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.
(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.
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.
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.
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.)
How lovely is this? Check out the zebra print on the back of the blue silk. Yummy.
You might also enjoy these stories:
Design Inspiration:Big Remodel Maintains Homey Feel
Jose’s Tabletop Decor Inspired by Chinese Take-out
Here’s the complete slideshow:
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[...] Tudor Remodel:Old World Style Gets Chic Makeover « Lookiloos [...]
Another great story, Julia. And another beautiful home on the tour, with help from Kathy. How fun that I can enjoy seeing my house again too. Thanks
Thanks Dana….you are the best! I have to laugh when I see the first photo of the table that Anna Pizzo, my genius stager Margo who you know and myself all staying up until after 1am at night doing that table setting and anna running out into the yard and cutting down a lavender plant to put in the compote so we could finish doing the table with the concept of being in Provence. Awesome people came through the tour for 2 days and I really appreciated the comments and passed them along to margo and Anna and Janice who did the faux painting for the last few years. Chris pizzo is awesome to work with as a contractor because if you have an idea he just makes it happen and walls get taken down, beams get put up, archways happen, fireplaces take shape and always are done to perfection. it takes a village to remodel a home for years as you know!!!!
You can tell a lot of hard work and talent went into the house and the staging! You all make a good team
love it, love it, love it, love it……do you think I love it?
I have loved this home for years and years and always imagined it was a lovely english style cottage inside with lots of comfy furniture all rumpled and now it’s become a tuscan faux painted I don’t know what.
[...] A Remodeled Tudor: Lookiloos. [...]
I love this home! There are alot of Tudor style homes in the neighborhood where I live, and I love to just drive down the street and look at them all!
Dear Lookiloos,
Thanks for doing the article on Anna Pizzo’s house. There were so many details and items that I tryed to take pictures of in my head as I just coveted her home and taste. As a realtor I am in one house after another and few larger or smaller are more wonderful then the Pizzo’s home! Thanks again for the article now I can go to the pictures and admire her taste and colors and just everything it was just scrumptious (no pun intended since Anna is a caterer) However, my husband did love her cookies!!!
Thanks Karen! That was so sweet of you. I too loved that home—so many things to photograph! I had the best time. ≈desiree