THE PRESIDIO'S LATEST

In search for the perfect wedding venue, I explored the Presidio and unexpectedly stumbled across a real treat. At first sight of the building I pulled over, thinking it could be lodging for our guests. One thorough guided tour  & a handful of Instagrams later, I decided it was so great I would make it an even bigger part of my weekend. We are now thinking of renting out The Inn at the Presidio not only to accommodate visiting families and bridal party, but also to keep these loved ones under one roof for our special weekend, family-style.

The Inn at the Presidio was re-opened in April after being closed for a complete retrofitting and interior design makeover. This Georgian-Revival building was designed with a modern touch while also preserving it's historic charm as a home for the bachelor officers back when the Presidio was a U.S. Army post.

(click on images to expand)

Entry

Lobby

 

Breakfast Room & Lounge

Suite

Patio

DOUGLAS DURKIN DESIGN

Douglas Durkin is among my favorite designer clients to work with. Even though we see him regularly at the studio, our interview with him on Decorati was very interesting to say the least, and reiterated the fact that he's flawless.

Douglas' design aesthetic rocks- always so effortless- and his professionalism is endearing. He's a highly appraised designer and a legend in the making.

simplicity & soul

I fell in love with a beach house recently featured in Architectural Digest. Designed by architects KAA Design & interior design firm Atelier AM, this Laguna Beach getaway seamlessly showcases total timelessness.

The client hoped to replicate the sand-between-the-toes livability of the seaside villas they’d visited in Mexico, Sardinia, and elsewhere.  “Here, the spaces are simply for everyday comfort. What we really wanted was our own small resort, and we had in mind a collage of architectural examples from our travels.” 

The main attractions were limestone, shagreen, and meranti, a mahogany-like timber from Southeast Asia. “The idea was to reduce the number of materials so that your eye quickly gets used to what it is seeing".  Atelier AM opted for a quiet, casual, sun-washed statement “because of the strong visuals of the natural surroundings. In a house like this, anything but the most minimal pattern becomes an unnecessary distraction.”

Quote of the Day

"I beg you, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer."

Rainer Maria Rilke, 1903

SUZANNE TUCKER

Once upon a time I was blessed with the opportunity to join the Tucker & Marks team. My time invested was very educational, inspiring and I am so proud of the mastermind behind it all- an accomplished and very talented interior designer, author, and textile designer.

Suzanne Tucker is recognized today as one of the country’s leading interior designers. She and partner Timothy F. Marks founded Tucker & Marks in 1986, and the firm has long been considered one of the most respected and successful interior design firms in the U.S.

Architectural Digest has honored Suzanne as one of the AD100 Top Designers of the World and her work has been featured in international magazines and numerous books including her monograph Rooms to Remember: The Classic Interiors of Suzanne Tucker.

I was first inspired by Suzanne a couple years ago at a San Francisco Fall Antiques Show lecture in 2010 when she gave an unforgettable introduction of her dear friend, Bunny Williams (interior, furniture and accessories designer) before Bunny's lecture about her latest book, Scrapbook for Living, and how to blend antiques with contemporary design. Tucker is often asked to lecture on her work incorporating antiques, textiles & the decorative arts, a beloved subject matter.

Suzanne is passionate about architecture and finds that travel and the diversity of cultures enhance her passion and knowledge and inspire her in the creation of unforgettable rooms. I too love that travels enhance my passion for design- my own explorations have blessed me with many photo memories of rich colors and textures from different cultures I plan to incorporate into future design projects.

Suzanne Tucker Home was launched in 2010, a decorative textile line which encompasses interesting and diverse weave structures and luxurious colorways. What I love most about her textile line is the inspiration she found in prints from the 18th, 19th & 20th centuries, which she translated for classic and contemporary interiors.

"I wanted to take some of these documents and reinterpret them for our world".

- Suzanne Tucker

For her recent Caravan Collection, I admire that Suzanne sought after the African savannah for inspiration.

Below: Duma (right), a cotton velvet shown in colorway Tan, is named after the Swahili word for cheetah. Serengeti (left), a cotton and linen shown in colorway Sand, is also available in colors inspired by the zebra itself as well as the colors of the African savannah.

I'm anxious to see what the future has in store for Suzanne's innovative interiors, textile designs and next bestsellers. In the meantime, I'll be treasuring all that I've learned from the best of the trade in my new ventures.

NANTUCKET MEETS MIAMI

i found my dream vacation home today. located on the dune-front shores of Nantucket, it's weathered, cozy, and screams "family". built in the 1860's, it's walls have seen endless east-coast summers and witnessed countless childhood memories. if only they could speak it's well-lived (& weathered) history...

"the furniture and decor are crisp & white, with pops of red, blue, and orange, appropriate for a modern family"
- rebecca asher, designer

low windowsills fill the house with light and air

the house is clean & white throughout with neutral fixings, effortlessly drawing the eye to views of a serene Nantucket shore one would be so lucky to call their front yard

the clients wanted to convert the old-fashioned layout into one that was light and contemporary—but not boxy or stark—with streamlined versions of traditional New England detailing

even east-coast families can be funky: eero saarinen tulip chairs

storybook trails through the dunes that lead to shore

SOHO HOUSE :: MIAMI

i played at the miami soho house over memorial day weekend this year

and let me just say it was quite the adventure

bright colors, fun prints & smart, eclectic mix of beautiful things (& people!)

Soho House was founded in London, in 1995, as a private members’ club for those in film, media and creative industries

the group has since expanded to include clubs, bedrooms, restaurants and spas, spanning across the UK, Europe & the US