Letter from the Publisher
What constitutes “the best” in interior design? That’s a question we get a lot, and one we’ve been particularly trying to answer as we put together this issue (especially because our cover promises that we’ll bring you the best!).
Well, we indeed think we’ve found it. We’ve identified some of the most intriguing homes in the Bay Area. And, as we invariably find, these homes are not only beautiful; they also have fascinating stories attached to their inhabitants and to the design process. What’s the saying about truth and fiction?
Take the San Francisco home Jay Jeffers, one of House Beautiful’s top 100 designers, remodeled from four floors of apartments into one welcoming space (without disrupting the flock of parrots in the backyard). Or Michelle Kaufmann’s prefabricated homes — environmentally friendly, affordable, drop-dead gorgeous, and immensely popular. And then there’s the unique Blue Pickle loft in Oakland—a space the architect himself called “the toilet core” when he first saw it, but which today is a bright, cheery, art-filled home.
With the help of our guest editor, Darlene Jurow, president of the Northern California chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, we tracked down several other hidden gems. There’s the story of lighting-guru-to-the-stars Randall Whitehead, who for years lived in a dark cave. And Lou Ann Bauer, who created an imaginative, fun-filled abode for a family of five in San Mateo. And Philip J. Meyer, who turned a pink penthouse into a classic beauty.
In San Francisco’s arty Hayes Valley, we ran across Lorn Dittfeld, who scours the earth for fabulous furnishings and objets d’art by emerging artists, so his patrons don’t have to. We also tracked down two well-known bathroom designers who gave us the 4-1-1 on that utilitarian room, which now must be as fashionable as the rest of the house.
And of course we’ve got our regular hot product picks, notable books, and favorite new restaurant. Enjoy!
Cheers,
Barney Fonzi
Group Publisher
Diablo Publications
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