Get Real 2013

Next time I am thinking how it is totally fine to put all white sofas and big important art everywhere, please remind me that I have three kids who do projects like this all over my house . . .

This guy and his teammates are soooo way better than any of that designer jazz!  Happy New Year troublemakers!

Let there be light!

One of the most lovely features of this old place is the great windy staircase that goes three floors up but . . .

When we were considering buying our home, it never struck me to test drive the light fixtures which dotted their way up the staircase. Nor did any of the 28,000 inspectors we paid to check the joint out.  Remind me of to do this next time.

NO WAIT!!!  THERE WILL NEVER BE A NEXT TIME. I forgot . . .

When we moved in, we learned that each and every single wall fixture was manually operated!  That meant that when we wanted to turn the lights on or off, we had to mountain goat it all the way up and down three floors flipping switches.

My culo was killing me every night hoofing it. And Mr. G was none too happy and getting gripey.  Non mi piace. E il problema.

So this summer we had the entire stairwell ripped apart and rewired - BIG PROJECT - by true star John Hakewill  of Hakewill Construction who managed this disaster whilst we were on holiday.  And after waiting 8 LONG months (like a voting line in Florida - the design industry is a lead time case study waiting to happen), our new Ironies sconces arrived and we have one switch lighting on every floor. Wheeeeeee!

New Sonoma Cool Kid Sport?

Here is my husband G. captured at bull fighting party in Sonoma.  Don't worry no spears!  But lots of guts.  Is this the new and braver bocci?

Talented Friends

Am I ever lucky when it comes to talented friends!  Make that REALLY lucky.  Case in point the beautiful Michelle Spane Rivera.

You may remember from my wedding as the adorable girl in a strapless top and ball gown skirt with a flower behind her ear and an irresistible freckle on her perfect nose.  The one every guy falls in love with?

But guess what?  She is now an accomplished artist! As a thank you for some design advice regarding her magnificent gothic manse in Piedmont, Michelle My Belle graced me with SURPRISE! two amazing pieces of her art!

Look and see!  Here shown in fabulous framing by Michael Thompson with my adorable blonde bombshell assistant Captain Underpants looking on . . ..

Bright pink!

And Graphic Black and White!  Again with the Captain showing his high approval.

And Now where to put them . . . hmmmmm

Urchin of Charleston

About a month ago, my beautiful cousin Erin Hallock got married in GORGEOUS Charelston South Carolina.  Having never been to the South, this was my big chance as I have always admired Southern style.  I was NOT disappointed. Charelston is perfectly art directed in every way - here are some snaps from my tour with Mom, Step Dad Ronnie and other assorted Berry cousins.

I must say I really appreciated the gorgeous landscaping - what a bunch of impeccable gardeners!

Of course, I did some shopping including a stop by a shop I have always wanted to hit - South Of Market.
I found this great black spiky urchin which I am considering in a pair for my hallway.

Chaise Debut!

After a month in transit (come on . . . really?), my first vintage chaise arrived from La La Land today!  Isn't she chic?

The identical twin sister she has never met arrives from Geneva Illinois on Thursday for lunch!  After they get to know each other, we will send them off for identical facelifts and they will return to Maison de Noise in a lavender grey linen to boldly build a new life together in San Francisco.  I expect they will both be the stars of a few upcoming cocktail parties . . . 

Hope they really are twins and not just sisters. . .  Fingers crossed. 

Caution! Driver May Stop Suddenly and Buy Something

Like all San Franciscans who like home design, I  adore Anthem!

Its chic, easy to shop and there is also something inspiring.  Plus the gals in there have terrific ideas!

And guess what?  I just found my new bathroom light fixture hanging right there in the window on Sacramento!  It was a Screeeeeech PULL THE CAR OVER NOW DAMMIT! moment complete with the panic-y sideways picture to prove it.

Honk if you heart faux bois!  I am really becoming a home design looser/freak.

Also beware of a grey Volvo SUV if you happen to be driving in the area.  It may stop suddenly as the driver is obsessed with Anthem's Mongolian fur bench and cannot be relied upon to act with sanity.   You may spy her in neon green flats rushing from the car and marching zombie like with an Amex in her hand. She is armed and dangerous.  Do not, repeat DO NOT, contact Gregg Brockway if you happen upon this terrible scene.

Did you ever know (or care!) that you're my hero?

Now that we sort of have the living room floor plan down I am working on color palate!

This means I get to spend time STUDYING the work of my ultimate color heroes:  Barbara Barry, John Saladino and especially Mr. Vicente Wolfe.

I was so inspired by the way Barbara Barry used a pale, calm and neutral (but not tan) palate to modernize  the Albert Farr home she did in Piedmont I showed in a previous post.  Just smashing forever.

John Saladino just has these perfect chalky whites, greys with lavender and periwinkle moments.

And the FANTASTIC Vincente Wolfe!  Always utterly sublime with light greys and blues.  I just feel so darn relaxed looking at these rooms and with 4 kids, I need the calm!

Notice that none of these characters uses an ounce of prints!  I guess that's why their spaces feel so calm and airy.  With all my books and art, I am not sure I will ever reach this level of sublime calm but here's to trying!  It really lets the texture and shape of things come shine through.

So for my own living room, which I adore because of all the light and windows and the view of the bay and Palace of Fine Arts (okay peak a boo view!), I am thinking of all light, silvery greys with a touch of lavender in them, off white, dark hardwood floors and punches of citron, aubergine and burnt bronze.  I am trying to steer clear of anything shiny as the house is formal enough and to lean more toward matte and luxurious fabrics like simple well defined linens, velvets and soft wool flannel.

Here are a few swatches to show what I mean . . .

The ones that got away

Dear John Salibello,

I love everything in your shop. Everything.  Even the door knobs.  And the weird parrot lamps.  And the lucite anything.

But I really fell for these 2 gorgeous midcentury benches with the most amazing Picasso shaped backs.



I fell really hard. Really and truly hard. And they are just so expensive.  Like breathtaking expensive. Like I could buy a Warhol expensive (ok a Warhol print but still).  So expensive that they made the really weird and astronomically priced Marc Jacobs runway clothes that only Tilda Swinton can wear conjure the "I bought it at Ross" jingle.

I deeply considered them along with the full five year sentence of serving "pancakes at night" to my children to afford them.  Somehow it still seemed do-able.

Then, during a Real Housewives re-run (cheaper than wine - hey! I was saving for benches?), I saw a Suzy Orman informercial and remembered that I am smarter than this.  Sad, disappointed, in a perpetual state of longing but not broke ass stupid.

So goodbye you adorable benches. I hope you find a big, happy hedge fund house to live in someday.  In the meantime, my kids and I are having steak tonight. . . .

Destiny's Child

Was it meant to be?  Serendipity?  Fate? Destiny?

Did they sit next to each other by chance at a diner one snowy morning in Park City and WHAMMO!  find love at first sight?

Nope but . . .

God is a fair man (and a Man I am pretty sure based on my wretched 14 hour labor with Baby Uno) and He worked his magic last week when, unsuspecting, I logged on to 1stDibs and found two IDENTICAL  Adrian Pearsall chaises - destined to say "Hello Foxy!" to each other every morning from either side of my living room fireplace.

This little piggy was discovered hiding in The City of Angels!

And this little piggy was going about her business quietly in Geneva Illinois . . .

Aren't they cute together?  "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."  

Amen baby!  Coming Soon to Maison de Noise!

Progress

One great thing about being up in Tahoe whilst on a "no booze" Lent jag, you have LOTS of time to talk home design with your partner - poor, poor long suffering Gregg.

Well anyhow we made some decisions and I am most happy!  Following my inspirational trip to NYC I started updating our prototype floor plan with some real items that I had fallen in love with.

Here is the result for the living room - what do you think?  Comments are appreciated although I know many of you are struggling with the comments portion of the site - email me!

And from a different view . . 

And if you were a bird or Spiderman on my ceiling, it would look like . . .

I suspect the ceiling fixture is too small and that the lack of art and books make it a little antiseptic.  And you?

Solo in the City!

Last week I had the pleasure of spending 2 full days in New York City solo and then another 2 days with my sister! Wow!  A real luxury unmatched in the past 41 years!

I decided to spend the solo days hitting all the fabulous furniture and design stores I have been stalking, ehmmm I mean, visiting online for years via my favorite site, 1stDibs.com.


It took me almost a full hour but I actually mapped all my favorite resources on Google Maps and devised two manageable walking tours.

Note: Flats Required.

After all this work, I thought it only right to post my TripIt itinerary (great travel planning site started by a real FOX!) so my girls who may be in NYC soon (or now!), could save some time and see some hot spots.  

Downtown Store Tour for Freaky Home Design Maniacs

ABC Carpet and Home (Almost too big but inspiring especially first floor)
888 & 881 broadway at east 19th street 212 473 3000

Showplace Antique + Design Center (Yatzi!  Lots and Lots)
40 West 25th St.
New York City, NY, 10010
Phone: 212.633.6063
E-Mail: sales@nyshowplace.com

Kerson Gallery (Killer ART)
135 West 24th Street 
New York . NY 10011 . 

Todd Merrill Antiques  (Mi piace but cha ching!)
65 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10012
Phone: 212-673-0531
Fax: 212-677-6068
E-Mail: tnmerrill@att.net
Phone: 212.229.2406

The Rug Company (Dear Rug Company, Please come to SF!)
88 Wooster Street
New York
NY 10012
United States
T: +1 212 274 0444

 Flair Home Collection (Fun, Affordable, Dark)
88 Grand Street
New York City, NY 10013

Duane
176 DUANE ST.
New York, NY
Phone: 212-625 8066

WYETH (expensive, serious, beautiful)
315 Spring St 212-243-3661
New York, NY, 10013
Phone: 212-243-3661
E-Mail: info@wyethome.com

 BDDW  (lindsey Adelman - BANANAS!!!)
79 Crosby Street New York NY 10012

AREA ID (Really stylish in a feminine and edgy way)
262 Elizabeth Street New York, NY 10012. USA Phone: 212-219- 9903. Fax: 212-219-9904

Uptown itinerary comes next posting!

I heart John Salibello!!!

Vote on My Floor Plans!

As part of our design process, Gregg and I enlisted the help of the fantastic Tamara Mack of TM Design and her zippy computer wiz side kick Roque (pronounced Row-Kay!  Snap!)

We love mid-century furniture but its not that widely available in San Francisco (and really expensive when it is) so we anticipate acquiring pieces from other parts of the country.

This means we will not have ability to buy things "on approval" or try them out in the space before we own them.

As much as I love my hubby,  he doesn't totally trust me on scale (sigh) or internet shopping in general (I wonder why?) sooooooo  in an effort to avoid expensive mistakes and preserve marital bliss, I had Tamara and Roque measure all our major rooms and then build 3D renderings.

With these renderings we can try out floor plans, understand ideal sizes and scale and even preview specific pieces of furniture in the room with other items.  Yahoo!!  Now we're cooking with gas!

Here are a few Living Room floor plan options using generic furniture types which we just sort of like.  Remember this room is used almost totally for entertaining and we like to host large events  to maximize seating!

Please vote and tell me which floor plan you like the best for Masion De Noise!

Option A:  Twin Loveseats By Fireplace

Option B :  With Chairs by Fireplace

Previous Incarnations

The previous owner of Maison de Noise was a very charming and beautiful San Francisco interior designer with Southern roots.

Her approach to the house was traditional and featured lots of upholstered walls, puddling silk drapes, toile and polished french antiques.  Here are a few "Before" pictures to check out . .

While this classic look was well executed, we are a young family aiming for a clean, more modern and unexpected point of view that showcases the natural bones of the house.  

How to get there?  Hmmmmmmm

Albert Farr Refreshed by Barabara Barry

I found an Architectural Digest feature about a beautiful Albert Farr designed home in Piedmont that was fully re-imagined by the fantastic interior designer Barbara Barry.  

I am so inspired by her use of a calm palate and simplified furnishings which brings this grand home straight into the 21st century with major style!  By keeping things minimal and clean, she allows the graceful proportions, impressive scale and classic architectural details to shine in the sparkling and unique Bay Area light.

We are planning a similar approach so stay tuned!  Wish Ms. Barry was in my budget to consult . . .

Here's the link to the full story on this project. Enjoy!

AD article on a Albert Farr House by Barbara Barry

Introducing the Fabulous Mr. Farr

As my close friends know, real estate (especially on line real estate) is my porn!  After years of  house hunting in San Francisco, Piedmont, Belvedere, Tiburon, Ross, Atherton, Woodside, Palo Alto and pretty much every other town I could drag my poor husband to, one thing stood out:  Albert Farr!  Consistently I fell in love with his homes.  

So when I first saw Maison de Noise, I was happy to learn that Mr. Farr was the architect. Serendipity! So here is a little information, pulled from the website of San Francisco interior designer extrordinaire Cecilie Starin Starr, about the late great Albert Farr:

Albert Farr, the architect who designed the house chosen for the 2010 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1871 and was raised in Japan where his father worked to establish the postal system. He came to SF in 1890 at the age of 18.
His career began just as the First Bay Tradition began to upstage Victorian Architects, until the time Modernism began to emerge. Farr’s most famous project is Wolf house, built for Jack and Charmian London in Glen Ellen in Sonoma County. Begun in 1910, the 15,000 square foot house, two years into construction, tragically burned down in 1912, most likely due to the spontaneous combustion of linseed rags left in the house. Under-insured, London could not afford to rebuild. The ruins can be visited at the Jack London Historic State Park.

An Emerging Style: First Bay Tradition
Farr was an important architect in his own time, emerging in the early 20th century as a key part of the development of the “First Bay Tradition,” which included such greats as architects Ernest Coxhead, Willis Polk and Bernard Maybeck.

In the 1890’s and 1900’s, the First Bay Tradition, which combined styles with historical references, began to emerge. It specialized in combining vernacular in informal suburban homes and less formal city homes. Architects celebrated the awkward and rustic nature of this genre.

This combining of styles in varying periods into a look that was centered on the West Coast is what intrigued these architects. The style was not specific to a period as much as it was a study of the relationship between classic period and national styles. The juxtapositions of scale and materials would create a new paradigm that was deliberately slightly out of the norm. This odd mix of traditions was used in an unorthodox manner purposefully to convey a regionally specific look.

Farr incorporated many architectural styles into his own work that evolved over time during his 50 year career. The use of historical reference in architecture prevailed at the time and few were as adept as Farr in creating structures using such a wide variety of styles.

Albert Farr had a unique approach to his own view of this rustic Bay movement. Many examples of his works can be seen in Belvedere, Piedmont, Claremont, and Oakland, as well as San Francisco. His details include numerous gables, overhanging medieval half-timbered shingle designs with influences from Coxhead and Polk. This became a popular look that continued for many years. In fact, based on an erroneous building permit entry, the Showcase house was incorrectly attributed to Polk.



Mixing Styles and Influence
Throughout his career Albert Farr worked with Latin influences, both Spanish and Italian, using a Mediterranean vernacular years preceding the popularity of Spanish Colonial revival in the 1920’s. Mission motifs can be seen in some of his earliest works. His interpretation is subtle, inventive and unexpected.


Farr’s work is incorrectly termed “period revival.” He was interested in combining styles rather than recreating exact period works. He created styles that combined Italian baroque, French, Moorish, Gothic, Medieval, English Georgian, Tudor and more. 

Farr’s importance has gone relatively unnoticed by historians. Knowledgeable clients have always been aware of his talents. Farr retired at the beginning of WWII and his work was upstaged by the onset of Modernism. Albert Farr passed away July 12, 1947 in Piedmont after a distinctive 50-year career.

CECILIE STARIN

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Cecilie is owner of Cecilie Starin Design Inc., a high-end residential full-service interior design firm that works with clients in San Francisco, Marin County, Napa and the Peninsula. She has participated in four San Francisco Decorator Showcases, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010. She brings a painter’s eye to all of her projects. For her, every room is a still life. Her studies in fine arts and years of travel and design in the fashion industry come together in her global eclectic mix that is refined yet fresh; the studied timelessness of comfortable classicism.

New House!