If You're Going to San Francisco...

Click on photos to enlarge...

Be sure to wear a heavy coat! Well, it's that time of year. Gloomy Summer. My favorite. Dreaming of sunshine and sitting in the fog. Brrrr...The rest of the country may be sweltering in the grip of record summer heat and drought, but we here in San Francisco are lost in a blanket of grey gloom. Our usually lovely view of mountains, Twin Peaks and the East Bay is a bank of fog. We can hardly see the cars in front of us while driving down the street. And everyone is all bundled up like we're in Alaska. Actually I think it's colder here than Alaska. It is 51 degrees and windy as well. YES, I just checked. It's 62 degrees in Anchorage, Alaska. Unbelievable! No one believes me when I say, "if you're coming to San Francisco in the summer, bring a coat!" Fisherman's Wharf must make huge profits in the summer selling thousands of sweatshirts to tourists trying to stay warm! Everyone is walking around in Bermuda shorts with sweatshirts of Alcatraz. Scary. As it is said, "the only seasons in San Francisco are Summer, Winter and Fog." Also, the overused quote, supposedly by Mark Twain, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” This is true.

So for all of you in need of air conditioning, please come to San Francisco. I guarantee you will cool off right away and start missing those sandals! I sure do!2229807565389115290

Updated House Photos

Just thought I'd share some current photos of my home. Thanks to my friend Sandy who did such a great job with his professional camera equipment! And thanks Della Wilson for all of your help in completing the bedroom. I never thought I'd finish! I do love the Tiffany blue touch.

Be sure and click on the photos to enlarge...

Vito resting in the living room





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San Francisco Design Finds

This month's issue of San Francisco Magazine, the "Ultimate Home Decor Issue" is a wonderful guide for design finds in the Bay Area. Nineteen of the region's most discriminating design experts share their favorite local shops and artisans. Love it! The issue also features my Victorian gilt faux bamboo corner parlor chairs. The chairs are available for purchase on my web site.Thank you to my friend Sheri Sheridan at Swallowtail in San Francisco who was my partner in getting this placement.

If you are visiting San Francisco in the near future you should check out Swallowtail located in Russian Hill. It's one of my favorite and most eclectic shops in the City! Check out these photos... The store is jam-packed with the most interesting furnishings...modern decor, black & white photography, eclectic vintage and quirky objects. Much of my own home is furnished with Swallowtail finds.

The 30th Annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase was held last month and what an amazing home it was! I've never toured a 55 million dollar home, and this was amazing. The views, spectacular! The tour was held at the gorgeous mansion located at 2901 Broadway, at the top of Pacific Heights. This home, designed in 1927 by Henry Clay Smith for local industrialist Milton S. Ray, opened its doors to the public for the first time ever. Owned by the Mitchell family since 1946, this Renaissance style mansion consists of 10,000 square feet, with 6 bedrooms, 6.5 baths on four levels and has been decorated by some of the best of the best. The elevator foyer featured a pair of my gilt corner chairs.6466204169212511009