Stacy’s Style – Shopping in San Francisco and Closer to Home

Travel seems to be a constant theme in my life and last week it took me to the West Coast to visit some family and to tool around San Francisco.

My Aunt Cindy works as the oenologist at Vineyard 29 we were treated to a special tasting and tour. It’s a modernistic setting in the middle of the Napa, surrounded by acres of prime real estate, most of it averaging $350,000 an acre. Vineyard 29 is a relatively small producer of super premium wines that you’ll rarely see in a wine shop, but that do grace the menus of fine restaurants.

All photos by Stacy Kunstel

I left my heart on Hayes Street in San Francisco. Located not far from the city’s design district, this tree-lined avenue is one shopping temptation after another. Whether it’s the colorful homes shopping at Lotus Bleu, the deliciously scented Nancy Boy or the shoe stores Gimme Shoes and Bulo, I couldn’t get away without laying down some plastic. The new Mexican restaurant Papito West was fantastic and I could go to the Juice Shop every day to get my fix.

Hayes Street

Lotus Bleu

Juice Shop

Next time you’re in San Francisco, be sure to check out Coup de’Etat in the design district. Contemporary furnishings, one-of-a kind art installations and just plain things I hadn’t seen before.

Some people get their best ideas in the shower. I get mine while propping. I was thrilled to make it into the store Olley Court in Ridgefield, Connecticut, last week too to check out the art, pottery, incredible hand-woven throws, jewelry and some incredible pieces for photo shoots I’d love to keep.

Olley Court

Today kicked off the Boston Design Center’s annual Boston Design Market. I really hope you’ll be able to make it hear/see to the incredible line-up of speakers planned for this two-day event. Our editor Kyle Hoepner will be talking with Dakota Jackson on Thursday at 1 p.m. and an NEH team made up of myself, Lynda Simonton and Karin Lidbeck Brent will be talking about styling, photo shoots and social media at 3p.m. on Thursday. At 5 p.m. on Thursday evening the new inductees to the New England Design Hall of Fame will be announced. See you there! 

Stacy Kunstel is New England Home's Homes Editor