What was a Mexican lunch gone bad  turned into a discovery of a great furniture place. {luckily we found another of our favorite Mexican food places to eat at}  Held in the trendy part of SOMA, this little gem can be missed if you have food on your mind.  Luckily for us, the shiny sputnik chandelier stopped us in our tracks and welcomed us into their showroom.

I’m on the hunt for the perfect cocktail table for a client, and I found a few contenders…

The chunky, lacquer table is a top choice since we’re wanting to go a little more modern against his semi-traditional sofa.  The straps are fun, but I’m afraid this might be a little too chunky and big for a small SF living room.  We’ll see how it measures out in the space.

Another lacquer table top.  And I LOVE  the rustic, reclaimed wood legs.  This is probably why I like the store H.D. Buttercup so much.  They have a great mix of modern and vintage, rustic and shinny.   Just up my alley.

A gorgeous mother of pearl desk with beautiful inlay work.

Upholstered furniture intrigues me, and I’ve been wrestling with the idea for Sam’s dresser.  The quilted look is a bit much for me, but I can see how it can be fun in the right room.

San Francisco has so many furniture stores I’m constantly learning new places.  I love it!  Now, if we can just find that darn cocktail table!!

Remember when this blog used to be a design blog?  Then I had a baby and had (still) have an identity crisis with who I was, and what this blog should be.  If you’ve come for design inspiration, you’ve probably gotten incredibly bored once this blog got Samified.  Now that I’ve started design work again, I thought I’d post some cool things I come across.

Like this slick Fade-out chair.  Yes, it’s impossible to make a chair float; but Japanese artist Nendo has given the illusion of a floating chair.  Quite cool.

In my opinion, there’s a reason why we let the professionals do what they do: they can do it much better!  As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been working on a headboard for our bedroom.  Some things I’ve learned about nailheads for those who want to try to take on the daunting task of individually hammering in nail heads yourself:

• use a rubber mallet
• using a guide can only get you so far: those darn things don’t go in straight
• in order to keep my sanity, I try taking MANY breaks. like work for thirty minutes, then go back. kind of pathetic, I know.
• don’t set your expectations of the final project too high…it’ll only end up in disappointment.

I keep trying to tell myself that I’m an amateur and that there’s no way my first-time headboard would ever look like something my upholsterer could whip up.  That kind of sounds negative, doesn’t it? But hey, I’m being realistic here.  I’m a designer, not an upholsterer.  If I haven’t scared you away from nail heads, here are some beautiful pieces…

For these red cubes.

Granted, I saw them in December in a TJMaxx; but at least we know they sell them.  I saw them for a client there and thought we could use them in a design.  Once we got them in the space, it just wasn’t working out.  Then while I was out at the Jonathan Adler store here oooohing over his designs and saw them!  This picture doesn’t really show their greatness, but they really are fun for a space.  They can be great bookcases or side tables.

Aaaaand here’s a little more Jonathan Adler for your drooling needs…

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I first spotted this beauty in Domino.  I’ve been trying to convince any client of mine to do something like it.  The scalloping is just gorgeous!!  Designed by the talented Bunny Williams for Tonic Home.

I’ve always been a big fan of Viva Terra: contemporary, nature-inspired, quirky but not corny designs.  Right now, I’m diggin the gustavian vintage bed.  The other ones shown are favorites too. :)

Am I the only one who thinks this is a great sofa?  While the ruby red color is rad, it’s not very practical for every-day design.  Perhaps in a brown velvet or even leather.  The shape is beautiful though…

While shopping at West Elm, the thought crossed my mind to get these fabulous yellow scoop back dining chairs. The thought quickly left. At our second trip to the store this week, we both seriously considered getting the iconic parsons desk in the bright yellow. It would look fabulous in our space. However, with yellow being the big trend, and getting a white parson’s desk for 50% off, we decided to be a little more conservative for what we were paying.

We’ll incorporate our beloved yellow with throw pillows and accessories…something a lot lighter on the wallet. I am, however, planning on doing something very similar to this for our bedroom. Headboard and all.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m quite busy these days.  My nights of looking at inspiring photos and new products have turned into emailing. :) So I thought I’d share just a few furniture pieces we’re brewing up.  Red Fox Furnishings did an awesome job putting together these collages of the furniture pieces and their altered dimensions with the chosen fabrics. They rock.

We are going for earth tones in this room: greens, oranges, browns, soft yellows.  Ooh it’s going to be so warm and cozy I can’t wait!

I don’t know a thing that’s said on this French blog, but I could look at her work all day.  The Before, During, and Afters.  While upholstery has always been a popular DIY project, it’s also a talent and that often goes under appreciated and misunderstood.  We live in a time when furniture is mass produced…and you still pay a ton! I like to go to upholsterers: they can make anything you design for them, in half the time, and half the cost, and double the quality.  Check out this blog, you’ll be amazed at the skill, and you won’t be bored.

I’m all for innovative furniture, but doesn’t this look like something you’d find Jack Bauer using?

Maybe it’s the name of the sofa. Maybe it’s softer twist on the classic chesterfield. I don’t know why I like this sofa by Bernhardt. Don’t fear though, I’d change the throw pillows.

Designer Dror has some fun products coming out.  He’s all about movement with his pieces.

Ya’ll know how big a Target fan I am.  Great design for great prices.  Here’s a video on Dror.  Home decor items come out June 21, stationary comes out July 12.

You’ve done it again.  Anyone else love Oprah’s designer Nate?  His miraculous home transformations bring tears to my eyes.  And no, it’s not Oprah…even though she sponsors it.  Nate’s new furntiure line is fun and cheap! Wahoo!

Love the lines and colors of Somerset Bay furniture.

Any IKEA fans out there?  Bemz is a company that sells removable, washable slipcovers for sofas, armchairs and cushions for popular IKEA models.  Their slipcovers fit so well, they don’t even look like slipcovers!  A lot of their designs are fun, but now they’re partnering up with Merimekko to deliver some fabulous work.  

Many of you know about our home situation right now: mold infestation.  We’re going into our third week working on solving the problem.  Bills, decisions, and many meetings with service men lead to high stress and sleepless nights.  About a week ago, I received two tempur-pedic pillows in the mail.  The comfort pillow and the neck pillow.  I first tried the neck pillow–since I’m a side sleeper.  I didn’t find it as comfortable as I was expecting.  So I moved onto the comfort pillow.  And comfort I got.  Heaven.  I have been sleeping like a baby these past couple days…something much needed due to the stress in our personal lives.  One of my favorite features is the way the pillow molds to my head–fitting me.  If any of you are having restless nights, I highly recommend one of the tempur-pedic pillows.  The Comfort Pillow has done wonders for my sleep.

More fun fashion (and amazing photos) by Bea. 

Pleasant clothing and home furnishings at Cabbages and Roses.  Makes me want to sit on the front porch and sip lemonade.

Good use of space.