San Francisco Archives - The Curated House

The Curated Collection | Paul Ferney

There is something about the painterly brushstrokes of the work of Paul Ferney that I find so engaging. The textural, almost gestural brush strokes transport me into a scene that Ferney has scripted and yet somehow left open to my imagination. And on a scorching hot summer’s day like today, Ferney‘s beach scenes are just where I would like to imagine myself to be.

Although San Francisco is home, Ferney and his wife {event planner and blogger Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day!} recently spent one glorious year in Paris. You will definitely want to check out Jordan’s blog, as her DIY ideas for personalizing your next fête are nothing short of delightful. And for your daily dose of delight right here, feast your eyes and indulge your senses in Paul’s serene and engaging oil paintings.

“I like the way paint feels, the look of paint,” Says Ferney. “If I’m painting a tree, I’m not trying to make the painting look like a tree; I want it to look like paint—to never forget that it is paint. I like how primitive painting tools are. I use hair tied to a stick to spread oil mixed with plants and dirt on cloth.”

That appreciation for the elements – the love of the process – are so evident in Ferney’s work. The medium is not lost in the message. Rather, it becomes a significant part of the message itself.

In some ways that love of the medium and the process can be most aptly appreciated in the painterly details of these smalls.

I confess I am now longing for one of Paul’s paintings in my home. Wouldn’t one of his smalls look so inspiring in the nursery I’ll be designing in the months to come? I’d also love one of his large canvases as the visual anchor for our family room, especially because playing at the beach is one of our happiest “happy places” as a family.

I do hope Paul’s inspiring work has transported you to a happy place today.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 15th, 2013|1 Comment

Design Find | The Casa Acanto Collection by Fisher Weisman

It’s been nearly a year since that fateful day when I naïvely stumbled into the design offices of Fisher Weisman, thinking I’d come upon a retail store. Their bright red door – top half open to the breeze – was the perfect gateway to the enticing view of spectacular custom pieces within. Little did I know that in that moment I had surreptitiously discovered one of the premier design firms in San Francisco.

Today I am delighted to tell you that this brilliant design duo has recently launched their own line of accessories and furnishings, bringing their impeccably original and timelessly beautiful designs to a wider audience with the launch of Casa Acanto.

The name for the eponymous Casa Acanto collection was drawn from Andrew Fisher and Jeffrey Weisman’s spectacular 18th century San Miguel De Allende Mexican retreat, recently featured in Architectural Digest.

Casa Acanto‘s stunning collection of tables, desks and accessories showcases Fisher Weisman’s brilliance for pairing exquisite craftsmanship with intricate details and the use of unexpected materials. The collection is at once timeless and yet somehow other-worldly, inviting a fanciful sense of wonder and admiration at their attention to detail and delightfully unique designs.

“The Casa Acanto collection showcases the dramatic style and unabashed luxury that have become hallmarks of our interiors,” said Andrew Fisher, Chief Creative Director of Casa Acanto. “Throughout the course of our careers, custom pieces have been key to our work and the Casa Acanto collection enables us to offer our designs to a broader audience that appreciates inventive design.”

Perhaps my favourite grouping in the Casa Acanto collection is the Veracruz series of outdoor tables, exquisitely crafted from Brazillian teak and powder coated steal. The way these pieces fit together like a puzzle is entirely genius, and the flexibility they offer for a variety of configurations for entertaining is perfect for our fluid and flexible lifestyles. I can see this collection of tables making a stunning formal dining table for an indoor dining space just as much as outdoors, but how decadent to dine in such luxury under the stars!

Perhaps it is in their collection of Casa Acanto accessories that Fisher Weisman‘s sense of whimsy and wonder are most keenly expressed. The golden toad appears to have materialized straight out of the pages of a fairytale.

“Casa Acanto is the culmination of our combined five decades in the design industry,” said Jeffry Weisman. “The collection pairs rich materials with fanciful details and exquisite workmanship. We are thrilled to offer these distinctive pieces, designed to transform any room.”

With such a delightful initial offering, I will most definitely be keeping a close watch on all things Casa Acanto and Fisher Weisman! They have unquestionably captured my imagination and delighted my appetite for innovative design.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|June 25th, 2013|0 Comments

Lighting Love | Charles de Lisle | Linden Chandelier

As a designer, I am always on the prowl for statement lighting. You essentially want your lighting to do one of two things: blend into the background or MAKE the room, and today I’ve stumbled upon a chandelier by Charles de Lisle that is a serious looker and a total room MAKER.

The Linden Chandelier is all about simple, sexy glamour. Like a modern line drawing of a branch brought to life in brass, the statement it makes is at once as fierce and as it is organic.

Obviously this lives well in a modern context, but I would love to see The Linden Chandelier suspended over a very traditional kitchen island or formal dining table.

This stunner has now been added to a wish list of lighting statements I’m dying to make on future projects. It is available exclusively through The Future Perfect with locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and San Francisco.

Happy Thursday!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|May 30th, 2013|0 Comments