#californiahomestyle

A Girlfriend’s Lunch-The Bloggers are Coming!

November 19, 2019 By kimwheeler 14 Comments

Last week I hosted my first real party or meal here since moving back. I don’t know why it took me so long. I had that, ‘I still haven’t gotten to..’ feeling about just about everything here, but heck it was time, especially since I’ve been the guest of these sweet friends and it was my turn.

I told my friends and family last week I was busy getting ready as, ‘The bloggers are coming for lunch,’ and everyone was, oh totally get it, and good luck. LOL! They knew that my blog buddies would probably take pics and share and there was a little bit more expectation than usual.

Mary Ann, who writes Classic Casual Home on the left, came from San Francisco, where I wrote about lunch at her gorgeous apartment, Cindy, who writes Rough Luxe Lifestyle center, came from Carmel Valley, and Elizabeth, who pens The Vintage Contessa (also goes by Contessa), came from Orinda, all long drives of over and hour! I called this photo The Three Graces, as they are all the most lovely, kind and sweet friends.

I spent the early part of last week, freaking out, tidying, and probably unnecessary things like sweeping the porch and cleaning out the toaster (oh brother), and fretting over what to serve for lunch. I finally settled on a favorite recipe from my friend E, who entertains easily and often (something I aspire to), and a fall salad I make all the time. Those two dishes plus a cheese, fruit and cracker board, and cookies from a French bakery in town, made it simple.

I was overthinking it way too much, focusing on what everyone else does, and trying to reinvent the wheel of lunches. GAH! Maybe the best thing is fall back on what you can already do well, and for me that is salads and appetizer boards. Not stellar, but this really works, especially with a group of women!

When hosting a gathering, it’s easy to get hung up on the details. I come from a mom, bless her heart, who was a perfectionist and had very high standards, so much so that she rarely, if ever entertained because she wanted things, ‘just so’. That mindset gets you nowhere because it prevents you from having a lot of fun. It gets you focusing on the floor that needs refinishing, your salad forks that are worn out and whether your glasses match, and other dumb stuff.

You can see here I didn’t have matching glasses- had to use purple and blue. I used some tortoise looking tumblers for flowers. I am not a good floral person, but bought these mums at Bunches, and added olive tree clippings from the yard. Trader Joes has these great autumn colored mums also.

The runner from Crate & Barrel was something I added to brighten up my black steel table. That is also where I bought my gold flatware, pretty inexpensive, which I thought would be useful for Thanksgiving too. The black plates are on sale right now at Pier 1, and the little tree tags are from Crate & Barrel also -on sale now for $2! I love the cork with sparkle on the edges. This would be cute for a Christmas lunch. I was kind of mixing my seasons here.

If you can think about enjoying your friends and making yummy food, you have all the elements you need. I really tried to do that and remember that even if I didn’t have any pictures on my walls, a mirror in the bath, matching wine glasses, all my friends would think of is how nice it was to be at someone else’s home and love catching up. Try and think about that instead of making things perfect.

Most people who like to entertain have list of dishes that work they can rely on without stress. With that in mind, here are the simple things I served that you might try or some variation of them and plan a gathering. The best way also seems to be if you designate a particular day- say like every other Friday to host people, and do it. The more you entertain, the more you’ll be at ease and enjoy it.

Harvest Salad

1 large box of pre-washed mixed greens

1 persimmon

1/2 red onion cut in half rings

1-2 red and green pears cut in long slivers

1 Honeycrisp Apple cut in small cubes

1 bag of Trader Joes’ Candied Pecans

1/2 package of herbed goat cheese

Toss ingredients with dressing and then add small dabs of the goat cheese and lightly toss again.

For dressing combine 2 parts olive oil, 1 part apple cider vinegar, add about a tablespoon of maple syrup and a tablespoon of dijon mustard, plus flaky Maldon sea salt. Whisk together and adjust to your taste. Sometimes I’ll add a squeeze of lime or clementine to this dressing. This is a basic and you can add or change the fruit according to season. It’s also great with pomegranate seeds and plain walnuts toasted.

Next to the salad I added a bowl of two shredded rotisserie chickens, so people can add some protein to their meal if they wish, or not. Elizabeth is gluten free so I knew she couldn’t eat my other dish, the orzo, so I was hoping adding the protein would make it more of a meal for her.

Orzo With Roast Vegetables

This recipe from my friend E is adapted from the Barefoot Contessa recipe. I changed it up a bit and added asparagus, and squash, olives and toasted almonds and removed the eggplant, and pine nuts.

1 lb box of Orzo

1 red onion cut into 1 inch diced

2-3 garlic cloves diced

1 asparagus bunch cut into 2 inch pieces

1-2 orange, yellow or red bell peppers cut into 1 inch diced

1 yellow squash cut into 2 inch chunks

1/3 cup olive oil

juice of 2 lemons

3/4 lb feta , 1/2 inch diced

toasted sliced almonds

1 cup pitted Kalamata and Castelvetrano olives mixed

Toss the veggies with 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1 t. of salt, 1/2 t of pepper and spread on baking sheet. Roast for 40 minutes at 425, turning once at about half way through.

Meanwhile boil the orzo, drain and set aside. When done add the roasted veg and all the pan juices and browned bits to the orzo. Add lemon juice and olive oil, salt and paper to taste, toss and let sit until room temp. Before serving add feta and olives, and almonds. This tastes even better if made the day prior.

Below, my tray of veggies before roasting..

The cheese and fruit board was a made of brie, goat and manchego cheeses with pears, figs, apples, an assortment of crackers, including some gluten free ones, dark chocolate, and walnuts and pecans. I love my new cheese board, which I also got at Crate & Barrel that is part marble and wood. I needed something larger and it’s the perfect size.

I had bottle of still and sparkling water, and wine on hand. Cindy brought a lovely Rose we enjoyed.

I also made something I call Audrey Palmer. I named this after my friend Audrey who always loves them. This is a house specialty and like an Arnold Palmer is half tea, half lemonade, but you use sparkling lemonade, so it makes it a bit more fun and festive. That day I used the San Pelligrino Lemon Mint and Tejava. Pour it all into a pitcher and add lots of ice.

I had the front patio door open. It was a beautiful fall day!

We loved Elizabeth’s bag and especially her pom poms!

I hated to see them leave. Like any fun time, the afternoon went by in a flash and everyone had to get on the road before traffic…

I hope this gives you a little motivation to have friends over. I’m no great cook or entertainer, but now that I’ve done this, each time is easier and I can use the same menu with some variations and changes.

Thank you Cindy, Elizabeth and Mary Ann for letting me share this and your photos too. I feel so lucky to call you ladies my friends!

What’s your tried and true recipes for entertaining? Do you have a strategy for entertaining without fuss? Love to hear any tips you can pass on!

Kim

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My New Serena & Lily Rug

November 9, 2019 By kimwheeler 1 Comment

It’s that time of year when many of us are motivated to spruce up the house for guests with the upcoming holidays and a new rug is one of the easiest ways to do that. I just added a Serena & Lily rug to my dining room and I think it makes the space.

This is my new Stella Rug, which I am thrilled about. I love the tones and its graphic design for my house. It just pulled everything together- the neutrals and the greys in here, and I like the modern look. I also love the New Zealand wool it’s made of, which is so soft underfoot.

This Stella rug is hand-tufted so it has an artisan feel as each one is slightly different. It’s also Oeko-Tex certified which means it’s free of harmful chemicals. I love that. It also comes in a gorgeous navy.

This is the one thing I needed to cozy up the open space together and make the dining room feel more elegant. I’m still in love with my Malibu Chandelier! I think that is the best purchase I made for the remodel as it sets the vibe for the house with it’s California look.

Well the cats certainly love the rug.. Not sure if I’m thrilled about that! Up close you can see, the rug is so lovely. It has small dots in a lighter cream, and another kind of weave in the zig-zags. Photos don’t do it justice. It’s literally the nicest rug I’ve ever owned.

A larger shot of the whole space. The Balboa Counter Stools have been great and are wearing beautifully, though in constant use! You can see I still have bare walls.. I am working on that. About one thing a week is getting done..

I recently added this Carson Bench I had my eye on. It fit perfectly in our entry space. I am crazy about the weaving on this bench. Everyone stops here to put their shoes on so it’s been most convenient as well as cute!

I still need to figure the wall space. I hope to wallpaper this entry area, and possibly add a large round mirror above the bench.

The Winter Beach Pillow is nice here. Both have that natural vibe.

My Seaview Runner is still looking spiffy and if you get one thing from the rug sale- this is such a good value with it’s stain and water resistance.

Other chic rugs to take a peek at during this sale ..

This Jute Border Rug..really affordable and durable for a family room area or an entry, or I was thinking it could be cute in one of the boy’s bedrooms. It also comes in an ivory stripe and a denim.

The Casco Wool Rug is heathered and would be a nice option for a family space as it won’t show wear as much. I love this blue, but there is also a beautiful fog color.

The Lakeview Rug is also cool..

The Ryder denim & wool rug is another I’ve had my eye on for a bedroom or a runner. .. I love it in this dining space on the Serena & Lily site.

All of Serena & Lily’s beautiful rug collection can be found here. I can tell you anything you buy from them is exceptional quality. I’ve been so happy to share about this Northern California company and be a partner in design with them.

P.S. I just noticed they added a lot of pretty new pieces to their site that I am drooling over like this Wooster Console..

And this Edgewater Lounge Chair! OMG I can think of so many places this would look cool..

I hope you find just the thing for your own space. Anything you buy through links on my posts help support this blog. Thank you so much!

Kim

Before & After -My Laundry/Mudroom Renovation

October 18, 2019 By kimwheeler 15 Comments

Hope you all had a good week. They sure go fast don’t they? I am loving the cool weather this morning and the leaves on our pistache trees on our street just started to turn brilliant pink and red hues. It makes me think I may be able to wear a sweater this weekend! I finally am getting around to sharing some photos of other parts of the house and one of my favorites is this space, the laundry/mudroom.

I feel lucky to love have this space and it was something I really loved about this home when we first bought the house 10 years ago.

Before-Back then, you came in from the garage and the washer dryer were to the right and a door to the kitchen was after it. To the left, there was a counter and a bank of shelving and cabinets.

Beyond that was a small bath I turned into a pool bath by adding a door. It’s been ten years ago almost exactly when I pulled up the green linoleum and added travertine to this space, seen below in a view from the old kitchen..

Before- we used this almost like butler’s pantry, but it also held the laundry and served as our mudroom when coming in from the garage.

Now this space is so much more functional – it’s laundry, an entry, storage and holds the cat box too!

Before- you can see where I added hooks to a broom space to the original area to make it function as a mudroom/entry from the garage, but it was tight.

Now-you can see below in the new space, we have a place to put on your shoes and drop your things.

We also added a skylight which makes me so happy when I’m in here doing laundry!

That pool bath was part of a weird addition to the house along with the original kitchen that had an old sloped ceiling going off the back. I’ll share that on another post when it’s all done.

You can see the slope here in this old kitchen photo. This carried along to the pool bath which is to the left here…

We fixed that in the remodel, raised the ceiling and roof height, which looks so much better and so it was natural to rethink this space too. The kitchen was moved to the center of the house, no longer in this space. This area is now a transitional space we are calling the media room..more on that too soon.

Now when you enter from the garage you can turn right to the rest of the house, or straight into this laundry/mud area and onto the pool bath and out to the pool.

The toilet area is separated by a pocket door with opaque glass. The window in here has obscured glass and the new French door has a pull-up blind attached to the bottom of the door. All of the windows and doors in the house are by Marvin.

My washer/dryer are Electrolux and I LOVE them. I bought them a year before the reno and had them stored during the move. I couldn’t wait to get back and use them again!

I decided to take out the travertine, which had taken a beating over the last 10 years, and go with fun tile. This tile was fairly inexpensive and I really like the bold statement in this small space. This cost around $400 and if it wears out or looks shabby on 10 years, I can change it and not feel too badly.

When we redid this space, I wanted a bench for sitting down and drawers for shoes and hooks for backpacks, etc. I also wanted a laundry drop, a folding and hanging space, deeper drawers and just one set of upper cabinets. This is where I keep lightbulbs, vacuum bags, paper products, batteries and so much. My holiday decor fits in here too.

The cabinet makers helped me make a few fun design choices like wood for the bench and floating shelves (also have one above the machines), and a shiplap sort of back for the bench area.

The cabinet color is Benjamin Moore Calm and walls are Benjamin Moore Oxford White. The plan is to add a wallpaper on the wall to the left of the bench which is long. I have to find something that will work with the tile.

The wood here is European Oak with a light wash. The counter top is a man-made quartz called Vadara and the color I have is Belezza. One slab of this Vadara material was enough for the boy’s bath, this laundry area and also the pool bath counter (coming soon.) So far I’ve been loving it’s durability.

I’m so happy they added a shelf above the hanging rod. I have some of my vintage California books up there. The fern print was a Homegoods find and the pillow on my bench is the Winter Beach Pillow from Serena & Lily, and so is the cute teak step stool.

I still need to add 3 hooks in the bench area for bags and jackets. The hardware is all from Top Knobs brand which made the Essex Knobs and Square Pulls. I purchased most of my hardware at Belmont Hardware in Cupertino or you can get it online.

I still have to add a cozy rug for the cooler months and a few other things, but I am getting close to down with this space. Thanks for letting me share with you all.

Have a beautiful weekend !

Kim

My New Pillows and Things to Love from Serena & Lily’s Friends & Family Sale

October 2, 2019 By kimwheeler 6 Comments

I know so many of you have asked more about Serena & Lily since I wrote my post about my new kitchen. I’m so glad you all also love their things! Serena & Lily is known for their high quality bedding and specially made lighting, furniture and unique home accents. They exude California coastal style and now you have a chance to get some of that California chic at a discount. Beginning today, October 2- 14, they are having their Friends & Family Sale with 20% off nearly everything if you use code BEOURGUEST at checkout.

This is a great time to get a few new items to refresh the house for the upcoming holiday season. I just added a new mix of Serena & Lily pillows and a beautiful alpaca throw to my white couch. In keeping with the neutrals in the house, I chose greys and beiges, but picked pillows with some texture and patterns. I have never had such beautifully made pillows before. Each one is like a little work of art, so lovely.

The tassels, fringe and woven bits are gorgeous. I now see the difference between high quality pillows like these and what you can find for $20. These lovelies give my white couch and the whole room a bit more luxe feel and upgraded look!

I’m having fun deciding how to best arrange my pillowscape! I might later use the white pillows in the bedroom and keep the grey tones on the couch. They all work well with the mist color of my new Balboa Counter Stools.

I brought the grey wool Amalie pillow out by the pool and used my pretty new Avery Alpaca throw to keep an early evening chill off. It’s made of baby alpaca, which is warmer than other wools and softer than cashmere. You have choices with this throw as one side has windowpane checks and the other a border stripe. I’ve been taking it with me all over the house since it turned cool in the evenings and mornings. I may make it my personal blankie and I don’t want to share!

Below are some of my favorites from the Serena & Lily sale and a few I have on my wish list..

Left to right and top to bottom:

The Spinnaker Tray is on the center of my island right now. It’s heavy ceramic and also comes in a rich navy blue.
My Avery Alpaca Throw as I talked about above.
The Shore Bench I love and I’m considering for my new entry.
Granada Wallpaper is a possibility for my bedroom. That’s my next project and I love all the Serena & Lily wallpapers!
The Capiz Scalloped Chandelier in my entry is my other favorite light I bought for the new house. Don’t forget my Malibu Chandelier from my dining room.
The Avalis Pillowcover is super cute with it’s fringe and denim color.
I love the Blake Raffia Nightstand . This would really freshen up the look of any bedroom.
The South Shore Rug, like the Seaview Rug in my kitchen is super durable and easy to care for. The runner size is great for hallways and kitchens.
The Pinecrest Sidetable with its curved shape and brass accents is also in the running for my bedroom nightstand.
This Soho Table Lamp would be my first choice for bedside lights.
Finally, the Winter Beach Pillow Cover is just what I needed to give my sectional that Boho California feel and look. The grey version is pretty too.

I hope you find something to love here. This is a good opportunity to try Serena & Lily’s beautiful California style products during the sale. Don’t forget to use code BEOURGUEST when checking out to get the 20% off. Exclusions apply to final sale, art, gift certificates and bikes.

This post was a collaboration with Serena & Lily. Opinions, photos and writing are my own and some links may generate commission which helps support this blog. Thank you!

Kim

Monday Musings – My New Yard, Pumpkins and Dining Room

September 30, 2019 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

How was your weekend? We got a little hint of the chill of fall and it was so nice. I even bought a cozy dark green sweater and got my boots out of the back of the closet! Thanks everyone for the lovely comments about the new kitchen. We are STILL wrapping it up here. Got both the back and the front yards finished this week and the garage all redone- cabinets and an epoxy floor. More faucets and electrical that were backordered going in this week…Then possibly final inspection. Whew…I just want to be done.

My new house numbers are up. My builder Mike McCloud, put them in for me Friday and they are Neutra Modern House Numbers. I first had some others bought locally and Mike said, no look for something extends out of the house a bit and is heavier. I did so and these are hugely nicer than anything else I have seen. They come with very specific instructions on how to space them. I went with uneven spacing, what do you think? The four is slightly farther out than the rest which they recommend.

I love that it’s October- well almost, so bring on the pumpkins! My lovely landscape designer Carla Olivet brought me our first pumpkin of the season. The orange contrasts nicely with the blue of the new door. Thank you Carla!

Right now our local flower inspiration spot, Bunches has the most gorgeous assortment of pumpkins. I like to buy one or two special ones to keep on my table until Thanksgiving. Take a stroll through there if you want inspiration.

I love having a black table at Halloween as pumpkins look great on it. My Malibu Chandelier from Serena & Lily is really my style- with the beads and the woven elements and probably my most favorite thing I chose for the house. I think it makes the dining room with the wood and mirrored bar. Their chandeliers are very modern and fun while still giving a bit of elegance. More beautiful Serena & Lily pillows I choose on another post later this week..

What do you think of my smoky mirrored backsplash? If you remember, from previous posts, I choose this as kind of an homage to my parent’s 1970’s house. Both Max’s parents and mine, and probably yours, had a wall of these smoky mirror tiles when we were growing up. When I saw this in a tile form, I thought it would be a great light reflector for the bar with all the glass and give it that 70’s in California feel.

My friend Ani surprised me with these beautiful Waterfall Champagne Coupes from Anthro as a housewarming present. I had coupes on the brain after loving them on my London trip! I can’t wait to have some friends over and have bubbles!

I was slightly concerned this mirrored tile might be too busy, but it turned out better than expected. The tile is called Yesterday’s Glass and it’s by Jeffery Court. If you are in the Bay Area I got it at Tile Fantastic.

Speaking of Carla, she helped me realize my dream of a French Mediterranean type of landscape with a combo of boxwoods, olives, cypresses, and small bushes that attract bees and hummers. I LOVE the DG or decomposed granite that was added and pressed on top. They have this all over France and I always knew I wanted it, though you see it less here in California.

We used two larger olive trees and added three new large cypress to match my neighbor’s tall ones and fill in a spot where we took out an ancient juniper I hated. Most of the other plants grow into small bushes and are low maintenance like lavender, Wheeler’s Dwarf (a namesake plant!), Meerlo lavender, lomandra, westringia, and Little Ollies with some agaves in front of the walls. Now we just have to wait for all these babies to fill in and spread out over the fall and winter. It looks like there is not enough, but they need room to grow and take off. I want this not to be crowded when that happens. We tried to go with plants in groups of threes and just a few varietals repeated so the yard wouldn’t look busy. Hoping it will someday grow into something like this…

I cannot say enough about the guys who spent two weeks here transforming my derelict front yard back to life.. The Garden Group is a small local business run by a talented guy Cristobal Torres. Cris comes every day and checks everything with his hard working team and gives ideas along the way about lighting, plants and suggestions about what might look good and even what you might get rid of..

I had years of backyard clutter. You know how it just adds up after a while? Cris and Carla said, ‘Kim maybe it’s time to say goodbye to some of it.’ You just don’t notice it after being in a space so long. Since this house is now on the more modern side and I’m starting fresh, I agreed. I did the Marie Kondo thing and said thank you to the many terra-cotta pots of geraniums, the multiple teak and wrought iron benches that came with the house, the wonky garden ornaments, (okay I kept a stone turtle from my dad), and more. Today I am the owner of modern pots! Aren’t these lovely? Got them at Pottery Planet in Los Gatos. I don’t even know who I am anymore. Change is feeling good! I have to thank my friend Jen for the inspiration as she’s done this in her yard and it’s so nice.

I’m kinda loving them! Still deciding on what to have planted in them.

This is view to the back. The whole expanse above the pool was redone with creeping fig along back which should grow to cover the new fence that went in last fall plus more plants like in front and some mini cypress called Tiny Towers for height. You can see we raised the fence on the left and expanded the upper patio so more space up there could be utilized for hanging out. As we have a pool that wraps around the yard with a lap lane, space is at a premium back here. I’m eventually moving these wicker lounges to the upper part and want get a cool sectional or sofa out here. I hope the citrus and creeping fig to cover the fence and make a tall green wall.- Stay tuned. It’s a work in progress. Lights are going back here and a few in the front on the path and my olive trees.

One thing we really are loving is these modern Matthis outdoor lights. Not sure if I mentioned these before, but they give the nicest pool of light. Soft, but enough to light the area without being invasive. They are dark sky compliant which I wrote a post about, and is what you want in outdoor lights for your health and for the aesthetic reasons too..

They just look so good -and don’t shine into your neighbor’s house and give a lovely atmosphere. I have 6 in my back because of city regulations by doors and they give the perfect amount of light.

By the way, I’m going to list all the paint colors, materials and more about the baths, master bedroom and family room in an upcoming post, so thanks for asking. The London Trip Part 2 is still in the pipeline and other good things this week- specifically some more pretty things I choose from Serena & Lily that I can’t wait to show you.

Well I better get out of my pajamas..more plumbers are on the way! Hope you are enjoying the change in weather and have a good week!

Kim

P.S. Special shout out to sweet Lisa, a darling reader who lives in Tahoe and recognized me shopping at the The Rack last week. Lisa did you guys get snow up there already? I saw some beautiful photos of Lake Tahoe this weekend and it looked magical. xo

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

Summer Things

June 26, 2019 By kimwheeler 10 Comments

Hello friends. How is your summer going? I hope you are getting out to savor a few of those quintessential things I am like evening bike rides and ice cream bars (way too many!) I just wanted to check in for a minute and give you a few updates… Epic insanity here right now trying to move back to our house in about a week and a half. I told my husband the other night it was the first time I thought I may actually have a break-down. I realized I four lights that have to be returned didn’t work and need to be replaced and about 100+ knobs were still to be chosen for the house! Not to mention a whole host of other things I haven’t even gotten to yet. I was feeling it.

Then shockingly yesterday I got the knobs chosen in a miracle one hour with a wonderfully helpful gal from Belmont Hardware in Cupertino. I couldn’t believe it. I was so relieved I could have cried as I am naturally a bit indecisive and the choices for cabinet hardware are infinite and we had eight spaces that needed knobs. Crazy right? I was so happy and then a friend who just finished a renovation contacted me to ask if I’d like to purchase two of her bathroom lights she didn’t use. They were my style and adorable. Unbelievable. So things were looking up by time I went to bed yesterday! On that note, I felt I could take a few minutes to blog about things I’ve been loving for summer. I’m able to breathe a little today.

In the process of shopping for the renovation I’ve been finding all kinds of cool things and I am in love with some of the vintage photos on One King’s Lane. This print by Santa Forlano, from a 1962 Glamour magazine is so lovely- the colors, the tree- it all feels like the tones in my house too. I am thinking this would be lovely somewhere..Not sure exactly, maybe in my all white bath or the bedroom?

This Slim Aarons print of women at a pool in Athens also is cool. I’d love this above a tub or in the pool bathroom. The vintage swimming cap reminds me of my grandmother who had a whole collection of these when we were kids and how cute are the bathing suits and sundresses here with Athens in the backdrop? Wish I could find such a swimsuit now!

This photo though seems more personal to me – also Slim Aarons titled Lake Tahoe couple. It reminds me of my parents who were both huge swimmers- my mom a water ballet ( synchro) swimmer and my dad, a water polo player. Looks like this was taken at the iconic CalNeva lodge which straddles the California Nevada border and was a glam hangout for the rat pack types in the 60s. We spent many a day by the pool as kids at home and we often had dragged the puffy chaise pads like this to the pool edge. I may have to get this one. It also makes me wonder if I could find our own vintage photos and do something like this though the likelihood of blowing one up successfully are probably slight given the quality and whereabouts of negatives…

While we are on pools, I collect pool themed books. Our house in wrapped by a pool so I decided to embrace it. I started accidentally one day at my local vintage bookshop I came across a rare copy of Kelly Kline’s Pools book for a song and then found a very old Slim Aaron’s book. That got me going and now I grab them when I see ones I like. I plan to have a stack on my coffee table when I move back. A new pool book just came on my radar..

Splash by Annie Kelly and her photographer husband looks gorgeous. I die just looking at this cover pool! It has photos by pool type and inspiration and has a few celebrity pools too.

In that summer state of mind, want to feel like French girl on your next trip to Whole Foods? Well then you need a proper market tote like they use in Provence and all over the Cote D’Azur for shopping trips and errands. This little gem showed above, popped up on an Amazon search for something else and I love it. I almost bought the exact one on last year in Antibes, but the challenge was getting it back with all the other stuff I crammed in the overhead bin. I didn’t want it ruined so I held off. Then here it is on Amazon and able to come in like a day!! Even if you use it for beach trips, or just to hang on a simple hook by the door you have instant summer chic.

I also love striped summer throws for sofas, across tables and on the ends of beds. When I see one I like I grab it and now have big basket full of these for the cool evenings here in Northern Cal. This striped one is cute, also Amazon. I’m thinking of getting a few for the boy’s beds and just having their sheets and this for summer.

By the way have you all gotten in to Turkish towels yet? They are so much better than the usual beach or bath towel as they dry crazy fast, look super cute too. I bought a bundle of these at Homegoods at the beginning of the summer as I plan to replace all the heavy pool towels with these. They can just get hung up and dry in a flash. No more big loads of beach towels – so much greener and I don’t need to use the dryer. In fact they are so cute I am thinking of getting everyone these for the bathrooms now too. They are also good for kids who need to take a towel to camp or to the beach. They roll up to nothing.

This brand is Oeko certified and has the gamut of colors! Check them out. Do not underestimate how cute these look hung on hooks. They add that summer something to a bath or the yard.

Speaking of summer chic, a photo I took two years summers ago in Sorrento came up online. How dreamy is this square with wicker baskets, blue glass bottles and the cutest gal with with her wayfarers and scarf tied bun enjoying a paperback? I look at this and see La Dolce Vita right there. A reminder to make time each day for more of those naps, books in sun-dappled corners and luxuriating in all the good of summer while we are in it.

That’s it for now kids. Hopefully I’ll be back soon with more if I survive the next two weeks!

Kim

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Home Update- Mirrors in the Bath

June 4, 2019 By kimwheeler 6 Comments

Just a fast post here to say hello and touch on my latest obsession, mirrors! I’ve had to choose them all for the baths, kind of the last thing for those rooms, but obviously important.

I saw this cute combo of a full-length mirror fronted by a table at my local Harvest Home in Los Gatos and I am thinking that is a cool idea for the entry? My version would be a bit less rustic. Love this mirror though which has blue tones…

Most urgent right now though is the baths. I have to get that all squared away and given the wall height and width, it has been a challenge to make them work with the lighting. Mine have to be mounted above the mirrors as I have a window I really wanted to keep at the center of the vanity. The boy’s bathroom has some restrictions too so they have pendants that hang.

I need two matching mirrors for each bath.There are so many places I looked and finally found what I think I want at CB2.

Loving this CB2 mirror with its mix of acrylic and a hint of gold for the master bath and I think it is modern yet feminine, no?

For the guy’s bathroom I cannot decide between this rectangular mirror which is kind of fun, or the clean look of this simple square version. I could opt for brass or black and love the wider shape. I already have black fixtures in there and a black framed window so maybe the brass?

The lights for the boy’s bath hang from the ceiling and will be in front of the mirrors. I chose these from RH as they have brass tones and black. I needed to add something else in for an accent with all this black. I hope it all works.

I also was digging this shield mirror for them- a cool shape and different. I think CB2 has a lot of choices right now plus reviews are good and prices seem reasonable too.

This oblong version was also an option- again in three finishes, a rose gold, black and silver.

Remember this inspiration pic for pool bath/powder room? I am having a version of this built which I am still waiting on. I am excited to have a spot to roll all the pool towels under. The family who is making all my cabinets has been exceeding expectations so far. All the pieces have been so beautiful. I will do another post on the cabinets. Above this vanity will be the watery blue tile I choose- it being a pool bath. I am thinking a round mirror would work in front of that? CB2 has a few of those too..

My favorite of those is this one right now. It comes in the requisite metals so there are options. A wood trim would be nice too though. Lamps’ Plus has a good one in wood. The faucet for this bathroom comes out of the wall and I choose this darker brass/gold.

This is the only place I went with the (possibly trendy) gold fixtures. To me the gold tone will be a good compliment to the wood and the blue tile wall. The tile on the floor is a geometric tan/off white and flows through the bath and the laundry from the garage entry to the pool door.

I had to change that tile just a few weeks ago. The original tile I posted about (the geo grey and white above), was going to cost $10,000 for a laundry room/pool bath and that was dumb. I don’t know how I missed the cost. I found one I love just as much for $400! The blue tile shown in this photo is the back wall in this bath and has a bit of slight shimmer that you can see in some angles.

Thinking something like these hanging lights might be cool in that pool bath. Both of those are from Shades of Light. That’s my next project and hardware for the drawers!

I have so much I’ve been wanting to share and no time to write. Next up a bit about wallpapers, paint colors, drawer hardware, travel and some good books..Maybe I can finally find the time as the house stuff is wrapping up. Move in date is July 6! Hoping you are all enjoying the start of summer.

Have a great week guys!

Kim

Lunch at a Beautiful San Francisco Apartment

May 8, 2019 By kimwheeler 15 Comments

Well another week flew by without being able to sit down and blog about so much that is on my radar.. I especially wanted to get this one out about my lovely lunch before it becomes a month ago..

I had to share with you all some photos from the gorgeous San Francisco apartment of my sweet friend Mary Ann Pickett. Mary Ann is one of those graceful and chic women you want to be like someday, when you’ve got your stuff together.. She is an interior designer who has been published in magazines and writes a great blog- Classic Casual Home. An empty nester, Mary Ann has raised two kids and right now lives in the a beautiful 1920’s San Francisco apartment with her husband and darling Boston Terrier. I love this selfie we all took in her foyer.

This home has the most charming details and panoramic views…

At the lunch she hosted for a few of us blog gals a week or so ago, we got to get a peek into her world and to meet her cute dog Chief, who we all fell in love with and has his own Instagram!

Mary Ann in her cool kitchen. Don’t you love that floor? Look at her view..

We came from all over- my pal Annie of Most Lovely Things blog the farthest -all the way from Connecticut ( I was so excited to finally meet her), and Cindy of Rough Luxe Lifestyle from the Carmel area and Elizabeth of Vintage Contessa from Orinda.

From Mary Ann’s home you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and little cable cars go up and down the street! If there is a spot to live in SF this is it at the top of a hill in a wonderful neighborhood. You can walk to everything and of course it’s gorgeous inside too as she has beautiful taste and every room is a jewel box. She has lived all over because of her husband’s work and has done stints in Paris, Chicago, and Florida, just to name a few and still maintains her home in Newport Beach where she is from- and she went to Santa Clara University. Her home reflects her travels and is a pretty that has that California casual feel her blog exemplifies! Look at this view from her dining room…You can see Alcatraz and little ships and boats floating by.

The living area has that view and another towards the Bay Bridge..San Francisco Bay on all sides here people!!

Love the styling of the shelves with a mix of books and treasures from her travels.

How great is her guest room with hooks for guests that Annie was using? So cute and clever.

The hanging lamp and blues here with seascape paintings..so perfect for a SF home by the Bay. Who wouldn’t want to be a guest? Her master was also dreamy and if you check out the other ladies’ blogs, especially Annie and Cindy’s there are more photos, more details, much better than mine.

Mary Ann had the table set with some purple flowers that were from the flower market. Annie below, helped and she matched them herself in a cute duster coat Contessa brought that fit her tall slim frame so perfectly! Annie is as kind in person as she is on her blog and I wish we had more time together.

The yummy lunch was a Mexican Lasagna and a great salad. All the recipes are on this link to Mary Ann’s blog today! Annie hiked a few miles to North Beach, San Francisco’s Italian Area and picked up some addicting Italian cookies for us for dessert !

We all went home with a brown sugar face and body scrub Mary Ann made herself. What a treat. It’s so rare to have friends for lunch and I made a note to try and do this. It’s much more special than a restaurant and memorable.

All these women are all uniquely talented, kind and supportive and I feel fortunate to be friends. I would have never met then if we weren’t all blogging. One really nice benefit of doing this. We ran out of time as you always do when you are having a ball and vowed to plan more time to get together.. Hopefully next time at my house when it’s done.

Go check out all of their blogs – links at the beginning, for more on her beautiful home and the lunch details. Especially visit Mary Ann’s own blog to see her style and the way she lives the San Francisco gal life which makes me want to move there too and one day be like her!

Have a lovely week and plan a lunch for your girlfriends!

Thanks to Mary Ann for letting me share her home here!

Kim

May House Update

May 1, 2019 By kimwheeler 26 Comments

I can’t believe it’s May already.. This year is flying by. We have two months until we move into our home and it seems like a ton to still get done. The past weeks have been so busy. In the midst of everything my beloved wisteria had the best bloom in years.. Thank you California rain!

As luck would have it, that was the week the painters came to paint the eaves black to match the new black roof and gutters, which I am loving. They very kindly pulled the wisteria off and hung it in a large wrap. Can you believe it? They put it back after no harm done. I was so happy as this vine is 40-50 years old and I am trying my best to preserve it with all this work being done!

I am mostly finished with choices for-tile, cabinets, lights, floors and I am so glad. My head is swirling all the time with this stuff. My days go like this- call the closet person, get back to the cement guy, meet the garage door people, check with the tile store, view the floor sample, get back to the cabinet guys, order those lamps, return the ones that didn’t work, think about bath mirrors…and so on!! I would be lying if I didn’t say I’ve had some anxiety.

There are SO many building choices and websites. You can pull a whole home together on something like Build.com and Restoration Hardware. I am one of those people who may do better with less choice. I love a LOT of things and styles. The anxiety comes from worrying about whether I’ve made the right choice and if it will all look good pulled together..Luckily now a lot of design is changing and there really is no ‘perfect’ look -just your own. I keep reminding myself that, and that I am going for my own unique home, but still I stress.

So look guys…this is the interior..Fireplaces and walls gone, drywall almost all up. This is the front view out. I love the large French doors to the little patio we are building. I plan to put my dining table in front of these doors.

This is the back of the house looking toward the new fold away La Cantina doors and our fireplace. Window seats will be on either side and to the left is the kitchen.

My biggest challenge with this house has been sticking to my look and style for this home. Not everything has to match, but I would like it to flow. I love when a home has a thread of continuity about it and the rooms feel connected in some way. This exterior of the house will be white with black details, wood floors and cabinetry, light stone accents, white walls and aqua blue in a few places. The house has no trim or moulding on the upper walls or windows and has contemporary feel inside.

This is the front right now. You can see the new path I tried to model after an offset path from my grandparent’s 1960’s house and the new patio to the left.

The front entrance has a portico that will have a little bench on one side for packages. The door will be glass and the sidelights also.

This is the back and you can see the new dark roof and gutters. This will be all stuccoed and painted white. Deciding on that color is next- hopefully something not stark.

Here is what is all over my house..tiles and cabinetry and flooring. I think you can see the look I’m going for here- whites, light oak, and stones.

This is the fireplace material below. I love this Italian tile and I think it will look modern, yet still natural. I cannot believe the gorgeous stone looking tiles that are coming from Italy. This is supposed to be like onyx and has about 400 different variations so using it looks just like the real stone for a lot less.

These two are the flooring for the mudroom/laundry/pool bath and the beautiful blue tile is the background for the wall in the pool bath part. I wanted something fun as the pool is just outside the door and it’s mostly used by swimmers. This tile has the slightest shimmer and is like the sun on the water. I love it!

I used this image for inspiration for that pool bath and I am sorry I have lost the source. I am having a vanity built like this with two floating shelves where I can wedge pool towels between. I like the modern stacking style of tiles and the wall mounted faucet too.

I am also excited for the wet bar which I decided to use something called Yesterday’s Glass from Jeffery Court on the backsplash. It’s like those 1970’s mirrored tiles that had that smoky look that my parents and Max’s both had. I hope this will be a little glam and reflect light. The upper shelves are floating and the lowers are light wood. I still have to figure the hardware, but there is a round hammered nickel sink and a dark pewter toned faucet.

This was one inspiration for the bar found on Instagram.

I wasn’t sure what kind of garage door to go with. I like the glass ones, but they seem more modern than my house is. I did not like the metal ones many garage door companies have. I like a very clean and streamlined look and a few neighbors have that. Turns out my neighbor Vivian designed her own and the other neighbors like it so much they also used her design.. Below is Vivian’s house and the look I want, but in black. Isn’t it modern and sharp? I think it’s perfect for my transitional style.

Then there is the driveway and I love this look below and am trying to recreate something similar, but offset like my walkway and with stones between..

I have always known I wanted a glass front door for the light. This is where I am conflicted -do I go very modern like the photo below or classic like the next photo? Max worries about the openness to the front, but you can always add a curtain that pulls over the windows and sidelights if you need more privacy.