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This blog is a collection of columns I wrote for the Lifestyles, Home and Garden Section of the Napa Valley Register. They were published...

Dear Readers, I’ve been graciously given the opportunity to make today’s column a personal one. After writing more than 300 columns in...

RD Winery, the first Vietnamese-owned winery in the Napa Valley, has at long last opened its doors. The 1600-square-foot tasting room had...

Nothing transports me to my childhood more than fresh, fragrant, sweet basil. It’s a leafy, green herb easily grown in Napa’s...

What does “less is more” really mean? It applies to various areas of life but usually enters a conversation when the topic is about style,

At the risk of sounding cliché, art can feed our spirit. To compound my risk by sounding hokey, too, I’m inviting you to do an exercise. Tha

‘To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” — Audrey Hepburn How would you like a productive and creative exercise that takes place...

these sheets feel so good that I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning

There’s a backstory to this question. It was asked by my friend, Cathy, during a small dinner gathering in my own backyard. It was one of...

I had a feeling that this year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase would be spectacular. I had been following its progress on Instagram and

Since I’ve participated in seven showcases, myself, I thought I’d give you an idea of what happens behind the scenes. If you’re not familiar

My lunch date with John Pflueger, Sonoma-based architect and head of the oldest architectural firm west of the Mississippi, included a memor

After 30 years, John Saladino still makes me swoon. This New York architect and designer doesn’t know me from a hole in the wall. Nonetheles

Have you ever wondered why you’re drawn to one style over another? Did your childhood home, a vacation or other travels influence your prefe

"Getting to Know Your Designer" ... by Joan McDonald, An interview by Aspired Design Magazine ADM: Favorite book? PLC: The Count of Monte...

Let’s get the hard part out of the way. Verre Églomisé is pronounced “ver A-glowm-ee-zay” with a slight pause after the “ver” and an emphasi

The fabric designers who produced the Rainbow Collection must have been on creative overdrive because their color combinations were luscious

Have you ever browsed through home decor magazines and wondered where to find such beautiful furnishings? You know you haven’t seen them in

A few weeks ago, Napa Valley Register feature's editor, Sasha Paulsen, and I ventured down to the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase. Thi

It is believed that on his death bed in a cheap hotel in Paris, playwright Oscar Wilde said, “This wallpaper is atrocious. One of us has to