valentine's day Davis in Davis

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House Exterior

I have a good friend who is a designer....which is only natural as we have a lot in common. We can talk design, love going to home tours, antique shops, furniture shops. When we go to the movies, we always notice the sets. When we drive we notice the architecture around us. We can ask each other's advice on our own homes. Perhaps you have friends like this?

Well...my friend Leanne Davis, recently worked with a client in the town of Davis, home of UC Davis, which is about a 20 minute drive from Sacramento. Her client, David Rocke (a Distinguished Professor at UCD), was so happy with the results, he graciously hosted a house warming party for friends and neighbors about week ago. Leanne and I drove over a bit early so I could snap a few pictures.

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Living Room

 The house is newly built by Eric Roe of Red Door Building Company (ericroe@comcast.net). The style is a contemporary take on a South Western home.

Leanne took this cue from the desert and created a soft desert palette of sand, pale turquoisese, rust and other sunset colors.

 

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Dining Room

 Leanne found some wonderful woven leather topped metal tables by Kolkka for the Family Room which she put together with leather arm chairs creating a warm and cozy space. I love the rusty red color on the walls!



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Family Room



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Family Room Detail



 Leanne designed a custom bedspread for the Master Bedroom in a rust tinted brown and silver stripe. The mirror also picked up on the silver we typically associate with desert jewelry.

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Master Bedroom

 Leanne specializes in color consulting and shopping at retail sources with clients for furniture and accessories. You may even recognize some of those sources here: Crate and Barrel, and West Elm (a couple of my favorites!)

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Leanne Davis and David Rocke

      David was a wonderful host and Leanne helped provide a beautiful environment for the house warming party. It was only seconds later that everyone arrived, and we all ate, drank and made merry. And of course everyone toasted the host and designer!

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House Warming Party, food...delicious, guests...lovely!

If you are interested in homes in the Davis area, look up Realtor Claire Black Slotten. She was the realtor in this case and knows Davis like the back of her hand.

So, that is my tale of Davis in Davis. I think Leanne will be doing more work here very soon.

(To contact Leanne, you can email her at l_davis_916@yahoo.com)

valentine's day The Kid Rocks

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Kid Rock's Living Room

For those of you who do not get C Magazine, I thought you deserved to see the latest rock star crib that is way beyond what you might expect to see on MTV's Cribs. (If you you do get C Magazine, don't forget to look in the Men's Section this month!!) 

 And thank goodness Kid Rock had the savvy to engage the ultra talented Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. Just to be clear, however, Pamela Anderson originally hired her long time friend, and the Kid had the good sense to continue on with Martyn after his much publicized break-up with Pam.



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Main Entrance



Lawrence-Bullard has an affinity for Indonesian inspired design, and this home reflects this passion. Many of the items are Lawrence-Bullard's own design and available through Lawrence-Bullard Home.

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Dining Room

Located in Malibu, the home is the perfect California beach hideaway. It is a personal Shangri-La with beautiful exotic woodwork and South Pacific furnishings and Moroccan textiles. One can just feel the Pacific breezes blowing through the white muslin bed curtains. 

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Kitchen

I hope you have a chance to pick up the October issue of C Magazine. It includes the extra publication of "C For Men". Actor Ewan McGregor graces the cover, a very busy man these days. And the Main issue features Lauren Hutton, and has a Decor article about another favorite designer, Mary McDonald.

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Guest Room

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Master Bedroom

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Master Bath

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Entrance Hall

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Backyard

This article was happily unexpected. I almost bypassed it altogether. Just goes to show you that every part of C Magazine is a great read!

Rock on.
All Photos by Tim Street-Porter

valentine's day Design Crush: Ken Fulk

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Photo by David Duncan Livingston

For those of you that have not yet caught on to the greatness that is Ken Fulk, I'd like to introduce you. My crush started back awhile when I noticed Mr. Fulk's work and couldn't help but post about it here (Almost a year ago to the DAY!). Well, he has been very busy since then. You may have seen his work in the latest House Beautiful and he also has a project that has recently graced the cover of California Homes magazine.

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California Homes Magazine, April 2008, Photo by David Duncan Livingston

With his blend of custom furniture and antiques, Ken never fails to add originality and sophistication without a bit of stuffiness to his projects. For this project, after all of the initial planning and legwork, Ken was able to install everything: paint, finishes, furniture, art....the works, in a three week time frame while the clients were away on vacation in Africa. Wouldn't that be an amazing thing to come home to?! "Yes, darling, the elephants were fabulous, but I am glad to be home....oh, my! Look at this! So much better than those zebras !"

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Photo by David Duncan Livingston

The combination of elements here at first glance seems somewhat formal until you realize the coffee table top is made from reclaimed wood planks, and that the firewood is stored in a rustic antique wheel barrow. I think they make the space so livable. You wouldn't be afraid to really relax here. The unique placement of the photography, artistic in itself, creates a great composition with all of the other elements. Wing back chair from Coup d'Etat Antiques. And that paint color! Wonderful.

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Photos by David Duncan Livingston

1950's Capiz Shell light fixture in the stairwell is from Past Perfect in San Francisco. Zebra print carpet by Stark on the stair. Ken created this Dining table from and antique trestle base from House of Mann. Antique hooded chair is from Sarlo Wick. Dining chairs are by Milo Baughman and covered in Great Plains linen.

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California Homes Magazine, April 2008, Photo by David Duncan Livingston

I appreciate the mix of high and low in the Family Room: Pottery Barn Sofa with a slipcover of linen velvet mixed with the Belgian coffee table also form Sarlo Wick. This stylish room says "comfort" and would be attainable for most of us. I like that.

Mr. Fulk has also been profiled in the latest House Beautiful magazine for his own getaway retreat in the Napa Valley:

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House Beautiful, July 2008, Photo by Victoria Pearson

The entry gives a hint at the color scheme that runs throughout the compound.

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House Beautiful July 2008, Photo by Victoria Pearson

He revamped a 1940's ranch house and out buildings into a grownup's dream of "camp". He used bluestone inside and out to unite the space and make it user friendly for his dogs, and anyone else who pays a visit. BTW, those are his dogs in the painting in the photo above. Ken has used the dining table as a "library" space and has piled it with books. I love a multiple use space.

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House Beautiful July 2008, Photo by Victoria Pearson

Can you see the pipe ladder next to the fireplace? It leads to a sleeping loft. Fun! Dog andirons from LL Bean and another dog portrait. Dog heaven.

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Photo by Victoria Pearson

This bedroom is in a tented cabin for guests who visit the property. It really is like camp...only so much better!

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Photo by Victoria Pearson

I love the bed here modeled after an old Woody Station wagon. The stacking of the vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases on two wood blocks is just another example of Ken Fulk's ability to think in ways that make him wonderfully unique. Of course, this is the main reason he is one of my design crushes.

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Photo by Victoria Pearson

Afternoon picnic in the barn. If this is camp, sign me up!

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Photo by Victoria Pearson

I had to add this picture because the red chairs are from Chelsea Antiques in Petaluma where my Mom used to be a dealer. She has very kind memories of Mr. Ken Fulk, who, she said, came in quite often. Just one more reason to throw a little love Ken's way.