cohabit8ing

Kitchen During...

2011-05-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Kitchen Before

2011-01-15T13:34:00.001-08:00

And here we go!

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Viva La Monoprice.com

2011-01-14T13:18:00.001-08:00

I can haz 5.1 distribution wall plate and telescoping TV mount.

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happy anniversary

2010-08-22T20:03:00.001-07:00

One year of wedded bliss. We skipped the traditional gift of paper and went straight to wood - a new dining table in walnut. Pretty excited because we can now host dinner parties for more than 2 people.

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bedroom makeover

2010-08-15T13:39:00.001-07:00

The walls are now silver fox aka gray and the bedding is a more masculine mix of stripes, tweed and herringbone. Headboard is charcoal wool and rug is pink floral to balance things out. Much more sophisticated (and calm).

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A before and after project.

2010-08-12T15:12:00.001-07:00

Decided that the bedroom could use something more... tried browns and yellows...

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new armchairs

2010-08-10T09:00:00.001-07:00

Not quite sure if we will keep these
new chairs. Cons: very tall backs and the color is a bit too gold. Pros: recliners are soooo comfy and the price was right. Will continued to "tweak" the room.

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ewwww.

2010-07-26T20:42:00.001-07:00

The "crappy" side to home ownership. JJ fixing the wobbly toilet. Glad my contribution to the house is decorating.

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Progress!

2010-06-24T15:03:00.001-07:00

The guest bedroom has a bed! And bedding! Now we need some guests...

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ta-da!

2010-06-24T11:01:00.001-07:00

After removing 400 staples... goodbye ugly brown carpet, hello nice wood floors!

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Ikea, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

2010-06-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

60 riktig ogla curtain rings
1 tarnby rug
3 billy bookshelves
1 stenstorp island
and 1 ice cream cone!

slowly but surely

2010-06-23T09:06:00.001-07:00

JJ hanging "window treatments" aka curtains. Mostly so the neighbors don't see that we are watching The Bachelorette (see tv screen in window reflection.)

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Big changes - coming soon!

2010-06-14T14:53:00.001-07:00

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while. Like, for 7 months. BUT, I do have exciting news...JJ and I bought a house. That's right, a HOUSE. So, expect photos and projects as we DIY the heck out of the new digs. So excited...

Missed Connections

2009-11-20T16:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Sophie Blackall,

My wall has a missed connection with your art. I need it.
'kay, thanks!

Love,
Tara :)

(Image by Sophie Blackall.)

Red Book, Blue Book

Monday, September 14, 2009Look: historically, I'm not a morning person. And to top it off, I was grimacing through some lower back pain that flowered over the weekend. So when you noticed me (white guy, brown hair, blue/white striped shirt, earphones, red book) and I noticed you (white girl, brown hair, nosering, headphones, blue book) for however brief a moment this morning, it was bolstering and made me forget the knife in my back. Haven't noticed you before, but if there's a next time, maybe I can slap myself out of the morning slumber and say hey. No promises, though.

(Click as fast as you can: http://missedconnectionsny.blogspot.com/ or http://www.sophieblackall.com

Design Guides by Design*Sponge

2009-11-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

JJ is quail hunting in Mexico this weekend and so I have the house (and the City) to myself. I don't have much that I have to do, so I've decided to use the Design*Sponge Design Guide for San Francisco in order to explore the place that I've called home for the last decade, or so. These "guides" are put together by various bloggers/designers and are posted on the Design*Sponge website - one of my daily reads - and are a great way to explore a city and discover new and interesting shops, museums, and landmarks all with a slant toward design and interiors. I think they are a great way to rediscover a city once you've traipsed around and seen the main tourist attractions. You know, like Fisherman's Wharf or the Eiffel Tower.

Looking at the list of cities on the site makes me want to go back to Europe and re-visit a lot of places, especially Amsterdam. And wouldn't it be fun to go "down under" and see Brisbane and Sydney? Oooh, wouldn't that be exciting? I do have some frequent flier miles...

So, I'll start this weekend with San Francisco and make it my goal to go to AT LEAST three other cities in 2010.

Check the guides out:

Design*Sponge City Guides

(All images via Design*Sponge.)

Chairs Galore!

2009-11-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

I've posted about my super-duper awesome Hans Wegner knock-off chairs HERE (jealous, much?). But, because the holidays are nigh upon us AND maybe you don't have equally fab dining chairs for your Thanksgiving or Christmas guests (or random Tuesday night dinner party) AND I am feeling so very generous, I present to you:

MY PICK OF COOL DINING CHAIRS THAT WILL BLOW YA MIND!

The classic Eames DCM chair.
Expensive, yet seemingly so simple in a "oh, this old school chair? I think I found it at a garage sale" sort of way.

The Thonet No. 18 Viennese Cafe Chair.
It's French, bitch.

Black Windsor dining chair.
Can be found in almost any Quaker-chic home. A sturdy classic for a reason.

The West Elm Oval back dining chair.
A nice mix of comfort and modern.

The CB2 Bandit chair.
Knock-off of the Emeco Navy chair. A-hoy!

Ikea Olle Chair.
Looks MoMa or SoMa, but it's 100% Affordable Euro Design.

Sundance 1956 Chair.
Rugged and Chic. City and Farm. Basically, a lot of cool. Thanks Robert Redford!

Pottery Barn Nailhead Chair.
Like a little throne for the dining room.

The Hans Wegner Wishbone Chair.
You will want to marry this chair and have 10,000 chair babies. If you are me, that is.

R-E-A-D-A-B-O-O-K!

2009-11-10T11:17:00.000-08:00

Some books that I need ASAP to prett-ify our bookshelves:

The New Classics Series by Penguin.

I'll take all 8 of them please. I promise I will read them from cover to beautiful cover.

"Paris Made by Hand" by Pia Jane Bijkirk.

This will reconcile my inner francophile with my inner d-i-y-er.

And last, but not least:

"Restoring a House in the City" by Ingrid Abramovitch.

When JJ and I get our diamond-in-the-rough Victorian, I will use this book as inspiration and will have the most kick. ass. house. ever.

Do you ever _________________?

2009-10-29T14:45:00.001-07:00

Watch a movie or thumb through a fashion magazine and think "wow, where do they find these gorgeous houses/sets/locations?" Chances are, if it is in England, they used Light Locations. Light Locations, per the website, is "a photographic location agency providing beautiful, inspiring lifestyle locations to the film/TV and photographic industry." For eye candy, this website cannot be beat. Check it out at: Light Locations.

Some of my favorites:

(All Images from Light Locations.)

Sunny House in the Mission

2009-10-27T09:45:00.001-07:00

Local house tour from AT. (I bet this place doesn't have a mold problem. Boo.)

Kelly and Jonathan's Mission District Charmer

(All Images from Apartment Therapy. Click link to see more.)

Just when I think I'm out...

2009-10-27T09:26:00.001-07:00

I get pulled back in! Saw the work of Colombe Stevens on the (fabulous) Desire to Inspire, who saw it on the (really fabuluous) Remodelista and now I'm in love. This is window blogging (akin to window shopping, but easier on your feet and wallet) at its finest. Go to either website and see the beautiful photos. So very, very inspiring! (Oh, and note the super awesome Wegner chairs. Holla!)

(All Images from Colombe Stevens.)

Ugh.

2009-10-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

I need a blog break. Normally surfing the web and looking at fabulous interiors makes me want to rush home and rearrange throw pillows and the like, but that hasn't been the case lately. It seems that now that the post-wedding nesting phase is over (that's a true thing, btw) I am kinda tired of house stuff. Strange enough, I just have no desire to obsess over the proper place to store placemats (usually a fun hobby of mine), nor to dwell on the correct curtain length for the living room (96" or 118"? I don't know.) You're lucky I don't post about that stuff - as it is only poor J.J. has to deal with my obsessing. So, what was I saying? Oh yeah. I'm not posting for a while. Instead I'm going to sit on my butt and watch terrible, terrible television and let my injured ankle heal. Of course, I might change my mind tomorrow and start uploading photos like a banshee. Only time will tell.

Feeling Slab Happy

2009-09-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

I dream of having a large, long table at which JJ and I can host many friends for dinner. A big table where JJ and I can work on "projects" (now) and our children can spread out and do homework (future). Currently I am loving these "slab" tables made from large pieces of wooden slabs. (Duh.) Often made from reclaimed wood, they are beautiful and full of life and character. I can get lost just looking at the burls and whirls and knots and stuff. (JJ - feel free to fill me in on the proper wood terminology here, as I am clueless.) I think that my boss is giving JJ and me a large slab of redwood from a felled tree on his property in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I hope that we can turn it into the long-hoped-for dining table. We'll see. It's immaterial actually, because a large table won't fit in our current apartment. The dining area in the kitchen is teeny, tiny and is now even more cramped thanks to the addition of my Hans Wannabe-Wegner chairs. (Still love 'em!) We've tried coming up with ways of converting one of our two living room/office/tv rooms into a dining room, but haven't come up with a feasible plan. Until then, I look at these photos and get pretty excited! Slab happy, if you will.

What I hope to have someday...

(Image from Living, Etc.)

and what inspired me...

(The original inspiration - from Scott and Marie's House Tour on Apartment Therapy)

(A Modern Variant from 2Modern.com)

(Ash Dining Table by Terry Kardowicz from Michelle Kaufmann's Smart Home on AT)

(Slab Table from BDDW Furniture)

(Century Furniture version)

Yikes! Bikes!

2009-09-24T10:33:00.001-07:00

It has been a very busy week and I haven't been able to post much. Mostly because I've been busy DOing things rather than BLOGging about things. I have many photos and posts to put up chronicling my various house projects AND, if I can get my butt in gear, I'd also like to "re-tour" the house because a lot has changed since I last posted photos (in January?). Of course, things are always changing...

In any case, here is some eye candy from BDDW Furniture to hold you over until I return to active blogging:

(Lake Dresser)

(Lake Credenza - Low)

(Mills Bed)

(Simple Bench)

(Mills Bed - Twin)

(Lake Credenza)

(Slab Table - detail)

(Slab Bed)

Gorgeous pieces, non? I'll take one of each please, especially the Slab Table. (More on that later...)
(All Images from BDDW American Handmade Furniture website.)

I'm sorry mama, I didn't mean to make you cry...

2009-09-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

I heard that song "Cleaning Out the Closet" by Eminem earlier today and it reminded me that I have a BIG bag of dry cleaning and mending that needs to be taken to the cleaners. I also have a wine-soaked, bar and beer-stained wedding dress hanging in the bedroom that I need to get cleaned/stored/sold. This task is difficult for me because my obsessive compulsive side is at war with my sentimental side. If history has taught me anything, I think my obsessive compulsive side will win. (Currently, I can't sleep at night if the closet door is open and I can see the clutter inside from the bed. Oh, come on, you know you'd do the same and you all know I like a clean house.) In sum, our closet is a mess. Filled to the brim, it not only has clothes, but piles of miscellany, such as suitcases, picture frames, and purses packed in there so tight right up to the ceiling that I'm surprised nobody has hurt themselves yet trying to get something out. (Oh wait, somebody DID hurt themselves trying to get crap out. D'oh!) So, um, yeah, I need to clean the closet like Eminem says:

I'm sorry mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant make you cry
But tonight, I'm cleaning out my closet

You're probably wondering what this has to do with "cohabit8ing" or interior design. Nothing much, I guess. It has more to do with compromise. You see, cleaning out the closet isn't the easy task it once was when, being a single gal, twice a year I'd go through my clothes and donate/thrift every last piece of my wardrobe, excepting only my all-black basic "classics" which I told myself would last forever. After the "big clean" I'd then spend the next six months buying new clothes, only to repeat the entire process all over again. Cleaning out the closet now means that not only do I have MY half of random clothing to go through, but I have another person that I have to convince needs to do the same with HIS half. (Two people + one closet = barely controlled chaos.) Easy for me to throw away an outdated, ill-fitting shirt, not so easy for other people. *cough* JJ *cough*. Note: JJ if you're reading this, I will let you help me go through my clothes and "edit" if you will let me do the same for you.

Also, in the spirit of bad clothing and families, I have posted a good photo from Awkward Family Photos (easily the funniest website ever) and am silently glad that neither JJ, nor I have a sweater like one of those below. Not anymore, that is.

And now, I'm off to browse The Container Store website...

How to Make a Trestle Desk

2009-09-17T12:05:00.001-07:00

My friend and longtime reader Malin wrote to me:

"Help me find a desk like this:

I like the legs. ...everytime I go on Craigslist I can't find anything."

Lemme see...

To start, you probably won't find this exact desk on Craigslist. As the NY Times article (the source of the photo) says, it's custom - made from an old door (and set atop some nice sawhorse legs). That's the bad news. The good news is that you can easily re-create this look on your own with a little help from the local hardware store (that would be Cole Hardware for you) and some creativity.

In no particular order:

You can source an old door (or even just get a nice piece of wood, such as a slab of Bamboo or the Numerar countertop from Ikea) and sand/stain/paint it. A local source of "old" and reclaimed wood: Urban Ore in Berkeley.

To make a nice, smooth writing surface you can go super custom and get a piece of glass custom cut to order.

The sawhorse trestle legs are SO basic. You would need to buy sawhorse brackets:

(A pair like these shown are only $4.49 at Ace Hardware)

Snap/screw in some 2x4s (have them cut to the correct height, usually ~30" for a desk/table) and you're good to go.

To really make this desk your own, I would advise sanding and staining each piece of wood, from the tabletop to the 2x4s, in your color of choice. (In the photo above it looks like a darker walnut color stain. I'd ask JJ about this though, as he is the wood pro in our family.)

Other "trestle" leg desks you might like, especially if you aren't feeling very D.I.Y-ish:

Braxton Table (from Target):

Madison Table (again, from Target):

Workstead Table (from Workstead - this is de-lux-e!)

Or you can source some interesting trestles from Ikea's Vika line and use some sanded/stained planks:

Hopefully this inspires you to keep your eyes open for a suitable slab of wood because if you find that, the rest is easy!

It's War.

2009-09-16T15:01:00.001-07:00

Remember THIS "cool" "vintage" army trunk that I was going to put at the foot of our bed? Yeeeaaah. That was going to be so awesome until I realized that the interior of this thing STINKS and the smell cannot be removed. As in, layers of bleach and Febreze and airing out and god knows what other strong products and it still stinks like mold and corpse almost one year later. (I suspect that rather than carrying around the belongings of Major Dean B. McNealy as he sallied forth, it actually CARRIED AROUND Major Dean B. McNealy.)

Vintage Trunk = Smelly Coffin?

And the vintage army blanket ("new condition") that I ordered from the internet? It stinks too. What gives? No amount of cleaning has washed awayeth its stench which wafteth forth like vomit into my linen closet. So, I am now campaigning to get them both out of the house. I must convince JJ that we need to send these items back to whence they came, namely Goodwill.

Barf Blanket!

Mood Board.

2009-09-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

Created this "mood board" a while ago. Maybe in April 2008? To me, the items on it are pretty classic. And you know what? I still dig every item over a year later, so they must be timeless. I imagine these items in a home office in a hip, urban loft somewhere like SoMa or Brooklyn or Amsterdam or South London. Don't you think it would make a pretty kick ass home office, especially with that big window? Although with that view, I probably wouldn't get any work done.

Atmosphere.

2009-09-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

Lest you think that the furniture/designs from Ochre are too... brooding? dark? moody? and that maybe you're not sure if you love or hate Ochre because of this "feeling" you get, let me show you something that might persuade you to like their stuff as much as I do. (See my earlier post about Ochre.) Because, yes, the photos from the Ochre website, while pretty, do have a certain stormy quality to them. Must be the dark and dusky earth tones and the "rough" textures. Who knows? Below are photos from co-founder Harriet Maxwell Macdonald's home as shown in Domino magazine (RIP Domino). As you can see, this is no dark and stormy home. It's bright and light and cozy and spacious - all at the same time. And yes, most of the furniture is from the Ochre store. You see, it's all about the mix.

And may I add that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the bedroom? Especially the gray/blue wall color? (May I? and may I use ALL CAPS again? No? Okay, sorry.) :)

If only I could mix furnishings like this. Wowza.

(All images from Domino Magazine, taken by Elizabeth Zeschin)

ALL CAPS are the new parentheses (seriously)

2009-09-16T09:50:00.001-07:00

Hey, just a quick mea culpa about the sudden increase in the use of the Caps Lock key. Before I used to put emphasis on my writing by using funny "asides" inside parentheses (hey, don't act like you don't do it, too) and of late I've been YELLING ALL OF THE TIME. I just want to get across to my readers, all 5 of you, that I am excited!!! about the things that I'm posting. Maybe it's the blog equivalent of underlining five times in your 7th grade diary the name of the guy you like. So, apologies for the electronic screaming, the not-so-witty witticisms (if any) and the overall poor grammar. All in all, I realize that my horrible writing is a result of one thing: laziness. Dear Readers, you should expect more from someone who had a perfect score on the Verbal (writing) section of the SAT. (I can brag, it's my blog.) What I mean to write is: I'll do better. I promise.

FOR REALZ!!!

Peace out,
Tara :)

P.S. (I'll never stop using exclamation points and smiley faces, however. Never!!!)

I Ache for Ochre

2009-09-16T09:18:00.002-07:00

The most beautiful furniture combined with antique items sourced from all over the world, custom-designed lighting and amazing stylings... I'm in love. Ochre is: amazing.

Per the OCHRE STORE website:
"OCHRE was started by two friends at a London art school who started making things they liked regardless of the latest trends. Their elegant understated style proved very popular with a wide audience including the Design Press. Ten years later (and after a third partner had joined), OCHRE and I teamed up to open a shop on Broome Street in Soho, New York. The store is not just meant to showcase OCHRE’s beautiful range of furniture and lighting but also curates other people’s work; rare and exceptional pieces that complement the OCHRE line. OCHRE’s design philosophy always emphasizes the use of high quality materials and flawless craftsmanship to create objects which are both timeless and contemporary - and everything in the OCHRE STORE endeavours to echo these principles."

Now, for some eye candy.

(You see that chair JJ? I LOVE it.)

And if you want to fall in LOVE too, you ABSOLUTELY must check out the two most amazing slideshows on the Ochre Store website:

VINTAGE SLIDESHOW
and
SCRAPBOOK SLIDESHOW

Or, just go straight to the source: OCHRE (Design - Furniture, Accessories and Lighting)and OCHRE STORE (Everything)

(ALL images from Ochre website(s).)

Clockwatching.

2009-09-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

Sitting at my REAL desk in my REAL office (read: barfy cubicle) I began to dream about my WISH desk for my WISH office...

First, my George Nelson desk designed for Herman Miller:

Then, a nice comfy desk chair such as the Saarinen Womb Chair (I think it's pretty ergonomic, don't you?):

Then, some shelving upon which to store my design magazines, like the Atlas Industries AS4 Shelving:

Some office supplies...like a beautiful red Swingline stapler and a good, strong Ranger pencil sharpener:

and

Next I probably would need a better computer so that I could check e-mail, send some tweets and update my blog. Maybe this gold-plated MacBook?

And of course, some "motivational" artwork:

Yep. This is how I wish my design studio would look. Oh, didn't I mention it? My WISH office is actually more of a WISH STUDIO for my MAKE BELIEVE INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM. (The overuse of the Caps Lock key is because I am LAZY today.)

Covet. Covet. Covet.

2009-09-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

COVET
Main Entry: cov·et
Pronunciation: \ˈkə-vət\
Function: verb
1 : to wish for earnestly 2 : to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably

I love house tours. They inspire me and are fun and you can always get some great decorating ideas. But I don't ever want to forceably shove someone out of their house so that I can move in. That has changed due to "Scott and Marie's Perfectly Put Together Home" from Apartment Therapy. I want their place, furniture and all, and I am willing to push hard.

Below are a few photos from the house tour posted on Apartment Therapy back in May, but really, you must check out the entire slideshow posted on the site.

Go to the
GRAND TOUR and prepare to be amazed.

Dining Room:

(Dig the "rough" table and the rug.)

Library:

(Books! Books! Books!)

Retro-fab Kitchen:

If/when JJ and I move/buy/steal a house in SF, I hope it is JUST like this one, right down to the framed bat. *sigh*

NOTE: ALL PHOTOS AND RELATED CONTENT FROM WWW.APARTMENTTHERAPY.COM (giving credit where credit is due. OH and you should check the AT site regularly. It is pretty kick a$$).

Modern Love

2009-09-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

This morning I was checking up on my favorite blogs over a cup of coffee and I happened upon the work of Belinda George Architects on desiretoinspire. Wow! So cool. I want this house! I know, I know, the other day I wanted a run-down Tuscan villa, but today I want a modern, uber-cool home. See...

Internal debate ensued:

Brain: "Make up your mind!"
Heart: "Get them both!"
Soul: "Ye-yeah!"

Click HERE to see the original post and be inspired or go straight to the source: Belinda George Architects. If you don't want a modern house after visiting her site, then you are SO. NOT. COOL.

Island Mania!

2009-09-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

I know we don't currently have any room (or need) for a work table/island in our kitchen, but I still want one. Preferrably one with a rustic, scarred butcher-block top. One day...

I could settle for a nice stainless steel one too. (See I'm not so picky.)

I mean, look at our kitchen. It could work, right? Right?

I'll keep dreamin'.

My Not-So-Green Thumb

2009-09-09T16:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the backyard. Such as it is. There are more flowers now (yay!) less rose bushes (nay, nay!) and also a bench that I made with JJ's help. Not terribly exciting, but it's a start. The front yard? Well, I'll post those photos later.

(Okay, so this isn't our garden. But, I wish it were...)

Kilim Fever

2009-09-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

What is it about old and faded rugs that really gets me going? I truly have no idea. They are so romantic in an Orientalism/English Patient/souk-bazaar/Salaambo sort of way... Clearly I need more rugs in my house. Maybe something to jazz up our "Home Depot Barfed Here" bathroom.

Sunken Garden Pools in my Tuscan Villa

2009-09-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

So, when I discover a random pile of money under my mattress and decide to do the "Year in Provence" or "Under the Tuscan Sun" thing and take some time off from work, buy a charmingly run-down villa somewhere in Europe, and renovate the whole property into a magnificent vacation home, I'd really like to have a sunken garden pool installed somewhere on the property. (Of course this diamond-in-the-rough villa comes with a few acres, an old stable and a vineyard). Being open and friendly, I will make friends with the quirky but friendly neighbor Jacques (or Gianni) who will just happen to be able to help me source some local stone, help me dig up a previously undiscovered artesian well and just so happens to have a cousin who is an artisan bricklayer. And, voila! this is what we'll have:

or maybe something like this:

or:

It will be great. I really look forward to the sitting on the terrace (or terrazo) with JJ, drinking some of our own vineyard's wine (not great, but definitely palatable) and watching our kids splash around in the pool we (okay, Jacques/Gianni and his cousins Alphonse/Alfredo) put in with our bare hands. Now, I just need to start looking for that money...

Were you born in a barn?

2009-09-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Nope. But, I'd love to live in this converted stable:

From Urban Turf (super cool, check it out), here is a delivery stable converted in 2006. Bowling alley lanes as countertops? Me likey. (Reminds me of Alembic Bar's use of Kezar stadium benches as a bar top.) Click the link above to see more photos and to read the full article or go on a virtual tour HERE.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: beautiful.

Black Trim? I'm Intrigued...

2009-09-02T15:31:00.001-07:00

(Image via Apartment Therapy.)

Honeymoon's over! Back to work...er blogging!

2009-08-31T15:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, I swore to my loyal readership (Hi Mom!) that I would start posting on my blog once the craziness of the wedding was over. So, expect more regular posts from now on. JJ is going to help me organize my photos so that I can easily share some neat stuff...from OUR home.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Navarro. (Um, how weird is that?)

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - A great place to honeymoon. Beautiful with A LOT of cool things to do and see.

Oh, and in case you wondered...

2009-07-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

I'd love to do this in a pass-thru hallway:

(Imagae via Desire to Inspire.)

It's been a while...43 days to be exact.

2009-07-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

My blog has been on vacation. Mostly because I wish that I were on vacation. More posts soon...honest.

(Image from Meyer Davis Studio, NYC)

Elle Interior Sweden

2009-05-28T15:25:00.001-07:00

I don't understand a single word in any of the articles, but man oh man, does the website for the Swedish version of Elle Interior magazine have the sweetest photographs. If you want to be inspired, you must visit THIS website. Maybe my friend Malin will help translate for you. :)

(Images via Elle Interior Sweden)

Ta-da!

2009-05-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

I Got 6 Hans Wegner Wishbone CH24 Chairs! (Okay, so they are knock-offs, but I don't care. I love them.) They are a design classic and I am so excited to have them. It's a tight squeeze in our small dining area, but I'm thinking long term. Big farm table and lots of friends for dinner. If you want to know more, please read all about designer Hans Wegner HERE. Pretty cool.

(Image via hivemodern.com)

So excited...

2009-05-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

because I got myself a (very) early birthday present, courtesy of my dear friend Craig(slist). I'll post actual photos later. Until then, here are some hints...

(Imaga via LivingEtc.)

(Image via LivingEtc.)

(Image via Ochre.com)

(Image via DesiretoInspire)

So, can you guess what I got?

Gallery Style is My Stilo

2009-04-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

The big blank wall above the sofa in the Man Room needs some art. JJ and I have a lot of stuff we could hang up there. Maybe we could do something funky and gallery style, like the photos below? Or would that just be way too many holes in the wall? I think it might be. But, dang it would look cool. Am I right, or am I right? Check it out:

(All Images via Desire to Inspire.)

The Full Monty.

2009-03-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

All the photos of our apartment - to date. Some changes have been made, but this is pretty much it.

House Photos - The Remix

It's that time again...

2009-03-27T14:08:00.001-07:00

Yes!

This house is perfect.

2009-03-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

From the black door to the black floors, this house is perfection. (Okay, so I'd add some color and lots of books. But, other than that, I love it.

Such a cool kitchen.

(Images from Tine K.)

Check out the full slideshow at TineK Home.

Let's Elope. Seriously? Seriously.

2009-03-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole wedding planning process. (Oh, yeah, in case you're a new reader, we're making it legal. Otherwise..."Hi Mom!") Hopefully when all is said and done it will be a pretty awesome party.

To Do, before "I Do" (the short list):

~~Venue~~
~~Caterer~~
~~Lodging~~
~~Dress~~
Final Guest List/Addresses
Photographer
Band/DJ
Invitations
Flowers
Suit
Officiant
Website
Booze
Decorations
Transportation
Rehearsal Stuff
Registry

The horror!

2009-03-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

I was reading THIS great blog post by Michelle Mitchell of Scribbit this morning. She writes about the importance of getting your children to read books/improving their literacy at a young age, as well as some tips on how to do it. I thought, "Oh God, what if my (as yet unborn) children don't enjoy reading?" (I will admit, horrible as it is, that one of my biggest fears is having a kid that is an illiterate, obese couch potato. And a mouth-breather.) So, while I'm not going to force Chaucer, ballet or T-ball on my kids, I am going to encourage reading and physical activity.

And, on a related note, some of my favorite books from childhood (in no particular order):

Critter books by Mercer Mayer (Awesome illustrations - one of the first "series" that I read straight through. Math class, 2nd grade, below the desk.)

The Fudge Books by Judy Blume (I laughed so loud in class in 4th grade that I got sent to the hall. Stupid Mrs. Harvey...)

Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene (I STILL love these books and can name every single major character.)

The Ramona Series by Beverly Cleary (A doll named Chevrolet? Classic. Also loved the tv shows with Sarah Polley.)

I dunno, you tell me...

2009-03-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

is this study super awesome or super cluttered? I keep changing my mind. Either way, I want that desk/table.

Friday Fry Day.

2009-03-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

I'll let you in on a little secret. I love McDonald's french fries. I love them. They are addictive. (It's been proven in studies, I swear.) But, despite the fact that my body craves them, I try to practice a little restraint and not have them with every meal. This is made difficult by the fact that there is a McDonald's ONE BLOCK FROM MY OFFICE and TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE. So, I have made a deal with my craving. I can have McDonald's fries when it is both Friday AND a payday (which happens every 6-8 weeks). So, today? You got it: Friday Fry Day. Oh, yes! But, I did not buy any fries. No sirree. I had a salad instead. A bland tasteless salad that was a leftover from Tuesday night.

My lunch (post chowing down):

And to wash it down: a diet Pepsi and a multi-vitamin.

This made me realize two things: 1) I might be getting sick; and 2) I am totally that annoying person in the office.

The Barefoot Contessa lives in a Barn.

2009-03-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's a swanky converted "barn" in France. It's amazing. If that's what they mean when one says "What, did you grow up in a barn or something?" then I wish I grew up in a barn. Lovely photos and a nice article on Ina Garten, aka The Barefoot Contessa, on the House Beautiful website HERE.

P.S. (Malin, want to go on a pilgrimage and say "hi" to Ms. Garten?)

(Image by Simon Upton, House Beautiful magazine.)

March Madness.

2009-03-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

(Image via Flickr.)

I want to go on vacation. Here. Just me and a good book.

Big Brother Is Watching You.

2009-03-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is to peek inside other people's homes. Literally. I like to run at night and on my evening runs I take every opportunity to jump up and see what's going on inside the homes I pass. This is especially easy to do in San Francisco because every other house has a large bay window in front and (strangely) very few people draw their curtains. I would say "Yeah, I know this makes me weird..." but I know that almost EVERYONE is a bit of a voyeur. Hence the success of design/shelter magazines and blogs. Blogs like The Selby. The Selby is 7th heaven for people who like to peek. Please, please click HERE and check it out. Real homes of real (albeit, super cool) people.

(Image: Edward Hopper, "The Night Window")

While the Cat's away...

2009-03-11T21:27:00.000-07:00

...the Mouse redecorates!

New shelving in the kitchen:

Along with two new cool industrial stools found on craigslist:

Si Romantique!

2009-03-10T13:38:00.000-07:00

Check it out: Le Love.

Ha! Maybe I do miss JJ, after all. ;)

Quiero Ir: Mexico City

2009-03-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

Really neat post on the guest blog on Design*Sponge about design/art in Mexico. This one's for you José Jaime. Read about it HERE.

(Image via Design*Sponge)

Sketchy.

2009-03-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

Inspired by this AMAZING website, Happy Menocal , I made a sketch of my own.

It's when JJ and I first met at Melissa's party.

What drawing skillz.

But seriously, check out the sketchbook on Happy Menocal. It's cool.

Pinkie Swear.

2009-03-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the (unplanned) blogging hiatus. I'm back and I'll post regularly. Honest.

More Books!

2009-01-29T09:54:00.000-08:00

Seriously...I could just post pictures of libraries all day long on this site. I won't, but I could. I'm just saying.

(I love books so much. If I ever design my own house, a room full of bookshelves will be the first room I'd put into the plans.)

(Image via David Tsay.)

Good Night, Sleep Tight.

2009-01-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

Our bedroom. A calm and quiet space at the back of the apartment. The high ceilings and two large windows are daily reminders that AT LAST WE ARE NOT SLEEPING IN CLOSETS.

Nice high windows, room to make the bed - all I have ever dreamed of... :)

Pretty proud of our homemade headboard. It's just plywood covered in natural linen fabric and attached to wall. So classy.

Bedroom closet door and the mirrored armoires from my old apartment. Surprisingly, this apartment has very little storage - one closet (here) and one pantry (kitchen).

The Front Room

2009-01-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

As the title says, this room is located in the front of the house. I love it because it has large windows and receives a lot of daytime sun. It just seems so elegant somehow. (If I can't have an Edwardian terrace in London, then this is a pretty good substitute.)

Couch in the window - perfect for Sunday mornings - sitting in the sun, drinking coffee and reading a magazine whilst still in pajamas.

Unfortunately this isn't a working fireplace, but I still love it. It's so pretty.

Miscellany in the corner...

JJ doesn't like it, but I put this green chair (free on craigslist!)in front of our second front door. I believe this room used to be a living room/parlor when the building was a single-family residence. That door opens into the entry hall/stairway to upstairs neighbors. (Hi Andy, Nicole and Baby Charlie!)

This is the "office" where sometimes JJ gets to work on Fridays. Gee, wish I could work from home...

The Man Room

2009-01-13T14:37:00.000-08:00

This room, in the center of the house, contains the tv, the leather couch, the pac-man table, and books and cds. Basically, it's the place where JJ and I spend 75% of our time at home.

Love the high ceilings!

Perfect area for chillaxin'.

See, it is truly the "center" of the apartment (looking from hallway to front of apartment):

At Last!

2009-01-13T09:03:00.001-08:00

I am still trying to figure out how to a) use the new camera and b) use the new camera well. But, I've been told that something is better than nothing, so here are some photos. First up: The Kitchen.

The prep area to the right of the stove:

The art in the dining area:

The dining table/area (curtains closed):

Dining area and a peek to our back patio (steps lead down to yard):

Loads of cabinets - loads of storage:

Solid Gold!

2008-12-09T16:51:00.001-08:00

Now I can take some photos of the new place. Thanks to my new baby...Orito.

Tara Won't Come Out of the Closet...

2008-12-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

Ha! Old bedroom/closet is featured on Apartment Therapy today. It was warm and cozy...

Check it out HERE

Our new neighborhood.

2008-12-04T16:29:00.001-08:00

Cole Valley aka "The CV" "94117" or "Where?"

For those of you wondering where it is exactly that we live, we are now in a neighborhood called Cole Valley. It's near Haight Ashbury. No hippies here tho'. From what I can tell it's more wheat grass than "grass" in this area. It's very convenient -we're near Golden Gate Park's main entrance, and even better we are only 30 seconds from Kezar Stadium. (I love that!) The commute is easy, too. There are multiple muni lines to downtown (N-Judah, 71, 71L, 7, and 6). It has a hardware store. It has cafes. It has pretty houses. Also, did I mention that we have lots of friends here? That's The Best. Basically, we love it. It=Cole Valley.

(Image via The Front Steps.)

From the SF Chronicle:

"Cole Valley, while partly in the Haight-Ashbury and part in the Parnassus neighborhoods, Cole Valley has a character all its own. The San Francisco Chronicle neighborhood guide says, "...bordered on the west by Stanyan Street and the Sutro Forest, on the south by Tank Hill and on the east by Clayton Street. Residents are largely families and young professionals, though there is no trace of the snootiness that has affected other parts of the city. Most of the businesses in Cole Valley are of the mom-and-pop variety, in lieu of chain stores or franchises, and shop owners are outwardly supportive of each other."

Read more HERE.

*Also, seems there is a fight between Cole Valley and Noe Valley as to which is the better valley.(Guess Hayes Valley doesn't count?) Read all about it HERE. (via The Front Steps blog - great resource for "local" SF real estate gossip.)

Getting there...

2008-12-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

The unpacking is 99% finished. The new place is taking shape.
Some photos (from mobile phone):

Kitchen:

Front Room:

"Beauty, Quality & A Little Bit Quirky"

2008-12-03T10:16:00.001-08:00

That's the motto of Eden & Eden, a great local San Francisco store that is stocked with a variety of interesting home items. For example:

("blah" pillow)

("button" coasters)

("London Bus Sign" tray)

Check it out at Eden & Eden

or visit in person at:

Eden & Eden
560 Jackson Street
(× Columbus Street)
San Francisco
CA 94133
USA
(415) 983 0490

The Third Circle.

2008-11-30T09:35:00.001-08:00

On day four of moving. Progress has been made.

Set Decorators Society of America

2008-11-25T09:38:00.000-08:00

Just found out via Apartment Therapy that The Set Decorators Society of America has its own website which gives one access to their quarterly magazine "Set Decor" (online and print versions). I don't know about you, but I absolutely love looking at the set decor in films and am usually amazed at the beauty and attention to detail one finds. In their magazine, the set designers talk about their process - from research to purchasing to filming - as well as providing many great photos. Very cool. In addition to films, Set Decor also has photos of the sets of a number of television series, such as "Sex and the City", "House" and "Mad Men" (below). Check it out at Set Decorators Society of America

The office of Sterling Cooper...

(Image from Set Decor, Summer 2008 issue)

G.I. Joe. and Jane?

2008-11-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

I'm really into bed linens - not a million throw pillows on the bed, but nice, quality matching sheets and comforters. I get excited about patterned sheets. The word "duvet" makes me happy. I love stripes and florals and matching shams and warm blankets folded at the end of the bed. I get pleasure out of making the bed. Hospital corners? They rock. Needless to say, I am particular about bedding. BUT, I also don't want a bedroom that is overly feminine and doesn't represent both my style AND JJ's style.

JJ has this great vintage army trunk that we've decided to use for storing bedding and which will be put at the foot of the bed.

(Who was Major Dean B. McNealy?)

To pull together feminine bedding, an army trunk, a neutral headboard and rug, I think a vintage Italian Army blanket (wool) will do nicely. Some examples I've found...

(Images from Omaha's GI Surplus)

With some linens from Dwell Studio? Huh? Huh?

(Images from Dwell Studio, compiled by Manolo Home)

Think it could work? We'll see... can't wait to find out.

Pinkie swear.

2008-11-20T14:22:00.001-08:00

I will post photos of the actual apartment soon. Problem is, we haven't moved into it yet. (December 1st, my friends, December 1st.)

In the meantime, let's take a walk down memory lane...

My Apartment on Bush Street.

July 2006:

June 2007:

August 2007:

January 2008:

July 2008:

Oh, I'll miss my apartment-ito.

Too bad I don't have a green thumb.

2008-11-20T14:18:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned yet that the new apartment has a back yard? More space for me to kill more plants! One day, I'll have an outdoor space that looks like this (plus a big BBQ grill and fish-taco fryer for JJ):

(Image from Domino.)

GOOP.

2008-11-20T11:31:00.000-08:00

GOOP. Because I want to "nourish what is real". Ha ha ha! (I'm laughing, but you know I've already signed up for Gwyneth's newsletter.) Enjoy!

(Image via goop.com)

Why am I doing this?

2008-11-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

This site/web-log is my virtual inspiration board - a place to make public what inspires me interior design-wise. It also serves as an on-line journal of the new apartment as it progresses from an empty space to "home" for JJ and me.

(Image from Flickr member jochen.)

A place for everything, and everything in its place.

2008-11-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

Want to see what scares me most in the world?
.
.
.
.
.
.
AGGGHHHH!!!

(Courtesy of Craigslist)

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.

2008-11-18T14:53:00.000-08:00

Which got me thinking...beds! Here are two modern beds in wood that I like. No flimsy Ikea veneer here.

(Logic bed from Room and Board)

(Elan bed from Crate & Barrel)

Rex Ray Rocks.

2008-11-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you need something for the walls besides the ubiquitous Van Gogh poster. Rex Ray's work is modern, colorful, and funky. Love it.

From Chronicle Books, "Rex Ray is a San Francisco based fine artist whose paintings and drawings have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums. He is also a celebrated graphic designer."

Consider his book "Monograph" on my list for Santa this year.

(Images from Chronicle Books and RexRay.com)

A case of the Mondays.

2008-11-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

Sitting at my desk and wondering if it's possible to teach myself how to sew curtains...oh, it's hard to be stuck in an office sometimes.

(Image via LivingEtc.)

The Un-Glamorous Side to Moving. Or, how I spent my Saturday night.

2008-11-16T17:06:00.001-08:00

Packing and painting, oh my!

Prep-work is key. (Thanks "Ask This Old House".)

Speaking of books...

2008-11-14T15:24:00.000-08:00

This is probably one of my most favorite rooms. Ever.

A wall of books, floor-to-ceiling windows, a reading chair, and a beautiful desk - combined make a perfect library.

(Image via desiretoinspire.)

Every man needs a cave.

2008-11-14T11:53:00.000-08:00

This is for JJ.

(Image via desiretoinspire.)

Already inspired.

2008-11-13T22:01:00.001-08:00

Could this...

become this...?

(Image from LivingEtc.)

A blank canvas.

2008-11-13T21:31:00.000-08:00

A corner for a desk? Bookshelves? A chair? The possibilities are endless. That's what's both fun and overwhelming at the same time.

And so it begins...

2008-11-13T21:26:00.001-08:00

Our new home in Cole Valley.

(Image from MetroRent.com)