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Author Archives: tranquilspaces
modular wall tiles from Sweden
I can’t wait to use these new sound-absorbing wall tiles in a music room, media room or children’s playroom! They can be customized in unlimited ways to create a textural cocoon, a bold splash of color or a whimsical bit … Continue reading
musings about Milano
I was at a home décor trade show in Milan last month, and I’m still digesting the experience weeks later. Like most Americans, I have a soft spot in my heart for Italy. The ancient roads, the ubiquitous little scooters, … Continue reading
Posted in health & wellness
Tagged Anodea Judith, Catholic Church, Freedom, Italian, Italian people, Italy, Liberty, Love, Milan, Soul, United States
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keeping fresh food fresh
First some good news: Americans have made some major progress when it comes to dealing with our garbage. Disposal of waste to landfill (as a percentage of total waste) has plummeted dramatically, and in 2008, we recycled and composted 83 million … Continue reading
Posted in appliances, countertops, health & wellness, San Francisco Bay Area
Tagged food freshness, food storage, reducing food waste, storing fruits and vegetables, storing produce, why do fruits and vegetables spoil, why do fruits go bad, why do vegetables go bad, why do you think fruit and vegetables spoil?
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best wine charms ever!
I’ve never been a big fan of wine charms… So many of them look trinket-y, and those cutesy little shapes turn out to be rather unmemorable after a glass or two of wine. But these wonderful wine charms are as charming … Continue reading
Posted in accessories, outdoor entertaining, tabletop design
Tagged cocktail party, entertaining, Wine, wine accessories, wine glass, wine tasting
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how to paint a painted lady
San Francisco’s “painted ladies” are nearly iconic as her cable cars, or the Golden Gate Bridge. The City by the Bay is not only the birthplace, but also the international capital, of the “boutique” approach to painting Victorians – a … Continue reading
Posted in art, San Francisco Bay Area, specialty paints
Tagged Alamo Square, Cole Valley, color palettes for painted ladies, color palettes for Victorian homes, color palettes for Victorians, color schemes, color trends for painted ladies, Haight Ashbury, Mission, Nob Hill, Noe Valley, Pacific Heights, painted lady color schemes, painted lady homes in San Francisco, painted lady ideas, painted lady styles, San Francisco, SF Victorians, Victorian architecture, Western Addition
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setting a formal table
With the holidays approaching, it seems like a useful time to review the conventions for setting a formal table. Our tabletop conventions here in America have their roots in British tradition, where the classical progression of courses is as follows: … Continue reading
Posted in outdoor entertaining, tabletop design
Tagged Cutlery, entertaining, formal entertaining, Formal table, Table setting, Wine, wine pairings
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living with art
Should you build rooms around your art collection, or seek out artwork to complement your home? The best answer to this very personal question is either/or…both/and. Some art pieces speak to the soul in a profound way, while others are … Continue reading
stop the junk mail
Want to reduce clutter and save natural resources at the same time? Try using this free service to stop receiving all those catalogs that you never requested and don’t need or want! With a click of your mouse, you can … Continue reading
backyard waterfall
In the hilly terrain of the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve seen countless backyards that slope up steeply behind the house. More often than not, this portion of the yard is left to its own wild devices, which can be … Continue reading
Posted in design ideas, feng shui, hearths and mantels, outdoor entertaining, San Francisco Bay Area
Tagged fire pit, hillside landscaping, indoor-outdoor living, landscape design for a steep slope, landscape ideas for hilly backyard, landscaping a hilly backyard, Marin County, San Francisco Bay Area, sloped backyard, stone wall, treehouse, Waterfall
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