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Archive for May, 2010

Looki What I Found: Urban Farmgirls

Monday, May 31st, 2010

I spied a cool exhibit at the Willow Glen Home Tour earlier this month–Urban Farmgirls. Love the name and the pots they create are so lovely, full of texture and earthy colors.
The pots look like they have been carved out of stone. Urban Farmgirls uses cement, perlite and reclaimed fibers to create that wonderful faux stone feel. The pots are surprisingly light weight. So as I get ready to re-do my front porch, I will need to pick up a few of these. Pairing them with succulents seems too perfect.

You can find these gems at the following shops:

Emily Joubert Home & Garden
3036 Woodside Road, Woodside, CA
Ph: 650.851.3520

Bunches
14 1/2 Santa Cruz Ave. Los gatos, CA 95030
Ph: 408.395.5451

The Playful Garden
1001 Caymus Street Napa, 94559 CA
Ph: 707-258-8880

The Gardener
1836 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA
516 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA
One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA
Ph: 510 548 4545

Desiree Looking Left - Lookiloos

Posted in Backyard, courtyard, Desiree, Eco Friendly, Featured, Garden, Home and Garden, Looki What I Found, Other Cool Sites, San Francisco | 3 Comments »

Tudor Remodel:Old World Style Gets Chic Makeover

Friday, May 28th, 2010

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When you’re getting your house ready for a home tour, it’s great to have a loyal crew. Into the night, homeowner Anna Pizzo, her designer Kathleen Monarch and stager Margo Leal pulled out their favorite things to create sumptuous tablescapes, indoors and out, to complement Pizzo’s updated storybook Tudor. And a home tour just isn’t complete without floral designer Jose Ibarra coming in with his finishing touches, including a dramatic spray of dogwood in the front window.

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(Don’t you just love it when homeowners make the front window look great from inside and out, instead of just leaving the back of a couch for all eyes to see? A big thank-you from Lookiloos everywhere!) Take a look at the ceiling beams. Those were added as part of an extensive remodel, but they look like they’ve been there forever. “We made the house authentic to the time period and added special architectural details that weren’t there to begin with,” Monarch said. “We plastered, stuccoed, glazed. You name it, we did it.” Pizzo’s husband, Chris, of C. Pizzo Construction, made the vision a reality.

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Pizzo has her own catering company, Zona Rosa, so half the fun was pulling out her extensive collection of china, candlesticks and other tabletop decor to create elaborate tablescapes. The vignette above is part of an “outdoor room” in Pizzo’s backyard under a grand trellis. ”Anna wanted everything to be fresh,” Monarch said. “That was the main thing and it had to feel like you were walking through Provence.” For lookiloos walking through the Willow Glen home tour in early May, they were greeted by the smells of fresh bread and lavendar and lemons.

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As part of the house remodel, the Pizzos brought in designer Lori Kagan to update the kitchen, using Emperor Light marble for the countertops. (I wish I had succulents like that.) In the adjoining dining room, a closet was turned into a wet bar.

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Monarch of Monarch Design and Studio also helped Pizzo with the master bedroom and bath. Some of Pizzo’s favorite things came from the Alameda Flea Market and other “funky vintage shops,” Monarch said.

Monarch also helped with the interior of the Kouretas home on the tour last year. (see story below.)

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How lovely is this? Check out the zebra print on the back of the blue silk. Yummy.

Carmel hideaway with Big Sur Vibe:My fantasy

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

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If I were to pinpoint one house that truly made me a Lookiloo, it would be this Carmel hideaway. I first went through it in 2003 when it was on the market, and now, as I gasp for breath, it is for sale again. I saw it last weekend and have been obsessing about it ever since. It doesn’t look like much from the front — a brick wall spans across — but it hides a midcentury modern masterpiece inside. Enter through a gate, wander down a brick path and step inside the front door. Stand on the elevated landing and you look across a sunken living room to a wall of windows. Outside is a courtyard with three live oaks and a stone fireplace.

IFV_2903 This house actually has a Lookiloos provenance: I wrote about it in June 2003 in an essay about my open house obsession for the San Jose Mercury News. I wrote about Lookiloos like me — and this was some five years before I co-founded this website. (I’m true blue!) In it, I wrote this: “A wall of windows overlooking a courtyard of a Carmel open house makes me imagine myself a famous novelist with a salon of literay friends who drive down to Nepenthe for inspiration.” I called myself the “Walter Mitty of real estate.” Is it so hard to believe, I wrote, “that living in a great space can be inspiring and life-transforming?” I still believe that.

The house has an open staircase with one end attached to the wall and the other suspended by cables. The whole house is less than 1,400 square feet, with one bedroom and a loft, plus a studio guest house. But with the open, airy feeling and 18-foot ceilings in the living room, it feels huge.

IFV_3033 The house was designed by John Gamble, who designed a number of modern homes on the Monterey Peninsula. And now it’s for sale again, for $1.29 million. If you buy it, please let me know. Maybe you can invite me over.

For more information about the house, contact Merritt Ringer at Alain Pinel Realtors at mringer@apr.com.

And I’d love to know, if this house were yours, how would you decorate the living room?

You can also look at a couple of my other favorite Carmel and Big Sur house stories:

Big Sur’s Nepenthe Turns 60, But Log Cabin is still home

Dreaming of this Carmel Cottage Compound

Julia Looking Right - Lookiloos

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Posted in Architecture, Backyard, Carmel, courtyard, Featured, For Sale, Garden, Julia, Living Room, Modern, Peek of the Week | 3 Comments »

Willow Glen Cottage Remodel with Modern Flair

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

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Lately, I’ve become enamored with houses that are unassuming from the front, but have a major ‘wow’ factor on the inside.

From the front of this white-washed Willow Glen cottage, you might expect a chopped-up floorplan. The only feature on the facade that gives you a sense of what’s to come is the bright yellow front door. Walk inside and you’re flooded with openness and light. And you can see right through to the charming backyard.

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Homeowner Stephanie Angeli, an ”empty nester” who moved from San Francisco, first saw the house with her sister. “We did an ‘Oh my God,’ when we went through it,” she said. “Every room was perfect.”

The house had been remodeled by the previous owner who added space and lots of windows on the back of the house, looking out to the courtyard. The sisters got in their car, did a U-turn, she said, and went to the realtor’s office to put down a deposit. The house was featured on the Willow Glen Home Tour earlier this month. 4612692834_70d0918c47_o

The kitchen is also a gem, with white Carrarra marble counter tops and a sink in the corner looking into the family room.

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And the interior decor is lovely, from the the little vignette of green stemware in front of al painting on the kitchen counter, to a nicely-appointed front guest room and office. Carmen Grande of Willow Glen Home & Garden on Lincoln Avenue helped Stephanie with the furnishings and Steve Gilbert added charm to the courtyard.

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Take a look at the slideshow and tell us what space you like the best. Julia Looking Left - Lookiloos

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Posted in Architecture, Backyard, Bedroom, courtyard, Decorating, Family Room, Featured, Garden, Home and Garden, Home Decor, House Tours, Interior Design, Julia, Kitchen, Landscape, Peek of the Week, San Jose, Willow Glen | 12 Comments »

Hanchett Park Home Tour Ticket Give-Away!

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

mediterranean revival

Prairie style. Tudor Revival. American Four-square. Mediterranean Revival. You name it, the Hanchett Park Historic Home Tour in one of San Jose’s most charming and eclectic neighborhoods has it. They’ll be open for your indulgent pleasure this Saturday, May 22.

Lookiloos has just given away two tickets to two of our fans. I drew names from a bowl! Barb B. and Nancy M. were the lucky winners who each get to take a friend to five fabulous homes, plus a backyard boutique.

And I’m telling you, as a voyeur from the next neighborhood over, these homes are Lookiloos-worthy! Two in particular resonate with me: one is the one-story Mediterranean revival (pictured above) with an interior courtyard that has always been the style for my fantasy home.

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The other is this Prairie style look that feeds my clean-lined-architect’s-daughter sensibility. And wouldn’t you know an architectural designer, Steve Hinderberger of Hindesign, owns it and has filled it with modern furnishings? Here are just a few of the famous pieces you’ll see: a 1928 le Corbusier lounge chair; 1925 Marcel Breuer Wassily chairs, a 1929 Eileen Gray breakfast tabl, a 1944 Noguchi coffee table and two mid-century classics, an Eames lounge chair and ottoman and a Beroia diamond chair. The art collection is also a must-see, including an Alexander Calder.

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This is another gem — a 1920 American Four-square completely remodeled down to the studs in 2008, with new landscaping last year. The home is decorated with luxurious, contemporary furnishings.

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This is another special home, built in 1924 for the owner of the old Pomeroy’s clothing store in downtown San Jose. Gilt wall sconces, crystal doorknobs, windows and floors are all original. Enjoy the batchelder tile fireplace and a gorgeous sun room

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And if you love a storybook cottage, here’s a charming Tudor Revival owned by artist Margaret Washington and her husband, Austin. It’s loaded with original details, including exposed beams and hardware — and even the original stove!

Hanchett Park Historic Homes Tour is one day only, Saturday, May 22, from 10 to 4. You can purchase tickets for $20 in advance at Green Design, 1341 The Alameda, and at Willow Glen Home & Garden, 1123 Lincoln Ave. On May 22 tickets are $25 and will be sold on the corner of Hanchett and Sequoia avenues.

Julia Looking Left - Lookiloos

Posted in Architecture, Art, Arts and Crafts Era, Backyard, Contest, courtyard, Craftsman, Decorating, Featured, Furniture, Garden, Historic, Home Decor, House Tours, Julia, Mediterranean Style, Modern, Peek of the Week, Remodel, San Jose, Shasta Hanchett | 19 Comments »

Los Gatos Victorian

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

Front I love Victorian architecture from the outside. The front porches and the intricate detail work creating amazing patterns that keep your eyes mesmerized, but on the inside I’ve felt they can be a bit dowdy and dark. Until now. This Victorian has been remodeled and has a wonderful Metropolitan Home feel throughout.

Casual Dining

There were so many features I absolutely fell in love with. To start with the light fixtures over the casual dining table. The homeowner told me she got them from flea market sale and that they had come from a See’s candy factory. The shape is perfect, but the price was spectacular– $15 each!

Artist Studio

Now of course another favorite was the artist studio. My family might never see me again! The rustic stone walls and the skylights just make you want to stop, stay and create.

The master suite was truly an escape with a large window seat and views of the city. The master bath had all the bells and whistles from the marble counters to the elaborate dual sinks–nothing was left behind.

And, lastly one of my favorites had to be the guest bath The mirror over the vanity matched the plaster cut-out over the shower and toilet. This remodeled home had so much thought put into the details. And, I’m so glad they did!

Victorian Guest Bath

This home is currently for sale. You can check out the Realtor’s virtual tour here. And if you’re in the neighborhood you should see it in person because it is one fabulous home.

Desiree Looking Left - Lookiloos

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Posted in Architecture, Desiree, Featured, For Sale, Historic, Interior Design, Los Gatos, Metropolitan, Peek of the Week, Remodel, Victorian | 3 Comments »

Not Too Shabby Full of Vintage Treasures

Friday, May 14th, 2010

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From one-of-a-kind vintage furniture to heirloom china and jewelry to unique garden accents, Not Too Shabby is filled with treasures. Owner Vikki Graham and her team of “hunters” scour 100_7368 Northern California for unique, charming and stylish finds — all at affordable prices. From Asian style to Art Deco, Shabby Chic to French Country, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a chest of drawers and a lamp or a set of silver and chinz.

Some of Not Too Shabby’s favorite customers are the Lookiloos girls, who so adored a set of Asian-inspired outdoor chairs from the 1960s, they split the set and wrote about it on their home and garden site (www.lookiloos.com) as well as the San Jose Mercury News.

Stay tuned for another Vikki venture: she will be opening an annex across the parking lot to provide furniture and garden rentals for staging companies and event planners.

Do you want to see the Asian fretwork chairs from Not Too Shabby that Lookiloos co-founders Julia and Desiree fought over? Their “smackdown” appeared in the Mercury News here.

Not Too Shabby is located at:
481 South Bascom Avenue
San Jose, CA 95128

Business hours:
Monday-Saturday 10-7
Sunday 10-5

Contact Not Too Shabby at 408-275-1129

Posted in Not Too Shabby, Sponsors | 4 Comments »

Kitchen Remodels Galore, Craftsman, Neoclassical

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Depression-Era Charm, with Sparkle

Nearly every house at the recent Naglee Park home tour in downtown San Jose had a remodeled kitchen, and all of them had something special. Which one do you like best?

depression era charm-breakfast nook

This kitchen, with the chandelier over the kitchen sink and the white table in the breakfast nook, looks right out of the 1930s. It’s the home of Cindy and Phil Olow and was built in 1903 by Wolfe & McKenzie. The kitchen was “gently updated” with new counters, but the cabinets are original.

: Tin Ceiling Kitchen in Eclectic Shingle Style House

Tin Ceiling in Kitchen of Eclectic Shingle Style

The kitchen of this 1905 eclectic shingle-style home, remodeled by architect Steve Hinderberger of Hindesign, added subway tile and new counters, but preserved the great pass-through window to the deck. Owners Mike Howerton and Gary Rucker helped install the cool tin ceiling. Click here to see a backyard landscape Hinderberger did in the Hanchett neighborhood.

(keep scrolling for more kitchens..)

Neoclassic bungalow kitchen

This wonderful kitchen of a 1911 neoclassical bungalow has been featured in “Bungalow Kitchens” because of its unique cove ceilings. When owners Lori and Jeffrey Leonard, the fourth owners of the home, moved the old refrigerator, they were surprised to find a pass-through to the dining room.

Eclectic neoclassic kitchen remodel

The owners of this 1904 eclectic neoclassical house remodeled the kitchen to include black soapstone counters and craftsman-style cabinetry. Lori Littleford and her husband, John Pearson, found hardware for the cabinets at Briarwood antiques on W. San Carlos in San Jose.

Which kitchen do you like best? Anyone dreaming of a kitchen remodel?

Julia Looking Left - Lookiloos

Posted in Antiques, Architecture, Arts and Crafts Era, Craftsman, Featured, Historic, Home and Garden, Julia, Kitchen, Naglee Park, Neoclassic, Peek of the Week, San Jose, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

From Tudor and Art Deco to Zen, Willow Glen Home Tour Inspires

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

When four girlfriends and I escaped our kids for the afternoon, piled into my mini-van, and headed out for the Willow Glen Lifestyles Home Tour, we made a pact that we wouldn’t get green with envy by getting a glimpse into others’ beautiful living spaces. We’d be inspired.

There were many things to love about these homes, opened up by generous owners to benefit the San Jose Day Nursery. All were very different from each other ranging in style from Tudor to Art Deco to Southwestern Zen, and I walked away with several ideas. Some I can implement now, with not too much time and money, and some for later requiring more resources.

For my immediate inspiration, it turns out décor doesn’t have to be highbrow. In more than one home, family photos were artistically photographed, framed and placed. And in the wine cellar of Erin and Michael Craig’s 1929 home hung a shadow box containing a German 9mm Luger.

We all really loved Anna and Chris Pizzo’s Tudor, which I think had less to do with square footage and more to do with all the little details–like the faded stenciling in the hallway–and eclectic accessories, many of which came from the Vintage Flea Market in Alameda.

With a little more planning and money, I’d copy the Pizzo’s outdoor dining room exactly—an impressive arbor with a chandelier hanging from it. I’d add a concrete couch decorated with colorful pillows like the Hermosa home along with concrete raised garden beds painted bright colors. I’d turn myTV into art , and if I ever purchase bunk beds for my boys, I’ll wire a light switch high on the wall so you can reach it without getting out of bed.

With a much bigger budget, I’d add on to the front of my house and not worry about the fact that I just remodeled my kitchen with a corner sink overlooking the yard. Because in Stephanie Angeli’s home, such a kitchen sink overlooks the family room that was an add-on and it turned out uniquely great.

If I had a bigger lot, I’d consider a swimming pool with different lounging levels and contrasting materials like Kris and David Gambelin’s home. If couldn’t get such a lot and wanted to get really creative (or crazy), I’d move next to my sister, tear down the fence between us, and create one big, shared, drought resistant landscape like the Gilliand home. This was the home gave me the case of the envies. I’m not sure if it was the Japanese soaking tub, the utility room bigger than my bedroom, or the calmness that permeated the air, but I didn’t want to leave that space.