Browsing Archive: November, 2011

Historical Treasure Hunting

Posted by Lori Pepe-Lunche on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, In : Historical Design

There is so much rich architectural and design history in my Berkeley neighborhood.

On my Sunday walk I visited one treasure I have been meaning to explore for far too long.

Rooms started at $14. a month!

The International House at The University of California in Berkeley has been hosting students from all over the world since it opened with the funding and support of John D. Rockefeller in 1930. It was the first coed housing program west of the Mississippi which included foreigners, "whit...
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Day Of Gratitude

Posted by Lori Pepe-Lunche on Friday, November 25, 2011,

Gone turkey hunting...

I hope you had an incredible day with family and friends. I'm grateful for all of you readers!

I'll be back on Tuesday.

Lori

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Bountiful Edible Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Posted by Lori Pepe-Lunche on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, In : Centerpiece

One of the things I am thankful for this year is the bounty of local organic fresh vegetables at the farmers markets here in the Bay Area.

All those fall colors and veggies are so incredibly beautiful at the market that I thought it would be great to re-create the look in the middle of the Thanksgiving Dinner table...then you have fresh produce to eat for the next week!

This is what you'll need:

1 pumpkin, squash, or large oblong gourd ( I used one of my leftover halloween pumpkins)
1 bunch of g...

Cinnamon Heaven

Posted by Lori Pepe-Lunche on Friday, November 18, 2011, In : Recipe

I know that this is a bit of a design break, but I don't think you'll mind because I am about to share with you my secret weapon.

I usually pull it out in the fall, around Thanksgiving, when I need an extra favor from someone (specifically my 13 year old son). He and all of his friends fall to their knees when I pull this one out of my arsenal.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls!!!!!! The pumpkin makes them moist and even a bit nutritious. I guarantee they will have the same effect on your friends and fam...
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It's A Black and White Issue

Posted by Lori Pepe-Lunche on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, In : Rugs

Need a new little (or not so little) area rug to spruce things up?

This Ikea Stockholm cotton rug is dynamite in any setting

It is amazing how black and white goes with everything!

PB Teen has a new trellis rug at a reasonable price

You just need to find the version that is right for you.

Here are some that will bring out the animal in you, while maintaining your quiet sophistication:

This one from Overstock.com is very high quality and will go with modern, rustic, and traditional interiors (a...

The Grande Bazaar!

Posted by Lori Pepe-Lunche on Friday, November 11, 2011, In : Second-hand shops

A few weeks ago one of my blog readers sent me a hot tip about a place she thought I might like...She was right!

Bazaar Gilman is truly a grand bazaar.

Sitting just across from Berkeley Bagel on Gilman Street on a lot that used to sell pottery, it is now tented and plumb full of all kinds of treasures.

There are bins filled with great stuff like these gold aluminum molded letters (much better than any you'll find elsewhere) for only 2 to 3 dollars each,

Shelves full of sterling silver,

crystal...
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Flash Sale Sources

Posted by Lori Pepe-Lunche on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, In : Internet Sale Sites

As you may know, there are several Internet sites now that consolidate overstocks, blems, and over runs from many manufacturers and stage "flash sales". You usually have to be a member of the site (just simply sign up with them by giving them your e-mail address) and they send you a notice (sometimes daily) of items they have for sale at deeply discounted prices. The sales run anywhere from 1 to 3 days or until things sell out...quickly!

Just in case you are not familiar with some of these "fl...
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Historically Inaccurate and Hilarious

Posted by Lori Pepe-Lunche on Friday, November 4, 2011, In : Fabric

What a potentially fun project!

Richard Saja is a New York City craftsman that has been repurposing toile de Jouy stories for the past 10 years.

Toile is an inexpensive linen or muslin fabric. Toile de Jouy originated in France in the late 18th century and literally means "cloth from Jouy-en-Josas", a town of north central France.

Toile de Jouy is a type of patterned fabric, mainly used in upholstery, that depicts a story or pastoral scene such as a couple having a picnic by a lake. It usu...
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Happy Halloween

Posted by Lori Pepe-Lunche on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, In : Halloween

With construction workers in and out of our house daily, I couldn't put the ghouls and goblins out on the porch to scare all the little people.

So it stayed simple this Halloween.

A few un-carved Cinderella pumpkins, a few candles in bottles, a couple of curly (scary) branches, and two little sculls did the trick.

And it only took about ten minutes instead of the usual day long decorating affair...I kind of like that.

I hope you and your families had a Sweet Halloween!

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About Me

As an Interior Designer, I am constantly looking for new ways of re-purposing and re-using what people already have as well as finding new resources for affordable furnishings. This is just a place to share great resources, ideas, information about the trades, and ways of doing things yourself to help make your own home fabulous!

- Lori Pepe-Lunché, more about me...

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