Diane studied Ceramics at UC DAVIS with Robert Arneson, and has been creating works with porcelain since  the late70’s. Her work was exhibited  at the Renwick Gallery in Washington DC,  SFMOMA and the American Crafts Museum (Now Museum of Art & Design) in NYC, as well as galleries in SF, LA and other areas, in the late 1970’s and early 1980′s.

Photos by Indra Fortney, copyright applies. You can also follow me on Pinterest.

Diane creates everything from cups, plates and teapots with eyes, mouths, feet  and arms, to garden sculpture to free-standing sculpture.

The garden is a feast for the eyes.

Diane’s sculpture nestles amongst the plants.

A view to vineyards.

A peaceful place to read.

Me: What are three of your most precious belongings?

Diane: 1.) A charcoal drawing of my son at 16, done by a street artist in Montmartre.  He captured his essence, and it still looks like him at 34.

2.) A statue of the Star Maiden from the Pan-Pacific Exposition if 1915 in the Marina of San Francisco:  I got it from a house on Russian Hill where I knew the owner who had passed away.  A treasure, and a reminder of a great lady.

3.)My cell phone….only because I am afraid to lose it. It is my ‘brain’.  Has everything and everyone in it.  I get withdrawal symptoms if I leave it at home or somewhere by accident.

Statue of the Star Maiden right.

Me: Who is your favorite artist?

Diane: This is hard to answer.  Right now it is Jennifer Bartlett because I am looking at a book of her work while I paint.  Henri Matisse for his incredible long life of painting and artistic growth.

Me: Where was your favorite place to visit?

Dinae: My favorite trip was to India, because it was so topsy-turvy from the way we live, yet exquisite and fascinating.  The people are gorgeous and have such self-possession.

Large soaking tub.

Me: What do you like most about your home?

Diane: I love the light and the view, and the fact that I have spent a long time making it my own.  The garden has been a source of pleasure and creativity for 14 years.  I started with a bare landscape and now it is lush and beautiful.  Of course, if I had it to do again, it would be very different!

Diane’s home is currently for sale.

This home belongs to my dear friends Nick and Kim Cavanaugh. Kim used to work for me as a designer in my shop La Vie Belle Interiors. Her background as an animal trainer made me confident she could handle a wild customer here and there, and she could! Nick and Kim bought this plot of land deep in the Napa country and built from scratch a home that Nick designed. As soon as I drive through the gate I feel at home. There is a sense of peaceful serenity here. Kim greets me at the door, her daughter Clare at her side while the ranch animals snort, bark and cluck out a hello in background.

Photos (other than those listed) by Indra Fortney.

Keys to the ranch hang on a bench near the door.

A basket of fresh eggs from their Speckled Sussex hens. Wool braided rugs are used on top of a rough-hewn wood plank floor (perfect for hiding dog scratches).  Wool is a practical choice since the natural oils in the fibers wick dirt to the surface. As Nick says, “If it’s good enough for the sheep, it’s good enough for us.”

A cozy hearth is a popular place to gather  in the living room.  Broken branches are collected on the property to make a fire in their Rumford fireplace, the same model Thomas Jefferson used at Monticello.  The Rumford fireplace has a tall, streamlined throat designed to carry away smoke with little loss of heat.

The house is designed to take advantage of views and outdoor spaces.

Ah! For tub lovers this is a dream bathroom! The chair is a vintage Biedermeier.

Clare in her bedroom. The tree design is a press on laminate! For a similar look check out these cute decal styles at Pottery barn.

A cozy place to curl up with a book.

This map was discovered one day when a relative was at the dump, it’s an original ink drawing and it’s marked with their last name, Cavanaugh!

Vintage camera’s belonging to Kim’s grandmother who was a photographer.

At the butcher block island you can pull up a stool while Nick  (the cook of the house)whips up a delicious meal.

Clare and the sheep -whoops, and their Anatolian dog which blends right in!

Ranch truck.

Newest addition to the family, Clares horse Banjo.

Clare with Inci who is keeping gaurd. Inci is an Anatolian breed originally from Turkey. These dogs are bred to protect livestock and they watch over their owners as well. Photos by Kim.

Special breed of cat. AKA lazy.

Guests from the wild.

Their first breed of Anatolian pups, Inci is the ma ma.

A trio of cuteness.

The pups get a lesson from Woody the horse.

Visit Nick and Kim at their store Think! Toner & Ink . If you want you can even purchase some farm fresh eggs (ordered in advance). And if your like me and think you might just have to have an Anatolian dog one day you can read more about this breed on the Cavanaugh’s ranch blog. They don’t have any pups available at this time but the Anatolian Rescue site is always looking for homes for their rescued dogs.

]]> http://inspireyourlifestyle.com/2012/05/13/napa-ranch-house-life-on-the-farm/feed/ 0 indrafortney #4napafarmhouse #6napafarmhouse #3_liv.rm._Canvanaugh #2napafarmhouse #1napafarmhouse #11napafarmhouseinspireyourlifestyle #13napafarmhouseinspireyourlifestyle #14napafarmhouseinspireyourlifestyle #12napafarmhouseinspireyourlifestyle #9napafarmhouseinspireyourlifestyle #10napafarmhouseinspireyourlifestyle #5napafarmhouse #7napafarmhouseinspireyourlifestyle #8napafarmhouseinspireyourlifestyle clare and bango P1000615 farmspireyourlifestyle Napafarminspireyourlifestyle P1100518 sleepingcatinspireyourlifestyle Napadeerinspireyourlifestyle anatolian anatolian2 puppies and horse http://inspireyourlifestyle.com/2012/05/08/vintage-home/ http://inspireyourlifestyle.com/2012/05/08/vintage-home/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 21:20:13 +0000 indrafortney http://inspireyourlifestyle.com/?p=5802 ]]> My inspiration for this post comes from a home I photographed in Calistoga last week, located near the natural geyser and Mount St. Helena this plot of farmland is quintessential California circa 1920′s. This property is listed with David Como of Coldwell Banker.

Next week look for a special home viewing, there are two possibilities – it may be an Artist at home special or a peek inside a secluded Petaluma ranch house, stay tuned.

Photos by Indra Fortney, copyright applies.

Mitchells is just down the road.

Kids still line up for a pop here.

Another piece of Americana is Jimtown located a little further north in Alexander Valley.

Ah! Sock monkeys! Who can resist one of these guys?

Property listed by Nancy Gillespie, photos by Indra Fortney.

Classic shingles with white trim.

Simple, sweet lawn.

An ice tea sipping porch.

The black trim on the woven wood shades compliments the dark counter.

A mosaic back splash ties together the colors of the walls and cabinets.

The door under the stair case leads to guest quarters.

Simple and fresh, letting the materials speak for themselves.

An iron wood deck.

High-five open metal balcony railing.

A perfect place to entertain.

Photos by Indra Fortney.

BEFORE

AFTER

Gone is the large floral arrangement in favor of something green. A basket of towels suits the large tube space and more fresh white towels on the counter update the look of the tile.

BEFORE

AFTER

A vibrant striped shower curtain draws the eye into the second portion of this large bathroom. The white table was the clients, we took it from the guest bedroom where it was dwarfed, bringing it to this small area of wall where it brings a fresh, kind of beachy feel (enhanced by the IKEA coastal print hung above) to the bathroom. Clean serenity.

BEFORE

This bed was originally parallel with the wall. We moved it on an angle to bring new energy into the space and draw the focus towards the patio.

AFTER

Two new comforter’s give volume to the bed and softens the floral print of the existing bed cover. A rug gives added depth to the space and a round table softens the angles. Previously there was a dresser table with a small lamp which I exchanged for this round table and a larger lamp which fits the scale of the room and the large king bed.

BEFORE

Here is the new home for the previous bedside dresser. I chucked the lamp, adding accessories and art above.

BEFORE

Recognize the white table? This is the table I moved to the master bath.

AFTER

Okay, confession time. I had intended to use this rug in the master bedroom, but it was way too small.  Luckily I had a couple of burgundy prints I hung above the bed to tie it together, and in the end I like it even more- the burgundy anchors the brighter red giving a richer feel to the room.  I used a nice mid-century Lane octagonal table I found at the flea market with a light glass lamp and a rattan shade, to maintain a little of the casual country feel of the house.

BEFORE

AFTER

I played off the home owners ivory floral shower curtain, dressing it up with patterned towels. To keep it from looking too fussy I used a sisal floor mat and kept the counter accessories simple.

BEFORE

AFTER.

BEFORE

AFTER

By bringing in bright colors, red and yellow,  a new, upbeat energy was created for the room. After we rearranged the bookcase and hung a picture above, a new focal interest was created. A plant between the kitchen area and family room is a nice way to visually divide the two spaces and soften the edge of  the counter area.

BEFORE

I carried yellow and a brighter version of the reds into the kitchen (from the family room). Red, yellow and blue carried the country theme of the home. A striped table cover in the dining room energized this small, plain area.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

I decided this soft lavender color would work in the office balanced by deeper browns to keep it from feeling too feminine. If you use a day bed in the corner they look best with pillows piled in the corner. And check out the bookcase, some re-arranging and now it’s a stylish anchor for the room. The plant in the corner softens the boxy shape of the room.

The rusty old tin car garage on the corner often has a gem or two parked in front.

This little hub is where The Girl and The Fig got their start.

And other sweet little eateries…

Crossing over a wood bridge with a gurgling brook, just down the lane we arrive at this small house.

Cozy living room includes woven bamboo shades, striped ticking fabric and a wood burning stove.

The pumpkin wall color coordinates with the trim on the pillows, nice touch.

The wood paneled ceiling and sisal floor covering give this room a relaxed country feel.

Fresh looking farmhouse style kitchen. Nice mixture of texture; wood, pottery, tile and baskets.

Kitchen opens onto patio dining area.

I like the rustic mirror and the slat back chair used to hold towels.

Built in’s in the bathroom are a great space saver.

Laundry rooms should not be forgotten, this is a great place to use baskets for storage.

And a gurgling brook in the back yard!

This house is listed with Kirsten Lindquist. Photography copyright  Indra Fortney.

Vineyard across the street.

Cozy bedroom. Lucky guests get a glimpse of vineyards from their window.

Delicious yellow bathroom.

Simple white pull down roller shade is the provides a nice clean look and feel in the bathroom.

Mixing lampshades is a fun way to bring variety into a bedroom, usually it’s a good idea to make sure they are the same height, this way it feels less hodgepodge.

A peek into the master bath.

The mirror echoes the vertical window, nice replication.

Nothing like a soaking tub and a crystal chandelier for pure luxury.

White tile combined with white marble counter tops, clean and elegant.

Patio off the bath.

Garden serenity.

Shower serenity.

Sliding barn door, slate floor.

Next Friday look for a new blog featuring the rest of the home – get bedroom, bathroom and garden inspiration!

This house is listed with Kirsten Lindquist. Photography copyright Indra Fortney.

I love the mixed use of materials here, the metal roof gives the home a modern farmhouse feel.

Vintage glass provides texture and privacy.

Hallways should not be a forgotten space. A bench provides a practical place to sit while putting shoes, a mirror is handy to check your self before going out and a cabinet with drawers is a great catch all for keys, etc.

Dining room and kitchen open to outdoor seating area.

A rustic brick fireplace is balanced with a sophisticated oriental rug. Simple, contemporary fabrics with a focus on texture maintain a fresh, current look. High gloss cabinets and a lacquered coffee table reflect light from the windows back into back into the room.

A few antiques give this room a rich feel. I love the cows, their silhouettes glow!

An envelope of the same color for the wall and ceiling gives this room a cozy feeling.

Dream kitchen. I love the contrast of wood next to white, warm and crisp (sounds like a recipe!).

Built in wine cooler lower right.

Large windows and a French door make this space feel light and airy.

Upstairs, family room.

This cabinet is such a pretty color and the high lacquer makes it shine.

Check us out Friday to see the rest of the house!

Kari Ruel’s guest bathroom. It was pretty much unchanged since they first bought the house, and she decided it was time to amend this. Kari wanted a vibrant room that made people say “Wow!” when they walked in. When I came over I saw an outdated bathroom with a 1970s built-in cabinet, a plastic marble vanity, and theater-style light bulbs above a glue-on mirror. However my mind immediately envisioned something else: a Moroccan bathhouse retreat. Now the challenge was achieving this opulent look on a dime. I wanted to create the flavor of Morocco, but with a contemporary twist that was still in keeping with the simple ranch style architecture of the home.

Before video.

Inspiration board.

DIY Process:

1.) Paint. I choose two colors of orange with a lighter shade on the upper third of the wall and ceiling (divided by a thin border of copper) to make the room feel bigger.

2.) Spray painted the plastic faux marble vanity counter with white primer.

3.) Painted the primed counter with Martha Stewart bronze metallic paint. After this we lacquered it with three coats of water proof varnish.

3.) Painted the cabinet a chocolate brown color. Replaced the door hardware with new glass knobs from Cost Plus World Market.

4.) Created a tile back splash with crackled glass tiles found at Home Depot. Instead of grouting these we just glued them directly onto the existing plastic back splash (which we painted in bronze).

5.) Created an octagon template inspired by Moroccan tiles for the door.  Marie Ferrini of Ferrini’s frame store helped me with this.

It’s crucial when working with a repeating pattern to check your alignment, everything must be straight.

6.) Taped off a 1.5″ border then taped up plastic to cover the rest of the wall preparing for the copper spray painted border.

My inspiration for the mirror- Moroccan tea glasses.

7.) Sample spray paint for mirror stencil. We used spray adhesive to stick the stencil to the glass before spraying.

Mirror Detail. I found the glass mosaic coasters for $4.95 each at Cost Plus World Market and glued them on the corners of the mirror for an accent.

Marie paints the door while I hang the artwork.

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER VIDEO

Door pattern inspiration.

Candle inspiration.

BEFORE

Previously there was a ‘lighthouse’ theme for this room. I couldn’t wait to rip down that wall paper!

The pattern on the door gives depth and dimension to the small space. It’s a little welcome surprise when you close the door.

Hiding the shower.

This sheer patterned shower curtain conceals the shower while allowing light to pour through.

Part 1 of 2 Make Over Projects. Next Friday I will post Kari’s (owner of Napa Valley Life Magazine) bathroom with DIY steps.

What is a sustainable lifestyle?

I had to ask myself this question when Kari proposed I touch on this subject  for the next design article. At the time I was helping Kari revitalize her bedroom, we were categorizing items by priority, weeding out the unnecessary to create a fresh clean space. For me sustainability begins with approaching how we view our surroundings. I think a persons surroundings serve as the inspiration for the way we live. A home should not only be beautiful, but healthy as well.  There is a lot to discuss in regards to what makes a home healthy, but for now I’m going to focus on another topic that relates to sustainability and that is learning to work with what you have. We have been a consumer nation for a long time now, but as our economy has slowed down, it has given us the opportunity to reevaluate what we need.

These make over projects focus on working with what the client already has. As Tim Gunn would say, “Make it work!”

First project. The living room of Kellie Fullers (of KVON ‘Kellie in the morning’) home. And by the way when you watch these videos, go easy on me, I’m not that fluent on video yet!

BEFORE

Goal:

• Create better traffic flow
• Create a space that encourages entertaining
• Include other activities for this space; playing the piano and reading

AFTER

AFTER

BEFORE