You may have spotted Amanda Teal's styling prowess in Matchbook magazine's garden party spread, but you may not know about her burgeoning design firm, or the serendipitous path that led her to the industry. As the daughter of a famous jockey, Amanda inherited a love of horses and spent her early twenties as a professional equestrian. A riding job lured her to San Francisco where she met fellow Read more

San Francisco's odd sunny streak this Winter is tempting me to celebrate Valentine's Day al fresco. There are so many enchanting ways to create atmosphere with candlelight, and visual inspiration seems to be everywhere this time of year. Whether you're crafty enough to fashion a DIY chandelier or would rather leave it up to an assortment of beautifully made lanterns, setting the scene with killer Read more

If I had my druthers, I'd have fresh flowers in every room of my home year-round. But a standard bouquet of roses simply isn't my taste. When it comes to bouquets, I prefer flowers that embrace the other — grasses, succulents, tillandsia, even carnivorous plants, are all favorites in my bouquets. Thankfully, San Francisco's own Flora Grubb is the go-to resource for beautiful, Read more

MARCH, San Francisco's newly remodeled home goods store, merges airy modernism with utilitarian craftsmanship for a space that has local foodies and designophiles in a tizzy. The lovely wares for the kitchen, pantry, and table, some of which are created exclusively for MARCH, aren't the only things this space sells. Even more covet-inducing is the irresistible aesthetic. Flooded in natural light Read more

A federal appeals court has reaffirmed that California's gay-marriage ban is unconstitutional. Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found that voter-passed Proposition 8 violates the 14th Amendment of the US constitution. Gay marriage supporters outside the courthouse in San Francisco cheered the decision, but the fight isn't over yet. The case will likely make it to the US Supreme Court as Read more

Derek Lam debuted at Fashion Week in 2003, sending out a collection that would mark a new era in crisp, clean, American sportswear. He redefined the classics, crafting a cool line of looks that felt utterly modern thanks to smart tailoring and attention to detail. What remains in each reincarnation is an unmistakeably chic aesthetic — effortless, easy, and utterly wearable pieces. He loves Read more

Last week the San Francisco Decorator Showcase opened in posh Pacific Heights, and I was lucky enough to attend the media preview day. If you saw my coverage of the 2010 showhouse, you might remember that it's one of my favorite events of the year! This time around, the new crop of designers did not disappoint, and I left feeling inspired and envious. If you live in the Bay Area, you can visit Read more

At the San Francisco Wedding Fair this year, attendees (including myself) were wowed by a room filled with pop-star-inspired tables designed by wedding and event planning company Floramor. The glitzy table setups each drew inspiration from the musical style and personality of a different female singer, including Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Fergie, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga. So if Read more

Apple hasn't had a presence at Macworld since 2009, but the show must go on. And go on it did this year at the Moscone center in San Francisco. Though the expo was smaller than years past, there were a number of tech talks and expert panels that focused on life with Macs and the amazing art you can create from them. Get a quick recap on everything we learned while sitting in on the panels — Read more

We don't cover much men's grooming around these parts, but we'll make an exception for F.S.C. Barber. The two New York locations are popular among ruggedly stylish guys, and now F.S.C. Barber has expanded to the West Coast with a 1,200-square-foot spot in San Francisco's Mission District. Offering straight-razor shaves, classic cuts, and an old-timey atmosphere, the spot already had a waiting Read more