Saffron and Genevieve

The black and white striped awning catches your eye as you are strolling down Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz. As you approach the large Victorian windows—it’s apparent—you must stop in. Owner Scarlett Reed, is a self-proclaimed buyer extraordinaire. Her shop Saffron and Genevieve is proof that she has got a great eye for unexpected gems.

Growing up in the Bay Area, she has always had a passion for design. After working with many designers, she took the plunge and started her own design business.

Front Window Display

Metal Garden Chair

Saffron and Genevieve has been offering the most wonderful treasures of antiques and furnishings for your home and an eclectic collection of gifts for the past five years. Her shop is always evolving. One of her many talents is taking old vintage pieces in desperate need of care and redesigning and reupholstering. Classic well made frames are the only requirement to get a new lease on life. Scarlett seems to know where to find great handmade items from local artists. Finding that special one of a kind gift is a snap at Saffron and Genevieve.

Leather Boots

Scarlett has recently partnered up with Oak & Company, an organic, fair-trade, sustainable clothing label and together they are hosting an celebration on January 14th. Tea and treats from 11am to 4pm and an opening party from 5pm to 9pm. I love these boots—they are handmade and the soles are crafted from recycled tires. No two pairs are alike—you can even see the white wall on some! Keeping old tires out of landfills and looking fabulous at the same time—now that’s an amazing feat!

Saffron and Genevieve
910 B Soquel Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831.462.4506

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.

"Meat" sign for sale at Briarwood Antiques. Who wants it?

When one of our readers snapped a picture of this “MEAT” sign in the window of Briarwood Antiques and Collectibles on W. San Carlos in San Jose, I knew I had to use it as a centerpiece.  As our gracious reader put it, “Things are getting interesting at the local antique store.”  I’ll say.  If I owned a nightclub, this would be my welcome sign. It’s priced, we think, at about $900. I’ll try to get more info later, including about the gun-wielding guy in the background. Tell me: where would you put the MEAT sign?

Love the Fabric

Recently, I stumbled across a shop in San Francisco.  Past Perfect–the name alone draws you in and inspires aimless wandering.  I have to say I was inspired and boy did I wander.  The shop consists mainly of mid-century classics  to funky modern.  The prices range from reasonable to slightly sinful.

Eero Saarinen Style Bar Stools $650

Pair of Modern Dutch Light Fixtures $175

Now,  I hardly walk out of one of these places without a little bag in my hand and I’m happy to report I had a bag.

My Mad Men Style Low Ball Glasses

It  was filled with 8 modern low ball glasses.  These glasses remind me of one of my guilty pleasures–no, not vodka gimlets–but Mad Men that wonderful AMC series.  If you haven’t seen it yet, you should definitely check it out.  The style and panache displayed on that show is absolutely fab.  These glasses make me so happy, I decided to host a Mad Men cocktail party. So, I will definitely make another stop in at Past Perfect to perfect my 60′s decor.

Past Perfect

2224 Union St.

San Francisco, CA 94123

or

2246 Lombard St.

San Francisco, CA 94123

Here’s the complete slideshow:

What the heck is that?  Wait, what’s that in the window?  I loop around the block to check it out. It’s an interior design shop. Yippee! And it looks so wonderful.  Now, of course my client is waiting, so I can’t stop now.  I find my way  and finish my photo shoot.  I ask my client, “Have you been to the Brick Monkey?”  She had not, but heard they had some wonderful things.  So, I pack up my gear and I head back down to the Brick Monkey.  I crossed that threshold and instantly felt like a kid in a candy shop.

I have so many favorite things I wish I could have brought home with me. The cow painting at $395 is to die for and the turquoise sofa so inviting, so calming,  it chases my winter blues away.  Another one of my favorites is this set of metal nesting tables for $1350.00 and let’s not forget these fabulous chairs.  I love the geometric shapes of the leather.  Now here is the best part—Brick Monkey is having their very first factory floor sale!  All of their custom metal furniture will be up to 70% off.  So mark your calendars for January 23rd and 24th.  Be sure to come prepared with a large vehicle and moving pads to bring your one-of-a kind treasure home.  Trust me on this. Bring a big car.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been caught in the wrong vehicle.  Once a year,  designer Stephanie Kolkka, a Brick Monkey partner and the metal-smith( who created those wonderful nesting tables) clears out her Napa Valley studio to make way for new designs.  Expect great savings and wonderful finds.  OK, I’m putting this out there— I’m up for the floor sale! Who else wants to make the trip? I’ll drive and I’ve got a big suburban. Let me know. We could meet for coffee  (Peet’s preferably) and then some serious shopping! C’mon it’s twenty ten and we all could use a dose of fresh!  Comment here or drop me an email—desiree@lookiloos.com

Brick Monkey

2400 Broadway
Redwood City, CA 94063
650.260.1155

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Don't mind the seamless green screen---working on a different project

Three weeks ago I purchased a set of 4 iron chairs to go in my backyard for $39 each. They are wing-backed in style with great fret work. They need a little cleaning up, a coat of paint and some cushions. Oh how I wish Laura from ShorehouseChic lived on this coast—she is a seamstress extraordinaire!

Continuing on my roll, after the holidays I stopped in at a local nursery. I was desperate for all white cyclamen for my front window box. My decorative cabbage had perished in the frost earlier and I had guests coming over. Isn’t that how it always happens you walk past the dried-up and shriveled plant for days thinking “I gotta take care of that” then your hosting a last minute dinner party and you send your son out into the cold to re-plant.

“Seriously, Mom. Who is gonna see it? It’s gonna be dark and it’s freezing out there,” said my youngest. Freezing??? C’mon you don’t know freezing. Try winter in Connecticut. I did that once and I learned my lesson. The next winter was spent in Florida. I kid you not.

“Never-mind that. Plant away—you can warm up when you’re done” I replied, with a chilly tone in my voice. And here is the part you have all come to know about me and hopefully find it quite endearing—I digress. So, back to the nursery, I spied a little one light chandelier for $5. You can’t walk away from a 5 dollar chandelier. It will be perfect on my front porch!

So my point is and yes I do have one—I’m on a roll finding the perfect thing for my home at a super cheap inexpensive price! This weekend Move It Elsewhere is having their once a month sale and I’m going. I feel like I can’t miss. I’m not sure what I will find or what I need to transform my living space, but one thing I do know I’m on a roll!

Chimes from glass bottles.

I recently got a hot tip regarding a shop in Half Moon Bay. HMB is a quaint seaside community, with lovely shops and restaurants.  (FYI–The Flying Fish has amazing fish tacos).  A Lookiloos reader contacted me and said “You must see this place.”   Now,  as you know, it doesn’t take this particular Lookiloo much prodding to get herself over to the coast.   I decided today was the day. I had an early morning photo shoot and nothing the rest of the day, so over the hill I headed.  It couldn’t have been a more gorgeous day.  Temperatures in the low 70′s with a very slight sea breeze, ahhhh….sorry, back on track now.

Glass Face Sconces

Half To Have It is a charming emporium.  They specialize in antiques, furniture, collectibles and wonderful things for the garden.  As you enter the courtyard you are walking on crushed glass and ceramic pottery. (NOTE: Closed-toe shoes would be a recommendation.)  I fell in love with the chimes made from glass bottles and they were quite reasonably price at $27.  And, while we’re on the glass subject…I loved the glass face sconces.  I wish I could have seen them glowing at night.  A bit pricier at $78, but so different and worth it.

A Pig Can Fly!

Folk art is charming, fun and so unpretentious.  There is no shortage of it here.  My two favorites would have to be the  flying pig ($125) and the pink flamingos ($295).  I mean how can you go wrong with pigs and flamingos? It’s a no brainer.   Seriously, I’m re-working my backyard living space and one of these WILL end up in my yard.

Soon to be my flamingo...look at that face!

So, this is my dilemma….pig or flamingo.  I’d love to hear…so let me know.  I will need to get back over that hill to Half Moon Bay soon just to breathe in the negative ions to counter the stress from the holidays. So,  I will Half To Have It in Half Moon Bay!

Half To Have It

601 Main St.

Half Moon Bay, CA  94019

650.712.5995

The day after Thanksgiving marks the day the hunt for the “perfect” tree ornament starts at our house. Every year each child in our household gets to choose one for our family tree.   This year, we are buying our ornaments at a new gift and antique shop in San Jose’s Willow Glen Whatnots &Dodads.

Located on Lincoln Avenue, the shop fits in nicely with the avenue’s mix of independent shops.  The store has a mix of antiques, new finds and crafts created by local artisans.  This month the store is overflowing with unique ornaments, nutcrackers and holiday decor.  Whatnots & Dodads carry tree trinkets from some of the most beautiful and intricate ornament lines around including: Bethany Lowe Designs, Santa’s Workshop, Kurt S. Adler and Katherine’s Collection.  Ranging in price from $4.95 to $11.95 each  of the ornaments that grace their displays are worthy of being handed down from generation to generation.

1330 Lincoln Avenue San Jose, CA 95125

(408)295-3500

14 foot wind chime

Wandering through CornerStone in Sonoma, I was  drawn to resounding rhythms. It was hypnotic. I made my way across the courtyard to the other side. Stepping across the threshold, I entered PotterGreen and Company and saw the most majestic wind chime. And, yes majestic is the only word to describe it.  The 14 foot chime hung from the massive beam taking center stage.  Priced at $2950. and not having the proper mode of transportation to get it home, I had to pass on this purchase.  Music of the Spheres is the creator of this and other not so large wind chimes.  The prices start around $90 and go up from there.  These chimes are made from 100% domestic materials and they come in 10 different scales. My favorite is the Tenor.

Old Growth Planters

After the spell I was under subsided, I roamed the rest of PotterGreen. There are many treasures from local artists. A lot of eye candy and something for everyone.  They also carry gorgeous redwood planters.  These planters are made from old growth redwood trees. The craftsmanship on the planters is in itself a work of art. Forever Redwood the maker of these beautiful planters, believes in restoration forestry practices.  Restoration forestry is a more conservative forestry practice than sustainable forestry.  Which, I’m thinking is a good good idea.   And,  for all you Lookiloo readers who are interested in purchasing these planters, give Tom Wright a call. He will give you a password to enter online and you’ll get a 10% discount.

PotterGreen and Co.

23586 Hwy 121

Sonoma, CA

Tom Wright

707.996.8888

Bicycle Taxi

Recently, I was in Northern California’s wine country. Sonoma is a beautiful and tranquil town.  Now, as much I enjoy drinking wine, especially the Petite Syrah varietal, I wasn’t there for the wine.  I had heard from a friend of a friend about an amazing interior design shop.  So, of course I traded cars with son number 2. He got the convertible with zero trunk space and I had the “old” but very trusty suburban.  You can’t be too careful when it comes to purchasing things for the home or garden. Who knows how large and bulky they might be?  Now, when I purchase something for my home, it MUST come immediately  home with me. I have no patience for waiting. Seriously.  Ask any family or friend and they will rat me out!   So, I filled up my “green” economic car to the tune of $100 and headed north.

Bowling Set

Artefact Design  Salvage is on the edge on Sonoma.  Salvage yard doesn’t quite do it justice.  I expected something a little more “junkyardish”.  Actually,  Sanford and Son came to mind,  but Artefact couldn’t be farther from the sitcom. In fact it was more like  Soul Salvation.  They carry relics from a different time and place and it’s absolutely wonderful.

Greyhound Protectors

Some of my personal favorites were the statuesque Greyhounds.  If I had the proper estate and bank account,  these two would be my choice in protectors.  They’re priced at $1150. each.    The teak scrap spheres are so mesmerizing and at $ 195. I almost brought one home.

These light fixtures came from a milk factory in Belgium.  They have both a rustic andindustrial feel to them.   I can imagine a Belgium milk maid sitting on a little stool. The cows are munching on hay and she is working away milking the cows.  Fantasyland…yes, but that is the picture in my mind when I see these fixtures.  I think they could work well in any kitchen or even a workshop.

Milk Factory

One of the most interesting things I came across was a Medusa panel.  It came from the last cast iron building in San Francisco. It was originally built in 1873.  The detail in the panel is stunning.  Thinking of the time that this was made and the tools available, I am amazed by the craftsmanship.  And,  for me makes it that much more fabulous.

The tables are original designs by Dave Allen, the owner of Artefact.  He uses reclaimed wood from truck and train beds.  So, being “green” can look wonderfully chic.

Now, was it the perfect California weather or this interior design mecca? I can’t say for sure,  but my head was spinning with ideas.  If you are within a hundred miles a road trip in within order.  Artefact will inspire you, it will rejuvenate you.  And before you head home, stop and have a glass of wine to reflect on the day. You’ll be glad you did!

Artefact Design and Salvage

23562 Highway 121

Sonoma, CA 95476

Here’s the complete slideshow: