The New Classics

I have something to confess. I’ve been spying on all of you. Well, sort of. This website has a mechanism which tells me a bit about all of you—how many of you there are, where you live and how you heard about The Pursuit of Style.

This week, I’m ecstatic to say, the number of visitors to this site passed the 1,000 mark. In the 3 months I have been writing this blog, readers from 74 cities in 11 countries have visited. Sure, some of them found it through Google keywords, but the vast majority of them typed the URL in themselves. Which means they heard about it from you forwarding emails and telling your friends. And I would just like to say thank you for helping to make what began as my little "just-for-fun" project into something I now consider a success in its own right. I hope the styles and items I feature inspire and empower you to think more about not just what we do in our daily lives, but how we do it, and how it expresses our personal style and enriches the quality of our lives. So, thank you again. And please keep forwarding those emails!

Back to Basics: In honor of the 1,000 visitor milestone, I thought we should take a moment to get back to basics. Everyone who knows me knows that while I periodically have a schoolgirl crush on a trend, like spin art shirts in the ’80s, Seven jeans in college (I still love their fit, but would never wear the signature squiggle again) and ruffled blouses lately, nothing gets me worked up like my first love, the classics--big, plastic sunglasses, trenchcoats, black cashmere turtlenecks, and black stiletto pumps.

And while a classic is, by definition, something that never goes out of style, a classic can come into style. These are "new classics", items which have recently arrived on the design scene but which you can feel comfortable investing in because they'll be around for a while. Read on for my favorite oldies but (still very much) goodies, followed by the new classics which are not-quite-replacing them so much as adding to the canon.

Objet d' art: Obelisks / Seashells

(Designers in the '60s used obelisks extensively. I recently saw two giant crystal obelisks guarding an entry on a console table--still as gorgeous as ever. I also love how the shape is interpreted as a lamp by Circa Lighting, below.)

Sofa: Upholstered lawson / Tailored & Slipcovered in white

(The Lawson sofa is characterized by arms which are lower than the back and loose cushions.)

Dining Table: Mohagony, rectangular (w/turned-wood or cabriole legs) / Mohagony, round (pedastal)

My solid mohagony dining table has truly withstood the test of time--I'm the fourth generation in a family of design addicts to love mine!

Window Treatment: Silk drapes / Roman shades

Al Fresco Dining: Poolside patio / Walled-in courtyard

Flooring: 3" plank wood / 5" plank wood

Flowers: Roses / Orchids

(A dozen pastel-colored roses will always epitomize chic romance, but don't write off potted orchids as a passing trend--I have both in my house right now.)

Glasses: Martini / Stemless wine

Cabinets: Painted, white / Painted, earthtones

(Wood tones du jour come and go, but painted cabinets never go out of style.)

Living Room Centerpiece: Glass cocktail table on a metal base / Fabric ottoman on a wood base (like in Allegra Hicks' home, below.)

Scent: Lavendar / Citrus

Front Door: Red with brass hardware / Black with brushed nickel hardware

(Like this ROI-refurbished home, below. BTW this home will be for sale in Spring 2009 through Jim Colhoun of Prudential.)

Accent Print: Stripes / Animal

Throw Blanket: Cashmere in camel / Quality faux-fur in ivory

Neutral: Tan, Black, Ivory / Chocolate brown, gold, greige

Have a great week!

Pottery Barn Slipcovered Sofa: http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p4283/index.cfm?pkey=cslipcovered%2Dsofas

Jim Colhoun's Website: http://www.prurealty.com/jimcolhoun/default.aspx

Allegra Hicks Living Room photo courtesy Domino Magazine

Obelisk Lamp at Circa Lighting: http://www.circalighting.com/item.asp?idProduct=1456

Party on the Strip

Not everyone has access to a team of pro-partiers for every single event. You know, caterers, florists, pastry chefs, event stylists? …No?

So many aspects of our modern lifestyles inhibit the fancy, perfectly executed parties of yore. With schedules so busy we require Blackberrys, and a recession that is allowing for fewer and fewer stay-at-home parents, gatherings with friends are being squeezed out by the other necessities of life, like picking up the drycleaning and going by the post office... glamourous. Who has the time or money to sit around musing over a party with the event planner?

But (...you knew there would be a “but”...) I think that if the people during the depression could find the time to enjoy one another’s company, we certainly can too, especially with all the modern-day conveniences at our disposal. We’re Americans, after all, a country founded on the ideas of breaking bread, corn and other cornucopia fare with one another. So set aside a few hours and a few bucks this week to have some friends over for a good old fashioned dinner party. That’s all you’ll need for a stylish, fun evening. How can that be achieved, you ask? Through that other American staple, the strip mall. Of course.

Everything listed below can be found at typical strip-mall stores: the grocery store, craft store, and your neighborhood Walmart/K-mart/Target. Oh yeah, and around your house. Seriously.

If you are able to plan a few days in advance, I’d advise you to utilize the floral department at your local grocery store. I have found that a few helpful hints will get you far in this game. Read on…

Tip for using floral departments at grocery stores:

· Use what’s in season—it will be fresher, prettier, and easier to obtain. If you must use out-of-season flowers, order them through a professional florist.
· Call ahead to reserve bunches for the day of your event (my local Safeway reserved these orchids, right, for my Dad's 60th birthday party. I arranged them myself at home in vases out of my mother's cupboard).
· Have a Plan B flower in mind in case the order is mixed up or the wrong color comes in. For instance, roses and lilies are almost always available and are a great back-up plan. (Lilies have a heavy scent so should be kept away from the dinner table itself. I once gave a sensitive friend a headache and will never make that mistake again.)
· Work with one associate and get their name. If the order is large or complex, make sure he/she will be there the day of your event when you pick up your order.
· Pick up your order in the morning if possible. If there is a mix-up with your order, you will still have a good selection to choose from early in the day.
· If the event requires more than a single bouquet, have a friend on hand to arrange the flowers the day of the event. Trust me, you will not have the time.
· Limit your use of grocery store florists to casual parties of 30 or under. For major events or larger parties, stick to a quality professional florist.
(Click here for more on modern floral arrangements: http://www.thepursuitofstyle.com/2008/06/fresh-floral-favorites.html)


Devise a Theme Look to the season for inspiration. Some of my favorite themes of past parties:

Provencal: Herbs in baby terra cotta pots (from the nursery and the craft store, respectively); or (not and) tealights in baby terra cotta pots; nice rustic dishtowels as placemats or napkins. Keep it simple and casual with good bread and olive oil (see below), and entrees with simple, fresh ingredients.


Cuban: This was the theme of Matt’s 30th birthday dinner (at right). It was held at Havana, a local Cuban-fusion restaurant. (Note the heavily-scented, headache-inducing lilies mentioned above). Not all restaurants will allow you to reserve a table for 30 with no minimum, but Havana will. And they’ll seat you in the main dining room, which I prefer to a private room.

At parties of 20 or more, I like to use more than one large centerpiece. The pewter banana leaf trays were the inspiration for the tablescape. I set 2 large pillar candles in sand in them for a beachy feel. So simple, yet so dramatic. The sand ended up being an interactive conversation starter, as people wrote funny things in it with their fingers all night. Stargazer lilies (just a few per vase) were set in $3 glass fishbowls from the craft store. Glass votives are also from the craft store. Cigars were the obvious party favor and added to the atmosphere.

Wine tasting: It’s so simple—just buy a bunch of different wines (half as many bottles as guests should be more than enough...right?), line them up down the center of the table, with beautifully displayed glasses, and you have yourself a beautiful party. Now, imbibe.

Tip: You’ve probably already done this or at least heard of it, but I do love the old “cover the label” blind tasting thing. Skip pretentious label covers and go for office supply adhesive labels or brown paper bags with numbers or fun pseudonyms written on them.

A Note on Supplementary Elements: I avoid candles when the food will be plated at the table—the risk of injury is too high. Instead, lay sprigs of foliage, or create tiny bouquets out of 3-6 bud vases and a dozen blooms. Feel free to light candles on a buffet away from reaching arms.


Use Dishes as Décor: Pull all your (matching) sets of dishes out of the cabinets and place them on tables. Stack and line them up for a casual party; set them into place settings for a more formal one. Also, few things are easier or inject more instant style than wrapping silverware sets with a napkin (even a nice paper one is okay in summer), then tying with some sort of textural material—twine, raffia, ribbon, wire or string where the style is appropriate, like country-chic. These (above) are tied with ivory cording. Just between us, in their previous life, they were handles on a gift bag. {And of course there are always napkin rings, which I own but never use. The situation never feels right, and they always come off as fussy. I predict napkin rings are on their way out…pretty as they are.} Then, either place silverware sets on the plates or in a container on the table (tray, bucket, vase, etc).


Music: Although I find the fact that non-music-based stores carry moody, city-and-drink-themed soundtracks a bit cheesy, hypocritically, I enjoy reaping the benefits. Honestly, they are great party soundtracks. Also try movie soundtracks. My personal favorite is "Something's Gotta Give", full of fabulous French songs.

Own appetizer plates. Okay, so this isn’t exactly something you can just pick up at every strip mall. But you shouldn’t have to. Because you should already own them. Appetizer plates allow you to do so much with so little, so easily.


…And use them. You need something to feed your guests while they wait for the meal to be served. I love taking a big loaf of artisinal bread and plopping it down in the center of the table, either on a big wood cutting board or in its pretty white paper, with the paper torn open on top, so guests can pull off pieces. It’s a great, casual way to start the evening, not to mention an insta-centerpiece, perfect for my family's big Sunday-night dinners (above). Give each table setting its own appetizer plate with oil and balsamic. With flavored or infused oil or balsalmic, serve simple, wholesome pugliese bread. With fancy breads, serve simple E.V.O.O. and balsalmic.

Divide and Conquer. Set up separate tables for drinks, serving and dining. Create one decorative statement on each table for a casual party, a few in different sizes when you want people to know you put in some effort.

If you have an even slightly stylish home, you can pull things from other parts of the house for this. I can just hear you thinking “yeah right”, but seriously, take a good look at your:

· Houseplants in nice containers (like the one freshening up this bar, right). A rustic alternative to flowers in a vase.

· Kitchen Cupboards. Trays, platters, compotes, cups, plates, bowls, vases. Set these out and fill them with snacks, party favors, candies, or decorative objects pertaining to your theme (like the sand and candle in a tray at Matt’s birthday, above.)

· Fabrics and paper. Tread lightly on this one, but I have seen quilts, curtains, wrapping paper, tissue paper, throw blankets and even thin cotton rugs (unused, I hope) used as table linens and actually work. I’ll repeat—tread lightly.

· Decorative accessories like sculpture, seashells, etc. These make a strong statement so use them in moderation, and place them next to something large and neutral, like a vase or houseplant.

· Photos. Got a guest of honor? Frame, mount, or stand photos from their life as part of your decoration. For my dad’s 60th birthday party (above), we placed the best, funniest photos from his life as centerpieces (and conversation pieces) on each table. Mounting them on brown cardstock gave cohesion to the semi-formal event. The nice thing about photos is they are neutral enough to supplement another theme (my Dad’s party was jazz-themed). For a last-minute party, use your already-framed photos decoratively alongside food & bev in your serving area.

· Food. Fruit, bread, etc make great decorative statements when only one type of food is placed in a bowl. My personal faves are apples, plums and artichokes. A word to the wise--if it is decorative only (as in, "please don't eat my centerpiece"), keep it far away from the serving or dining areas. It's more like coffee table decor.

Best served chilled: Ever noticed how the easiest, fastest, cheapest foods are cold ones? The best grocery-store desserts are always ice-cream based. I like to type “ice cream” into foodtv.com to find the latest concoctions and toppings. Chilling glasses and bowls is a simple touch that makes the meal just a little bit better than what you eat every day.

Have a great, entertaining week!

Dinner party and bar photos courtesy Domino Magazine

Havana Restaurant: http://www.havanarestaurant.net/

A Filthy Gorgeous Home

August is my favorite month to shop in Walnut Creek. For the benefit of my long-distance readers, Walnut Creek is somewhat of a shopping destination for people in the East Bay Area. It’s also where I was raised, so I suppose it’s no coincidence I grew up to be a professional shopper.

These days, Walnut Creek has become a bustling center of consumerism, which can be a bit uncomfortable to those of us who remember Walnut Creek back when CPK was a mere valet parking lot. But in August, everyone goes out of town, and for four glorious weeks, I can wait for my Peet’s coffee on Sunday mornings in a line of five people rather than 30, find a parking space within a matter of minutes, and actually browse boutiques the way they were meant to be seen, views unobstructed, displays unmolested. It’s a quieter, gentler, more stylish Walnut Creek, in my opinion.

One store I never, ever miss when shopping downtown (August or not) is the relatively new Filthy Gorgeous on N. Main next to Tomatina. The home and lifestyle store is owned by my friends Tirzah and Jonathan, and it is unlike any other store in the area.




It is, in a word, transporting. It’s a glimpse into their fabulous world: organic, slightly gothic, highly refined and a bit magical. Like a French apothecary with a bit of southern soul.

And it’s all about the mix--what I love about their aesthetic is that although it can be rich and a bit dark, it never feels heavy. Everything always feels light and fresh and delicate and beautiful. They have a truly original sense of style, a great compliment to the more tame styles of the big stores across the street, making them a welcome addition to our shopping enclave.



It is more than just a store, it is a visit. When you enter, you are met with dramatic footed birdcages inhabited by real canaries, tweeting away. Candles are always burning some earthy, calming scent. But what really pulls you in are the vintage and antique items--they are carefully selected, dramatic yet neutral pieces which anchor the filthy gorgeous style and are the perfect backdrop for accessories such as crystal votive holders, mercury glass canisters and silver-backed seashells. It is perhaps the best place in the area to find gorgeous religious symbols such as Buddhas and Virgin Marys. They also carry lovely bath products, bed linens, children’s gifts, art, dishes, and jewelry. And don't miss their selection of upholstery for the lines of custom furniture they offer.

I can always count on them for high-class hostess gifts, unique accessories and lots of inspiration. Next time you find yourself overwhelmed by the hubbub of downtown Walnut Creek shopping, stop by Filthy Gorgeous to be instantly transported to a much more calming, inspiring place. Until then, check out my five favorite items in the store right now, and click the link below to shop their website...

Rectangluar Monogrammed Burlap Throw Pillows

(click here for rules on monogramming: http://www.thepursuitofstyle.com/2008/05/to-monogram-or-not-to-monogram.html )

Footed Stone Compotes

Vintage Crowns (stacked, front right)

I'd set wild-growing potted plants in them, one in each, for punctuation in a lush garden.

Cream and Gray Striped Throw Blanket

(A slightly equestrian feel. Click here for more on Equestrian Style: http://www.thepursuitofstyle.com/2008_07_01_archive.html)

"Postcard" Sachets

(Go ahead, write on them!)

Have a great, filthy gorgeous week!

Filthy Gorgeous Website: http://www.filthygorgeoushome.com/Home.html

ROI HomeServices’ Top Ten Most Common {Budget-Friendly} Updates

A major part of my job at ROI HomeServices is to advise home sellers and realtors of the best way to improve their homes to sell them. I evaluate the property, research comparables, consider the budget and the listing price, and put together a smart design plan for their home that will help sell it faster, for more money. (I know what you’re thinking, “Just like on TV!” I hear that a lot. Not exactly, but similar...we’ll save that topic for another blog.)

After my partner Chrissy and I decide on a design plan, we start the project and the real fun begins. I love my job. Every day feels like I’ve been “dared” (kid-style) to see how much I can update a house within a client's budget. To see how far I can blow the competition out of the water. To see what construction conundrums I can navigate. To see how much I can surprise a seller by showing them how great their home could have looked all along.

Every home is different, and they all stand to benefit from different improvements. But there are a few tried-and-true’s that help improve almost any home. They are the items that end up on the clipboard to-do list almost every week. Read on for ROIHS’s most commonly used home improvements (you don’t have to be selling your home to use them!) and give us a call for help with your home. All photos below are from ROI HomeServices’ portfolio. See more at the link below.

1. Change fixtures and hardware. Light fixtures, towel bars, cabinet knobs/pulls, address numbers, door hardware and faucets. These are the keys to an updated home. They are like jewelry for your space. Take care to realistically flatter the home—overly ornate fixtures on a tiny condo won’t do it any favors. Likewise, don’t install cheap fixtures in a home with expensive surfaces. It’s just like in fashion—flatter your age and body type. Notice how the swagged chain in this dated before pic (below) calls attention to the swirls of the poorly DIY’d wall texture. The updated pendant we replaced it with (far below) makes the space feel clean, cozy and polished. My apologies for the opposing angles...

2. Move the bathroom floor threshold. Got a dated bathroom with a carpeted vanity? Most bathrooms stand to benefit from moving the threshold, which involves removing the flooring from both the water closet and vanity area, then laying new, matching flooring in both areas. See the before and after, below. Doesn’t even look like the same house, does it? PS This Lafayette condo is available for sale through Lisa Hoctor of Prudential Lafayette. See link at bottom.

3. Clean carpets (and every other surface)! It never fails to amaze me how underrated cleaning is as a home improvement. It instantly makes any home look ten times better, not to mention worth ten times as much...okay maybe not ten.

4. Paint trim, doors and cabinets. In cases where painting the whole house seems unnecessary, but the house could use a brush-up, painting interior and exterior paint on trim and doors will make the space feel fresher. We also often recommend adding exterior shutters, which can be purchased inexpensively from many home improvement stores, painted and screwed on. On the right style home, you’ll never believe the difference. When in doubt, match the shutters to the front door color and paint the rest of the trim white. Don’t forget the mailbox. I also never hesitate to paint old, poor quality wood cabinets. Done well, this inexpensive improvement can change an entire home. Note this kitchen, below. This Lafayette home (same house as above) is available for sale through Lisa Hoctor of Prudential Lafayette. See link below.




5. Bark beds. Go for natural cedar bark if your house has warm exterior tones or is more traditional in style. Use black-ish bark if your house has cooler exterior tones or is more modern in style. Use only one style of bark on the entire property. This is not a place for mixing and matching.

6. Add baseboards, crown molding or a chair rail. Thick baseboards are always a good idea (I even saw 12” tall ones recently on an old bungalow—they looked great!) Unfortunately, there is no formula for knowing when crown molding is right for your home, or when a chair rail is right for a room. But when it is right--and a good designer or stager can tell you--the effect it has is magnificent. And the benefit is so great that the cost seems like pennies. You can do baseboards without crown molding, but never the other way around. Use chair rails sparingly in “focal rooms” like a dining room to add formality. On the wall underneath the chair rail, I like to use a color a few shades darker than the color above it, like we did in this model home's dining room, below.


7. Replace window treatments. Install 2” white vinyl treatments and instantly (inexpensively) update almost any room. ROIHS’ handyman, Ken, does this so often he can practically do it in his sleep.

8. Caulk and Grout. This will make all tile look better, newer, fresher, cleaner. That’s a promise. If the tile is neutral, grout should match the tile or be slightly lighter. If the tile is colored, look for a taupe or beige and consult your grouter. Ask to see a sample. Check out the huge difference re-grouting made in this entry--same tile!

9. Replace sinks, toilets and faucets. This is a surprisingly inexpensive way to update powder rooms if you have a great designer or stager who knows how to choose well. Check out this simple yet elegant powder room we did for a model home, below.

10. Think about paint color. Really, really think about it. I can’t stress enough how difficult or important proper color selection is. I have noticed that many people seem to have misconceptions about how color selection works. There seems to be an idea that it is methodical and simple. Not so. I have been asked what my highly scientific “formula” is (there isn’t one—if there were, I’d market it and sell it!) I have been asked to select a color over the phone, without seeing the house (sorry, no can do.) I have put together a palette of colors for a house only to have the client change one color without consulting me, not realizing that the whole scheme would be thrown off. (Colors work in combinations, like entrees and side dishes. Imagine ordering steak and potatoes and receiving steak and fruit salad instead? One wrong dish throws the whole meal off.) Color is also quite dependent on light. The direction of light, the way it changes throughout the day, bouncing off neighboring buildings and foliage and reflecting their colors, determines quite a bit about the color a given room needs (sorry, but I can’t pick a color for you at night).

Always call in a professional--our color consultations are just a few hundred bucks--and speak up about your preferences. A professional will see more than just a deck of options. She will truly evaluate the home (Chrissy likes to call it "house whispering") and locate its perfect colors.

I hope I've given you some inspiring ideas for your own home. At ROIHS, we do this stuff every day, so give us a call if you'd like some help improving your space. Just click the link at the bottom.

Have a great week!

ROIHS Staging Portfolio: http://www.roihomeservices.com/roi_staging/portfolio-main.html

Lisa Hoctor Website: http://www.prurealty.com/LisaHoctor/default.aspx

ROIHS Contact Us: http://www.roihomeservices.com/contact.html