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Californians at Home – Style Maven Elizabeth Kirkpatrick

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Today I am interviewing one of my favorite people, my friend Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, a native Californian who lives life with joie de vivre in a home unlike anyone else’s. She grew up in Northern California, met her Italian husband here while working at Gucci, and raised her young sons for several years outside of Florence, Italy. She and the family moved back here to the Bay Area to create a gorgeous and original home and gardens filled with animals, antiques, flowers and momentos from her travels.

Elizabeth sold antiques for 12 years and had her own shop, The Hen House. She began her blog The Vintage Contessa in 2009. Contessa was her email name and it seemed to fit her, and many of her friends call her that. She kindly opened her home to me and we safely took photos with masks and some distance and she gave some wonderful answers to my questions about what makes her a unique Californian. Meet the closest thing we have to a California Contessa..

Is this Europe? No it’s California! A glimpse of Elizabeth’s front yard. Don’t you love the paint colors of her home? She looks amazing in these citron tones and they figure prominently in her wardrobe and home.

Elizabeth you are a native Californian, grew up in Northern Cal. What makes living in California special and do you think it influences the way you entertain?
As a CALIFORNIAN we have it ALL……….OCEAN,MOUNTAINS and The DESERT all within a few hours drive! Besides it’s ALL I KNOW……..I am a 4th Generation Californian. I was born in a little farming community called Modesto in 1960. The housing community was called “Sherwood Forest”. My parents moved to Marin County when I was six months old. I had the best of all seasons as the snow (Lake Tahoe) was three hours away. The desert was an hour and 20 away by plane and my Mother had sisters in Southern California with beautiful homes. We would spend SPRING breaks and summer vacations with them. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED my time there.I would say YES, MY SURROUNDINGS INFLUENCED THE WAY I ENTERTAIN.

Any great memories of growing up here in California ? Summers? 
Summers were spent in Newport Beach,Catalina Island and Palm Springs. My Aunt and Uncle had a yacht which we would cruise to Catalina for long weekends. We also had good family friends who I would stay with on Lido Isle.We walked everywhere. They (MY COUSINS) were always barefoot and I being “THE TOURIST” would always stub my big toe! From lunches at THE BLUE DOLPHIN to swimming the CHANNEL(which was a BIG NO NO!!) we were always busy bee’s!I experienced my First Spin the Bottle with a boy named JOHN ~JOHN!At home my house was on a hill where  CELESTE and I  would cardboard slide and dig to CHINA with gardening spades!I was always building a BARN or RABBIT HUTCH trying to con my FATHER into more pets!Or putting on PLAYS in our basement!I should have been in THEATER!

Don’t you love her Dutch door?

You are an amazing entertainer do you come by that through your mother or did you learn as you went? 
My Parents did entertain while I was growing up.Especially during THE HOLIDAYS. My father would wear a red smoking jacket and my Mother would be in a long ……….wait FOR IT……..CAN YOU GUESS?………..CAFTAN! I knew when we moved back to CALIFORNIA from Florence, Italy I wanted to have GARDEN PARTIES! However, in the beginning we did not have much of a GARDEN! The Italian had the vision to terrace the backyard. My vision was a YELLOW AND WHITE GARDEN! I learned as I went as far as the garden. My husband loves to have people around and entertain. He would have people over every night if I said, “OKAY!” For him it means nothing of whipping up a dinner for 12  spur of the moment! SO, to answer your question I would say MY MOTHER and MY ITALIAN!

Has spending years in Italy improved the way you entertain and live? Or has being married to an Italian ?? Or both?
Living in Italy started for us in 1991 ~ 1994. Three years, four months, and 7 days………I stayed behind in Italy with the SONS when it was time to go back to the USA so MY FIRST BORN could finish FIRST GRADE. We arrived in Italy due to a death in the family so we were there to help out. We arrived in Italy just the four of us. Myself, husband and two little boys. We left Italy with two black Labs, two pound cats, one Italian woman named Gilda who had never been to the STATES and 18 pieces of luggage. It took THREE cars to get us to ROME and THREE WONDERFUL FRIENDS saying GOOD-BYE. A side note……….I PAID NOTHING FOR THE EXTRA LUGGAGE.NEVER MIND OUR BELONGINGS had left three months earlier in a container! Whats the saying,”When the cats away the mice will play!” I went shopping once THE ITALIAN had left! AND I was not buying clothes but plates and pottery!

Did Italy leave an IMPRESSION on me? Most definitely that would be a YES! Food and Family come FIRST in the ITALIAN culture. I have a good story about flying home with my sons to visit my family and I had two Italian business men FIGHTING over who would hold MY BABY! On the reverse flight I had two women in front of me rolling their eyes DISGUSTED that two kids were behind their seats! Guess what NATIONALITY THEY WERE? That trip I had my first big AHAAA Moment! What matters is FAMILY and being KIND. I ADORED ITALY…….I being the AMERICAN did not want TO LEAVE!

  Did you grow up living in a house like yours with many cool objects and collected treasures?
My first response is NO! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A HOUSE LIKE MINE? But in all honesty a few of the things I grew up with are with me today! Mostly furniture and prints, silverware,cooking utensils, and clothing that all belonged to MY MOTHER. My Mother loved to antique or thrift shop. She volunteered for an organization called SUNNY HILLS. I LOVED GOING TO WORK WITH HER AS IT WAS ONE BIG GOODWILL PILE! I was always finding “TREASURE!” I believe my look came into BEING as I had a VINTAGE/ANTIQUE shop for 12 years and my philosophy was, “BUY WHAT YOU LOVE”. That way if I ever closed; I could bring it all home with me! Well, that worked in reverse for me as some of “THE STUFF” I bought for the shop never made it to THE SHOP!

My Aunts and Cousin had BEAUTIFUL HOMES and ANTIQUES which I have always been exposed too. So,“THE EYE” was trained at an early age. Also,In the library in the Palm Springs house were back issues of COUNTRY LIFE from ENGLAND. I adored looking at these magazines, especially the last few pages where the real estate was listed! I would PICK my favorite old house abroad! Nothing has changed I still do that when I see real estate in Europe!

Elizabeth in her cool kitchen/art gallery. She can make you the most authentic cappuccino too.

You are a huge animal person and have had an array of dogs, chickens, doves, a cat and even a pig as roommates. How does this work with all your beautiful objects? Most people with all your gorgeous glassware and chandeliers wouldn’t have a pig wandering about, but you make it seem like the happiest spot for them!
The same way it worked without having the baby proofing items! I think all that baby proofing design stuff was just coming out on the market after we had our FIRST BORN! We did NOT use any of that. ALL EYES ON BABY and if we were invited to dinner without kids we did not accept the invitation!

The word NO was used and still is with THE TEA CUP PIGGY! THEY ARE VERY SMART ANIMALS…….unfortunately they are kept in mud and muck and get a BAD WRAP! He actually RUNS THROUGH THE HOUSE from one end to the other. Makes a U-TURN under the kitchen table! We call this SPRINTING! I MUST GET A VIDEO OF THIS FABULOUS FLYING PIG !He has never hit or run into any person or object! He puts himself to sleep every night and you will not hear a peep out of him until you get up in the morning! HE JUST KNOWS WHAT IS OFF LIMITS and understands the word NO very well. He also knows where he can PUSH the LIMITS!!

With her sweet pig Banksy in the yard. Can you see he smiled for me? Theodore was busy catting around when I was there so I am including this of the handsome devil from Elizabeth’s Instagram..

What’s your favorite dish or go-to for easy entertaining?
I would have to say PESTO for pasta as THE ITALIAN makes it once a year and we freeze jars of it. However, that is just a starter here…..We then serve a main course ~ you know THE ITALIAN WAY! Which for me is “CHASES MEAT” (A neighborhood boy loved this dish so we named it after him!) The real name is Cotoletta which calls for veal but I use thin sliced beef. Last night I made yellow peppers as a side dish……..EASY! Slice 4 bell peppers and take the seeds out. Put three tablespoons olive oil in frying pan and put peppers in and cover for 8 minutes. After 8 minutes add 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar and 1 Tablespoon of sugar. Put lid on and cook for another three minutes. Serve at room temperature. Recipe hails from CUCINA FRESCA which was given to me on my 28th birthday by MY MOTHER! “Elizabeth on your 28th B-DAY to improve the Italian cooking. With Love,Mother “

Is there a cookbook you love?
When we were first married I used THE SILVER PALATE cookbook. My Mother collected cookbooks and she loved GOURMET MAGAZINE. My Grandmother was a food and wine editor for THE OAKLAND TIMES newspaper she even had a RADIO TALK SHOW on KNBR. She had her own column. GO GRANNY!!!!!!! I have enjoyed MIMI THORISSON cookbooks and SKYE MCALPINE cookbook A TABLE FOR FRIENDS.
The other CONTESSA does a FINE JOB TOO! I ADORE HER ONE PAGE RECIPES…………..THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA is always a WINNER! I do her baked SALMON with mustard and breadcrumbs when it needs to be impressive but simple and can be made ahead!

You always have the most inspiring kitchen. How did you get that look.. collected pieces?
Most were FREE or FOUND objects! The Kitchen is the HEART of the HOME. That is where we all hang out. The cat, pig and me. My vision for the kitchen NEVER HAPPENED! I have a page from a magazine DREAMING of a big center island three level table. With a lamp on it! I had found old balustrades to make the table! We still have them. I still have the photo! This vision I had 29 years ago ~ it never happened. SO, I created a SITTING ROOM with my FOUND objects. Everything has a story with me!

The pine cupboard was being TOSSED OUT BY MACYS DISPLAY PEOPLE! (Seems the new Senior V.P. of merchandising did not like pine for the displays!) I also scored THREE TABLES one of which is my desk now and another is our KITCHEN TABLE and the third one I sold. The old dish rack my COUSIN GIFTED ME. The big Flowered chair another cousin was tossing. Second chair was MY dear friends Mother’s kitchen chair……..she was dumping as she moved back to South Africa and I said NO! She has since passed of Cancer. The loveseat belonged to a department store Family in Los Angeles. ORBACH’s I think. The feet are LIONS FEET!

The brick floors were laid by MY ITALIAN one summer; he sent the three of us to ITALY to SUMMER at the beach! The Chandelier I found at a Flea Market. The carpet was a wedding gift from a family member in ROME.(I would love to change that but the sentimental WINS over the NEED!) The FRENCH clock I worked for by sitting in an ANTIQUE SHOP. THE rams head was GIFTED TO ME by a little BOY who lost his MOTHER to cancer. His mother was my dear friend. The feeding trough I found at a Flea Market with my SON for $3.50!!! The cabinet pulls I found in MODESTO at a JUNKYARD!
I think if ONE had to NAME MY LOOK it would be More of an ENGLISH COUNTRY HOME with a TOUCH of THEATER………Cecil Beaton and I SHOULD HAVE MET!

 Is there a house drink you like to serve?
WINE or PROSECCO! My husband does not make cocktails nor does he drink them. With one EXCEPTION that would be a CAMPARI. That is his GO TO DRINK on the weekends. My Italian grew up in ITALY were there is no drinking age. Kids start early with water and a splash of wine! So, it is not forbidden when they become teenagers. It has always been there. If we go out I will indulge in a LEMON DROP or a COSMO!I feel like such a GROWN UP when I DO!

Alfresco entertaining is another thing you are a master at. I love how you set up your yard as another space. Any tips for gorgeous plants and creating an outside oasis?
READ those magazines! STUDY THOSE CATALOGS that come in the MAIL! TURN CORNERS DOWN of things that interest you. I am a self taught GARDENER. I read years ago in a British magazine that TWO COLORS in a GARDEN make more of an IMPACT than an assortment of colors. So, I decided to stick with YELLOW & WHITE flowers. Over the years a bit of purple and pale pink have slipped in. Only because I couldn’t WAIT for the white lavender to arrive! The purple grows better for me than the white lavender. When I purchased the PENNY ROYAL I did not realize it gave me a purple flower! I love that plant and BANKSY loves it too…….THE FRAGRANCE when one steps on it is OUT OF THIS WORLD!It likes SHADE and will SELF-SEED.
I used an old antique door for our outside table I found in ITALY………..Again it was FREE!I am still NOT THERE with the Outdoor Look as cushions get eaten by the squirrels! They love to pull the stuffing OUT and make HOLES in my yellow cushions! SO furniture is NOT big on my list which I would Love it be!

I have a fountain for the noise as we back up to a busy street! WE planted six fruit trees last SPRING so I look forward to seeing the BLOSSOMS and BANKSY the tea cup piggy will be HANGING OUT THERE! Catching any fruit that drops!I t will also make another wall to the busy road! ADD A MIRROR if possible!

Favorite candle or home scent?
I do not use candles as the one time I did the candle had dried flowers melted into it and they caught FIRE!!! The candle was in my living room and above the candle hangs DRY HOPS!! The flames were two feet……..high.I grabbed a blanket near by and yelled for The ITALIAN!! The whole experience put me off on CANDLES and that was years ago! My favorite scent is TUBEROSE.

 Can we see a peek at your closet?  You have an amazing wardrobe of caftans. I think just walking into your closet would make me happy every day. Any advice for someone renovating or creating a special space for their clothes?
I have zero advice as I have a husband who can do it all. Meaning construction, electrical and plumbing.However,he goes SUPER FAST so there is no time to think! Decisions have to be made LICKTY-SPLIT! Like the NIGHT BEFORE the next work DAY! I did have the vision to put my MOTHER’s bedroom lamps in the closet up high they add a little TA-DAH moment when you hit that switch. I have my veil and wedding invitation with my wedding shoes under lucite above the doorway.I always wanted to frame my bugle beaded wedding dress too but to give up. THAT WALL SPACE WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION!!!

I share the closet with THE ITALIAN as I like to refer to him on the BLOG, so it’s NOT ALL FOR ME! It is a DREAM come true but I still have baskets full of clothing that need to find a home soon! We are debating a center island! I DO LOVE THE SPACE when I enter so I think there will be NO center island for now!Instead of a chest of drawers I have an 18th century chest in my bedroom! Practical I am NOT! SENTIMENTAL I AM in saving the OLD PIECES! Let’s just say I’m a GOOD RECYCLER! Chandelier’s are ALWAYS a GOOD IDEA in A CLOSET or PANTRY or a GARAGE!

Elizabeth’s fabulous new closet her husband Giampiero built for her collection of caftans and basket handbags. I love the chandelier and the windows. Elizabeth is tall like a model and needed a closet that could hold those long dresses!

A California shop you love for home goods or clothes?
CHATEAU BEL AGE1578 W. LEWIS STREETSan Diego,CALIFORNIA
WEB SITE: CHATEAUBELAGE.COM TEXT for INFO: 619-518-1181
This is MY FAVORITE clothing shop I have found EVER! It is located in an old house and the living room has become the main salon with a fireplace. Water and refreshments are served. Opinions given if asked. A patio for outside chatting, eating and laughing. It’s a WONDERFUL SPOT TO JUST HANG OUT! I had my BIRTHDAY party there a couple of years ago! The owner has a FABULOUS sense of STYLE and a GREAT STORY! SHE grew up in an ICONIC CALIFORNIA HOTEL AS A LITTLE GIRL!

Favorite spot in California and one you hope to get to?
MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA.Close to Santa Barbara. I adore LOTUSLAND, a private estate open to the public. For years I missed OUT as their ADS in Santa Barbara magazine were always succulents! OH MY GOSH what a mistake I made ASSUMING what COULD BE! Ganna Walska created LOTUSLAND – Botanic Garden. Let’s just say Money was NO PROBLEM and FIVE husbands LATER you too can visit but reservations MUST BE MADE. Call 805-969-9990 or link here. A book on her LIFE is worth reading called, A ROOM AT THE TOP. She wanted to be an OPERA SINGER, but was told she was not GOOD enough so what does she do? She buys herself a THEATRE in PARIS!

I took so many photos at Elizabeth’s. There were just little vignettes of loveliness everywhere…Including the yards and gardens and patios..and so many beautiful flowers!

I also loved this wall in her husband’s office of photos of her and her two sons through the years.. I wish I had done something like this with my sons. You can see she has a talent for photo styling among other things!

Love these so much!

Follow Elizabeth on her blog The Vintage Contessa where besides her regular posts, features people with fabulous gardens each month and partners with Cindy Hattersley for Ageless Style. She is on Instagram as Contessa and Her Pig which is in her words : ‘Her musings and passions. What Inspires and Dazzles. Loving all things Worn and Rusted. AGE.The Grandeur of The Past. Bottom line Contessa Chatter!!’

Thank you Elizabeth! I could chat with you all day. I love all your wisdom and style and the way you wrap your day to day life in beauty. It’s truly an inspiration!

Get Elizabeth’s look and style. A few things she loves..and some similar looks.

Always Room at The Top by Ganna Walska, Sunbrella Citron Pillow, Aged Iron Pedestal Bowl, Jennafer Grace Leopard Paglamas, Hand Blown Colette Wine Glass Set, Outdoor Wall Cameo, Romi Tote Bag.

Hope you enjoyed this glimpse of Elizabeth’s California home as much as I did!

Sorry it’s been a while since my last Californians at Home post. Hopefully more soon! It’s not been easy doing this during the pandemic as you can imagine. If you missed them, you might also enjoy my other posts on Californians at Home – designer Cindy Hattersley, artist Heidi Woodmansee, and blogger Kristin Maxwell.

Have a great weekend!

Kim

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Californians At Home- Designer Cindy Hattersley

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Today is just the second of my new series about how Californians live at home. Cindy Hattersley, a dear friend and super successful designer and blogger, has been at the top of my list to get for this series. She’s had a lot going on lately, but she kindly took the time to share some of her style secrets.

Not long ago I attended a lunch for our friend Elizabeth at her home and while there I asked Cindy if I could snap some photos. Cindy lives in a very special spot of California, Chualar in the Salinas Valley, ten miles south of the town of Salinas. Chualar was part of an old Mexican Land Grant and her stunning home is nestled in the hills in a private neighborhood. Cindy and her husband bought the property, along with the 10 acres of adjoining open space 30 years ago and did every bit including the amazing gardens while raising their two kids. They have created a sort of oasis out there in the Monterey Spanish Colonial style and have lovingly decorated it with their collections and beautiful antiques.

A little more about Cindy, a Midwestern gal who came to be a Californian. Let’s take a peek inside her California home shall we?

Cindy you grew up in Indiana, but have been in California a long time. How does California influence the way you live and decorate? Do you feel more like a Californian after all these years?

I am a hoosier at heart, but yes I do feel more like a Californian.  The weather here allows us so much freedom with bringing the outdoors in. I love having my garden as an integral part of the overall design. Entertaining outside whenever possible, and incorporating natural elements in my interiors as well as when I entertain.

What do you think makes Californians different in the way they live and entertain?

Our ability to entertain outdoors most of the year.  There is always something green and or flowering to bring inside our homes and our casual approach to both how we entertain and live. I think we Californians entertain in a style that is approachable and inviting.
SO agree! We are much more casual I think.

I love your home and the personal things along with antiques and beautiful objects make it so unlike any other home I’ve been in. Did you achieve this look organically over time or was it all planned?


Both actually.  My husband and I started collecting antiques before we graduated from college.  We created a couple of our corner cupboards when we built our home.  We have continued to buy and sell pieces over time in order to add to our collection. As you know I am an avid believer in a collected look. I love combining the old and the new to create a harmonious mix. I don’t want my house to look like a museum with collections everywhere. My husband is more of a purist.  He would prefer everything to be antique.  I prefer more of a mix but always favor something old over something new.

You are a beautiful entertainer are there any tips you can share?

I try to keep the menu simple but tasty.  

Is there a favorite dish that is your specialty or cookbook you return to again and again?

I don’t think I have a specialty.  I love to cook but cannot and will not bake! I don’t usually prepare a lot of heavy food.  I use a lot of fresh ingredients whenever I can.  I prepare more Ina Garten recipes than any others.  I know any recipe she puts in a cookbook has been well- researched.  I am a big fan of hers.


I adore her too!

I know you and your husband are wine people. Tell me what California wine you are loving right now.

My husband loves Napa cabs and we both love the Rhone varietals from the Paso Robles area where we own another home.  Personally I like wines that are more food friendly.  Pinot Noir is my favorite hands down.

Is there a favorite fragrance or candle you use in your home?

Interesting that you should ask. I don’t care for anything that smells like something baking. I prefer a citrus, or earthy based candle.  

Is there a great California shop you love for clothes or home goods or both?

Locally, for home goods I love Tancredi & Morgen, Wisteria, Patine, and Warmth Company. Both Warmth Company and Tancredi carry some interesting clothing items as well.  In Paso , AnBe, the Shoe Tree and Bijou for clothing.

What’s the California town or spot you most love in our amazing state?


I love Paso Robles and we are fortunate to live close to the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur.  I love Yosemite and all of the wine regions, Sonoma, Napa, Santa Ynez Etc.

Anyplace your still want to go to here, but it’s on your list?

We have been most places within the State, I guess I would just like to revisit many of them.

Thank you Cindy!

Below a few more photos of Cindy’s home. I think it’s the accessories, mix of color and all the cozy spots make it so special and inviting. Even this etagere in her powder room is just a stunning collection. The food she prepares is also gorgeous as you can see from the photos. Some more glimpses of her pretty spaces. A lot of photos, but I wanted to show you how lovely it is…

Her sweet pup Beau!

Cindy not only has decorating talent, but fantastic personal style too. Every time I see her I am mentally taking notes on what she put together, her cool jewelry, shoes and clothes. She just wrote this post about how she found her own style! I loved it.

If you follow her blog, Rough Luxe Lifestyle, you get a fun mix of design, style and entertaining. I have gotten so many great recipes from her too.

Cindy on Instagram here

Get the Cindy look..

Embroidered Dezi Pillow, Wooden Dough Bowl, Ridge Striped Pillow Cover , Black Wooden Bowl, African Mud Cloth pillow, Oyster Shell Orb, Water Hyacinth Placemats, Glenna White Dinner Plates.

Like this post? Save it on Pinterest!

The next Californians at Home will be sooner and monthly.

Kim

P.S. Even Cindy’s barn is cute!

Links on this post may sometimes generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog.

My California Room- Before & After

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This is a story of an unformed and anonymous space, that I dreamed could be a cool room… It was once my old kitchen and was left behind in the remodel and reconfiguration of the house. Initially, we imagined it as a space that could have sliding glass door, so it could be a private office or a den. However, as the renovation came closer to completion, we began to realize what was drawn on paper was really not as large as it seemed, and the glass door idea was not going to be worth doing for such a narrow space.

Before- the room right after the remodel. We were trying to see how my semi-circular couch could fit in here. It didn’t work.

I decided the best thing to do would be to leave it open, forget the glass walls and have it serve as a space for the guys to watch shows or do gaming. It could also be a spot to play family games or read or work on a laptop, when we want a cozier space.

You see part of the space is the walkway in from the garage and so there wasn’t much left to call an official ‘room.’ I love skylight we added here.

For perspective, the original kitchen was an 1980’s addition with greenhouse windows and a slanted roof. I loved the light in this space, but the single pane widows were deteriorating and California kitchens aren’t really the climate for a full ceiling of skylights…

To better use the space, the kitchen was moved to the center of the house and this area became the extra den/media space. The ceilings were raised to meet the rest of the roofline and the entry/ walkway from the laundry was relocated – marked above, and the X is the skylight. The rest of the area became the leftover room in the top photo.

To open up this tight space, we swapped out the window for French doors. Now we open up this room when we want to use the pool area for entertaining and also acts as a kind of adjunct lounge for when we hang or entertain around the pool. The view out to the pool visibly enlarges the space, a great trick.

Once the French doors were installed it became clear to me this room was going to have to have a water theme. It made sense to create a ‘California Room.’ If you Google California Room, it says it is an indoor-outdoor living space- a relative of the sunroom, but with open air. That is exactly what I was hoping for so I call it our California Room, plus it sounds way cooler than a den/media room!

I had two Serena & Lily chairs I had been saving just for this room. I built the space around these and the rug. These Mattituck Armchairs have the prettiest details – caned back and brass accents. They seem like the perfect chairs for a California home. (My throw here is Serena & Lily’s Avery Alpaca.)

This is how the space looks currently with my chairs and the new rug which I am obsessed with!

I was fortunate to find a nearly matching ottoman to the chairs at a local Homegoods. A total lucky find. I also added my vintage tennis racquets which feel kind of fun in here.

This part of the wall has a recessed space where I will be adding a bookshelf.

I also bought two upholstered chairs that swivel, found at my local Harvest home store in Los Gatos.

Our acrylic table fit in here perfectly to hold my turntable under the television. The basket below holds the guy’s gaming things and we just stacked our vinyl albums under the table…

I had an old marble table that I used between the chairs.

Our vintage glass console in the walkway is a good catchall for keys and sunglasses as we mostly leave and enter through the garage.

I’m still trying to figure out the perfect mix of pictures and objects for this wall. I think once I have the bookshelf it will come together..

To finish this space, I still need a coffee table and the book shelf. This rattan bookshelf is on the top on my list. I can imagine the styling possibilities and space for my books!

I tried to think like a designer and created an inspiration board with a few other things that might work to pull this little space together. Here is my idea board for the room and I hope to add these bits as it evolves..I began with the chairs and my rug…

Items from above:

The Marco Rug (on sale now!), was my jumping off point for the color scheme with it’s ocean hues. It’s fun, beachy, a little Boho and would be the perfect flooring for a room that people might enter with wet feet. It’s recycled denim which is super cool too. The Ryder denim/wool rug is another great option in this tone so cute!

I love to mix in some navy as a little punctuation in this space with the carpet. This is especially a cute item -the new navy Ibiza Pillow Cover.

We will need a table in here for games and to hold drinks and The Market Coffee Table is the perfect table for a California Room as I can move it outdoors when I want to expand the room to the pool deck. I like that it’s lightweight and small in size so it doesn’t overwhelm the room. More than anything though, it brings me back to happy Hawaiian vacations when I look at it!

I envisioned a chunky white lamp for the entry table here and this lamp fits the bill and has a coastal feel, but is still a classic to have for a long time. Good lamps are such a great investment. Don’t we always keep them for decades?? I know I do.

I love these navy stripe baskets in varying sizes to hold throws for chilly nights when we open the French doors and for getting cozy while watching shows. They come in three sizes and also in an Indigo Black. I am a sucker for anything with stripes.

On the stripe theme, I love these frosted glass vases that remind me of beach glass. They would be cute with cuttings from the yard and could double as hurricane vases on the coffee table for alfresco evenings.

This Palomino Alpaca navy throw has been on my wish list for a while. My Serena & Lily throws are some of my favorite houses items. This blue stripe baby alpaca throw is lighter and would also be a cool addition to the beach vibe in here!

I had the walls prepped in this room for wallpaper and this Owens Wallpaper in sand color seems just right for this coastal theme room.. plus the stripe thing.. I love it!

Serena & Lily just began carrying these cute Campania Beach Towels and I am thinking of getting a few for just outside the French Doors in a basket.

They come in a pretty navy too.

Serena & Lily is having their Summer Tent Sale right now! It’s a great time to get some of their beautiful things at a discount. I bought my Marco rug during this sale – at a big savings, so it’s worth watching this sale to what gets listed. Things do get added so I check often. I love the quality of their products, so I am always thrilled to get one of their lovely things on sale.

Thanks for following along and all your kind words about the house updates. You all have made me feel so good about it. It’s a lot of decisions and still I am working away. I hope to do a video walk through of the house very soon. The master bath video is on my Instagram. Please follow there for more regular updates and videos if you are interested in the house remodel.

Thanks to Serena & Lily for help with this design project and the beautiful Mattituck Chairs for this room. I am honored to be a design partner with them. Some links on this post may generate a commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Kim

P.S. Look – this room is already being used a lot with the husband working from home… another good reason to make it inviting and comfy!

Californians at Home- Meet the Creator of The Mom Mystique

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Today I am excited to share with you the beginning of my new series, Californians at Home. I’ll feature stylish Californians and how they decorate, entertain and what they love. I am fortunate to have met many cool people in the Bay Area and farther out and I think you’ll enjoy seeing the inspiring way they live here in the Golden State!

Kristin Maxwell came into my circle through tennis. I instantly took a liking to this fun and stylish gal who I only later surprisingly discovered is also a blogger. Kristin recently relaunched her website, The Mom Mystique and I enjoy her weekly newsletter which is filled with good ideas and finds and always a little touchpoint that seems apropos to the moment. When I visited her pretty home for a girl’s lunch a few months ago, I knew she would be a great person to interview about California living. I love her taste and how she lives…

Tell us a little about the Mom Mystique and you! How did you start blogging?

Hi! I’m a Mom/StepMom to four teenage boys and one teenage girl. I’m a born and bred Midwesterner that moved West a few years ago to marry my best friend of twenty years.

I started a lifestyle and family centered blog about seven years ago when my kids were young, and found I really loved the exercise of writing, creating content, and connecting with my community. I moved back to California (we lived here once before when my boys were little) from Minneapolis in 2016 after my divorce, and once the dust settled, I knew I wanted to start writing again. I came up with ​The​ ​Mom Mystique​ because as a Mom of teenagers, I found that my kids really knew nothing about me as a person, and who I was before I became a Mom. I was, in a way, kind of mysterious to them.
They were surprised, and I like to think, proud, to learn that in addition to making school lunches, folding laundry and driving carpools, I spent summers in Brazil and Spain as a teenager; worked at a winery in France in college and studied at the University of Copenhagen for a semester; went ice climbing in Switzerland, crisscrossed Europe alone with a backpack more than once; toured vineyards all over Australia, and excelled in my career in the wine business. They seemed shocked I had skills other than loading and unloading the dishwasher. 😉

I always say that by nature, teenagers seem to walk around with mirrored lampshades on their heads, completely oblivious that anyone other than themselves exists. These conversations actually opened their eyes to the fact that this person they had been living with their entire life actually had an entire existence before they arrived on the planet and had accomplished some pretty amazing stuff, therefore, spawning the genesis for a new writing platform. It was at that point that I decided it was time to put the proverbial pen to paper again and start to document this amazing new life we were leading. We had become a modern day Brady Bunch. All we needed was an Alice. And the kids actually really like being a part of the blog and it’s given them new material for them to make fun of me.

I love your home and its California vibe. Tell me how you decorate. Is it organic? You seem to have a great eye and a mix of high and low which feels very chic and personal.

Thank you! I am a complete study in contrast when it comes to my decorating method and style. Sometimes I make purchases on a whim, other times I belabor a simple decision to death, which drives my husband crazy! I love mixing styles; high and low, pattern and color. I’m a huge fan of ​Home Goods ​and ​Target,​ but also ​One Kings Lane ​and ​1st Dibs.​ The hunt is part of the process and when you start playing with a room, you just ​know​ when it feels right. I would say I gravitate toward a timeless, traditional style because I love the classic color combinations of royal blue and red, a greek key pattern here, a cherished collection of ginger jars there. Throw in a zebra rug and a few leopard pillows to top it off, and that to me feels like a layered, lively, lived in look.

I love your pretty dining room. It is preppy and traditional, but in a modern way. Is this part of being a mid western gal?

I’ve found that my innate style runs toward classic traditional, which has a very Midwestern/East Coast sensibility about it, but with a relaxed, welcoming California vibe thrown in. I love having people around our table and I’m not afraid of mixing, matching and layering textiles when I entertain.

A few snaps of her colorful dining room that overlooks her lovely front yard space.

You recently remodeled your kitchen with the cool idea of adding a lounge with a banquette instead of a large island. How did you decide on that, your finishes and have any tips for others?

Well, the banquette was actually sort of a design accident, but it turned out to be my favorite feature in our new kitchen. We wanted to do a fast, inexpensive refresh of the space and with our family, a “lounge” vibe seemed like a perfectly appropriate thing to do with that dead space in the room. I came up with the idea of a faux leather banquette and a couple of barrel cocktail tables, and it instantly felt like you were sitting in a club! It completely opened up the space and made it so inviting; everyone hangs out in the kitchen anyway, so why not be comfortable.

You have a blended family and currently a houseful of older kids. How are you all managing during this pandemic? How do you make your home be a place for all of them, which it seems to be?!

With five teenagers in the house, I was a little nervous about how they would all fare during this time, but it turned out the one that has had the biggest struggle, is ME! I’m a bit of a neatnik and I like my routine, so this new controlled chaos took some getting used to. To be honest, the kids have actually been FANTASTIC! One of the kids even said, “I don’t want this quarantine to end.”

We are so fortunate that our kids all get along well and “blending” was never an issue, so I think having built-in companions at home has helped alleviate some of the loneliness and isolation that other kids have felt during this shelter in place. In addition to “school”, three of the kids have been putting in hours at the family business to make extra money and pass the time. They are also pretty disciplined about working out everyday. We have done the puzzles/games/movies thing, and of course allowed too much Xbox like everyone else. The hardest thing has been dealing with major disappointments like my son coming home early from his freshman year of college, and my step daughter missing the end of her senior year and delay of her graduation ceremony and all the special activities that surround that truly monumental time. We’ve all had ups and downs for sure, but all the kids have been truly patient, resourceful and resilient, and we couldn’t be more proud of them.

The lovely color and finishes of her newly remodeled kitchen space.

You seem to be an effortless entertainer. Are there any tips you can share?

I’m glad it appears that way! Lol! I will say, it always helps to have someone to entertain alongside. My husband is the self-proclaimed “better chef” of the two of us, so he is usually behind the meal planning. I do the table, appetizers, and pour the wine! And a good playlist always helps, which again, comes from my husband.

How does California influence the way you live and decorate?

Stuffy and pretentious are not the norm here; fussy, fancy and formal do not describe California living to me. Personally, I want my home to be classic, casual and comfortable. With five teenagers, two black French bulldogs, and a husband that is prone to spilling red wine- the goal for our home is beautiful + bulletproof.

Is there a favorite dish that is your specialty or cookbook you return to again and again?

I love ​everything I​na, and have nearly every one of her cookbooks. I can confidently say I make a killer lasagna and a decent turkey burger, but I cannot operate the BBQ and have yet to master carbonara.

I love this area Kristin designated for pantry/wine storage!!

I know you are a wine aficionado. Tell me what California wine you are loving right now.

Oh, so many! Right now, I find it’s more important than ever to support our local vintners and growers by buying domestic, and I tend to lean toward my favorites in Sonoma County. Angels and Cowboys​ Rosé is a household staple, as are the wines from ​Reeve​, ​Scribe, Banshee, ​and ​Lioco.

Do you have any tips you learned from a mom, grandmother or family member that was passed down to you?

My Mom is a beautiful entertainer and I blame my textile obsession on her. I would be embarrassed to tell you how many cloth napkins, placemats and tablecloths I own. No matter what night of the week it is around here, dinner is always served with a cloth napkin.

A chic spring table setting for a girl’s lunch.

Is there a favorite candle or fragrance you use in the home?

Honestly, I’m not married to one particular scent, but I do love ​Jo Malone ​Orange Blossom candles.

Do you have a style idol?

I love ​Jackie Kennedy​, ​Lee Radziwell,​ ​Carolyn Murphy​ and ​Aerin Lauder ​for their traditional, classic, sophisticated style and beauty. And I also admire ​Lauren Santo Domingo​ from Vogue and ​Moda Operandi ​fame, as well as stylist ​Ann Caruso ​and ​Olivia Palermo.

You, like me, seem to adore travel. Favorite spot or dream trip you are planning?

That is the one thing I’m really missing right now, travel. We had a trip to London planned for spring break that we obviously had to cancel, as well as a family vacation this summer to Greece, so those two destinations are top of my list as soon as we are free to fly again. I also really want to go to Morocco, Vietnam, the Maldives, and do an African safari. In no particular order.

Kristin style….

Joe Malone Orange Blossom Candle, Two Tone Zigzag Basket, Magnolia Stoneware, Ina Garten Cookbooks, Twig Flatware, Blue and White Dishes, Basketweave Seagrass and Black Rug.

Thank you Kristin for kindly opening your home to us. Some photos were taken by me before this pandemic and others are Kristins by Betsy King Photography. Follow her blog and wonderful newsletter at The Mom Mystique and on her Instagram.

Hope you enjoyed this and another Californian is up soon!

Kim

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Weekend Update- My New Garden and Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

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Hello I wanted to check in with you all and see how you faring. We made it through April and it looks like May could mean some loosening slowly of restrictions here in California. There is a little feeling of hope in everyone it seems and even tennis could be back in my future ! We’ve done well with our numbers and people here in Northern Cal have been mostly good about trying to do the right thing. Masks have become protocol and I am proud of us for all getting on that so fast and adapting it to our lives.

My family has gotten out more than some. My guys have done some hikes and bike rides with the family and I have been shopping for my dad and delivering to him. How about you all? Today I talked to a friend whose family has not left the house in the seven weeks and they have three kids.

The bright spot this week was putting in our garden! Dad brought us tomatoes he had grown from seed as he does every year. Jackson my oldest, did most of the work and my dad just gave a few social distanced directions before leaving us with the plants. I’m so grateful to have my dad nearby and helping us.

Jack and I are pretty excited to change up the garden this year by adding some larger containers of herbs and lettuce as well and flowers to hide the air conditioning unit. The walls have Bower Vines which replaced an invasive Potato Vine that was driving my neighbor nuts.

Carla, my landscape designer said these will spread out and cover the fence, but not take over. I will share our progress as the garden grows. If you are thinking of getting a victory garden in, now is the time, as the frosts have passed and the days are getting warm, so plants can take root and thrive in the hot months.

Max snapped this photo by the garden gate when we were back there the other day and you can see a bigger view of the rest of our yard. I shared more pictures this week on my Instagram stories, and how we came to own this very large and winding pool and a yard with a massive amount of brick!! We’ll never afford to replace it all so we’ve come to love its old school charm.

I am slowly working on each area and I have to say gardening has been good for me. There is something about being out there even if I am just pulling weeds and trimming, feels like I am working towards something and it’s calming. I am upping my garden game and even ordered some pots and supplies. You can still get supplies by delivery or curbside pickup at local nurseries during our shut down, so I am trying to support them.

On Instagram people asked about my camo shorts and they are my go-to for gardening and pretty much everyday when it is warm. They are from Sundry, one of my favorite companies with a cool California vibe and made in Los Angeles.

They have some adorable things marked to nearly half like this cool Mama sweater just in time for Mother’s Day.

And I know these shorts would be chic worn a million ways this summer.

This heart sweatshirt is also fun. I seem to be living in my shorts and sweatshirts lately. I love the softness of Sundry tops. If you appreciate comfy and cute weekend clothes, they are the place and right now that is everyday for most of us!

One other Mother’s Day thing I highly recommend and I literally live in now, is my linen Serena & Lily pajamas. I have the pink and I would one day love to get another pair in white or this cute striped set.

S&L pajamas are beautifully made in Portugal and easy to care for. I just pull them out of the wash, tumble for a few minutes and smooth them and air dry in the sun. Serena & Lily is having 20% off everything now with code ATHOME so it is a good time to pop over there if you have been considering any of their beautiful home goods.

My flip flops I also was asked about and they are Tory Burch red toile and they are on sale now for $39!

My yellow top above is a Liberty fabric blouse from J.Crew. Right now J. Crew has all shorts and swim on sale at 60% off. That never happens. I love these swimsuits with matching coverups! Maybe a early summer gift for yourself..

SO cute.

People love to give flowers for Mother’s Day so I wanted to call out a wonderful Farmgirl Flowers. If you aren’t already familiar, they are a SF company that delivers flowers by bike in the city, and also ship over the country. They use only farms that are pesticide free and pay fair wages to their employees. Many of their bouquets are benefitting charities too. I like that they use upcycled burlap to wrap bouquets. Keep them in mind when asking for or ordering flowers this year. Men always appreciate hints too.

I think their selections of bouquets are lovely…

Another local company Tancredi & Morgen in Carmel has sweet Mother’s Day kits. I love the packages they pulled together with their lovely curated things and some of those packages are on sale. I think it’s good to support local businesses now so they stay in business. I have loved their shop forever and have many things I treasure from them. They have free shipping and local delivery!

Some very lovely things and cool cards with them.

I hope you have a good weekend. There’s no beach is in our immediate future, but we are getting to know our neighborhood pretty darn good with all the walks! The New York Times had a great read for your weekend on how we are connecting again with our neighborhoods, one of the unexpected benefits of being stuck at home. You know we were all rushing about so much going here and there before this pandemic, many of us never had the chance to know our neighbors well, and a whole lot of us are now taking the time to do that which is so good for our communities!

One more thing, on my Instagram this week, I am asking people to post a photo of that brings back memories of travel to a special place. It can be a treasured souvenir, like my bowl from Positano I shared (below), or a place you want to get back to someday when we can all travel again. Tag your photos #dreamingofmytravels and I’ll pick a random winner at the end of the week to win a travel book, soap from Hawaii and a few other fun things.

Have a good weekend and take care,

Kim

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Staying Cozy With Serena & Lily Pajamas

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January felt long, however a heap of cleaning and purging got done here. I feel like I am beginning the year with less which feels great. In 2020 I am committed to choosing better quality things when I bring stuff into the house. In purging, I decided to get myself some nicer pajamas and clear out all the sad bits that have been taking up what should be a pretty PJ drawer. So I was a happily surprised when Serena & Lily offered to send me a set of their Pajamas. Quality items like linen pajamas are what I want to add to my life. Serena & Lily’s motto is living well begins at home.

I chose the Positano Linen Pajamas as I know how long linen lasts and how wonderfully soft it gets the more years you have it. The Wild Rose color was my first choice- so lovely. They are woven in Portugal with eco-friendly European linen. I love the details like the pant pockets (have to have those), and the pretty edging, and buttons.

So far I’ve been lounging more than usual in the new year. I like to hang out and work, read and plan meals and stuff on my bed when I don’t have to dash off somewhere. These pajamas are cute as much as they are comfy so I feel presentable if anyone comes to the door too. (A S&L favorite above – Jetty pillow cover.)

My usual morning look – my readers, pony tail and almond butter toast. LOL.

Linen is often thought of as a warm weather fabric, but it’s actually cozy and warmer than cotton, and also is light and breathable in summer too.

So many cute quality pajamas and luxe robes to choose from at Serena & Lily…

I honestly love everything in the pajama category especially the Porto Linen Stripes in a flax or blue chambray. Also cute are the Cavallo White Linen Pajamas which have a timeless chic feel and remind me of Diane Keaton who always is in white luxurious pajamas in her films. And the Positano Linen Robes are another classic choice in a pretty collection of seven colors for year round chic!

I purged the linen closet as well this month and ordered the Positano Linen Sheets in the same pretty shade for our bed. This is my first set of linen sheets and they feel much warmer and softer than my percale ones, which was unexpected!

The sheets come also in a French Blue, Indigo and a soft Eucalyptus. The linen gives it a undone look to the bed that fits the California casual look.

Speaking of California style, I have a few new Serena & Lily additions to the house since fall and I haven’t shared on the blog yet…

I finally chose a table for the entry! The Blake Raffia Console Table fits perfect in my little entry space and with the woven raffia it has that natural vibe. I chose the natural color, but it also come in a pretty grey and a navy that are also gorgeous like below…

I love the two levels on this table for trays and books. The raffia reminds me of Hawaii.

I still want to wallpaper the entry, but with my Carson Bench, below on one side, the console and my pretty light -this little space is almost finished.

Love my Capiz Scalloped Chandelier !

I also just added the coolest chair. I knew as soon as I saw the Edgewater Lounge Chair, it was my style. It’s the most comfy chair in the house and since everyone wants to claim it, I ordered another.

The seat is very big and and I can really curl up in it. My pillows here are the Addie Stripe in the foreground and the Winter Beach Pillow Cover in the back.

I think I may move both of the chairs in my new media room, but this one sure makes this room look cute and is easy to move wherever we want it. Right now we are loving it by the fire.

I finally chose a new rug for the laundry room. The tile is a very strong statement and so I wasn’t sure if a rug would look good here, but it’s been chilly on the feet and I want one for when I’m folding laundry, wrapping and other tasks. I finally decided on the South Shore Rug in Oyster. It works with the tones in here, is made of recycled plastic, is water and UV resistant, so perfect for the busy laundry area and super soft underfoot.

I’m in my new PJs here. The cute Teak Step Stool from S&L is still used so much by us all and is great for me in this space with all the tall shelves.

Connected to this laundry space is the pool bath that I finally am putting the finishing touches on. The Montara Mirror in the medium size was a perfect accent with some tropical flair.

I love it with the tiles. A little natural element with the modern.

Below you can see this Montara Mirror in white, on their site with the same Blake Console table I have in the entry, but in grey. So pretty! The mirror comes in three sizes and also in a navy color.

I’ll share the whole pool bath soon in another post.

I’ve been slowly cranking away on the Hawaii post and I’ve also been posting stories on Instagram where I can share more in an easier way. Last week it was a Santa Cruz getaway and our family’s most favorite recipe, so follow along on my NorthernCalStyle Instagram please and we can chat more!

I wish you all a cozy weekend and some pajama time.

xo Kim

Thank you to Serena & Lily for sponsoring this Northern California Style post. All opinions and writing are all my own as always.

Pantry Perfection – 10 Bloggers Show You How

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Isn’t this a timely post? When I was asked back in December to join this great group I was excited as I knew it would force me to organize in the new year. Nothing gets you to pull things together like others seeing your space, so I spent the last week thinking hard about how I use this -what I need it for and where I was just wasting space. I feel a lot more streamlined now and excited about this area.

I am sharing a utility room, not a pantry per se, but more a laundry, mud and all around place for everything we need to run the household. I feel fortunate to have this space and have tried to make good use of it on the remodel. It was one of my favorite parts that came with the original house. I did a previous post on the renovation of it here. Today I’ll show you what it holds and how I decided to organize it.

Previously this space was connected to the kitchen and held extra serving pieces and also dry goods. Now that the kitchen is moved to the center of the house, it freed up a lot of space. I wanted to use it wisely. My cute step stool is from Serena & Lily and we love it. Super sturdy and useful.

I have the usual laundry pullout which is the tall drawer, a cut out for our cat box and some deep drawers. I always wanted a designated wrapping spot and I love having counter (material is Vadara, a quartz,) to work on, so I stocked the deep drawer right below it with tape, pens, tags and all that. My house paper and some black wrap are all I really use and also plain bags. I did a little video about how everyone should have a house wrap on Instagram here before the holidays.

After the holidays, and a lot of wrapping, I reorganized and restocked. This drawer holds cords and ribbon, cards, tags, pens, tapes, hole punches and various scissors. A little shopping bag keeps all the ribbon I save and reuse. Everything I need is here. I love using cord and also making my own tags and this plain woven twine and black wrap is something you can get together here.

The lower deep drawer is for more house wrap and gifts. I keep a few on hand for impromptu girlfriend birthdays when I see something cute.

Above this I use the three shelves for entertaining. I do not have a china cabinet, and as I took out most of my upper cabinets in the kitchen, I needed this for things used occasionally. My holiday pieces are in the island and can be accessed behind the barstools, but these are things I use more often like tablecloths, votives and vases. I also keep extra bottles of hand soap and guest towels for when we have people over- to pretty up the bathrooms.

This basket is holding my extra textiles I use for runners and impromptu tablecloths, and also pillow covers. Some of the things are just fabric remnants I kept from my grandma’s home and others fabrics I just adore. My latest is a handmade Hawaiian sarong from my Big Island trip that I plan to use as a table covering come summer. Isn’t it cool?

I like having the vases, here not hidden under the sink and also the votives, and battery and beeswax tea lights. Everything I need to entertain is really in one place now and it simplifies it.

The laundry has some cool fabric baskets on the floating shelf, that just look great and is also where I keep some extra towel storage. Similar basket here. The little basket is for napkins and dish towels. We use cloth only, so I do a load of napkins once or twice a week. I scored with these Tommy Bahama grey baskets. They are sturdy and go with the tones in the house. I am unable to find them anywhere on the web for you all, but Homegoods has a few here and there. In the search for the cloth baskets I found a one-woman textile studio making beautiful woven basketscalled Woven Grey. Check out her Instagram too. Her things are beautiful. Her name is Kathleen and her studio is in Oakland! I think I have to order a few for the home. Made in California and I love supporting local artisans.

I am still loving my Electrolux washer and dryer two years on.

I keep this laundry basket on the counter when it’s not in use for clean, folded items.

The two drawers under the seat are for shoes. As my husband and I are the only one to use them, we have them for ourselves. The boys tend to come in the front door and their shoes go in a big basket when they can be bothered!! Baskets on the shelves hold baseball hats and gloves.

I just switched to one of my Trina Turk pillows that matched the floor tiles and the whole area. I still need hooks to hang coats and bags here.

My drawer has my most used shoes, my cross-body, umbrella, stocking cap, baseball hat and shopping bag. These are all the things I need to grab on the way out the door.

Lastly the two small drawers, above the cat box opening, hold extra keys, batteries, rubber bands, flashlights and other junk drawer usuals.

Thank you for letting me share my little space with you. I can’t wait to get some ideas on making my food pantry pretty too as it needs a reboot just about now! Pop over to these lovely blogs and see what they are doing in the new year in their pantries.

After Orange County

Classic Casual Home

Driven By Decor

Modern Glam

Most Lovely Things

My Sweet Savannah

Rough Luxe Lifestyle

Sheri Silver

Vignette Design

If you follow me on Instagram, I will link to all these lovely gal’s accounts there too!

Have you been tidying up in 2020? What tips do you have for keeping the clutter away ? Please share with everyone any insights below.

Thanks so much!

Kim

Links on the blog may sometimes generate commission. Thanks so kindly for supporting the blog.

The Collected Look -Style Tips From 8 Bloggers

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When I think about the collected look I think of people with style. What gives someone style? It’s not designer handbags or the latest cute booties. It’s not the newest clothes or haircut. The people who show up looking like Deborah Harry in the same kind of jeans you gave to charity a few years ago, have style. Stylish people know what looks good on them. They keep the same chic pieces in rotation and wear them like nobody’s business. They know what to hold onto and what always looks good. Being stylish takes effort, but it’s fun, smart and can be green too.

I’m not sure how stylish I am, but I’ve been kindly included with eight bloggers to share our versions of the collected look.

If you want to have style, instead of hitting the stores, first you must clean and purge your closet. This is something I am pretty dedicated to and do religiously multiple times a year. It always reminds me to wear and rediscover things that have been lying fallow in the back forty.

When you have culled the closet hopefully find some unique things that you love and still look great. These things that have stayed with you for years, perhaps decades, if you are close to my age. Those are the things that can take an outfit from bland to standout. Those are the bits that only you have, that give style, and make your look different than the rest.

Remember anyone can buy a designer bag and sadly many women believe that is something that’s going to make you stylish.. A lot of time, it’s just the opposite. I’m not opposed to good handbags, but sometimes people can look a little like they have no taste. You can have the latest $2,000 bag, but so can 40 other people at the mall! That is not style to me.

What is style is the cool pieces you collect and pull together. My friend Elizabeth (Contessa), is not fully dressed without her piles of bracelets and necklaces and lashings of color from a caftan or scarf. Ani, dear friend and another California gal, has a look that is super delicate-with dainty jewelry and lovely, feminine soft tops paired with cool jeans or khakis. Another friend E, adores Hermes-toned orange, pairs it with grey and has made it her signature color. My pal, Jill tall and willowy, has made her gamine cropped hair and pretty tailored clothes her signature. All of these gals look stylish because of the collected bits they put together in a unique way.

My ‘collected look’ usually means a jacket, and I mix with it vintage things I’ve found, inherited, and others I’ve hung onto for decades.

My Theory denim blazer I found for $12, at thrift store is so flattering I am getting compliments on it, five years on. I like showing the cool lining on the cuffs and here paired it with an oversized white James Perse T, pearls on a cord from Hawaii and my Stella bag.

Lately, my favorite extra piece is this faux fur shrug, handed down to me by dear Elizabeth. I wore it through the holidays, but I wasn’t ready to pack it away, so have been wearing it as a topper over my black Everlane turtleneck during the daytime.

A little leopard goes a long way in the style department, and vintage versions exponentially so. (By the way, shoes are old Zara- Stella McCartney lookalikes, but similar ones here. Jeans – Madewell demi-boot.) The Coach messenger bag I wear as a cross-body. It’s an 1970’s version I found years ago at Crossroads Trading for a few bucks. It is made and designed so beautifully, it’s a pleasure to wear, and I feel very French, as they love these bags.

The coolest part about the shrug is that no one has anything like this, and of course it came from someone I adore and love and so it is like a little hug from her when I wear it.

A few more looks where I’ve mixed it up..

My moto jacket and satin skirt with vintage danglers and a 30 year old Furla handbag I saved for, can’t part with.

Another decade old dark blazer jacket, pearls on a string, and a vintage slip of my grandmother’s worn as a top, ( I hacked it off with scissors.) Madewell jeans and white booties I bought a year ago.

Same Theory jacket, scarf from Kew Gardens, and Chloe sunglasses. I love using sunglasses as a hair accessory. (Working on the selfies obs.) I added cool teal J. Crew loafers I scored at a thrift shop, but they didn’t make it into photo.

Another idea is a knit stocking cap on chilly days with big glasses. Think Ali McGraw in Love Story. You don’t always need to wear a puffer with such things. Just add a massive scarf.

For the collected look, shop your closet, add special, unique things and hang onto the cool stuff. Reuse, recycle and reinvent items. Check out vintage shops like Crossroads Trading, and online places like The Real Real and your grandma’s house and your husband and kid’s closets!

Then have confidence in your own look. Mom always told me, ‘Kim, you don’t want to look like everyone else.’ It made me upset in seventh grade, but it’s in my brain now, thank you mom. Individuality is everything when it comes to style.

My favorite Oscar Wilde quote I have pinned to my desk.

Books I love on collected style-

Classic Style , Paris Street Style , The Cool Factor, and The Parisian Chic Lookbook

Now go visit these stylish blogs and see their take on the Collected Look-

apart from my art-sandra

classic casual home-mary ann

most lovely things-annie

rough luxe lifestyle-cindy

the age of grace-eugenia

the gardeners cottage-janet

the real golden girl-kimberly

the vintage contessa-elizabeth

What’s you collected look? Please share in the comments!

Kim

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My 2019 Favorites

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Wow the holidays flew by! I hope you are enjoying a break before the new year. Hard to believe it’s a new decade. I love this time of year and the downtime to clean up, put away and reassess before the new year starts. Of course there are always many after holiday sales, but I thought it would be good to start with a post on my favorite things of 2019. This is things I have used, loved and would buy again!! It’s also a good reminder to myself to think how many things I purchased the past year I can say I still love, still work and were worth every cent. In the new decade I’m going to try and think hard when shopping and ask myself if the item will fall into this category, and if not, reconsider. Micro-resolutions! That’s the mantra apparently… Things you can actually do.

Here’s my list of things I would buy again and I will be enjoying into the new decade and were worth every penny!

My white Grayson Cozy Cotton Shirt is probably the most worn item in my closet and spans the seasons as a perfect layering piece for now as well as my go to shirt for spring and even summer paired with shorts. I love this brand Grayson which I discovered this year and I now own the white as well as a cool striped number. What makes these shirts so nice is the fit and the open collar that is flattering. Beautifully made they always feel good and look great on. In the new year I need more items like this in my closet that work for so much and make everything look good!

My Serena & Lily Carson Backless Bench has been a bright spot in our entry and a welcoming spot for everyone coming or going to stop and gather their things or put on shoes. It get used so much, I don’t know how I lived without a bench before. It also sets a pretty tone for our small entry and gets a lot of compliments with its lovely weave and design. I like to change the pillows often and this is my January look! The grey pillow is one of my favorite S&L pillows and there are many new ones like this Auckland Cover, I love the fringe on this Avalis Pillow , and this cute pompom and look of the new Perennials Texture Loop Pillow.

My Serena & Lily Balboa Barstools are probably the most used and also my most favorite item I have added to our remodel. They still look terrific after lots of wear from the boys and the pets. The white Perennials basketweave cushions are still repelling stains and are brush away spots easy and still look like new! The Marin-based Serena & Lily whose mantra is, living well begins at home, were all over a friend Angela’s beautiful new remodel I got a peek of at a recent holiday gathering. What really caught my eye were her pretty Riviera Backless Stools I snapped a photo of in her gorgeous kitchen. So fresh and California chic. Her runner looked like this Seaview rug I have in Earth color.

Other favorites from Serena & Lily are my Malibu Chandelier in my dining room and my Capiz Scalloped Chandelier pendant in the entry that so many have asked about and set the California look I like so much in the house! Right now they are having their Winter Tent Sale, so it’s a nice time to pick up something for the home with your holiday money. Always a better long term investment over clothes.. but speaking of clothing..

Another wonderful item I added to my closet this year and have worn too many times to admit is my Everlane Cashmere Square Turtleneck. I have the black and I would love the light oatmeal. It’s the perfect modern shape and so well made it still looks fresh after a zillion wearings. Everything at Everlane, a San Francisco based company, is produced ethically. Read more about how they track and monitor every step of a garment’s evolution from the thread to the shipping, to stores, something they call radical transparency.

You can feel good when you shop there and I would rather have one of their beautiful sweaters than multiple lesser made items. Once you have one of their coveted items, you’ll understand why they are so loved. Lucky for us in Northern Cal, they recently opened a store in Stanford Shopping Center.

This Bissell ICONpet Cordless Stick Vacuum was an idea of my husband’s and my first reaction was I already have a Miele Canister I love and I don’t need it. I can now say this vacuum is a brilliant idea. It’s a combo handheld and stick vacuum. I use it many times a day to pick up cat sand, kitchen crumbs and dust bunnies you cannot otherwise see without its powerful light. The light is a real innovation and vacuuming in the evening with this thing is even better than day. You have never seen the true state of your floors until you have a light like this attached to your vacuum. I am using the wood floor attachment so I love it for my new hardwood, which will preserve it even longer. Still, the best part about this vacuum is thew ability to scoot around the house with no cord and do a fast house cleaning on one charge. Ours is mounted on the garage wall and the boys like using the handheld part to clean their cars. It’s life and house changing!

Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection 45 and Primer is the loveliest skincare discovery I have made this year. I was talked into it when I bought the Future Skin Gel Foundation (also excellent), but I think this actually made the biggest difference in my skin appearance – i.e. my pores, vibrance and dark spots- and it’s good SPF is not heavy, but is a daily essential in California! I’m not going to lie, this stuff isn’t cheap. I wish it came in industrial size, but fair warning you will love it and see a difference in your skin.

I am also obsessed with this Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Longwear Concealer. It has a light texture, is easily blended and works not just under the eyes, but all over the face to conceal and brighten without feeling heavy. I love how it seems invisible, but it’s definitely working.

One more in the beauty column, but can’t go unmentioned, is Glossier’s Lash Slick Mascara, which is amazing at making my small, stick straight lashes look lifted and pretty all day without flaking, dark shadows or weighing them down. So many of the new ‘false’ lash formulas are heavy and goopy and make brittle older lashes like mine just flat and clumped. Glossier has perfected this product and nothing else comes as close in my book for wearability and ease of removal too. You can also layer it for more dramatic lashes. I also am crazy for their eye creme called Bubblewrap, which you can buy as a duo with the mascara right now for $34! I love so many of Glossier’s simple and brilliant products.

Something I reach for every day is jeans and the ones I’ve worn more than anything this year and have replaced most of my others, are these Madewell Cali Demi-Boot Jeans in different washes. They aren’t too high waisted, flattering and look cute with heels to sneakers. I love the quality of the denim they use, and my black pair feels like satin on!

I’d love to hear what items made your 2019 favorites list! Please share things that were great finds and that you can’t live without in the comments!

Before we start the new year, I wanted to say It’s been almost a decade since I began blogging and many of you have been here all along and many new friends have popped on by too. I so value your comments, your friendship and your feedback as this blog has evolved! Thank you for all of it and here’s to a new and exciting year and decade! May it be the best ever and I hope to share more new discoveries, travels, cool people and journeys with you all. I have changed and evolved and so have you. You guys inspire me and you are the reason I am still plodding on in my small corner of the world. Keep sharing your thoughts and feedback – many of it coming on my Instagram and some on my Facebook page. Thank you friends!

Happy New Year and decade to you,

Kim

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

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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…

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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!
  4. These Beachside Serving Boards are the perfect size for an expansive holiday cheese board or just cool on the backsplash.
  5. The cute Whale Spreaders are darling for the cheese board or a fun hostess gift with a bottle of wine.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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!
  12. 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!
  13. 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.

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