Journal

San Francisco: A Paradise for Shopping and Strolling

This month much of the country is returning from summer travels, which makes me realize while I love to travel, staying home can be just as much fun. With this in mind, I’d like to share some of my favorite spots to shop and dine in my home city, San Francisco.

Shopping can be serious business. Fortunately there are plenty of spots to relax and unwind in San Francisco.
Shopping can be serious business. Fortunately there are plenty of spots to relax and unwind in San Francisco.

Start the perfect San Francisco day with a walk down Hayes Street, beginning at Franklin, then heading west. Don’t miss the wonderful boutiques and shops in the area, including some intriguing home décor shops as well as great restaurants and coffee shops. Highlights include:

  • PLANTATION – Distinctive home décor, including numerous accessories and tabletop accessories. 336 Hayes (415) 565-0888.
  • THE PAINTERS PLACE – Finely crafted custom framing – offering both classic and modern designs. 371 Hayes Street (415) 431-9827.
  • PROPELLER – A fabulous array of modern furnishings and hand built accessories for the home. 555 Hayes Street (415) 701-7767.

After touring the many shops on both sides of the street, unwind with an espresso, a special treat or brunch at:

  • LA BOULANGE – Famed French-style bakery and café. 500 Hayes Street (415) 863-3376.
  • STACKS – Fresh, simple and delicious American classics. 501 Hayes Street (415) 241-9011.
  • MIETTE – Fine cookies and other sweet confections. 449 Octavia Street (415) 626-6221.

Stacks logo

Another favorite place of mine to stroll and shop is a small shopping district San Franciscans refer to as “Sacramento Street.” Located at the base of Pacific Heights, this area is a bit more upscale than Hayes Street. Here you’ll find:

  • SUE FISHER KING – A sumptuous store filled with rich textures and colors as well as the very finest in home furnishings. 3067 Sacramento Street (415) 922-7276.
  • ANTHEM – One of a kind antiques, as well as eye-catching furniture, lighting solutions and tabletop accessories. 3274 San Francisco Street (415) 440-6500.
  • POETICA ART & ANTIQUES – Rare antiques, accessories and vintage furniture. 3461 Sacramento Street (415) 637-5837.
  • THE DESK SET – A full-service fine stationery and custom invitation boutique. 3252 Sacramento Street (415) 921-9575
  • HENRY BENGUELIN – Handcrafted fine leather. 3091 Sacramento Street (415) 292-7559.

For a late lunch or dinner, I recommend GARIBALDIS – the quintessential neighborhood spot. 347 Presidio Avenue  (415) 563-8841.

No matter what part of the city you frequent – from the upscale stores at Union Square or San Francisco Street to the thrift stores in the Mission District – San Francisco is a shopper’s paradise.

San Francisco is a great place to shop for home décor items.
San Francisco is a great place to shop for home décor items.

Each neighborhood has its own unique flavor – and treasures – so the next time you are in the city, do some serious exploring. And please stop by our design studio at 155 Connecticut Street and pay us a visit. We’re quite sure it will become one of your San Francisco favorites.

 

The Transformation of a Historic Montana Destination: Part Two

Kootenai Estates, a breathtaking summer getaway in the heart of the Flathead Valley in Montana, welcomed such venerable guests as Will Rogers, John D. Rockefeller, Jane Wyatt and Charles Lindbergh during its heyday as a turn-of-the-century retreat for wealthy mining barons.

A hand-cut rock courtyard and fountain welcomes all to the 6,500-square-foot Lindbergh cabin.
A hand-cut rock courtyard and fountain welcomes all to the 6,500-square-foot Lindbergh cabin.

We have been closely involved in restoring this idyllic Bigfork, Montana, community, and a standout of our work here has been the transformation of the legendary Lindbergh Cabin, rumored to have housed the famous aviator when he visited the grounds in the 1920s.

In addition to the renovation of the historic 1906 Kootenai Lodge we described in our last blog, we helped refurbish and expand three original log cabins and built three new homes from the ground up. We are especially proud of our work on the expansive 6,500-square-foot Lindbergh Cabin, now a meticulously restored waterfront home.

Beautifully restored maple wood flooring and custom finishes highlight the cabin’s interior.
Beautifully restored maple wood flooring and custom finishes highlight the cabin’s interior.

This cabin was originally built in the 1880s and in definite need of some modernization when we embarked on rebuilding it in 2007. We restored the original residence and expanded it to include two new two-story wings. All the original hand-hewn logs were restored to their original beauty. To maximize the stunning lake views, we enlarged all the windows and doors. The original maple flooring was carefully refinished, and a massive exterior fireplace – comprised of indigenous chief cliff rock – was dismantled and relocated to adorn an accent wall and three interior fireplaces. The residence today includes a gourmet kitchen and breakfast room, formal dining room, elegant great room, walk-in bar, office, outdoor dining deck, a master suite with a private patio and a full ensuite bathroom for each of its five bedrooms.

A lakefront terrace offers sweeping views of Swan Lake and Swan River.
A lakefront terrace offers sweeping views of Swan Lake and Swan River.

Fully furnished with custom finishes, this one-of-a-kind residence now features a lovely entry courtyard and fountain, as well as a full-view lakeside terrace with a commanding vista of both Swan Lake and Swan River stretching all the way to Crane Mountain. The home is accented with beamed vaulted ceilings, rustic timbers and rugged stone throughout. The other homes at Kootenai Estates are similar in style, with traditional log architectural accents that pay homage to the Old Montana West.

The project is still a work in progress and marks the dramatic transformation of “The Kootenai Camp,” a former destination for Anaconda Copper executives and their families into a collection of custom, multi-million dollar homes.

Indigenous cliff stone from the cabin’s massive original fireplace accentuates an interior wall.
Indigenous cliff stone from the cabin’s massive original fireplace accentuates an interior wall.

When complete, all the homes – both old and new – will masterfully echo the traditional Adirondack Camp style architecture of this original turn-of-the-century retreat.

For more images of the Lindbergh and other homes and this gorgeous Montana property be sure to visit its website. We also have photos of our work posted on our website and Facebook page.