gutted, but the terrazo floor in the sunken living room remained intact. These are a just a couple of photos of the Kids' Bath and the Master Bath.

Master Bath

I have also been working on a beautiful Prairie Style Home which is nearing completion as well. Totally different style, and so much fun to work on. I promise to have pictures of this house when it is done!

I just want to say "Thank You" to my magnificent clients. You make my day!

The Lemonade is tasting better every day.

The Art of the Table: Preview Party For DIFFA

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:34:00 +0000

"CHAHUT" Table by Ken Fulk

The Fall party season in San Francisco is in full swing, and what better way to start it all off than with the "Art of the Table" Preview party benefiting DIFFA's DINING BY DESIGN. Gumps hosted the party last week featuring the table topping talents of these four top San Francisco designers: Ken Fulk, Claudia Juestel, Martha Angus and Orlando Diaz-Azcuy. The party was a kick-off event to the upcoming DIFFA events this November in San Francisco. To find out more about DIFFA DINING BY DESIGN click on over HERE.

Partnering in the event at Gumps were notable tableware masters: Hermes, Puiforcat, Cristal Saint-Louis, Raynaud, Ecruis, Alberto Pinto, Varga and Jean Louis Coquet. All contributed to the fantasy table decor put together by the designers.

When we arrived, the party was in full swing. We got a glass of wine and immediately found the tables. I have to say, I was a little star struck by the designer line-up. I am a long time admirer of each one of them.

I started at Ken Fulk's table, which was dazzling. Topped with the front half of a black stallion ringed with dozens of sunset hued roses, this table was off and running at first glance. Ken was so imaginative with this table, I hardly know where to begin!

The dark wood table was topped with a piece of glass which was back-painted with Hermes orange paint. Now, that is an idea that anyone could use to update a table and make it one-of-a-kind. Ken contacted Hermes to see if they might lend saddles to use as the dining "chairs". And they said "Yes"! Ken painted the saddle stands (also by Hermes) a fuchsia pink, topped them with the Hermes saddles, and draped those with Hermes scarves and belt buckles.

The table is set with Fil D'Argent China and Attalage Silver, both by Hermes. The Black Martini glass is by David Redmond, Martini Shaker by Lappas, Toroise DOF by Stueben, and charger by Laque De Chine Noir and Platinum by Haviland.

Ken added the crop (Hermes) as a "party favor", or perhaps just to whip a little more excitement into this equestrian fantasy. This run for the roses is a clear winner.

Hermes Saddle and Stand

Next up was "The Observer Effect" by Claudia Juestel. Claudia, founder and principal of Adeeni Design Group, brought her own design sensibilities to the table by designing a custom Dining Table with Brazilian Rosewood Veneer. She also created the custom dining chairs upholstered in a shagreen textured fabric.

"The Observer Effect" Table by Claudia Juestel

Claudia used China by Raynaud, silver by Ercuis and crystal by Saint Louis and Varga. The silver "bowls" at each place setting are made out of coins and titled "Beggar" Bowls, by Dave Meeker. The centerpiece of the table was not the expected flowers, but what appeared to be a miniature laser light show made from the "Shpera" Light Fixture by Matteo Thun coupled with "Quiet Tectonic" Single Channel Video Projection available through Baxter and Cook Art Advisors. Try THAT at your next party!

Perhaps my favorite thing about this setting was the brilliant bar cart design by Paul Benson. His talent never ceases to amaze. Paul works out of Sonoma and creates the most beautifully crafted metal and lacquered pieces of furniture art. You may remember his console from the Met Home Modern by Design Showhouse HERE.

"Tantalus" Bar Cabinet by Paul Benson

Martha, Martha, Martha! I love your designs! Full of artful fun, high and low, Martha Angus' table is as beautiful as it is accessible. Martha Angus designs are playful as well as sophisticated, which is just how I like it! Martha started things off with a Duodecogonal (say that ten times fast!) Mirrored Dining Table with etching from Sarlo. The beautiful orange and pink upholstered Gustavian and Louis XVI chairs are from Therien.

"NtRain" Table by Martha Angus

And here is where things get fun. The area rug is actually two IKEA rugs put together and the light fixture by Aargon Neon was made from plastic bags. Beauty and creativity is not dependent on price.

Martha topped the table with China by Alberto Pinto, Silver by Puiforcat and Crystal by Saint Louis. Lovely!

The table by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy was an imaginary High Tea with all of the First Ladies in attendance. Mr. Diaz-Azcuy began his thought process with the selection of the Pensees pattern by Bernardaud. The Pansy motif set the tone for the whole table. Mr. Diaz-Azcuy had pansies printed onto the table top (table and chairs were designed by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy for McGuire Furniture) as well as onto the tea cookies.

"High Tea with Bernardaud" table by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy

It was fun to see which of the First Ladies had their place cards at the table. Michelle and the last six all seemed to be in attendance. (Can you name them all?) Pretty and feminine at first glance, there as it was quite another story that was running through Mr. Diaz-Azcuy's head as he told us all what he imagined the ladies talked about at this party! Very entertaining!

After seeing the tables, there was a discussion with the designers about their designs and how they personally like to entertain. Marta Benson of Gumps introduced Diane Dorrans Saeks who led the discussion with the panel.

Ken Fulk and Marta Benson

Diane led a lively discussion, and I learned some very interesting tidbits! There were strong opinions as to whether paper napkins were acceptable or not. (What do you think?!)Orlando likes to play old movies without the sound at his dinner parties to keep the conversation flowing. Claudia loves to play Latin music, while Martha likes techno, but not while at the table. Ken was not able to enjoy his parties until he learned that people had much more fun when he did not worry too much about things being "perfect". Most importantly, everyone agreed that a good mix of friends is key, and that simple is sometimes best.

Diane Dorrans Saeks, Claudia Juestel, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, Martha Angus

Claudia Juestel, Ken Fulk and Martha Angus

(Love the Houndstooth suit Ken!)

At the end of the party, guests were invited to purchase their tickets for the DIFFA DINING BY DESIGN Events November 18th and 19th. A lucky (SOOO lucky!!!) few purchasers won gift bags from Hermes!

Thank you again to Gumps who knows how to throw a perfect party!

And please hop on over to the DIFFA DINING BY DESIGN site to see how you can attend or help.

Kelly! HUE are Back!

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Photo by Grey Crawford

OK....a little bad on the pun, I know. But I have a little more info on Kelly Wearstler's new book HUE for you (which I talked about here)! I opened the latest issue of C Magazine and was flipping through when I stopped at this article on Kelly's new home in Hollywood. A little more reading, and I realized the photos are from the new book. If this is a taste of what else is inside, I'm all in.

Photo by Grey Crawford

C Magazine has many more stunning photos of the Hollywood home and a great interview with Ms. Wearstler by C Magazine's Andrea Stanford: all about the book, Kelly's life right now and plans for the future. You might just want to pick up a copy of C.......or HUE.....or both!

Photo by Grey Crawford

It looks like Kelly is at her best in this colorful home: exotic, fun, sophisticated, unexpected and a bit over-the-top. That stairwell is brilliant with it's vibrant art and Greek key railing. The wall covering is by Cannon/Bullock. The Living Room sports a rug by Kelly Wearstler for The Rug Company, and the sphere tables are also by Ms. Kelly for Bergdorf Goodman.

Just a little taste of the fun to come!

So Many Books....so Little Time

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:29:00 +0000

I am having one of those weeks: busy, busy, busy. But lately, I have been seeing and hearing about so many good books, it gives me pause! I tell myself, "I will never have time to read them." Then I tell myself, "I will FIND the time for these lovelies!"

Kelly is coming out with a new book about the use of color in her work. Not yet published, but I am looking forward to seeing this one!

Ah....Mr. Hicks. Need I say more? I will let Mr. Drucker fill in:

"The Hicks book is THE book of the season." —Stephen Drucker, Editor in Chief, House Beautiful

And many of you have heard about THIS new book. Elle Decor is celebrating it 20th anniversary. And to liven up the festivities, the best of the best has been put into this gem of a book by Elle Decor Editor and Chief, Margaret Russell.

I promise to give my thoughts on the books, as soon as I manage to get them in my hands. And if you already have, please let me know what you think!!!

What To Do This Weekend: Apple Hill

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:56:00 +0000

Apple Pantry Farm

Apples. They are such a part of Autumn. Bobbing for apples at Halloween, apple pie at Thanksgiving, apple cider at Christmas. In the Sierra Foothills, not more than an hour from Sacramento, there is a place called Apple Hill. When we first moved to Sacramento 17 years ago, we heard about this place and made out first visit soon after. Ever since, we have made a yearly trip to the apple orchards of this area, as have many other families throughout Northern California in the months of October and November.

We come for the apples, of course. And the scenery, naturally! But we also come for a few other things: apple pie, apple fritters, apple donuts, carmel apples, apple cider, apple butter, apple syrup, apple bread, apple cake. You get the idea. If you can make it with apples, you can find it here!

Golden Delicious at Apple Pantry Farm

Apple Hill has grown over the years from an association of about 16 growers to over 50 apple ranches, wineries, a microbrewery, with even a Spa thrown in to make your visit complete. It has become the "Napa Valley" for the apple lover set.

In the Fall, the place comes alive with the harvest. There are pumpkin patches and hay bale mazes. There are craft and art fairs. There are pony rides and train rides. And lots and lots of food: Bratwurst and Pulled Pork BBQ, corn on the cob and potato salad....and then there are the apple desserts.

Apple Peeling machine at Apple Pantry Farm

Some of the ranches are overrun, and honestly too crowded for my personal taste. But there are plenty that are charming and more low key. There is something for everyone. We stopped at Apple Pantry Farm, which makes their pies with Golden Delicious apples, as well as cider and tarts, etc. This is one of the delightfully low key and relaxing places on the Apple Hill map of growers. We stopped here for awhile and ate pie.

Vintage Cars at Apple Pantry Farm

We made a quick stop at Bavarian Hills. We heard the Bavarian music as we were driving by and were intrigued. There were a few craft and booths here, so the girls and I had a look. There were a couple of ladies that had inherited all of their Aunt's costume jewelry. The Aunt, being originally from San Francisco, had collected it her whole life, and the ladies told me there were rooms full of the stuff! They were selling things at amazing prices just trying to get rid of it all. Lucky for ME!

One of the places we love to stop is Jack Russell Brewing Company. I have to say, they probably have the best Barbecue of many of the places we have been. They have BBQ tri-tip and pulled pork. And the beer is truly exceptional. This year was the most crowded we have ever seen it, but there is a large beer garden and dogs (for you Jack Russell lovers!) are quite welcome!

Denver Dan's is also a good place to stop for jams and pies. They have frozen pies (as do many of the ranches) that will make it all the way home so you can bake at your leisure. We brought home a boysenberry, apple pie which was delicious! The berries are also grown in the vicinity and when in season, you can pick them to your hearts delight. You can also pick your own apples here and at many of the other ranches.

This is just a sampling of the goodies to be found at Denver Dan's.

Just a note: Apples are not the only thing in abundance here. It is also pear season and they are available at many of the ranches.

Next stop: Apple Ridge Farms. They are my favorite stop for apple wedges covered in carmel. They have a petting zoo here and pony rides, as well as short nature walks that lead you through the cool pine forests. This has been one of my favorite places as when the girls were young enough to love these things.

We did make a stop at High Hill, probably the largest venue at Apple Hill, and invariably the most crowded. This is in large part due to the number of attractions, which include the fishing pond pictured above, the apple barn which sells many apple varieties as well as anything apple related, There is a Fudge Factory building, pony rides, more craft booths than any other venue, and a number of other outbuildings. One of the buildings has apple drinks: apple cider, apple beer, apple wine, apple shakes....and on. There is also a cider press building where you can watch how apple juice is made. I know I am forgetting something. If this sounds good to you, High Hill is the place to be. But be warned, it is the most crowded and there is traffic to and from the ranch on the weekends in the high season.

If you are the type who would prefer a beautiful country drive with a few stops at smaller more relaxed apple spots, then I suggest taking the the roads that loop away from the main highway. There is an abundance of beatiful scenery, and so many places to stop, you undoubtedly find the perfect place for you.

No matter what your plans this weekend, I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy the Fall season!

Happy Weekend!

Lunch at Ella with Paloma and Jeni

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:38:00 +0000

It was a busy week last week! On Friday, I had lunch with Paloma of La Dolce Vita who was in Sacramento to visit blogger friend Jeni from Mrs. Plain Jane. Jeni and I had met through the blogging connection a little while ago, and when she said that Paloma was coming into town, it was only fitting that we all get together! Thanks Jeni for arranging this get together!

It was wonderful meeting Paloma! She is just as sweet in person as she is on her blog, and both ladies are stunning, don't you think? Um...I was feeling a tiny bit "OTH", but they are both so fun, I put it out of my mind. I always love to meet bloggers in person. It adds a whole other dimension to the blog connection.

The food at Ella Dining Room and Bar is brilliant, as is the interior which I blogged about awhile back HERE.

I thought I'd give you another little peek.

We sat at this table right here. When we first came in it was full, but we ended up closing the place down by the time we got up to leave. Time flies......

Thank you to Jeni for bringing us all together!

Local Color: Le Jardin

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:32:00 +0000

Le Jardin....what better place to find local color? A garden is filled with all of the colors of the rainbow, and this Sacramento shop is no different. I am very lucky to live so close to this jewel of a shop. I drive by almost daily and peer into the windows to see what new treasures the ladies who own this shop have found.

Mother and daughter team Linda Fairley and Janice Fairley Winn have a way with putting things together: vintage French style furniture and leather bound books....topiaries and leopard print pillows.....

all mixed in with industrial tables and architectural remnants. I love it all! And isn't the floor brilliant? They painted the yellow and white checkerboard right on top of the concrete. It looks just like handmade glazed pavers.

The ladies always seem to have beautiful alabaster lamps on hand.

I almost took home these gilt banded glasses the other day.

This white wire cage would make the perfect table base!

The green window frames....perhaps a headboard for a twin bed in a little girl's room? And that gilt mirror!

Dashes of mercury glass, some vintage, some new add a bit of sparkle. And there are pieces of coral, and antlers and vintage paintings....

These chairs were particularly nice covered in an icy blue velvet.

I spotted the interesting wicker table up above, and thought of countless possibilities....and then there was the Bergere...

What a beautifully scaled mirror this was! And hiding below it , the green headboard....so pretty!

So.....if you are in the neighborhood....or even if you are not....Le Jardin can be found at:

2598 21st Street

Sacramento, California 95818

And since there is no website quite yet....if you see anything you like, you can call:

916-739-6726

Stop in a pick a few flowers!

Wedgwood, Celebrating 250 Years and Meeting Lord Wedgwood

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:49:00 +0000

Last Thursday was a wonderful day! I drove to the town of Campbell in the South Bay area to meet with my friend Nicki to discuss her new office project. We has perfect weather and no traffic on the way down, so I knew this day was starting off well. We had a great meeting and then it was off to San Francisco to attend a celebration at Gumps in honor of a Lord Wedgwood who was in attendance to discuss the 250 years that Wedgwood China has graced tables all over the world. I was very excited to hear him speak about the history of Wedgwood and how the company has kept it's beautiful china current and fresh.

During his discussion, Lord Wedgwood introduced us to mosaic artist Terrie Kvenild. They had worked together to produce this brilliant piece of sculpture in honor of the event and Wedgwood's 250 years. Terrie created this urn completely out of broken pieces of Wedgwood china, supplied by Wedgwood in England, and it is quite a masterful feat of craftsmanship. I was able to chat a moment with Terrie and take a picture of her next to her sculpture. (On a side note, I was told by both Marta Benson, CEO and Gene Ogden Director of Retail Merchandising for Gumps, that every time they have broken china from the store, they will send it off to Terrie who fashions it into magnificent sculptures, which you can find at Gumps. An example of recycling at it's best!)

Lord Wedgwood was also introducing a new collection of Jasperware at Gumps, so I was very anxious to see it. The larger vases like the one below, and in the first photo, are the only examples in the United States. Just look at the beautiful detail, even on the bottom of the vase!

Gumps had beautifully displayed the various colors of Wedgwood Jasperware. I took a few shots for you of the classic blue, taupe and the beautiful grey. The black and terracotta color is new, as is the dragon table china.

So....the highlight of the event for me was the opportunity to meet Lord Wedgwood himself. I have to say, he was so very charming taking time out to chat with me. He seemed very capable of putting everyone in the room perfectly at ease. Elegant and Polished. Don't you just love the pocket handkerchief? Pink with white polkadots. Perfect!

Lord Wedgwood was on hand to sign this wonderful book:

I can't recommend it more highly. It is full of table settings put together by such notables as Suzanne Rheinstein, Carolyn Roehm, Charlotte Moss, Thomas O'Brien, Stephen Drucker, Michael Smith, just to name a few. It also shows off the new Wedgwood designs by Jasper Conran, Vera Wang, Barbara Barry and Martha Stewart. ( Oh! and by the way.....in the interest of full disclosure, I was very happy, thrilled even, to purchase this book myself! Excellent!)

Wedgwood Style was also available at the signing, and though I did not have a chance to flip through it, you can be sure I will be adding it to my list to check out. Published in 2001, it is not easily available, and Gumps may be the only place that has it right now!!

So who else was at the party you ask?

My friends Gene Ogden and Marta Benson of Gumps were on hand, of course! Marta is in the perfect Wedgwood Blue isn't she?

And Grant Gibson with his friend Richard were there keeping things fun!

All and all, a very fun evening. If you are in San Francisco, please do drop in to Gumps to see the new Wedgwood collection. It alone is worth the trip. But there are always so many more things to see. Holiday cheer is already making an entrance, and there is nowhere better to finish off your holiday table with something special!

"C" and Me...OK...not just me!

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:12:00 +0000

I received a very kind email from my friend Diane Dorrans Saeks ( renowned author and blogger of The Style Saloniste) a couple of months ago asking if I would like to contribute a few words about where I like to go to "get away from it all" for a travel piece she was writing for C Magazine. I was thrilled to be asked of course! But, sometimes things do not necessarily come to fruition, so I tried to keep my hopes in check. But then I received an email from the magazine itself asking where could they send a copy! At that point, I realized it was going to happen!

A couple of days ago, I received some very kind emails from some blogger friends who had seen the piece. The excitement level went up another couple of notches. I just received my copy ( and yes, I had been waiting for the clunk of a magazine to fall from my mail slot so I could rush over and see if it had come!) and I have been unable to stop smiling for ....well, I'm still smiling! I was so honored to be included with the likes of Suzanne Rheinstein, Anne Fougeron, DelRae Roth, Christina Rottman and Martin Muller.

Here is the round-up of where these "Escape Artists" get away:

This particular issue is a "must have" for many reasons . Ken Fulk is featured in an article by Deborah Schoeneman, that covers his career and design style. Did you know he designed the home of the co founder of One King's Lane, Greg Pincus? He is also a self-described "hugger". I love a good hug! Great article with many project pictures by Mr. Fulk.

Mr. Fulk himself, and his SOMA Loft below:

There is also a feature by Christine Lennon about the five year old design firm, Commune, and two of four partners: Pamela Shamshiri and her brother Ramin and how they worked together to design the home of Ramin and his wife Donna Langley.

The house captures their love of Moorish architecture and shows off a decidedly California vibe. Here are the brother and sister in the home's courtyard.

Photo by Lisa Romerein

Such a great issue! I am going to settle in and savor my C magazine and have a cup of tea for the evening.

Thank you so very much C Magazine and Diane Dorrans Saeks for making my day!!!!

Have you met: Michelle Zuniga?

email@katiedenham.com (katiedid) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:05:00 +0000

Michelle is a fellow blogger who was gracious enough to ask me to participate in a "guest designer's favorite things" column on her blog Zuniga Interiors. She will be running a series on bloggers across the country, and I am first up! To visit Michelle's lovely blog click on over HERE.

Michelle is an interior designer and a fabulous stylist.

Here's a just a little peek at some of the talent you will find on Zuniga Interiors- Michelle Zuniga Interior Stylist Portfolio

Didn't I tell you? Talented!

And if this isn't enough, she also has these for sale on The Zuniga Interiors Collection- Cross Bottles-Shell Bottles-Bejewele... Works of Art:

Gorgeous!

Thank you Michelle for including me in your series!

Now hop on over and say 'Hello"!