Echo Antiques - Santa Cruz

Echo Antiques in Santa Cruz has a fantastic selection of furniture at great prices. I saw a couple great pieces that were fun and could be great as is or painted.

Happy, Happy, Happy! The Happiest Tole Table
A riot of California Poppies!
Circa 1960s. 41" glass top
$250

Vintage Drexel Queen Anne China Cabinet

Circa 1930s/1940s
70" H x 36" W x 18" D
$450

2010 San Francisco Decorator Showcase

Always an inspiring event - 2010 San Francisco Decorator Showcase

May 1 through May 31
Located at 3450 Washington Street (between Walnut and Laurel Streets)

Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday,Saturday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (last entry)
Thursday & Friday: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm (last entry)
Sunday and Memorial Day: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm (last entry)
Monday: Closed (except Memorial Day)

Tickets
Available at the door
General Admission $30, Seniors $25 (62 and older)
Tickets are not available in advance
They accept payment by cash, check, VISA and MasterCard

One Counter...Two Bathrooms

We redid a fantastic master bathroom, changed the floor plan by moving the shower, eliminating a bath tub and creating a private water closet. We picked out a fantastic Silestone counter top in Grey Amazon. There was enough counter top left over for a small bathroom counter so we did a mini-makeover on the guest bathroom and changed lighting, counter, sink, toilet, floor tile, new cabinet fronts, repainted with new hardware. Both bathrooms have a completely different feel even though we used the same counter top and same floor tile.

Master Bathroom - Double Sink


Tile Detail


Water Closet - with floor to ceiling storage.



Guest Bathroom- Same Counter; Different Feel

Dining by Design 2009

If you love to decorate or entertain here's an event you shouldn't miss! Diffa's Dining by Design 2009 is just 2 weeks away. An over-the-top celebration of all things tabletop! DINING BY DESIGN brings together established talent, budding artists, and celebrated individuals to create three-dimensional dining installations that awe, inspire, and delight.

The 2009 event will be November 18-19 at the Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center, 101 Henry Adams Street. These tables are always a show stopper and worth a gander. If you want more of an experience check out the website or see details below.
TABLE HOP & TASTE
Wednesday, November 18th; 6:00pm-10:00pm
$100.00
This party sets the stage for Thursday night's gala as designers and guests mingle and preview the installations as they sip signature drinks from Stolichnaya elit and Castello di Gabbiano wines paired with tastes from San Francisco's top restaurants.

GALA DINNER
Thursday, November 19th; 6:30pm-11:00pm
$500.00
Cocktails and table hopping, followed by a seated dinner, dancing, and dessert.

Trend Watch: Wire Forms

by Target

by John Nelling Metal
by Pottery Barn

by Ballard Designs

Fall Interior Decorating Classes (Oakland)

If you could use a little help decorating or maybe you just need a fresh perspective, consider taking this fall series of classes with my friend and design colleague Danielle Fox. Courses are held at SLATE art & design gallery in the Temescal district of Oakland. Space is limited to ten students per course and a minimum of four registrations are required for a course to run.

• identify and develop your personal style
• spruce up your home before the holidays
• enjoy twelve hours of presentations, discussion, and individual and group exercises based on one of your favorite topics, all for the price of two hours of professional design consulting
• benefit from a professional’s experience, expertise, and extensive resource library
• complete the course with a comprehensive room design that reflects your own personal taste and lifestyle, for a fraction of the price of hiring a designer

Weekly Topics

1. Aspirational Style / Style Categories / Materials and Motifs
2. Reality: Context and Lifestyle / Performing a Design Review
3. Space Planning, Furniture Scale and Proportion
4. Project Managent and Budgeting
5. Shopping - online, retail, trade, custom, vintage
6. Color Schemes, Fabrics, Windows
7. Art and accessories - the final balancing
8. Sharing Room Designs

DETAILS
Fridays 10-11:30 AM
October 9–December 4
(no meeting Thanksgiving week)
Please let us know if you would prefer another day, evening, or weekend schedule.
Alternate classes can be formed.
$250 for eight meetings. Receive a $25 discount for each friend you refer.

INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION
Danielle Fox, Danielle Fox Design
4770 Telegraph Ave & 48th Oakland
O (510) 444-4085
C (510) 325-6659
info@daniellefoxdesign.com

Easy Fall Updates

Paint. You don't have to paint an entire room but how about one accent wall or the front door. A little color can go a long ways. Think of something rich and deep. Check out Sherwin Williams SW 6321 Red Bay combined with SW 7069 Iron Horse to create a modern country update.

Pillows. Rotate pillows out or buy new pillow covers. Go for new colors, sizes and textures.

Fresh Accessorizing. Fresh flowers bring color and life while easily establishing the feeling of new season. Another option is to fill glass vases & bowls with persimmons, apples, & gourds. See my example of a fall dinner party I did for a friend's birthday.

Coziness. A warm fuzzy quilt or throw instantly calls you to come and snuggle up. Updating with new lamps or lamp shades can create warmth both during the day or when lit. A new lamp with a dark metal or wood base not only helps to anchor a room but provides an element of nature. Consider a lamp shade that is a heavy linen, a dark color or possibly gold on the inside to create a warm glowing light when turned on. (Anson Lamp from Crate & Barrel.)

Art. Change out one piece of art with a new piece that evokes a since of fall. Put away your pictures from the beach and update family pictures with last years pictures in the fall leaves, skiing, or those with hats & scarfs. Or have some fun...rake the leaves, put the kids in hats and scarves and snap some new pictures. My girls in the front yard.

A few simple, inexpensive changes can get you in the mood for any new season.