A Peek at the Farnsworth House

The Farnsworth House is one of the most celebrated modernist structures of the 20th century. The glass and steel house designed by Mies van der Rohe and built in 1951 in Plano, Illinois is now a historical landmark. We were in Chicago this weekend and were dying to see the Farnsworth House despite the fact that no tours were available until April 1st. I will skip the details on how we managed to experience it, let's just say it was worth the trip. But, I highly recommend booking a tour to see the interior.

"The dominance of a single, geometric form in a pastoral setting, with a complete exclusion of extraneous elements normally associated with habitation, reinforces the architect’s statement about the potential of a building to express “dwelling” in its simplest essence. While the elongated rectangle of the house lies parallel to the course of the Fox River, the perpendicular cross axis, represented by the suspended stairways, faces the river directly. With its emphatically planar floors and roof suspended on the widely-spaced, steel columns, the one-story house appears to float above the ground, infinitely extending the figurative space of the hovering planes into the surrounding site." (To read more please visit the Farnsworth Landmarks Illinois website).

Current Design Deals!

Check out a few of my favorite sale items from online retailers...

Gem bottles, Set of 2, On sale for $29 at Brocade Home

Cleo Chair in Big Bloom, On sale for $699 at Anthropologie

Marimekko Kikku bedding, $39 - $59 at CB2

Cool, Calm & Collected: Tips for a Stylish Bathroom

Your bathroom can easily turn into a cluttered mess full of products and clashing labels if you aren't careful. Assuming that you aren't ready to tackle that hideous 70's tile just yet, there are still many ways to improve the space simply by paying attention to details, presentation, and accessories.

First off, you want to be selective about what you have on display. More often than not, products come in unappealing or bright packaging. Instead, use glass jars and bowls to store items used on a daily basis such as Qtips.

If you don't have a built-in medicine cabinet simply buy one and mount it on your wall. This is the easiest way to hide clutter and keep products easily accessible.

Stick with one metal finish for all your fixtures, and incorporate this through to smaller accessories such as toothbrush holders, cups, and trash bins.

Matching towels in light tones and simple cotton rugs are always a sure winner.
Toilet lid cozies are a big no-no.

I love to use antique saucers and small trays to display nice soaps, hold rings, and organize perfumes.

Need Design Inspiration?

It's rare that a retail store or showroom will make me stop and think. I'm usually too busy trying to find the perfect piece for a client to take a moment and appreciate the juxtaposition of furniture and accessories. But, recently I wandered into Swallowtail, a furniture store on Polk Street which carries a mix of antiques and modern accessories. Head to this gem of a store for quirky animal themed accessories, one of a kind antiques or a little old fashioned inspiration.

Swallowtail 2217 Polk St., San Francisco.