On this weekend post, San Francisco houses, skincare I am loving, ideas for a dining room refresh and more..
How’s your week been? We finally ended this week with sun and I feel so upbeat and happy!
While it was dreary, I found these yellow pillows on a Homegoods run and added them to my little office to give it some brightness. A little yellow seems to be the thing just now.
I also took my dear dad for an eye surgery this week. He’s 84 and his primary recommended he get Blepharoplasty where they lift excess skin from your eye so you can see better. His insurance covers it as it affects his vision. . He’s a very active person and having his peripheral sight diminished is not great.
Many older folks just get used to it, but did you know any impairment of your vision or hearing can contribute to cognitive decline and even dementia? I just wanted to share as many of us have this hereditary issue or our parents do, and this procedure can help keep vision clearer and in turn, you can stay more active.
I will do it if I need it when the time comes and thank my dad for being a good example of taking care of yourself! He still drives everywhere, cooks a ton and gardens and I am so proud of him. It’s been almost 8 years since my mom passed and it hasn’t been easy for him, but he inspires me so much to stay busy and interested in life!
A little Dining Room refresh
Starting the new year always gets me focusing on what changes I would like to make and I’m so not excited by my dining room. I need a change in there and I think it begins with new chairs..
I fell in love with this Mesa chair and thinking of getting two for the ends at my black dining table and if I like, switch them all out.. They will make it a it more airy than my skirted chairs, which have put in their time, and I will likely sell.
Other ideas on my inspiration board…
Love these two rugs, both on huge sale plus additional now…. The Larkin Rug has warmer tones and would be pretty with these accent pillows. The Glenwood rug I love mixed with the stripe pillow– a little casual with the floral.
I’ve also been eyeing black cabinets for extra dishes, cookbooks and pretty things and the silhouette on this solid wood cabinet with the oak wood interior is beautiful. Of course I had to add two vases. The chambray vase comes in two sizes and is so springy- and the clear and lovely shape of the clear Pilar vase is a classic.
The cabinet is something I can really use and have thought about…Other options are the same cabinet is also in ‘drifted oak‘ below, this iron cabinet with drawers, and this large wood one.
If you are thinking of changing things up, Serena & Lily is having a fantastic sale, with 20-25% off depending what you spend and additional on many items already reduced, so if you had your eye on something, like a chair or rug, ( especially the rugs!) this is a good time to get it.
Skincare and cosmetics I am loving right now..
I’ve been loving this Skinceuticals Redness Neutralizer which was suggested at Blue Mercury and I can’t tell you how good this feels on -in this cold winter it truly helps with my redness.
My Blue Mercury SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer has been excellent and leaves a lovely look on the skin.
The Clarins Total Eye Lift I buy about once every 9 months to a year..My eyes can’t tolerate much else and this always feels so good and makes my eyes look less tired.
I’m crazy for Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Clean Mascara and gave it as a gift to a few friends. Once you try it, you will love it. Makes my fine straight lashes look lush. Dior Lip Addict Glow Balm in Mahogany is all I wear in winter. Love the moisture and color, which looks natural, but gives color that stays.
I was given this lovely Necessarie plant based body wash for Christmas which leaves my skin feeling clean and moist. I also now adore the lotion that has a creamy richness I so want in the winter months.
San Francisco Homes
I had to share this San Francisco home in AD this month.. very different and built for two tech execs and their family… More pics online.
Architect was John Maniscalco and design by The Archers. The gorgeous hand painted tiles are by artist Bruno Grizzo.
A San Francisco Story…
When we walked through San Francisco’s Presidio Heights last week, I came across this amazing home being renovated…On the photos I shared, a friend Linda remarked on the Maybeck Houses there. That intrigued me, so I did a deep dive on Bernard Maybeck, architect of many San Francisco homes and the Palace of Fine Arts. Maybeck was an instructor at UC Berkeley after studying at Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. He was a mentor to Julia Morgan and most of his projects were in San Francisco.
This home we snapped was his most famous SF home, The Roos House, which was a sold in 2018 for 11 million.. It was built in 1909 for the nineteen year old daughter of an Orpheum Theatre partner as a wedding gift. Elizabeth Meyerfield choose Maybeck for his theatrical style, and the architect had free rein while she and Leon Roos, of the Roos clothiers empire, (later Roos-Atkins) took a European honeymoon. How very Downton Abbey!
The home is constructed of redwood and has twenty foot ceilings in the back portion.
At 9,000 sq feet, with little changes over the years, and in the same family until the recent sale, it’s an architectural gem. I couldn’t help fawning over the 2018 real estate photos and wondering what renovations the new owners are making. The home has views over the Presidio and to Marin and the Golden Gate.
If you want to know more about Maybeck’s homes this book looks like a good one. More interesting SF history on this article about the Roos family, immigrants, who who began as clothing suppliers in Virginia City during the Gold Rush and later set up shop in San Francisco and ‘carried the largest inventory of ready-made clothing in the world, employing 70 men, including six tailors’ at the peak of their success..More about the Roos House here and real estate photos here.
Elizabeth Taylor’s wedding gowns
I loved this revisit of Elizabeth’s eight weddings and unique gowns. How gorgeous is this yellow she wore to her first wedding to Richard Burton in 1964? I think I’m yellow obsessed right now.
My grandfather actually attended her first wedding to Conrad Hilton, above. My dad’s father worked in the frozen food industry, and was the head of American sales for Minute Maid when it was first invented in the early 50’s when they lived in Fullerton. He was a friend of Conrad Hilton Sr., who was an investor in the business and was invited! More of Elizabeth’s beautiful gowns on Vogue here.
Yoga With Adriene
I started back on yoga this week with Yoga With Adriene’s 30 Day Start and I think anyone could do it. She begins slowly and with 20 + minute daily videos, you gain some basic skills, strength and flexibility. Even by day three, I can feel a difference.. It’s free and so why not give it a go?
If you missed it, Juliet and I did our first Live of 2023 on Thursday. We chatted about couches, popovers, the Prince Harry book and more and you can still watch it here. We plan on trying to do this each Thursday at 9 am Pacific time, if you want to catch the next one! Thanks everyone who left comments and chimed in!
If you missed last weekend’s post I shared a California spin on the chocolate chip cookie, day trip to SF’s Laurel Village and Presidio Heights, the winter coat you may be missing and more..
Have a good weekend and I hope you enjoy some sunshine!
Kim
Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
PINECONES AND ACORNS
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