Home & Design
Interior desires
Modern prefab is not just bold exteriors, but sleek, sustainable touches inside, too ~ By Raquel Loren. Long gone are the days when the word prefab — as in prefabrication — meant drab architecture and unimaginative interior design. Even in the Bay Area, a prefab home can be an extraordinary dwelling, and offers attractive options [...]
Personal space
Little luxuries can make the bedroom an extraordinary retreat Ah, the bedroom sanctuary! Where we shut out the din and dirt of the day, where we find serenity and recharge. A few posh touches can elevate your space so it’s fit for a queen – yes, we mean you. Resources: Bliss Home & Design 800 [...]
Fire power
Burning passion leads to eco-friendly portable fireplaces ~ By Carolyn Snyder. Lucky us: Seasonal weather in the Bay Area means outdoor entertaining should continue full-tilt for the next few months. But in a nod to the impending fall, we propose adding a scene-setting, ever-so-trendy portable fireplace to your garden or patio. They’re not so big [...]
Grow up!
Vertical gardens make walls – and fences – come alive ~ By Joan Jackson. Gardening is reaching new heights — literally — thanks to a surging interest in vertical gardens. It’s not just a matter of space. The aesthetics of a vertical garden, and its versatility indoors and out, make it an appealing choice whether [...]
Green & serene
Low-impact and low-maintenance, an architectural gem sparkles with light, art and laughter By Mandy Behbehani. The grand copper front door to Tawnie and John Farmer’s Tiburon showplace, which slopes gently down to a small beach on the eastern side of the peninsula, opens onto a long gallery that frames an unimpeded view of San Francisco [...]
Luxe urban living
New upscale developments lure sophisticates with granite countertops, fitness centers, concierge services, nearby transit and shopping – and views. What’s not to like? By Julia Prodis Sulek, photos by Desiree Northend There was a time when the Jack London Square area was just for the urban pioneers – the ones bold enough to venture into [...]
The farmer-chef connection
A new cookbook highlights how the two groups bring out the best in each other Celebrate local chefs and the farmers who grow their favorite ingredients? That’s the idea behind “The Bay Area Homegrown Cookbook” by Aaron French, executive chef at Sunny Side Cafe in the East Bay (with two locations in Albany and Berkeley) [...]
Putting on the glitz
Mix up real and faux for memorable holiday décor By Joan Jackson, photos by Holiday Foliage A few showstopping pieces, whether on the table, in an entryway or holding court in a room, can amp up a holiday gathering in a big way. The trend of late in festive eye candy is taking nature and [...]
Slick surfaces
Kitchen counters made of glass, engineered stone and much more are ready for their closeup. By Mary MacVean Photos by Ken Hively Whether the kitchen counter is just a spot to toss the keys and mail, the place for breakfast or the lab for a chili cook-off entry, it is inevitably a focal point of [...]
Designing with soul
Keep Earth and ethics in mind to create a beautiful, healthy living environment. In an era where we care deeply about our vegetables being locally grown, investigate the mining conditions of our diamond engagement ring…
