A Built-In Scavenger Hunt

When this article was first published in the NY Times last summer, I thought this was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen. The original request by the owner was that the designer "hide" a poem he had written for his wife and kids somewhere in the home. The text of the poem is written behind the doors above, but to open them, the family had to solve a multi-step puzzle that they discovered when one of the kid's friends noticed a code hidden in a decorative panel.

To view the full slideshow, click here.

"Thanksgiving" Sunday Supper

This past Sunday, we hosted a Sunday Supper at our house, and though it wasn't Thanksgiving just yet, we served a Zuni Style Turkey and Bread Salad - almost as if it were. Someone commented on my recent post about the 5th of July dinner party that they wanted to see what I'd do for Thanksgiving - so I thought I'd share a couple of photos. Though this was a "dry run" - I pretended it was the real thing.

I used the same baby blue and flax runners and placemats without a tablecloth, and decorated the table with some dusky pumpkins and squash that I picked up at Schaner Farms' stand at the Saturday Little Italy Mercato - along with this lovely little herb bouquet that I hung on the front door. (Schaner also sells at the Santa Monica Farmers Market in Los Angeles.)

The silverware was my great grandmother's, and the candlesticks are from West Elm (they're a year-round fixture.) The party favors were little 2 piece boxes from Eclipse Chocolat containing one each of their Pomegranate Sage and Pumpkin Muscovado chocolates. (I still haven't eaten my box yet - yum!)

If you're curious, you can see the menu and read more about the meal on my food blog - Alice Q. Foodie.

Ben Stiller's Home on "So Haute"

I don't know if anyone else will remember this, but a couple of years ago, Elle Decor did a feature on Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor's home decorated by Roman & Williams. In a classic case of life imitating art, these guys became sought after designers after doing set design in Hollywood - they were so good, celebrities started hiring them to do their homes. They landed some commercial contracts, and the rest is history. (Coincidentally, the guy who designed and built our mantle used to be a set designer too.)

I absolutely loved this spread and I haven't stopped thinking about it since, so I went online to look for some photos to post. These came up on a lovely and intriguing blog called So Haute - along with some other photos of Roman & Williams' work. Check it out here. The world of design blogs is still relatively new to me, having been wrapped up in the food blog world for so long, and this one looks like a very worthwhile discovery indeed. I especially love that it's not snotty, like so many decorating blogs seem to be (not that that doesn't have its place too) and I am especially amused that she thinks she's late to the Eddie Ross party. If she is, then I almost missed it entirely! ;-) I just love the dark walls, eclectic mix of furniture and wood beam ceilings. And that ladder bookcase really gets my motor running. It's almost hard to believe it was decorated, since it looks so lived in and personal - but I guess that's the magic of hiring a set designer!
photos via So Haute

SF Victorian Remodel in the NY Times

Nice piece in the NY Times today on the remodel of a Haight Victorian, with some great ideas for letting in light and modernizing a historic home. I love how even the dog coordinates with the decor! Click here for the slide show.

Photo via NY Times

Japanese Baths

One of my most cherished fantasies is that I will one day have a Japanese bath in my home. I already have the spot in the yard picked for the garden, and it just so happens that our master bathroom, which is in desperate need of remodeling - opens onto that side of the house. So maybe someday, something like this will be a possibility...


I'd also be ok with one of these out in the garden itself... Really, it wouldn't matter...

The most important elements are hot water you can get into up to your neck, and a view of nature (or at least natural light) while you're soaking. A garden to cool off and meditate in afterwards is nice too.

Beautiful Japanese baths are available for day use at:
Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe
Kabuki Hot Springs in San Francisco
Esalen in Big Sur (Their signature massage is worth the trip in and of itself.)
Tassajara Zen Center near Monterey also has Japanese baths, and is re-opening for guests in April, 2009. More info is on their website under the "Guest Season" tab

Photos via Zimbio, Dufarelli, Kyoto Guest Houses and Konyoku.

Jenna Lyons' Kitchen in Domino

I'm really digging the Jenna Lyons home tour featured this month on Domino's website and in the November issue of the magazine. Jenna is J. Crew's creative director, the home really seems to embody her signature style. I am constantly salivating over kitchen designs, since I hope to do a remodel someday myself, and this look - simple, traditional, utilitarian and comfortable - is exactly what I'm going for. Or will go for, when the time comes!