home decor

Weekend Meanderings -San Francisco’s Proper Hotel, Mirrored Backsplashes, and Tennis Bracelets

September 2, 2022 By kimwheeler 35 Comments

On this Weekend Meanderings.. an overnight getaway to San Francisco and Kelly Wearstler’s Proper Hotel, mirrored backslashes for light and sparkle, my newly recovered patio set, tennis bracelets, and more.

It’s time for some cool finds and things you might want to know about -with my pals Elizabeth and Juliet. I hope you are having a good Labor Day weekend and some time to rest and reset. Going back to school after August holidays is called la rentrée in France, and people welcome the resetting of rituals and daily life after vacations and being away. They are excited about getting back to their friends and familiar things. I kind of love that too.

I was born on Labor Day, which seems funny. My mom always joked about that. I love September, it’s my favorite month, and looking forward to fall! This Labor Day weekend we are staying home and having a little barbecue with our family. We did however do a little midweek getaway though…

The Proper Hotel in SF

Max planned for us to have our 26th anniversary dinner at Villon in San Francisco on Wednesday. When I realized it was at designer Kelly Wearstler’s Proper Hotel, I was super excited. I have been wanting to go see it in person for a while and shared about it on this post. The Proper is in an historic flatiron building that has been thoughtfully renovated with its original marble floors and architectural details kept and enhanced.

The Proper Hotel, a historic flatiron building in San Francisco — Photo: The Proper Hotel

We decided to stay there for the night, so we could have a drink at the pretty rooftop bar/speakeasy, Charmaine’s.. before doing the Chef’s tasting menu at Villon. We were surprised the tasting menu was $85 which seemed a great price, extra for the wine pairing, which Max did and it was really enough wine for two to share.

Max waiting for another course below, it was a lot of fun.. even thought he looks bored (He’s not good with long dinners..) I would recommend this for a special occasion night in the city!

Dinner at Villon in The San Francisco Proper Hotel

Love the rooms which were a black and white theme and had an eclectic mix of wallpapers.. and a smart little marble table to work on and a mini setee, and a chair.

Hotel room at The San Francisco Proper Hotel

The Proper is the perfect name, as it has everything you would want in a proper hotel- beautiful design, dreamy rooms, uber comfy beds and linens, two restaurants, Villon, and Banda-a tapas bar, a rooftop bar, and room service.

On top of Charmaine’s rooftop bar with the cutest little fire pits. I’m wearing one of my favorite easy dresses- this leopard t-shirt dress by Jenni Kayne ( on sale 20% off with code LDW20 this weekend), with my new Paige jacket I wrote about last week on the army jacket post..

Having a cocktail Charmaine's rooftop bar San Francisco

The public spaces are inviting, comfy and gorgeous. You can enjoy a bite or a drink, all day in the main lobby..

Villon, where we did the dinner and breakfast.. Isn’t my yogurt beautiful?

breakfast yogurt with fruit and granola in the Proper Hotel San Francisco

The Villon restaurant in The Proper Hotel San Francisco

The lobby at the Proper Hotel San Francisco

It’s a great spot for a little getaway for two. If you appreciate beautiful spaces and design, delicious food and great service, you’ll love The Proper. It’s a bit of a sanctuary from the bustle and bustle of the city.

I now want to get to one of the other Proper Hotels. There are also hotels in Downtown Los Angeles…

and Santa Monica ..in California..

Don’t you love how each hotel has it’s own design vibe? That is very Kelly Wearstler and if you aren’t familiar with her you can see more of her on her Instagram. She also has cool personal style and I find her dedication to design and dressing fascinating..

Aesop Skincare Products

Like everything Kelly Wearstler does, the bath amenities at The Proper were top quality. I was lightly familiar with Aesop Products, and loved getting to try the Geranium Leaf body cleanser gel, and Bergamot Rind shampoo and Bergamot conditioner, and I fell in love with this line!

I’m sensitive to smells, but these beautiful formulations are light and so fresh and natural. I also like how they left a pretty scent in the bathroom, but not necessarily on my skin, but enough for me to enjoy the essence in the shower without being overpowering. They are plant based and were formulated to solve skin issues. Aesop products are natural, cruelty free and a B Corp which means they do good by the earth and their employees.

I splurged a little and bought those three products before I left the hotel and I love how they look in my shower. No more mismatched bottles. I think these will last a long time- and it feels like a spa in my bath.

Aesop products sold at Neiman’s (I linked to the hair products there as they are out of stock elsewhere.) The line is also at the Skinstore where this weekend the entire line is on sale 25% off with code LABOR. I like the Skinstore and the brands they carry and have ordered many things from them. They also have a 12 piece gift bag with $130 purchase now. Most brands are included in the 25% off is you need other skincare or cosmetics.

My newly upholstered patio set

I was so happy my old nasty outdoor cushions I wrote about procrastinating on, were done in just under a month including choosing and ordering the Sunbrella fabric. The local spot, Krupp’s Upholstery could not have been more pleasant helpful and I can now verify they do beautiful work. They even made the cushions better by restuffing them and relocating the zippers so the cushions could be used on both sides. I also love the back cushions that they stuffed with an outdoor down alternative that has support, but feels great. Even Max said you could never buy already made cushions this nicely made..

Sunbrella Sea Salt on newly recovered outdoor ottoman and chair

This is the before..

This is the little patio area off of my office. I’m so glad I did not give this seating set away. I could not find the right size cushions and the all weather wicker was wearing beautifully.. after almost 10 years. I really almost donated it, but I’m so glad I chose to re-do the cushions.

On the base cushions I chose Sailcloth Salt and the accent pillows I chose Fretwork Pewter. Both are made by Sunbrella.

newly upholstered outdoor cushions in Sunbrella Sea Salt and Fretwork Pewter fabrics with all weather wicker and brick patio

I highly recommend this Krupp’s a father/son family business in Campbell. This is not a sponsored thing, just a wonderful local small business that I wanted to share.

Mirrored Backsplashes

I loved this piece on Thomas O’Brien, on Frederic this week and how his secret for bright kitchens is mirrored backplashes. They aren’t as disco as you would think and lend light and a sparkle to what can sometimes be a dark space. Look how great these kitchens where he employed the mirror trick are..

galley kitchen with mirrored backsplash by Thomas O' Brien

kitchen with mirrored backsplash by Thomas O' Brien

In this bar he did the same..

bar with mirrored backsplash by Thomas O'Brien

I also have a mirrored bar backsplash.. Mine is different in that it is tiles that are slightly glazed with a gold. I think it gives a bit of elegance to a modern shape bar and open shelving. It’s another trick to bring light to a space. I would totally do it again…

This is a shot of it. Sometimes with the tiles, it can be hard to photograph and looks busier in pictures than it does in person.

My bar has washed oak cabinets, dark gold modern pulls and floating shelves in the same material. The bar top is part of one of the two slabs of quartzite I used in my kitchen called Dolce Vita. It’s a natural stone that wears amazingly well. I have a hammered sink and dark gold faucet.

mirrored backsplash bar and brass giraffe fro Anthropologie holding tangerines.

Wet bar with accessories and mirrored backsplash

The backsplash tiles are called Yesterday’s Glass by Jeffery Court. I chose them as they reminded me of my parent’s dining room in the 1970’s. We had this glass mirror on one wall and back then you bought it the hardware store and I believe it had peel off backs! It was a DIY by my mom. She loved how it reflected her chandelier. I wish I could find a photo of that room.

I love this little brass giraffe guy I just bought at Anthro for the bar. Right now he’s holding citrus.

Anyway, mirrored backslashes are a great trick, that can look clean like Thomas did, or glam and are a fun often forgotten option.

U.S. Open

Have you been glued to the U.S. Open? This season really stared off with a bang with the big night honoring Serena. I hadn’t realized how long she has been playing…Seems like forever. I was so lucky to get to see her and Azarenka play one night at the Indian Wells tournament with friends. She and Venus are legends.. and a lot of people wanted to get a glimpse of her last matches.

Did you know the Arthur Ashe stadium is the largest tennis stadium in the world? I did not and the night they had her first match there was not one seat left! The game will certainly not be the same without Serena. She had a long run and great to see a woman still competing at the level she is after 40.

Chris Evert and her Tennis Bracelets

Chrissy Evert is back announcing many of the matches after battling Ovarian Cancer. A great article about how she detected it early which was very lucky here in NYTimes this week. It’s so great she is doing well! She inspired me to start tennis as a kid.

If you are a fan you remember her tennis bracelet and how they were once the thing and are now back. Tennis necklaces are everywhere too.

She was the first to wear them and now she is getting proper credit for them on a collaboration with jeweler Monica Rich Kosan, who launched a collection with her. They have a wide range of styles and prices.. I love the whole collection.

Monica Rich Kosan x Chris Evert tennis bracelets collection

Bloomingdales also has this more affordable version which looks pretty nice and Anthro has this tennis necklace which is a great fake.

Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

MAKE MINE A SPRITZ E R

PINECONES AND ACO RNS

Thank you for being here! Hope your weekend is wonderful.

Kim

If you missed last week’s post I shared how army/cargo jackets can give a cool edge to all your closet staples, a Hawaiian take on banana bread, British home tours to binge and more..find that post here.

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

2022 Goals, House Updates & Cozy Coats

January 7, 2022 By kimwheeler 21 Comments

How are you all? I don’t know why, but this year December seemed long to me and even so I didn’t get all I meant to done. November was busy and I blinked and people were posting their Christmas trees on Instagram. it gave me anxiety and then I stopped to think- wait, it isn’t even December. Why the race?

Again I am trying to remind myself to slow the rush through life, beginning with this new year. Sitting by the fire, making soups and taking rainy day walks and reassessing the house and life is what I’ve been doing. Also picking our loads of lemons we are getting just now..

The massive amount of rain here and snow at the cabin (125 inches in one week!) has kept us indoors except for a daily rainy day neighborhood hikes. Tennis has been rained out for almost 4 weeks for me. We did venture to dinner with friends at a restaurant, but with the new spike of Covid, we feel like it’s a good time to lay low and haven’t done much socially.

We went from no snow a week a half before…

to this…Crazy right?

Since we couldn’t get up to the cabin and roads were closed, my college son informed me during the break he wanted to sell his queen bed and get a smaller twin to have more space for a larger desk. He wants a more dedicated study space for when he comes home and the big bed sucked up a lot of his small bedroom.

He ordered a new twin XL bed and mattress and got in within 3 days. This is the beginning of what we have for his room with the new bed and a fun side table found at Homegoods. I’m hoping to share the whole room when his desk and rug gets chosen. The checked duvet is from IKEA.

His quick decisions inspired me to finally pull the trigger and order a daybed and wallpaper for Max’s office/guest room. I’ve been thinking about doing this since our oldest son moved out last spring. I’ll admit making decisions isn’t my strong suit, but I did it!

The daybed is from Wayfair and so is the mattress. I love the clean lines and linen of the daybed and it’s small profile fit perfect in the room that also has to hold a large desk.

The room still needs art. I’m going to do a group of bird pictures in here for my bird loving husband. I have not figured out the pillows and things yet, but threw these on there and a grey cotton coverlet. The bed is surprisingly comfy! I also added this rug to warm up the space I found at Home by Ling Interiors, a new shop in Los Gatos. If you can’t get to Ling’s wonderful collection, a similar one is here.

I was so excited to get that room together that I also ordered a real desk for myself and a proper chair.. They will go in the media room which will be my office. It’s taken almost 3 years of living in this new space to realize that the size of that room is perfect for an office and it’s not really much use for anything else.

This is the desk and the chair.. I plan to place them in front of my Serena & Lily bookcase.

Moving into the new year, I’ve been reminded by my husband I need to start putting myself first for my health and happiness. How many of you can relate? The Christmas season made that even more apparent when I skipped my morning yoga practices and walks a few weeks in a row trying to knock things off my to do list.

My husband has figured out how to work full time and also make time into his schedule every day for stretching, workout and reading his books. He says I can do that too, and I plan to try harder. Friends of mine are blowing through novels and I barely made it through half of my stack. Home things will just have to wait- dishes, laundry and errands while I prioritize myself and do things I usually consider leisure. When do we stop worrying about everyone else and start thinking about ourselves- putting us on the priority list? We need more moments of joy.

There’s a life balance many of us are missing and pleasing others is part of the problem. I saw this new journal that goes along with Glennon Doyle’s great book and it may be a good way for some of us to start this in the new year..

Get Untamed: The Journal (How to Quit Pleasing and Start Living)

I ordered one for myself.

Another way to change habits is to look at someone who is doing what you would like to. Do you know a friend who takes time for herself? Treats herself well? Often you can ask yourself, would X do this? Would X … I know I have done the same and instead of envying such people, take a page out of their book and start treating yourself as well as they do.

Get a new planner for 2022 and pencil in weekends, trips and daily walks and time for just you. We need this more than ever in the pandemic life.

On another note, I’ve been noticing all the very chic choices now in long puffer coats. With the wet and cold weather, there is nothing better than one of these cozy long jackets for a walk or a winter day out. I hate being cold and in these you can’t! Some of the best ones below..

I’m loving this box quilt look, this lovely iridescent blue look, and this modern water resistant one at Nordys.

Athleta has this Boulevard Coat, marked $100 off now, now, in black and red..

I also noticed this Puffer Wrap Coat from J. Crew in black and a light grey..

I am working on my annual post, ‘What to spend your Christmas dollars on’. It’s a post with things that have long term pay back. I have always tried to pool my Christmas or birthday money and buy one nice thing that I will enjoy for a long time. That post will be such things… so stay tuned.

Have a great weekend and stay cozy!

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

Some links will generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

My Holiday Gift and Home Picks From Serena & Lily’s Thank You Event

November 26, 2019 By kimwheeler 4 Comments

Today starts The Thank You Event at Serena & Lily with 25% off and as a partner in design with them, I want to share my picks for holiday gifts and a few of my own things I’ve chosen to get the casa Christmas ready! This event runs November 26- December 3, so you can get a jump on your present shopping and the house spruced up early.

This is the latest Serena & Lily addition to the remodel, our new backyard furniture. I know we are going into winter, but as Californians we use our yard most of the year and I wanted to get this Pacifica Sofa for a long time. We finally bought it during the last sale plus two of the Pacifica Lounge Chairs.

What do you think? I am loving the quality of this furniture and the yard is feeling like another room with that indoor/outdoor vibe! I just need to get one of those heaters for evenings.

Two years ago we sat in the backyard on Thanksgiving. Not sure if we will be doing so this year with rain in the forecast. I’ve had my grey striped Avery Alpaca Throw out here on the deck for the chillier nights!

That Avery throw is one of my most favorite things and would make a kind gift for a special someone- or for yourself for the winter.

Throws are something I always love to receive and I have gifted many over the years. Check out the Serena & Lily throw collection during this event as there is something for everyone. There is nothing nicer to have with you on the couch at night than a luxe throw and they look so good as an accent or a pop of color.

A bench is always a welcoming item if you are having holiday parties and guests. Recently I added the Carson Bench to my entry. Its unique design was based on a bench found at a Paris flea market and it has a vintage look. I’m in love with this piece, how beautifully it’s woven, and the dark stripes. It is a great space to drop my handbag and for everyone coming and going to gather shoes, etc. We mostly don’t wear shoes in the house, so having a bench or seat is really essential in the entry! I am having fun playing with the pillows on this bench. I already had this Thanksgiving one and I love my Winter Beach Pillow’s Bohemian look. I plan on pairing it with something red for December.

Serena & Lily also makes a few other great rattan benches and the Sunwashed Riviera bench was another I considered, especially in this pretty mist color.

I think an entry needs a mirror and I’m crazy about the Cayman Mirror..

I also just ordered this cool one for my pool bath. If you have been following along my remodel saga, this small bath is finally finished, except for the mirror. The Montara Mirror has many sizes and I like the beachy rattan for a pool bath vibe. I’m excited to finally have it together for the holidays because this is also our powder room most of the year. I’ll share a picture of it as soon as the mirror is hung!

This is a snap of the pool bath.. Don’t you think the rattan will be good with this? Just a sneak peek. More to come..

Always a great choice during sales and the Thank You Event is a rug and if you read this post on rugs, you know I just added this Stella Rug, which I am so loving and it completes the dining room.. My Mailbu Chandelier helps make this probably my favorite space in the house.

My friend Debbie who writes Debbscorner on Instagram is renovating her Berkeley home and just got the Stella rug in the runner version and sent me the photo. I love it!

Debbie also just finished a guest room and choose these Serena & Lily linens. What a nice mix of the soft blue Cavallo Linen sheets and the grey dotted pillow! Thank you Debbie for letting me share. You chose some lovely things.

Some of you may be freshening up a guest room like Debbie, so bedding and linens are another smart buy during the sale. These Classic Ring Sheets are their newest and would also chic in a guest room.

Also in my cart this week is The Ryder Denim Rug. It’s got that very California casual feel with its mix of denim and wool. It will be good for our media room which I am setting up as a space for my turntable and record collection, books and reading and also as a space for the guys to hang out and for us all to do board games. French doors in that space open to the pool, so a durable as well as cute is important in a rug here.

Mary Ann Pickett, my friend is an interior designer who writes Classic Casual Home has the runner version in her stylish San Francisco home office. I LOVE this space she created. She also has the most amazing views. More of Mary Ann’s gorgeous home on this post.

Isn’t that lamp cute? She also got that at Serena & Lily.. The Flynn Table Lamp also comes with a wicker shade if you prefer.

Check out the S&L lighting during the sale. Their table lamp collection is especially cool. Lamps are just one of those things people keep for decades so they are worth spending a little more on and they can really make things look upscale. Like good accessories, a few nice ones make everything look better.

My current favorite is this Halsey Table Lamp with its bamboo shape and Hawaiian vibe. I would love it in the media room. Stay tuned..

Everyone is busy this holiday week, but if you need anything for the holidays take a few minutes to check out the Thank You Event as things can go fast sometimes.

Some great picks from this sale event for the holiday home and gifts…

These Salento Linen Napkins are so beautiful and also come in navy, flax and white in sets of 4, 8 or 12. What a kind gift tied and so cute with the prettiest tassels. I love the sky color.
You are all set to style your holiday drink station with the South Seas Bar Cart. I love that you can roll it outside in the summer and use it in between for photos and books.
These Wood and Marble Servers are gorgeous and are the perfect hostess gift for someone who entertains. They have that California vibe and I’d love to add these to my special pieces to my entertaining bits!
These Beachside Serving Boards are the perfect size for an expansive holiday cheese board or just cool on the backsplash.
The cute Whale Spreaders are darling for the cheese board or a fun hostess gift with a bottle of wine.
I love that the Pinecone Wreath can be used year after year and with it’s luxe velvet bow, is so classic and pretty for Christmas. It would be lovely on a colorful front door or on a French Door or window.
The Westwind Toile Trays have been on my radar for some time with their soft blue and darling design made of birch. I kind of think they are perfect for the bedside to corral things and protect a side table.
A sweet gift for friends or to make your house smell like the holidays, the Christmas Coastal Candle was made in South Carolina of soy and smells like pine, douglas fir, cinnamon, clove, woody cedar and lasts up to 50 hours. The Blue Jeans, White Shirt candle would be just the thing for a few California girlfriends I can think of.
The Dalton Flannel Pajamas are on my own Christmas list and come in chambray and fog colors and are made of eco- friendly cotton in Portugal for snuggly nights.
For the beach house vibe, the Henley Wool Throw is it. Made by hand in Peru, it will be something everyone fights over on cozy winter nights.
For the world traveler in your life, Holiday is a beautiful tribute to the vintage Holiday magazine that was published from 1946-1977. If you are like me and adore vintage fashion, travel and photography, this book is a gem!
Serena & Lily’s La Jolla Baskets are always a great thing to get during sales as they are one of their signature items and you cannot find similar baskets made as beautifully. They are so cute for blankets in the family room, laundry, toys and shoes by the entry. I can think of so many ways to use these!
The Dip Dyed Stools are another S&L signature and have been popping up everywhere as plant stand which looks so cute with ferns. I would use mine in the bath to hold towels and soaps. Love the grey and navy colors too.

Exclusions on this sale are items in the sale section, gift certificates, art, and Limited-Edition PUBLIC® C7 Bike.

The code for this sale is THANKFUL.

I hope you find things to help with your gift shopping and holiday home prep here. Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving week!

Kim

Marlo posing with my Addie Striped Pillow on our new sofa!

I wrote this post in partnership with Serena & Lily. Links may generate commission. Thank you for supporting the blog.

Life at My New Kitchen Counter with Serena & Lily

September 24, 2019 By kimwheeler 32 Comments

I’m so excited to share our home remodel with you guys and I thought I’d begin with my favorite space, the kitchen. It’s finally fall this week and I’m ready for baking and warm comfort foods! Do you all feel the same? It makes me so happy right now to spend time in here.

When I was planning this house, I used a binder to collect all my dream images, and in that were Serena & Lily catalogs that I used for inspiration. I bought some of my favorite pieces for the house from Serena & Lily, my Malibu Chandelier in my dining room, and my Capiz Scalloped Light in my entry. I am in love with both and they have made the spaces in this home look modern and stylish.

Everything they do is very light and pretty and has a California casual aesthetic, which, if you’re a frequent reader of my blog, you know I adore. I had to read my email twice when they asked me to partner on a post about Life at The Kitchen Counter. I rarely do partnerships, but this is a company I have loved for a long time. They are based in Northern California, Sausalito in fact. Their products have turned out to be the best quality pieces I chose for this remodel.

Since everyone gravitates around the kitchen, having a big island has always been a dream for me. I wanted to have room for us to spread out and for the seating to be comfy as well as stylish. I found both in these Balboa Counter Stools from Serena & Lily. The mix of the grey rattan with the brass accents is so elegant!

In the kitchen, as in the whole house, I went with my favorite materials -woods, natural stones and variations on white and grey. It’s livened up by the brass accents on these stools and my dark gold drawer pulls and knobs. The bits of gold are like jewelry for the room and give it a touch of glam and fun.

Worry not that I’ve chosen white cushions and have boys in the house! The white basketweave chair pads are made of Perennials, a stain resistant fabric that repels water and resists fading. They look chic, but they are also comfy and the guys have been hanging here and I am okay with their tacos etc… Everything just brushes right off! How cool is that?

Known for their fresh take on casual dining and home, Serena & Lily were the perfect choice for the look I was going for. They embody the California lifestyle very well with materials that are luxe and casual chic, yet never stiff or formal. Inviting is how everything feels and looks.

This Serena & Lily’s Seaview Rug is my other favorite thing in the kitchen. I wanted a long runner for the kitchen, something cool with a pattern, but that would wear well. This rug is made of recycled plastic and is water and UV resistant, yet feels like an expensive wool rug underfoot. It’s nice that you can spot clean it and also hose it off outside if you need to! Helpful with all these young guys who like to cook. So far everyone’s a fan, including the cats, who we have to step around when cooking dinner.

I like that you can flip this rug and use the other side at some point. I think this affordable rug was a smart investment and I am going to order another for our hallway.

This is the grey color of the Seaview Runner which is 2.6 x 10 feet. I also love the Turnstone Rug made of the same material.

For an open light feeling I went with open shelving on the uppers and have some of my pottery pieces from my trip to Positano here. Next to the stove I placed this cute ceramic Spinnaker Tray with rattan handles. It plays well with my mix of materials and I love that it reminds me of Hawaii with its tropical look.

The tray is handy next to the stove and holds my olive wood spoons from my travels and today these pretty Brela Napkins. I also use the tray on the island to hold more cloth napkins and bites when entertaining like below.

I am kind of a tray addict as they are a chic way of displaying your things, while keeping areas tidy. Serena & Lily has the most wonderful selection of trays in many colors and materials. This Spinnaker Tray also comes in Navy. My other favorites are this gorgeous Stonington fossilized clam shell tray (would be stunning on a bar), this Leila Bone Round tray is elegant for a bathroom or vanity counter, and I am in love with this set of three Marine Trays made of enamel and brass, so cool for a coffee table. I also have a crush on this wicker Bedford Tray and want it for an outdoor bar I hope to set up soon.

Isn’t this a fun way to set up a casual entertaining? Have everyone grab their items from a tray.

We’re loving our island for most of our meals now. I feel bad for the dining room, but it’s just so easy to cook here and set a cute meal quickly. I’ve been using cloth napkins exclusively now for years and I would never go back. They give meals a quality that paper napkins just can’t. I do one load of cloth napkins a week and never iron them, just fold them when warm.

Do you use a step-stool in the kitchen? My friend Erin came by and saw my new Teak Step Stool and flipped out about how cute it was. I think the wood and white is darling. Being on the shorter side, I’ve used it a ton already for my high cabinets and to get to my top open shelves. It’s sturdy enough that Max has has been using it for putting up bulbs and things. It is super durable teak and would be cute in a kid’s bath at the sink as well. Everyone can use one of these!

I hope you are loving the change of season as much as I am. Do you find yourself at the kitchen more as the weather turns cooler? I sure do. I’m looking forward to making soups and baking, pumpkins, pear tarts, and all the goodness that is coming. I hope this gives you a little glimpse into my new kitchen and some autumn inspiration!

Thank you to Serena & Lily for collaborating on this post and helping to sponsor the blog. As always, all opinions, writing, photos and mini-pumpkins on this blog are exclusively my own. 😉

Kim

Serena & Lily Spring Event & Discount

March 19, 2019 By kimwheeler 2 Comments

Hello friends! It has been a crazy last few weeks.. I was off in Indian Wells for the BNP Tennis tournament (more on that coming) and when I got home I hit the ground running trying to finish all the design decisions for the house. I’ve had my head down figuring this out and nary a second to blog. It’s been lights, mirrors, cabinets and more lights.. Just when I thought I was going to lose my mind, I found out Serena & Lily’s Spring Design Event starts today, March 19- 25 and everything is 20% off with code INSPO online and in store. That sealed the deal for me as I had a few items in my cart for the house that I am absolutely getting this week. I thought I’d share my picks and a few other gems for you to check out from this great Northern California (Saulsalito based!) Company.

I am crazy about this Capiz Honeycomb Chandelier. To me it has just the right mix of California with a bit of disco thrown in. I love the mix of gold and shells and I want this in our peaked entry of the house. I think it will set a fun mood right away when you enter!

One of my other favorite Serena & Lily items has to be their Malibu Chandelier. It has a beautiful look with hemp rope and the white and gold beads that have a look that makes them seem like glass.

There are large and small versions of this cute fixture and I think the large above my black table and with my grey linen chairs, will continue the California vibe. Our table is in front of an expansive French door and I think the chandelier will be nicely spotlighted there.

Also on my list is this smaller version of the Capiz light in scalloped version which would be super in a bedroom or bath.

Other great deals to check out..

These Balboa Counter Stools in the pretty Mist color..

This Carson Bench would be darling in an entry or at the foot of a bed!

Fun for spring and summer entertaining is this Cayman Round Tray..

I’d love to use these Brela napkins for a poolside dinner I hope I will be sometime soon.

Serena’s gorgeous Grasscloth Wallpaper is also something I want to do and the colors are lovely, especially this cactus which I could see in a bedroom or powder room or a hallway..

Other faves are the Ryder Denim Rug

And the Halsey Table Lamp..I love the Hawaiian feel of it.

I am also mad for the Blake Raffia Console Table, which comes in a pretty grey and a natural as well as this blue. Perfect for your entry with a mirror and I do love it as shown here as a bedside table.

The Positano Linen Pjs in Wild Rose are in my basket too.

More of everything lovely on the full Serena & Lily site here. Don’t forget to use the INSPO code and the sale goes until Monday the 25th.

Kim

Weekend Finds & House Talk

August 25, 2018 By kimwheeler 10 Comments

How was your week? I am just completely overwhelmed with house stuff like looking at tile, faucets and trying to get my house plan STILL approved by the city I live in. It’s been extremely worrying and stressful, and stomachache inducing as we are paying rent at the rental and building hasn’t even begun. I’ve finally nailed down my bath tiles and floors. A peek of some of it here.. and my dying feet at the tile store- don’t you love that herringbone set tile?

A few pics from the Ann Sacks showroom in San Francisco. I love the tile on the floor with the marble- maybe for my master. For the boys I am thinking a combo of grey, off white tiles and some dark denim blue colored accents like these cute tiles for their shower floor and in the shampoo niche or in a stripe going around the shower. It’s hard to see the true blue colors in a photo.

On the bright side, our rental is larger than my own house and my landlords are the kindest, sweetest people who I adore. They were so cute and came to get some mail and I invited them in. They were very kind and their daughter and granddaughter said they love my way of decorating. I was surprised as I have such a crazy mix here, but I guess together it all works. They made my day and were so sweet. I am what is described as a nester. I am happiest at home and wherever I am, I have to make it my own. A lot of people say they would do nothing to a temporary rental, but I would find it hard to live here without making it mine in some way.

What they liked was my colors in my bedroom, quirky colored handbags as placed about, and some pops of color with white. They have a wonderful trough planter under the desk window and I replanted it with little flowers, so the white and pops of color kind of worked well!

Sorry for the messy bed. I love these lampshades I found at Homegoods again.

Throw was from a mill in Leeds, England and wonderfully soft also from Homegoods. ( I almost typed Homegods, but they kind of are for affordable stuff.)

Love, love, love this desk and the view. I use my baskets (This from the French Basketeer,) as filing areas of a sort.

There is a good mix of blue, natural woods and rugs and throws here. I’m a bit of a throw ho.. Sorry I couldn’t resist- but they do easily add color and fun to the home and spice up things. I’ve also found some nice accents at a local chain called Harvest I adore. I like plain furnishings, so I can change things up with the seasons and frankly when I get sick of looking at things. I think visual people are that way and if you are someone like that, it’s best to stick with a lot of white, solids and blacks. You have a lot of choices when you do.

It’s been summer, so I’ve had all my blue out and in this rental I was lucky to have a wonderful spot to display some of my blue books, glasses, plates and vases with a mix of coral we have from vacations over the years. How awesome is this built in? It fit my record player and I created a nice wrap station too in one of the drawers for the upcoming holidays.

This cute throw is from the Los Gatos Harvest store.

Your Read More Link Text

Lake House Style

October 14, 2017 By kimwheeler 4 Comments

Now that fall has begun I have had my thoughts on home ideas for my renovation and finding inspiration. I was lucky to catch up with my cool friend Bonnie over lunch who spent the summer at her lake house she renovated in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Since 1929, five generations of her family have owned homes on this lake and they all love spending time there together. I loved hearing all the relaxing days spent on the lake and things like paddle boarding, sunset cruises, family cribbage competitions and Friday night fish fries that are unique to Wisconsin lake living. Bonnie is a artist and a local mom who has a great eye for design and I flipped when I saw how pretty her lake home is!

Bonnie’s mom and brother own homes on this lake and when the opportunity came to buy one of her own she grabbed it. Bonnie and her husband Dean worked with a local design and build contractor spending one full year redesigning and renovating every inch of the house. The house design focuses on the west facing beauty of the natural views and the peace and serenity drawn from the water. Being an artist as well as super creative, it has been a design lab of sorts for Bonnie.

What is so inspiring is that Bonnie used finds from thrifting along with a few newly bought things to pull it all together. She has a way of finding treasures and putting her own tweaks on them. I was so charmed by what she has done I asked if I could share some photos along with stories of what she’s done on the blog and she kindly agreed. How fun would it be to have such a spot to get away to and put your own spin on? I’ve included some of Bonnie’s own words here telling how she did it. Enjoy!

This wrought iron sign was made by Bonnie’s father-in-law for them!

Just look at that gorgeous sunset! I like the open feel of this home.

Bonnie’s art in her kitchen. I love her light palette with blues in this waterside home.

A gorgeous old frame is its own art above the bed.

‘Last summer I found this Venus (Goddess of Love) statue at a local thrift store and fell in love with her. I sent this pic to my sister from the store. My sister also loved her and wanted her. I said, “Too bad because I had to have her for my kitchen windowsill.” Funny thing, this summer I found a larger version at another shop so we bought it and now we both have one!’

More cute finds-fish platters…

‘Dean had a stamp collector’s book when he was little. His parents gave me the book when we were first married in 1983. The book has been carried around to 8 different houses in five different cities over the past 34 years. I finally decided to make some art with the stamps because they are so beautiful. They are now hanging in my daughter’s bedroom at the lake house. I love the way they turned out!

What a great way to enjoy these everyday and so special that they were Deans as a child! I think they are so pretty with all the graphics and colors. I know many of us have those books gathering dust somewhere and how nice to see them like this instead?

‘I bought this 1940s wooden frame for 65 cents, spray painted it gray and had ACE hardware cut the new glass. The print is from the National Gallery in Washington DC (went for spring break). Just love it in my kitchen above Starbucks mug collection! In almost all other cases, I love to paint things white. My whole family laughs about it. They say that if I’m not in the lake swimming or paddle boarding, I am painting something white.’

I love art in the kitchen and this small ledge is a great idea too for her mugs.

Bonnie’s views from her windows.

I could sit there forever and take in the view.

Bonnie in blue, with her family!

It is wonderful to see what one can do using a mix of family treasures, travel mementos and gems found through thrifting. Thank you Bonnie for sharing your ideas and beautiful home with us. You have inspired us to think out of the box and make our homes uniquely personal!

Kim

Pictures and art, except where noted courtesy of Bonnie Westman.

SaveSave

What’s Been Happening Around These Parts…

November 7, 2016 By kimwheeler 11 Comments

Hello friends. Sorry I’ve been a little busy and I just haven’t been able to sit and write. The past few weeks have been a flurry of Halloween, get-togethers, and lots of goings on. Though we did have some unusual October rain, it’s just gorgeous right now in the Bay Area and this week we are supposed to have 70s temps!

I’ve been especially enjoying the warm afternoons and have been trying to get out to soak up some winter sun and marvel at all the pretty leaves.

This is just a smattering and some snaps of what’s been happening around these parts.

We had some fun at our annual street pumpkin carving gathering.

Even my college son came back for this and he and his girlfriend even dressed up as Harry Potter and Jinny. So glad they are still enjoying this stuff.

My youngest transporting pumpkins.

Another day we got to Marin County Mart. It’s a beautiful new spot with unique shops and restaurants with outdoor dining. We need more of those with our California weather!

With my guys at the mart which was decorated so cute for fall. I hope to get back up there soon to shop and maybe have lunch. It’s a great spot for a day trip with a girlfriend.

In other news, we added these guys to our home menagerie. My youngest decided we needed to bring back two Wooly Bear caterpillars home from a recent trip up north and so far they are surviving. 😀

Halloween is just near and dear to my heart as I have so many fond memories of my boys and all their costumes. Gosh those years went by so fast.

Loved this picture of them with plastic fangs. I had a bowl of photos with the kids in costumes through the years. Love!

I keep getting Facebook reminders like this. I try not to reshare them all, but it sure is fun to see some of these pop up from time to time.

Halloween and Thanksgiving decor seems to go well with my home. I have an (ugly) brown granite kitchen counter and a lot of black accents so just adding pumpkins and orange was easy.

I love these mums in a rust color and any tortoiseshell glass like this bowl.

Flowers were from my favorite holiday inspiration spot, Bunches Flowers in Los Gatos, where Pete the duck holds court. I caught her posing (yes she is a lady), so I couldn’t resist snapping a picture of her.

Besides all the cool jars and vases and pretty plants, I like to take a gander in here as it reminds me of visiting with my youngest in his preschool days to look for Petey. I’m nostalgic like that sometimes.

The sign and also the pumpkin man were gifts from friends. Love them!

Saturday mornings I go for a long walk with a friend and we occasionally stumble on estate sales. Last weekend I scored a pair of cane backed pecan chairs from the 1960s from a lovely old home. I think I’ll reupholster them in a cool fabric. I also got a great dhurrie rug (above) in fabulous condition from the owners travels.

I threw some pillows on the chairs until I can figure out what to do with them. I love small scale chairs like this which are good for a game table between them, in front of a fireplace or just to fill a bedroom corner.

Estate sales are the best! Do not furnish your home in all new things. Estate sales and family heirlooms give it soul and make it uniquely yours!

Our entry hooks filled with hats and costumes from Halloween with an original Halloween painting from my artist pal, Meilei and some of my other favorites.

I got to wear one of those hats to the annual Wonderful Witchy Woman Lunch.

With fun friends and here I actually thought I was tan a bit from tennis. Not!

Hobbes the cat decided the new counter stools are his personal perch and only moves from them under force now. Does he not look determined? I added this short lamp on the counter for the winter months. I love the cozy feel lamps on kitchen counters give don’t you? They are great on dark mornings and so much warmer than the overhead lighting.

This little slate sign in my kitchen makes me happy and it’s hiding a nasty old metal phone jack that can’t be removed. You can’t tell can you? Hated that thing and I don’t know why I didn’t cover it like this before.

I’ve been using apples, pomegranates and persimmons in all my salads and as toppings on everything. Butter lettuce and red onions are good companions to any of that and a home made dressing of apple cider vinegar plus walnut oil and just a touch of maple syrup makes for a yummy fall dressing.

I’ve got my winter garden in and have peas, radishes, cauliflower, and kale growing.

My dad is my garden guy. he puts it all in for me and starts many of the plants himself and transplants for me here. I could never grow anything without his help!

My dad Ray, has his birthday on November 8, election day. The first election he voted in was 1960, and he turned 21 that day and voted for John F. Kennedy. Isn’t that pretty neat? The voting age wasn’t lowered until 1971 to 18. Love my dad!

This whole election has been so stressful hasn’t it? I have many friends who feel serious anxiety from it. Thank goodness it’s coming to an end finally.

My 99 year old grandma Jody (dad’s mom) has seen it all and she cast her first vote and every vote since for a man and she’s ready for a woman to be president she says. She may be one of the only people still around who has voted in every presidential election from Theodore Roosevelt to our first woman candidate, Hillary Clinton!

I recently took her out for one of her favorite things and In and Out Burger. Isn’t she cute? She’s smart, and sharp and fun. I feel so lucky to have her in my life still!

My mother was also a big supporter of women’s rights and I have said this before, but I just wish she could be here to see the day we finally can vote for a woman president. She would be thrilled so I am voting in honor of my mom Sue, for Hillary. I know she would be happy about it.

Okay that’s it. I’ve spilled my guts and got you all caught up. Later this week I’m going to be running some home remodel ideas by you all if your still out there.

Have a good week and hugs to you all for being here and reading. I’m feeling really hopeful that this country will rise above all the discord and be together once this election is done.

Kim

The view from our front yard this week!!

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

Home Inspiration – Naomi Watt’s NY Loft

February 10, 2016 By kimwheeler 14 Comments

Just got my Architectural Digest today and immediately fell in love with Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber’s beautiful Manhattan loft. I’ve been making some plans to renovate and this really inspired me. I love this mix of antiques and pieces from Ralph Lauren and Restoration.

This entrance is pretty fabulous.

The dining room has an antique cabinet and mirror that are wonderful for display, but also great for entertaining. I’d love to find something like this.

I like this icy blue cabinets in the kitchen and the built in banquette. Kinda retro and reminds me of our kitchen as a child.

The cute family with their sons.

Another view of the dining room. The casual feel of the chairs and large table are nice. Seems so much more inviting than a very formal dining room. I know our family would use something like this.The light fixture and rug really make it different.

The boy’s beds are from Restoration. I think it’s so nice when kids share a room. Our boys did for a long time and sometimes I used to listen to their little nighttime chats when they were small.

You can see the rest of the house here at AD. I think Naomi Watts has such great style and she has three movies coming out this year. You can see their very pretty, totally different Hampton’s home here, which they had it on the market at the beginning of this year, but now are apparently renting for $20,000 per month. Naomi also bought this to die for ivy-covered home in Brentwood from Sally Field a decade ago. Smart girl!

Photos Architectural Digest

Home Glamour -The Elements of Style Book

September 1, 2015 By kimwheeler 14 Comments

Now that the kids are back in school I finally have some bigger chunks of time to actually work on things I’ve been meaning to get to. One of them is the house. Seems I always have plans to paint, update and purge things we really don’t need anymore. In short, a lot to do! One thing that never fails to gets me inspired is home books and my latest favorite is this beauty…

Elements of Style- Designing A Home & A Life, by Erin Gates is filled with pretty photos and ideas that will get you motivated to brighten and modernize. I don’t know about you, but now that I am finally have a chance to step back and look at the house, I realize there is so much we don’t need and a lot of pieces we have just taken on from family, and also dragged with us from other homes. Some things that worked great in our other home never really worked here, but we kept anyway. I added a few new things when we moved here 5 years ago, then we went through our start-up years and we didn’t do much else after that. Now that we once again are to add some home upgrades, I want to focus on getting our home the way I really would like it. Up to it’s potential is how I like to think of it…

Erin’s book, like her amazing blog, which you have to visit, is like a breath of fresh decorating air. She has great practical ideas, but a modern sensibility which I really like. Throughout the chapters Erin weaves little bits of her life story which makes her so likable and relatable. She comes off as a someone who wants to share her knowledge, but also someone you’d love to have a glass of wine with! So far, thanks to Erin and her book, I’ve added two new pieces to the home…

This wool HomeGoods rug which is modern looking with it’s geometric pattern. It makes the family room look a tiny bit hipper with our white couches, leather accents, oversized denim pillows and grey accents.

Please ignore the cat. They tend to crush the tops of the couches into their personal dugouts!

The other purchase, very radical for me, was this acrylic table!

I have to say I am in total love with this piece right now! I knew I wanted it as soon as I saw it. I wasn’t sure if I was going to use it as a bar, a vanity table or a desk, but I placed it in the entry while moving it in and it just fit there! It makes the entry look chic, especially with the addition of the gold frames, which I am still filling and the bit of driftwood. Acrylic (or lucite -same thing) makes rooms feel larger and more open as it takes up no visual space. It’s also bright, light reflecting and feels glamorous. I need more glamour in this house!

The drawback to adding these modern pieces, is that everything else may look a bit staid. I’m not advocating for everything new. That’s not me, I appreciate things with provenance and I don’t believe you need to change your your whole home, but you need to edit and refresh occasionally. Adding something like my table may be the impetus you need to do this. Your home can become bland if you are keeping tired accessories and photos in the same frames they have been in for 10 years. Save what you adore, but mix it up, add some color, move the furniture, and perhaps get rid of a few things!

Also on my home to do this for fall is add some turquoise and teal to my living room. I have always loved that color and I am inspired by my grandma who has been a lifelong lover of it. She had a home designed around it in the 1950s and a wardrobe filled with it. Cleaning out her home, as we have been doing over the past months, I am encouraged to be more bold with colors! I think gold accessories add that bit of glam and I am changing a few of my frames out to gold and adding a vintage gold cat to the mix from my grandmother’s mid-century home. The gold is a nice foil to the deep aqua blues and the acrylic.

I hope to get rid of some couches, chairs and old tables I’ve been hanging onto. It feels like we have too much furniture and I want a more open feel in my rooms. I might just go without for a bit and see how the space feels. Whatever gets added I want to love. Wallpaper is another energizing and refreshing look Erin Gates uses a lot and I plan to take the plunge and wallpaper my entry and possibly my small dining area. Why not? I’m hitting 50 this month and feel like if I don’t have fun and do these things now I never will, you know?

Do you change your home up often or do you tend to live with things the same for a long time? You might try experimenting. Check out Erin’s terrific book and her Elements of Style blog for daily inspiration! She’s a funny writer as well as a talented designer. Adore her. Here’s a few of my favorite images from her book below…

Right now Erin is also curating a sale at the home decor site Joss & Main. Her sale goes on until September 6th. You can see more rooms she has done and some super little pieces she has picked for the sale there.

Kim

P.S. If you are interested in finding a lucite or acrylic table like mine, I found this one on CB2. The size is closest to mine and the price isn’t bad. They can run upwards to the $900s so you have to shop around. I was lucky to get mine at HomeGoods, but haven’t seen them since. Look for something thick and sturdy. It should weigh a bit too.