Book Signing Event at Gump’s: Orlando Diaz-Azcuy

Counterclockwise from bottom right: Diane Dorrans Saeks(author of Orlando Diaz-Azcuy from Rizzoli Books), Orlando Diaz-Azcuy (iconic Architect and Designer), Marta Benson (CEO of Gumps), and me.

I was so lucky to be invited to the book debut party at Orlando Diaz-Azcuy by Diane Dorrans Saeks in San Francisco last Thursday! The book is wonderful, and I am a long time admirer of Mr. Diaz-Azcuy, so was so happy to be able to have my copy signed by both this brilliant architect/designer and the book’s author.

Beautiful Lilacs at the signing table

We drove from Sacramento that afternoon to downtown San Francisco, and hurriedly walked over to Gumps from the parking garage, and who should I spy immediately upon walking in? Designer, Scot Meacham Wood from Tartanscot blog! We had made a plan to meet, but had never met before. I could spot this very handsome blogger right away. He is as charming in person as he is on his blog.

The party was in full swing when we arrived, but we were very happy to wait in line while looking at all of the spectacular creations of Andrew Fisher of Fisher Weisman . The coffee table in the photo below is just one example:

Another piece with bronze legs and exotic wood veneer:

I am sure I spotted Grant Gibson, designer and blogger in line ahead of us, but alas, missed meeting him. (We have since touched base and will try to meet up after his trip to Venice!) After getting our books signed we had to tour Gumps to see what beautiful new treasures had been added since our last visit. We found this gorgeous table setting upstairs:

I loved the black lacquer chairs! The smoky glass wine and water glasses were perfect with the pewter linen table cloth and place settings.

Another table with striking candelabras:

And the new furniture vignettes definitely give one design ideas to dream about:

After our upstairs looksee, it was back downstairs for more sightseeing. While I was looking at the newest from John Derian:

I ran into my old friend David Duncan Livingston, amazingly talented photographer and one of the main photo contributors to the Orlando Diaz-Azcuy book. Please do check out his website. You will no doubt recognize many of his photos from some of your favorite magazines. Oh! And he also has a blog here. (Great music too!)

David snapped this shot of me and my friend Lise who came with me. He also took the picture of Diane Dorrans Saeks, Marta Benson, CEO of Gumps, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and me up at the top of the post. (It seems I have a thing or two to learn from David.)

The event was so much fun and it was an honor to meet one of my design heroes: Mr. Diaz-Azcuy. Thank you so very much to the gracious Diane Dorrans Saeks and Marta Benson for the most kind invitation. It was a wonderfully memorable evening!

Academy Awards Green Room: Architectural Digest Selects Stephen Shadley

A Little bird from Architectural Digest let me in on something:

Architectural Digest has chosen AD100 interior designer Stephen Shadley to create the signature Architectural Digest Greenroom at the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

AD Editor-in-Chief Paige Rense comments: “Stephen Shadley is an appropriate choice to design the AD Greenroom at this year’s Oscars, especially because several of his clients--including Diane Keaton, Woody Allen and Robert Altman--are movie legends. Stephen’s work melds classic and contemporary for a glamorous conclusion.”

The Green Room will be styled in "Seventies Modern" and will feature Baker Furniture, an 1100 pound bar constructed from one-of-a-kind Concetto Surface Art "Forza" by CaesarStone, and a lush shag rug by Karastan.

Mr. Steven Shadley

Mr. Stephen Shadley has been on the AD100 list for many years, and it is easy to see why. A prolific designer, Shadley has developed long time friendships with many of his very well known clients. Diane Keaton has been a friend for over 30 years.

Architectural Digest, April 2005, Photo by Tim Street-Porter

At least two of her homes by Shadley have graced the cover of AD. Designed in the California Monterey or Spanish Colonial style, Both homes house an impressive collection of Monterey furniture, pottery and art: Catalina and Bauer pots, landscapes by Maynard Dixon, Frank Tenney Johnson, Edgar Payne and Carl Oscar Borg. This home is a 1920's Bel Air house set on an acre of land. Shadley transformed it from a non-descript remodeled home to a vintage Spanish work of art.

Photo by Tim Street Porter

Diane's office converted from what was once the garage. Amazing bulletin board of "Diane's visuals". Old factory table becomes a desk.

Sitting Room off the stair all. Photo by Tim Street Porter

Architectural Digest, July 1999. Photo by Tim Street Porter

This is the cover of my well worn AD July 1999 issue featuring another Keaton house by Shadley. Mr. Shadley restored this Wallace Neff house in Beverly Hills from the untouched original with restraint and care. Many of the original light fixtures were preserved in the process. Classic in every sense....it still retains it's style in the ten years since the magazine was issued.

Photo by Tim Street-Porter

Monterey "Buckaroo" chair, a photograph by David Wojnarowicz, and Bauer pots. Sconce is original to the house.

Shadley also had a hand in creating the modern "barn" for Keaton near the Hudson River in New York. While a completely different style, there is a similarity in the sculptural spareness to the objects in the space.

A grouping of Eames chairs dot the all white interior of the space.

The black and white color palette creates a gallery-like atmosphere.

Photos by Michael Mundy

Love the ethereal star-like quality of the pair of modern chandeliers between the trusses.

Mr. Shadley has a very broad scope of talent, as is apparent when one jumps from this modern barn to the restoration of a 1928 South Carolina Craftsman bungalow.

Architectural Digest, June 2006, Photo by Steven Brooke

Asian antiques mix with Arts and Crafts furnishings in this clean and classic interior.

Mr. Shadley has a way of creating comfort and interest in such a beautiful way without adding too much. His designs are always clear and classic. Evidenced by his portfolio on his website here, I have included a few more images for your viewing pleasure:

Private Residence in Upstate New York. Photo by Steve Gross and Sue Daley

Home of Cari and Matthew Modine, Greenwich Village. Photo by Jaime Ardiles-Arce

Congratulations to Mr. Shadley! And to Architectural Digest for picking such a talent. I look forward to seeing the realization of his creative vision for the Academy Awards Green Room this year!

Cosmo Cafe Opening

I have been working on the design for a new Sacramento restaurant, Cosmo Cafe, for the last few months, and had the pleasure of attending the Grand Opening Night Event last Thursday night. The Cosmo Cafe is part of the larger Cosmopolitan building which is also home to the Cosmopolitan Cabaret and the soon to be opening Social nightclub. I thought you all might like to take a peek:

Of course there were Cosmos

And lots of friends and familiar faces.

Kerry Ellis (don't you just love that name?!?!), lighting designer extraordinaire of Benning Design Associates, worked to get the lighting design just right. And Sean from Lumens Light and Living helped us with supplying the decorative light fixtures.

Stacy Paragary of Paragary Restaurant Group, proprietress and wonderful client, had fun with Bruce Benning, owner of Benning Design Associates.

And here I am in my role as Senior Designer for Benning Design, with my good friend Kate of Girl Meets Glamour blog.

Good friends Leanne and Nicole. In the back round you can see the back lighted photo of K Street in Sacramento that I had enlarged showing the original exterior of the restaurant building in it's previous mid-century incarnation as Woolworth's.

I met Kevin Johnson, former NBA Star and perhaps the future Mayor of Sacramento. November 4th will tell!

The crowd was swelling early into the evening helping to kick off a great first night.

Cool congas (Thanks MER!) were played.

Diners were enjoying the sumptuous menu.

The Sacramento Hotel, shown here, was the original occupier of the corner of 10th and K Streets. I created niches lined with back painted glass to showcase historical buildings on and around K Street.

For the bigger groups, there is a private dining room with a view to the kitchen.

Cocktails and friends made it an evening to remember.

So, if you are looking for a very "Cosmopolitan" way to spend an evening, don't miss dinner at Cosmo Cafe before seeing a show at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret!