Scot Meacham Wood: Is It Simply Too Early?

First, I am well aware that most of our country seems to have been locked in a vicious cycle of 100-degree temperatures every day for the last several months. And I should also state for the record that we who live here in San Francisco have had no such issues. Sorry. As Mark Twain once wisely said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.†So maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been wearing cashmere sweaters for the last six months, or my overwhelming love for all things fall, but…I’m kinda in a hurry to push through these last few weeks of summer and delve into the glory of autumn.

SMW Design project in San Francisco, CA; click to see more

Now, the other thing that you should know about me is actually a serious handicap regarding my beloved fall. You see, I have no sense of smell. Nada. Nothing. Zip. So it’s not like the aroma of burning leaves or apple pies (not burning apple pies, just the pies in general) is going to set off my lust for autumn.

SMW Design project in Atherton, CA; click to see more

And, as previously stated, our weather is notoriously brisk here in the city most every day. But even in the chilly summer months we still pretend like it’s warm. I might leave the house in the morning wearing a pair of shorts, but I can assure you that I’ve got a cashmere sweater on as well. And usually a lightweight coat in the car at all times. And a pair of long pants, too. Just in case. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve had as much feedback on my Twitter account as when I stated that I was throwing on a ski sweater on the way out to dinner–in July.

SMW Design project in San Francisco, CA; click to see more

So as summer blends somewhat seamlessly into fall, where does one mark the change? When do I flip the contents of my closet, switching from the lightweight to the heavy, serious wool coats? And, more importantly, when does my house begin to change? Is it the color of the leaves in the surrounding countryside? Is it a smell in the air (for those of you who aren’t olfactorily challenged)? Is it a simple date on the calendar? Is it all linen until September 23, and then all tweed starting the next day?

SMW Design project in San Francisco, CA; click to see more

So I’m beginning to plot. I’m practically scheming. New wool tweed pillows for the sofa. The heavy angora throw to curl up with in my reading chair. Heavy wool drapes. Maybe even layering a few extra rugs in the bedroom. And I’m thinking that some new lampshades would give the house a perfect feeling for the oncoming season. So even though there are still a few more official weeks in summer, my mind is already moving on.

SMW Design project in Lake Tahoe, CA; click to see more

Oh. And I can start baking apple pies.

SMW Design project in Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA; click to see more

–Scot Meacham Wood
Scot Meacham Wood, owner of the eponymous design firm based in San Francisco, finds absolute delight seeing his client’s homes and lives transformed over the course of each design project. After working with Ralph Lauren for fifteen years, Scot opened his own design business in 2001–and has since worked on residential and commercial projects of all sizes across the United States. Runner. Musician. Anglophile. Textile junkie. Science fiction nerd. Interior designer. And please check out Scot’s own blog, The Adventures of Tartanscot.