She's a Thing of Beauty...

For those of you that know me well, my passions are pretty simple: topiaries, ice cream and real estate. During a "test-drive" trip in San Francisco prior to my move, it was a walk in the Pacific Heights neighborhood that essentially sealed the deal. The real estate - unreal. (Oh yes, there were/are topiaries too). Now that I live here, a walk in my neighborhood is one of my most favorite activities. It draws this inexplicable sense of inspiration and livelihood that feeds my soul. I wish I had the "before" photo of this property (above) to truly depict the transformation this gal has endured. The photos were snapped during one of my evening walks last week, as 2400 Vallejo has had my eye for quite some time. Between the white cedar shingles, plum trim and craftsman style garage doors, the Historic 1905 Albert Farr house might as well preside over a bluff on Nantucket sound. I was a bit surprised to learn that this 6,293 sq ft residence is indeed a single family home - it is a lot of house. Perhaps that is what agrees with me - her quirky floorplan yet stately presence. I like that the owner kept the original details of the front entry way in tact, however I wish the brick tiles were replaced with something a bit more polished or perhaps updated the hardware on the front door. The home is currently on the market with an asking price of $5.2M. View the listing here.

Her neighbor, 2440 Vallejo is currently undergoing a little nip/tuck of her own. See the "before" below. I'll be sure to follow up with the end product.

An Intangible Mist of Bloom...

"Following a walk marked by an intangible mist of bloom that followed the white border stones she came to a space overlooking the sea where there were lanterns asleep in the fig trees and a big table and wicker chairs and a great market umbrella from Sienna, all gathered about an enormous pine, the biggest tree in the garden. She paused there for a moment, looking absently at a growth of nasturtiums and iris tangled at its foot, as though sprung from a careless handful of seeds, listening to the plaints and accusations of some nursery squabble in the house. When this died away on the summer air, she walked on, between kaleidoscopic peonies massed in pink clouds, black and brown tulips and fragile mauve-stemmed roses, transparent like sugar flowers in a confectioner's window—until, as if the scherzo of color could reach no further intensity, it broke off suddenly in mid-air, and moist steps went down to a level five feet below." — an excerpt from Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Lions, Tigers and a Safari Romance (oh, my!)

This puppy (above) is the newest addition to my stack of coffee table books thanks to a little thing called eBay. The vintage book is one of the many publications made by an American couple, Martin and Osa Johnson. Martin and Osa were both naturalists, explorers, photographers and authors who in the first half of the 20th century, captured the world's imagination through their films and books of adventure in exotic, distant lands. Oh yes, they were also married. The couple studied the wildlife and inhabitants of East and Central Africa, the South Pacific Islands, British North Borneo, among other places. It was through their adventures and documentation that they were able to offer many Americans their first understanding of these distant lands.

For those that might have a slight coffee table book addition like moi, you might have interest in this article titled "You Are What You Stack" published in the New York Times last week.

The Big O

Still haven't taken my eye off of these brushstroke cocktail plates by Oscar de la Renta Home. They would be perfect for a dinner party in a lush garden. I can smell the honeysuckle and see the full moon already... Oscar has done an exceptional job with the Home line (reasonable price points, too!), however I'd love to see it expand.

Browse below for photos of Oscar's garden at his Punta Cana home. Read on, here.