retrograde

The last "p"...stands for "property"

2012-02-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

So while my own home is a total construction zone, I'm getting close to wrapping up three Retrograde projects and showing you all some photos. I'm always interested in how people find me and how we end up working together.

I always give a prospective client a "freebie"--one tip or piece of advice they can take or leave. It gives them a sense of my aesthetic and how I envision their place. A good rule of thumb for anyone looking to work with a designer (whether it's a friend or total stranger) is to be honest about whether you'll work well together. You have to trust this designer (whether or not s/he is a friend or a friend of a friend) with your home. So if you're a French Country kinda gal and this designer is pushing hardcore modernism on you, it probably isn't going to be a good match.

Of course, any good designer will work with you and help you develop and hone your own style based on what you like. But they'll show you things you might not have considered yourself.

So if you like traditional French styles like this Louis XVI chair:

Then they might encourage you to try a contemporary version like the Louis Ghost Chair by Kartell:

OR they might try to split the difference with some modern upholstery like this:

Either way, they should be respectful of your opinion. Like I always say, "at the end of the day, you have to live there. Not me." It's your home and your property, so take pride in that.

Speaking of property, this song has been stuck in my head for weeks thanks to satellite radio!

Naughty By Nature discusses and performs "O.P.P."

Neverending Story

2012-01-31T19:42:00.000-08:00

Construction on our flat continues...this time our back sun room is being fortified so it doesn't crumble in the next big ~~earthquake~~ storm. It was pretty bad, and our back door had become about as secure as a paper bag.

So we had to move all our stuff into the Living Room. After sending a car load of stuff to Community Thrift and Goodwill, here's what we have left:

This is just a reminder to everyone that a contractor's timeline is often an estimate. Things happen--people get sick, someone else has an emergency that trumps your job (like a leaking roof), or you request to add things that push back that timeline. Both at home, at Retrograde, and at Ye Olde Dayjobbe, I've found that life happens. When you've got a hard deadline (like someone moving in, or returning from a trip) and they demand all the work gets done in time, guess what happens? Concessions are usually made. Or you work overtime to make sure it gets done on time. Or you agree to a second phase.

I'm looking forward to when everything can be cleared up and put away. I have some plans for new art and a new life for the Living Room. Stay tuned!

And when you smile for the camera...

2012-01-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

Well, construction continues on my flat, so everything's a mess. No way I could even get the place camera-ready in 15 minutes. Or an hour. Or a week. The good thing is that we've been sorting through all the stuff in our back storage room, donating carloads to Goodwill and Community Thrift.

We've also had a lot of time to catch up on some movies. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, I got some great screener DVDs of SAG Award-nominated films to watch at home. They've been a great distraction from all the chaos and construction, as well as a good reward after several days of Retrograde work on the weekends.

Here are my faves--get out there and watch 'em when you can!

The Artist, set in Hollywood during the late '20s and early '30s:

The Help, set during the cusp of the Civil Rights Era:

The Descendents, set in modern-day Hawaii:

Loved them all. I won't tell you how I voted, though ;-)

This is your payback, moneygrabber...

2012-01-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've been busy at Ye Olde Dayjobbe and working on two relatively fast projects for Retrograde--hoping to be done by the end of the month! Can't wait to show you photos soon. In the meantime, expect some irregular posts and schedules...

Just got this photo today from one of my jobs--this ceramic stool from One Kings Lane arrived totally broken!

Now I've packed things before for One Kings Lane's Tastemaker Tag Sales last year and it was a pain in the a**. (They make each designer/firm handle the actual packing of items they sell and simply provide pre-printed FedEx labels.) It ended up being a lot of hard work on our end, and we even had to schlep the boxes to FedEx, otherwise we'd incur a pickup fee for ground service.

Let's just say one of my colleagues and I became pros with the tape gun and bubble wrap.

Not sure how they make their other vendors do things, but c'mon, folks! This is just bad. Look at the skimpy styrofoam sheets between the ceramic and the cardboard. Unacceptable! At least they gave my client a refund.

I guess that's the risk we take looking for a bargain. Or maybe that's what happens when a retailer cheaps out on common sense things like packaging...

Dream a little dream with me...

2012-01-03T21:14:00.000-08:00

Happy new year, readers!

After a crazy Christmas in Palm Springs (where I delivered my beloved lounge chairs to a friend), my partner and I had a quiet New Year's Eve at home. The Friday before the long weekend, we finally got around to getting a new mattress set. For those of you who don't know, your mattresses should be changed about every 10 years or so. (Disgusting trivia fact: after 10 years of sleeping on the same mattress, it will weigh significantly heavier than when you bought it--all the dust mites and their waste will add several pounds over the years.)

Well, I had been sleeping on my bed since I moved to San Francisco--about 12 years! The increasing backaches and restless nights of sleep were NOT a coincidence...

I had already been researching some eco-friendly solutions for the past year. Keetsa opened up a shop in San Francisco a few years ago and I was immediately intrigued. Some friends got their bed there and recommended them, partly for their no-pressure sales team. Maxwell at Apartment Therapy had begun his Year in Bed series of reviews, which also helped us make the decision. (They even reviewed the Keetsa and gave it decent marks!)

In the end, we chose the Simmons Natural Care mattress on Friday. We basically made the decision, paid, and scheduled the next day delivery in part because the set was on clearance and we got the mid- to high-range series for about $1300 (pre-tax)! That's the price of the lower-end model! The top review from Maxwell several months ago also helped seal the deal.

This past weekend we caught up on our sleep. We call the new bed "The Poppy Fields From Oz" because it's so hard to get out of bed each morning, even after a full 8 hours of sleep! The higher, thick mattress height also works well with our higher bedside tables (one of which is actually a small desk)--no more reaching up for that glass of water in the middle of the night!

Being green(er) was a big factor in this choice. The natural latex and other materials (wool, soy foam, etc.) are naturally dust-mite resistant. (This was another reason why we considered Keetsa, too.) After years of extra-firm mattresses, we also finally learned to embrace the pillow top. Sinking in each night is such a luxury. And this foam mattress doesn't feel like foam--it honestly feels like a standard spring bed with a cushy pillow top.

So...have you bought a new mattress recently? Considering one? Let me know--I'd love to start a conversation!

I'm so glad that I just got my pay, I was born on Christmas Day

2011-12-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

The dry weather and mild temperatures (and crazy work schedules--I have an installation for Ye Olde Dayjobbe over the holidays!) has made me kind of forget that Christmas is coming in less than a week.

How are the rest of you doing?

I tried to do some shopping during my lunch break today and had an epic fail. I was shocked (well, not really) that there were crowds out at 12:30pm on a Monday afternoon in downtown San Francisco. Anyhow, I thought of some last minute gift ideas:

1. Apartment Therapy showcased some great gifts under $100 last month and you can still get some of these. (They also followed up with some great design gifts for under $100.) My favorite is probably the emergency radio--I have a small wind-up model from LL Bean that is great for emergencies. I keep it in one of my bags all the time.

2. This year I told my brother how much more important it was to give experiences rather than things. So when he asked me what I wanted this past weekend, I told him to buy me dinner. And he did. Problem solved! So give an experience--a massage, a manicure, a dinner, a concert. Share in the experience and make it a gift for both of you.

3. Ever since I took a 60% pay cut from my last career to become an interior designer, I haven't been able to donate to as many charities as I used to. Charity now starts at home, with "Jason's IRA" and "Jason's Roth IRA". So even though I was able to donate our old car to charity, and I dropped off my trusty camel coat at a local bar during a coat drive, I still wish I could do more. Why not donate to a charity in someone else's name? I think that's a wonderful gift and wish people would do that more.

4. Make something! You could give me some Nestle Toll House cookies that you slapped onto a baking sheet for 10 minutes and I'd be one happy camper. Don't underestimate the power of a (mostly) homemade gift or treat.

5. Finally, if you're stumped on a gift for a loved one, think like a computer (or at least like some Google algorithm). Make a list of the last few gifts you've given him/her and take an average. Maybe you've given him four massages, two fitness magazine subscriptions, and three pairs of running shoes over the years. Average it out and try to put a new spin on it, like getting him a reflexology session, or a personal training session instead. Try applying this formula to other facets of their life, whether they're into books, cosmetics, food, or wine.

I hope everyone out there has a good holiday. I can't wait to see some good friends, hang out poolside, and deliver a few gifts. I'm looking forward to doing something a little different this year.

Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

2011-12-12T20:31:00.001-08:00

Is it just me, or does it not feel like the holidays have come yet? Construction at my house has set things back, and now we're mid-December and there's still no tree, stockings, or other decorations up yet :(

We're also going to visit friends at the end of the month, so we were debating whether to put up our fake silver tree this year anyhow. The contractor working on our place was super nice and gave us a little mini living tree. I have some tiny ornaments that will fit just fine, so I think we're going to do the mini tree this year (with our stockings--maybe) on the newly reconstructed fireplace mantel.

Whether you're feeling the spirit or not, how about creating a great playlist for the holidays? If nothing else, it's nice to play during dinner or a party. Here are some of my faves:

What child is this?

2011-11-27T11:35:00.001-08:00

I took last week off for Thanksgiving and the short work week. It's been nice lounging around the house, even though we're still under construction and covered in plastic. This year I was thankful for my health and for spending the holiday with friends and loved ones.

After hearing about this Black Friday story, I was glad we didn't do any shopping whatsoever after Thanksgiving:

Alson on Friday, we saw a news story about the Occupy movement marching along downtown San Francisco, which sparked a lively conversation at home. My partner and I talked about how the large retailers are fueling this frenzy to consume-consume-consume, at the expense (and peril) of the 99%. It made me wonder: Why not buy less this year? Why not give experiences instead of material things (which often end up cluttering our homes anyway)? Why not make something instead? (I actually baked some banana bread that night in protest.)

I know it sounds a little hypocritical coming from me, since part of my job is to get people to furnish and decorate their homes. And at Ye Olde Dayjobbe I clearly serve the 1% targeted by the Occupy movement. But this time of the year always makes me reflect: What did we accomplish this year? What was it all for?

Since it's hard to escape the holiday buying frenzy, I tried to support Small Business Saturday yesterday instead. Some of my local neighborhood shops include:

Whatever (books and comic books)
Books Inc. (a Bay Area chain of bookstores)
A&G Merch (home furnishings and accessories)
Aldea (home furnishings and accessories--great stockists of Dwell Studio products)
Hand Job (unisex day spa, offering reflexology for tired, aching feet)
Under One Roof (HIV/AIDS charity shop where I get all my holiday cards)

What are some of your favorite neighborhood shops? Please share!

It always feels like somebody's watching me (and I got no privacy)

2011-11-13T12:44:00.000-08:00

Well, it finally happened--I've become a victim of identity theft. I've spent the last week filing the necessary reports and replacing everything that needs to be replaced. But I didn't lose my wallet--I want you all to know that this happened somewhere near or around my own home. So this week I wanted to focus on home security. All the pretty and well-designed things you bring into your home don't mean a thing if they're compromised or stolen (and that includes your identity and personal information.)

We naturally think of alarm systems for our homes when it comes to protecting material possessions. But I met an interesting woman last week who lived for several years in Cape Town, South Africa. Her home had been burgled and she said it's a common occurrance over there. She mentioned that no matter how many alarms and locks you place on your home, at some point you'll trust someone with that code (a cleaner, a security guard, etc.) and eventually that person can betray you. Even the police were too overwhelmed to deal with residential break-ins. So what was her solution? Her neighbors. She said that the closest relationships she had were with her neighbors--she could call any of them in the middle of the night, knowing they had her back. And she would come running if they ever called her. The lesson here is to really know the people living around you. Even though a Neighborhood Watch can be hard to organize in a city, your neighbors can still be the best security system for you home.

I don't know if my thief did it all electronically or by stealing my mail, but I'm getting a locked mailbox just in case. So far I've seen these rather stylish options at Home Depot:

This wall-mounted model comes in a variety of finishes and is pretty understated.

And I like the simple curve of this mailbox, too:

When I told a friend a colleague of mine what had happened with my ID theft, she recommended cancelling my seldom-used credit cards. "But wouldn't that hurt my credit?" I asked.

"Well...yes and no. In the end, having all these store cards and lines of unused credit can look just as bad because to some creditors it's like you have more ways of debts to fall into," she responded. I trust her--she used to work in finance--so goodbye to my department store cards.

Next, I needed to beef up security on my home internet service, and as I did this I kept hitting myself, asking why we didn't do this three weeks ago. Or last spring. Or even last year! All my tech friends are probably shaking their heads at me in shame, but I didn't realize you could stop broadcasting the SSID of your network to others, or that keeping the factory default name could let hackers figure out which model router you're using. And I was a fool to keep the default encryption code as a password instead of using something personal. These are all small steps--and possibly not enough to prevent the most determined hackers--but at least it's something you can do.

My former finance friend and colleague also recommended an ID/credit monitoring service. There are a lot out there (like Life Lock) that provide similar services. They will alert you if new lines of credit have been opened or if applications have been submitted in your name. For $10-20 a month, they're worth it for some piece of mind.

Even if you can't afford or justify paying for that service, at the very least you've got to run a periodic credit report on yourself. Free Credit Reports really is free and lets you know what lines of credit you currently have open. Forgot you still had that credit card from The Limited back in the '90s? Well, it'll show up on your credit report.

I just hope my nightmare will end someday. I always think about this article I read a couple of years ago that shows how long it can last. (If the "other" Jason is out there reading this, please give me a break--I took a 60% pay cut when I switched careers, and I'm just trying to get by and save a little for retirement.)

For the rest of you reading this, please learn from my mistakes.

Eyes without a face...

2011-11-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Hey readers, I know not everyone out there is on Facebook, but you don't have to be an FB'er to be able to click on the Facebook links to the right ----->

Anyone can do it, even my luddite partner ;)

I like to post supplemental links, photos, or videos to go along with my weekly posts, in case you didn't already know. So please, check out some of the other artists and resources listed on my Facebook page.

Honey Honey, how you thrill me (uh-huh, uh-huh)

2011-10-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, I was out of commission last week 'cause, well, I just didn't have anything to write about. But over the course of the week, I found new inspiration:

I've been walking by these exquisite leather sling dining chairs (and their matching lounge chair counterparts) at Farnsworth for weeks now, every day to and from the gym. They're reminiscent of the iconic butterfly chair of the '60s, but with more panache and style, and I always stop for a moment to admire them and wonder if there's anything else like them.

Then about a week ago I looked through the new CB2 catalog and saw these:

It's an all-leather version of the butterfly chair in my favorite shade of leather--honey or caramel. At $399, it's a steal and I plan on using it for a Retrograde project soon. Over time the leather will wear nicely and develop a rich patina and loads of character. Heck, I'd use it in my own home if I weren't turning my living room into a study/library (more on that personal project soon!)

The reason why I love this particular color for leather is that it feels like the furniture equivalent of camel hair. In fashion, I'm always drawn to camel-colored sweaters and camel hair coats (especially as we move into fall and winter.) It just completes one's wardrobe and suits so many different people. Both my camel hair coat and my tan/honey/caramel leather jacket look great with any combo of shirts/sweaters/pants or with t-shirts and jeans. In your home, these tan/honey/caramel leather accents often have a rustic charm and can work with so many other styles and furniture pieces to provide a warm, rich neutral hue to any interior.

Here's another great leather chair from Restoration Hardware. Meant to be a dining chair, I think a grouping of them would look just great in any living room or den, too.

I'm a soul man...

2011-10-18T19:48:00.000-07:00

So we got back from Chicago last week and had a couple of days to recover from our vacation and catch up on San Francisco home life. What was one of the first things we did (besides to through all our mail)?

We got a new car.

Check out what we've lovingly dubbed The Green Machine:

Now you have to understand--I haven't driven a brand-new car (with the exception of rentals here and there) since I was 17. So...that makes 18 years. We were going to originally buy a used car, but we did that last time and ended up sinking in so much money into regular maintenance and repairs. What's so special about this funny little Kia Soul? Well, for one thing, we're leasing it.

Since a car's value drops the minute you drive it off the lot, we figured leasing might be a way to go. Or at least try. The commitment only lasts three years, and then we can move onto something else. In some ways it suits our lifestyle as renters here in San Francisco, seeing as how we'll never be able to buy a home here. Why not treat our car the same way?

Anyhow, it wasn't funny hamsters on TV or anything like that which made us choose this car. I saw one on the street a little while ago and thought, "That thing is kind of boxy and weird...why am I strangely drawn to it!?" Yes, it is boxy, but it's quirky, which suits us. And it can haul a LOT of stuff, which comes in handy for Ye Olde Dayjobbe as well as Retrograde. My partner is just happy it can make it up our surrounding hills with ease.

So much has changed since our last car: satellite radio, power windows, rear back-up camera...it's like a whole new world. And it's definitely less embarassing now when I drive to different places for Ye Olde Dayjobbe. (It used to really be comical, rolling up to a palatial home or job site in our scratched-up '98 Saturn with the glued-back-on side mirror.) But I'm more careful now, too--I used to face down crazy drivers in our old hoopty knowing I had nothing to lose; I used to park in the tightest spots since I didn't worry about the car getting any more scratched than it already was. All that reckless behavior has changed now...

Like some Retrograde people I meet, I held onto something old for waaaaay too long. Getting a new car helps me understand what it's like for clients who take that big step toward a new sofa or bed. And guess what? After taking that big step to improve your surroundings, you wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

So if you see us tooling around in The Green Machine, wave and say "hey!" And if anyone at Ye Olde Dayjobbe tries to give me hell for driving a weird little green box, all I have to say is I don't get paid enough to drive a luxury car ;)

And all that jazz...

2011-10-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a great trip to Chicago--my first time ever! (My partner used to live there back in the mid-90s.) So that kind of explains this week's late post...

I loved this trip. It was such a great city, and seeing how residential towers and skyscrapers had been integrated into the downtown area was really inspiring. It made downtown feel like a real place, not just a space for tourists and businesspeople. We had some good friends (and former San Franciscans) show us around.

Here are some photos I snapped:

One of my friends also turned me on to this amazing outsider artist from Chicago, Vivian Maier. Her story (and work) is just...amazing. Here's one of her photos:

We will definitely be back. Hell, we might just move there--it's a lot more affordable than San Francisco, that's for sure. I'm officially a fan. I heart Chicago!

A pink flamingo double-wide; one-bedroom in a high-rise; a mansion on a hill...

2011-10-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

I just read an article in Men's Health last night titled, "Are You Burned Out?" and I was not too shocked to see how many items on the checklist applied to me. The last few months have been really tough at Ye Olde Dayjobbe (YOD), and the past year and a half has been a rollercoaster ride. I've been offered champagne, been yelled at, been graciously thanked, faced multiple obstacles (and installations) at once...you name it, I've seen it. It's been like a fast-track boot camp for interior design.

But I'm going on vacation this week--and even though I know five days won't solve everything, being in Chicago (a place I've never been!) and seeing old friends and family will surely help.

You know what else will help? Retrograde.

At YOD, I'm seen as an associate designer who finds resources, edits them down, orders them, installs them, and coordinates every little detail surrounding said resources. My past life (and career) as a senior graphic designer and production coordinator doesn't matter to most people at YOD, but my 10+ years of organizational skills and project management benefit them, even if they don't realize or appreciate it.

At Retrograde, I feel more like a collaborator, working with you to help you figure out your needs. I feel like some kind of animated Johnny Cash spirit guide (that's a Simpsons reference), here to empower you so you can make choices on your own. It's kind of like eliminating work for myself--which is something I've often done in the past--but it's what I believe in: teaching you (the readers) design skills and tools, and inspiring you to take risks to personalize your spaces. Even though YOD required me to cool things down at Retrograde, I still relish the two side projects I have remaining because I love designing ~~for~~ with everyday people.

Here are three Living Room concepts I developed for a young family this past week. Of course this is the first round, so there will be tweaking and refinement to come. But I'm really looking forward to developing one of these, and helping the client get it all installed in the next few weeks.

Recently I was the Design Center and was chatting with one of the showroom managers. She asked me what I was doing this weekend and I said I was going to help a friend with some home accessories shopping. That's what Retrograde clients (and readers) are to me--friends who need a little help with their homes. Just when I think I'm going crazy and feeling burned out, I remember why I'm doing all this--for you.

When I woke up this morning, it was cloudy and gray and I felt depressed. But now as I finish this post, the sun's come out, I'm fully caffeinated, and feeling so much better about things.

You guys keep me sane.

You can stand under my umbrella (ella ella ella)

2011-09-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

At Ye Olde Dayjobbe I've been living in a world of outdoor fabrics for the past few months. But guess what? They rock.

Sunbrella is the general term for any ol' solution-dyed acrylic fabric, but it's also a name brand. Used to be, you'd associate Sunbrella with the hard, scratchy "fabric" that covered your pool furniture, but these days Sunbrella makes fabrics for lots of high-end designer lines. Almost every designer showroom I've been to has its own line(s) of Sunbrella fabrics and boy have they come a long way!

Outdoor fabrics don't have to be stiff and scratchy any more. I've come across some baby-soft chenilles and knits that your baby would love--and that could also handle your baby's barf and poop. They can range anywhere from $60 to $150 a yard, depending on where you go.

I've had this handy storage ottoman from Ballard Designs for the past couple of years and I must say I've been pretty happy. I got it upholstered in one of Ballard's outdoor fabrics:

BUT...check it out. Sometimes you get what you pay for. I was kind of disappointed that they didn't bother to line up the pattern.

But you know what else? My cat threw up on this ottoman a little while ago and I cleaned it up with some soap and water. It couldn't have been easier. After that, I felt like I totally got my $495 dollar's worth.

So...you have a baby? You have an army of messy kids or roommates? You have a cat that eats a bit too much and barfs all over the place? Then get yourself some Sunbrella, friend!

Yes I did, yes I did...would someone please tell 'em who the f--- I is

2011-09-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I went without a post last week for a good reason--I had not one, but TWO projects wrap up at Ye Olde Dayjobbe on the same day. This had me working crazy 10- and 11-hour days to get everything sorted out. After logging many miles in my car (and earning miles on my AmEx!) I got through it. Of course, the commercial job entailed some magic products from Cliff's Variety:

And my residential project was saved by a big accessory run at West Elm. They had pillows in the perfect shade of yellow (see last week's post about my obession with yellow this summer). I love how they call it "horseradish":

Both projects kept me busy, but both were also great examples of high-low design and decorating: custom pieces (like sofas and chairs) mixed with fun, off-the-shelf accessories.

(Well, the commercial project was also about getting crafty and industrious with the carpet tape and switching out light bulbs here and there...)

Okay, more next week, I promise!

I wrote a song for you and all the things you do...and it was called "Yellow"

2011-09-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

For the last couple of years I've been drawn to orange because I wanted to challenge myself. I thought it was weird and garish and yet I was inexplicably drawn to it--heck, I even started Retrograde and created the logo based on my love-hate-fascination with the color.

But I think I'm moving on--to yellow!

Check it out. I'm more partial to mustard-y yellows, but there are so many shades out there:

Here are some great furniture pieces from When Modern Was in Noe Valley--affordably priced and cheerful yellow pieces!

And I guess it all started last year when I spray-painted my rusty Michael Graves clock (from Target) a warm yellow. It really made my bathroom sunnier.

Birds on the telephone line are crying out to me...

2011-08-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

I'm all about collecting things and showing off your collections. I have a bunch of owl banks around my house, placed strategically in various feng shui areas for luck, as well as aesthetics (hey, they're cute, okay?)

Here they are, all together:

And why stop with the banks? West Elm has these super cute measuring cups and butter dish with a retro owl theme right now:

And we've also got all these owl and pussycat things around the house. One of our favorites is a sketch done by a friend who was housesitting for us:

And we've also got a collection of the dynamic duo on a wall:

Of course, nothing compares to the friendliest pussycat in the world, Mister Chino!

What are you collecting these days? C'mon, share with us!

It's Going to Take Some Time - Dishwalla by jezcle

Don't blame this sleeping satellite...

2011-08-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

So I don't know if any you know this or not, but Mercury (the planet) has been in retrograde this month. And boy have I been feeling it! It's like, everything that could go wrong at Ye Olde Dayjobbe has gone wrong. Curtain hardware for one project has been declared defective not just once but TWICE, delaying one installation. And another project has had multiple pieces delayed either by misunderstandings, techinical difficulties, or shipping/freight errors.

For a large commercial project I've been working on, it turned out that a check for a table was sent to the wrong vendor and was never sent back! Someone working on the same project just replied to an e-mail I sent back in MAY.

Susan Miller says this crazy time will end soon, but still...I've got to deal with craziness and madcap hilarity until August 26. Basically, I keep hitting my head against my desk as the bad news rolls in, saying to my coworkers over and over again, "Why me? Why me?"

At home, my DVR died after five years of faithful service. Goodbye to movies I recorded and will never see, like The Seven Samurai and Jindabyne. I guess I'll have to check online for the next few days to see what happens on Degrassi or Design Star. Needless to say, the liquor cabinet is constantly stocked with bourbon right now.

What craziness has been happening to you lately? I'm interested in knowing how this Mercury retrograde phase is affecting us all...

This is your payback, moneygrabber

2011-08-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Projects are bound to get super personal when family is involved. When my mother decided it was finally time to paint her house after 20 years of neglect and bad decisions, it was finally time to play the "Dammit Mom, I'm a professional now" card.

Here's what the house looked like earlier in the year when she first started thinking about painting:

You can't see it that photo, but there are missing roof tiles, horribly tarnished and pockmarked brass light fixtures, and these crazy mis-matched tiles along the bottom of the stucco that were a short-sighted solution for some water damage. My mother has never asked for my design advice before (you should see the granite she chose for her kitchen several years ago--the backsplash alone defies any logic!)

Sigh.

But she finally caved and let me do some damage control. First I chose a darker taupe/warm gray paint color for the stucco that made the weird slate tiles look somewhat integrated. This was hard to do since the tiles came in varying shades of gray and rust. I also wanted to find a nice shade of gray that worked with the red barrel tile roof. It was a real challenge!

After freshening up the columns, trim, and door with a fresh coat of white paint (I tried to paint the door black, but my mother was having none of that), I chose simpler weathered bronze lights for the entry and the garage doors--this finish wouldn't age nearly as badly as the old polished brass fixtures. And the frosted glass cover would hide the mish mash of compact fluorescent bulbs that were being used.

Through a family friend, my mother found painters who would do all the work for $2000. I was nervous about this and wanted to make sure they knew the scope of the work involved--all the painting, the various parts of the roof that needed attention and new tiles, the fact that I saw a bunch of wasps flying around certain parts, etc. I worked closely with my brother (who lives close by) to make sure we were all on the same page about what had to be done.

Naturally I also had freakouts about what my mother apparently wanted to have done for $2000. In the end, they did a pretty good job. Of course I noticed a few things, like a spot on the front door that could have been spackled and smoothed out before painting, and the wrong finish used on the trim and columns...but for that price, my mother was happy and I paid for half of the paint and supplies. (The roof ended up being another a separate expense since the damage was waaaay out of the painters' league.)

Next year...we tackle in the interior painting. Get ready to hear about the tears and screaming over that project, folks. (You know I'm going to insist on a dark ebony banister with white balusters while she'll want to keep the price low!)

Pictures of you, pictures of me remind us all of what we used to be...

2011-08-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my partner and I went to one of our favorite bookstores in the East Bay, Serendipity Books. This huge space is carved out like a rabbit's warren and there are so many books, boxes, and bags you can get lost.

Sadly, they're also going out of business due to the death of the proprietor.

Since the store is only vaguely categorized, it's sometimes hard to find things you're looking for. More often than not, you find things that are happy accidents, like the old Dictionary of Slang I got yesterday. It even had a four-leaf clover pressed between its pages--I felt so lucky like I was "sitting in a tub of butter!"

Almost a year ago, we spied this hot '70s-era painting there gathering dust. The price was kind of high for us, so we just let it go. But yesterday we were able to get it for less than half of the 1980 gallery price listed on the back. For what it is (an acrylic mixed media piece) we thought it was cool. Then we found out it came from the collection of a publisher who championed poets and writers like Harold Norse and Thom Gunn, who my partner had interviewed in the past.

I keep lecturing y'all to get some original art in your spaces, so keep looking! It can come from dusty, magical old bookstores, thrift stores, or even from your talented friends. Case in point, my friend Stephen Williams. I recently got one of his paintings and have been hunting high and low for the right frame for it.

I think my/our next acquisition will be something more abstract. Balance is important, too. So many pieces around our flat are figurative or highly graphic or based on typography. Even though those things are near and dear to our hearts (I'm talking about my partner, who's a writer, and me--a former graphic designer), we have to keep challenging ourselves and pushing our boundaries.

Art should provoke thought--whether they're relaxing thoughts or some political diatribe is completely up to you and how you want your home to feel!

Rome Wasn't Built In A Day...

2011-07-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

This week I get to show off all the work that's taken place over the past year on a friend's loft. Last March we started slowly and patiently--she wasn't in a rush and wanted her place to develop over time. You may remember some of the great DIY projects that were featured on Apartment Therapy during this project.

Well, after nearly 16 months, I think we're pretty much done! See what a difference color, art, thrift store finds, some spray paint, and custom built-in storage (including a custom kitchen island) can do!

Here are the before and afters. See what a difference the custom Kitchen island makes:

I love how the Kitchen is brightened up by this thrift store table, painted a sunny yellow. The deep blue of the neighboring wall creates this split-screen effect that I love:

The blue wall really helps define the Living Room:

A lighter shade of blue (and a groovy fringe panel!) help define the Bedroom area:

We were lucky that her mother and mother's boyfriend were handy enough to do so much work like paint, hang the fringe curtain, and even make the Kitchen island and all the window seat storage from scratch! The blue walls and bamboo shades make such a difference. The space now feels like a proper home to my friend.

Yes, it took over a year, but each piece really has a story. You can get so much done by taking your time.

How I wish, how I wish you were here...

2011-07-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my partner and I went up to Guerneville and had quite an adventure. We joined our friends on an annual canoe trip along the Russian River (the 10th year running! And only our 2nd...) and decided to stay in Guerneville over the weekend so we wouldn't have to drive exhausted after paddling 10 miles.

We stayed at the rustic Woods Resort in downtown Guerneville and had a great time. We could have stayed at posher places or more modern "designed" hotels, but we chose The Woods for its central location and friendly atmosphere. After capsizing in the river and losing several key belongings, getting into a fight and losing our group, we decided to upgrade to a Deluxe Cabin.

It was the best decision we made!

After a hot bath to clean off the mud and dirt of the river, we sat around and read on our deck over looking the pool and garden.

Then we ate at the excellent Russian River Pub, gorging ourselves on their signature sandwiches and burgers since we lost our lunch to the river (seriously--our food got soaked when we capsized!)

We even had a chance to explore a few shops in Guerneville. From what we've seen, a lot of places have gone out of business, but lucky for me Sonoma Nesting Company was still in business (and open at 6:40pm on a Saturday evening!)

I can see why Sonoma Nesting's been featured in a few travel shows--it's a good mix of eclectic, shabby-chic stuff. And they had a freaky doll in a vintage oven--I wish I had taken a photo for you!

Despite the previous canoe trip several years ago, this was actually the first time I'd ever seen Guerneville. It definitely won't be the last!

Images from The Woods Resort and Sonoma Nesting Co.

After the boys of summer are gone...

2011-07-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

Remember my idea for a great summer headboard? Well last week I finally had a long enough lunch break and was able to pop over to Macy's for some inexpensive Euro pillows for my new Cocteau-inspired Greek key shams from West Elm. Check it out--instant headboard:

I think these are a good temporary solution until we decide on a new bed and proper headboard. These pillows are good for reading in bed. And even though the weather in SF is cold and foggy (again), we can imagine how bright and summery these shams would feel in other parched areas of the country...

Over July 4th weekend I finally stopped by Nooworks on Valencia Street and snagged the Supremes pillow I've spied in their window for months (it comes and goes...last time I was too late and thought they wouldn't make it any more, but there it was. I kept making mental notes as I passed the shop en route to the gym.)

While I was there, I also saw this Dolly Parton pillow and HAD to buy it! It features her classic quote, "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap." Love it!

I'm on a summer pillow spree!

This State of Independence Shall Be...

2011-07-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

This week I have to give a shout-out to my friend and former classmate Jolene Lindner. Since we finished school together, she's not only had a baby but is also keeping busy with her own interior design business.

I've also been so busy at Ye Olde Dayjobbe that when some friends asked for help decorating their place, I knew I couldn't handle the extra work. So who could I turn to (and trust)? Jolene, of course! I knew she could give them the eclectic look they wanted while keeping everything child-safe (being a mother herself, she's aware of their needs.)

So this Independence Day post goes out to Jolene! Check out her past projects and blog. She's living the dream, working for herself and calling her own shots. Someday I hope to be right there with ya..!

Pride (A Deeper Love)

2011-06-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

So in addition to having my (our) home featured in another blog, Alice In Designland, I had another reason to be proud this past weekend (which is also why I'm so late this week): LGBT Pride took place in San Francisco on Sunday AND the New York state senate voted for marriage equality on Friday. Needless to say, I was busy partying up a storm!

For those who haven't been, the LGBT Pride Parade is pretty big, and the floats are awesome. Living in the heart of it all, I heard snippets of conversation from such a diverse group of people: French, German, Spanish, and even some Nordic and Eastern European languages too. Of course the ones that hit home were from those who came from other parts of the Bay Area/region/state/country. Walking through the street fair and celebrations, I heard someone say, "Wow, look at all this! It's amazing!" It was a reminder that I take so much for granted.

Now back to design! Like production design (those hardworking folks who create realistic movie/TV/photo sets), float design is something I totally respect because it's not something I do. Here's one of my favorites from the parade, for foster parents and youth:

(Photos from SFGate.com)

It really takes talent to design and build something so temporary that also needs to grab your attention. They did a great job. I know when I worked for a large sponsor of the parade, we were lucky enough to get a truck covered in some balloons...

Next week, I'm back to the interiors!

Change clothes and go!

2011-06-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

This week--the magic of reupholstering!

The benefit of Ye Olde Dayjobbe is that I've got several trusted contacts for refinishing and reupholstering furniture that I can share with my Retrograde peeps. (In this business, if you're going to spend $10,000 on a sofa that works for your style and needs, you expect to keep it for at least a couple of generations by changing the upholstery!)

But sometimes it works the other way, too. I recently found a great upholsterer for one my Retrograde projects that I intend to use at Ye Olde Dayjobbe thanks to their kickass service, great attitude, affordable prices, and speedy turnaround. After pitching some prices to my client for reupholstering her two vintage lounge chairs, I had to look around for a more affordable option.

Enter Retrospect (another "retro"--it was meant to be!) I had passed by their workroom on Market Street for years, and always figured they were out of my league. But I called them and owner Cornelius Ross gave me a price I couldn't beat. AND he offered to pick up the chairs and deliver them back when he was done!

Check out the before:

And now here they are with a really unique Indian-printed fabric I found from M&K:

Cornelius's work is great--notice how he lined up the dots from the fabric. It was tough with the organically-spaced pattern, but he made it work!

What a difference a new fresh fabric can make--I love how summery they feel (perfect for this week's weather!) Granted, these weren't $10,000 chairs. In fact, they were hand-me-downs or thrift store finds. But for the price of a pair of new armchairs, my client now has something uniquely hers, and that is just priceless.

(I know some of you might think this pattern is crazy, but keep watching for the final before-and-after of this Alamo Square apartment. I swear it will all make sense in the end!)

Pay no mind to what they say, doesn't matter anyway (our lips are sealed)

2011-06-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

Last week I was thrilled to have Apartment Therapy feature the recent bathroom renovation I did for my friend--the attention always makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile with Retrograde. But of course the comments started rolling in. Many of them were in favor of the old bathroom and a lot of the comments were from readers weighing in with their own opinions and tastes (that's what comment/message boards are for, right?) Some of them just stung, like, "You killed the pretty bathroom."

Ouch.

I suddenly realized why so many people in the public eye don't read comments or articles about themselves. It can really affect you and throw you off, like some sort of emotional hit and run. I guess I've always been lucky--even as an actor, the worst review I've ever received was simply no mention at all in a so-so play. Talking it out with my partner, I realized that these folks didn't necessarily want to examine the design. Instead, they were posting their knee-jerk reaction to the end of a long process. Halfway through the comments, I tried to justify my process, but the "I hate it" comments buried my post. (To be fair, there were many commenters who realized that the renovated bathroom better served the person who actually lived there, and who could appreciate the design process.)

So for all the haters, here's what happened behind the scenes:

In interior design, there is the "Programming Phase" where the designer talks to the client and determines how to best meet his/her needs for the space. Once it's established, we try to stick with the Program.
A lot of people liked the original red and white bathroom floor, but my friend had lived with it for over a decade and was ready for a change. Plus, the tiles were worn and chipped in places.
Many readers disliked the vessel sink and new vanity, but what they didn't consider is that my friend is 6'-3" tall and the old sink was only 30" high--typical for older bathrooms that catered to families with children.
My friend does not have children. He never will.
We changed to a smaller mirror just over the sink so artwork could be placed on the wall space next to it. Both of us thought a large mirror spanning the entire wall looked a little cheap, so we went with a mirror that felt more like an accessory or framed art than a built-in feature.
Other readers didn't like the walk-in shower and wished I had kept the tub. Well, my 6'-3" friend didn't really fit in the old tub and rarely took baths, so a larger shower made more sense and made the space feel more spacious.
Female readers thought the dark blue walls would make make-up application difficult. My homeowner friend is a man and didn't need to consider that problem.
Another reader was glad my plan for the tonal stripe on the floor and walls got nixed. In fact, it's there and because it's so subtle, I've succeeded in adding an element that doesn't scream out in photographs.

The last two comments (at least when I stopped checking) were actually flattering and considered some of the points above (and also came to my defense against some of the other comments.)

deelw wrote, "I generally like dark wall colors in small spaces, but I didn't realize that this was actually navy and not black until I saw the pics on Jason's blog. I wonder how it reads in person. Love the walk-in shower. I would jump at the chance to convert my tub. I don't think the before was awful, but the style of the after is so different. If this fits well with the rest of the house, then the before must have really been out of place."

And mauishopgirl wrote, "If everyone only remodeled for resale value, it would be a very boring and bland world."
At the end of the day, you don't have to live there. I don't have to live there. My friend lives there and he's quite happy with his new bathroom, thankyouverymuch.

Regardless, I'm just glad my work got some attention. Like I wrote above, the worst review is no mention at all in a so-so play...

I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee...

2011-06-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

Oboy, I've been away! I know that's no excuse, but last weekend (Memorial Day weekend) we went down to Palm Springs and hung out with friends. As many of you design enthusiasts know, Palm Springs is full of great midcentury architecture and design. Our hotel was right across the street from the row of shops in the local "design district" and I thought I might be able to find a yard or two of this fabric I desperately needed for Ye Olde Dayjobbe.

Alas, nothing. Most of the shops there specialized in either midcentury, modern, or really antique pieces. I did see this 4'H x 3'W lantern that might have worked on a colleague's project at House 849:

Yeah, the architecture was an interesting mish-mash of Spanish/Meditarranean Revival and midcentury, but what really took the cake was seeing these crazy UFO-shaped clouds one evening!

Definitely going back soon. Especially with the sad, cloudy weather San Francisco is currently having...

(PS: Another interior designer and blogger came to the rescue with the fabric from above. Thanks, Annie!)

Waters of March

2011-05-23T20:07:00.000-07:00

Slowly but surely, things get done. A little while ago (I think it was late March) I finished a friend's bathroom remodel. So much work went into renovating a small space, but in the end it was worth it!

Here's the BEFORE:

Here was my original design, showing a glossy tonal stripe of tile that went along the floor and up the wall:

And here's the big AFTER:

(Wondering where the litter box went? It's in a secret compartment under the sink--that stroke of genius came from my friend, the homeowner!)

Quite a transformation! I was also glad I finally convinced someone to paint a room in their house navy blue. The process of actually buying the materials (not just specifying, which is what I often do at Ye Olde Dayjobbe) felt great--really hands-on. And I found a great contractor who shared a lot of the same eco-friendly ideals as me.

Okay, who's next!?

Big Time--I'm on my way, I'm making it...

2011-05-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

So while I was filming this new movie in Carmel a couple of weeks ago, I decided to look up the mother of an old friend of mine. Tracy Winters has been an interior designer as long as I can remember. In a small suburban city like Modesto, she had what I now realize in retrospect was truly "eclectic style." In a land of tract homes and McMansions, she (and her son, my childhood best friend Matt) decorated her small homes with such panache. I remember one home in particular had an old fashioned manual-style doorbell--the kind I now have in my Edwardian flat! I also remember a plaster bust of Caesar (or some other Roman or Greek) on a pedestal. Throws artfully draped across a chair or sofa. A hodgepodge of decorative accessories that just worked well together.

I remember Matt recently telling me that she had moved down to Carmel and had a shop there. So when I had a day off from filming I decided to look her up...

...Her shop was in the shopping center across the street from my hotel!

After nearly 20 years, I re-introduced myself and got a big hug from Tracy. Her shop, Consignment Carmel, was like everything I remembered her homes to be: a well-curated mix of local finds and treasures.

Here are some pieces I saw that really interested me:

I was sad that I didn't get a chance to go back before I left Carmel. But once I get paid from the movie, I think I'll take trip back and see what new treasures she has to offer!

Lights, Camera, Action!

2011-05-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've been gone for two weeks. As some of you know, I'm also an actor and have been in Carmel shooting a new movie based on Jack Kerouac's novel, Big Sur.

It was so cool to see the level of detail that the production designers created. In one scene, we're all in this crumbling old cabin (which took eight bumpy river crossings in an SUV to reach) and it's been decked out in period decorations and touches:

Whenever I'm on a set, I'm always amazed at the level of detail the production department achieves! I guess that's the designer in me, geeking out.

Wouldn't it be great if I could blend design and acting together and work in production? Then again, I've seen how hard those people work...maybe I'll just stay in front of the camera!

More posts from my Carmel adventure soon!

I'm on the hunt, I'm after you...

2011-04-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the thoughts and wishes after my post two weeks ago. I took last week off because my great aunt did pass away and then I got a pretty bad cold.

This weekend I'm on the hunt for Ye Olde Dayjobbe as well as doing some Retrograde paperwork.

For two dayjob residential projects, I'm looking for: kitchen pendants, side tables, and large single lamps. Here are some things I spied at Monument, one of my favorite shops on Valencia Street:

If you ever visit Monument, you'll see what kinds of budgets I get to work with at Ye Olde Dayjobbe. For Retrograde, I've been trying to explain to a friend why a custom sofa can cost upwards of $10,000.

There can be a little sticker shock when it comes to the higher-end stuff. I end up coaching my Retrograde peeps through the process, explaining the pros and cons of going custom or sticking to retail. It all depends on your budget and priorities.

I'm working on a more dramatic post next weekend, promise!

When someone great is gone...

2011-04-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

This week I wanted to reiterate an important point: You can't take it with you.

I went to visit my great aunt in the hospital (hospice) yesterday to find that she's slipping away and will mostly likely pass on in the next few days. She's been the closest thing to a grandmother to me as an adult since all of my real grandparents died when I was a child. She offered support, encouragement, and unconditional love when I really needed it over the past 12 or 13 years. So it was heartbreaking to see this tall, strong, intelligent woman looking so tiny and fragile in a hospital bed.

It reminded me of how, years before he died, my father was more than ready to let go of his possessions. It started with the vintage clothing he gave me when I was in high school and college. Later, he gave me his old car, a badass Buick. Do I still have any of those things? No, because they’re possessions that I loved, used up, and eventually had to discard as I moved on.

We often brag about that cool piece of furniture or accessories or antiques that we “scored” from a family member. Just remember that piece might be a reminder of a loved one, but it shouldn’t take the place of the memories you have. For example, I’ll always have the memories of the things I got from my father, the way he used them and how I gave them a second life. Now that the items are gone, have my memories or feelings changed? Of course not! (I mean, what would the point be of keeping an old car that doesn’t work anymore?)

Use it up and, when the time comes, pass it on or give it away. My mother (something of a hoarder herself) just gave me an old pot that was just sitting in her garage yesterday after I told her about an orchid I needed to re-pot. Looks like she’s learning, too.

I got a brand new pair of roller skates, you got a brand new key...

2011-04-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

Following up on stuff I'm loving this spring and summer, I've got to let you all know about my obsession with Greek keys.

Sometimes it can also be found in Asian designs in fretwork borders or screens, but we most often associate the keys with neoclassical interiors and various revivals.

Check out this rad hand-painted key border by Jean Cocteau. I would love the chance to draw or graffiti something like this in an interior space with a big fat marker:

(Check out the rest of this French home that Cocteau designed in this article.)

I'm totally going to get these Euro shams from West Elm and use them as a summery headboard:

I love these because they take that classic geometric pattern and, like Cocteau, give it an organic, handmade feel. It's relaxed and easy and fun--just what you want for the warmer days ahead.

Go ahead and go Greek this year--get yourself a brand new key!

Hey! You! Get off of my cloud!

2011-03-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

After using one of these indoor/outdoor ceramic stools as a side table in a project for Ye Olde Dayjobbe, I've been obsessed with the celestial cloud pattern:

And check this out--they're even availble in lamp form from Arteriors! I'm dying to use these in some project, whether for Retrograde or Ye Olde Dayjobbe:

Chalk it up to collective consciousness or subliminal marketing, but I'm really digging the clouds for this spring and summer.

(And remember to stick with a designer, either me or one of my colleagues to the right. We can save you money on purchasing, and in some cases like the Arteriors lamps, you can only get them through us or the trade!)

Check out this hotel in Taiwan that's taken the clouds to a more modern form:

This is how we do it...

2011-03-20T18:41:00.000-07:00

Alrighty, after last week's birthday shenanigans, I'm back to the regular postings!

I've been working with a great new client, figuring out her style and helping her get rid of a bunch of hand-me-down pieces she's been living with for the past few years. However, there were several hand-me-downs that were actually family heirlooms which neither of us would ever consider throwing out!

The bedroom is filled with these huge antiques, which have been passed down several generations:

How to break it up and make it feel less formal? It all comes back to the balance that I use in my Retrograde work.

Step 1: Add some fun bedding.

This bedding from Dwell Studio is grounded in a formal European floral/animal pattern, but is also incredibly bright and colorful and really packs a punch.

Step 2: Mix it up. With the bed furniture pretty much set, the only way to balance out the heavy wood pieces was with bedside tables and lamps. In all three options below, you'll see some combination of contemporary and formal, with most of the traditional shapes re-imagined in modern materials or colors.

Option 1 features inexpensive lamps in a traditional shape but also a shocking pink color, combined with nesting tables made out of clear plexiglass.

Option 2 features nightstands made of foxed mirror (which is a really traditional finish) in a really clean, modern shape. The lamps are playful plexiglass takes on rococo-style lamps.

Option 3 combines super-modern wall sconces with a ghostly floating table made of clear plexiglass.

Why so much plexiglass, you may ask? Yeah, each option features it, and I thought of using it in all three options in order to lighten up the space visually and to provide an ultra-modern foil to the carved wood bed and dresser. Maybe I read too many Wonder Woman comics when I was a kid, but I also like to think of it like the Invisible Jet--functional and totally rad all at the same time.

Anyhow, it all comes down to balance, balance, balance. It's the key to so many designs. This is how we do it, people.

Come to my window...

2011-03-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

Quick post this week seeing as how I was so busy at Ye Olde Dayjobbe last week, shipping things out for the One Kings Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale. I'm telling you--this sale has killed me! Guess who had to ship out all those bolts of fabric and small accessories that sold?

That's right--me.

Anyhow, whenever I was feeling stressed out between OKL and a new commercial project at work, I just took a moment to enjoy the view out my kitchen window:

The yellow flowers, the plum trees, and the lemon tree remind me that spring is around the corner and that I shouldn't worry so much.

If you've been as stressed out as me, just take a minute to enjoy your local scenery too!

Like four seasons in one day...

2011-02-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

The cold weather and rain of the past few days has forced me to stay and--what else?--play around with my living room.

Just a reminder to keep experimenting with what you have. When you're cleaning up and dusting, take a moment to rearrange things. A change is always good!

Four years ago:

Last year:

A few months ago:

And this weekend:

I love the David Hockney portrait I got from Wayne Pate!

And I also love the corbels I got from Accident and Artifact (from an old Japanese temple). That shop really is like Indiana Jones's private study or den...

I even switched out the London bus blind in the entry for a smaller grouping of pieces:

I found the vintage Chinatown illustration at Thrift Town in the Mission (there's a companion piece depicting Nob Hill, too!)

One room, done four ways. See what you can do on a cold afternoon!

She bop

2011-02-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

So while I was in New York last week I snapped some pics of the East Village apartment I helped refresh.

Yes, there are a lot of recognizable CB2 pieces and such, but there are also quite a few new affordable handmade accessories and art from Brooklyn Flea, which is just rad.

The point of it all? JUST DO IT--do something if you want to add a little pizzaz to your space. I keep telling everyone I work with that their spaces should reflect their personalities. Well, now this New York pad looks much more like the spirited young lady who lives there. With just a few trips to a couple of places (and some professional painting), we were able to add some color and life to her apartment rather quickly.

So here's a before and after of the living room:

And here's another before and after:

And here's the bedroom (the bars will come off the windows soon...promise!):

Color...pattern...bold prints in a small space...New York iconoclasts...of course Cyndi Lauper would be something of an inspiration!

Girls just wanna have fun...

2011-02-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

Quick post this week--remember how last November I popped over to New York to help redecorate an East Village apartment? Check out the before pics:

The "afters" will follow next week! Stay tuned...

Wrap it up, I'll take it...

2011-02-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

Everyone around me knows I was slammed with this rush project at Ye Olde Dayjobbe for the past few weeks. Friends of current clients asked my bosses if we could design their luxury high-rise apartment in 3.5 weeks.

!!!!

Did I mention that their friends' home took us 3.5 years??

But we rose to the challenge and made it happen. I worked weekends and several 12-hour days last week, and we managed to fill an apartment twice the size of mine. From scratch. So what's the lesson this week? Hiring a designer can help you get things done--fast. We worked closely with the contractors to ensure the minor renovations and changes were done on time. We rushed custom furniture pieces and shopped like crazy to find vintage items that gave the place personality. And we had access to the showrooms filled with unique high-end pieces.

Everyone who reads this blog knows that I love my mass-market retailers. They've really stepped up the game on their stuff over the years. But cruising around the showrooms and working with skilled craftsmen (upholsterers, refinishers, and furniture makers) this past month really introduced me up to whole new level of quality.

And you know what? Working with a designer can save you from sticker shock.

Take this ceramic garden stool, for instance:

The size is perfect for a side table next to a chair. It's sturdy, yet looks organic and delicate. Of course my designer discount would save you a few bucks in person here, and you could find it even cheaper online here. But when I was at the Design Center I found it on the floor of a showroom for less than half of either of those prices! (It was ordered by someone else by mistake and ended up on display. The showroom was eager to get rid of it to make way for newer merchandise.)

I wouldn't have stumbled on this bargain had I not been in the showrooms shopping for some custom fabrics!

So if you have a chance to work with a designer (hopefully me ;^) rest easy knowing that it's our job to hunt high and low for you. And if you can't hire a designer? Make friends with one--I've been helping a friend re-do his bathroom and getting him the fixtures and materials for far less than retail prices. Why? Because I like a challenge...I like furthering relationships with vendors and showrooms...I like being able to cut loose on designs that might not make it at Ye Olde Dayjobbe...

...And most importantly, I'm a nice person, dammit!

Designer will do just about anything to help you improve your home. We do it out of love! Or maybe some crazy obsession...

But in this ever changing world in which we live makes you give in and cry...Say live and let die!

2011-01-30T19:17:00.000-08:00

This week I promised you clutter. Want to see some?

BAM! (You know this photo was taken in June and that the tree had been around since December!)

And here's the AFTER--KAPOW!

This is a new year, and so I think it's time to talk about decluttering and purging. Last year I was obsessed with the show Hoarders until I realized two things: 1) I'd seen enough dead cats after the first season and 2) yes, it's a mental disease but it's also a slippery slope we could all fall down. I think all you need to have is a career or a family and you're part of the way there.

Two years ago one of my first posts was about decluttering someone's studio apartment (which is where these images are from.) It was tough. It was like looking into the depths of someone's soul and seeing a lot of things I didn't expect to see. I thought I'd never go back, but now I find this is part of my Retrograde work. One of my current clients has a busy family and wanted some standard "rules" she could follow to help her purge the clutter from her home.

I tried to find some cut-and-dried rules for her, but had a hard time doing so. Y'know why? Because it's not that simple. There aren't cut-and-dried rules to follow during this process. Any advice someone gives you will have to sound more holistic than anything else--because after dealing with some folks with serious hoarding tendencies, I can honestly tell you it becomes very emotional.

So if you're going to try and do some purging (a.k.a. "spring cleaning") anytime soon, take these words of advice under consideration and imagine me in the room with you, rooting you on and dishing out some tough love.

1. Always remember this--unless you live in a 200 square foot studio, you probably have more space and storage than I (or a great number of Americans) will ever have. No matter how much (or how little) space you have, no matter how big (or small) your family is, you need to make it work. Always remember this. I just read Tim Gunn's new book and "make it work" has never felt more relevant. If you can afford to move to a bigger place every year or rent another storage space to keep hold of your stuff, then you don't need my advice this week. I told my current client that even though she had more space than others (for San Francisco), she shouldn't feel compelled to hold on to more than other people. I told her that I honestly didn't think she should be wanting for more space.

2. You're all digital, tech-savvy people. You follow blogs, for crying out loud. Get rid of the old magazines you're holding on to. I know most of you are busy people and can honestly say you might never ever dig through them again to search for "that one article" from whenever. If you need a recipe or something from Sunset, you're going to go to their website and search for keywords; you're not going to dig through a stack to find that March 2009 article. This should be an easy one to follow.

3. Boarding passes and other documents/receipts--get rid of them unless you need them for work. Are you honestly going to have the time to go back and verify that information for that expense account? If you haven't recorded the information in a month, then keep this in mind: TIME is your LIFE. It's time for your family, time for yourself and your sanity, time for your work or other more important things. (If you honesly think you need to enter them into some system or save them for some particular time period, then you need to make an appointment with yourself to actually do this. If you don't, or if you miss that appointment for any reason, then you need to toss that stuff out.)

4. Any financial paperwork or tax records--save it for 7 years. Anything older, shred it.

5. Make an appointment to shred your old stuff. Tell a friend when you're going to do it. If you need help, they can try to be there to keep you honest.

6. Tackle one pile of stuff a day. I've seen people with a lot of things on the floor and on/around their desks and they wonder why they're swimming in papers and clutter. If you do one pile of papers/stuff a week, it can be more managable. Don't stop until that pile has been filed or thrown out. The goal is to see your floor and to have a clean desk by the end of the day/week/month.

7. If you ever hide stuff from others, you're hiding it from yourself--and that's not healthy. If you let your garage or basement become a dumping zone, you're creating a risk for your family and home. Remember that one stray spark in those cluttered areas can mean disaster.

8. Kids' clothing is easy. If it doesn't fit them or is pilly or worn, you need to get rid of it, right? So do it monthly. Make it a set time. As you notice things shrinking in the laundry or on a weekly basis, toss it into a bag in the garage. Once a month, post something on an online parents' group saying you have a bag of clothing to give away. And the torn or worn things--if you can't get rid of them, you need to toss them or turn them into rags. I know I'm all about recycling and stuff, but this is your life we're talking about. If throwing things out means an extra half hour of time for you, then I'm all for it.

9. Kids' toys....be brutal. If they haven't played with it in a few months, get rid of it. There's a good chance they're forgotten them. Kids are resilient and will bounce back with all the new things they get from friends and family all the time. Don't be afraid to get rid of things--I know I still resent my mother for throwing out this one comic book when I was a kid, but now as an adult I can rationalize it: I left it on the floor for days (where someone could have slipped on it), so I can understand how she threw away my mess in one clean sweep. I'm sure your kids can deal with giving away their old toys. If anything, you're teaching them not to be so precious with material things. And you're teaching them about charity and giving to others. That toy may have come from Grandma, but it's not actually Grandma or her love. I mean, if you donate that old gift, does Grandma love your kids any less? (On a related note, I had a ton of toys when I was a kid, but I had the most fun making things out of old boxes and using my imagination instead. And for some reason, I was okay with those cardboard forts and castles and action figure traps being tossed out after a week. I think it's because I always knew I could make something bigger and better later...)

10. Your toys. Get rid of your old electronics. Just send 'em to Goodwill whether they work or not. (Goodwill in California has a fantastic policy of recycling electronics for parts. Old phones can go to victims of domestic violence. Check with your cell phone carrier for details.) Set a date. Say, "Next Tuesday I'm going to delete all the info from this old phone and donate it." And then do it. Unless you think you're going to have the time to sell it or use it again...(really? Will you have the time? Be honest with yourself.)

11. Your clothing. Even if you're saving old clothes for the day when you lose some weight and can get back into them, will they feel right ever again? Will they still be in fashion? Get rid of anything pilly or worn. That includes old underwear and t-shirts. If you haven't worn it in the past year or two, then seriously consider getting rid of it. Old underwear or socks? Seriously get rid of it. When you've got more space you can treat yourself to new things--but not until you get rid of the old. Do you have a dresser? I don't--my folded stuff is either in this Ikea locker or in a couple of stacks in our modest closet. (My partner has a dresser, but that's because he only keeps his hanging clothes in our closet.)

12. If a lot of your stuff is kept out in stacks or in clear bins, is this because you need to see things? When things are put away, do you find yourself getting multiples of things you already have or might not need? Or is there a reason why things aren't put away? This is a time to assess--as well as clean and unclutter--your home. If it's easier to keep track of things you can see, you might need to rethink all the storage in your home. But if you're okay with having things filed away, then by purging and keeping track of what you actually have you should know where everything is all the time. I know kids or pets might play around and take things out and mess things up. That's life. But as you start clearing things out, it'll be easier for all of you to maintain the progress.

Okay, that's all I can think of right now. Like I said before, it's more holistic and tough love than anything else. (It's also fueled by some beer after working this weekend for Ye Olde Dayjobbe!) It's about being honest with yourself and constantly asking if holding on to the stuff is worth your time or energy. I've always been dramatic and have watched waaaaaay too many disaster movies (thanks to my partner) so I constantly ask myself what I couldn't live without. Imagine if you and your family/loved one(s) were on a desert island somewhere (where food wasn't an issue, of course.) What would you really need?

And then get yourself another drink and be thankful you have a home to keep you warm and safe.
See all the things you don't need:

And see what's important (friends and your sanity):

Out with the old:

And in with the new (or new slipcovers):

A cluttered entryway:

Or something more clean and practical?

It's a new year. It's time to make room for the things that really matter. Don't let yourself get bogged down by your "stuff" and material belonging any more. Say, "Live and let live." (Or maybe--to the clutter and chaos and all the things holding you back--say, "Live and let die.")

Show me love...

2011-01-23T19:05:00.000-08:00

Does anyone here read Apartment Therapy? They've got their blog award, The Homies, going on right now.

Vote for Retrograde!

You might have to create a login or become a member of the AT community, but is that such a bad thing? It's a great online community that brings together home design enthusiasts from all over. I've been an avid reader for a while and even applied to be a contributor there many years ago. To be recognized by them is always an honor, and it keeps me going--as many of you know, someday I'd just like to write about design full-time.

Sigh....keep dreamin', Jason.

Anyway, give me a shout out if you can. Show me love. Show me life. Baby show me what it's all about.

(Next week I'll post about clutter and getting control of your home.Promise!)

Robyn - Show me love
Uploaded by djoik. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

GOLD! Always believe in your soul...

2011-01-16T15:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am a fan of the spray paint as most of you know. I found this little black ceramic lamp at Community Thrift a few months ago and was going to use for my client with the Oakland loft. But after I spray painted it bright white, it didn't seem to work with this tall floral shade I had. I found an alternative and decided to use the painted lamp for another client instead.

Here's how it looked when I dropped it off last week:

Not bad, but kind of lacking. The husband of the couple thought it blended into the pale blue walls, and because it was such a cold white, he was right.

So this week I painted it GOLD.

Now it has more depth. The metallic color contrasts not only the pale blue walls, but also the turned wood side table. Throw on an inexpensive linen lampshade and you've got a great piece for under $40! (I used Krylon Bright Gold, by the way.)

I'm really feeling the metallics right about now. Don't be afraid to mix them up, either. Go ahead, give your home a little shine and bling.

"You've got the power to know that you're indestructible..."

Blue Monday (how does it feel...)

2011-01-09T18:45:00.000-08:00

For the past few months I've been helping out some friends update their single family home as their needs change. Their kids are growing (toddlers now!) and they wrestle with daily demands vs. an intrinsically modern and sophisticated style (you should see their art collection!)

I think I've said it before, but paint is one of the quickest fixes around. While we take our time to strategize and prioritize over possible bathroom/entry/closet remodels, painting was the most effective way to feel like we're making progress. While that new sofa will take eight to 10 weeks (hello!), painting three rooms only took two days.

And we found that a bold color you love makes so much difference. Check out the dining room before:

And AFTER. Shazam!

Whoa! Talk about deep blue something! It's been great working with my friends, knowing their pre-kid style and incorporating their love of the dramatic (did I mention the dynamic art collection?) with something that would stimulate their kids and make their dining room pop. (The adjoining living room was painted a complementary pale blue.)

Okay, check one thing off the list. Stay tuned for more!

Do YOU, do what you gotta do!

2011-01-02T18:02:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone!

It's my first post of the new year and I'm feeling pretty good. Yesterday I went for my first run of the year and got completely soaked in the rain. But you know what? It felt good. I thought that if I could get through that cold, wet run, I'd be bulletproof for the year.

You know what else felt good? Cleaning my flat on New Year's Eve and putting up the home-related gifts that I had received for the holidays. Displaying these very thoughtful gifts not only refreshed our home, but also made us feel like the New Year was going to be filled with all sorts of new possibilities.

What's new in my entryway above? The rhino head! What a great gift--so much of everyone's artwork is rectangular or square, no matter how much we try to break it up. But this papier-mache rhino head is sculptural, and breaks up all the right angles of the pieces above. A different shaped mirror could've worked too (I really miss the round horn mirror from West Elm. I tried to use it recently, but my client was a vegetarian and had issues about a piece being essentially made from an animal.)

It's made from old book pages, which my bibliophile partner really appreciated. And it's made by native craftsmen in Haiti, which I really liked. Not only did we support a community in need, but we also found something that tied our place together, making use of our high ceilings. As my partner said, "It's so crazy, it kind of justifies all the books and clutter in our home!"

Another great gift that everyone should consider is original artwork. I keep saying it, but having something unique makes such a difference in your home. My partner commissioned local artist Kate Rado to draw a little family portrait as a holiday gift. When I opened this present, I nearly cried! She captured us in a way no photo ever could. (Etsy also has a number of craftspeople and artists who can create affordable pieces for you--but I'm sure you already knew that!)

Here's a drawing of our neighborhood, also by Kate.

What beats a custom gift? Not much, but sometimes you can find a grand piece that encapsulates the soul of your loved one(s). Yes, I received the 720-page hardbound book, 75 Years of DC Comics by Taschen. It weighs in at a hefty 15 pounds and measures an enormous 12" x16" x 3.25". With something this big, you can bet I'm going to find a way to display it. This kind of gift will definitely become a conversation piece.

Heck, I might just have to build a plinth or stand or something to display it...

So 2011 is already feeling pretty fresh for me. I hope the new year is treating you well, too. Keep doing more for yourself and your home. Remember, the two go hand in hand--the more you take care of one, the more that love and care reflects on the other.

As the Go! Team says, "Do you, do what you gotta do..."

And a bonus video from one of my favorite multi-culti bands, thanks to my friend Jeff (who used to co-own a showroom in the SF Design Center years ago):

What else is new, what can I do but play this valley winter song I wrote for you...

2010-12-27T20:28:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas come and gone. I realized I should have done my big end-of-year cleaning and community donating post this week and suggested some holiday songs last week instead. Well, I've only been doing this regularly for the past year, so give me a break. I'm still getting the hang of this whole editorial calendar thing...

But as the year comes to an end I thought I might offer a few more Martha Stewart-type activities for you. I was inspired by the fact that so many people in Southern California and the East Coast are completely trapped/stuck/stranded due to the extreme weather. That--and the fact that the financial district here is a ghost town--makes me think that a lot of people are taking this week off from work. (Of course, just a few blocks away in Union Square all those people are shopping up a storm, taking advantage of post-Christmas sales...)

1. Join the crowds and get some holiday cards for next year. I must say, I found some cute retro cards for half off. The trick is to stay local and support a local business, if you can. I certainly did!

2. Make some treats for a New Years Eve celebration. For the second year in a row, I made those gooey corn flake wreaths (I only just learned about them, thanks to my partner who's from Ohio and grew up with all this marshmallowy goodness.) We also decorated some fresh gingerbread cookies a friend made. I thought this could be such a fun thing to do with kids, especially if you're snowed (or flooded) in. I had just started sipping a glass of wine and couldn't stop laughing and giggling as I wrestled with the gooey mess--and I don't even have any kids!

3. Catch up. This is the best thing to do if you have this week off between Christmas and New Year's. (I don't this year, but I used to and I really miss it.) You could:
     a. clean the house
     b. really take the time to get over that cold/flu that's been nagging you
     c. catch up on movies, books, magazines, or TV shows (great if you're stuck indoors)
     d. spend time with your loved ones. Play a game like Scrabble. Get your minds working!

4. Celebrate the fact that the days are going to get longer from now on.

5. Put together that playlist for a great seasonal New Years Eve party. There are some wintery songs that I now always associate with the holidays. Here are some non-denominational ones that you could use for next year, or this weekend:

- "Valley Winter Song" by Fountains of Wayne. Wonderfully melancholy lyrics.

- "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" by Tavares. Heard it at the Gap during the holidays 11 years ago and now it'll always be associated with December.

- "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" by Annie Lennox and Al Green. Yes, I used it last week, but after hearing it a dozen more times since then, I still think it's great.

- "Hazy Shade of Winter" by The Bangles. What can I say? It's all about the bells.

- "Calling On Mary" by Aimee Mann. Part of her magical holiday album from a few years ago. It's a great original Christmas song.

- "Celebrate Me Home" by Kenny Loggins.

- "New Year" by Sugababes. It's bubblegum pop, but not too many people Stateside have heard this British girl group before.

- "Walk Out To Winter" by Aztec Camera.

- "A Great Big Sled" by The Killers. It's Christmas-y, but so sweeping and epic I could listen to it year-round.

- "Goodnight" by Etienne de Rocher. A sweet, sweet song. Maybe the best way to end your night and ring in the New Year this Friday. I'm so glad I got to interview him years ago for a magazine article...

Any other suggestions? Let me know--I'm always looking to expand my holiday playlist for next year!

Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand. Put a little love in your heart...

2010-12-19T18:09:00.000-08:00

Wow, this is it--the week of Christmas (if that's what you celebrate)!

This year has been pretty low-key for my little household. We decided to just exchange a few little gifts, and for the ninth (?) year in a row, we're having a big Chinese dinner with some (mostly) Jewish friends on Christmas Eve.

So what's the big how-to tip for this week? I wish I had photos from all my various "theme" trees over the years to share with you. I've always started with some "base ornaments" of plain silver and clear glass balls that create a foundation from which I used to add handmade decorations each year. One year it was all white origami cranes. Another year it was papier-mache Day of the Dead-style Mexican skeletons and cardinals and crepe paper snowflakes. The year I did homemade gingerbread ornaments with popcorn/cranberry garlands didn't work so well--the gnats started appearing after a week or two...

But I had a better idea for this week: How about decluttering your home and getting rid of some old things that could be better used by others?

For instance, my partner and I just donated a big box of books to Community Thrift in San Francisco, where you can designate the beneficiaries of your donation. So when/if these books sell, community organizations that we've chosen like the SPCA or Pets Unlimited will receive part of the proceeds. A good friend of ours is also having a book exchange party on Tuesday that allows us to part with a cherished book and receive another one that was once equally important to someone else. What a great way to share.

We're going to give our old (clean) towels directly to Pets Unlimited, where they can be used to wash/dry/comfort dogs and cats who have been rescued from the area. This local no-kill shelter has a special place in our hearts because it's where I got our magical cat over eight years ago.

And old electronics (even broken ones) will be sent to Goodwill, where they can be recycled even if they no longer work. I must say, it's better than throwing away those tools and gadgets with missing parts or chargers. Old (but working) cellphones will go to Verizon, where they either recycle them or donate them to victims of domestic violence.

At Ye Olde Dayjobbe, we had a surplus of paint from a commercial project (25 gallons of off-white interior latex paint!) What to do? I contacted our local school district, who are more than happy for the donation. Other places that can accept business donations or large quantities of things are SCRAP (who will provide my old interior samples to teachers who can re-use them for art/craft projects) and Habitat for Humanity. Local mural artists Precita Eyes would have also taken the extra paint from my office. Check in with your local organizations and nonprofits--they might be able to use your in-kind donations, too.

It feels good to not only get rid of "stuff" that's cluttering my back storage room, but to know that's it's going to a good cause. That's two-thirds of what Retrograde is all about--rethinking and recycling!

These days, not all of us can give monetary donations (I know I've had to tighten my own belt a little since making the transition to interiors.) So these in-kind contributions are a way for many of us to still help. Share your own links and organizations with your family, friends, and colleagues.

Put a little love in your heart...and have a good holiday!

Hang me up to dry

2010-12-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

Short post this week (and late) because I got sidetracked by a few things: a bathroom remodel I'm working on is having some tile issues; Ye Olde Dayjobbe is getting busier for some reason; and I got a callback after going to an HGTV audition.

!!!!

Yeah, that's right. Keep your fingers crossed, true believers.

One thing I talked about during my initial casting and subsequent callback was overcoming inertia just doing something. So many folks have art, posters, or even wrapping paper that can hung on the walls. "But I don't have any frames!" I hear. Or, "custom framing costs too much and takes too long!"

Well, something I've been using for years are steel bullnose clips. They're a little more old-school/retro/stylish than your average black-and-metal binder clips, and they're good for hanging art. For large pieces, like my old London bus roll which I've had for years now, I specifically choose bullnose clips for hanging.

But they're also great for quick, down-and-dirty hangings, like right after you move into a new place, or to just experiment to see if you like the placement of something.

Maybe you'll have that print or poster framed eventually. But in the meantime, enjoy the no-fuss hanging!

Got pictures of cool things you've hung with bullnose clips, or even pant hangers? Send me photos--I want to see 'em!

Smells like teen spirit...

2010-12-06T19:42:00.000-08:00

I know it's December and it's getting cold out there, but with a big cat and a partner who likes to crank up the heat, my home can get pretty dusty and dry any time of the year. So what do I do? I try to open up the windows and doors to air the place out every week.

I remember when I was staying with my aunt and I noticed that her family kept most windows every so slightly cracked open during the days, even in the winter. I used to wonder why it was always so cold in there during the day, but now that I'm in a never-ending battle against dust and mold, I can understand why she did it. Before we moved in together, my partner used to live in a studio apartment and kept his heater cranked up in the winter, letting the windows get all steamy. One day I noticed something on the wall next to his bed. Pushing the bed aside, we discovered all the condensation on the walls and windows allowed a huge patch of mold to grow on the wall!

Ewwww!

So opening up windows while you clean is a nice, natural way to air out a room. But what do you do when it's too cold outside and things are starting to smell a little stale in your house? (I know there are some readers in the midwest and east cost!)

Try vacuuming with a HEPA filter to trap all those allergens that are making you sneeze (cranking up the heaters can dry up your skin creating even more dust)
Wash your bedding, sofa/TV throws, and towels often, using a naturally scented detergent (Trader Joe's and Method use essential oils)
I'm not a big fan of air purifiers, but if you have to use them, go for it--science wins!
Fresh cut flowers are another natural way to scent a room (unless you're allergic like me--stargazer lilies are my kryptonite)
Instead of heavily scented candles, invest in a nice room spray like something from Diptyque or Mrs. Meyers.

Seriously, I've become a convert to these sprays--they beat the heck out of those cans of Lysol, Glade or Wizard from my childhood days. At my office we use Diptyque's fig scented spray and it (ahem) really works.

Last time one of my colleagues went, they also picked up a ton of samples, which are also used in their line of personal scents--I ended up liking the light citrus scent of Oyedo so much, I started wearing it on occasion.

Hey, it's better than Axe, and it's considerably cheaper than what I normally wear. All good stuff, and good for holiday gift giving!

I walk the line

2010-11-29T16:45:00.000-08:00

When hanging art, I've been extolling the virtues of salon-style groupings to achieve an eclectic look and casual feel.

Why? Because it suits a variety of different frame styles, which is what a lot of my Retrograde clients have. And also because it takes away the pressure of having your art and photos spaced perfectly or aligned. For me, it's more important to get those pieces of art out of the storage boxes and up on the walls. However, the process isn't totally random. I like to use key lines to arrange art on walls. (That just means lining up certain edges of your pieces.)

Here are some examples (the key lines are marked in red):

In this example (above), you can see that the key line can also go down the center of several pieces.

Top and bottom key lines are easy ways to line things up, especially if you're really keen on maintaining order.

For this family gallery mockup, I layed out a 4' x 8' area of white space to simulate the portion of wall I was working with in a single family home. (When planning a grouping of so many photos or art, it can help to lay things out on the floor first...)

It's like a big puzzle, so go ahead and give it a try--play around! Like I said before, it's better than keeping your art and photos in storage. And if you mess up, just invest in a tub of spackle from your local hardware store to fill in the holes ;-)

I see your true colors shining through...

2010-11-21T17:54:00.000-08:00

One of my clients has been going through a lot of paint samples to see what will work in several rooms of their busy family home. I know that once they're ready to start painting the final colors, there will be some questions about the process. These same questions will pop up whether you decide to do the painting yourself or hire professionals. (I know--I've done it myself and I've worked with professionals through my dayjob.)

Luckily my friend Caroline Myers recapped the process step-by-step on her blog. Her instructions ensure that the color you choose from those tiny paint chips becomes the final color on your walls/cabinets/furniture/whatever. There are some extra steps that I didn't use 10 years ago when I painted my first "adult" bedroom, but trust me when I say that those steps are vital.

She used some kitchen cabinets as an example. Here's the BEFORE picture:

And here's the AFTER:

Here are her two vital tips to remember:

1. Get brush-outs of your paint samples. The paint chips at the paint store are not actual paint, so therefore there can be (and will be) color variances. Having a brush-out will give you an accurate picture of what color you are looking at.
2. ***THIS STEP IS KEY*** Once you have selected your paint color from your brush-out samples, order the paint and have them BRUSH OUT YOUR ACTUAL PAINT. This simple step can save you soooo much time. We spent two days getting an excellent paint job on our cabinets. We left for dinner to let them dry, came back and started putting in drawers and holding up the cabinets to get a sneak peak on the final picture. Once we held them up it was VERY apparent that we had the wrong color. We then painted some of our quart of paint to our original brush-out and sure enough the paint store had mixed it wrong. This color was incredibly blue compared to the color we had selected. So we had to spend an extra two days applying the correct paint color to the cabinets. So please please have the paint store brush out the actual paint so you can compare it to your sample brush out.

She has even more tips for painting cabinets or wood. Check out all the steps on her blog.

I've been looking so long at these pictures of you, that I almost believe that they are real...

2010-11-15T20:03:00.000-08:00

Last week I showed how I customized a pretty basic piece of Ikea furniture. In the original post (about a young doctor on a budget) I also mentioned a bulletin board I created from another Ikea piece, the Ung Drill frame.

This week I want to show you how I created this:

This one is also really easy to do. I began with the $29.99 Ung Drill frame, which is basically a piece of black plastic--but it has a great shape. You could do this project with any thrift store frame.

I took out the glass and cardboard backing (save the cardboard--it's going to be the backing of your bulletin board.) I actually had some problem getting the glass out, but after I bent back the brackets holding it in place, I left it out in a cold space (my utility room) and by the next day the glass had contracted and came out easily.

Next, I used some metallic spray paint (Krylon metallics in Bright Gold) and gave the black frame one really light coat. After it had dried for an hour or so, I distressed the edges of the frame with some fine-gauge steel wool so parts of the original black came through. Then I used the glass (you can also use the cardboard backing) as a template for cutting out the fabric and other materials.

For the fabric (I used jute from Cliff's Variety, but you could use canvas, linen, or any other fabric), be sure to leave at least an inch of extra material so you can wrap it around the backing.

Originally, I was going to use cork as the "soft" material under the fabric, but the price of cork tiles and rolled sheets was a LOT more expensive than I remembered...so I used something else I had lying around: quilt batting. I realize not everyone has this stuff in their home, but once again you could recycle other materials for this. Maybe a bunch of old t-shirts or even denim...the point is to get about half an inch of padding so your thumbtacks won't go through the cardboard backing.

This material should actually be cut to the exact same size as the backing.

I actually used four layers of this particular batting (also originally from Cliff's) to get half an inch.

After I put the batting on top of the cardboard and wrapped the jute around everything, I simply used good ol' Scotch masking tape to take the extra jute down. I know it seems...ghetto. But it honestly works well. One of my old teachers at FIDM taught us how to wrap and tape fabric samples for display boards and it all came down to regular masking tape.

The entire process was quick--kind of a fun rainy day project (yes, it was actually raining when I did this--hard to believe with the current heat wave we're having!) And the finished piece is something that really suited this young woman's apartment and newfound style.

You...doing that thing you do!

2010-11-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

Last week my friend (and peer) Jolene asked me how I created the faux inlay on the Ikea Malm drawers. I figured some of you out there might want to know too, so I decided to write about the process this week.

Let's begin!

Step 1:
I use AutoCAD all the time to create furniture plans and construction documents, as well as for general space planning. So I figured it was the best way for me to draw a precise template for the inaly. Of course, everyone works differently. You could also simply draw it out on paper or cardstock using a ruler and a some circle templates, if that's easier for you.

Step 2:

If you do choose to use a computer program, you can tile your template so it will print over several pages. This means you can add cut/crop marks to multiple pages and then cut and tape them together into something larger--this is an easy way to print out something big using only regular pieces of paper at home. As you can see below, I was able to take this large drawer template (it was 31.5" wide) and print it onto five standard Letter-sized pages:

Step 3:

After taping the pages together to form a template, use an X-Acto knife or a utility knife (or even scissors or a razor blade if your template is simple enough) to cut it out.

As you can see here, I used an additional circle template to help me cut out the curved parts.

Step 4:

Then I rolled out some dark wood-patterned Contact paper ($4-6 a roll, depending on where you live) and taped my paper template on top. The back side of the Contact paper has these handy grid lines that really make it easy to draw/cut straight lines.

Then I traced my pattern onto the Contact paper and cut it out with my X-Acto knife.

Step 5:
I cleaned the surface of the Malm drawers with rubbing alcohol and then peeled off the backing of the Contact paper "inlay." Slowly, I stuck it on, smoothing out any bubbles that appeared.

Shazam! Customized Ikea furniture!

This week marks a change in the direction of my Retrograde blog. Y'see, last week I also had the chance to talk to another friend, the original co-founder of Retrograde, who is still pursuing the idea of transforming peoples' lives through health and bodywork. Over some happy hour drinks, she encouraged me to make the blog to more how-to and hands-on.

"That way you can reach even more of the young, stylish, crafty people you seem to be targeting," she said.

And later she added, "Then you can get a book deal, fool!"

Sounds like a plan.

Alright, Chronicle Books, I'm ready for ya.

What a girl wants, what a girl needs...

2010-10-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

Last week I posted about a crafty project I did for Monica, a doctor who came to me with a limited budget and multiple challenges. After living in one temporary white-box apartment after another down the peninsula, she finally decided to move to the city and put down some roots. She had just purchased a new sofa and wanted to work around that with a total budget of about $2000 (not including the sofa and a few other pieces she just bought.) She could swing $2500 if she, "pulled a few extra shifts at the clinic." Yikes!!

We talked about her school debts and how her particular focus in medicine wasn't terribly lucrative (she's in it to help people, not make money) and I cut her a deal. I'd try to do as much as I could with my lowest level of services and give her homework--she'd have to handle the purchases herself. In the past, she had acquired most of her domestic pieces online through Google Shopping, which had left place looking a little...clinical. When I suggested that her black metal tubular TV stand be replaced, she asked, "Why? I just bought that and I love it."

Gulp..!

I had to use a little tough love and explain to Monica that her apartment looked a little like an '80s bachelor pad: teal sofa, black metal TV stand, bookcases from Staples...She asked if there was a way to work with what she already had.

"Sure," I said. "I can get you some Nagel posters and we can call it a day."

When my Duran Duran "Hungry Like The Wolf"/"Rio" reference clicked, she laughed, so I was relieved she could see the humor in my critique. She had never thought about design before (hello, medical school!), so it was going to take some time to figure out her tastes--what she loved and felt strongly about. Over several weeks we talked and e-mailed about things she liked and didn't like. Being the daughter of Indian immigrants, she felt a link to many organic and hand-crafted items that reminded her of certain family members. And being super budget-minded, she scoured Craigslist endlessly during the days and sent me links to treasures she found (ah the perks of working from home--I really miss it!)

We found a great mix of old and new pieces. Check it out.

Bedroom before and after:

Living Room before and after:

Additonal "afters":

Another area of the Living Room before and after:

Office nook before and after:

Hall/Dining Room before and after:

Another Dining Room before and after:

We kept the sofa, dining table, bedroom furniture and some side tables. I also loved how she had taken almost all of the photographs in the apartment herself. We added new dining chairs, accent chairs, bed linens, lighting, rugs, art, curtains, and bookshelves. There were a lot of cheap vintage finds as well some well-placed Ikea hacks (like the bulletin board I made for her kitchen.) It was quite a transformation from the clinical severity before. In fact, Monica told me last week, "I've learned two very important things during this process--I'm not some frat boy bachelor; I'm Indian, and I'm a girl."

Rad. My work is done.

Next stop: New York, where I kill two birds with one stone!

...Where my love can be found and my heart rings true

2010-10-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, last post was about going back to the roots of Retrograde and my mission to reuse as much as possible. This week it's time to show you how by getting crafty again!

I'm finishing up a project for a young doctor on a budget (girl's got some loans to pay back.) She didn't want to get rid of her well-functioning Ikea pieces, but agreed with me that they were really large and boxy--not what we had in mind when transforming her place from an '80s bachelor pad to a feminine retreat. (More photos will be posted next week after we hang up some art!)

So here's a look at her bedroom furniture before:

No real nightstand, Malm chests placed side by side...this room needed some help. I placed the small Malm next to the bed and encouraged the client to get another 3-drawer Malm to balance things out and give her more storage for things that were sitting in a plastic bin next to her bed (not shown.) The Malm chests were still pretty severe and masculine, so I gave them a faux contrasting inlay to break up the boxiness:

Tune in next week for all the before and after photos from this apartment!

RuPaul : Back To My Roots

Steven the Accursed

Myspace Video

I'm going back, back, back to my roots...

2010-10-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

Quick post this weeeknd because...

I'm donating some Retrograde services to an eco-minded fundraising event this Thursday!

As part of a slient auction/dinner/dancing fundraiser for a new documentary film, Out on a Limb, I'm offering up to 6 hours of interior design and decorating help. This personalized service includes an at-home consultation, measuring, specifying, and budget tracking for 2 rooms. Value: $400.

After wrapping up a project in Sacramento and hanging some curtains for a Potrero Hill project this weekend, I'm beat. But my filmmaker friends convinced me this is a good project and cause, and I can't wait to go to the event and see some footage from the project. They thought that Retrograde's main philosophy of reusing and recycling items fit well with the feeling of the documentary, and having met one of the film's subjects, I wanted to help in whatever way I could.

"Out on a Limb is a road movie, nature documentary and adventure film all rolled into one photographer's odyssey across America -- getting people to reconnect with nature, themselves and each other, while bringing attention to endangered trees across America. A transformative journey that takes photographer, participant and audience out on a limb."

'Nuff said--how could I not help?

If you're interested in supporting the film, having a gourmet (and I'm sure sustainable) dinner, and dancing the night away this Thursday, October 21st, check out http://www.seedtospirit.com/ for more information on tickets and donating.

Dream A Little Dream...

2010-10-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

Oooh, I've been bad at keeping up my self-imposed policy of once-a-week posting.

Anyhow, last week (or was it two weeks ago now?) I posted some crazy-expensive designer pieces and wrote about a couple of my favorite sofas that I'd love to have if I could re-do my own living room.

Well, I realized I'd keep my current bookshelves, which I love. Even if we lost everything in a fire, I think we'd try to re-create this combination of shelving again. You know it wouldn't take long for my partner to replace all the books!

Here's what an ideal living room would look, at least for this week/month/year:

It's got my usual mix of geometric and organic shapes, hard and soft materials, shiny and worn finishes. Here's the cost breakdown:

Hahn Sofa by Vladimir Kagan, $1899
Bookshelves, custom configurations at The Container Store
1930s-40s Navajo Rug, East Meets West Antiques, $1450
Arabesque pillows, Williams-Sonoma Home, $98
Greek key side table, $595
Onyx coffe table, One Kings Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale (Michelle Nussbaumer), $1999
Sketch, One Kings Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale (Michelle Nussbaumer), $549
Turquoise pot, One Kings Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale (Michael S. Smith), $49
Petrified wood lamps, One Kings Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale (Michelle Nussbaumer), $3199

I know a lot of stuff up there just came from One Kings Lane, but I've really been loving their site recently. Some of the stuff is still pretty pricey, but there are also quite a few deals, too. You never know which big-name designer is going to sell stuff on their weekend Tag Sales!

$3199 for a pair of lamps...sigh! Yeah, it's a bit of a dream for me. I know I could probably find comparable items for everything above at thrift stores and flea markets. But for now, just for this blog post, let's dream big, okay?

Yeah glitter, glitter everywhere, like working in a goldmine...

2010-09-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

I have to say, working at the day job has desensitized me to a lot of sticker shock over the past few months, but a little while ago I was slapped back into reality when I found out how much a piece of furniture(/art) could be worth.

These pieces were made by the same conceptual designer, each carved from a single piece of marble:

I found out one of theses pieces cost over $50,000.

!!!!

Having worked at an educational nonprofit as well as a healthcare organization, I couldn't stop thinking about how that money could be someone's (or even two peoples') entire salary for a year. Heck, it was more than I used to make when I worked at the educational nonprofit six years ago!

(This week the record was blown by an antique folding table that was 140,000 Euros. Euros, people.)

Personally, I tell my Retrograde clients that their money and energy can go towards other things like family vacations, time with loved ones, or a memorable meal or event. If they ever want something pricey, I'm more than happy to get it for them...but let's face it, the dayjob can be unreal sometimes.

I dunno. Having studied art and having trained to be a Young British Artist, I think there's something to be said about conceptual pieces that make you do a double-take. It's a reaction--hopefully delight or something positive. But in interior design, I think there are tons of affordable, conceptual pieces out there.

Take the classic Togo sofa, for example:

Originally designed in the '70s, it still looks as hot as ever. (I know where to get a knockoff in SF, in case you think the $3K+ price is a bit much.) It also reminds me of the modern sofa that caused Ted Knight so much mayhem in the wacky SF sitcom, Too Close For Comfort:

Even more affordable is the Hahn sofa at Room & Board, designed by Vladimir Kagan:

If I ever lost everything in a fire, this would be the first thing I bought with the insurance money. To me, it's like looking at...ice cream. Or a smile.

Something else more recently designed was the Ikea Vagoe chair, which is sadly no longer available. It was sleek with a deep-set seat to encourage lounging. Originally sold for about $20, it was a great example of affordable design:

In fact, I scored four of them second hand a while ago! The white ones look so sleek in my living room and are surprisingly ergonomic and comfortable:

I still have a pair of black ones up for grabs too...maybe I'll hold onto them a bit longer until they appreciate in value ;-)

Until then, I'll stick with the dayjob. Waitin' on the last train, flickin' through the highlights...

Cane!..Sugar!..Cane!

2010-09-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

Lately I've found myself hooked on a great graphic pattern--cane.

You've seen it before. In print, it looks kind of criss-crossy, like it wants to be a flag or a symbol or something. It's a great graphic representation of woven cane seating, which is itself pretty timeless. In a stroke of meta-genius or just plain ol' dumb luck, I recently scored a floor pillow covered in a cane-print fabric for $5. That particular client totally got a deal, in addition to the vintage wicker chair I sold her and a vintage rattan accent chair we found together at a thirft store--I'm on a natural furniture spree! (I'll post photos when the place is done.)

Anyhow, I've seen this pattern creep up a lot this summer, in pottery, lamps, and even in printed canvas wallets at Noo Works on Valencia.

Check out a few other cane pieces I've spied:

In the immortal words of Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel, "And if you get hooked baby, it's nobody else's fault!"

Come together all over the world from the 'hoods of Japan, Harajuku Girls! What?!

2010-09-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

So I found out through my old program director that another grad (this one in fashion) needed some help with a new boutique she, her partners, and their foreign investors were going to open. My previous retail project earlier this year fell flat (and didn't even bother to pay my invoice), so naturally I was wary and didn't respond right away.

But another request came, so I thought I'd drop this fellow alum an e-mail. Turns out she and her partners were gonig to import Japanese Lolita-style clothing as well as punk-rock inspired Harajuku wear from Japan. When I went to Japan a couple of years ago I loved seeing these extreme styles of clothing being worn regularly by young women--not necessarily just for special occasions. Over a later phone conversation I wondered how these new boutqiue owners would make their imported clothing appeal to mainstream American audiences (especially those who shop around Union Square in downtown SF.)

Here's the look, straight outta Japan:

On the phone they described how they wanted the boutique to look more high-fashion, but that they also needed to stick to the Lolita side's brand. The punk side could apparently have a little more creativity. They were really into checkerboard floors. My first thought was to have the two sides of the store be almost mirror images of each other, hard vs. soft. I thought that vintage/antique pieces could look good on either side: painted white or pastel, they'd definitely look like a Shabby Chic "Lolita"; if spray-painted and distressed, the same (or similar) pieces could definitely look edgier. The trick was to not look like a mash-up of Hello Kitty and Hot Topic. Except maybe in the middle of the shop. That could've been cool...;-)

With less than 24 hours' notice, I was asked to submit a quick sketch. Here's what I came up with:

I wish I could have at least colored it in, or done something digital. But in the end, with a full-time dayjob in design, there's only so much I can do at night after I've made dinner for the family and tried to regain some of my sanity and catch up on correspondence and blog once in a while. (Yes, "dinner for the family" usually means me, my partner, and our cat...but still.)

Never heard back from them, kind of like another project I did where I submitted a series of concepts. (I guess I learned my lesson about spending too much time and energy on pitches with that one.) But I don't know--did I do something wrong, something so bad as to not even receive an acknowledgment of my submission?

I'm still learning the ropes, I guess...

Love, angel, music, baby--hurry up and come and save me!

And after all, you're my wonderwall...

2010-08-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

This last week I was shopping for wallpapers for a client at my dayjob. Since this was for a powder room with no windows, the client really wanted to have a little fun (since working with her, I realized she was completely unafraid of bold patterns and color.) The only criteria? Silver. And patterned.

!!!!!

I thought, This is gonna be so much fun. Going around the Design Center, I pulled dozens of samples from a few pre-selected showrooms. Always keeping my client's tastes and needs in mind, I couldn't help but think which patterns I would choose for my own home if I had a small space to paper. There were so many crazy, fun metallic geometric prints as well as bold florals and toiles on gray and black backgrounds.

Here were some of my favorites:

Of course, coming from the Design Center, these patterns are kind of pricey. While researching other crazy-bold patterns, I went back to one of my favorite designers Barbara Hulanicki (founder of legendary Biba in Britain.) She's since moved on from fashion to interiors and designed pieces for Habitat in Britain as well as wallpapers for Graham & Brown available here in the US.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

Y'know what's even better than being to find her wallpapers in the US? You can get some of them at Target.

!!!!!

Looks like Ms. Hulanicki's kept one thing from her Biba days: affordable design. Love it!

Starting from zero, got nothing to lose...

2010-08-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I had the chance to finish up with L., one of my Oakland clients who found me through the magic of the internet. When we began back in April, we were faced with an interesting problem: having just moved back to the Bay Area for work, L. decided to start over from scratch. She had just a few pieces of art that she loved, and virtually no furniture. Just a bed and dresser, two kitchen chairs, a bookcase, an ottoman, and a TV and stand.

The great thing was that she was realistic about what she wanted to spend for decent quality furniture, and she wanted a mix of pieces that could grow with her. After a good consultation and some e-mail correspondence we came up with a concept for her recently renovated 60s-era apartment:

L.'s tastes leaned toward midcentury anyway, so we found pieces that complemented the architecture of her apartment as well as her sensibilities. The two "midcentury modest" chairs I scored from a thrift shop were a nice counterpoint to the more streamlined pieces I had her purchase. The living room side table was free--how can you beat that!? The zig zag rug was something we had to talk about for a bit--at first she wasn't sure what to make of it--but it soon became one of her favorite pieces in the room (I think she had one of my "I'm about to lose control and I think I like it" moments!)

As most of us know, all roads lead to Ikea when you're starting out on your own, so bedroom chairs, curtains, nightstands, and several other pieces came from our favorite Swedish retailer. Sure, she's got a few little things left to do, like hang that dining room pendant she bought and maybe get a plant and some more accessories and art, but in the end, we got her set up with a good mix of quality and vintage pieces--the perfect foundation from which to grow.

Here's the living room before:

And after:

The dining room before:

And after:

The bedroom before:

And after:

I look forward to getting updates from L. in the future, and can't wait to see how her apartment evolves!

You're all the things I've got to remember...

2010-08-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

I'm a major proponent of having a varied mix of art in the home. In some cases I think it really comes down to a good balance of bold graphics and original pieces. Maybe it's the graphic designer in me, but I always gravitate towards interesting posters. But then I have to mix them up with paintings and other abstract patterns. Accident and Artifact and the Lost Art Salon are two of my favorite places to find original art, while the Renegade Craft Fair recently brought Seattle Show Posters and the Poster List back to town for a weekend. (I picked up a couple of great typography-based prints!)

The best part about original art--particularly sketches--is how much they seem to convey a snapshot in time. I think they're like photographs, but done by hand. They have an immediacy and looseness that captures a particular moment in time. Even when they're presented as gifts or purchased somewhere, you'll always attach a memory to it. I'll never forget seeing a collection of Don Barchardy's drawings in London years ago. They were all the same size (24 x 36 ish), and there were dozens of them. You could imagine them being presented to their famous sitters/subjects after Don was done.

One of my own prized possessions is a little midcentury sketch that was given to me as a wedding gift. It hangs in my bedroom and I always think about how/when it was created and the people involved.

I've sold my own sketches to clients before (they're a good 15 years old, which kind of makes them vintage ;) and I also recently gave two away as gifts. It felt good to give something that I had made myself:

So go out there and make your own art, or find something similar. I think organic pieces with high contrast can really balance out all the photos, posters, and other art in your space. If nothing else, you'll have a great story to tell your friends and visitors.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy

2010-07-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

My client base is pretty diverse, running the gamut from singletons to young families to a set of grandparents. But last week I finished a project that turned out to be a Retrograde first: a nursery for a baby boy.

The deadline got moved up because, well, we wanted to finish before the baby was born. (In fact, he's due any day now!) My client and her husband had just renovated their basement into a kicka** master suite and wanted to turn their old bedroom into the nursery for their son. (Yes, they knew ahead of time that they were getting a boy ;-)

What made these clients interesting was how in tune they were with my own style. The mom-to-be frequents the same thrift stores and antique shops around the Mission as religiously as I do. They shared my attitude about reusing and upcycling materials, turning them into great custom pieces. Needless to say, this made my work really easy, since the mom-to-be had done so much work already. I felt like I came to this project as a consultant or sounding board, giving her another opinion or verifying the great decisions she had already made.

Taking the fabrics and pieces she had already acquired, I worked up a treatment for the nursery, including some different floor plans:

In the end, some of the placement of furniture changed for the better (or the more practical.) She also decided against using her vintage Saarinen tulip side table in the nursery (wise decision--this will turn into a rambunctious toddler's room soon enough!) She also enlisted the help of her incredibly skilled mother to make custom pillows, a daybed cover, and to paint the vintage dresser into a great changing table.

I wish all my clients had mothers like that!

I brought over a few finishing pieces (including the homemade Keith Haring "Night Owl" nightlight, which I gave them as a gift) and took some photos.

Here are the before-and-afters showing the transformation from master bedroom to nursery:

(Before - with fabrics and crib tucked in a corner)

(After - a daybed for lounging or nursing)

Yes, there's a lot of blue in there, but I was really glad to see my client wasn't afraid of getting other colors in there too, like orange and green. With the daybed and vintage dresser in place, it could easily be turned into a guest room or a sitting room if the baby ends up in another part of the house.

I'm just glad I got to take a few pictures before the little guy's arrival! Here's a little video dedicated to him and his awesome family:

And when you smile for the camera, I know they're gonna love it!

2010-07-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

So my Facebook peeps are usually kept up to date on everything that happens on this blog, but I realized that the flow of information doesn't go both ways (is "non-vice-versa" a term?)

A few weeks ago on Facebook I posted a link to this great article where I was interviewed by IIDA, the International Interior Design Association. It's all about the power to reinvent oneself and they interviewed several people who had entered the field of interior design after having had other careers (I was in graphics for nearly 10 years. I was also--and still consider myself to be, occasionally, an actor, too.) It felt good to get some exposure and talk about my new day job in interior design.

Then, on Monday, one of the contributors to Apartment Therapy contacted me and asked if he could have permission to feature some of my before-and-after Retrograde projects on their site. I nearly flipped out--one of my favorite websites (and one of my big inspirations to go back to school for interior design) was contacting me.

Of course I said "yes!" Check it out--it ran on Tuesday (talk about fast turnaround!)

July's been a good month, I must say.

I can upgrade you, show you how to use nice things with nice flavors...

2010-07-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

Jen F. has a loft that's a work in progress. Because she's invested so much into her newly renovated downtown Oakland loft, we've had to get inventive with furnishings and accesories. Lots of thrift store finds have given me the chance to get crafty with my blue tape and a can of spray paint. I recently found a pair of tarnished lamps for cheeeeeaaaap and painted them.

Before:

After (check it out, they're on the re-painted nightstands!):

It's coming along...I think we'll be done in a couple of months.

It's poppin'!

Like A Rolling Stone...

2010-07-05T18:19:00.000-07:00

So this week I'm concentrating on "renter style", and making quick changes that have big visual (and not structural) impact. It's something that's always on my mind because, as most of you know, I'm a "responsible renter" (meaning I try to make quick fixes and repairs around the house whenever I can instead of bothering my landlords upstairs when something goes wrong.) And also, in the beginning my designs originally catered to folks who couldn't or didn't want to make huge structural changes to their homes. (Of course that's changed now too, with several new Retrograde clients who are great hands-on homeowners.)

Since several of my projects are currently at various stages of near-completion, I can't show you any photos of other people's homes, so I'll go back to my own--it's really my mad scientist's laboratory, where I can try out new tricks. I guess it's also fun to show you how I live ;-)

Take my bedroom, for instance. For a while, we've had a couple of console tables as nightstands. Yes, they took up a lot of room on either side of the bed, but we really got used to the extra space they provided for piles of books and things.

This is how my partner's side of the bed looked about four years ago when we first moved in:

And this is how it's looked for a while with a drop-leaf console table (currently up for grabs!):

I found a great mini Parsons desk in a bright color at one of West Elm's sales and got a new shiny steel frame for the original German Querelle poster (which we scored at a garage sale around the corner several years ago.) Here's how it looks now:

These new additions really brightened up that corner and inspired me to add punches of color to the rest of the room, including my side:

Even little things like switching around the lampshades made a difference and kept a nice contrast between the two sides of the bed--dark and light, angular and curvy, modern and traditional...

I decided to refinish and sell the other console table on my side to a client and picked up this great bargain from Ikea. I love the color and it's actually kind of huge--tons of storage inside!

So there you have it--that's how my bedroom keep changing and evolving. Don't be afraid to try to something new, especially if you're a renter like me.

If you need help, drop me a line!

Justified and Ancient

2010-06-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

I have to say, it's good to feel justified once in a while, like when the world comes around and tells you that you're not crazy. A couple of weeks ago I got the new West Elm fall preview in the mail and the front cover looked awfully familiar--there was my cool dark gray!

It just made me feel that much better about painting my home office a similar (or possibly even the same) shade of gray. I mean, everything just seems to pop against it. Not everyone can live with it, but I felt like I had to lead by example and even after a few months of living on the dark side, I still take a moment each day to admire the drama.

Who's with me? All bound for MuuMuu land!

The Winner Takes It All...

2010-06-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

Well, nobody picked the combination of Concepts A & B (which is what the clients liked), but you know what? Everyone's a winner at Retrograde!

Lucky commentors Debby, Nadine, Jen D., Kristin, and Carrie all get the prize--free design advice! E-mail your question or dilemma to jason.retro@yahoo.com and we'll go from there.

More soon!

My ever changing moods...

2010-06-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

One of my new clients (a really nice couple in the East Bay) have been living in their place for about a year now and really wanted some help with decorating their home. One of the challenges was trying to figure out what their style was. Almost everyone I work with has eclectic tastes--I mean, who wants a period room, right? That can be a little extreme. But one thing I've learned is that there are various degrees and levels of eclecticism. Some people skew towards traditional, others lean toward modernism, etc. You get the point--it's like this wide spectrum of favoring some movements and styles more than others, but still liking a variety of things.

After talking for a bit, they sent me some images of rooms they liked. Right away I noticed a certain balance and symmetry in each photo. But they were still also keen on mixing periods, styles, and finishes. And from our initial consultation, I knew there was a fun (almost subversive) streak to them--I was going to have fun mixing up slipper chairs and Chesterfield sofas with their collection of vintage rock posters as well as a priceless photo of Tenacious D.

The size and layout of their living room didn't leave many options, so after developing a basic furniture plan with their existing pieces (a TV, media console, antique hutch, and a few accessories), I came up with three different combinations of new sofas, chairs, and lamps that could be plugged in and switched around. Each concept reflects that eclecticism that I think my clients are after. Can you guess which one(s) they liked?

Was it Concept A, with the heavy midcentury influence?

Concept B, with a more traditional flair?

Or Concept C, casual contemporary?

Take a guess in the comments section--the first correct guess will get a prize!

And while you take a moment to decide, here's my little '80s musical inspiration for this post. "Ah, the cool before the warm, the calm before the storm..." The lyrics kind of sum up the idea of eclecticism, I think.

I heard you on the wireless back in '52...

2010-06-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy month, with tons of projects keeping me from blogging each week as I'd like to. A recent trip up to Napa took me out of commission but also gave me some new perspectives on commercial design and making the most of old or historic structures (one of the key beliefs of Retrograde!)

I'll keep you posted on how some of my residential projects are going (I always love to share ideas with you) but for this week I'm trying to get my official website up--all while slugging away at the dayjob and catching up with my own clients whose projects are at various stages of completion. That's right, I'm finally catching up with the 21st century and getting ye olde webbe page in order. I have to admit, I've felt kind of like a proud old school holdout without one, but now I realize I have to have one in order to let people know more about my rates and services.

The home/landing page below will most likely change, but I like the idea of scattered photos for each category of my website: residential design, commercial design & graphics, purchasing, and staging. Who knows--those categories might change, too. But what do you think about the scattered photos--too much like Domino magazine? (Oh Domino, rest in peace...you were such a fun magazine.)

Just eat it! Eat it! If it's gettin' cold, reheat it!

2010-05-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

I've been really busy lately with new Retrograde projects (including a nursery for a rockin' baby boy!) as well as work-work (a family room redecoration with a six-figure budget--great experience for dreaming!) and on top of all that, I've been asked to step in and help with some design/decoration for a new restaurant.

For those of you who don't know, I grew up in a bar/restaurant in the Central Valley. Pre-anti-smoking laws, it was an interesting place for a kid to hang out. Darting around the drunk patrons and playing hide-and-seek in the walk-in refrigerator, I'd imagine which walls I'd like to knock down and which light fixtures I'd put in if I had a say. Even as a kid, I'd imagine how the place could look better so I guess that's kind of when this whole interior design bug got planted. (For the record, it had a vague tropical/Hawaiian theme. I actually scored a black velvet painting of a naked Hawaiian woman as a memento when my father sold the place years ago. It's one of my kick-a** treasures!)

When this new restaurant opportunity came around, I jumped at the chance to help. I'd noticed so many new restaurants in the city sporting the same "design" elements: Edison bulbs, dark colors, blank walls, charcoal gray...so I decided to channel my seven year-old self and ask him what he'd like to see in a restaurant.

Bold graphics. A wild color. Something fun that'd make me smile. The Pizza Machine!

See, The Pizza Machine was a pizza joint by my old childhood home. Way up high, along this 30-foot wide wall (at least that's how big it seemed when I was a kid) there used to be this gigantic perpetual motion machine, a kind of Rube Goldberg contraption that they'd put in motion every hour or so. It made having pizza with the family an experience. To this day, I still think of that wonderful Pizza Machine whenever I order a pie, whether I'm at Pizzeria Delfina, Starbelly, or Marcello's.

I wanted to try and recreate some of that magic while decorating a gourmet restaurant that's dedicated to improving the community. Who knows--these rough concepts might never get developed or see the light of day. But let me know what you think. Would you want to eat at any of these places?

Life in plastic, it's fantastic!

2010-05-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

I have no idea why, but a few weeks ago I got this catalog in the mail for designer Barbie merchandise. By "designer" I mean there's a limited-edition Jonathan Adler mirror made of 1959 Barbie dolls, a pink Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck emblazoned with an illustration of Barbie, and a special Barbie doll dress made by Comme des Garçons.

What caught my eye was the very last page of the catalog...a vintage, still-in-its-original-packaging 1978 Barbie Dream House.

Any kid who was born in the '70s (like me) can tell you how iconic this dollhouse was. Not only did I secretly want one as a child (I had to casually pretend not to care whenever I saw one at friends' homes), but looking at it now as both an adult and a designer, I have to admit it's still frickin' HOT.

What's not to love? The A-frame, the open plan, the windows, the Juliet balcony...it's the perfect house for a sun-loving couple living in Venice or Malibu. Even the vaguely McDonald's-like color scheme of red, white, and yellow have come around again and look crisp and fun.

I think that's the key word: fun. As we think about our homes and the way we live, we need to keep some of that playfulness and childlike irreverence. For example, I busted out these white plastic lounge chairs after I sold the pair of 1967 "midcentury modest" chairs to one of my clients. Will these be a permanent addition to my living room? Who knows. Who cares? I think they're a riot.

Let your home be one big playhouse where you can dress up and play make-believe. Let your home be a place where anything is possible. Let it be your very own Dream House.

In the white room with black curtains near the station...

2010-04-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about how my partner and I painted our front room a dark cool gray...and how much we love the transformation.

Well the painting, it didn't stop with my office!

Last weekend we rallied and busted out the rollers and trays again to paint our main living room white. Now I know what some people might be thinking--"White's so boring! Why not choose an exciting color!" Well, this room is in the middle of our flat and gets no direct sunlight. Even in its original buttery yellow, it could seem like a dungeon. And the semi-gloss finish of the white paint we used reflects light throughout the day, making the whole flat seem brighter.

Contrary to popular belief (which probably comes from people like me, who were scarred by growing up with sterile white walls in a suburb somewhere) white can be incredibly dramatic. Like the dark gray of my office, colors and accessories can really stand out against a white background.

Trust me. I went through a period where I rebelled from my white-walled childhood upbringing and simply had to paint every room of my home(s) a different color. Sometimes I think that's what your 20s are for. Now I'm over it. And after living with the buttery yellow for four years, I was ready for a change. (Please don't peg me as a color hater--remember that I prescribed a lemony yellow and a bright green for Amy & Akhil--it's just that the gray and white better reflect my and my partner's tastes.)

Here are some before (yellow) and after (white) photos:

And of course, we got new bookshelves:

Some may call it the look a bit sparse, but after years of "artful clutter" I figured it was good to edit. Regardless of what you might think of this particular look (I know some folks will prefer the warmth of the "before" shots), it's always a good idea to shake things up every so often.

But if I work all day at the Blue Sky Mine, there'll be food on the table tonight...

2010-04-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

It's funny how these things happen. A few weeks ago I blogged about how I felt alone and isolated in my work, like some desert island shipwreck survivor. Well, last week I started week at a very high-profile interior design firm.

What?

That's right. Now I'm basically working full-time to assist one of the principal designers and am learning so much about the industry and client relations it's mind-boggling. I'm okay with performing some administrative tasks I haven't done in nearly 15 years (I've been channeling Ugly Betty) because I'm picking up on things that one can never learn in a classroom: contract negotiations, change orders, construction disputes, and, most importantly, finessing clients. The steady paycheck is kind of nice, too.

Luckily I'm no spring chicken, and have been bringing my experienced and knowledgeable inner Betty Suarez to the workplace (and I mean the pragmatic, organized, and upbeat side of Betty--I don't wear ponchos. And my glasses are D&G, thankyouverymuch.) I also negotiated time to continue working with my own clients, so if you're out there reading this, you have nothing to fear. If anything, this new job will make our projects together even better and more professionally executed.

In fact, I developed a new one-sheet that a contact is handing out to prospective clients. It was nice to have a companion piece to my graphic design/communications one-sheet, summarizing the kind of work I can do as Retrograde. I hope in the future I can recruit some of the good people in the Colleagues sidebar to help with my projects.

To quote from one of my favorite episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "When the train comes in, everybody rides!"

There's nothing I can see but possibilities...

2010-04-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

As I wrote before, I enjoy traveling around the region searching for interesting pieces for my projects. For one of my Oakland clients (I now have two) I found a pair of vintage nightstands in excellent condition. Even though I liked them as they were, all natural wood and veneer, I thought they might look even better painted in a Hollywood Regency style for this woman's newly refurbished loft.

After two coats of glossy black and white paint (I left a small band of trim untouched for a warm contrast) you get these shiny gems:

Wow. What a difference, eh? Now I need to find some lamps to go on top...

Home, you are me and I am you...

2010-04-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

The homes of designers and other creative folks can go either way--sometimes they're magazine-quality showstoppers and sometimes they're totally neglected messes that remind you of that old saying, "the cobbler's children have no shoes." Well I like to think of my home as a laboratory. (And a warehouse, but that's a different story.) Former FIDM instructor Grant Gibson gave a guest lecture last year and told us future designers that our homes had better look good--after all, they're a reflection of our styles and capabilities. His faculty successor Ashley Roi Jenkins added that she often used her own home to experiment and create vignettes as well.

I decided it was finally time to start practicing what I preached. You see, for the past year or so I've been going on and on about my love of dark gray/black rooms. (And bright white rooms, too.) They're crisp, sophisticated, and incredibly versatile backdrops for all sorts of furniture and artwork. But more often than not, people need to see real examples. So for the sake of my clients, all of you readers out there, and my own sanity, I painted my front room (also my office) a cool dark gray.

For nearly four years, it's been this soft, buttery yellow--kind of the go-to color for folks who want walls to be neutral without being beige. When Jim and I first moved in, I took one look at the coved ceilings and said out loud, This is good enough. I wasn't going to touch those 10-foot ceilings. Plus, I was kind of burned out on painting, having done extensive work on my last three apartments. (I think I was working through that living-on-my-own rebellion, painting every room a different color just because I could. A lot of people seem to go through that, the result of growing up with plain white walls I'm sure.)

But four years of living with the buttery yellow had finally taken its toll. It felt soft. Too soft and safe for us and our tastes. We've got lots of bold, interesting artwork that just didn't have as much impact against the yellow walls, and were therefore banished to storage. The front room where I work faces East and gets flooded with morning light, so I knew it could handle the gray. On Sunday Jim and I dove in and covered the walls with Pittsburgh Paint's "Canon Gray" (I did the ceiling on Monday morning.) Now the walls feature new art from our collection, and I'm free to search for brighter pillows in saturated colors for the daybed. Almost all colors seem to go well with the gray, and it's still light enough so our dark furniture stands out. Jim calls it "regal." I agree.

Here are before and after photos:

I love it. I'm more of an advocate than ever before.

And now that I've finally painted again, I can safely advise my clients to hire someone else to do the work for them. Seriously, coved ceilings were a pain in the a** to paint! But at least I now also have firsthand experience working with no-VOC paint and can wholeheartedly recommend it. At one point while we were painting, I turned to Jim and said, Take a whiff. Smell anything?

"No, nothing" he replied.

Exactly. No fumes!

So get out there and embrace the dark side.

(More posts soon with my new all-white living room.)

This is the sign of the times, piece of more to come...

2010-03-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

Even though I've enjoyed working on my own for the past few months, targeting the middle market that includes my friends and their extended networks, I have to admit it's been daunting. I've often felt isolated and unsure, without any guidance. There are so many firms where I'd love to just intern, but for obvious economic reasons, no one is hiring. I think that's why I keep reaching out through my network to find professionals I can just talk to, to help me figure it all out.

A couple of weeks ago I had lunch with my friend David, who works at NBBJ, a multidisciplinary architecture firm specializing in healthcare, education, and science. He's been an architect for years and said that he's always wanted to find a mentor, someone who could help guide him through his career, but it's only now that he thinks he's finally found one.

That made me wonder if we're all destined to figure it out on our own...

Then I met with my neighbor over the weekend, a contractor who works with a very high-profile residential design firm in the city. He said that starting with the middle market was a good idea for someone new to the industry, like me. And then he told me that, "It just takes one person to believe in you and give you a chance." His words of encouragement made me think that maybe I wasn't crazy, and maybe I was doing something right.

Luckily, I have two great new clients that make my work enjoyable. I went up to Sacramento to meet a young couple who have two small children. Their house already had a great mix of pieces and personality--truly eclectic. I was surprised because it was already closely decorated the way I'd do it, if I lived there. Their approach to decorating was organic and unfussy; they just needed a fresh set of eyes to recommend some new pieces. So I'm trying to interject more midcentury/modern pieces into their worldly collection of things.

For example, I think this Hans Wegner-esque table I picked up a while ago would be perfect in their kitchen/family room:

The distressed wood would fit right into their home, while the simple, modern shape would complement their more elaborate pieces. I'll post before- and after-photos soon.

You might remember how I wanted to use that table in my other new client's space, a renovated loft in downtown Oakland. Well, after meeting with her, I had to change my plans. The floor plan is a little tricky, and her budget is very small (she's spent all her money on the loft, after all). But I love a good challenge.

I've found a few pieces that will work nicely. Some won't need any work, like this '70s glass and chrome coffee table:

But others, like these great midcentury nightstands (I found a pair) could use a paint job:

...So they can look more like these Hollywood Regency chests:

Although my attitude changes almost daily, I'm feeling pretty good about these solo projects. Until the big designers and firms start hiring again, I'll just have to carry on by myself. Really, what are my other options, sitting around waiting for the phone to ring? I don't think so. As the Belle Stars sang, This is a sign of the times / Piece of more to come / This is a sign of the times / Time to be alone.

Three, that's the magic number (yes it is...)

2010-03-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

You might remember Emily and Chris--they're my young creative Central Valley clients who were thinking of buying a new home. Well, plans totally changed a couple of months ago. Instead of trying to buy a tract home with lots of room for their creative endeavors (she's a writer/actor, he's a musician) they decided to chuck it all in to pursure their art.

Chucking it all in. Literally. They got rid of almost all of their possessions and scaled down to a small, charming 1920s one-bedroom Mediterranean Revival apartment near the downtown area of their city. I was in awe of their priority shift and was filled with this crazy mix of amazement and respect for their decision. In some ways, I wish more people would just let go like this...

But now they were starting fresh. More than ever, I wanted to help them create a stylish home that reflected their personalities and sensibilities.

Suddenly going from a three- to four-bedroom tract home to a one-bedroom rental was a shift. There wouldn't be any more talk of kitchen and bathroom remodels. But I saw it as a space planning and decorating challenge, one that we're still working through. After a long sit-down consultation, I was surprised to see that both agreed on a certain '70s glam/rock aesthetic. The patterns and textiles they gravitated toward were pretty bold and geometric, but sometimes a paisley would also grab their attention. Space age was out, but they could be swayed toward glass and chrome. Based on previous conversations, I was surprised that their tastes were actually so clean and modern.

I developed a furniture plan to show them how their living room could be divided into three spaces to maximize entertaining, living, and work:

As I continued researching different pieces for this space, we ran into some communication glitches regarding my overall vision for their home. I understood the look perfectly in my head, but how could I communicate to my clients how each piece related to the ones around it? We were all swimming in a sea of digital images, tear sheets, and magazine/catalog pictures that we were sending each other back and forth from our computers and phones. "Does this table go with that rug?" "What desk would look good with which combination of chairs?" "Where should that vintage cart go?" It was getting confusing, since they were trying to understand how to juggle all the pieces of this puzzle.

That's when it hit me. At least for this job I could explain the look as a formula that they could understand. The equation of their '70s chic apartment involved three factors: something geometric, something organic, and something classic (or "old school" as I explained to them.) For example, the sofa area could have a dark leather Chesterfield sofa (old school) with a floral/organic patterned rug and a geometric coffee table. I told them that if something changed (like their choice of rug to something with a geometric pattern) then they'd have to adjust accordingly (like get a more organic-shaped coffee table.) Even the entire living room fit into this equation: the sofa area tended to be more classic, with a traditional sofa and a floral rug, while the middle office area would be very geometric, with an angular desk and a graphic painting taking up most of the wall. The third area by the kitchen/entry would be the wild card, balancing out the other two-thirds of the room as we furnished it.

I created this collage to help show how these different parts of the formula relate to one another:

In the end, they were happy that they could finally have some "rules" to use as they hunted for certain pieces on their own. And I was just relieved to have happy clients. I poured myself a bourbon and slept well that night.

It's still a work in progress, but as part of my Redesign-1 package of services, I can only make suggestions for pieces that my clients can buy. They may find something better, more unique, or cheaper on their own. Luckily, I get one more chance to make the most of what they've purchased in a final staging/rearranging round. I'll take photos of the results and share them with you in the next couple of months.

Thoughts?