A kitchen renovation in the stunning Big Sur wilderness.…
When we bought The Little Glass House ten years ago, we were excited that it had a home office. It turns out we never used it. The previous owners had two large built in desks that wrapped around the room with small halogen lights over them and a wall of shelves. For years it just became the place where junk accumulated…papers, magazines, extra home accessories, and furniture. I dubbed it the “junk room” and avoided it whenever possible. The funny…
When we bought the The Big Sur House, the entry gate was flanked by two enormous pine trees, an extremely low metal arch, and a fence that had seen better days. But I loved it’s Big Sur feel. Fast forward a year, and the trees had contracted a disease that is killing pines all over the West. They had to be removed, leaving us with two great big stumps and what seemed like a barren and exposed entrance. When our…
I love when a project comes together to create a beautiful, comfortable, relaxing home. In the case of this 1932 Spanish style home in Santa Barbara, it was myself, Projects, and Grace Design Associates along with talented painters and subcontractors that reimagined this house into a more modern version of itself, all while still retaining it’s old world charm. If you read my post last week, I covered the entry hall, living room, dining room, and kitchen. We’ll continue the…
My most recent project began when I met my clients two years ago. They had recently purchased a 1932 Spanish style home in the historic Mission District in Santa Barbara. I’ll be honest…I was hesitant at first as this style of home seemed a bit outside of my wheelhouse. When I first saw the house, it was currently being used as a rental and had an eclectic traditional style. Additionally, it seemed dark even with the numerous windows and French…
Today is a first for me. I’m joining seven talented bloggers who will be sharing ways to bring Spring into your living room. Never mind that it’s only February, a touch of Spring does wonders for the soul. After a neutral winter palette, I’m itching to bring in color and touches of the outdoors. In fall and winter I use warm throws, rugs, and lots of texture for a warm cozy feel. Yes, even here in Santa Barbara, we get…
The Christmas decorations have all been stored away which always leaves me feeling like I’m starting with a clean slate. I enjoy moving accessories and furniture around to create a fresh and updated look. In the living room, an antique table from Diani Living replaced the round reclaimed wood one. I’ve heard from plenty of Instagram friends that they preferred the previous one. However, I’m loving the smaller size, the character, and the lighter feel that this one brings. In…
Christmas time in Santa Barbara is unpredictable. Some years it is damp and chilly, while others it is as warm as a summer day. No matter the weather, I love to decorate for Christmas. An abundance of white, natural materials, an ever growing collection of tiny Christmas trees (45 and counting), and a little sparkle can be found this year at The Little Glass House. Narcissus, pine cones, and a moose antler are just a few of the natural materials…
While we won’t be spending Christmas in Big Sur this year, I still wanted it to have some holiday spirit and cheer without setting up a Christmas tree. I made some simple decor changes and it was just enough to make me want to hum Christmas carols and swig eggnog! I tend to keep things simple and natural. Here in Big Sur, I have potted paperwhites, driftwood trees, and pinecones that I bleached last year. Candles, tiny lights, the stove…
One of the questions I get asked most often, is how I got started on Instagram and if I could offer any advice. It started as a lark when my daughter Kelsey, who is social media savvy (she works at Snapchat afer all) helped me set up an account. I didn’t even know what hashtags were! This was one of my very first photos…blurry and all. It’s taken lots of time and practice to learn how to take good photos…