Who is the designer of the year?

California Home and Design Magazine has just announced the readers choice awards.

Grant K. Gibson has been nominated for designer of the year!

http://chdmag.com/chd-awards-readers-choice-designer-of-the-year

Now it is up to you to vote!

Please help vote for #4 (Grant K. Gibson)

You don't need to put your email address in- just #4 and you can vote over and over again-every day!

(The winner is based on votes -so the more your vote- the better of a chance there is to win)


California Home and Design asked who made the biggest slash of 2009?


In case you missed some recent publicity, please enjoy the links to The New York Times, 1stdibs, San Francisco Magazine and 7x7:


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/garden/01location.html?ref=garden


http://www.1stdibs.com/articles/onlocation/pavilion_designers/index.php


http://www.sanfranmag.com/story/taste-times


http://www.7x7.com/content/fashion/classics-design-publicist-suzanna-allen-and-interior-designer-grant-k-gibson



Thank you for your support!

(I put in all of the links to these sites- as it is easy to cut and paste- so share with your friends!)

Dinner with Gil Schafer at Chez Gibson

Some people might think that it is CRAZY to host a dinner party for 20 in my rather small apartment- but I did it just last week for architect Gil Schafer (who might just be the most amazing architect that I know) who was in town giving me an excuse to host a dinner after the wonderful lecture that gave on his work last Friday. (Heather over at Habitually Chic just wrote up a great review on her blog about Gil and his work. Make sure to check it out)

It might have been the food and wine. It might have been the company. It might have been the cool weather in the air.
But I really felt like this was the "kick off" party to fall and now I feel like the holidays are just around the corner (because they REALLY ARE!)

It was also wonderful to have Barbara and Robert Sallick (founders of Waterworks) and my dear friend Jennifer Boles from The Peak of Chic (and her fabulous sister Laura who lives in San Francisco).

In case any one was wondering what was served:

Pork tenderloin with fennel and onions
Farro with pomegranate seeds, mint, Italian parsley and feta
Roasted Butternut squash with a sage butter and pecans
Roasted cauliflower

(I am happy to share info on how to make anything if anyone is interested)

I am not sure if I am going to be hosting any more large scale dinner parties in the near future. Sure was fun- but sure was a lot of work!

Funky TUT!

I took a large step and ventured into new territory- presenting the foyer design that I worked on for the San Francisco Fall Antiques show. I honestly love working on projects that are not always what people think that I might do. It keeps me challenged and on my toes and it is always interesting to educate myself in design of all styles and periods.



The theme this year was Egypt and "King Tut" and for some reason I just couldn't get out of my head the video of Steve Martin in 1979 doing "Funky Tut"...so I decided to really step outside of my normal comfort zone and really to go all out and try something different and new and well for a lack of better word: FUNKY!



The back wall was made up of Egyptian newspapers to really give some texture and depth. In a way I thought that they almost had brick like shapes to them. Thanks to my decorative painter Katherine Jacobus for all of her help!



I used all different sized letters to spell out "Funky Tut" and then placed a Danish (Bodil Kjaer) sideboard (from Epoca) with a pair of (René Drouet) chairs (from Therien).
My technical support burned on a DVD the couple of minute Steve Martin doing "Funky Tut" so that I looped over and over again on the vintage tv. The Arteluce lamp was borrowed from Monument.
The floor was covered in 250 pounds of sand (and I still trying to figure out how I will get it all out on Monday morning when the display from the show is over!)

Highlights of opening night for me last night were really when John Saladino and Paul Wiseman gave me the thumbs up and starting doing the "Funky Tut".



Of course another favorite part of the night was when Suzanna posed as Cleopatra!




If you are in San Francisco this weekend- do try and pop by Fort Mason and see the show. There are some wonderful items on view. Even if you can't buy anything it is a wonderful education of some fine items on display throughout the show.

The blog that I have been writing for the show also has some great behind the scenes photos:

http://sffasblog.blogspot.com/

The Sartorialist visits San Francisco

One of my little hidden secrets is that I really don't like to shop. There I said it for the whole world to see.

But let's clarify that just a tad- as I back peddle just slightly...
Now sofas, chairs, rugs, cocktail tables, art, lighting and anything relating to interiors- any day of the week- any hour- any time- any city- no problem at all. Love shopping for interiors. It's a good thing that I am an interior designer!

It is the thought of clothes shopping that gives me hives just thinking about it!

The lines- the dressing rooms- everything. Hence my pretty basic uniform of black- and if I am feeling like mixing it up- black and white. I have a pretty basic collection of black sweaters, jeans and a few black and white gingham shirts and white dress shirts. I love a great black suit and love textures and layers (much like in interiors). I might be considered "boring" by some. But for me I like to keep it pretty classic. Believe me it is really easy to get ready in the morning- with things that mix and match. I like clothes that are timeless that are good quality (I didn't say expensive) that last a long time. I have been known to purchase in multiples on many occasions. Why- because I know that if I am buying it I must really love it and that it will wear out in time and then I won't have to go out and shop again! The one time that clothes shopping is appealing to me is when is a foreign country. There is something really fabulous about a sweater that you pick up in a small boutique in the Marais of Paris or a pair of boots from London. These always turn out my favorites. Perhaps it is memories or that it somehow is exotic-or that it is different from what you might see in stores in your own city.

Despite that fact that I am not into shopping and buying clothing really for myself- I really LOVE fashion!
I love the relationship that fashion has to interior design.
To see what comes down the runway- the colors and textures make my heart beat fast. I love watching my favorite old designers and seeing what upcoming young and creative talents show off.

This long winded post brings me to my point.

One of my favorite things in the day is logging onto my computer and seeing what is on The Sartorialist and what fashion moment in time has been captured. I had the pleasure of meeting with Scott Schuman tonight at the book signing of his brand new book (as I side note- I am not sure HOW I got on the guest list- but somehow I did and I am so thankful- as I was able to meet him at the pre party before the doors opened to the general public at 7:30- and as you can see there were HUNDREDS (I am not exaggerating here) lined up around the block).

Scott started The Sartorialist after leaving a fashion sales position to take care of his daughter in 2005. Picking up a digital camera and walking around New York City and snapping photos of people that caught his eye.

Scott's philosophy: "I thought I could shoot people on the street the way designers looked at people, and get and give inspiration to lots of people in the process. My only strategy when I began The Sartorialist was to try and shoot style in a way that I knew most designers hunted for inspiration."

A few shots of some fashionable people from the party. I am no sartorialist- but I really love taking photos and I find so much inspiration as I can be certain that Scott does as well.

So sorry...

Hi everyone that reads this:

I first wanted to say thank you for all of the emails- notes and posts on other blogs with relation to my recent published work in San Francisco Magazine and The New York Times.

I have had a computer glitch and just discovered about 200 emails that went into a spam folder.
So I am writing to say- I hope that if you did email me- you didn't think that I was SO rude not to reply back- but I am just recovering things today. What a mess...

Thank you to everyone for your recent support of my work and my company.

I am excited to share some exciting events with you in the upcoming weeks with the San Francisco Fall Antiques show just around the corner- if you haven't checked out the blog that I am writing for the show- you can see some of the recent posts:

http://sffasblog.blogspot.com/

More exciting things coming very soon- so check back very soon.

Thank you again again for all of your kind words and feedback.


Grant

The NEW look of Restoration Hardware

By now I am sure that you have seen the new look/makeover that Restoration Hardware has recently launched.
I know personally that when I started to see photos on blogs and on their site as well as the new catalog- my jaw pretty much dropped. The style was so different from what I was used to seeing...

Tonight was the launch party at the flagship store in Corte Madra (about 20 minutes north of San Francisco- over the Golden Gate bridge).
The store glowed- was styled perfectly and was just a great mix of the new look.
The price point seems to be very reasonable- and it really looks straight out of Belgium (with the rustic finishes and natural linen on everything) à la- Axel Vervoordt

The invitation was so creative for the opening- sent in a grey box with a great old looking key. It was a great attention to detail and really caught my eye.

I really enjoyed the steam trunk secretary the leather chaise and the
crest bedding

I even found great nesting tables that I am ready to email to a client to see if they like it for a great addition next to their new living room sofa. You never know when you are going to have a furniture sighting!

Great job Restoration Hardware and it's entire team for putting together a great new look- bringing great design to the masses.

A conversation with Lord Wedgwood

After a lovely day in San Francisco with a bit of chill in the air (you can really tell that fall is here!) it was wonderful to attend a nice party at the end of a work day.

Tonight was very special as I was an honored to meet with Lord Wedgwood (yes- THAT Wedgewood) for a private interview before the lecture and book signing (At Home with Wedgwood by Tricia Foley) in downtown San Francisco at Gumps.

Lord Wedgwood couldn’t have been more charming. Exactly the kind of man you would expect him to be. Well dressed in a thick wool pin stripe suit (I could see that the lining of his jacket coat was bright red- so fabulous!)- A blue and white windowpane shirt and a tie with horses. All topped off with a pink and white polka dot pocket square. His cuff links were Wedgwood (did you have to ask?) as was his ring dating to the 1760’s. (In the photo Lord Wedgwood was inspecting Suzanna’s Wedgwood ring dating which he dated to the 1880’s)

2009 marks the 250th year of Wedgwood- started in 1759.

The iconic tableware company that we all know was started by Josiah Wedgwood with the famous blue and white Jasperware pieces. It is certainly fabulous to see the elevation of Wedgewood over the years- keeping in the home and décor market with designers like Vera Wang, Jasper Conran, Barbara Barry and Martha Stewart. Speaking of evolution- did you know that Charles Darwin was Josiah Wedgwood’s grandson?

Casually chatting with Lord Wedgwood was a wonderful way to end the day just before the start of the party. We talked about drinking tea and how taking time out of the day can be a challenge- but a welcome break at times. I suggested that Wedgewood come up with a sort of travel kit with a lovely tea set! If we see this in stores upcoming- we all know where the idea came from!

The new book is fabulous and I highly suggest rushing out and purchasing it.
What I think is special about the book is that is really shows Wedgwood in so many settings. Lord Wedgwood and I talked about how Wedgwood looked perfect on so many of the pages. Some of the settings are much more formal- and some more relaxed- but it all somehow really works. There are fabulous interiors of:
Barbara Barry, Stephen Drucker, James Huniford, Charlotte Moss, Thomas O’Brien, John Pawson, Suzanne Rheinstein, Carolyne Roehm, Michael Smith, Martha Stewart, Vera Wang and of course Lord Wedgwood.

We chatted about how some people are afraid to use fine china on a daily basis- and how that he thought that it should be used everyday! Hear that everyone? Bring out your favorite china and use it! Don’t just save it for special occasions.

I'm just like Rachel Zoe!

It's not that we both share the love of highlights- or sunglasses- or even the love of coffee... (but those thing are true)- but that's about all that Rachel Zoe and I have in common- the rest of her couldn't be more opposite.


What we do have in common is that we both have had the rare and special chance to be in the Coco Chanel apartment in Paris! This actually was the salon of Chanel where she actually didn't sleep (she did that at the Ritz)

Some of you might have seen it this week on the Rachel Zoe Project on Bravo (which is a guiltily weekly pleasure watching her nutty adventures- meltdowns- her quirky sayings: "BANANAS" and "I DIE") when she and Brad visited Chanel's apartment.

In case you missed it- I just figured out how to upload my first YouTube video (I recorded it from my iphone so- sorry that it is not the best quality):




"On another level"

"I think that I am going to pass out"

"There are certain moments in my career where I actually stop and say- I can't believe that this is happening and somehow being in Coco Chanel's apartment- that's just dream fulfilled right there"

(Rachel I couldn't agree with you more!)

Here are a few photos of my trip last year in Paris.
It was a unforgettable experience for me and I know Rachel too!

What's under your skirt?

That caught your attention!

Recently- I have had a lot of questions about what kind of table is in the corner of my dining room...

So here is the unavailing of a table that I recently custom built in my dining room to fit right in front of my pocket doors that I keep closed all of the time (my bedroom is on the other side).

I searched all over online- but I just couldn't find the size that I wanted. It was a challenge as I didn't want the table to be too deep-I wanted it to be 20 inches deep (so it wouldn't take up too much space in the room- or that I walked right into the side of the table when you walked in the doorway).

A trip to Lowe's (to cut the plywood top) and The Container Store (for the legs- I did 5 of them for extra support) the table was done- and as you will see from the photos I found a nice flax like colored linen that I draped over table so that I could vision it finished. My wonderful drapery workroom (Madina Aryeh Custom Sewing) who made this table skirt- as well as one in my living room, my beautiful curtains in my bedroom and bedskirt (with the Greek key trim) and all of my pillows- made a custom tightly fit slip cover for the table (trimmed in chocolate brown gross grain ribbon)- with slits in the middle and sides for easy access to roll out my printer and file cabinet (other Container Store finds).

Personally- I think that office equipment (like printers and supplies and file cabinets- even a trash can) can be really ugly. So at the end of the day it is really important for me to push everything under the skirt and put it all away and out of my mind. It makes the space really versatile. At night it doubles as a sideboard and a perfect place for platters of food or nibbles for a cocktail party. The best part is that no one ever has to know what's under the skirt (whooops! I just blew it and gave away my secret!)

How do you deal with storage?

Do you have any ideas to share?

What do you have hidden under your skirt?