PARTY AT THE YACHT CLUB

Having eloped in Phuket, Thailand in November of 2013, the Stevens planned for a celebration exactly 6 months later, in their home town surrounded by loved ones. St. Francis Yacht Club was the perfect place for the May celebration, with pleasant temperatures on the Marina with the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset as a backdrop. Not wanting to compete with the prevalent "nautical" theme throughout the club, I happily embraced it.

Inspiration: classic navy + white with a punch of pink

Cocktail tables with striped runners over navy linens

 Creating the Welcome Board-I wrapped sturdy bookboards with gorgeous paper (gold stripes on cream and navy linen) as the background for the Steven's breathtaking ceremony photo in Phuket.

 Special touches- Having fun with the nautical theme, I created a customized life preserver photo prop for the photo booth.

 Rounding up the flowers- best co-pilots ever!

 Floral prep work at the club- It's messy and tedious work, but I find it therapeutic.

I used large footed trophy vases, perfect for a loose and "billowing" look

 Centerpieces consisted of ranunculas, freesia, roses and peonies of all stages of bloom.

The happy couple

Post event round up- club members were gawking over the leftovers, which I offered up for grabs. It was relieving knowing they all ended up in happy homes as opposed to being thrown out right away.

PLACES :: TEXILE TREASURE TROVE

The Lotus Collection in San Francisco is a long-standing secret treasure trove for designers and textile enthusiasts.  Tucked away in the historic Jackson Square, a district famed for distinguished art and antique dealers, The Lotus Collection is a source of antique European, Asian, and Ethnic textiles.

I've had the pleasure to learn a thing or two about the world of antique textiles this summer from Kathleen Taylor and her exclusive collection. It's been quite the journey discovering an endless assortment of textile designs from all over the world through the centuries. In my treasure hunts through her vast inventory I fell in love with so many. 

F02-1488 c. 1925 French printed silk (Bianchini Ferier, Raoul Dufy?) blue on white, "Indienne."

F08-1789 c. 1925 French Art Deco silk brocade with gold metallic, blue and pale blue silk thread woven in a dynamic wave design inspired by textiles from China and Japan.

F06-1704BA Pillow made from c. 1750 French coral colored silk ground with gold metallic brocade in a stylized floral and lace pattern.

The reasons I'm drawn to a particular textile always amuses me. It may be just the right color, or texture, or combination. Or, a specific textile brings me good feelings or brings back a fond memory.  And maybe it's the excitement of seeing something so elaborately crafted and one-of-a-kind.

F03-1570 18th century Italian striped chine silk with white and fuchsia chine (ikat) and chevron patterned in green, yellow, and white stripes.

I94-2067 D, E One of three pillows made from 17th century Italian silk flame stitch, top border.

12-8176 18th century French silk brocade with a tobacco colored ground brocaded with peach, yellow, metallic gold, and white flowers and leaves.

I love that antique textiles have a lasting property as their purpose can be redefined over time. A special textile can be used on a pillow for comfort and later framed as a keepsake. The possibilities are endless.

ME11-6231 Late 19th or early 20th century from Punjab, India silk floss embroidery on red cotton called a phulkari (shawl), embroidered in white large & gold diamond design outlined in green. Large gold colored embroidered borders at top and bottom.

C09-4328 Early 20th century wedding quilt cover Zhuang people, Guangxi Prov., south China, made of cotton and silk brocaded in a geometric pattern in brown and blue. Composed of three widths.

C12-4366 Early to mid 20th century 2 panel wedding bed cover made by Miao or Buyi people, Guizhou Province, southern China, with weft faced compound weave and supplementary weft weave in yellow tan and brown colors

  

A09-7112 An unusual early 20th century Kuba (Dem. Rep. of Congo) velvet made from rafia with checkerboard diamond shapes, diamond shapes half dark and diamond shapes with dark square centers.

Established in 1988, Kathleen Taylor-The Lotus Collection is the leading source for decorative textiles in the United States and has exhibited at the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show since 1989. Kathleen studied art history at Mills College and continues her education through her involvement with The Antiques Dealers Association of California (ADAC), Art and Antiques Dealers League of America, and the Jackson Square Art & Antiques Dealers Association.

A11-7132 A mid 20th century Nigerian, 'Yoruba Aso Oke Cloth' Sanyan wild silk and cotton with eyelets, gold metallic stripes with surface warp strings.

A08-7107 A mid 20th century Nigerian, 'Yoruba Aso Oke Cloth' Sanyan wild silk and cotton with yellow alaari stripes, eyelets and weft stringing.

Kathleen's passion for textiles leads her to travel to all corners of the world for continued discoveries. Upon returns, her findings are a always a source of inspiration and knowledge on the fascinating world of textiles.  The inspiration I've obtained from Kathleen's collection has already made impressions on my soul that will last a lifetime.

C11-4347 Early 20th century wedding bedcover woven by the Dong people, Guizhou, south China. Weft patterned brocade weave in blue and white.


ME12-6239 19th century N.W. Persia white cotton cover (jajim) with pale indigo colored stripes with alternating bands of solid blue, zig zag blue, and solid white. Use of cotton is unusual for a jajim which is usually made with silk or wool.

SUZANNE TUCKER

Once upon a time I was blessed with the opportunity to join the Tucker & Marks team. My time invested was very educational, inspiring and I am so proud of the mastermind behind it all- an accomplished and very talented interior designer, author, and textile designer.

Suzanne Tucker is recognized today as one of the country’s leading interior designers. She and partner Timothy F. Marks founded Tucker & Marks in 1986, and the firm has long been considered one of the most respected and successful interior design firms in the U.S.

Architectural Digest has honored Suzanne as one of the AD100 Top Designers of the World and her work has been featured in international magazines and numerous books including her monograph Rooms to Remember: The Classic Interiors of Suzanne Tucker.

I was first inspired by Suzanne a couple years ago at a San Francisco Fall Antiques Show lecture in 2010 when she gave an unforgettable introduction of her dear friend, Bunny Williams (interior, furniture and accessories designer) before Bunny's lecture about her latest book, Scrapbook for Living, and how to blend antiques with contemporary design. Tucker is often asked to lecture on her work incorporating antiques, textiles & the decorative arts, a beloved subject matter.

Suzanne is passionate about architecture and finds that travel and the diversity of cultures enhance her passion and knowledge and inspire her in the creation of unforgettable rooms. I too love that travels enhance my passion for design- my own explorations have blessed me with many photo memories of rich colors and textures from different cultures I plan to incorporate into future design projects.

Suzanne Tucker Home was launched in 2010, a decorative textile line which encompasses interesting and diverse weave structures and luxurious colorways. What I love most about her textile line is the inspiration she found in prints from the 18th, 19th & 20th centuries, which she translated for classic and contemporary interiors.

"I wanted to take some of these documents and reinterpret them for our world".

- Suzanne Tucker

For her recent Caravan Collection, I admire that Suzanne sought after the African savannah for inspiration.

Below: Duma (right), a cotton velvet shown in colorway Tan, is named after the Swahili word for cheetah. Serengeti (left), a cotton and linen shown in colorway Sand, is also available in colors inspired by the zebra itself as well as the colors of the African savannah.

I'm anxious to see what the future has in store for Suzanne's innovative interiors, textile designs and next bestsellers. In the meantime, I'll be treasuring all that I've learned from the best of the trade in my new ventures.

PAUL WISEMAN

Paul Vincent Wiseman is talented. He's quirky and brilliant too, another reason he remains one of my favorite local interior designers. His harmonious creations are infectious.

Buzz' interview with Paul for Decorati this week was a total hit. I walked away with new insight on the importance of timeless design and what it means to have this admirable "exceptional talent". Below are a couple Q&A highlights and snippets from his portfolio that made my little heart melt.

Buzz: How did a nice guy like you get into a kooky business like this?

[Laughing] Ignorance and youth.
(Buzz side note: Hey, that’s exactly how I got into it, only without the youth part!)
I was 27 years old when I started and my contract read something like, “Hi my name is Paul and I want to make your house pretty….Now sign.” Ugh.

Buzz: How did you get started in interior design and did you have any mentors in those early days?

I worked for Robert Hering, who’s retired now. He had an antique shop and decorating studio that I managed. I really loved it. But after a while I knew it was time to start my own business. And when I started my firm I also worked part-time for Winfield Windsor, the antique dealer. He was my biggest mentor because he was so generous with his knowledge and information. He’d show me why he was attracted to a particular piece, what made it valuable, and a thousand other “secrets” of the trade.

What is the one best piece of advice you ever got that has contributed to your career?

I think mine would be: “Communication is critical to success.” Decorating is just one part of our clients’ busy lives. So you need to be really diligent about staying in touch with and communicating with your client. If the communication link is broken, then things tend to spin out of control and the results can miss the mark.

A couple years ago I attended a private tour of his timeless Nob Hill penthouse; which has been featured in countless design publications over the lifetime of his professional career.

Buzz: What are your 2011 design trend predictions?

I don’t do trends.

Not interested.

Buzz: What makes a particular design timeless?

I think designs that are appropriate to a location, budget, and life style never go out of fashion. Many designers just can’t connect the dots between architecture, landscape and lifestyle. When something feels imposed, it’s just fashion and will not stand the test of time. When I go back on my projects of the past 31 years, there’s really very little I would change.

my secret trove revealed

i got my start in the interior design industry working for a high end european antique dealer in san francisco. i had no idea what i was getting into but four years later my appreciation of interior design has grown immensely. i've had the pleasure of working with the biggest design talents worldwide, and blessed with a rich knowledge of antiquities- for both personal and professional enrichment.

this third generation antiques dealer & restoration expert is one of the largest and most prestigious resources for the world’s finest antiques, custom furniture and museum quality restorations. i was caught off-guard by such grandeur at my interview, thinking "do people really buy this stuff". oh and believe me, they do.

when crates are delivered from overseas, i catalog & document every new acquisition. i find this examination process very satisfying due to the emphasis on detail; every intricacy is observed & recorded. i've learned to appreciate the most subtle decorations, embellishments & inlays from every angle imaginable

"Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it"

-Confucius

not your ordinary mirror

the multiple perspectives of a chandelier

some personal favorites:

lapis lazuli, ivory, mother-of-pearl & malachite

a finely carved Louis XVI leg

marquetry & parquetry inlay

the antique collection: only about a quarter of his inventory is on display at his san francisco showrooms and the rest is cooped up in a secret warehouse, all three floors full. the warehouse is eerie, cold & rickety but i like taking trips over because it feels like an ancient time warp. and, the elevator rides from floor to floor make me feel like indiana jones

the elevator shaft, looking overhead:

the secret trove:

but not everything is ancient. we make some pretty impressive reproductions, for the less-traditional clientele