A Visit to Restoration Hardware's Flagship Store

Driving back from the wine country Sunday, we stopped in to see the new garden section at Restoration Hardware's flagship store in Corte Madera.

They have been working on it for a few months now, and I was not disappointed!

The wine stave chandeliers are very similar to mine! I am in love with their Provence Collection, the lovely outdoor wicker and teak furniture featured here. Also, it's on sale!

More of the Provence Collection with the wine stave chandeliers. Nice idea for a centerpiece. Just lavender in a crate.

The super comfortable Belgian linen sofa. Check out that clock! Oh, I wish I had a place for it.

The perfect bathtub.

I just wanted to crawl in this bed of linen and paisley--two of my favorite fabrics.

Outside, a tabletop vignette of succulents, an armillary and a sphere.

Succulents seem to be de rigueur these days! I can see why, as they are impossible to kill and thrive on neglect. I am loving how they look grouped together in this bowl.

I got a lot of inspiration visiting the store. I am definitely planting more succulents--that's for sure!

I'm linking to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.

Thanks Susan for hosting!

Just the Centerpiece!

Our Gourmet Club met in Asti last Saturday night for a candlelight dinner under the stars. I set the table under the Mulberry Tree.

More on our dinner later....

But for now, I'm just featuring the centerpiece from Saturday night's table.

My favorite little candle store on Maiden Lane in San Francisco is going out of business, and everything was 75% off! I bought this lovely seashell centerpiece and filled it with roses from my garden. The red and white flowers pick up the colors in the Ralph Lauren runner and napkins used for the table setting.

It was a lovely candle lit dinner!

Read about my favorite candle store, Candelier here. I'm so sorry to see this store close. It has the most wonderful accessories. I was lucky to get a few things (which I will "show and tell" later) before they closed their doors for good on Saturday.

I'm linking up to Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday.

Thanks Marty for hosting. Be sure to check out the other participants too.

Glass Door Refrigerators

Meet the Sub Zero Pro 48. Isn't she a beauty? I've been obsessed with this refrigerator for a long time, ever since I saw a glass doored Traulsen in House Beautiful years ago. I realize that most people wouldn't want a glass doored refrigerator, but I think it would force me to keep my refrigerator organized and full of healthy food.

I realize this is a "big ticket item." Kind of like buying a car! A few years ago, I had the chance to buy this from a dealer off the showroom floor for $10,000! There was no way! But, now it retails for $15,000!

This refrigerator also comes with a single door. Although this wouldn't work for me as I already have a Sub Zero 48 inch refrigerator, circa 1990.

I am seriously considering hiring a "hitman" to take this refrigerator out! We have replaced the compressor twice and the inside is deteriorating.

I actually like the single door better than the double door. How incredible is this!?

Another image of the single door Sub Zero.

This is a Traulsen, which is what Sub Zero was inspired by when they created the Pro 48 series.

This is a commercial refrigerator, adapted for residential use.

The same refrigerator in it's environment.

This is a True T-49G-4 refrigerator. Although it is also a commercial refrigerator, it has been adapted for domestic use with a remote condenser to lessen the sound.

This just makes my heart go pitter patter!

This Sub Zero kitchen is from their website. Don't you love how it looks?

I realize it won't be anytime soon that I get a glass doored refrigerator, but hey, I can dream--can't I?

What are your thoughts about a glass doored refrigerator? Would you want one?

Summer's Bounty Tablescape

I love this time of year when the produce is so fresh and delicious. It's so much fun shopping the local farmer's markets both in San Francisco and in Healdsburg. Often times, we even stop at local fruit stands and buy direct from farmers.

There is nothing like fresh organic heirloom tomatoes, corn on the cob and sweet peaches--Mr. A's favorite.

The inspiration for this tablescape is our summer's bounty of fresh, local produce. This tiered stand is perfect for showcasing fruits and vegetables of the summer season, starting with these sweet cherries for the first tier.

Lovely white peaches for the second tier.

And heirloom tomatoes and zucchini for the bottom. The best thing about this centerpiece is that we get to eat it later!

The dinner plates are vintage by Masons in the "Fruit Basket" pattern, which is apropos for this table setting.

I then added these hand made leaf plates. They were made by Mr. A's grandmother in 1962! We were fortunate to inherit two green ones and two brown ones.

She signed the back "S. Hagopian, 1962."

They remind me of majolica, and I think that is what she was trying to create when she made these. She was definitely ahead of her time and a very talented artist too.

In keeping with the summer harvest theme, I put an artichoke on each plate.

Corn on the cob resting in the majolica corn dish completes the table.

Close up detail of one of the brown dishes. Truly a one-of-a-kind plate!

Time to light the candles.

Linen napkins, wicker hurricanes and wicker glass sleeves keep it organic.

For a summer flower, yellow rudbeckia plants in wicker pots are perfect to go with the harvest theme.

The light is slowly fading...

and fading....time for dinner!

Chicken wire chargers, tiered basket and table runner: Pottery Barn

Salad plates: Hand made by Satenig Hagopian, circa 1962

Dinner plates: vintage Masons "Fruit Basket"

Corn cob plates: Bordello Pinheiro

Napkins, glasses and hurricanes: Tuesday Morning

Ceramic chickens: vintage

Flatware: Ross

Flowers, fruit and veggies: Trader Joe's

I'm proud to be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her 99th Tablescape Thursday!

It's always a pleasure to participate in this "party" and visit other tablescapes too.

Thanks Susan for being the host with the most!

On Friday, I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. A beautiful blog to visit!

Because I love fresh fruits and veggies, I'm linking up to Laurie's Favorite Things Saturday party at Bargain Hunting With Laurie. Be sure to visit to see more favorite things.

Thanks Cindy and Laurie for hosting!

On Sunday, I'll join in the fun at Summer Sunday over at The Tablescaper! It's all about what summer means to us all.

Flora and Fauna in the Garden

As I said in my last post, it is time to do some garden maintenance.

So, while in Sonoma this weekend, I took the time to deadhead and fertilize the roses.

The lavender is in full bloom and I'm dying to cut some to bring inside. The bees are swarming though. I'll have to cut them after dark.

Lavandula X Intermedia, Or "Provence" Lavender--my favorite!

This lizard showed up while I was out trimming the roses and scared me to death!

Not as much as this snake though! He was at least 4 feet long! At first I thought he was a rattle snake. He is a gopher snake and hopefully he will eat some gophers, who are destroying my vegetable garden!

(Mr. A threw him over the fence!)

After I was through freaking out, I got back to the job at hand. For some reason, the geraniums aren't doing well in these urns. They are getting enough water, but maybe the 100 degree days are taking their toll. Luckily it wasn't that hot this weekend.

I pulled the geraniums out and planted lavender. We'll see if this works.

Looking up, I saw a pack of Canada Geese flying over!

Which made me notice the grape arbor. I had Mr. A tie up the hanging vines....

"Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it."

-Author Unknown

That's the thing about gardening. It is hard on my back. Nothing a few Advil and time in the spa can't take care of though.

This week, I intend to spruce up our back yard at home. The hydrangeas are gorgeous, but the weeds are taking over. More back breaking work!

I'm linking up to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.

Thanks Susan for hosting.