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Commissioned Art Adds Final Touch to a Tiny Bath Update
Final 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.

PLC
4 min read


Which White Works?
As we went down her written list of questions, we came to the subject of wall color. I suggested one that may not seem very creative. White.

PLC
3 min read


What is Feng Shui and Does it Work?
Feng Shui, pronounced “Fung Shway”, is one of the Five Arts of Chinese Metaphysics and is influenced by Chinese astronomy. The practice, whi

PLC
4 min read


Question: We have a two-story house with open stairs. Should we close them? What can we do with ...
the wasted space beneath them? Your open stairs lead me to a few open-ended questions. What is the style of your house? Is your staircase...

PLC
2 min read


When Couple’s Styles Clash
It’s not often that couples tell me, “We have the same taste, the same ideas, and the same goals.” So, a few years ago, I created an exercis

PLC
2 min read


Design, Draperies, and Math
Math was on overdrive recently while designing draperies. I’ll describe the situation but don’t worry about following it precisely. The idea

PLC
3 min read


Question: We’re renting a house while deciding whether to rebuild our home or live elsewhere in ...
the future. We lost it in the Napa fires. In the meantime, we’re renting furniture which is expensive to do (and uncomfortable). Can you...

PLC
2 min read


Question: The inside of my house does not get much sunlight and it’s difficult to grow plants ...
It’s true that many artificial plants look fake. Even the silk ones can look like plastic or paper. But there are companies whose potted pla

PLC
2 min read


Allure of Craquelure ... The Inspiration for a New Accessory
There is an age-old phenomenon, a fine pattern of dense cracking called “craquelure”, that sometimes occurs on the surface of oil paintings

PLC
3 min read


Eclectic Style from Different Continents and a Pop of Orange
An eclectic style is hard to describe and even harder to create. It’s a careful mix of treasures, travels and memories reflected in furnishi

PLC
4 min read


Question: I have a rug under my dining table and am looking for another for my family room...
These rooms are actually one big room. I know the rugs should not match, but what do I look for so that the two coordinate? Also, are...

PLC
3 min read


Design Like Einstein
(Originally published in the Napa Valley Register) Did you happen to catch the recent 10-part series, “Genius”, on the National...

PLC
3 min read


C2 Paint ... Artisan Pigments, Exclusive Technology, and Eco-Friendly
The most durable paint has historically been oil-based. However, it is increasingly difficult to find, especially in California due to its r

PLC
5 min read


Question: We lost our home in the Napa fires and are now working on new plans on the same lot ...
We belong to an HOA so much of the design is predetermined. But the interior style is completely up to us. Our last style was very mixed...

PLC
3 min read


Coco Chanel Whispered in my Ear
At the end of a recent meeting with a client, I said, “I’m going to write about this”. Not only had Coco Chanel’s words come to mind (which

PLC
3 min read


Question: We want to replace our kitchen counter top. At first we thought we’d use granite but ...
now my wife is looking at quartz. There are so many quartz options and now we are confused. Do you recommend granite or quartz and could...

PLC
2 min read


Question: Can you shed some light on buying leather chairs?
Let’s start with the basics. The strongest and most durable part of a cow hide is just below the hair. Leather made from this area is called

PLC
3 min read


Question: How can we paint different rooms in our house different colors without making...
Let’s say your house has 10 rooms on a single floor and that you have three distinct paint colors in mind (not including trim and door color

PLC
1 min read


Question: We're getting ready to paint the inside of our house. You can see the kitchen, dining ...
room, family room and staircase at the same time. There are a lot of angles. My favorite color is purple but of course that won't work....

PLC
2 min read


Question: I just moved into my new home and will be painting, getting new furniture and doing ...
some things to update. I’ll be keeping a few of my current things but I need enough new ones that would allow me to create a new style. I...

PLC
2 min read
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