Another Billionaire on the Block

I featured the house shown below in a blog post a few months ago called "Tuesday Tour: A Breathtaking San Francisco Mansion."

I just read a hilarious commentary on it via the Front Steps and had to share it below.  Gotta love living in San Francisco!

From The Front Steps:  It’s big news for the Billionaires on Broadway. We have it on good intel that 2701 Broadway, a little house on the hill just down the street from the likes of the Gettys, Trainas, and Ellisons of the world (and let’s not forget a Monster of Rock), has found a buyer willing to pay (rumor has it) around $25,000,000 (originally asking $32,000,000 then reduced to $28,500,000 and no longer listed on MLS) for this one of a kind, meticulously remodeled home, last sold in 1998 for $5,500,000.

Break out the bubbly, and call it all cash (pocket change really), some new billionaires are moving to Broadway’s Billionaire Row. (Taken from The Front Steps).

Kelly's Canvas of a Home

I am so excited to show you my friend Kelly's home! In fact, I may have started blogging just so I could show her home to the world (or at least my teeny blog world).  She lives across the street from me in a giant canvas of a home.  When you walk in, you see her expressions of art everywhere.  And no wonder. Kelly is one of the most talented artists I know.

Kelly lives here with her husband Kai and their two beautiful girls-- Lucie Parker and June Marlow.  Don't you love those girl's names?


I can't tell you how many times I've milled around flea markets or stopped in a second hand store with Kelly where she picks something up and says, "Isn't this fabulous?!"  And it's a shred of a shirt or some sort of yarn or a scrap of wood.  And then I walk through her front door two days later and that little something Kelly found takes on a whole new life in her home.  Her house is like a painting that she keeps layering and layering.  Every time I step inside, there's something new.  Something fabulous.  Something...so Kelly!

Kelly picked up this vintage tray from the flea market and placed pretty paper inside.  So charming.

Why not hang big, red pom poms from the ceiling!?  This is the children's play room with a view into the dining room and living room.

When you first walk in, you are greeted by a vast open floorplan.  You see straight through the entry hall through the family room, shown here, and to the kitchen.  

Can you see one of her Scudo Saraceno light fixtures with its hand painted silk and Murano glass beading, from Sue Fisher King. Ridiculous!  Next time I'll get a better photo!

The mushroom

The living room is full of amazing pieces.  The Shabby Chic sofa is anything but shabby.  It's next to Kelly's beautiful desk.

If Kelly's desk were mine, I'd automatically produce amazing things while sitting at it. How wonderful is the wood veneer with those thick plastic sheets along the side. The leather chair is from Restoration Hardware. 

Kelly was checking out Laurie b's new Spring line on her lap top. Check out Laurie b's tuxedo shirt from her Spring 2012 line!

A quick detour to Laurie b's Spring line. LOVE!

How great is this room!  The antique silk rug over to the side...the reflective silver globe...that coffee table/seat.  Kelly is so good at creating her own space.

A smoothe, round, white tulip table dressed with art and design books stands in the corner of the living room.  Kelly always has an inspirational book to show me.

Love that clear lamp.

How unique is this dining room?  I have to give credit where credit is due here.  The purple glass chandelier was a selection by Kai, who like Kelly, has great taste in furnishings and lighting.  

The entire powder room is painted in one, rich deep, dark, eggplant color. There is a floor to ceiling mirror opposite the two mirrors you see.  My camera (and my photography skills) cannot convey the drama and interest of this dark and stormy powder room.  I love it all!

The kitchen is stunning.  The cabinetry is crisp white and there's Marble all around save for the island, which is reclaimed Port Ord Cedar. Kelly has caught me staring at this lovely piece of wood before. The glass door with black and white striped fabric (from Ikea) is her pantry.

Even Kelly's kitchen sink is inspirational and I'm not referring to the Waterworks Fireclay Farmhouse sink, which we all know is GORGEOUS...I'm talking about Kelly's glass jar of sponges and paint brushes.  A daily reminder that creating art-- painting to be exact-- is as important as cooking and keeping house around here.

I wish I had a punchy yellow mixer too. 

I also adore how Kelly makes room for art all over the house.  Paintings are everywhere, resting on shelves and tables, almost like books.

 Her window sill always has something to admire.  Kelly loves fresh flowers and they're never the same arrangement.   

I have some vignettes of the girls' rooms too.  So dreamy...

Thank you Kai and Kelly for sharing your canvass of a home with us. XXOO



Bye Bye Fence...Hello Lights...Hello Party

Here's another great "tear down the fence story."  I first noticed our neighbors, who live kiddy corner behind us, when they painted their house a fabulous, deep, rich blue. I thought to myself, finally some panache in the neighborhood!  Of course a house like that comes with a perfectly manicured garden and two adorable neighbors named Joel and Robert. But there's one thing it didn't come with (until now)-- an invitation to their frequent house parties. Oowa, oowa.

Joel and Robert have two street lamps perched in their backyard, at least one fire pit and a cozy set of outdoor sofas.  When the backyard lights come on, all of us neighbors on the East side of the fence perk up and peek out the windows. We say to ourselves, Our neighbors are having another party. (Their lights come on often).

Last Spring, our kids were messing around in the backyard and destroyed the fence Megan and Alex share with Joel and Robert. With no fence to keep us apart, it was the beginning of the beginning.  

First Joel and Robert came over for dinner.  Next thing you know they started bringing over flats of tomato plants, bottles of wine, Vodka from the freezer, even a tree once. And then it came-- an invitation to one of their parties.  Robert said, "We're having people over Saturday.  When you see the backyard lights turn on, come on by." I thought, Oh yes Robert... we all know what happens when your lights come on!

My house is right there in the upper right hand corner of the photo.  As you can tell by this photo, I'm on the other side of the lights now!


This was also the first time I saw the inside of Robert and Joel's warm and inviting home.

We discovered a lovely spread and a lovely group of people

The stairway leading upstairs is an art gallery.  Robert was naming all of the famous artists featured here but I lost track.  There were so many!

The art is so nicely curated on the walls.  Hanging art on a stairway is a real art in and of itself.

The angels are so sweet...the one on top is for protection

Cozy living room with even more art

These DIY-ers laid new tile on their fireplace surround themselves and then spent a week painting them to look like bricks.  Robert went brick-by-brick to make each one unique. Then they had a custom built gas fireplace insert made. Love the flaming rocks!

Joel and Robert's bright and sparkly kitchen reminds me of them.

The party carried on downstairs into the garage converted to a swanky lounge

My sister called it the Garounge...garage lounge.  Apparently in NYC, where she just moved from, they try to make restaurants and bars look like garounges  This one's natural.

R & J have cable wire running both sides of their garage.  When it's party time they hang up white fabric to hide the garage storage.

They use simple clips to attach the fabric to the wire. ...I wonder what's behind the sheets?

Guess what's on the floor? Carpet padding-- that's it! So clever and comfy!

Doesn't this load bearing post and beam look so much more interesting in party mode?! I found out that R & J bolted the foundation themselves thanks to guidance from a friend of theirs, Dan Weiss of Weiss Construction.  Dan guided them step-by-step.  But even still...Who bolts their own foundation?! I see a DIY contest award in    R & J's future!

Joel produces a Wine and Food radio show on AM 910. R & J are good to go on the food and wine! If you're coming over for dinner, bring flowers.

Joel and my sister Michelle having a great time

Robert having an even better time!  R & J are always smiling!

Stop it! sez Joel.  Do you know who these two adorable ladies are?

Joel does!  The one on the left was a workout video maven in the 80s and inspired the creation of the character "Crissy" on Three's Company! So fun!  I totally see it!

Corey and Jen happy in the garounge. Jen works for the Health Department and inspects restaurants.  I didn't want to hear any more about that...Don't tell me your dirty secrets, Jen!  Ignorance is bliss!

Thank you Joel and Robert for turning the lights on!  We're happy to be on the other side now...and SO HAPPY we got to know you because our kids busted your fence!