Home & Design
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…
The kitchen of the future – is here
A peek at some innovative new appliances that take convenience, function and style to a whole new level. Who knew that “sexy” could ever be used to describe a range hood? Often overlooked and clunky…
Fun at Fig
Fig’s Ray Garcia By Katharine Fong Chef Ray Garcia’s Fig Restaurant in Santa Monica is drawing raves, and Northern California can claim some credit for its success: Garcia, 34, honed his skills under Douglas Keene at Cyrus (Healdsburg) and Thomas Keller at The French Laundry (Yountville). A native Angeleno who originally set out to become [...]
Extraordinary florals
Striking succulents for bouquets and boutonnieres By Joan Jackson; photos by Ryan Jensen Photography Most brides dream of a bouquet of stephanotis, roses or lilies. But the bride who doesn’t want to march to Mendelssohn should consider kalanchoe, crassula and echeveria. If those aren’t exactly familiar it is because they are succulents, more often found [...]
Setting the stage
Home stagers on showing off your best asset By Deborah Petersen Swift If you’ve ever walked into an open house thinking “Why can’t my house look like this?” it’s a good bet that a professional home stager has been at work. A great stager can transform a nondescript house into a home that immediately pulls [...]
