Mark Your Calendar: SF Decorator Showcase

The Decorator Showcase is my favorite annual event in San Francisco. This year, I am particularly excited about the house selected, as I have been mesmorized by the ivy-covered home ever since my first walk in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Last year, the home sold for $18M making it one of the most expensive (residential) real estate transactions within the year. It should also be mentioned that it sold above asking price. (For those unfamiliar with the San Francisco real estate market, this is more common then you would think). The Decorator Showcase will be open from April 26 - May 26 this year, showcasing the work of over twenty six interior and landscape design firms. The event, open to the public, is a fundraiser for the San Francisco University High School. Last year, the event raised over $622,565 (net).

I reccomend attending the event on a weekend morning or after work. It's a wonderful event to go to with friends who appreciative design, and also makes for a fun pre-dinner date activity.

To learn more and purchase your tickets, visit here.

ma mère

This post is dedicated to my Mom who I find myself missing considerably this week. She is off on a Parisian adventure with a close friend of hers. While I'm thrilled for her and jealous of her Instagrams (go, Mom!), I'm simply missing her and our frequent phone catch-ups. Distance does make the heart grow fonder, but time zones sure do complicate the chances of consistent communication.

Speaking of Parisian adventures, here is some weekend reading for you to enjoy. The article was published about a year ago in the New York Times about La Socelière, a 17th-century château in the Loire Valley that was purchased by an eager Italian couple. The 20 acre property is extraordinary, and the extensive renovation was a labor of love and patience. Enjoy!

Happy City

There has been a lot of buzz about this book. Now a city dweller myself, I find the premise quite intriguing: Award-winning journalist Charles Montgomery writes about the intersection between urban design and the ideal of happiness, while navigating through some of the world's most dynamic cities. I often think about how my life would be altered if I chose to live in a foreign country. It is remarkable to think about how where we live has such a profound affect on all of the other variables in our lives.

Purchase the book here.

Gracious Green

Regrettably, I didn't do anything out of the ordinary to celebrate Earth Day. In fact, I came down with a case of strep throat. Glorious. However, I did discover a new app called iRecycle which suggests locations near you where you can properly dispose of things such as old phones, batteries, metals, paint and plastic (the list goes on) you want to part with, in a respective, mindful way. Check it out, here. Above: Landscape architect Miranda Brooks and her children. Be sure to view her incredible portfolio of green landscapes.