Being Stuck at the Office Has Never Been So Stylish

It's Friday afternoon and you just haven't been able to get through the pile of work on your desk.  The evening plans have been cancelled and it looks like Saturday is done for too.  Why not brighten up your work space with a few new organizational accessories?    If it's a creative block that you're facing sometimes it's necessary to loosen up and go back to the drawing board... or perhaps a floor to ceiling removable white board sticker by the babes at WhiteyBoard.   Seriously, these things are a life changer and they also make dry erase paint in various finishes!

Skyline Desktop Organizer
See Jane Work$28

Bicycle Paper Clips
The Container Store
$3.99/Pack of 4

Bird Letter Opener
Walker Shop
$16

Archie Grand Notebooks
Walker Shop
$12/each

Cord Clips
The Container Store
$9.99/Each

Black & White Folders
Kate Spade
$15/set of 12

White & Lime Under Desk FilePoppin$150

Design A Desk with 
Poppin
 $5-$24

Lime Green Task Chair 
Poppin 
$250

Ghost Whitey Board 
whiteyboard.com

Artwork On a Shoestring Budget

In the last 2 years I have moved a lot!   First from Canada to the U.S and then from Texas to California.  I've gone from big apartments into smaller ones and vica versa.  Now that I've settled (somewhat) in the Bay Area it's time to fill my barren walls.  Here are some of my picks for budget art so far.

Support System, by Andrea D' Aquino 

Sagacious, by Arcane Arts

Gallivant, by Arcane Arts

Birds of the Wild, by Meeralee

Wintourfeld, by Don Oehl

Jacoppola by Don Oehl

My Butt, by Helena Wurzel

Women on Rocks, by Elizabeth Huey

Terracotta Warriors

It's always a struggle to get the creative juices flowing on Monday's.  I was feeling very uninspired today until I came across a new tile line from Ann Sacks and POW! I am back in the game.  Haveli by Neisha Crosland takes inspiration from Native American weaving's.  Here are a few of my favorite patterns:

Thunder Field in Black on Cream

Pollen Field in Orange Red

Thunder Field in Black Henna

Zig Zag Field in Black on Cream

FALL IN LOVE

As the days get shorter and cooler, we find ourselves spending more and more time indoors.  Why not take the time to make your home as cozy and comforting as possible?  Here are a few hot essentials to to take off the impending chill.

Ombre Velvet Pillows 

Velvet is hot this season. Why not take the runway to your couch with one of these beauties?

Anthropologie

Cashmere Knit Throw

Nothing says comfort like cashmere.  It may be a splurge but you'll be thanking yourself  on chilly winter nights

Jonathan Adler

Patchwork Ikat Duvet

If you're not lucky enough to have a patchwork quilt made by your Granny or passed down through generations etc etc you can pretend with one of these babies.

Urban Outfitters

Owl Umbrella Stand

I need this! As someone who constantly looses and abuses umbrellas, this is a game changer.

The Cross

Gold Zebra Hide

Warm up a cold floor with this luxe hide.  The gold color would look great in candlelight. 

The Cross

Warm Vanilla Sugar Candles

These are to die for! There is nothing like a little aromatherapy to get you through those stormy nights.

Bath & Body Works

Soup Tureen

Why not have a beautiful place to put that chicken soup?

Le Creuset

San Francisco Vintage Shopping Guide

September is a time of change for many of us.  We dig out sweaters, send the kids back to school and even hit the books ourselves.  Last month the boy, the dog and I U Hauled ourselves from Houston to the Bay Area.  Escaping the heat and sprawl of Houston is a big plus, however, our furniture took the brunt of the move. Many pieces had to be left behind or were pretty banged up in transit. Considering I have next to zero budget I am going to be hitting vintage shops in and around San Fran looking for gems.

Here is a list of shops that are a must:


STUFF
150 Valencia St.,San Francisco
Store Hours: 10 am- 9pm Daily
Tel: 415-864-2988




Owners Will Lenker and james Spinello have created  17,000 sq. feet of design heaven.  Their group of dealers have amassed an amazing assortment of artwork, furniture and unique accessories from the Deco, Mid-Century, Mod and Atomic eras.  They also have a giant Big Bird which I had to pry myself from.


THE OTHER SHOP 
327 Divisadero ( at Oak)
Store Hours: Mon- Sun 12pm-6pm
Tel: 415-621-5424

This is a great shop for 50's, 60's and 70's nicknacks, furniture, artwork, records, lighting and dishware.  Stop by often and if you like something snatch it up fast otherwise some other lucky soul will.


THE APARTMENT
3469 18th St. (between Lexington St & Valencia)
San Francisco
Store Hours: Mon, Sun 12pm-5pm /Wed-Sat 11am-6pm
Tel:415-255-1100



A favorite Mission shop filled with items from the furniture and accessories from the 70's and earlier.  I always spend way to long looking through the vintage photographs.


MICKEY'S MONKEY
2188 Pierce St. ( between Haight St. & Page St.)
San Francisco
Tel: 415-864-0693
Store Hours: Mon- Fri 12pm-7pm/Sat&Sun 10am-7pm




Mickey's Monkey is wall to wall eccentric goodness.  Prices are affordable and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.  It is definitely a place to go if you're looking for that 'hipster granny' aesthetic.

ROOM 4
904 Valencia St.
San Francisco
Tel: 415-647-2764
Store Hours: 1pm-7pm (best to call ahead)

Room 4 is a great shop filled with clothing, furniture and accessories hand picked by Owner/Designer David Marks.  Prices are surprisingly affordable and they also offer Design Services for those who need a little help making sense of it all.

FLIPP

1400 Green st. @ Polk

San Francisco

Store Hours: Wed-Sun 11am-6pm/Mon-Tues By Appointment

Tel: 415-440-3547

Fl!PP is a Russian Hill shop that is dedicated to sourcing one of a kind pieces from American, European, Asian and African sources.  They also throw great store events with art exhibits, food  and wine tastings, as well as courses in interior design, urban gardening and sustainability.  FL!PP also offers private event hosting in the Fushia Garden.


THE COMMUNITY THRIFT
623 Valencia St.
San Francisco
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 10am-6:30pm
Tel: 415-861-4910




If you love the thrill of the hunt this place is for you.  One day it's a gold mine and others it is a mixed bag of wackiness that only exists in SF.  Regardless, there are great deals on furniture to be had for those who don't mind having to put a little TLC into a piece.  If you are looking to donate items this is great place as you get to choose the charity it goes to.

Pop Up Madness!

I am in love with this guerilla retail trend.  If you are still in the dark get with the program.  Pop up shops or flash retailing are temporary retail shops set up in an otherwise empty commercial space.  They come, set up and once the merch is gone..poof! Shoppers late to the game are left wanting more and so the hype builds.

The fact that these spaces are temporary and fleeting is all the more seductive to retail junkies looking for their next fix and the concept itself relies eye catching visual merchandising as well as social media.

Here are some of the poppiest of pop ups that have made me drool.




Parra Pop Up @ Wood Wood, Berlin



British Style Mag Lula Curates a Pop Up @ Harvey Nichols



Kate Spade Igloo!  SO cute

Bemz Goes Industrial

For those of you that aren't familiar with Bemz slipcovers prepare to spend at least an hour drooling over  their website.   In 2004 Bemz was started by Canadian Leslie Pennington who after moving to Sweden, bought a Ikea sofa but was frustrated with the lack of fabric choice.   The custom covers are made fit the most popular of Ikea sofas and chairs with delivery times of 3-4 weeks.  Go get inspired at bemz.com

 

DIY Awesomeness

Here is a weekly round up of affordable things I am loving. Enjoy!

 O'verlays  are lightweight, fretwork panels that come in different patterns and sizes. They are ready to paint and easily attach to furniture, mirrors, walls and glass.  Props to Cheryle Rhuda and Danika Herrick for opening up a world of gorgeous and affordable projects.

O'verlays

Architectural Depot.com is a great site for all sorts of finishing products.  I am ordering up ceiling medallions in various styles and sizes for a wall treatment similar to this installation. Alternatively you could insert mirror in the center for a highend effect on the cheap. I am officially crazy about ceiling medallions!

Better Homes and Gardens

Calamity Anne

Watermelon Keg DIY .  

I cannot wait to try this puppy out. What will they think of next?!  

 Food Network

Mod Podge Madness- What can't this stuff do? Seriously.  Can't afford those glitter shoes you keep seeing everywhere? Mod Podge to the rescue! Check out the tutorial here.  

Don't like glitter shoes? How about a dictionary wall?

Apartment Therapy

Modernism in Houston

Houston and Modernism are two things that I wouldn't associate together.  Upon first glance America's 4th largest city is a mish mash of parking lots, freeways, and strip malls.  This lack of planning is due to well....a lack of planning.  Yes folks Houston, America's 4th largest city has no formal urban zoning.  Don't try and understand it, as a visitor here I just  accept the wackiness and move on.  In my desperation for something well planned I came across Houston Mod.  Bless their souls! An organization that promotes and educates people in the awesomeness of modern architecture in H-Town.  The group works to preserve the architectural gems that are left around the Houston area and needs all the support it can get!

Here are a few examples of modernism in Houston:

UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS
Architect: Philip Johnson
(1958)
3812 - 3910 Yoakum Blvd

WEISENBAKER HOUSE
Architect: Howard Wisenbaker
(1959)
5411 Whispering Creek Way

THE ROTHKO CHAPEL
Architect: Barnstone and Aubry
(1971)
1409 Sul Ross

New Construction
1216 Hyde Park
(see modernhouston.net for details)

301 Glenwood Dr.(see modernhouston.net for details)