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

Country Chic

For a designer, nothing is more delightful than clients with great taste and a modern point of view. We are nearing the completion of the remodeling and decorating of this "country chic" home and are getting excited at seeing the final installation in the next few weeks. I thought you'd enjoy seeing a little of our design thought process in inspiration and fabric choices that we have used in this wonderful living room.

In the next few weeks as we finish, I'll post the before and after pictures of the entire beautiful transformation where we used as much existing material and furnishings as possible to create a really wonderful living space for this young family!

the wonderful eclecticism of this country chic room taken from

Elle Decor magazine was an inspiration for my client when we

had our first meeting...the room has the same many windows

and an all-white light and airy feel

as we developed exactly the look for her living room, we left

the orange behind and went with a purer palette of reds, blues, whites

and linens; we were completely taken with the Travers collection from

Zimmer-Rhode shown here

these are the fabrics we chose:

the stunning jacquard and the stripes in navy/white

are Travers Batik Leaf and La Verna in Ink;

the beautiful cotton print is Fairie Enchantee Toile from Quadrille;

the solid linen is the Belgian Linen from Restoration Hardware;

and the red stripe is a vintage fabric from France

***

thanks for visiting!... Kit

Ochre!

I'm not talking about the color (we love that too) but the brilliant design atelier from France and England with a storefront in NYC. Stunning chandeliers that captivate with their originality and the whimsical texture they bring to clean-lined interiors. Well-designed, practical and chic modern furniture, with upholstery in velvets, linens, mohairs. Cool accessories, such as the stunning large mercury-glass mirror (I want that!) and textiles from artisans in Africa. Many pieces use reclaimed materials, such as the gorgeous baskets woven in France from old paper (see below). Nothing mass produced. Perfect for a Chic Provençal look as well as Cottage Chic, Rustic Chic, and Modern Eclectic.

this very rustic reclaimed wood table contrasts

wonderfully with whimsical shape of the lights

absolutely stunning distressed steel cabinet is tres chic!

in this lidded bench you can see the quality of the fabrics and workmanship:

velvet & leather pillows, linen-lined chest

mercury glass top and shelf for this

spare iron end table

suspended "pears" of glass look stunning as curving chandelier

I love this iron-based table in walnut with mercury glass

insert (the backdrop's not too bad either!)

chain mail chandelier is drapey and atmospheric

closer view of the pear drop chandelier with two gorgeous

upholstered pieces in the background

Ochre's small "Snooze Sofa" in nubuck & velvet is fabulously chic

under another pear drop chandelier

gesso and bole framed mercury glass mirror

presides beautifully over the salon

another stunning distressed steel cabinet

linens from Africa

wine bottle basket carrier lends a great

touch of rough texture to sleek, modern rooms

I love these African baskets; they are made

in many colors

this French basket is woven from paper that

has been coiled into strips

click HERE to visit

An Ancient Farm in the Italian Countryside

Every summer for two whole months, an Italian architect from Bologne takes himself and his family to the haven he created out in the countryside of the Pugliese peninsula (Italy's "boot") in a peaceful setting in harmony with nature. Can you imagine a simpler, more elemental escape than this renovated 17th C. farm situated among the olive groves, cactus and red earth?

Now, I know that this is not Provence, however it is spiritually very close & I think I could happily spend a summer month or two here..how about you? I mean, Nice is only a few hours drive northwest!

a rustic old table inherited from a grandmother, and

wooden chairs found at a brocante and painted in a khaki-brown color that

harmonizes perfectly with the colors of nature; the stairs

leading up to the vaulted loft give the feeling of

folded paper and the built in banquette is covered in striped linen

in the living room, limed plaster walls are one of the only

concessions to modern techniques in this otherwise authentically

traditional renovation; old hollow tree sections hold logs

for the fireplace, an old leather chair found at a flea market,

and a wooden stool found in a consignment shop furnish

this room with a serene and minimalist atmosphere

in the guest bedroom, the same limed plaster walls; a giant tableau made from

a light garland used in the local village in the form of a star is mounted on

white fabric and framed; it now functions not only as art, but take s the place

of lamps by infusing the room with a soft light; a large fish trap and small taboret

are used for bedside tables in this elegantly spare and simple room

keeping the renovations as simple as possible, the architect

opted for an Italian, or "walk in" shower with no other

partitions except the small wall separating

it from the bedroom; a Sicilian basket and an old

wooden ladder store bath products and hang towels

a monumental concrete table was placed outside

to create a convivial and welcoming atmosphere for friends and neighbors;

for dinners that continue late into the night, old strings of

light bulbs were made into these suspended pendants; in the spirit of

"recoup", the old wooden chairs are painted each a different color

ok, check out this "outdoor kitchen".. built into the stone walls,

it features a sink made from an ancient olive mill found nearby, as well

as two burners from an industrial site .. can you imagine the dinners

you could cook here? there's also a wood-burning oven nearby just to

round out the fabulousness of this amazing kitchen in "plein nature"

not to be overlooked is the outdoor shower built in the shadow

of an ancient olive tree near the aromatic herb garden

planted with rosemary; the shower is copper and

the water is warm...heaven!

extending the master bedroom outdoors is the terrace

built over the ancient ovens; a small stone wall makes

this the perfect place to spend time taking in

the magnificent countryside

***

from Marie Claire; translated from French by me

(in case you couldn't tell!)

***

Pugliese flag

the farmhouse is located out on Lecce between the

Adriatic and the Ionian Seas

Rustici Leccese

donut-sized concoctions of mozzarella,

bechamel and chopped tomatoes baked

inside phyllo dough

Yum!

(I can't find the recipe, anyone know how

to make these?)