Carmel-by-the-Sea!

The seacoast always restores and refreshes... and this week to celebrate our 21st Anniversary, Chris and I headed to Carmel-by-the-Sea for a midweek getaway... and since Carmel is ultra-dog-friendly, Nicky came with us too! The Cypress Inn welcomes dogs, provides them with lots of treats, water bowls everywhere, and special big fleece wooly throws to sleep on. Dogs are welcome in most restaurants in Carmel, too, so Nicky had his first indoor dinner with us at the charming St. Tropez~Cuisine du Soleil bistro. 

As beautiful as she is, Carmel-by-the-Sea is also a bit quirky. A few little-known facts about the village:

• there are only 2000 residents in the 1 square mile village that has a long edge on the sea
• there are no house numbers...you describe your location by the nearest intersection, counting down the number of houses... "SW corner Carpenter and Second, four houses east"
• ...OR you name your house something like "Done Rovin'" and that is how the world finds you
• there is no mail delivery; you must go to the post office to pick up your mail; this has created a strong sense of community since you run into each other every day
• you may not post "no parking" signs in front of your home; cars parked on either side of the street narrow the streets and thus slow traffic down considerably... which is good for everyone including the air we breathe
• there is an ordinance against wearing high heels in the village (yes, there really is...I said quirky, didn't I?)
• you actually CAN build fires on the beach and doggies are WELCOME to romp on the beach and swim in the surf

Here's a peek at Carmel-by-the-Sea, mid-winter. It was the perfect, relaxing and nearby escape to celebrate!

The entrance to our lovely hotel, the Cypress Inn, which welcomed our little doggie Nicky as
much as they welcomed us! the Inn was built in 1929, and is now owned in part by
Doris Day, who has a passion for animal welfare. It is she who insists that four-leggeds are as welcome as
their humans. The Inn is built in and embellished California mission style.

the courtyard at the Cypress Inn

the cozy fireplace in the courtyard at the Cypress Inn

the church grounds across the street from the Cypress Inn filled with native

plants that are thriving in the coolness of the coast

pretty succulents and native plants in turquoise planters around town

one of the many 1930's era tile designs that appear in the
downtown shopping area of Carmel

pretty arched window, tiled roof and paved courtyard
at one of Carmel's shops

lots of beautifully designed wrought iron all over Carmel

we had a fabulous lunch at la Bicyclette, one of the favorite restaurants in Carmel...this resto
collaborates with the local middle school on teaching children the importance of
living and eating sustainably. The food is local and very delicious.

delicious desserts at la Bicyclette

happy husband Chris at la Bicyclette!

love old pots of bay tree standard, and the gate nearby

cheerful door front on Ocean Avenue in Carmel

cupid spotted in antiques shop window...perfect for Valentines!

one of the forty or so pathways leading to hidden courtyards to explore
in downtown Carmel

***

see details and what happy guests have to say:

download the brochure here  

download registration forms here 

questions? 

email me

skype me: kitgolson

call or text me:  650-302-6883

On the Road Again: Palm Springs, California!

What could be more fun than hopping in the trusty Beemer with your sweetie and driving south from San Francisco down I-5, leaving the fog and drizzle behind, cutting over onto the old Route 66 and ending up a few hours later in Palm Springs? Where the sun shines all the time and the Mexican food simply cannot be beat? We had a wonderful trip.

OK, so the average age of the residents hovers around 85 (hey, I feel really young here!). But there is also a hip, young element encamped here in the desert that helped put the mid-century design vibe back on the map.

my good friend Kathy McGuire captured perfectly the spirit of the

California road trip with her painting...

see more of her California vernacular work at her website

and be sure to check out her new blog!

our destination!

one of the many diner stops we made along the way... gotta refuel!

in the high desert Mesa area above Palm Springs is this

stunning modern home nestled among the palms

bold colors and modern pieces

in this Palm Springs design shop..love

the iconic 50's sunburst mirror, of course!

walking the hills I came across this stunning abstract gate and love

the way the sun backlit the pattern

I just liked the way the blue/white pattern of the pillows

worked with the orangey of the cool chairs... and

the white coffee table is adorable too

love the pattern of the pyracantha bushes espaliered along

the front wall of this hacienda in the hills

perfect example of 50's modern architecture in

southern California, Case Study House No. 22 in

glass and steel was designed by Pierre Koenig

in the late 1950's and is outside LA

simple landscaping so typical for the area just

looks amazing to me

this wonderful mid-century style lamp

is the design shop's best seller!

on my ramble I wandered up the driveway to

the gate of the Sonny Bono estate... the only

reason I knew that was a friendly neighbor

taking a walk nearby told me.. four dwellings

on the property now selling for $4 m

***

did we eat a "few" tacos along the way? ummm...yess..but

to make up for it, check out this yummy Mexican

fruit salad...perfect with any grilled anything!

Mexican Fruit Salad with Chili Powder*

Choose 1, 2, 3 or more fruits and/or vegetables—here are some that work well:

mango
pineapple
watermelon
cantaloupe or other melon
cucumber or fresh pickles
jicama
lime juice
chili powder
salt, to taste

Prepare the fruit. Slice up the fruits [and vegetables, if you're using them]. For the salad you see here, I used pineapple, mango, watermelon and cucumber. Slice them into big chunks and spears—this is street food, often eaten with your fingers. You can make the salad ahead, up to this point, and chill the fruit until you’re ready to serve.

Assemble the salad. Place the fruit in a large, shallow bowl. Squeeze lime juice over it [for a generous salad for two, I used the juice of one lime]. Season generously with salt and chili powder. Stir gently with a rubber spatula to avoid damaging fruit and taste. You’ll probably want to add more chili powder; keep adding, stirring and tasting until you pick up the flavor of the chili powder and a little heat. Add as much chili powder as you and your dinner guests can comfortably take—that’s a key part of this salad’s charm. Serve immediately.

recipe from Blue Kitchen

***

"hasta luego" from moi & Mr. CP!

Monday in Montecito

I must admit it is a real joy to be the client for a change! I am looking for a site for a very special family event..and yesterday, in the hands of my good friend, freelance event planner Dani Farler, I saw what is quite possibly the perfect spot for our celebration in Montecito, near Santa Barbara, California.

Come along on our perfect Monday morning quest and see for yourself!

First stop, San Ysidro Ranch, an incomparably gorgeous place on this planet. Dani knows how much I adore the south of France, and she said this place reminds her of our last trip there together. She thought I would love it. She was right!

could anything be more charming than this little

bench in its Provencal setting?

one of the several restaurants we viewed for

a sit down dinner

the wedding meadow, with rose-covered arches

at each end and a view up the mountains

another utterly charming bench in the garden

one of the living passageways found on the

500 acre resort

with Japanese Magnolia trees blooming

and heaters, we are ready for cool

spring evenings

a view down onto the restaurant I loved the most

all images above taken by me

at San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito, California

"heaven on earth"

If you think that this is a breathtakingly beautiful spot to have the family gather for a celebration, you are in very good company. Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier exchanged vows here, and John and Jacqueline Kennedy honeymooned here. I am quite certain lots more of the rich and famous find their way here, named America's Best Hotel by Forbes Traveler in 2009.

If you think that I can afford to have the whole gang come and stay here, and party for a couple of days, you would be quite incorrect! :) I might have a small dinner for ten in the Old Adobe 1825, but the rest of our partying will probably be down at the local crab shack!

***

Next, leaving the Ranch, we headed down to the flower shop Dani likes: SR Hogue & Co. We were hoping preparations might be underway there for a glamorous local event (dinner party at Oprah's, just up the hill?) but found things a little lovely and quiet.

a very lucky Buddha enjoying the garden's bounty

beautiful green pot that Dani loved

flower girls Hogue designed..from their website

stunning lilies

***

Finally, the perfect place to wind up the morning: Jeannine's in "downtown" Montecito. There you can have cafes au lait so big you could take a bath in the bowl! and brunch is anything you can dream of: french toast, steel cut oatmeal, eggs crab benedict, brioche, croissants, tropical fruits. Do you get the picture? Get to Jeannine's, quickly!

just seeing Jeannine's makes me feel..relaxed!

***

what Dani wore (she's really into the nautical thing right now)!

what I wore; hey, we are only a mile from the beach!

nonchalant ease and elegance

all clothes found at

the one and only

Wendy Foster

Montecito Village

get in there, now!!

.........................................

in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design