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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

When 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

Lighting has a powerful impact on emotions. So much so that it can keep memories vivid for decades. In design, it adds texture, volume, cont

When it comes to shape, style, and sometimes finish, let your plumbing and lighting fixtures be your guide. Are these fixtures modern, tradi

The type of wood flooring we’re most familiar with is hardwood made from oak, walnut, teak, maple, mahogany, hickory, beech, and alder to na

A woman strolling along a street in Paris spotted Picasso sketching near a sidewalk cafe. Not so thrilled that she couldn’t be slightly pres

Envisioning my clients’ goal came easily. Listening to the operatic passion of “La Boheme” while I sketched set the mood and inspired me fur

The Monuments and Memorials at the National Mall in Washington D.C. also pull at my heartstrings. They represent the same extraordinary, ult

Pantone is known for The Pantone Color Matching System which standardizes color reproduction. This standardization allows different manufact

Is “enduring trends” an oxymoron? This year alone, I’ve read that gray is the new white, that navy is the new gray, that jewels tones rule,

Do 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

There are enough species of flowers, shrubs and trees to accommodate different styles of moonlit gardens – from classic, romantic and fragra

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

Happy 100th Birthday, Dada. Love it or hate it, I’m not sure “happy” is the right word to describe Dada under any circumstances. Nevertheles

Imagine this … Pope Julius II walking the streets of the Eternal City noting the progress of Renaissance masters at work. Imagine architects

Can you fit a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, closet, and living space into 220 square feet? San Francisco may soon change its building code to

I 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

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

Did you jump on the Downton Abbey bandwagon? I did. Now that Season 2 is over, I’m suffering from jittery withdrawal! What eye candy could p

Long 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