I am off to check on my flooring installation in Los Gatos. Yesterday they were still ripping out the 6 x 6 ceramic tile. After that I am meeting with a new client also in Los Gatos. She needs her Living Room decorated and I am up for the challenge!

WOW blast from the past and it feels so good! I am calling this one a CHRISTMAS MIRACLE because it has been a long time. I just love it when clients reach out and what an update. I can't tell you how happy it makes me!!

Whew I am spent! LOTS going on and it's a good thing. I have a new home in Los Gatos, new client meeting tomorrow...I can't complain. Is it time for an assistant?

I must reflect back on my trip to Nantucket once again. I love when people use a designer and get the results for a project that they could not accomplish on their own. I must share an image from one of the guest bedrooms. Obviously a room for small chidren but I cannot imagine an adult not appreciating the detail and nuances that this room posseses. Using Brighton Pavillion furniture does help make things a bit more over the top!!

Back by popular demand! I added nailhead trim and TEFLON coated fabric at the top. My cats are trying to kill me!

I spent a glorious week visiting family and friends on the East Coast. Every time I go back I get so inspired. This time we took a little side trip to Nantucket. Hard to belive that while living out East I had never been. 30 years without a visit! We had the amazing opportunity to stay at a home that had an Ocean front view. To say it was awe inspiring is not enough! The home was designed and furnished with every detail in mind. My favorite item in the house? The seashell encrusted mantel. AMAZING!! I spent my 2 days sitting on the beach and listening to the waves crash on the shore. I was at peace.

Got my long table yesterday. 12 feet of wonderful storage and desk area. I can put all my books on it and spread out! I am getting my bulletin board made as we speak-cannot wait! This way I can get even more organized!

Picked out the upholstery fabric and bedding. So much fun!! Thankyou bella Notte and Robert Allen!!

And Sassy made the shot!

So excited- my Monte Sereno client and I are meeting today. It has been a few months since we finished reupholstering her living room. She wants to update her bedroom, pick out some new bedding and reupholster her furniture. She also needs some fun art for her downstairs party room. I love their home and most importantly I get to see SASSY! Sassy is their tea cup persian cat, one of the most beautiful and friendly cats I have ever met!

So happy! We decided on the sofa, coffeetable/ottoman, swivel chairs,lamps, panels, side table and console. It is going to look soo cool. And we are using Kravet, and Clarke and Clarke fabrics.

I am putting together a living room for a client and we are meeting tomorrow. I am having a blast picking out the fabrics, furniture etc but I think Smudge is REALLY enjoying himself!

Oh boy! Quite the eventful day yesterday: due to Fed ex' poor service and complete lack of professionalism I had to pick up my own package in the bowels of San Jose! The package, a gorgeous rug from Surya, weighed almost as much as I do....regardless...installed stunning and stylish worth the pain!!

How much do I love space planning? I love plugging items in and moving stuff around to see what fits best. I am still old school-do it all by hand and with physical templates...call me old fashioned...

I love choosing paint for clients! It is so much fun and with decks from Benjamin Moore, Kelly Moore and Farrow & Ball I just can't lose! I am excited to see the finished look. thankyou Serena for embracing color and being willing to make some changes!

I am always so excited to go through years and years of resources when shopping for a client. Some people just think whatever marketing material they recieve from a catelogue, or shops in a mall are the only things they can purchase, let alone afford. I am always so happy to tell my clients about my resources and the great pricing and availability I have. Wouldn't you want something completely original tailored to you and your wants and needs? I would.

I am excited about meeting my new client tomorrow. I love when there is communication and information. It makes me work better. I also like the fact that both the husband and his wife want to meet me at the same time. I can't tell you how important that is! When helping a family put their home together knowing what the goals and wishes are for everyone living in the house really makes the difference. Usually one party will attest that they can do "whatever I want, my husband doesn't care" and every time I hear that statement I cringe because I know it isn't true. All I ask for is one meeting with both parties involved and than after that I can do my thing.

Just got all of my Designers Guild samples from the new collection! pretty amazing!!!

I received an email from a client that was working on redoing their home gym and were looking to hire an experienced decorator for color and placemnt of equipment. When I followed-up the email with a phone call , I was floored. Basically this perspective client was looking for an intern, a relatively unexperienced person to "trade work for a gym membership". She did not want to pay anyone. I will never understand why some people just think that what designers and decorator's do should be done for free. Is it because it just looks easy? As we designer's know, we make it look easy so people think they can do it themselves when in reality we have cultivated years of experience and education. Is it because HGTV has warped the industry with false budgets and HOLLYWOOD endings? Don't get me wrong, I have had WONDERFUL interns but an intern has yet to graduate to professional and as I always say...HIRE A PROFESSIONAL it is worth the $!

Yet another staging request. I love staging! I know i keep talking about it but it is something I love to do. I am working around a very neutral paelette of wall color, carpet color and floor color. I chose furnishings that had some bright color and that flowed nicely from room to room. Hopefully this will all happen within a few days. Photos to follow!

Why can't people figure out when they are selling their homes they at least have to tidy up!? I have done several staging jobs that have been a great success, offers within one week..., and I visited a few open homes this weekend and boy I was shocked! Home owners have to get rid of the clutter, take down the ripped posters on the wall and CLEAN! How can you sell a million dollar home if it looks like a homeless shelter! I know the real estate agents are not at fault but they at least have to get home owners to pick up clothing, dust and put away stuff and if the homeowners don't then they should! If you can't afford a good staging at least edit what you have..remove the excess. Editing what you have can keep things neater and give the viewer a sence of organization.

There is nothing like getting a referral. They are a very important aspect of growing a business. I recently helped someone with wallpaper, a single gal with a beautiful home in San Jose. She chose a Thibaut damask for her living room wall and she was so thrilled with it. Her friend just called yesterday and wants paper for her house. I call it THE CIRCLE OF LIFE when it happens. I want it to happen more often!

The pictures from the Almaden staging job came out great! We had a great time putting together the rooms. One of the most important aspects of selling a home is to make it look its best for the sale. Staging has proven to work well and I wish more people would embrace it.

Last night I watched my episode of CBS Sunday Morning. It was really good. It was all about design and the importance of good design and how it relates to just about anything from designing the ultimate dog house to kitchen utensils and...teeth! Yup! I think what I agreed the most with was that if something is designed so well sometimes you don't even notice it because it is just meant to be that way.

So my friend Lorraine Lawson just alerted me that she is has her artwork in the Kreiss showroom in Santana Row. I am thrilled for her. Lorraine does incredible work. I had no idea that there was a Kreiss Showroom. My question is....is Santana Row ready for Kreiss? I am wondering if our Crate and Barrel/Pottery Barn culture is ready for some great quality furniture. One can only hope.

Cindy,our rep from Osborne and Little showed us all the new goodies from the line this morning. OMG! The fabrics are incredible. I just want to design an entire house around them! Athlone,& Karavansara were some of the new beautiful collections. It's time to redesign!!!

Just went to look at the newly released flats and lofts at Plant 51. I have been there before and have looked at some of their homes. The flats are very nice and the lofts are cool. If the deal with Whole Foods happens it would be reallly great-I think for anyone starting out that has saved some $$$$ it is a great value and they have their own affordable financing. If they are set up right you really can make the most of your space and have a fully functional, well designed home. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to design an an interior there. CALL ME!