#californiaremodel

Signature Style- Does Your Personal Style Reflect Your Home?

November 2, 2022 By kimwheeler 40 Comments

Hi friends. It’s time for our monthly style report with Cindy and Sarah. On this Signature Style, we ask- does your wardrobe reflect your home, and does your home looks like your favorites clothes?

The home and your closet are more similar than you realize, and thinking about what your ‘style’ is can help you make better choices for both of them!

Only just in the past years have come to realize I have a casual California style and the home does too. Doing our remodel helped me better focus on what I really like and what my own style is.

When we were remodeling this home three years ago, my wish list had open spaces, big windows, natural materials, and skylights. Colorwise, I wanted shades of white and beiges, neutrals and soft grey and blues with black accents.

I opted for things with texture to warm it all up and make this open home feel inviting and cozy. I dreamed of beautiful wood floors, soft wool rugs, big couches, cozy throws and pillows in nubby fabrics. So it would not look too bland, I wanted to add touches of black and different woods, brass, and stone, which are slightly masculine elements.

I also like graphic art. I love plants and trees, rattan and bamboo and baskets. Other elements in the mix are my vintage glasses and dishes found and handed down, my books, a black steel table, vintage textiles and throws.

I made this all work by keeping the color palette to neutrals with black accents and a little blues and soft greys to keep it cohesive and calm, with so many different elements.

My wardrobe, begins with jeans and many white shirts, and in the house- my white couch and wood floors are the same sort of base

I wear mostly neutral colors with blue shirts, and black, but mostly solids. I wear silver jewelry most of the time.

Does my wardrobe and my house seem alike? I think so..

A few photos that illustrate the point that I am sort of wearing my house!

Think about your home and your closet in relation. This can help you see what your style is and- maybe you’d love your home more, if it felt like your closet?

This can also help you can choose clothes that feel more you, if they reflect your home style.

(My Headlands pendants are on sale now.. Mine are size small).

My friend Jen and I always say we are either home or wardrobe focused at the moment.. Do you go through periods like that?

casual home look track pants and sweater

The bar is probably my most glitzy part of the house with it’s mirrored backsplash. It’s sort of my silver jewelry.

The rest could be called casual Californian I suppose, and the same for my clothes..

Going back to our thought process…If you have a classic house that’s preppy and east coast traditional, you will probably appreciate the classics like Ralph Lauren and plaid jackets. If you adore monograms and anything navy, green, cable knits and stripes, you will like the same look in your home. People who are in the art world dress very creatively..and their homes always look the part. Try and think of your home as another extension of you, and it can be much more fun and an outlet for your personal passions.

Recognizing your style will help you solidify your vision of how you want to live and dress.

It can give you a lot more confidence in what you choose as you know if something is you when you shop or isn’t. You know what is your look or your vibe, if you will.

Once you recognize your home and personal style…

Think about things in your house and wardrobe you can discard, as they don’t or never have felt like you.
Consider making a wish list of what kind of feel you want for your home and what things you might do like paint, wallpaper, add plants, move furniture around, or items to buy or save for get to that look.
Make an inspiration board for your own enjoyment and to keep yourself on track when shopping and building the home and closet that is perfect for you.

A few things from my California home and closet and similar styles.. Links on photos or description below..

Headlands Pendant Light, Alamere rug -on sale now, Beaufort tray, jeans, cream jacket, herringbone throw, marble lamp, chunky throw, beachcomber placemats, textured pot/utinsel holder (in my case), white cotton shirt, willow wall art, silver branch bangle, cobble hill pillow (on sale), cable knit sweater.

Do you think your home and wardrobe are similar in style? Do you love one more than the other or think one needs more attention? Let me know your thoughts..

…And don’t forget to pop over to see what Cindy and Sarah have today about our homes and wardrobes reflecting each other..

Cindy Hattersley Design

Sarah London Style

Thanks for being here!

Kim

October’s Signature Style was our new season wishlists and if you missed it read it here.

If you want to save this post you can pin this graphic below on Pinterest, where you can follow me for more ideas.

Signature style do your home and wardrobe match?

Weekend Meanderings-Folding Screens, Puffy Purses, and How to Get the Vote Out

October 7, 2022 By kimwheeler 29 Comments

On this weekend meander.. some new things I’ve added to the house this season, folding screens, puffy purses, a gorgeous book on home, and a way to help more people vote.

It’s our Saturday round-up of good things with Juliet and Elizabeth! Thanks for being here with us. I’m super excited because my college son, Griffin has a week off and is coming home this weekend. I’ve already made a batch of cookies!

Fall Home Additions

So since a week ago, I’ve added a few little pumpkins to my table along with my rattan one and my new candlesticks. I kind of like this low-key look ..

By the way, my Alamere Rug and the Malibu chandelier are 20% off right now at Serena & Lily’s Fall Home Event- use code HOMELOVE until 10/18.

I may add some gourds and mini pumpkins to my wooden bowl on the island like I did last year..

I love looking back and seeing what I did last year.. That is one nice thing about blogging.

In 2021, this was the front porch look for October.. I will change it this year..hopefully this weekend. Max is determined to put his HUGE spider out hanging from the roof! I try and get him to hold off until we are closer to Halloween. I prefer less out there..

Room dividers/screens

Have you ever used a room divider or folding screen? I think they can be so beautiful and some are stunning. It reminds me of the story Anderson Cooper told in his Vanderbilt book about his mom Gloria asking him to buy her a $50,000 folding screen for her when he got his first paycheck at CNN! I can’t even imagine. Anyhow, this isn’t that kind of screen.

I bought a simple cane and rattan screen for the front entrance, which I’m pretty excited about. I love having an all glass front door and the light from it-and we live on a small court that is pretty private. Occasionally when we are away, I would still love to have a little screen over the opening…So I thought I’d give this a try.

I found ours on Wayfair and I am digging the look, the texture and color it’s adding to the space, even pushed aside it adds a little something…

These screens are also good for a big room if you want a bit more definition or privacy to an area.

I also loved this screen from West Elm and may order it to use it in another space like my office… These just give a nice architectural feel and fill up a blank wall space nicely..

Urban Outfitters has this cute offering..

Other options for glass door people are to have a panel curtain to one side that you can pull over. So far, we haven’t needed anything like that. In Texas where a lot of people have gone to all glass front doors, many do this.

I’ve been loving all the browns in fashion and in home decor and was excited when my dear friends gifted me these beautiful tortoiseshell glasses. I’ve always been a big fan of this tortoise look and love the pop of brown in the bar as it adds some richness to the mix for autumn.

They are from Hudson Grace and they also have similar ones here.

I also got this darling rattan ice bucket that Juliet had first. I had wanted a very expensive one from OKA, but them Juliet told me hers was from Amazon. Love the quality for the price.

I shared on Instagram that I changed out my wire utensil holder for a planter from Anthropologie.

I love the texture and look of it on the counter. I got the idea from my friend Bari who has a huge collection of cooking spoons and tools in a very large planter on her counter. That was the only thing she could find to hold them all and it looks so cool. Consider using a planter for your kitchen spoons and things for a unique look!

The Mood book

I always read Canadian House & Home and designer Anne Hepfer was their designer of the year 2021.. When I saw she had a book out, I ordered it right away..

Mood is such a fun book. Anne grew up in Connecticut, but is now a Canadian who has traveled the world and it informs her design.

This book is a kind of mood board with recipes, playlists, and a wide selection of design styles in her beautiful spaces. If you’re a design lover, this book is for you.

A kitchen by Anne and a few pages from her book …

Puffy Purse Show Season 2

Puffy purse 2.0 is here. Well yay for that because I bought one last season and still love it. Now it seems to be even a bigger trend. So for those who waited, there are cute pieces to be had, and more options and price points.

I like these bags for their zero weight, and also the feel..They are soft and nice to hold. A sort of therapy purse if you will…

My friend Jeanne, who notices everything cool, said Gap had nice ones. I stopped by my local, but none were left. Looks like they are online here..in five colors, but the black and cream look the best to me.

I love an easy chic bag like this that you can take for travel, a day out and not worry about it- and it still has some serious style cred. You can tie a scarf on it, or a pin and make it unique, without breaking the bank. I will always love Gap. They still do style for the masses well with the occasional piece you’ll hold onto for 20 years!

Looks like my tote from last year is no longer at Bloomies, but there is this adorable shoulder bag from AllSaints.. and this bucket bag version too.

all saints quilted shoulder bag in black

Other soft options are this tote, this crossbody, and this pretty chocolate one at Anthro , this iridescent version and this tote that reverses to sherpa on the other side…which is the best of both trends…

Getting out the vote

I’m sure all of you all agree this upcoming November election is more important than ever. We need every American who is able to vote to do so! The 2020 election had the highest voter turnout ever and hopefully that is a trend. A friend shared a great organization begun in 2017 in Alabama called Vote Forward. Their mission is to empower grassroots volunteers to encourage their fellow citizens in underrepresented communities to vote.

They’ve got studies that back up the evidence that these handwritten letters work. On their last big push in 2020, 200,000 volunteers sent over 17 million letters to voters across 21 states. This time I believe they are aiming even higher.

It’s easy to write a few sentences on the partially filled forms they provide and you stay anonymous except for your first name. You can also make the envelopes personal and fun.. The notes stay non-partisan and are not political at all…

letters to voters on Vote Forward website

Max and I are going to write five a night and see how many we can get out before the end of October deadline.. More about this great organization and how to participate here... and follow along with everyone else doing it on their Vote Forward Instagram.

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Other Stuff

A reader reached out to me to ask for the link to my sheet and bedding post.. I wrote this pre-pandemic and recently updated it if you’re in the market for new bedding essentials or need a refresh.. All my favorites are there!

If you missed it, Cindy, Sarah and I shared our fall wishlists for our monthly Signature Style this week and I shared some fall looks I would love to recreate…

And Juliet shared a sneak peak of HGTV’s Urban Oasis in Nashville, which is really fun…

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

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

Thank you for being here and I hope your weekend is great!

Kim

If you missed last weekend’s post I share my day out in San Francisco’s cute Hayes Valley, cleaning cosmetics drawers up, Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road makeup, the fun California brand Claire V., and an easy pasta to try with your last tomatoes of summer!

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

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

Weekend Meaderings- Summer Whites, Kitchen Pendants, a Sunscreen You’ll Love & More

July 15, 2022 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

It’s time for our Weekend Meanderings with Elizabeth and Juliet. I hope your week has been good. Mine flew by, but there’s a few new things around here so let’s get to it..

My New Pendants!

I wrote the week before last about finally making a decision for new kitchen pendants and these Serena & Lily small Headlands Bell Pendants seemed like a fun choice and the price was great (still on sale for $278). They came quickly and Max was able to put them up for me one night this week! I wasn’t sure if they would be too beachy, but I actually LOVE them. I’m very happy with the look and they kind of soften up the kitchen which has a lot of sharp angles. At night they give off a pretty look to the ceiling too.

If you’re looking for pendants or a light for a room, they come in a few different sizes and shapes also in a black and the quality is very nice for the price!

Summer bath refresh..

I recently added a few new things to our main bath and one was this little ladder towel bar and a vase from Target.

Serena & Lily has one of these ladders, but they can also be found here at Anthro, here and here. Mine was a Homegoods find.

They no longer have this vase (or not online that I can find), but this is a similar one I also have from Target and I love the texture. Since this is under a skylight, and get a lot of sun, I added a dried faux eucalyptus branch in the little vase..

Easy summer white dresses

I am getting ready to go to a conference in Atlanta next week with blogging pals, Juliet, Annie and Mary Ann and was trying to find light dresses to take. I know it’s going to be very warm and humid..I was forced to do the mall thing and actually fell in love with two dresses, this unique shirt dress by Club Monaco with pretty stitching, a unique gather in the back and cool pockets.

I also found this Rail’s Jasmine dress. I am normally not a fan of these elasticized waists, but this dress has a relaxed fit and the prettiest details and a built in slip on the bottom.

Below, I’m in the Rails dress…and a bit sweaty and wrinkled..I had just gotten back from an outdoor lunch when Max snapped this, but you can see the length. It’s a nice run about dress and to take for travel. The skirt has a built in slip. I bought a small. but I’m usually a medium. I’m 5’3 and 135. I’m wearing my favorite Tory Burch espadrille slides I bought a year ago. They no longer have them, but I am considering these which are this year’s version of her espadrille slides..so cute!

White accent for the home

This shorter version of a garden stool popped up on Amazon and reminded me of my grandma’s 1960’s home. I like the shorter look and how nice to pop a plant on, or have two flanking an entry door, or to hold a pile of towels in a bathroom, or maybe two under a console table? Just a few ideas for this cutie.

A pretty San Francisco Townhouse in Frederic magazine

I love Frederic magazine by Schumacher and they always have inspiring homes. This 1920’s San Francisco townhouse in the Presidio Heights neighborhood by SF designer Allison Caccoma and updated by architect Andrew Skurman is one of them!

The owner is a lifelong collector of unique pieces and had Pinterest boards of how she wanted every room. With the most gorgeous arched windows and pretty terraces, it’s a dream. I’m crazy for the terrace above, with its the brick laid on the side in a zig-zag pattern and the beautiful doors. The owner has a mix of things from all periods and styles, which is very modern and personal.

The cutest summer totes

If you aren’t familiar with Mersea and their Moroccan totes, they are worth checking out. They are beautifully made and come in three sizes and a few colors and designs.. I love the white versions of their Medina Market basket. The small is perfect for a little handbag, the medium for a tote to hold more for a day out or a trip and the large is great even for storage and many use it for files! Love the cute details on the leather tab too..

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation

In summer I really don’t want to much makeup on and I am also lazy. I found this light compact foundation that also has decent coverage and makes my skin look so nice. I just puff it on quickly with the sponge and use a fingertip for areas I want a bit more coverage. It’s a water-based foundation formula with smoothing and anti-pollution skincare ingredients that blur imperfections. It also comes with one refill for the compact. I have been using the Vanilla color. This is the perfect summer foundation! For each cushion compact or refill sold, a bottle of milk for a baby elephant is bought at the wildlife refuge Chantecaille supports -another lovely thing!

Supergoop family size pump

My friend Stacy who I play tennis with, always knows the latest and greatest and told me about this wonderful sunscreen by Goop Play Sunscreen SPF 50, which is so good and comes in a family size pump. It’s a fast-absorbing, non-greasy, water and sweat-resistant, and broad-spectrum SPF 50 lotion for the face and body.

I now have it in the pool bath/mudroom space where everyone uses it on the way out. I love how it feels on, not sticky or thick and is easy to rub in. It smells good, doesn’t leave a white residue, and everyone seems to like it. So important because I want us all to use more sunscreen here in California!

The Lady Di Look Book

This isn’t in the white theme, but I had to share this new release which looks very good..

This new release, The Lady Di Look Book: What Diana Was Trying To Tell Us Through Her Clothes, by Eloise Moran looks to be a really fun read.. and a must for any anglophile and Diana fan. It takes a deeper drive into Diana’s clothes and finds the meanings she was trying to convey, plus many interesting tidbits about her life we didn’t know before, added in with beautiful photos. There is a sample on the Amazon link and it looks great. I’ve already pre-ordered. It comes out next week!

Micro Weddings

Are you a fan of small weddings? The last pandemic years have encouraged so many to go small instead of the usual big overblown and pricey bashes. I personally love an intimate wedding and we had one too. This year especially a lot of people have chose to go small thanks to date and venue shortages, and they are just tired of waiting. I think you can have a stylish and smart wedding with all your dream details for a small group. Micro weddings are the latest things and Juliet is on it! Her niece just had a very chic and sweet ceremony and reception for twenty with so many good ideas that Juliet wrote about it this week. Cute Sophie and Chad, below..

Well that’s my meanderings. Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs and see what’s on their minds this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed last week, I shared designer Ulla Johnson’s beautiful Montauk home and her fashions, Wimbledon spectator style, Tahoe hikes to try, and more!

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

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

Weekend Meanderings- A Front House Refresh, Tomato Garden Tips, a Great Desk Chair & More

May 21, 2022 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

Hello it’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and a chance to share some things that caught our attention this week!

Start a Garden!

I grew up in San Jose, in a pink room with ballerina wallpaper, but outside my bedroom window all summer were my dad’s green beans strung across the view! His big garden was just outside my window. Dad has always been passionate about gardening. He has his first garden at 18 months old, was in Future Farmers and 4H. His own dad grew up on a farm in Mt Ayr, Iowa. Thanks to my dad’s hobby, we learned to love eating all kind of veggies year round.

My dad had a greenhouse he built and a compost pile, which we called the worm bin. It kind of grossed me out as a kid, but I now realize he was composting before it was cool. I still love the smell of wet dirt, a scent that would waft through my bedroom each evening when my dad watered. As kids we were given small plants to tend and I loved visiting my own little pots in the greenhouse. I am so grateful to still have my dad helping me with the garden each year when we put in our vegetable garden. He inspires me so much and has rubbed off on my oldest son Jackson, who loves gardening and plants.

With my dad – and dad gardening as a child.

During the pandemic people began working in their yards for their sanity, and I agree there is nothing like a break gardening outside. Something about being out, with the bird songs, the scent of earth and flowers can calm you. It also keeps you fit. My dad is 82 and has the back of an ox because of it. While gardening, you crouch, twist and turn, lift a lot of heavy things and it keeps you flexible.

Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding and easiest things to grow here in California. You need to wait to put the plants in the ground when the evenings are turning warmer- usually late April or early May here in Northern Cal. I just put mine in Mother’s Day weekend. I recommend for vegetables, start with plants, as seeds need more time to start in small pots, be babied and nurtured.

If you have a space that gets at least 6 hours of sun a day, that is a good spot for a tomato garden. I was lucky to already have some garden beds on the south side of my home when we bought it. If you don’t have the space, you can start with pots and there are many ‘bush’ or patio type of tomatoes that grow the right sizes for porches and can produce a lot.

Dad showing where you take off branches to and bury it up the stalk a bit.

Make sure your soil is turned over well and before planting your tomatoes, pick off the bottom few limbs and plant it a few inches up the stalk. Tomatoes need a lot of water the first week and then after only a few times a week, unless they look saggy. Water in mornings and at the root of the plant, making a little pool around it. You can’t really irrigate a garden. You need to water by hand, as you have to not water until needed, or more when it’s getting warm.

Choose organic tomatoes, and make sure any fertilizer or food you use is organic and without pesticides. You want fertilizer made just for organic veggies. I also use no pesticides in my yard. That means I occasionally have to go pull a few weeds every week for 20 minutes or so. It’s worth it. Pesticides last forever in the ground and can harm the whole ecosystem. If you have yard people and they have tanks on their backs, with squirters, they are using pesticides. It runs off when the yard is watered, and affects the water system as well. When I have any things in my yard like white flies or something, I power spray them off with the hose or spray with a gentle soap to manage them.

You will love growing tomatoes and they become almost no maintenance after August. Starting in September I stop watering them and dry farm. They take on an even deeper flavor and keep producing! You will can get tomatoes until November here in California. Compare any yard tomato to a store bought and they aren’t the same species. They also make the best caprese ! If you are a gardener please share any tips or varieties in the comments. My favorite tomatoes are Early Girl, Sweet 100, Berkeley Tie-Dye and Brandywine, which is an heirloom. It’s nice to have a variety. Don’t forget to add some basil in that garden too!

This photo was taken October 26, 2019 That’s how late you will still get tomatoes!

Peaches and Tomato Caprese Salad

Since we are talking tomatoes, I just had to share my favorite dish when peach season is happening, which is now in California! Just tonight we made our first caprese with peaches of the season. Tomatoes are not at their peak yet, but the stores have some hot house versions you can use until next month.

There’s no secret to this recipe, but I do like the soft mozzarella ( not the kind you slice for lasagna), that is wrapped in plastic, rather than water. It has a better texture and holds the oils and juices better. Look for it by the fresh cheeses. I also love California olive oil, a little sprinkle of Maldon sea salt, and fresh pepper. The best basil is always from your own pots. I buy the plants that they have at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods and keep them near the kitchen, and also put one or two in the ground. They beat the bought basil that has been packed in a plastic box.

Max’s new Setu desk chair!

Remember this post a few weeks back about giving Max’s home office/guest room a spring refresh? I was thrilled with the peel and stick wallpaper and also the nice daybed from Wayfair. What I hated though was Max’s old office chair he got at an office supply warehouse place. It not only had the lines of a 70’s Buick, it was peeling like one and had gross faux leather and took up a LOT of space in the small room. He was committed to it though, as he spent like $199 on it!

Well, he’s been back in the office and has had a really great chair there, and he noticed after working in it all day, he has no leg or back pain like he gets in his current chair. He told me it was a Herman Miller design and I got excited. We went to go try it out at the Design Within Reach store in Palo Alto, and sat in every chair, but we both loved the Setu Chair with ribbon arms.

If you need back support, this is your chair. I love their description of the Setu:

Sit in Setu — The Setu Chair defines flexibility, moving with the user, with a clean aesthetic that suits nearly any home or office space. It’s no accident that this chair is designed for a healthy back – Setu is Sanskrit for “bridge” and borrowed from the yoga pose Setu Bandhasana, a strengthening backbend.
Herman Miller

It weighs just 17 pounds and also won a certification for highest quality of lowest certification for low VOC furniture. I am thinking of now saving for one and I love the blue version. His cost around $795, but if you think of the days, hours and years you are in an office chair, it’s worth the extra cost and some employers will contribute to the home office cost too.

Walking the Dish Loop at Stanford + lunch & Keplers

One of my favorite things to do on a weekend with mild weather is hike the Stanford Dish Loop Trail early and then follow up with lunch at Cafe Barrone in Menlo Park and a good browse at Kepler’s bookstore.

Last Sunday it was a beautiful day to hike. It’s about 4 miles total with a bit of uphill at the beginning. We like to go early as parking along Stanford Avenue can get full. You can get a fantastic view of the university and surrounding hills. Last Sunday we hiked with Jackson and his girlfriend and her family. This time they suggested a small detour at the end and we crossed Junipero Serra Rd and walked the rest of the trail through the pretty neighborhoods of Stanford. Some stunning and historic homes!

Cafe Barrone is an old school Silicon Valley hangout for students at Stanford and high tech peeps. We love it as you can grab a table and have a good spot to people watch. Families and dogs are all over along with students. The baked goods and breakfasts are fantastic and are worth the wait in line to order. Food usually comes fast. I can’t resist the chicken salad sandwich on raisin bread. We usually come with our kids and we all have to get their famous ‘Mocha Freeze’ shake that they’ve been serving since the 1970’s.

Kepler’s is my all-time favorite bookstore. They have an expansive selection of books in every genre. Always the have the latest in everything, and wonderful reviews written by hand by many books. They still sell magazines and great stationery and cards..Amazing kid’s section and a book club and many literary events and speakers. I never go home without something from here as I want this place to stay in business!! It’s one of the last remaining independent bookstores. They opened in 1955 and closed in 2005, but because of strong love from customers they are now reopened and run thanks to community support. Read their whole story here.

My friend Elaine’s new front of house refresh

My friend Elaine lives in the pretty Willow Glen area of San Jose and recently did a refresh of the front of her home. Elaine’s husband Todd is an architect, so this is a combination of Todd’s skills and experience with Elaine’s great taste.

They are still working on the landscape and some of the porch, but already I love how she choose an orange paint for the door, some lovely rope chairs that give it a fun modern vibe. Adore the mailbox, the lanterns and her doormat too.

The beautiful mix of shingles and boards make the house so pretty and unique.

This is before and after…

Elaine is an amazing entertainer and she’s going to be on a future blog with tips for us (I mean me really), on how she does it! Stay tuned..

World Market

Elaine’s front porch has good looking rope chairs from World Market from a past season. They no longer make that style, but they do make these Matteo Chairs and the price is nice for these which look expensive and can run in the thousands..

They also have these darling summer entertaining food covers in round and rectangle. I am going to get a few before they are gone..A stylish friend sent me the link to these!

Mother Jeans

I had planned to get a new pair of white jeans this summer and this week stopped into local boutique, Bella Rosa and after chatting with friendly women there about white denim they encouraged me to try some on. I’m not a fan of super high rise, and want comfort and a flattering look, especially on the leg. White jeans need to be of a thicker cotton and not tight looking (at least for my age). They brought me many different pairs, but I ended up loving the look and comfort of the ‘The Ditcher’ jeans by Mother. It’s my first pair of Mother jeans and they just kind of feel great on. I run between a 27 and 28 and bought these in 27, as they are slightly large. I have worn them several times and they stretch out very little, but are comfy! Since buying these I’ve heard from a few friends this issue their favorite brand!

You should stop by Bella Rosa if you are in Los Gatos. I was on the way to an appointment, but I plan to go back. I love the service, sweet people and a beautiful California chic collection of clothes!

If you aren’t nearby you can also find my white jeans here. Mother also carries this ankle fray pair (below left), that is their best seller and I might consider too. There is also this pair from Gap (below right), and these Citizens of Humanity and these by AGOLDE.

As a Californian I wear white jeans so much and I think getting a nice pair every year is a good investment for the closet. I need them to feel great so I want to wear everyday. I don’t save my white jeans, but wear them nonstop until they feel super comfy and broken in.

My puffy slides I bought back in February at H&M, you can find here and they also have these now and these at Anthro.

Other Things This Week…

Juliets’s wedding post! If you missed it, Juliet published the best wedding post with all the details of her step-son Kyle’s wedding in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s wonderfully done and what a beautiful wedding. I loved all the special touches and saved and pinned it all in case I ever get to help with a wedding for one of the sons! I loved the video so much I was bawling.. and I don’t even know them. A darling couple! Juliet is a pro at planning events and she loves to share how these things come off! I am learning from her all the time.

Kyle and Melody’s beautiful ceremony photo: Make Mine a Spritzer.

In other exciting news, our pal Annie opened her much anticipated online store You can find many cool curated things hand-picked by Annie herself!

I can hardly believe it, but this is our 16th Saturday of doing this and I have so enjoyed sharing these things that I wouldn’t otherwise. It forces me to sit down and blog it. I’ve loved getting to know Juliet and Elizabeth better- and many of you! To those new here, welcome! I hope to keep improving these little posts. Please feel free give feedback about the things you’d like to see more of, or less!

Well that’s my meanderings for this week now please go see what fun finds and ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend.

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed last week’s blog with some great baskets for outdoor plants, a wonderful lunch spot and shop in Woodside, an inspiring book about living well in your home by Melissa Penfold, and more you can read that post here.

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

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Weekend Meanderings, Gallery Walls, A Pretty Tote & More..

March 18, 2022 By kimwheeler 18 Comments

It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some cool things that have crossed our radars this week! Thank you for being here. I feel like I blink and we are here again and this week with the time change..WHY? But on to business..

Today I’m sharing a few tips on creating a gallery wall. When we did our home remodel, right before the pandemic, we removed the big interior wall to let more light flow from the front to the back of the house. Doing that left us with a long wall in the main living space. I wasn’t really sure how to deal with it, and for a good year or so, we left it blank. The idea of a gallery wall seemed to be a way to fill the long space with some personal pictures and art. My worry was how to make it look good?

Let me say I am slightly shy to share this as I am still tweaking it and filling the blank spaces, but I do think the overall tones and idea work for my white and earth toned house with black accents.

How to Create A Gallery Wall

-Find a statement piece for your center. I had a black and white art piece that was my focal point that I worked around.

-Gather other art or objects that can work with the main piece. For me, that was a San Francisco print of the Golden Gate, an ink drawing of a Victorian House, and a modern art print- all black and white and one with some tan.

-Choose 2-3 colors to go with to pull it all together. I kept it all black, white and tan or a light wood tones to unify these pieces.

-Add in family photos made to look arty. I had a cool vintage black and white photograph of my husband Max as a teen, taken by his mom for a photo class. Going with that cue, I used a photo of my boys as teens in a kind of surly (truly), pic from a vacation in France. It sort of looked like an album cover. I used the IPhone filter and changed it to black and white and did the same with photos of their faces. I cropped the pics to half their faces, and printed them all out on our regular printer. This is an easy trick and can make your photos look vintage and your wall will be unique and personal, but still look like ‘art.’

-Choose frames that pull it all together. Since all the photos were black and white, I went with a few in black, but mostly light wood frames from Target, to add an earthy, warmer feel and stay in our 3 color scheme.

-Collect your art and objects and lay them on the floor to find a harmonic look. I still felt the need for objects that were softer, so I added in a few woven discs . You could do this with round mirrors or anything that adds more texture and another shape to your grouping.

-Begin to replicate it on the wall starting with the largest object and work out from there. I used Command Strips for some things, but small nails for most, with my husband helping. Yes there were a few holes and pencil marks left, much trial and error to be honest.

-Remember this is a gallery look, so it doesn’t need to look perfect. Free form and and off-center is okay.. Perfectionists, this may not be the thing for you. It’s an organic look.

-Add to your gallery and change it up over time as your find new things. Just this past month I changed the main picture to this big black sea fan print. I also added in a new basket from World Market and removed another. I’m also going to enlarge some of the frames with the photos. Before the new pieces..

If you’re looking for wall baskets, Pottery Barn has this lovely collection, below.

I hope this helps! Have fun and give it a try.

My First Spring Dress Purchase

One thing I could use more for the warmer months is dresses that are easy and pretty. This FarmRio dress came in my email this week and I ordered it for a little getaway coming up. I loved the print and fortunately being 5’4 it didn’t swamp me and hit at ankle length in size small. It’s comfy and roomy and I think it will be a piece to wear for years to so much. The quality and fabric and pretty ties with beading, make it even more lovely in person.

A Pretty Tote

More pretty blues! I love the idea of a lightweight tote to take on vacation that can double as your day bag as well as at the beach. This H&M Jacquard tote fills the requirements, has a fun holiday vibe and isn’t some expensive bag that you need to worry about while you’re swimming, at the beach, or at the park with your kids. (It does kinda has the Dior vibe though!) I love the palm trees. I can see using this all spring and summer with sundresses and sandals and well everything.

OKA

Are you familiar with this wonderful British home decor site OKA? They have some beautiful things that would give your home some of that eclectic English vibe. I’m in love with this pouf, or floor cushion as they call it, in the prettiest pattern and lapis color. I just think it would be wonderful by the fire or just about anywhere you want to be able to put your feet up…

EXTRA STUFF..

I just bought this beautiful book, San Francisco Cocktails for the husband’s upcoming birthday. This is a beauty packed with history! Did you know San Francisco has a big connection with Lima, Peru, where most ships stopped coming through from the east around Cape Horn? The Ghiaradellis and others started there, and brought some traditions with them. This book has great photos and craft cocktails from the coolest SF restaurants and all the way down to the San Jose (yes you heard that right), and even Los Gatos. Definitely one for your bar or for that person who loves the Bay Area, San Francisco and it’s history.

I know a lot of you are Serena & Lilly fans and they just notified me that they extend their Spring Sale Event until next Tuesday, 3/22. You can get 20% off everything except sale. My friend just ordered this beautiful pendant for above her dining table.

I also have this version in my entry. A great time to get beautiful quality lighting or rugs.

If you’re in the market for pendants, Mary Ann of Classic Casual Home, wrote a great post this week,

13 Great Pendants to Update Your Kitchen. All of them are gorgeous, and she has some good advice as always!

Ukraine is on the top of my mind everyday and in Juliet’s post today she mentioned and linked to a Frontline documentary, Putin’s Road to War. I saw it this week and I can’t recommend it enough about the madman and how we got here. Please take the time to watch it. I also follow many Ukraine Accounts like Eyes on Ukraine with daily news on the situation from the ground, and the official account of Ukraine on Instagram, and NATO. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a 9 minute plea to Russians this week which we can only hope gets out to them, and I thought it was so good.

Thanks for being here. Please pop over and see what ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend, and thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed the last Weekend Meanderings, on tennis clothes, entry rugs, a pretty home and more, you can read it here.

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

2022 Goals, House Updates & Cozy Coats

January 7, 2022 By kimwheeler 21 Comments

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

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

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

We went from no snow a week a half before…

to this…Crazy right?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I ordered one for myself.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great weekend and stay cozy!

Kim

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Some Fall Inspiration and Thoughts

October 30, 2021 By kimwheeler 19 Comments

Hi friends. Just a quick little post to share a few good things. How are things in your neck of the woods? We have had the gambit here with the strongest storm we have had in years last weekend and now to warm and sunny again for Halloween. Guess this is fall in California!

It is persimmon season so don’t miss out on those. Just got this bunch from my sweet neighbor…

Last October, I did a fall table post and used the persimmons for the table. I tried to replicate something like it for Thanksgiving…

Anyway, I had a crazy few weeks, and went to see the son on a short jaunt to Salt Lake City. He goes to the University of Utah and it was nice to see his place and get to experience more of the city and also see cute Park City. More photos of it are on my Instagram under my Utah Story Bubble, under my bio. Utah is insanely beautiful and Salt Lake City is surrounded by snow-capped mountains right now. The town was a lot of fun and charming.

It was fun to travel for a weekend and I mainly wore white jeans, sweaters and these Paul Green boots all three days- which a few of you asked about on my Instagram. They were bought a while back, right before the pandemic and I am finally putting them to more use.

They have the nearly same ones still at Nordstrom. This is my first pair of Paul Green shoes and I know people rave about them- the quality and the comfort. I wore these in the snow in Park City and through the airport and all around town and my feet felt great! They were rained on and no marks left. It is definitely worth paying for better shoes that are going to be a go-to and workhorse in your wardrobe. I am wondering about a black pair too. All the gals in Utah wore combat boots with their pants and dresses and it looks current. Sometimes all you need is a great shoe to update everything. The coat is a classic I wear all the time from Emerson Fry.

Right before I left, I hosted a Bunco group. It was the first gathering we have had indoors since the pandemic. We don’t play anymore, just socialize. To make sure we all had space, Max and I spread the sectional and chairs far apart, and took up the whole main space in the house. Everyone was vaccinated and I made individual appetizer platters for each person.

I was hoping to find individual wooden charcuterie boards, from Target, but not having any luck, instead used these slightly larger trays.

What is fun on these individual boards:

Consider the season and add a whimsical touch I added a little pumpkin shortbread cookie for an October vibe.
Seasonal fruits – I went with grapes and clementines, but sliced persimmons, pears or apples could be good for fall.
A triangle of brie, and some chèvre drizzled with honey, walnuts and pomegranate seeds.
A variety of crackers (I like Raincoast Crisps, Italian breadsticks, and rosemary crackers.) Ask your friends who is gluten-free. I had a basket of two kinds of gluten-free crackers. I think it’s nice to have extra baskets of the other crackers nearby also as you never have enough with boards.
A sweet side where I broke up bars of Ghirardelli Salted Dark Chocolate, chocolate powdered almonds and date bite cookies.
A savory side which I added ribboned uncured Italian salami, English Cheddar slices, olives and almonds.

The pros about these size boards versus a smaller ones is you have a bit more room for balancing them on the lap. Cons are- they are bigger, so you need more food. I might have done too much, especially with women. My husband took a tray to his office to eat during the gathering and thought it was the right amount. Consider who you are entertaining! Using them next time, I would do less food and perhaps take up part of the tray with a cute napkin and individual knife rolled up and tied.

These trays are melamine, so they stack well for storage. I bought these with the dark green stripe to use at Christmas and in the summer outdoors, as they can take on a camping look. They also have this cute plaid! Think of the holiday possibilities!

Evening photos aren’t so great, but I had almost no time to photograph them after pulling these together!

One day before the Bunco gathering, I had the nicest lunch ever at Cindy Hattersley’s beautiful new home in Salinas. Cindy downsized from her huge home in the country that you may recall I featured here on Californians at Home.

Her new home was previously a rental for them. They moved to the most charming neighborhood and in swift time, turned this lovely Spanish style home into a sanctuary with the most inviting garden where she hosted six of us for a birthday lunch for Mary Ann and I.

You may have seen on my Instagram, some of the gorgeous pics and a fun Reel I made. It was the loveliest day and Heidi, Elizabeth, Juliet and Annie (all the way from Connecticut) were part of it too. Annie did a great post on the whole day with a lot of photos of Cindy’s gorgeous home and yard- and the pretty table- and fantastic food! See it all here on Annie’s blog. I felt so lucky to be with all these sweet ladies!

Cindy’s home was so inspiring and her fall decor especially, I wanted you to see… How beautiful is this?

Cindy blogs about all of it and has shown the progression of her new place on her blog, Cindy Hattersley Design.

These girls are so kind and generous and I got three books I am LOVING. They are all so enjoyable and true treasures for your library..and yes great gifts if you need some. Julia Reed’s South is wonderful if you are into cooking and entertaining with great stories and recipes. Athena Calderone’s Live Beautifully has some of the freshest and modern, but pretty homes and kitchens to inspire you. Romantics and Classics invites you into some of the beautiful historic homes never seen in the English countryside!

I also got the coolest wooden carved salad servers from Mary Ann. They would make a lovely gift for a hostess or friend with a block-print towel like this one.

I couldn’t wait to put them with my wooden spoon collection..

Also Cindy gave me the sweetest olive wood bowls from one of my favorite shops in Carmel, Tancredi & Morgan. I’m in love with them!

I’ve got the holiday season on the brain and have been trying to find small treasures like these before the holidays hit! Anthro has a nice collection of block-printed kitchen towels ..

Pairing a towel with a small thing like a candle- like the one below, or a small bowl- (like this one -also from Anthro), or candle holders or these little vases are all good and not too pricey gifts for girlfriends or hostesses.

I try and buy several and then keep them on hand for upcoming gatherings during the season.

Also, on my radar, if you are a tennis player as I am, and love design, you may have noticed the Marimekko tennis collaboration with Adidas..My friend Jeanne had one of the looks on the other day and it was SO cute! I want the skirt and there is also jackets, dresses and a shrug to protect the arms, as well as tennis shoes, swimsuits, sweats and more. The whole collaboration can be seen here, but has already sold out on some pieces, so don’t wait if you like it! Also more of it at Nordstrom too.

Lastly, I ended this crazy week with my first colonoscopy. I waited longer than most people because of surgery for a fibroid, and then the pandemic. I knew I wanted to get this done, as my dear friend Wendy passed away at age 45. I hate stuff like this, but I can say it wasn’t bad and the actual procedure felt like a small nap. The prep was the hardest part, drinking 64 ounces of Gatorade with Miralax in two separate sequences. I honestly couldn’t get it all down, but the procedure went fine, and not really any after issues

either. Colon cancer is one of the most treatable cancers if caught early, that’s why everyone needs a screening as early as possible.

Please friends, do not put this off. I now am good for ten years!

I hope you have a great Halloween weekend and some fun. We are making our usual chili and quesadillas and hoping we get a few little goblins after really missing them last year.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kim

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

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Remodeling – The Social Front Patio

May 20, 2021 By kimwheeler 19 Comments

If there’s one thing we took away from the past year, it was appreciation of home and our own spaces. Being forced to spend more time in our abodes than ever before, home has become a more happy spot than it once was for a lot of people. Many of those who were constantly ‘out’ or going places, found themselves with serious home time and as a result some took the opportunity to create something more cozy and appealing.

In our own little cul-de-sac in Northern California, that has meant using all the spaces of the home, and that includes our front yards as well. The previous ‘just for looks’ front yard has shifted to a space people want to be out in. It’s gives you an opportunity use a previously underutilized area, and also connect with neighbors in a socially distanced or closer way!

I’ve been meaning to write about this trend for a while since we decided to add a front patio to the home remodel in the late stages. I knew I wanted French Doors in the front, but they made no sense if there wasn’t a patio for them to open out onto. After looking at many homes in the Willow Glen section of San Jose, I decided I wanted a small patio and a Mediterranean type of low wall that could be used for seating as well. We figured we might as well use some of that front yard for actual enjoyment, instead of more plants. We removed the grass and added new native landscaping and the patio seemed to work well with that. We feel lucky to have put it in just before the pandemic.

This is few photos of the before and after of our front yard.. We lived here for ten years before remodeling. Taking out a huge Sequoia that was dying and also lifting the foundation, created an uneven look, so with the remodel it was an opportunity to rethink the whole space.

This was right after plants were put in..

California ranch house with new native landscaping and decomposed granite.

And today the plants after almost 2 years..

California ranch house with new landscaping.

Coincidentally, three of our neighbors also added front patios, two in the past year. Our neighbors Ben and Becca were the first. They have a great corner lot. Their rounded and slightly elevated patio/entry just sets off their house beautifully, which has also been updated with all their pretty landscaping.

Before and after..

Isn’t this lovely? They really use their patio and enjoy being out there, having a coffee or a glass of wine after dinner on just keeping watch on their three kids having fun on scooters and such on our street..I just love the pretty stone they used on the patio and their fireplace here.

Our neighbor Wen, who is studying design, besides working, created her own space too. Wen has school age kids who often did their class work outside during the pandemic. Previously, it was a small porch and lawn.

Before and after..

They have enjoyed the views of the mountains from the front and being outdoors the past year. It is a very spacious area now, and she still has plenty of yard.

Next door, my neighbors Ginger and Tao have two younger ones and spend evenings and weekends with their small tykes taking their first steps and learning how to ride a bike, while they garden, or chat with family. Their parents often come for extended visits and enjoy the sunshine out there too!

Before and after..

I like the modern furniture and clean vibe of their home. This space was previously part of the driveway!

One benefit of having a front patio is the ability to relax, and if you have kids you keep an eye out while children play. Another is grabbing a bit of sun or fresh air. For us, it’s our cooler months patio as the backyard is darker in winter, but the front porch is an enjoyable place to savor a book and a cup of tea to just warm up on a cold day.

What I love very much about these front spaces is the ability to connect more fully with your community. Thanks to the patio, we know our neighbors even better since this pandemic began.

The other benefit- using the property you own! How crazy is it that some of us sit in a small house, and have a spacious front yard that sits looking like country club and filled with fertilizers to keep it like a carpet, and is going unused? Why not use the space? If you can get rid of the grass, even better. My neighbors all kept some grass for their small ones to play. You can have both if you want to.

You don’t need a house to do this. Even just placing a chair or bistro set in the front of your patio, in a condo or apartment looks inviting and you’ll be tempted to take a break out there and get social.

When I was last in Europe, this is a big thing, a ritual each evening I noticed. Rome was one place that people dragged chairs out to each doorstep and each night enjoyed a bit of conviviality with neighbors and passer bys. They say people who live in cultures where they socialize daily live the longest. Just love this article about Italians.

Here are other inspiring front spaces that have been transformed..

My talented friend Annie, creator of the blog, Most Lovely Things has always done inviting front porches and her new home in Connecticut is no exception. It’s a beautiful home just four houses from the beach, and Annie created a space to hang and also connect with the neighborhood. Annie says, ” People are always out on their porches and neighbors know each other and help each other. I feel like it builds community.” Annie lives on Long Island Sound and her front porch is a lounging space, but she has also used it for dining with friends on colder days. I love how Annie made this feel cozy and inviting.

Annie even set a table out here on a day there was a chance of rain last fall. It is always so much more fun eating outdoors…

Sometimes it’s easy as adding a chair to front to give your home more curb appeal- and a reminder to use the area! This Home of actress Minnie Driver’s in Elle Decor is made so inviting by these chairs…

This home on Houzz, Brandon Pass architect, has the roof extended with a pergola and a whole living area built.

This contemporary home in Orlando has a ready to socialize vibe..

This front patio below, is so simple, just slightly elevated and surrounded by plants and lawn from Newport Beach based, Black Band Design.

I also love this patio added to the update of a 1969 ranch home in Denver.

This Orange County home was updated and given a space with a simple roof extension.

When searching for front patio spaces, I found the inspiring account of the talented Kelly Vandenberg on Instagram and love her whole house! The front patio is especially lovely..I love how inviting this looks in an entry area.

I hope this has been helpful and a little inspiration if you are planning to remodel..or just use the front spaces of your home more!

Kim

The landscape on my house by The Garden Group and design by Carla Olivet.

Here’s a few items for the front patio I love..

Photos NorthernCalStyle, unless linked to another source.

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Suzanne Rheinstein’s Montecito Retreat in AD

March 4, 2021 By kimwheeler No Comments

Suzanne Rheinstein has always been one of my most favorite California tastemakers and designers to follow. Everything she does is uniquely beautiful so I was super excited to see her new Montecito getaway she built for herself , after her husband’s death, in my new Architectural Digest. It was everything I love in a house- part modern, part traditional, and incorporating beautiful landscaping and nature. She started with a 1971 home with some Spanish influences and crafted this beauty and the grounds to her specifications. The full article and more photos, here in AD. Below some of the gorgeousness to inspire you.. Photography by Laura Resen.

The views of the mountains are so pretty. I love that she has a flower arranging room…Love the bags and hats on a peg!

Have you all been to Montecito? It’s one of my favorite small California towns. So much charm and beauty.

UPDATE: Joni, who writes Cote de Texas, one of my favorite blogs , has done a more in depth post on this house- the before/afters and Suzanne’s other homes, and her daughter’s homes. If you are as obsessed as I am you will enjoy it.

Have a good day!

Kim

My California Room- Before & After

July 23, 2020 By kimwheeler 20 Comments

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!