philpotts in san francisco

my favorite hawaiian design firm, philpotts interiors, has opened a satellite office in the scintillating city of san francisco. in may they made their mainland debut by participating in the 2010 san francisco decorator showcase.

assigned a second floor bedroom in the pacific heights mansion, the philpotts team created an organic retreat brimming with asian allure. after scooping a chinese screen and daybed in honolulu, the designers lacquered the pieces, majorly modernizing their classic vibes. playful artwork, a lotus lounge chair, soft floor cushions, and a dramatic faux-hide rug all contribute to the wildly successful bedroom.

i would especially like to thank marion philpotts-miller, jon staub, kristie kiggins and roberto tiscareno of philpotts interiors for designing and submitting their stunning transformation. the after photos were shot by raenovate veteran, matthew millman.

san francisco home office

mark newman, san francisco's most talented custom millwork interior designer, has converted another amazing space. located on davis street, newman transformed the lackluster storage-less home office into the sleekest most organized workplace ever. olive grey stained rift-cut oak cabinetry with ebonized score detailing and organic bark glass grace the room. with boat loads of gloriously modern built-ins what more could these davis street residents ask for?

i would once again like to thank mark newman of mark newman design for submitting his sophisticated san francisco transformations.

janie kasarjian interiors

i love senior citizens! in high school i volunteered as a bingo caller at the local nursing home and ever since then old men in suspenders and frail little ladies turn my heart to mush. when interior designer janie kasarijian explained that her recent jaw-dropping kitchen renovation was for an 80 year old couple i practically wept. having not updated their home since 1972, the sassy seniors were ready to welcome to the 21^st century with open arms. janie gutted the kitchen and adjoining entertainment and dining areas and started fresh. rich cabinetry and built-ins and a warm neutral color palette modernize the space, making it appropriate for dwellers of all ages. BINGO!

i would especially like to thank janie kasarijian of janie kasarijian interiors for taking the time to send me photos from her camarillio, california design studio.

atlanta bathroom

atlanta interior designer, sherry hart, recently brought some major southern charm to her buckhead residence. built in 1946, the home’s bathroom was original and in dire need of modernization. by stealing 8” from the hallway linen closet and moving the toilet 12” closer to the window, hart opened and lightened up the lavatory.

opting for a nautically neutral scheme, sherry introduced everyday objects and creatively re-purposed them. an antique oar is used to hold extra toilet paper rolls, galvanized pipe acts as the curtain rod, and run-of-the-mill burlap is transformed into a high-class drapery.

i’d especially like to thank sherry hart of sherry hart interior design for taking the time to send me photos of her atlanta, georgia transformation.

cincinnati kitchen

remember my newlywed pals jacque and chris? well the sensational cincinnati couple have just revamped their kitchen, and she’s a beauty. located in cincinnati’s mount lookout neighborhood, their historically rich home (it’s 102!) was aching for an eatery that paid homage to the house’s architectural details.

the renovation was a family affair; jacque’s dad (of ge) and chris’s dad (of nisbet bower) both had the insiders’ scoop when it came to supplying the new cabinets and appliances, which meant they were able to remove the run-of-the-mill oak cabinetry and dated white appliances. the result is perfect and warms my heart. as long distance friends i love envisioning jacque sporting an apron and heating up skyline chili in her renovated kitchen.

a tale of two kitchens

stephanie marsh fillbrandt, designer of my favorite nursery for triplets, has recently redesigned two practically identical kitchens in a classic two-unit san francisco edwardian stunner. though architecturally similar, marsh and clark design had two very distinct visions for the design of these stacked gourmet kitchens.

'kitchen a' features expansive view of the san francisco skyline. to complement the sophisticated nature of the city's illuminated skyscape, fillbrant selected dark espresso cabinets with contrasting cool colored walls. downstairs in 'kitchen b', she went the rustic route. warm colors and woods evoke a felling of comfort while handmade, single-bulb light fixtures give the room a vintage modern look. with accessories from anthem, both kitchens scream san francisco. which do you prefer?

i'd like to thank the lovely jessica mullens of mullens public relations for providing the goods for today's marsh and clark design transformation, with after photos by elisabeth fall.

happy 34 years!

my parents will be married a whopping 34 years tomorrow! just before their wedding in the summer of 1976 they purchased a quaint cape cod house on a quiet dead end street. 35 summers later they're still shacking up in the same hacienda, continuously working to make their house a home.
in honor of their big day and recent kitchen facelift, i've taken the liberty of digging through dusty picture boxes and pulling some oldies but goodies of the kitchen. please note the state it was purchased in, my mom's early 80s love of mushrooms, me in pink oshkosh b'gosh overalls, the mid 90s bunny wallpaper border, and finally their new sparkly granite transformations countertops. oh what a difference 34 years makes...
happy anniversary mom and dad! i love you, the effort you put forth into being married, and the home you've created for our happy little family.