If you've ever dreamed of hiring Oakland artist Caroline Lizarraga to spruce up your walls but thought that out of reach, perk up: The painter has just debuted her first collection of wallpaper, for Parete, and it's got all the textural finishes, dreamy patterns, and poppy hues you crave.
Speaking of Design Within Reach, DWR's new 15,000-square-foot showroom is filled with furniture inspo to make your modern-living dreams come true.
Plus, the Marin Country Mart scores another goodie with La Ligne and the Inner Sunset gets a fashion-y secondhand store for kids.
Caroline Lizarraga launches the most sublime wallpaper ever for Parete.
With her unique eye, love of bold color, and Old World-meets-modern painterly techniques, decorative artist Caroline Lizarraga has been wowing the Bay Area and the rest of the world for quite a few years. (Not familiar? Peek at the wall and floors in SF stores Fiat Lux and Betty Lin.) Now, thanks to her new wallpaper collaboration with Parete, debuted at Paris Déco Off last month, you can chic-ify your home with the rockstar's mind-blowing art.
For years, people have been asking Lizarraga to, pretty-please, come out with a wallpaper line: "I thought why would I do a wallpaper when I can paint it by hand?" she says, But, "as my career evolved and I challenged myself to do more difficult finishes, I realized the need for a wallpaper collection. What if we were to design a collection so technically challenging to create by hand that doing a wallpaper could make it more accessible for others?"
Working with Parete, a creative small-batch brand, has been a match made in heaven for the Oakland-based artist. The curated collection is as varied as Lizarraga's work. A few favorites include: "I Lost My Marbles" ( a moody raised-surface print on metallic smart vinyl, accentuating the patterns' subtle iridescent qualities); "Plastered" (seeing sound through an explosion of encaustic color and shape—a mosh pit of synesthesia with cubist references); and "String-of-Pearl" (a soft iridescent pattern that dresses to impress with its sophistication and style).
// Browse the collection at paretewalls.com.
Design Within Reach has opened a Potrero Hill space—and she's a beaut.
(Courtesy of Design Within Reach)
We thought DWR's longtime Kansas Street showroom was brilliant just as it was, but, woah, what a difference a few blocks and a fresh concept make. San Francisco's go-to source for Herman Miller chairs and the like has experienced a glow-up. Renovation of the 15,000-square-foot former 1920s warehouse preserves the architectural integrity in original industrial details, but of course you'll find a wonderland of dreamy furnished vignettes fit for both urban and suburban dwellers.
From perfectly arranged bedrooms-slash-offices and luxurious living areas to contemporary dining rooms and outdoor spaces, the galleries serve endless home-design inspiration. Also sprinkled about are fun shout-outs to SF, i.e. books from City Lights, albums from storied Bay Area bands, and Levi's hanging in the closet.
"Walking through this studio is meant to feel like reading a love letter to San Francisco. The space pays homage to the city’s legacy of taste-making and invites visitors to experience the best in modern design through that lens,” says Omar Nobil, VP of product design and brand creative.
Even if you're not on the hunt for new furniture, the studio is worth a whirl to check out the dedicated 2,000-square-foot exhibition space that features rotating museum-like installations. Learn about local institutions and iconic designers plus interact with products in fresh ways. The premiere exhibit, Vitra Prouvé Collection, deconstructs and celebrates the work of renowned French designer, architect and engineer Jean Prouvé—maker of the iconic Prouvé Standard Chair (b.1934).
// 1400 17th St. (Potrero Hill), dwr.com
Ready, set, stripes! La Ligne lands at the Marin Country Mart.
(Courtesy of Chris M. Howard)
La Ligne cofounders Molly Howard, Meredith Melling, and Valerie Macaulay are so stripe-obsessed they built a business around the timeless wardrobe staple. That was eight years ago. Today, the casual-cool NY-based label continues its love affair with fine lines, as well as other elevated everyday essentials. The main headline for local shoppers, though, is the opening of its Marin Country Mart store, which marks brick-and-mortar number five—and first on the West Coast.
Along with its famous striped knits and tees, an array of solid-colored sweaters, denim and dresses are lovingly displayed in the airy and inviting 1,100-square-foot boutique. Both subtle and not-so-subtle odes to "the line" are brought to life throughout, as well.
In other exciting news—especially for those who love an exclusive—the Larkspur store is the only place to buy the iconic customer-fave Marin sweater (and Marini for kids) in cream with mustard stripes, an intentional nod to the Mart's colors.
// Marin Country Mart, 1013 Larkspur Landing Circle, (Larkspur),lalignenyc.com
NooMoon, a San Francisco kidswear resale shop, brings the fits + giggles.
Store owner Angela Tafoya and her daughter. (Courtesy of Maria Del Rio)
We dare any kid or grownup not to have a good time while shopping (or jumping on temptingly fluffy oversized pillows) at the recently opened NooMoon boutique in the Inner Sunset. The style-centric, secondhand children's shop is at once transportive and whimsical, chic and experiential.
Bathed in lavender and butter hues, the pint-sized space screams joy; no surprise there, as the fresh interior design comes courtesy of acclaimed local stylist Rosy Fridman. Equally brilliant? The curated racks of colorful, pre-loved tops, jeans, dresses, shoes, jackets and more for babes to pre-teens. While the merch is ever changing, one recent visit elicited rounds of oohs and aahs brought on by an adorable, itty-bitty Gucci tee and stylish staples from coveted labels like Misha & Puff, Mini Rodini and Bobo Choses.
The bringer of all that fairy dust is mom of two Angela Tafoya, a longtime design and style editor (Domino, Refinery29 and Lonny). Her retail baby's name is inspired by the lunar cycle, new moons symbolizing a welcoming.
"I wanted to share the joy I get from hunting for a special secondhand piece with others in a design-driven way,” Tafoya explains. “Kids cycle through clothing so quickly and so much of it ends up in landfills, so it was important for me to create something that has a positive impact on our planet in addition to leaning into the transformative power of design.”
Time to get shopping, and selling. The store accepts gently loved items on Saturdays and Sundays.
// 536 Irving St. (Inner Sunset), noomoon.shop
