La Gondola

I could spend hours wandering around Etsy—You can find the most amazing shops. Stil Novo is one not to miss.

Rocking Horse

Using recycled oak barrel staves, Stil Novo creates uniquely designed items for your home. I purchased a gift from Stil Novo to give to my Aunt and Uncle for the holidays. I could hardly wait. Then a few days later this wonderfully wrapped package was on my doorstep.

Key Chain with Daisies

As I opened it to see my prize, I knew something wasn’t quite right. My heart sank it was damaged during shipping. I thought “Great, this is all I need.” Well, let me tell you Camilla at Stil Novo was as sweet as can be. After jumping through all the hoops fedex tossed at her—I got my gift in time for the holidays—and that was all Camilla and her talented husband. The second shipment came in a crated wood box. It was thrilling to use tools to pry it open. So, I urge you to check out Stil Novo. Follow them on FaceBook, so you won’t miss a single creation.

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

I have been a fan of Heather Bullard’s store for quite some time.  I love looking at the French vintage pharmacy bottles, zinc place cards and fun votive candle holders. 

A writer,stylist and photographer, Heather’s online shop of vintage finds and line of reproduction furniture speak to “weathered elegance and comfortable beauty.”  Check out her blog, it  features tips and tricks for a modern vintage lifestyle, where it is the little touches that matter.

I am particularly enamored by this Bronze Nest chandelier.  It  features delicate crystal leaf accents and candle lightbulb holders for a reasonable $199.95.    I also am eyeing a few of these Zinc Bee Hooks,  perfect for hanging kitchen towels  or garden tools at $8.95 each.

Kari and Kijsa at the Designing for Life Blog are hosting a fun blog carnival where bloggers are posting up their favorite rooms.  My fellow Lookiloos Desiree and Julia have posted videos about their favorite spaces here and here.  I haven’t done so yet so I thought this is my chance to give you all a sneak peek.  Check out the other peeks into other’s homes here.   Better yet, join the fun and post one of your own!

Here are my answers to the questions they posed:

1. Where it is in your home…
These photos are from my dining room.  There are two things I LOVE about the dining room.  First, the plates I bought from Pottery Barn.  They are all my favorite colors and just match the house perfectly.  Plus it was CHEAP wall art! 

Secondly, I love the view from sitting in my dining room and looking into the foyer and living room.  I love bright colors, so I have painted each room a different color.  When you sit in my dining room, you see all the colors and how they blend together.  Note the different shades of yellow.  The floral pictures were hard won at my children’s school auction.

2. Your favorite style (eclectic, Traditional, Cottage, retro, unfinished, Shabby Chic…).
My style is eclectic, colorful, California casual, child friendly,unique, Matisse-like, sometimes abstract.

3. A favorite item in the room (a story about it too, if you want!!)
I love the round window in my living room that you can sort of see above the red Asian media cabinet. It is an unusual feature you would not expect.

I traded peeking at homes this weekend for being an art lookiloo instead.  Kids in tow, I braved the San Jose heat and hit the 33rd Annual Tapestry Arts Festival in downtown San Jose.  What is not to like – funnel cake, lemonade and booths filled with local art? It is just the place to find  unique decorating pieces that you just can’t pick up at Pottery Barn.  I love getting the chance to speak with artists and getting a glimpse into what inspired them.

Here are a few things that caught my eye:

Created by artisan, Dave Bruce from Phoenix, AZ, these are not your average bird house.  Take a closer look, each bird house is uniquely made with bright color and household items, like paintbrushes, door knobs and spoons.  These are sure to attract equally spunky birds to your backyard.  Check out his site here.  He also hand crafts furniture.

I also ran into award winning artist Oscar Celis of New Creations Metal Arts. Based in Murrieta, he makes surreal indoor/outdoor art out of sheet metal.  Each work of art is created free hand, hammered, welded and painted.  Ranging from rhinos to sun bursts to wine racks, you are sure to find something that will perk up your backyard.  Check out his site to catch him at a local festival. 

I am always impressed by ingenious inventors of things that seem obvious but are perfectly executed.  Dave Drake developed The Bed Desk (something I’ve been needing for years!) to save  those of us who like to read in bed, need a work surface when lounging on the sofa and need some place to keep our warm lap top off your knees.   Sold in specialty stores world wide, ebay or via art shows, Dave is happy to customize each of the birch wood tables to make it taller or shorter for you if needed.  Each product comes with a life time guarantee.  Check out his video here.   Yes, this is Dave himself modeling the Bed Desk!

Desiree, Julia and I hit the BlogHer 08 conference this weekend, so instead of cruising open houses, we have been cruising the inside of the Westin St. Francis hotel.  It has some gorgeous details and we are holed up in the “historic” wing of hotel.  (READ: the older side)

The hotel bedding is absolutely luxurious and honestly, I am loving having my own bed:)  I especially am loving the beautiful chandelier in our room – Inspiring me to get one for my own bedroom to class it up.

We have been meeting some great women bloggers who love looking at, imagining and exploring homes just like us. It has been great to find kindred souls who get our quirky obsession!

Here are a few of our new gal pals – check ‘em out:

Jamie of Jamie’s Painting and Design, her own blog and SV Moms Blog.

Aurora of Aurora Fox Design

Bonggamom and Mod Mom who also write for SV Moms Blog too!

- Sheila