PLC3 minWaiting for PerfectToday’s column is my very first prequel. My upcoming Home and Garden centerpiece will feature a renovation of a home on Napa’s Historic...
PLC5 minA Dutch Colonial Revival Revived AgainIn October of 2019, homeowners, John and Janet German, asked for my help in renovating their newly purchased home. It was a home that...
PLC5 minA Home’s Renovation and Connection to Napa's MalfattiBesides being the place where Cayetano Juarez died (while sitting at the bar in 1883), the Depot is known for its malfatti. Virginia, a nati
PLC4 minChoosing a Style and Sticking to itAsk Napa resident, Holly Quate, what her favorite design style is and she’ll answer, “Art Deco or Mid-century Modern or maybe Craftsman.” As
PLC4 minCommissioned Art Adds Final Touch to a Tiny Bath UpdateFinal touches to a bathroom update. It was a 1959 San Francisco flat where most bathrooms of that era and in that city, are itty bitty.
PLC2 minThree D-I-Y Problems SolvedToday’s column comes to you by way of permission from three recent clients. Clients who, before undertaking do-it-yourself projects,...
PLC2 minLooking at a Space with a Fresh EyeThere’s a Stephen Sondheim song titled, “A funny thing happened on the way to the forum.” That’s how I felt on my way out the door after mee
PLC4 minHow Architecture Inspired a Color PaletteColors aside, when I pulled up to the front of the building, I was immediately struck by one significant feature — its portico. It led to th
PLC3 minTaupe - How this Color Kept me on my ToesWhat color does your mind’s eye see when you think of “taupe”? A version of beige? Khaki? Gray? Pink? You’d all be correct. But what is tau
PLC2 minThe Surprising Power of the KitchenNo doubt, the kitchen is the heart of the home and the place where a lifetime of memories are made. I have a special story to tell that make
PLC4 minA Nod to Water-Wise Landscaping ... An Old Garden is Redesigned with Drought -Resistant Plants I drew scaled site plans and then dug into my box of color pencils. When possible, I kept current plants in place and filled in with more o
PLC4 minClient Asks for a Joyful ExperienceWhen clients, Jeff and Cathy, asked me to help them remodel their kitchen, I did what I always do. I asked them to write a list of their goa
PLC2 minHow Words Define Your Tile StyleEnvisioning my clients’ goal came easily. Listening to the operatic passion of “La Boheme” while I sketched set the mood and inspired me fur
PLC2 minCatch-All RoomsDo you have a catch-all room? Part home office, part guest bedroom, and part storage for this and that? My client, Jane, had such a room. Ti
PLC2 minKitchen Countertop on the 6th FairwayI could see the fear in my client’s eyes. Display after display begged him to make a decision. Phil wanted to be on the golf course, next to
PLC3 minGreen Galley KitchenLong time clients, Russ and Stephanie, love green. Not the eco-friendly kind per se, but the color - from sage to khaki and all shades of ol
PLC3 minA Winemaker's Bachelor Pad Do it Yourself. Do it with Heart.Martini-drinking, tuxedo-wearing, Dean Martin Rat Pack movies come to mind when I think of bachelor pads. But my client's home, filled with
PLC3 minInside OutI hear this phrase all the time, “bringing the outdoors in”. Today, I’m bringing the indoors … out. Design is about space, scale, balance, f
PLC3 minA Fabric Journey ... From Contemporary to Tropical to Traditional In the realm of home improvement, two trends remain strong: Homeowners are focused on their kitchens and bathrooms. And, they are increasing
PLC3 minQuestion: I just bought a plain, white box condo. I have zero furniture. I like many colors and ...styles and haven’t decided on anything yet. I want to use color in a big way. I saw on your website that you sometimes used it...