With fall on its way in, many design devotees can't resist switching up their decor - from easy tweaks like new pillow cushions and window treatments to dramatic undertakings that require multiple shopping and hardware store trips.
"When I think of fall," says interior designer and prop stylist Lauren Nelson[1] , "I think of materials with warmth and texture, like woven wool, cashmere, leather and wood. And color palettes with lots of earth tones and neutrals. I particularly like the combination of walnut wood with aged brass and accents of deep orange and navy."
Brass indeed appears to be "having a moment," as interior designer Charles de Lisle[2] puts it. "Bronze, too."
Lately, de Lisle's clients have been gravitating toward natural materials, such as wool, which means schemes that include varying shades of gray and brown, as well as white. Although pinpointing a name for it proves challenging, de Lisle adds that a "smoky gray purple" is emerging as a popular hue now.
For interior designer Grant K. Gibson[3] , autumn and domestic life are synonymous with entertaining more - or "being cozy at home," he says. That can often involve rotating in certain decorative elements, like "cashmere throws for the sofa or chairs. My apartment is a bit cold - it's a really old and quirky building - so it's nice for guests to have an extra layer to bundle up with if they need it."
Gibson has a tendency to burn more candles as he eases out of summer; they add a nice glow in the evenings and don't have to cost much, he says. Nelson promotes another inexpensive idea: fresh flowers from the farmers' market. They can always be counted on for season-appropriate blooms.
For those looking for specific ways to give their interior a fall face-lift, we asked de Lisle, Gibson and Nelson to shop for seasonal updates in their respective San Francisco neighborhoods (Hayes Valley, Sacramento Street and Valencia Street).
Hayes Valley
This is de Lisle's second time around in Hayes Valley. The interior designer ( www.cdloffice.com[4] ) had a studio on Linden Street for six years, then moved to a South of Market outpost. About a year and a half ago, he returned to Hayes Valley - where he now occupies a space on Hickory Street.
De Lisle begins his excursion at Steven Alan[5] , an apparel and home shop. On a table not far from the front door, he picks up a small ceramic vessel suspended on a leather strap, made by San Francisco ceramicist Meghan Lunne ($37). "It's just cool," he says, when asked about the piece's appeal. "I don't know why I'm drawn to it." Although the shop has it displayed with an air plant, de Lisle speculates that he may use his new acquisition to hold a staghorn fern.
Toward the back of Steven Alan, de Lisle surveys the assortment of blankets. A slate and ivory alpaca/cotton herringbone design by Brahms Mount ($394) is admired in part because of its trim detail, as de Lisle professes his fondness for tassels. But the blanket isn't going home with him: "I think my dogs would eat it," he says.
Down the street, at Cisco Home[6] , the interior designer praises the Tulip chair by John Derian[7] ($1,960) for its smaller proportions, which is especially good for Victorian residences. Some of the chair's additional virtues: "You can order it in wool, in cotton - nontoxic materials - and it's handmade," says de Lisle.
On the way back to his office, he pops into Minimal. He picks out a pair of Björk wool stools ($288) by Design House Stockholm - one a light gray, the other a darker shade of gray - because "they're simple and aren't trying too hard," he explains. The leather handles on the side allow them to be easily moved and used as a table wherever one is needed.
Along Gough Street, he points out Bibliohead Bookstore, a favorite haunt. "I always walk out with a big bag of books," he says. There's one book in particular that he never passes up an opportunity to buy: "Billy Baldwin Remembers[8] ," a memoir by the late decorator that was published in 1974. "I just bought a copy for a client. Every time I see it, I buy it. It's him telling stories about his clients over the years, and it's really funny."
If Bibliohead doesn't have the book in stock, its staff can usually track down a copy. Adds de Lisle: "Books are the best accessories if you're shopping for the home."
Sacramento Street
As someone who lives and works on Presidio Height's Sacramento Street, Grant K. Gibson ( www.grantkgibson.com[9] ) is a familiar face in the neighborhood's many design-oriented shops. Not surprisingly, when friends, clients and even followers of his blog are coming to San Francisco, they often ask for his list of must-visit stores.
An avid cook, Gibson counts Hudson Grace[10] as a go-to whenever he's hosting a dinner party. The store's own Organic dinnerware collection ($12-$18), which includes bowls and plates, is favored for its simplicity. "I typically like to use crisp white plates and platters to serve on," he says. "That way, the food is really highlighted."
To balance the white dishes, Gibson heads over to a nearby table where colorful Belgian linen napkins are carefully arranged in 21 colors. "If you're keeping the plates classic and timeless, then you can add a pop of color with the napkins. The range of colors is amazing, and so is the price ($18 each). You can even mix and match."
He further clarifies that the "pop of color" doesn't have to equate to bright and bold; the earthy tones would be just as welcome next to Hudson Grace's Organic line. Yet another reason that the napkins appeal to him: They are made right here in San Francisco.
At nearby Boga Oriental Rugs, Gibson stops to consider the display in the window: an array of small rugs rolled up in baskets. "They are the perfect size for a bath mat or to place on either side of the bed or in a small foyer," says Gibson, who is particularly interested in a 23-by-34-inch Beni Ourain-style rug ($250).
A short walk down Sacramento Street brings the interior designer to two shops that are on opposite ends of the style spectrum: the Future Perfect, which opened in March, and Sue Fisher King, which has been around for 35 years.
Gibson shops the latter frequently enough to recognize the store's new inventory - from the latest Astier de Villatte tableware to the wallpaper now lining the area behind the register and a 20-by-20-inch ikat pillow ($145) from a Swedish company - all of which elicit an enthusiastic reaction.
The pillow is chosen for its "fresh color combination," he says. "The warm and rusty orange with the dark navy on the thick linen make it ideal if you're looking to add a little fall into your interior."
A couple of doors away, at the Future Perfect, Gibson is immediately smitten with the first thing he spots: the brass Linden light fixture ($13,550-$14,045), which, coincidentally, is designed by de Lisle. "I love fixtures that are modern and make a statement," says Gibson. "This would do that for sure."
Mission District
Lauren Nelson ( www.laurennelsondesign.com[11] ) has called the Mission District home for three years. Within just a few blocks of her apartment is an abundance of boutiques. On the stretch of Valencia between 19th and 20th Streets alone, she could probably revamp an entire flat.
Nelson starts her search at Aldea Home, where she is drawn to the Miles leather club chair ($980). "I've been seeing a rising trend in cantilevered chairs lately, which harks back to the Bauhaus period," she says. "Aesthetically, I love the simple curved lines these chairs tend to share, and functionally they're often quite comfortable because of the bounce factor."
Down the street, the curiosities in Paxton Gate beckon. A collection of candles by Sydney Hale Co. ($32) catch Nelson's eye for their sparse yet attractive packaging. "I don't think I'm alone in my love for artisan candles," she observes. "They are the perfect gift, universally loved, and can range from affordable to uber-fancy and expensive. This soy candle has fall written all over it, especially the fir and blue sage scent."
Nelson is just about to pass by Gingko Home Furnishings[12] when she notices a square Laguna pouf ($175) with a geometric orange pattern in the showroom. "While the motif and chunky texture of the woven wool hit just the right note for fall," she says, "the piece's dual functionality is appreciated any time of the year. It can double as casual, comfy pull-up seating or as a side table."
At Aggregate Supply, which stocks fashion, beauty and home goods, Nelson singles out the Enzo Articulated table lamp ($395) for its "combination of antiqued brass, solid wood base and articulating joints," she says. "I love the architectural feel this has."
Across the street, a visit to Little Paper Planes has its rewards, too: large-scale art at a reasonable price. The photos in shop owner Kelly Lynn Jones' California Collection series - which are printed in editions of 50 ($40), signed and numbered - measure 36 inches by 36 inches. Nelson especially likes "#2" (an ocean scene) and "#9" (wildflowers), which "capture the beauty of the California coastline, and do so in such a casual way," she says. "I'd pair two of these together for a stronger impact, in clean-lined modern frames."
As the shopping outing comes to a close, Nelson envisions the way all of the afternoon's finds complement each other. "I can picture a cozy reading nook with the leather chair, wool pouf as the ottoman, scented candle and lamp on a nearby side table," she says. "The black-and-white artwork makes it versatile for any season and color combination."
Aldea Home, 890 Valencia St., San Francisco; (415) 865-9807. www.aldeahome.com[13]
Paxton Gate, 824 Valencia St., San Francisco; (415) 824-1872. www.paxtongate.com[14]
Gingko Home Furnishings, 810 Valencia St., San Francisco; (415) 814-3918. www.gingkofurniture.com[15]
Aggregate Supply, 806 Valencia St., San Francisco; (415) 643-4847. www.aggregatesupplysf.com[16]
Little Paper Planes, 855 Valencia St., San Francisco; (415) 643-4616. www.littlepaperplanes.com[17]
Anh-Minh Le is a Portola Valley freelance writer. E-mail: home@sfchronicle.com[18]
References
- ^ Lauren Nelson (www.sfgate.com)
- ^ Charles de Lisle (www.sfgate.com)
- ^ Grant K. Gibson (www.sfgate.com)
- ^ www.cdloffice.com (www.cdloffice.com)
- ^ Steven Alan (www.sfgate.com)
- ^ Cisco Home (www.sfgate.com)
- ^ John Derian (www.sfgate.com)
- ^ Billy Baldwin Remembers (www.sfgate.com)
- ^ www.grantkgibson.com (www.grantkgibson.com)
- ^ Hudson Grace (www.sfgate.com)
- ^ www.laurennelsondesign.com (www.laurennelsondesign.com)
- ^ Home Furnishings (www.sfgate.com)
- ^ www.aldeahome.com (www.aldeahome.com)
- ^ www.paxtongate.com (www.paxtongate.com)
- ^ www.gingkofurniture.com (www.gingkofurniture.com)
- ^ www.aggregatesupplysf.com (www.aggregatesupplysf.com)
- ^ www.littlepaperplanes.com (www.littlepaperplanes.com)
- ^ home@sfchronicle.com (www.sfgate.com)
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