The City Sage

Designer Spotlight: Cecilie Starin

Not only does San Francisco boast some of the world's best restaurants and most awe-inspiring natural settings, it also plays home to an incredible roster of interior designers. One of my top picks is Cecilie Starin, whose approach to 'classic design with a modern twist' has me picking my jaw up off the floor. Her work oozes drama and grandeur, yet at the same time feels utterly livable.

The trick is to take traditional shapes--a cabriole-legged desk, a four-poster bed--and combine them in irreverent ways. A Louis VXI chair gets a zebra treatment; a marble Apollo head rests on the floor. Unite the look with a palette of refined yet multilayered neutrals and you're golden.

Channel Cecilie's style at home. Campaign-inspired pieces like a leather folding chair and mirrored chest exude aristocratic gravitas. Accents in ebony and cocoa have a high fashion sensibility, while a faux hide rug will fool even the most experienced safari trekker. Plenty of gilt, brass, and dark wood only looks like you have a butler on hand to polish all day: 'Jeeves, you missed a spot!'

Interiors images courtesy of Cecilie Starin Interior Design. Shopping Guide: 1. Mirrored Chest of Drawers 2. Gold Hurricanes 3. Brass Serving Tray 4. Cane and Velvet Occasional Chair 5. Campaign Chair 6. Zebra Hide Rug 7. Gold Branches Candelabra 8. Greek Motif Box 9. Italian Urn Lamp 10. Windowpane and Needlepoint Pillows 11. Treillage Gold Leaf Coffee Table

Where I Blog From!

For someone who blogs about design, my house isn't much to look at; I'm so busy worrying about other spaces I often neglect my own. But I adore Jane's 'Where I Blog From' series, so when she asked me to participate I tidied my desk and took a few pics. Get the sneak peek here--and please don't judge me for that carpet. I'm soon ripping it up to reveal the hardwood floors beneath!

P.S. My Coach Poppy Project garden is growing! If it's blocking your view, you can click the tiny 'x' at the top of the page to hide it. But remember: If you see a Coach bag in the pattern, click on it to receive a special gift!

August Reflections

Goodness me. Can you believe it's August? It seems like January just slipped through the door! But alas, it's here, so we might as well make the most of it. My favorite way to savor the feelings and memories of a month is to flip through the back issues in my magazine collection. This month offers up some especially lovely images--and I wonder, does August mean to you what it means to me?

For me, August is bright. It's summer sun reflecting off white walls, sandy beaches, placid lakes at dawn. It's vibrant juicy tomatoes and vivid garden blooms. It's toenails painted coral, floors painted aqua, imagination painted the many hues of a mountain hike. 

August is taking the time to do it right. It's long lunches at my grandparents' house, and even though we're only eating sandwiches we get out napkins and placemats and we use the special fork for our bread and butter pickles. It's slow, it's thoughtful, it's old school.

August is a good book. In fact, it's several good books, as many as you can squeeze into the day. It's keeping a different novel in each room of the house--even the bathroom!--so you can pick up where you left off no matter where you find yourself. Lately I'm into epic historical fashion; how 'bout you?

August is family. August is mom and dad--university professors by trade--finding themselves with no classes to teach and time on their hands. It's camping trips to collect plants (not fun when you're a kid but much longed-for now!) For mom and dad today, it's renovating their 1876 Toronto row house to expose wood floors as gorgeous as the ones above.

August is keeping it light and breezy. It's rolling up the rugs and taking down the curtains. It's lingering at the table with mismatched plates and cups. It's quick and painless takeout meals like sushi--cold and healthful, colorful and straight from nature, energy giving instead of energy sapping--and washing it down with icy mint tea.

August is the Huz and me. Reunited this month six years ago, married this month two years ago, finding ourselves now closer and more in love than ever. It's the comfort of routine combined with the challenge of keeping each other on our toes. It's true: 'We are so good together.'

And most of all, August is dreams. This year in particular, it's dreams coming to life. The exciting new endeavor of Rue Magazine--four photo shoots in the next six days! It's a time charged with possibility and adventure, and I'm so grateful for every moment. Now tell me: What is August to you?

Image Credits: 1. Martha Stewart Living, August 2010 2. Blueprint, August 2006 3. Domino, August 2007 4. Martha Stewart Living, August 2007 5. Elle Decoration UK, August 2010 6, 7. Inside Out, August 2010 8. Elle Decoration UK, August 2009

Still Loving: Ikat Interiors

I know Ikat has been riding a wave of popularity for a while, but I'm still hooked. When I see it, I stare transfixed like a wide-eyed virgin. There's something so irresistible about the swirling patterns and vibrant colors--they have a seductive quality reminiscent of a bellydancer's swaying hips.

First some nerdy facts. I've been saying "eye-cat" but apparently it's "eee-kat". The term comes from the Indonesian word for 'to tie', but the technique itself is centuries old and found all around the world. Threads are tied in knots, dyed, and then untied and woven into cloth. So all those patterns are determined by where the knots are placed before the string is even dyed. Amazing, no?

Most of the Ikat in these images I've selected--and the pattern that seems most prominent today--is Uzbek in origin. In the bedroom of Madeline Weinrib, an Ikat bedspread mixes easily with stripes, chevrons and suzani motifs. Weinrib's eponymous line of global textiles sets the industry standard, so it's no surprise she applies these artisinal pieces so beautifully in her own home.

I love Ikat for its ability to slip easily into spaces of many different styles. From a glamorous traditional living room to a contemporary bedroom to a bohemian loft, the pattern injects a playful yet historied vibe. It says, 'Yes, I'm more cultured than you, but I won't make a big stink about it.'

And of course the range of Ikat hues presents a zillion opportunities to work it into your decor. Even a quiet, sophisticated grey interior can enjoy a taste of the exotic. I adore this as an alternative to a stuffy damask or floral--but the crisp tailoring on the bench cushion retains the posh feel.

My ultimate dream? To reupholster an old chair with eye-popping Ikat, just as seen above. The contrast of the delicate antique with the bold textile makes for a powerful juxtaposition. And the colors here in particular--the juicy fuchsia, deep teal, and sunshine yellow--radiate joy. How could you not feel happy in a chair like this?

P.S. Stay tuned this afternoon for more Ikat, including a shopping guide!

Image Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Elle Decor 6. Elle Decoration France, August 2010. Sponsored Links: We offer guaranteed 1z0-144 study materials with latest 000-104 questions and answers to help you competently prepare for HP2-E31 exams.

The Hardest Working Rug in Show Biz: Ikea Rand

You know how some actors seem to be everywhere? You're not sure about them at first, but eventually you see them so much that you warm up to them--because if every director and his brother is casting them, they must be good, right? Well in the incestuous world of interiors, that player is Ikea's Rand rug. It's the James Franco of decor!

And as with James Franco, I was skeptical at first but now I'm smitten. These offset stripes have wormed their way into my heart and made themselves at home. From setting the scene for glam gilt tables and leopard stools, to providing a foundation for a crisp, clean, organic space, this rug has serious range. Now if only I could get Mr. Franco to come live with me for the low, low price of $179.

P.S. I knowingly took a little dramatic license here. The huge rugs in some of these photos are actually Buche by Madeleine Weinrib. Pricier but available in more sizes.

Image Credits: 1. Brown Turtleneck Sweater 2, 3. Elle Decoration UK 4. DecorPad 5. Domino 6. Habitually Chic 7. Lonny 8. Elle Decor. Sponsored Links: Check out the latest E20-361 questions and answers written by our 199-01 certified team to help you pass 646-204 exam in first try.

Wallpaper to Room: The Wallpaper Collective

I've raved ad nauseum about my love of wallpaper; and now that I'm considering papering my bedroom walls, I'm more obsessed than ever. So I was thrilled to find the unique and amazing selection at The Wallpaper Collective. A terrific online resource, this is your one-stop-shop for wallpaper with a quirky, artisinal sensibility.

A great wallpaper is like a great rug; it can act both as centerpiece and backdrop depending on what else you put in the room. Go for muted monochromes with a whimsical butterfly damask, or let a subtly fantastical kaleidoscope print set the scene for a colorful mix of eclectic whimsy. With so many gorgeous papers out there, I have no idea how I'll select just one for my bedroom. Stay tuned!

Shopping Guide, Board One: Wallpaper, Bed, Pillows, Goblet, Frames, Nightstand, Rug, Chandelier, Shelf, Book, Throw. Board Two: Wallpaper, Sofa, Ottoman, Pillow, Lamp, Chest of Drawers, Rug, Chair, Grenade Piggy Banks, Colored Tumblers. Interiors Images: Living Etc.

The Houseguest: Summer Vacation

Oh good, you're here on time! My private jet leaves in just fifteen minutes, and there are several rules to review before I leave for my secluded tropical paradise. I appreciate you holding down the fort for me while I'm away; it's so hard to find trustworthy house-sitters these days!

First the living room. These walls are carefully calibrated to be the exact color of sunshine, so you have to test them every morning in case they start to fade. If indeed the hue measures less than 'utterly joyful radiance', you'll need to paint another coat. High maintenance, yes, but so worth it.

On to the formal dining room. You may have noticed that there are a lot of natural wood tones in this space. And you may have guessed what that means. Yup: two hours of high energy polishing every morning when you wake up. I use a concentrated emu oil extract to get this glorious sheen.

Don't use the library; it's officially the cats' room. Not because they know how to read--we're still working on that--but because I've color coordinated the seating to match their fur. James Bond sleeps on the black Butterfly Chair, and Sophie enjoys the taupe Orange Slice chair. Like their mother, they are design snobs of the highest order.

In our breakfast nook you'll find a collection of Eames Molded Plywood chairs. I bought these just over the weekend. See how I've only got seven? That's because I'm going to complete my set by winning Roseline's giveaway. (That, my friends, is what you call unbridled optimism...)

I've made up the guest bedroom just for you. It's a more casual space--one in which you really feel you can put your feet up. Of course don't actually put your feet up. Do you have any idea of the chaos that would cause? You'll be sleeping with an inflatable mattress on the floor.

Finally, the bathroom practically has your name on it. The tub is perfect for taking long relaxing soaks, leaning back under a mountain of lavender-scented bubbles with a good book and a glass of champagne, feeling your troubles drift away. That's why I expect you to scour it daily and have it waiting full of piping hot water when I return. Ciao!

All images courtesy of Elle Decor July/August 2010.

Merci Beaucoup to Cote Maison!

Yesterday I received some incredible news; The City Sage has been named by Cote Maison France as one of the Top 15 Design Blogs in the world! Given that I worship everything related to France and interiors, this is a huge honor indeed. So of course I have to spread the love and share some of my favorite spaces from Cote Maison's amazing line-up of shelter mags!

Down the street from my house is a newsstand that sells magazines from all over the world, and I always pick up Cote Maison's publications. In addition to Maison Francaise, they also offer a roster of regional titles that have me dreaming of voyages to Paris, Normandy, Provence, Lille or Marseille. Anyone want to sponsor me on a grand tour of la belle France?

One of the loveliest summers I've ever spent was in the South of France. My school group was based in Nice but we also travelled the coast and toured the homes of the great artists. One stop brought us to Picasso's house, and I will always remember the clarity of the sunlight in that space--not unlike that reflecting off the walls of this breathtaking kitchen!

This vignette imbues so many of the elements I cherish in French decor. The quiet sense of history present in the roll arm sofa and makeshift table (look familiar?) grounds the space, while a graphic application of color throws us a delightful and dramatic curve ball.

With all the power and prevalence of classical French design, it's easy to forget the global dialogues that occur within the country's borders. But a flip through the pages of these magazines carries us to the shores of the Mediterranean and beyond. Damask wallpaper combines with Indian sari prints to create a bedroom fit for royalty!

Of course it wouldn't be French without a healthy dose of wood herringbone floors. This shot comes from a styled product spread--it's not actually someone's house--but the use of color, pattern and texture sends my imagination into overdrive. A perfect state of mind for a weekend spent basking in the glow of happiness!

P.S. A massive congratulations to the other fourteen blogs named by Cote Maison! They are: Apartment Therapy, design*sponge, decor8, coco + kelley, Sweet Paul, emmas designblogg, Desire to Inspire, Making It Lovely, Lobster and Swan, Home Shopping Spy, This Is Glamorous, Bloesem, Delight by Design, and Automatism. These guys are some serious heavy hitters and I'm thrilled to be in their company.

All images courtesy of Cote Maison publications. Sponsored Links: Our NS0-502 online training really helps you pass HP0-D07 exam. Get the latest JN0-100 dumps to fasten your success in first try.

Outfit to Room: Anthropologie July 2010

By now I'm sure your copy of the July Anthropologie catalog is tattered, dog-eared, and chocolate stained. Maybe even spotted with drool? Mine is for sure, so I had to take to the InterWeb and swipe some images for these Outfit to Room pairings. It simply doesn't get better than this, folks.

At this stage I'm beyond matching only the outfit to the room. Because Anthropologie does such a brilliant job creating an environmental mood, I'm drawing inspiration from the image as a whole. My challenge? Create a seamless pairing that segues flawlessly from one shot to the next.

I'm utterly captivated by the dreamy, Atonement-esque sensibility here. It's unexpected to see deep hues, shadowy light, and velvets and paisleys in a July catalog, yet the effect is a complete success. I feel like I've been transported to a crumbling English estate on a lazy, hazy summer afternoon.

I wasn't kidding yesterday about papering my bedroom walls with a glorious pattern, so there's some major ideas to sink my teeth into here. I adore the impact of stripes paired with traditional florals, and I have some vintage French ticking pillows waiting for the perfect wallpaper mate!

This soft blue pairing has me longing for an airy retreat from my busy schedule. With everything on my to-do list lately, I'm trying to cultivate peaceful moments throughout the day--a walk around the block, coffee with a friend--and the soft mood here provides perfect inspiration for us all! Just two days 'til the weekend, everyone!

All fashion images courtesy of Anthropologie. Interiors Images: 1. French Country Style at Home 2, 4, 5. Homes and Gardens 3. World of Interiors

Absolutely Loving: House Beautiful Under Newell Turner

Have you read the latest House Beautiful? If not, you'd better scurry to the nearest newsstand, 'cause you are missing out! The first issue with new editor-in-chief Newell Turner at the helm, this month's offering bodes well for us shelter mag junkies. I swoon with each turn of the page!

As always, the sensibility is 'traditional with a twist'--and it's the twist that's got me hook, line and sinker! This serene, neutral office space is calling my name with its farmhouse desk and industrial stool, while the crisp black accents break up the stonewashed palette.

Watermelon is my all-time favorite summer fruit (well, it's a three-way tie with strawberries and cherries) so you can bet my jaw dropped over this patio set-up inspired by the juicy treat. The mixed prints on the chair cushions, the tablecloth, and the surf board project a summer pool party vibe that has me reaching for my bikini.

The calm, rosy glow of this living room soothes my jet-lag frazzled nerves. With sumptuous velvet upholstery, a tufted leather ottoman, and a sisal rug, it's a terrific example of how to layer textures. Not only do I adore the unusual shape of that settee, I can't get enough of the wood plank ceilings. The mark of a truly detail-oriented designer!

Toile usually isn't my thing, but I can be convinced by the soft brown tones of the sofa and the folding screen in the background, especially when juxtaposed against that faux giraffe print rug. And I generally sneer at rumpled slipcovers--growing up I was the victim of one too many--but this chair looks positively stylish. Proof that even the most opinionated gal can change her mind!

Last but not least, I'm currently accepting donations for my new charity, 'Design Bloggers in Dire Need of Bedroom Walls Covered in Chinoiserie' (or DBDNBWCC for short). Payable by check, cash, or finely wrought silk murals, this fund-raising effort will benefit only the most desperate recipient. Namely, me!

All images courtesy of House Beautiful, August 2010. Sponsored Links: Download the latest 117-301 dumps and 642-982 sample test for practice and pass your 156-910.70 exam on first attempt.