The floral designs inside and out are outstanding. This living wall is part of the entry garden designed by Davis Dalbok of Living Green. We couldn’t resist the group photo opportunity!

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The fashion blogger’s office, designed by Catherine Kwong, features luxurious silk-lined drapery and upholstered walls. We were particularly blown away by the attention to detail in many of the rooms. The custom window treatments, upholstery, wall coverings, and lighting throughout the house are truly inspired. Photograph by Bess Friday.

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The master bedroom, designed by Heather Hilliard Design, is exquisitely serene and sophisticated. Wide horizontal stripes were painted along the walls and continue seamlessly along the custom-made headboard. Rich blues in the curtains and sofa along with the painting over the fireplace add just the right splash of color. Photos by Michele Lee Willson Photography.

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We loved this oversized sofa with nailhead trim in The Media Room. The giant headboard and gray hair-on-hide fabric wallpaper from Élitis are both eye-catching and sound muffling – perfect for a movie night! This room was designed by Amy Weaver of Weaver Design Group. Photo from MercuryNews.com

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The Gentelman’s Study, or “The Pavonia Room,” was inspired by the recent “Cult of Beauty” exhibit at the Legion of Honor. The room features a stunning hand-blown glass chandelier suspended over a covetable geometric desk. The Pavonia Room was designed by Geoffrey De Sousa and Robin Sussillo of Geoffrey De Sousa Interior Design. Image on the left by Alex Amend Photography.

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The open plan kitchen and lounge were designed by Green Couch Interior Design. We loved how they brightened the rooms by painting over the red bricks. Photos from Green Couch.

Do it Yourself:
The San Francisco Decorator Showcase runs from April 28th to May 28th and costs $30 per person. The proceeds go directly to the San Francisco University High School’s financial aid program, so you’ll be doing a good deed AND getting inspired. win win! The location and hours are listed on their website.

Upholstered sofa from Kravet Fabrics

1. Sentimentality of the piece
Some furniture pieces own a little piece of our hearts, and as such, I would automatically vote for reupholstery. Old, dated styles can easily be updated and modified by a good upholsterer. Have you just inherited Grandma’s 9′ sofa? We may have a better solution for the piece than simply landfill!

Before (Image from Freshly-Picked.com)

after (image from Freshly-Picked.com)

2. Quality of the piece being considered
The reality is that reupholstery labor is expensive and that if the piece isn’t well made, it can be more cost-effective to replace than reupholster. Here are a few ways to quickly assess the quality of a piece when considering what to do with it:

» If the piece is easy to flip over, take a look at its underside. How are the corners reinforced? Is it done only with hardware (i.e. steel brackets & screws?); if yes, that’s not a great sign. Well made pieces should have wood blocks to brace the corner, and the joints should be glued, screwed and double doweled.

Image from Kim's Upholstery

» Feel underneath the piece… is it a hollow space underneath the webbing? Or do you feel steel that goes from front to back of the piece? Eight way hand tied coil spring construction is generally standard in better manufactured pieces and the springs are attached to straps that go from the front of the frame to the back.

Image from Kravet Furniture

» Overall weight… it’s truly a cheater’s way of trying to figure out what’s on the inside of the piece. If it’s heavy, it’s probably got a lot of lumber (kiln-dried hardwood being the best and heavier than soft wood construction), springs, etc. A well made sofa, for example, will weigh close to, or in excess of, 200 pounds. A piece that is relatively easy to lift probably isn’t going to be worth the cost of transporting it to the upholsterers.

» Feel & comfort… while the overall dimensions of a piece will remain the same, furniture will “feel” different once the seat and back cushions are replaced. Different fabrics will also offer a different “feel.” While I consider this when advising a client, I rarely use it as a determining factor.

3. Project Deadlines
If I’m working with a tight deadline, reupholstery is the way to go! I can often turn a reupholstery project around in 2-3 weeks, whereas ordering new, custom furniture generally takes 7-14 weeks.

4. Plenty of Options
There’s little we can’t do with reupholstery and/or new upholstery. With careful thought, both should produce beautiful outcomes!

BEFORE (image from AnEclecticLife.com)

AFTER (image from AnEclecticLife.com)

5. Spend Wisely
Reupholstery will be less expensive than new, well-made, custom furniture, however, it isn’t cheap, so be smart about your decision making and have fun!

Image on left from our portfolio, image on right from ehow-home

In a kitchen, I like to put colorful hydrangeas in a white pitcher or pot.

Image from A Beach Cottage blog

In a bathroom, an olive tree adds a nice touch of green, without looking too contrived.

Potted Olive Topiary from Crate and Barrel

I also love to put a pot of orchids either in the entry or on a dining table. I use orchid bark and green moss with my orchids to make it feel finished. I try to use interesting vessels to fit a home’s decor. In this Arts and Crafts home, we used a heavy iron pot.

These preserved green spheres come in several sizes and I love putting them in bookcases, next to ceramic pots, and anywhere else that needs an edge softened and some added color. They feel fresh, but require no maintenance whatsoever. These are my clients’ favorites.

from Napa Home & Garden

With that said, we’ve seen a lot of striped fabrics, linens and ikats in recent years. What we’re now witnessing is the re-emergence of our old friend the paisley! Here are some new releases that the Ambiance team recently viewed at Schumacher’s and Osborne & Little’s Spring 2012 trunk show.

Today’s use of paisley maintains the fresh, crisp look and is a departure from the paisley of yore as it avoids the look of period or heavy design. The look is unexpectadly large in scale, which offers a crisp and vibrant appearance without feeling old, or even worse, old-fashioned.

The new paisley is exotic and vibrant! This large scale paisley (above) is everything but humdrum! Image from the Karavansara Collection by Osborne and Little.

Sarah Richardson pairs this beautiful paisley from Schumacher to create an informal country retreat. The large scale paisley pairs beautifully with the structure of the wainscoting and the fluid movement of the Asian wallcovering.

And last, but not least, is this kiwi/lemongrass cut velvet paisley chair from Joss & Main. I love the idea of using this timeless design in a contemporary setting. Talk about unexpected!

1. This sexy fan by Minka says classy, sophisticated, modern and sleek. It is hallmarked by an exceptionally quiet motor.

2. Daring and masculine, this fan by Hunter Fan Company has a clean, modern profile.

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3. Fun and eclectic, the Ar Ruthiane by Matthews Fan Co. is efficient with attitude!

4. The sophisticated styling of the Avalon by Ellington Fans makes it an easy addition to any style home.

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5. Last, but certainly not least, on our list of top ceiling fan picks, is the Cumulos by Fanimation. What an unexpected and inspired design! This fixture would be a natural fit in a game room over a pool table. It would, just as naturally, sit over a highly used kitchen island.

Check out these rooms and more in the Ambiance Portfolio!

Photos by GP Martin

Suzanne Kasler for Lee Jofa

One of my favorite designers is Suzanne Kasler. We were lucky enough to listen to her at Lee Jofa talk about her new collection shown above. We all loved her energy. She was warm and authentic. She told us she loves going to Paris flea markets, acquiring fabulous pieces and refurbishing them. This Hickory Chair sofa shown below was inspired by a piece she purchased in Paris. On the original, she painted the frame cream and pieced two colors of linen together to make this fabulous pattern. I loved seeing pictures and hearing details on how many of her projects evolved into gorgeous homes. Many of those are pictured in her book.

Meeting Suzanne Kasler at SFDC Design San Francisco

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Trina Turk was a keynote speaker. She talked about how on photo shoots for her swimwear and clothing lines, they would make pillows out of her fabulous fabrics. After the photo shoots, they would put them in her boutiques to sell. They would fly off the shelves. That was the start of her collaboration with Schumacher to make fabulous Sunbrella Fabrics as shown.

Some of the most exciting trends we noticed are:

Natural stone is still as popular as ever!  Honed, polished, tumbled, chiseled, split-face, grooved brushed & leathered slabs and tiles are amongst the choices.  Naturally variegated, and durable, we can capture any look or mood with the choices now available.

Island Stone International

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Relatively new to the residential market are semi-precious stone slabs that are begging to be backlit and shown off.  Semi-precious stones (lapis, tiger eye, onyx, agate) are softer than their more traditional stone counterparts, but offer a luminescent and luxurious look.  While it may not be the material of choice for a high-use kitchen countertop, it may be perfect for a backsplash, fireplace surround, a powder bath counter top, or a stunning piece of furniture! Ultra-swanky, and very sexy, these stones add an edginess not formerly associated with stone slabs.  While semi-precious slabs remain on the higher end of pricing, a single slab can generate a lot of bang for the buck!

The Antolini Collection at Da Vinci Marble

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Stone slabs now come in laser cut finishes that offer a decidedly more exotic look to the standard “Absolute Black” granite.

The Natura Collection at Da Vinci Marble

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During the 1970’s, 4”x4” tile was the norm.  Today’s large format tiles 12×24, 24×24, 15×36, etc. have become increasingly common and popular.  Large scale tiles offer a cleaner, sleeker, look and is a wonderful option for those who hate grout.

Da Vinci Marble

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Laser cutting glass and stone have opened the doors to infinite design possibilities.  I love mixing old world and timeless materials like stone, with new-age and sleek materials like glass.  Often, all that’s needed is an unexpected backsplash to freshen up a conventional bathroom or kitchen.

The Nadeau Collection

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What was once only considered for the interiors is perfectly acceptable for most exterior use.  Glass, ceramics, stone slabs perform beautifully in the elements.  It is such an easy way to bring the indoors out, and vice versa!

Da Vinci Marble

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Natural materials, such as grasscloth and bamboo, add texture and warmth to a room, as in this Phillip Jeffries pattern. If you’re not a big fan of patterned walls, texture is a great way to branch out.

Phillip Jeffries Wallpaper

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New wallpaper trends encourage us to break the traditional rules of scale and proportion. If you have a small room (eg. a powder room) consider a large scale pattern to add instant drama. This damask wall covering by Osborne & Little, really packs a punch and compliments the contemporary sofa beautifully.

Osborne & Little Wallpaper

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In this image the silver trellis adds glamour to a monochromatic dressing room – using a large pattern in a small room to great effect.

Thibault Design wallpaper, via Elle Decor

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I love this clean, fresh bedroom with pale lilac and chartreuse flowers on a white background – very young and chic! With lighter wall coverings, you can get away with bolder patterns.

Harlequin Wallpaper

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Don’t forget the ceiling! This year, people are going gaga for ceilings. If you have architectural details, such as tray or coffered ceilings, adding wallpaper can achieve a very dramatic look.

Alix Soubiran's wallpaper in her own home via LA Times

1. Classic Minimalism is the look for the next year! The modern simplicity of the last decade is being softened with more traditional lines. Furniture will feel more familiar and comfortable, and will retain cleaner lines to render a decidedly sexy appearance. (image below from Hickory Chair)

2. Move over chrome, brass is back again. This familiar metal accent will see a re-emergence in the market. This time, however, its application will be sleeker, more modern and less garish.

Chrome pieces by Fabricut

3. Shades of gray will replace beige and browns as the new neutral. Grays will range from heather to charcoal and will be played against bolder colors to create a vibrant palette. Meanwhile, America is still embracing a serene, and calm mood. Benjamin Moore has named Wythe Blue their color of the year for its ability to evoke images of “sky & sea.”

Benjamin Moore, shades of gray

4. Color is back in fabrics and furniture and will punch up formerly sedate, if not altogether safe, rooms. This trend started a few years ago with the increasing popularity of ikat fabrics. Today, this trend continues with colorful geometrics and solid fabrics to allow us to instantly create “pop” in a room. We see this trend continuing through 2012.

Kravet fabrics

5. Sustainability is still a key consideration in many purchasing decisions. It’s now easier than ever to adapt a healthier and earth-friendly lifestyle with the ever-growing product choices. Lighting is perhaps the most innovative of all the home furnishing segments and a full line of decorative LED lights/lamps are hitting the marketplace. As manufacturing has increased to meet consumer demand, price points are now more favorable. Look for even more fashion-forward styles to be introduced in upcoming years.

Left: House of Troy / Right: Holtkoetter

As compared with the traditional 60watt or 75 watt bulb, these dimmable LEDs operate on 3.5 watts! Now, that’s innovation!