Elle Decor Showhouse 2010 - Sexy Basement by Erin Martin

Elle Decor Showhouse Basement by Erin Martin

What can I say about Erin Martin? Brilliant? Playful with a evil sense of humor? Provocative? She is all of these things, but perhaps most importantly, she is a designer who pushes envelopes and creates spaces that are truly unique. Super talented Erin Martin designed the large basement for the Elle Decor Showhouse, styling it as a party pad that seems to cross 70's groove with a bit of Boho chic,shaking it all up with some 007 Bond coolness.

Erin has pulled together some vintage mid-century pieces and Moroccan accents like the coffee table and area rugs, and added custom light fixtures and Victorian portraits ( with irreverent additions) in a way that made me want to stick around til Happy Hour!

 I hope you enjoy it as much as I did....

Basement Personality, Erin Martin

A Master at Shelf Display



Mid-Century Swivel Chairs, African Coffee Tables and Moroccan Area Rugs. Custom Light Fixture made from what was originally a Table Base...wicked!



Back Painted Glass Panels with Gold Medallions, Victorian Portraits with Added Embellishments.

Crazy Cool Art

Metal Mesh Screen Stair Rail. I loved this idea!



Custom Wall Sconce made with Common Electrical Socket Parts.



Erin Martin is nothing if not full of gutsy imagination. I hope she never stops.

If you are hoping to get to the Elle Decor Showhouse to see all of the amazing talent...be quick! This is the last weekend!

For ticket information, check the Junior League of San Francisco Website HERE.

Have a great weekend!

Elle Decor Showhouse 2010 - Kitchen and Breakfast Room by Palmer Weiss

Palmer Weiss' Breakfast Room

More Elle Decor Showhouse! What could be better? As promised, here is the beautiful Breakfast Room and Kitchen designed by Palmer Weiss. Full of fresh ideas and beautiful fabrics and materials, this space shows us there IS a new way to look at blue, white and yellow that is sophisticated and unexpected. 

Kitchen by Palmer Weiss showing Ann Sacks tile

Palmer Weiss used gorgeous Ann Sacks back splash tile above the range, and industrial chic Circa Lighting pendants over the island. Brass IS on it's way back! And this proves that one needn't worry about mixing up metals in one room. It looks beautiful.

For those of us that wan to use Carrara marble but are afraid of the maintenance...try this! Use marble subway tile on the back splash and Caesarstone for the counters. Caesarstone feels just like stone and has no maintenance issues. The look is fresh and easy.

Palmer has a way of putting in refreshing accents that keep things updated and give what could be another white kitchen character and charm.

And a little touch of wallpaper in the little hall to the back yard doesn't hurt one bit!

Rear Foyer by Palmer Weiss

For more information about the ongoing Elle Decor Showhouse and a virtual tour of the Palmer Weiss kitchen, don't forget to hop on over to Elle Decor HERE!

Next up...Erin Martin's sexy Basement Bonus Room!

Napa: Shopping at Erin Martin's Showroom

After seeing Erin Martin's designs for the Showhouse in San Francisco, I thought it would be fun to stop into her Showroom while we were in Napa. Well worth the visit! It is located on the main Street in St. Helena and is full of Erin's creativity. Many of the items, like the rope chandelier are Erin's own designs. I hope you enjoy this little peek as much as I enjoyed the shop!

A bit of a short post, but we are headed out the door for SoCal!

I will miss you while we are gone!

A Week in Napa Valley Starts with Ma(i)sonry

Ma(i)sonry

I was in Napa a couple of weeks ago and really...I had meant to blog about it sooner. But life has a way of turning things on their heads...me included. I had a wonderful day with two good friends, and aside from the sweltering heat ( I think it was 120 degrees....OK I'm exaggerating, but not by alot) we had so much fun. So, this week I am blogging about all of the things we did and places we went. (I know the title is a little confusing. I was there for the day, but YOU will be seeing our day all week!).

We came to Napa Valley for a wine tasting and book signing event taking place at Ma(i)sonry in Yountville. One of only three stone buildings constructed in Yountville, the building that is now Ma(i)sonry was built in 1904 as the primary residence of Charles Rovegno, an Italian immigrant lured to the fertile farmlands of the valley.

The newest owner, Michael Polenske, has taken this historic building and through careful preservation and meticulous renovation, has turned it into a showplace for fine art, carefully selected vintage furniture and beautifully crafted custom furniture, as well as a a boutique wine tasting venue. Ma(i)sonry has become a collective for a partnership of wine makers such as Blackbird Vineyards, Brown Estate, Joel Gott Wines, Lail Vineyards, Pedras Wine Company, Renteria Wines and Tor Kenward Family Wines.

Here is proprietor and curator, Michael Polenske with girlfriend, Kimberly Miller (editor of Daily Candy, San Francisco by the way!) Handsome couple, no?

Also an art and furniture collective, Ma(i)sonry is currently exhibiting works by Chiara Mondavi ( yes, THAT Mondavi) and Wade Hoefer. Furniture collective partners include such greats as Ron Mann, Alexandra von Furstenburg, Citizen:Citizen, and Hudson Furniture.

Front Room

Michael assembled a team of talent to renovate the building and the grounds with the help of Project manager, Paul Leary (also COO of Blackbird Vineyards....many hats!). Architects Douglas Thornley, Gould Evans/Baum Thornley, Designer Erin Martin , and Landscape Architect, Dave Roche of Roche + Roche worked to create the perfect marriage of historic preservation and modern design. Please check out the Ma(i)sonry website to learn all about the process. In the photo above you can see how the old stone walls were a rustic counterpoint to the new industrial modern staircase.

The spaces are filled with antiques and art, like the landscapes of Wade Hoefer shown above and below.

A piece by Chiara Mondavi hangs above a Bombe console.

Clever "art"!

Another piece by Chiara Mondavi sits above a console by Alexandra von Furstenburg.

The decomposed granite patio is full of furniture designed by legendary Ron Mann.

Doesn't it look lovely and cool here? I am sure it is wonderful on most days, but on this particular day it was hot, hot, hot!!!! I was very thankful that there was an abundance of a very refreshing citrus punch, and slices of cool watermelon, as well as delicious wines from the collective wineries. The table is all ready for the book signing for the Orlando Diaz-Azcuy book by Diane Dorrans Saeks, (which is available here)

Somehow Diane and Orlando managed to look serenely cool, collected and quite wonderful! Be sure to checkout Diane's blog, the Style Saloniste! She has a wealth of knowledge about design and architecture.

Many thanks to Michael and Kimberly for hosting such a fun event ! Ma(i)sonry is a "must see" for anyone planning a trip to the Napa Valley.

All photos by katiedid except those of the patio provided by Diane Dorrans Saeks

Modern by Design 2009 Showhouse: Bottoms Up!

Erin Martin

I have been promising to get photos up for the Modern by Design 2009 Showhouse produced by Metropolitan Home Magazine,so let’s get started! There was so much talent here that I had a hard time decided exactly where to start…..so I am starting from the Bottom floor and working may way up to the top. There are Four Floors in all, not uncommon in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco.

The tone of the Lower Level was set by the very talented Erin Martin of Martin Interiors. Erin’s studio and showroom are located in the picturesque town of St. Helena in the Napa Valley. Her aesthetic reflects that casually sophisticated feeling of the California wine country.

I had such a fun time chatting with Erin, and to describe her in a word, she is a KICK! Irreverent and hilarious, Erin’s clients must just have a blast working with her. I took Erin’s picture in an iron swing she designed and had fabricated by Ferrous Studios, Inc. It reminds me of a giant firewood caddy….that impression reinforced by the stack of firewood in the background.

Erin travels the world to find unique pieces and inspiration for her spaces, and her creativity really shines here. Note the quote by Plato burned into the reclaimed paneling on the wall above this cozy daybed….art, pure and simple. She used linen slipcovers that look like hopsacking on the custom sofa: casual and comfortable.

The coffee table, another work of art, was created by a partnership between Erin, who created the concept, Brian Kennedy of The Freedom of Craft, who created the metal work and Delicate Cutters (m.mcguinness@mac.com) who crafted the leather top. Stunning! The area rug is from Sloan Miyasato

This mood-setting ball ottoman and cozy slippers reinforce the fantasy of a cabin in the woods….just the place to get away from a day of dragon slaying in the big city. We really could have hung out here all day.

But ……on to the other rooms we had to go! Erin was also asked to design the hallway which she outfitted with this striking light fixture from Circa Lighting, Venetian Plaster Walls and horse bust available through her own showroom.

One of the most jaw-dropping rooms in the showhouse was this Powder Room, also by Erin Martin. It caused quite a stir and a traffic back-up during the Opening Night Gala! But where else can you mount a HUGE water buffalo head above a Powder Room Vanity but a designer showhouse? That is what a showhouse is FOR after all: pushing design envelopes and creating that quintessential “stir”. “Shake it up”, I say!

The croc skin tile on floor walls and ceiling (love!) are by Walker Zanger. Vanity is by Kohler.

After tearing ourselves away from the Powder Room (and there were several trips back to show the husbands later that night at the Gala….the look of hilarity on there faces…priceless!)….we found the Au Pair’s bedroom.

Erin brought in a beautiful Indonesian four poster and covered it with soft wool blankets and a knit throw with leather tassels. The embroidered Swan pillow is a Martin design and the fabric wall hanging depicts a white peacock.

I loved the unique wing back chair and Moroccan accent table in a little nook in this room. Available through the Martin Showroom.

Erin also designed the Bathroom off of the Au Pair Bedroom using Walker Zanger tile, Circa Lighting and Kohler fixtures. Erin’s attention to detail is truly amazing……….I mean…..just LOOK at that gorgeous floor tile!! (Hehehe).

Erin Martin captures a style that is comfortable, sophisticated, and perhaps most importantly, FUN! Definitely not serious, unless you are talking serious laughter, we had a hard time leaving.

You will also have a lot of fun spending a day at the Modern by Design 2009 Showhouse. The Showhouse runs through July 12 and you can find out all of the details here. I hope you get a chance to see it! The designers really “bring it” with their creativity and truly push the design envelope. They get you thinking. And THAT is what a successful Showhouse is all about!