January 7, 2009

Home and Garden

Michelle Kaufmann Designs


Green to go: sustainable by design: From the original Glidehouse to the subsequent Sunset Breezehouse, Sidebreeze, mkLotus, mkLoft and mkSolaire models, the prefabricated homes of architect and Novato resident Michelle Kaufmann are modular, energy-efficient, built to code, and packed with such ultracool green features as bamboo floors, recycled concrete countertops, glass tile, and low-VOC paints.

Considered real estate once they’re installed, mkd-homes can be found in the most chic communities along the West Coast. “Green townhome communities” are slated to appear in San Leandro, Denver and Las Vegas; resort projects, spiritual retreats and spas are also in the pipeline.

Next May, a fully functioning three-story mkSolaire with a garage, living roof and smart features will be installed at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Technology—the only other building honored this way since Frank Lloyd Wright erected a Usonian home on the same site more than 50 years ago.

Kaufmann, a former associate of celebrated Los Angeles architect Frank O. Gehry, never planned to pioneer green prefab homes, purchase a factory in Seattle to build them, open an office in Oakland to sell them, write a book (Prefab Green, HarperCollins, 2007) about them, or design eco-friendly home products (lighting, a bathroom vanity, a kitchen island) via mkStudios, but plenty of environmentalists and home owners are glad she did. Michelle Kaufmann Designs offices are located at 580 Second St., Ste. 245, Oakland; 510.271.8015; mkd-arc.com
 
Make your bed and  lounge in it
Baby & Kids Company: With its child-friendly atmosphere, designer linens (Serena & Lily, Bella Notte, Shabby Chic), and charming furnishings for newborns to toddlers in a nice arc of prices, Baby and Kids Company is a one-stop shop for tots. “Go to your room!” will never quite have the same ring again. 12 Miller Ave., Mill Valley; 415.389.1312; babyandkidscompany.com

Paperwhite: When Jan Dutton designs her luxurious collections for the bedroom, she thinks like a fashion designer and pins her creations on a mannequin, not a bed. When she’s finished, eight opulently dressed beds and accessories, made from the finest Indian silks and Italian damasks, sateen and cotton, take center stage in her San Rafael showroom and factory, where savvy shoppers take advantage of customizable options, complimentary design service and quarterly sales. She has two other showrooms in design centers in High Point  and Las Vegas. 4324 Redwood Hwy., Ste. 200, San Rafael; 415.491.4488

Designer favorites
Martin Kobus: For almost 20 years, designers like Peter Marino, Suzanne Tucker, Mario Buatta and Babey Moulton Jue & Booth and the showrooms of Pierre Deux and Ralph Lauren have counted on Martin Kobus to whip up (and often motorize) wonderful window treatments, from luxe draperies to Roman shades and natural wovens, for their clients scattered across the United States. They know the finished product, overseen personally from concept to installation, does not disappoint. 4000 Bridgeway, Ste. 307, Sausalito; 415.331.3755

Stoich Designs: Matt Stoich and his dedicated team have turned a little storefront in Larkspur into a bustling workshop that consistently turns out some of the finest upholstery in Marin. Close attention to detail, no shortcuts and a classic approach to the craft are among the reasons designers rely on him. 274 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur; 415.927.2362

Nowell’s Antique Lighting: Nowell’s, a favorite with designers and contractors since 1954, is hidden in plain view in the industrial section of Sausalito. Whether you want a vintage streetlight from San Francisco or an antique chandelier from a mansion of a European capital or (in the case of one Tiburon homeowner) supposedly decommissioned from the Vatican, there’s a good chance you’ll find it here. New owner Alex Arce continues the tradition and still offers rewiring, repair and custom design. 491 Gate 5 Rd., Sausalito; 415.332.4933; nowellslighting.com

Now you see it—now you don’t
NanaWall Systems: NanaWall Systems, based in Mill Valley, introduced the exterior folding glass door system from Europe to the United States more than 20 years ago, and now its gorgeous view-encompassing doors, which open entirely within seconds, are found in many of Marin’s top homes. They’re available in different finishes, woods and glass and in curved styles. 707 Redwood Hwy., Mill Valley; 415.383.3148; nanawall.com

The well-dressed space
Lunaria: For expressive, flirty modern lighting, Lunaria gets our vote. More than 100 fixtures, from semirecessed lights and chandeliers to floor and table lamps, illuminate the showroom floor. Choose from stylish Italian lines like Terzani, Baga, Leucos and Melograno Blu or American lines such as Stonegate, Currey and LBL to give your space a splash of glamorous light. 1108 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur; 415.461.0588; lunaria.us

Collure Studio 1106: When Susan Wright opened Collure Studio 1106 along Larkspur’s Magnolia Avenue early this year, she brought to Marin a world of designer fabrics, trims and wallpapers usually available only through exclusive design centers. Now, anyone can browse the lines of Donghia, Osborn & Little, Brunshwig & Fils, Bergamo, Fortuny, Manuel Canovas and Missoni Home, among others, without engaging a designer, although three staff designers are happy to help and can arrange for fabrication of any soft furnishing or upholstery. 1106 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur; 415.461.6155; collure.com

La Sede Bella: If it’s toile you crave, visit La Sede Bella in San Anselmo for a wonderful selection. 535 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo; 415.453.8200

Dwelling details
Blue Slide Art Tiles: For great tile style, we like Blue Slide. Handcrafted in Point Reyes by artisan Gordon Bryan in the traditional arts-and-crafts manner, these tiles, commonly graced with high-relief images of farm animals, birds, fish, blossoms and leaves, come in a choice of more than 90 rich, luscious colors. Plain subway and field tiles are also available and custom orders are taken. blueslidearttile.com

Susan Goldstick Inc.: Susan Goldstick’s whimsical knobs and pulls, designed in Sausalito from a resin-like material, are like jewelry for your cabinets and drawers. Colorful and contemporary, these functional embellishments can be mixed and matched with Goldstick’s wall plates and drapery hardware. 415.332.6719; susangoldstick.com

Green woods
Arborica: Evan Shively is a modern-day sawyer, with a discerning eye for the most wonderful woods like black acacia, bay laurel, Monterey cypress and California walnut, all of which he salvages from fallen trees in urban forests. He stores his finds in a massive Marshall showroom and collaborates with design professionals to select the perfect piece for a project, whether it’s for a home’s structure, accent pieces or furniture. By appointment; 415.663.9126

Black’s Farmwood: Black’s Farmwood was green before green was red-hot. More than a decade ago, Michael Black sold the wood from his family’s blown-down 150-year-old Ohio tobacco barn to a Novato homeowner, essentially launching a nationwide business offering high-quality antique reclaimed wood for wide-plank flooring, siding, timbers and more. 415.499.8300; blacksfarmwood.com; showroom open by appointment.

Toast the host
Folio 949: From custom save-the-date cards to invitations to guest books and champagne flutes, Folio 949 makes hostessing fun. And if you’re lucky enough to be a guest, it’s a great place to pick up the perfect hostess gift. 1118 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur; 415.461.0120

Artists among us
Zaragoza: With her background in fine arts, fashion and interior architecture and interest in natural history, it’s no surprise Diana Rudsten has turned the well-edited Zaragoza in San Anselmo into a destination for designers, buyers and any other decorative-object seeker with an artistic eye.

The secrets to her success? She never sources from the same place twice, she juxtaposes objects like handmade antique Parisian bee skeps with hand-carved jade-green bowls from China for unusual presentations, and she offers a nice selection of artful but inexpensive gifts. 316 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo; 415.485.5061; zaragozacollection.com

Baulines Craft Guild: Unique pieces from premier fine craftsmen—a modern teapot in sterling silver, a bold garden gate, sensuous wood furnishings, rustic ceramic bowls and striking jewelry, to mention a few—are among the treasures featured on the Baulines Craft Guild website. The nonprofit preserves California’s fine crafts by pairing master artisans with apprentices and presenting exhibitions, hands-on workshops and intensive studies, but art lovers can take a cue from museums and collectors who use the Guild as a resource. Purchase craft pieces at Guild exhibitions or link directly to the websites of many of its 90 member artisans. 415.458.3535; baulinescraftguild.org

Flower power
Nancy Ann Flowers: Dewy-fresh, pristine-white, large and fragrant—we’d love the gardenias from Nancy Ann Flowers at any price, but for 25 cents each, we’re head-over-heels for them. Tuck one behind your ear, float a trio of them in a bowl or send them swimming in a pool. At this price, you can afford to splurge! 1505 Bridgeway, Sausalito; 415.332.6272

Passionflowers: Renato Gouveia and Marcelo Camillo bring their Brazilian sensibilities and passion for flowers to their aptly named Passionflowers floral shop in Corte Madera. Twisted tropical leaves, jewel-tone blossoms, lots of orchids, crisp lines and meticulous presentation all contribute to their bold signature style. 215 Corte Madera Ave., Corte Madera; 415.927.3983

Sunnyside Nursery: Where do you go when you need multiples of the same plant, you want the ones that match most closely, you’d like them in hard-to-find 15-gallon cans and they’re out of season? Savvy gardeners head to Sunnyside Nursery, whose Fairfax growing grounds have served since 1940 as the five-acre off-site “warehouse” and venue for the company’s popular July and October sales. Visits to the growing grounds during the week can be arranged by appointment. 130 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo; 415.453.2701; sunnysideofmarin.com

Larner’s Seeds: The East Coast had Johnny Appleseed but, here in Marin, we have Judith Larner Lowry, who has spread the message on (and the beauty of) California’s native annuals, perennials, wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees by encouraging home gardeners to go native. The seeds, available in bulk or by packet, are propagated at her nursery in Bolinas and sold online or on site. 235 Grove Rd., Bolinas; 415.868.9407; larnerseeds.com