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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.

According to design industry gurus, the gray trend is dead and the brown trend is returning. However, they’ve been predicting such changes

the “Savonnerie”, was considered the most prestigious of knotted, pile rugs in 17th century Europe. Its name comes from its manufactory, lo

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

How would you like to automatically and easily add value to your home? What if it hardly cost more than a little sweat equity and a weekend? With a bit of effort, neighborhoods may not only increase their property value but also enjoy the aesthetic rewards. You may have heard the real estate term “location, location, location” when defining the value of property. But one does not need an ocean, a manicured park, a city skyline, or a landmark like the Golden Gate Bridge to be

Batik is a wax-resist dyeing technique that is applied to cloth (which has first been washed, soaked and beaten with a mallet). “Wax-resist”

Art versus design has been a provocative topic throughout the ages. But there are points that can be agreed. The success of each is the resu

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.

As the saying goes, “What have you done for me lately?” If you’re talking to your kitchen faucet, the response would be lengthy. Faucets was

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

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 an architectural focal point and, if not, do you want it to be? Do you need more storage or additional space to meet other needs? How nimble are you on your feet? First, a few words about the advantages of open stairs. Since there are no risers (the vertical pieces that connect two horizontal treads to each other), you can see through your

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

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

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 guide us in starting over when buying new furniture? My heart goes out to you and I’ve given this some extra thought. Since you don’t know the sizes or configurations of rooms in your future home, keep a few things in mind: When it comes to upholstery, don’t invest in a sectional. It’ll take up a lot of space and, at this point, you don’t kn

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

There is an age-old phenomenon, a fine pattern of dense cracking called “craquelure”, that sometimes occurs on the surface of oil paintings

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

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 draperies out of fashion? (Originally published in the Napa Valley Register) I have a bit of insight into these questions as they come from my friend, Margie. When we were out walking the other day, I told her that I didn’t have any “ask” questions for my upcoming column and wondered if she had any. She did. Since I know exactly what her dining

(Originally published in the Napa Valley Register) Did you happen to catch the recent 10-part series, “Genius”, on the National Geographic channel? The series spanned the life of Albert Einstein from his early days as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland to his death in Princeton, New Jersey. It focused more on his life, loves, struggles, and theories than math and physics, although, there were a few fascinating animations to help viewers visualize what he was thinking. At one

The most durable paint has historically been oil-based. However, it is increasingly difficult to find, especially in California due to its r