Rediscovered Flatware. A remix.

It's almost Thanksgiving, which is hands down my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving dinner is often one of the few times a year where people dust off their best dishware and flatware. Below is my argument for why you should be using your best everyday and specifically, why you should use silverplate flatware to spruce up your table. 

Yes, my newest obsession is vintage silverplate flatware. Confession, I still have Ikea dishware and flatware. Not a big deal, completely serviceable and practical. But I did imagine by my 30s I would have upgraded from my dorm days at Cal. I know, #firstworldproblems. I have been slowly replacing my Ikea dishware when I have some extra spending money. But Ikea flatware has been a constant companion of mine for too long. 

After using and admiring some vintage silverplate flatware at my most recent Airbnb stay, I decided I wanted a set of my own!  Silverplate flatware is really beautiful, the patina and detail can't be found in anything new.  I knew I could not afford a sterling silver flatware set which runs into the thousands. I was happy to locate and purchase an affordable vintage silverplate flatware set for our everyday and special occasion use. I was looking for a "Z" monogram for our family's surname. Do you have any idea how hard a "Z" monogram is to find for a vintage item?! Almost impossible. So when I found a set that seemed like a fair price, I bid quickly and won. Below is the before photo as posted by the seller. 

As you can see the set looks to be in fairly rough condition. I was keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that once I received it, some elbow grease and a lot of silver polish would help bring this set back to life. It turned out well, I think.

So pretty right? It took a lot of time and effort. I understand now why Downton Abbey had a staff to polish their silver. I think vintage flatware is such a great way to mix old and new into your everyday or special occasion table setting.  Vintage dishware is often very fragile and not dishwasher friendly. It's also difficult to find vintage dishware in mint condition. In contrast, you can still find vintage flatware in very good condition that still has many years left. 

With any room I do, I like to make sure there is a mix of old and new because the tension between the two creates something beautiful. The same holds true for the table. Vintage flatware looks beautiful in contrast to very modern West Elm dishware. See below. 

I know it's difficult to convey the patina of the vintage flatware through photos so I did a side by side comparison. Below is a photo of a vintage silverplated soup spoon adjacent to a stainless steel one. 

The luster of the vintage soup spoon is undeniable and I promise you it's even prettier in person! If you're not into the idea of purchasing an entire set, consider purchasing a couple of pieces and slowly building. You'll end up with the chicest collection of mismatched pieces. Or if you know someone who loves things with a bit of history, this would be the most perfect gift. 

For some very good girlfriends, I picked up a couple of vintage silverplated soup spoons with matching vintage French soup bowls. I can't wait to give it to them.

You use your flatware everyday all day. Upgrade if you also have Ikea flatware hidden in your cutlery drawer! It's the small things in your day that can add up to make it from an average to a great day. Trust me, these gorgeous silverplate flatware pieces will put a smile on your face as you eat your morning cereal. It's been said that using silverplate flatware daily prevents tarnish. Another excuse to`use your best pieces everyday! 

A Comfortable and Cozy Castro Cottage

You know what's important in life? Mentors! That's not where you thought I was going did you? I only bring this up because this client happened to be one of my mentors when I summered at a firm during law school. And while working with him recently, I've had the opportunity to reflect how important and valuable mentor relationships are. He was not only a great mentor but an incredible client, trusting and flexible, making the whole process smooth sailing. 

You know the drill, here we go!  My client has lived in this Castro Cottage for several years and it's just perfect. It's in the midst of the action but still set back from the street creating a little oasis. He had been wanting to update the space for a while and had already purchased a new couch and dining table. He needed my help to implement a cohesive design scheme and bring all the different elements together. We wanted to lighten the space up a bit and optimize it for entertaining and relaxing.  

When I first walked into the space, I immediately knew what could be changed. It was the color tones imbued throughout the room. The lovely green walls were accented by orange, brown and darker tones throughout. Orange and brown can and often do play well with green. Here, the orange/brown tones weren't bold and bright but more muted which just wasn't working with everything else. Below is the before. 

As important as color choice is, also remember the tone of a color is just as crucial and can make or break a room. The coffee table was a bit heavy and too large for the space. But do you spy that lovely leather couch? Just beautiful, it actually glistens. I knew we could give it a better backdrop so its full potential could shine. See below!  

Scroll back up to the before, then back down to the after, then do it again.  Do you see/feel the difference? The rich blue rug against the black and white throw pillows on the sofa brings completes this very sophisticated color palette. This living room isn't trying hard, it knows it's cool and everyone wants to be its friend. The lightness of this new glass coffee table makes the space feel a thousand times bigger. The wood legs and midcentury silhouette is in harmony with the clean lines of the sofa, floor lamp and the adjacent dining room (which you'll get to see below). Let's change perspectives and see what's on the other side of the living space. Below is the before. 

That TV stand was sad. This living space is fairly petite so every inch needed to be used in purposeful way. I can't say it enough but closed storage is everyone's best friend! Below is the after. 

Great right? I love that media stand and I've been eyeing it for a while, hoping to use it in the perfect space for the right client. The brightness of the white plays against the soft green walls so well. And I know you've been appreciating the floor lamp. The faux bois pattern on the shade brings in interest. 

Did someone say art? I don't purchase art for my clients but rather give them a list of sources. This client gave me a list of artwork he liked and I helped him whittle it down. This fabulous wall is what we ended with. That raven print makes such a bold and sophisticated statement. 

The layering of the artwork behind the floor lamp creates depth which is often a forgotten aspect of design. Depth is a good thing in both design and people. :) 

One last close up below. 

A magazine holder never looked so good. I tend to understyle all my projects, allowing the client to bring in meaningful pieces over time. The accessories I do bring into a room are things that are timeless like this magazine holder. It brings some elegance to the otherwise boring profile view of this sofa.

Shall we move onto the dining room? Just take one step backwards and you're there, here is the before! 

There is the beautiful marble dining table the client purchased prior to hiring me. It needed some chairs. The sideboard behind the table was the catchall surface that needed some love. Below is the after! 

Those chairs. Maybe you've seen something similar before, but these are the real deal. Made from walnut and covered in the softest leather, they should last forever. The wood grain on the curve of these chairs are just incredible. Below is a closer look. Also note the low profile of the chair which is crucial for this open concept space. When you walk into the home this is the first space that greets you and it was important to me that the line of sight remained clear to preserve that airy feel. 

Where to next? The adjacent sideboard. It just needed some organization and pieces to help the client keep it organized even when busy. The before below. 

Just a little sprucing up is what this area needed. I also wanted to replace the torchiere floor lamp with something more modern and off the floor to create more space for foot traffic. Here is the after! 

Let's start left and move from there. The plant is one of my favorites, mistletoe! Low maintenance, hardy and their round leaves contrast nicely with the straight lines on the adjacent tray. Don't forget to clean off leaves with a moist paper towel when you bring one home as I did here. It helps the plant to absorb the sun better! 

The textured light green tray gathers everything neatly. The marble teardrop bowl is for spare change and keys. The black vase for flowers and when empty can be used to hold sunglasses or pens. The brass bookends are another one of my favorites, Last but not least, this cement table lamp, super modern and beautiful. 

A little insight into my design process, when I come to do an installation, I come armed with numerous plan Bs, Cs, etc. Hence, the wagon and the 17,000+ steps on installation days. The first choice in my head may not always work in the actual space. Design is definitely something that requires hands-on work and attention. For example, I brought two table lamps with me, the cement one above and the wood one below. Both lamps are beautiful but clearly the winner here is the cement one.  

The wood lamp is sleek and warm but the rough surface of the concrete table lamp brings in modernity and something unexpected. 

One more close up before because those dahlias are glorious. 

You might have noticed the addition of the giraffe. I was washing my hands and spotted in in the kitchen, immediately grabbed it knowing that it had a new home here. 

If you think we're done you're mistaken. One last stop. This client has some amazing outdoor space, especially in one of the most crowded cities in the country! Here is the before. 

San Francisco doesn't have LA weather for sure, but when it does get warm everyone embraces it. I knew that if we brought in some patio furniture, it would be used. Since the client was throwing a Halloween party shortly after the install, I thought it would only appropriate to do a tablescape as well. Scroll down for the after. 

And that's all! I hope you enjoyed viewing this project as much as I enjoyed working on it! Have a great Halloween!

Fanciful Fall Tablescapes

When I was toiling away at a law firm I played with many different ideas of what I wanted to do next. I landed on interior design but I briefly entertained the possibility of floral design or wedding planning. I was able to live out this alternate dream for a day when a dear law school friend asked me to help with the event design for her wedding. 

I've been to many, many weddings. However, since I eloped, I've never been in the midst of it all, seeing how everything comes together for a wedding. It was a wonderful albeit stressful experience. I was a little nervous since this is something I don't normally do but it all worked out wonderfully. Most importantly, the bride and groom approved and loved the final product which is what everyone strives for on the wedding day. 

On my normal interior design projects, I usually work solo although I sometimes hire contractors to help with specific parts. For this special project, there was an entire team and I worked alongside the bride's coworkers -- master foragers, artists and artisans -- who helped this vision become reality. It was wonderful working with others, as part of a team, I miss it. 

I share these photos with you because it's fall, my favorite time of the year and the tablescapes are such a beautiful representation of this season. You can use these photos for inspiration in your own home if you plan on hosting a dinner party or two. Pick up a couple of squashes, pomegranates, trim a branch from your yard and layer it with some linens and finish it with a large flower arrangement. And for those that live in the Bay Area, please take the opportunity to visit the SF Flower Mart if you ever have the time, I was able to purchase all the flowers for this wedding at an unbelievably low price and the selection was insane. 

The credit for the beauteous spread lies largely with the bride who had the vision of creating an unforgettable dinner party wedding inspired by the bounty of the season. 

Enjoy!