I have taken a lot of ceramics classes. Working with clay is really rewarding and challenging. At every step in the process there is something new to consider both technically and aesthetically. There are a lot of unknowns (particulary for the novice) to experience along the way, something I am not gifted in accepting readily.

The dining pendant selection for the future Greatroom in our new home was recently completed. Jaklyn who works with me at Northbrook said one day “THIS is the fixture that represents YOU and what you love and is also a functional dining pendant!” So here it is.

Los Angeles based Lesley Anton is a gifted ceramicist with LOTS of talent, represented in San Francisco at the DeSousa Hughes showroom. She designs and makes gorgeous, eco-friendly ceramic light fixtures for the interior design trade. She has sent me some test samples of what I asked about and we have had some fun back and forth conversations via phone and email. Lesley has gone out of her way to work on this piece being perfect for the space. The 13 shades will be made out of black mountain clay. Each one will have a green glazed interior, and white shiny exterior. Our fixture will be smaller than the example shown. The photo titled “glaze options” was taken by Lesley. To see more of Lesley’s designs go to www.lesleyanton.com.

So thank you Jaklyn and thank you Lesley!

Visiting a job site is always a thrill. One of the fun things about being an interior designer is seeing our projects in all the various stages from construction to finished furnished space. Jaklyn and I went to tour one of the Northbrook Design projects in the Presidio Heights neighborhood this morning.

Construction began several months ago, and we have been working on the job for about a year now. Our scope includes finishes and lighting for the Entry, two Powder Rooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Library, Family Room, Sun Room, Master Suite, three bedrooms and three full bathrooms. We are also in the process of furnishing the house with area rugs, furniture, window treatments and plug-in lighting.

Here are some “in progress” photos. When a house is opened up, the light can be really fantastic, or pretty grim! The house will have windows pretty soon, then doors. So many people working hard to turn what was already a pretty house into an even nicer home for the lucky owners. We are collaborating with Gast Architects and Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders.

What a beautiful day it was in San Francisco today!

In the middle of September, the concrete walls that make up the lower level of the house were poured. The board forms were made from 6” wide wood planks and the concrete in the same color as the landscaping board form concrete walls. Bob, my husband, thought to use a special insulation on the walls that will also be finished concrete on the interior. The blue insulation panels are held in place by ties during each pour. The second pour will be the finished concrete on the interior, 4″ thick.

The walls you see that do not have the blue insulation will have regular insulation and sheetrock on the interior. Rick and Bob are standing on one of the ramps that Solid Concrete builds at their job sites. There is something cool about how they make what would otherwise be treacherous working conditions kind of fun and treehouse-like.

Shortly after the lower level walls were poured, the plumbing team started their work by laying in drains and things that go under the base rock of the lower level floor, which, surprise surprise, will be poured concrete. Then in mid-October, excavation began for the front upper portion of the house. The mountain of dirt got moved around again in preparation for the upper floor foundation to be created.

The board forms stay on the concrete for quite a while at this point, mostly to protect the walls from damage. It takes just a few days for the concrete to set.