A Peek into Pat's World

If you've ever attended the Alameda Point Antiques Faire you may have had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Pat Story. Pat and her sweet hubby Ray have been selling at "The Point" for over 10 years.

Not only is Pat one of the sweetest people in the world, she has an eye for the unique and wonderful.

Her loyal following of vendors from interior designers to shop owners patiently await for Pat to unload her truck the first Sunday of every month to see what gems she uncovers. From large funky props and garden statuary to shiny pieces of silver, her booth is just about cleaned out by the end of the day.

Pat at her happiest...selling her treasures...

More of the unexpected...this gigantic tuba!

Pat's aesthetic can be seen in her 1940's Northern California cottage-style home. A clean neutral palette of whites, infused with bits of silver, sparkle and natural elements. Not overly done and very soothing to the eye. Pat does not like clutter!

See that giant trophy cup in the background? Where does she find these unique items?

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into Pat & Ray's world.

Be sure and visit them at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire the first Sunday of every month, rain or shine. Booths number D01-02.

(And if you're a good little girl/boy, Pat will spoil you with a yummy loaf of pumpkin or banana bread during the holidays. Ssshhh...don't tell her that I'm spreading the word...)

image credit: Alameda: me; home shots; Jessica Fish

Ada & Darcy

I recently discovered Ada & Darcy, the gorgeous blog of Australia-based interior designer Kellie Collis.

Ada & Darcy takes my breath away with Kellie's eye-catching photos of her own home, her DIY projects, and the pure & simple beauty that she admires.

Kellie has a passion for all things beautiful, especially fabulous interiors. She is always looking for new and gorgeous things for her interior design and styling business, and for her online store that will be opening very soon.

Her precious babies, Lily & Molly...

Colorful pillows & vibrant flowers grace Kellie's home...

If you're looking for endless inspiration, a romantic and ethereal place to get lost in, visit Ada & Darcy here. You may find yourself spending much time perusing it as I have! It's fabulous!

photo credits: Ada & Darcy

Pin it Forward: What Home Means to Me

I'm thrilled to be a part of Pin-it-Forward, a blogger mashup organized by Victoria of sfgirlbybay and Pinterest, a visual bookmarking site. The theme is "what home means to you," and over the course of several weeks, 300 bloggers will share their photos and passions of "home." It's so much fun!

So, here I go...What does home mean to me?

You may have already figured out that I live in San Francisco since I talk about it so much. Born and raised here, with roots going back to the 19th century. I love the open feeling of living near an ocean and bay, and breathing the fresh dewy air. Even with the dreary fog that encompasses this City much of the year, San Francisco is home.

Ahhh...comfort. Nothing cries "home" more than snuggling into bed enveloped by a down comforter with my little poodle Vito as my pillow. Home is a place of solace...a place that we can escape the outside world and surround ourselves with comfort.

Family heirlooms and antique finds reflect my passions and the past. Being surrounded by these special objects brings a uniqueness to my surroundings and puts a smile on my face.

I don't like to get too serious about decorating. I love a home filled with the unexpected. Nothing too staged, and reflecting the owner's personality. An eclectic mix of pieces from different eras and touches of whimsy always makes for an interesting space. What awaits me when I turn the corner? I never know!

Guilty as charged. Guilty of stashes of candy in drawers & cabinets. Not too much, but just enough to be able to pull out that licorice when I'm in the mood. Total comfort. Stashes of wonderfully scented candles and magazines to devour. Nirvana!


I'm crazy over small touches of glitz that bring me back to a bygone era. And I love mirrors! They make a small house seem larger, and the reflections they create are magical.

Home is my retreat. Husband, dog, family and friends. It's my favorite place to be!

my Pinterest page

Many thanks to Victoria at sfgirlbybay and the group at Pinterest for the opportunity to participate in this fun event, and for enabling my new Pinterest addiction. Just what I needed...another fun thing to take me away from my work. Actually it's a wonderful source to "bookmark" your favorite photos while browsing the web!

To follow the other boards I've created, hop on over to my Pinterest page. You can also check out other bloggers participating in the "Pin it Forward" by viewing the full schedule here.

And now... I'm passing the baton to art...work, so be sure to check out her post on Monday.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

photo credits found on my Pintrest page

9 By Design Tonight!

Is anyone watching the premiere of 9 by Design tonight on Bravo?

"Husband and wife design team Bob and Cortney Novogratz, owners of the NYC based design firm, Sixx Design, and stars of Bravo's newest docu-series "9 by Design." For more than a decade, this young, hip and artsy couple have developed and designed unique properties in Manhattan, rebuilt entire blocks in the city, and turned funky into fabulous with taste and confidence." And, may I add, they have 6 kids...that's right 6, and a baby on the way!!

If you get Bravo and have a chance watch this show tonight, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Hope it's not on during American Idol or I have a choice to make!

Enjoy!

I Need Some Color, Do You?

Happy Monday!

It's been gloomy and raining here in San Francisco, so I was looking at some photos on my desktop and came across this photo of this eclectic, colorful room. Not sure if I could pull off the multi-colored chairs in my house, but the colors are sure cheery during a gloomy Spring!

Have a great week ahead!

LONNY is here!

Today is the official launch of the much-anticipated online magazine, Lonny. If you miss the (sadly) defunct Domino magazine as I do, this may fill that void!


Michelle Adams, who served as the Market Editor of Domino, along with photographer Patrick Cline, are the forces behind this decorating and lifestyle publication. Michelle is also founder of the textile line, Rubie Green.


Tonight I briefly browsed through Lonny and it looks amazing. Brilliant photography and useful decorating tips. And you can zoom in to see the fine detail. Gorgeous!

Currently Lonny is only viewable online, but you never know...

I wish the Lonny team great success! Now go and check it out here!

photos via ma-belle blog