...cali COASTAL living + clam chowder....!

I do believe I mentioned that I started my own interior design business this year, yes?  I can't remember if I just hinted towards this news or actually "announced" it here on the JHID blog....well, I did - yay me!  AND I launched my website....you can see it here.  It is a little weak right now with content because I can't show everything I have been working on for the past 8+ years, but that will come with time....

I decided to take some time off this beginning of 2013 and reset my buttons....get my creative juices back up and flowing....walk my pups on the beach, do as much yoga as possible, hang with my hubby, catch up on movies, books + mags, catch up with friends, with family....just l-i-v-e.  It has been so nice to be spontaneous and I treasure these days where I can just jump in the car with the hubby and take a drive to find yummy local clam chowder in a coastal town on a Thursday early afternoon.....and yesterday we did just that!  It was cold in San Francisco (hi, I'm always cold here) and fresh, cozy clam chowder and a ride in the '66 BMW 1600 down the beautiful California coast sounded super fun.  I had posted a photo to my Facebook page the evening before of a funky little beach house in Santa Barbara that I always dream about and I guess that coastal, casual surf-beaten architecture and feeling still resonated with me the next morning....I wanted more.  So zip off we did.....!

this is one of my fav beach homes perched above a local beach that doubled as my backyard growing up in Santa Barbara...it is so easy, non-fussy and feels like HOME.  do you see the bathtub?!  fork it over.

a rare pic of me on the JHID blog via Instagram - see?  I'm cold!!

Sooooo....Barbara's Fish Trap in Half Moon Bay has the BEST clam chowder.  Really.

ummm....yes, please.

one for me, and one for you!

As I write this Miette is happily going between chasing her own tail and laying on guard at my feet in my office while Lu Lu holds the world record for most hours a dog can snooze per day.....I think she is at 23.8 hours.

Mimi

little Lu-Boo

Life is good, people.....life. is. good.

xo janel

all images above by janel holiday interior design.

soundtrack is John Coltrane......I can't get enough of him these days!

...GEOMETRIC + GRAPHIC goodness!

I have a soft spot for all things graphic and geometric...here are a few things catching my eye these days:

1. red and white spun globe pendant by Rotaflex for Heifetz, USA 1950's.
2. white marble trivets - what you can't see are their chic leather bottoms....love!  By Fort Standard.
3. most likely you will be seeing me in these L.A.M.B. oxfords....you know I can't bypass houndstooth!
4. heaven hanging from your arm = this delicious perforated leather Marni shoulder bag.
5. octagonal, brass etagere in the style of Milo Baughman, USA 1970's.
6. a cozy, baby alpaca zig-zag throw by a fav, Jonathan Adler.
7. you know about my Etsy addiction, right? well, stuff like this does not help.  Amazonite cabochon set into hand-cut brass.  Shield necklace by Laurel Hill.
8. this studded porcelain box by JA is perfect to stash remotes in and look chic and cute on your coffee table!
9. quartz stone in a perforated (yep, used that word twice in this post) gunmetal brass pocket and setting....cuff by Kelly Wearstler.
10. 3D 1960's geometric painting.....signed R. Walker.
11. chevron striped porcelain lamps by Jill Rosenwald. These come in so many fun colors and she will even custom color for you as well - love!
12. i am loving these little "Pixie" boxes made from Caribbean rosewood....by Oh Dier Living.
13. bronze candelabras by Fort Standard.
(honeycomb wallpaper background is by Cole & Son.....you can find it here.)

...OCEAN inspiration!

A favorite place for me is at the beach....any beach.  Long gone are my days of laying out and tanning...I am more of a beach walk and taking in the sights type gal.  The crashing waves, numerous layers of textures, unexpected encounters with ocean life and light are one of nature's best free shows.  Yesterday, the hubby and I took a drive down the coast to meet up with friends to go bowling (yes, bowling). On the way back we pulled over to take in the ocean vistas....

The Gray Ghost fit in perfectly to the day's color palette.

I thought I would throw together a little ocean inspiration board....

1. mother of pearl shell chandeliers by Verner Panton, Switzerland 1960s.

2. brass anchor bottle opener

3. Edward Wormley for Dunbar console table, United States, 1940s.

4. hand carved pair of wood mermaid sconces, circa 19th century.

5. a beautiful Japanese sea life scroll painting on silk. circa 1865.

6. "Abalone" hand painted silk pajamas by Heidi Merrick - a fellow ocean lover.

7. Curtis Jere seagulls wall sculpture, United States, 1968.

8. vintage driftwood coffee table, United States, circa 1960's.

Soundtrack for this ocean field trip is crooner, Bobby Darin:

happy NEW year!!

Happy New Year, dear readers!  Cheers to a fresh year bringing new challenges, new beginnings, adventures, memories, laughs and reasons to celebrate!  Cheers to throwing out the old and bringing in the new and doing so with class and kindness to those around you.  May 2013 bring you success, health, happiness and clarity......xo janel 

...the JHID holiday gift guide...!

All the cool kids on the internet are going "gift list" blogs so I decided to cave in and whip one up myself, dear readers.  I've tried to think of everyone on your list...let me know how I did!

1. for the host/hostess...glass Pantone ornaments.
2. for the design loving spouse....a beautiful etched metal candleholder by Tom Dixon.
3. for the wine lover....a canvas Angela Adams wine tote made from recycled sails that have been around the world.  
4. for the kiddos...Maharam memory game.
5. for that crafty, hippy aunt/mom/sister..."Diameters are a Girl's Best Friend" necklace. 
6. for the book lover...The Complete Universe of Piero Fornasetti.
7. for the bachelor/brother/dad...George Nelson night desk clock.
8. for the boozer/bartender cousin/local bartender...brass bottle opener by Oji Masanori.
9. for the stylish sister/friend/main gay...powder coated steel "Kaleido Trays" by Clara von Zweigbergk.
10. for your friend who loves to entertain....Midas Glassware dipped in gold by Swedish design group, Front.
11. for your architect friend with kids....or no kids...Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye in LEGO format!

For this holiday posting I'm listening to the Ramsey Lewis Trio's Sound of Christmas....it's essentially 29 minutes of jazzy perfection that my girlfriend Kathy reminded of recently:

....a holiday party at GUNDLACH BUNDSCHU...!

I was super excited to get an email a few weeks ago announcing that famed, family owned (California's oldest family owned vineyard in fact) Sonoma vineyard, "Gundlach Bundschu" (gun, lock, bun, shoe), or "Gun Bun" as it is affectionally called, was hosting it's annual member's holiday party.  I had just joined in July (I have allowed myself three wine club memberships...this was my third so I had to make it good) and was thrilled to learn that they would be hosting the member party in their amazing hillside caves....!  Even more thrilling was my hubby agreed to accompany me along this tasty trip North into wine country. Not usually one for the grapes, that guy.

Gun Bun has been family owned since the original 400 acres were purchased in Sonoma in 1858.  Today you'll find sixth generation wine makers and family members running the business and doing a darn good job doing so.  The grounds of Gun Bun are beautiful.....several areas to picnic and take in the sweeping views of rows and rows of vines and the Sonoma landscape.

We braved the stormy weather that was brewing over the Bay Area the whole week and ventured into wine country for an afternoon of holiday cheer, gift giving (GB collected toys for children and waived their tasting fee all day), tasty snacks, delicious wines and a favorite part for me....sharing an afternoon doing all of the above with my hub.

"When It Rains, We Pour" was the first sign we saw getting into Sonoma.....you know you're going to have a good day.


















Hello Kitty and Star Wars toys from us...'natch!




a beautiful handmade dollhouse by a local artisan






entrance to the Gun Bun caves






private dining/tasting room


knocking it back




heaven!






us!













We'll skip the soundtrack and go straight to this hilarious clip about our dear friend, "Merlot":