This time of year, I find that I spend far more time with my kiddos and most of the time we are in the outdoors. We live just around the corner from the Presidio and they love to explore and dig around in nature. Recently, Jackson has become obsessed with bugs and he carefully watches them to figure out how they function. Honestly, if he had his way, he’d be outside every hour of the day! I think this time of year is one of my favorites for children’s clothes. I love blue and white palates for clothes and right now, this is an easy combination to find. I always head to Poppy Store in Marin Country Mart and find multiple outfits for the kiddos that are both comfortable and also stylish. Recently, I’ve been getting Amelia little rompers that keep her cool and comfortable. She loves them and she hasn’t yet figured out how to take them off (she seems to like to strip off her clothes recently). The blue and red striped shirt is so great as an added layer. For Jackson, we always start with several layers. Usually it’s cold in the morning in San Francisco and we walk to school with a Patagonia puffy jacket. By the time I pick him up, the layers are peeled back and he’s in his shorts and t-shirt. I’ve had many mothers ask where I buy his shoes because he boasts they are “super fast” shoes and the other kids want them! What I love about Poppy Store is the wide variety of clothes they carry. I’m always able to find something that the kids will love to wear while being comfortable. It’s also a great store for baby gifts, birthday treats, and anything else you need for your littles. My kids love to go there – Marin Country Mart is like an adventure park. Jackson and Amelia know exactly where everything is – first they visit the turtles and fish, then they play on the beautiful playground, and finally, they visit Poppy Store and the toy store next door. Sounds like a slice of heaven to me! #style

This week, I am reviewing two books on design that I have been reading: The Lonny Home: Discovering & Cultivating Your Most Authentic Space Abode: Thoughtful Living With Less by Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St Peter I was so excited to open The Lonny Home and see their ideas around the concept of creating an authentic home. I was fortunate to be asked to be highlighted in the section Letting Go. For me, letting it go happens before you even buy something and choosing to have less, better quality items in your life. The Lonny Home has a youthful and easy decorating style that feels both approachable and accessible at the same time. There are so many great topics within this book which features a variety of homes and also helpful lessons to take away for your own home. I know this will be a resource guide I will refer to for years to come. If you are interested in small space living – I was interviewed on page 86. Abode was written by the founders of General Store, Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St Peter. It’s a fresh and simple design idea made popular by their non-traditional approach at decorating. Believing in a curated home filled with meaning, they show you how well-crafted items can shine when in a pared down environment. I look forward to the day I own a home and can also implement their genius ideas to improve a space found in the pages of Abode. This is a book you won’t want to miss!

With the pace of my life seemingly increasing and often hectic, I need clothes that work both for my professional life as well as my life as a mom on the go. I rarely have the time to change out of my work clothes – I usually run from a meeting to pick up my son at school and then I’m off to an evening event or the park with little time to change in between. As most of you know by now, my go-to way of dressing is pretty much a nice casual. But as my business is taking off, I often find I need to up my look a bit. What I love about M.M. LaFleur is that these clothes are easy care, can look dressy, and also work great in a casual setting. The Foster pants fit like a glove, the high waist is essential and are super comfortable. And I find I can dress them up by wearing heels and dress them down with a pair of flats. Either way, comfort is always number one for me. I always tend toward a sleeveless shell – this is the Joan top in Alabaster – as a part of my daily uniform. I can wear a sweater or blazer when it’s cooler, but they look put together and are great when the weather shifts from hot to cold. Finally, the  Morandi sweater in charcoal is always an important thing in San Francisco. When the afternoon winds blow, you need something warm, even in the dead of summer! The impressive thing about M.M. LaFleur is the versatility of their products. They can be machine washed. Nothing too precious in my life – I often have two toddlers hanging off of me and I can’t worry about my clothes getting ruined. And M.M. LaFleur offers showrooms and pop-ups around the country. Check out their great assortment of business clothes that work for our busy lives today! M.M. LaFleur is offering a gift toward purchase. Get a $50 gift toward your first purchase on M.M. LaFleur with the code caitlinflemming50, which is valid now, through 12/31/19. Photography by Claire Giffen Created in partnership with M.M. LaFleur  – thank you for supporting the brands that keep this blog running!

Recently, I’ve been working with Lan Jaenicke on the design of her new atelier. Her vision behind her brand is clear in the space she has created to share this with the public. Each item brought into the space is carefully thought through. Atelier Lan Jaenicke is housed in an 1860s brick and cast-iron building, which originally housed the factory and store for Ghirardelli Chocolate. The great thing about this space, is that not only can you shop the beautiful cashmere coats and other items Lan designs, but you can witness the process. Alterations can be done on site if you need one of the items altered. There is a pure sense of the materials and respect for the past in every item placed in the space. From the original brick wall to the 1920s French lanterns, the space feels organically balanced. Coats hang on rope suspended from the ceiling and bamboo poles. Everything has a connectiveness that works together in harmony with the building itself. Please join Lan tonight, May 9th from 5 to 7 pm for a pouring from Sémillon vineyard and to celebrate the new space. I think you’ll leave inspired and maybe with a beautiful new item! Atelier Lan Jaenicke 431 Jackson Street San Francisco

You may remember that I wrote a few months ago about beginning to plan for the future (here) and trying to make some goals we have as a family, become a reality. Sometimes I feel as though I’m running so quickly all of the time, I hardly have the chance to look at what I have accomplished and where I hope to be in the future. Having someone to discuss this with on a regular basis, helps me to not only move toward those goals, but constantly reassess the roads to take in order to get there. Recently, I had the good fortune of catching up with a financial planner at John Hancock whom I had spoken to in March for a follow up chat. While I am not a John Hancock client, I enjoyed speaking with a John Hancock advisor (who I love!) well versed in financial planning strategies. And I’ve actually made significant progress. My design business is growing, my book is coming out in a few short months, and with our tax returns this year, we were able to put a huge amount into a fund for our children’s education. We all have goals, but turning them into reality sometimes requires a little help and guidance. John Hancock offers various tools and services to their clients during the financial planning process. For example, they have a mobile application called Twine that provides a clear picture of how much you need to save to accomplish your goals. I’ll continue to assess my goals, change direction and enjoy the road toward financial stability! What do you think helps you the most when setting up financial goals for yourself? Photography by Claire Giffen Created in partnership with John Hancock – thank you for supporting the brands that keep this blog running!

Spring has meant there is a wonderful burst of new books on the bookshelf! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be reviewing my favorites. I learn so much from every design book I read, and much of what I learn, improves how I approach my own design work. THIS WEEK, I’M REVIEWING TWO OF MY FAVORITES: Pacific Natural: Simple Seasonal Entertaining by Jenni Kayne Kerry Joyce: The Intangible by Kerry Joyce Jenny Kayne has written a must-have book, Pacific Natural. What I love about this book, is how it’s organized by season. All the recipes and meal ideas are centered around fresh ingredients abundant during the seasons. Each meal is not only a visual treat, but also tastes incredibly delicious. I recently recreated the citrus lunch in the spring chapter for my husband’s birthday. Even the kiddos loved the kale and blood orange salad. And the naked kumquat cake was such a nice twist on a traditional cake. There are so many helpful tips as well. One of my favorite parts are the ideas for parting gifts for your guests. Ideas ranged from rosemary spray to cranberry sauce, a kit to make smores, or a citronella candle. Even the back of the book has great staple recipes for dressing and broths and stocks. And to forget to mention the visual splendor on each page, would be a mistake. Many of the photographs have also inspired me to change details within my own home. The Intangible by Kerry Joyce is a book I saw at one of my favorite stores, London + Wood, and bought it based on the beauty of the cover alone (Yes, I do judge a book by its cover!). Joyce grew up expecting her would be an oceanographer (me too!). But in his teen years. Joyce managed to perform in over 60 plays. It was here, he began his love of storytelling. Quite by accident, he ended up as a set designer, even winning an Emmy for set direction. With time, he opened a shop – Design Resource – on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. He began traveling and collecting architectural elements he found. Many of his clients urged him to step into interior design and he eventually did. Kerry Joyce, chronicles his work, including his wide variety of stunning textiles. As a lover of storytelling and his background in set design, his life experiences have no doubt, informed his sophisticated eye for design. So while I started out buying Kerry Joyce for it’s beautiful cover, I ended up with a book filled with inspiration.

While we have only had our sofa for about six years, nearly five of those years are with littles in the house. And often that means sticky fingers, leaking bottles, and even putting an indigo blanket on to cover the said stains and then the dye comes off to make the situation even worse. The sofa was definitely showing its age. I tried having it professionally cleaned, but it just wouldn’t do the trick. So, I decided to look into having it reupholstered. I turned to Revitaliste to see wanted to take on the task of giving it a new life. The great thing about their business, is that they take care of absolutely everything. They have cultivated great connections with artisans all over the San Francisco area. I wanted the sofa to be repurposed – the waste of getting an entirely new sofa and this one ending up in a landfill – just wasn’t something I even wanted to consider. Much better to repurpose this one since it’s well built and just needed to be refreshed. With Revitaliste on board to give it a new life, then came the harder decision – fabric! As a designer I am surrounded by gorgeous fabrics for client projects but I knew I would need something that would stand the test of time with two littles in the “spill” mode. That’s when I turned to Perennials fabrics. It’s one of my go-to sources for classic colors and materials. They aren’t just known for their outdoor fabrics anything. Much to my surprise, they have beautiful choices to decide from that look like linen. When it came to picking a color I had a hard time deciding between a natural sand, light gray or white. It was originally upholstered in a sand linen but I wanted something a little brighter. Ultimately, I made the decision to go with the Perennials Rough n Rowdy in white and I couldn’t be happier. Now, some of you may think – white with kids but let me tell you it’s easier to clean and the first day we had the sofa back in our home, my daughter jumped up from the table and put her hands on the sofa with tomato sauce on them! I was beginning to regret my choice of white. But I quickly realized it was easily wiped off. I am in love with the weave of the fabric and the ease of stains coming out. If you love your furniture but it need some new love, I encourage you to consider recovering your furniture instead of always buying new. It may cost the same price as a new piece but it’s one way we can reduce our footprint on this planet we call home. Photos by Andrea Posadas

One of the questions a lot of clients ask me is where I’m finding inspiration at the moment. It’s constantly changing. Sometimes it’s from a book I’m reading, a trip I just went on or a shop I can’t get enough of. I’ve decided to start a new series where I share what’s getting my creativity going. PUBLICATIONS Porter Magazine Porter has it all. With a focus on the larger industry of lifestyle, Porter is a go-to for style, beauty and interior inspiration. I love the gorgeous interior spreads, designer profiles, and endless fashion. I usually pick one of these up from my local news store and savor it all month long, taking in bits and pieces at a time – each informing my style for the week, a vignette that I’m styling or a new beauty routine that I’m experimenting with. Apartmento If you’re in the design and arts field, this is a must read for you. I love the “raw” energy that Apartmento brings to the industry of interior design. It’s such a refreshing visual journey that highlights the work of today’s most inspiring artists, designers and photographers. PLACES TO SHOP London and Wood A favorite sustainable interior and home shop that is such a refreshing and refined take on some of my favorite bare necessities. March SF March is one of my favorite brands to follow for stunning art direction. Their photography is simply stunning. Its the perfect place to pop in for a thoughtful gift. I personally have been eying these cutting boards. So simple and chic! BOOKS This is Home If you like minimal interiors – this one is such a good find. Such a beautiful book that is written incredibly well. I flip through it constantly as a source for ideas even on the smallest of projects! Ottolenghi Simple Because who isn’t inspired by beautiful (and simple) food? I’m using this to help me get inspired to create more recipes during the week. I love using simple ingredients that feel like they can be cooked in a variety of ways. INSTAGRAMS TO FOLLOW Interior globe – love their interiors from all different areas! So inspiring. Joseph Gardner – so great for juxtaposition, composition and color ideas! Vogue Living – it’s an obvious one, but oh so good! House and Garden UK – one day i’ll have a garden, in the meantime this will give me all the inspiration I need to get my ideas in order!

When you work for yourself, it’s a gray line where work begins and ends. There is always something I need to be focusing my attention on. As an entrepreneur, designer and mom, it can be difficult to find time for myself. I realize I need to work hard and have discipline to be successful, but getting away from it all, is a way to inspire my work and clear my head. I find that even escaping from it all for a day, can help me redirect my passion and juggle my work and home life. Part of my work as an interior designer, centers around finding comfort for my clients in their homes. I find that even in my own life, comfort is important, not only in my home but the other place I send a lot of time in – my car. When it comes to my car it is basically my hub for everything – work, life, motherhood. Sometimes I’m in it all day long going from one client meeting to another, to baseball practice, swimming, or on an adventure with my family. For me there are three things I look for in a car: safety, design, and functionality. Safety is the first and most important since I want my children to be as safe as possible. Design is always important to me – I like things to look beautiful. And finally, functionality. I want a car that works well and is intuitive to use. Recently, I was able to take a day reprieve from my responsibilities and take a road trip with BMW to Big Bear Lake in Southern California. I find much of my inspiration in nature and a drive and a hike in such a beautiful place can inspire me in my work and ground me in my busy life. And to be able to do so in their brand new BMW X7, which is such a comfortable and intelligent car, that made the trip even more rewarding. The first thing I notice about the X7, is the beauty of the design. Both inside and out, the design was important and looks great. The interior of the X7 is inviting, calm, and sleek. Just like the design I do for homes, the X7 seems to exhibit a simplicity of style that speaks for itself. Driving a sleek car that handles well, the X7 is the ultimate drive. It also functions for someone who is using their car for multiple functions. With room in the back for my design tools, sports equipment, groceries, or whatever else I’m lugging around. I also have the well-being of knowing I have a safe car on the road. What do you do to filter out all of the noise in your life and redirect your energy when life gets hectic? Photos by Courtney Cutchen Photography for BMW Created in partnership with BMW – thank you for supporting the brands that keep this blog running.

I’ve always been a city girl. I was born in Washington, DC, I moved to Mexico City when I was five and then eventually to Portland, Oregon. For the past 15 years, San Francisco has been home for me. While I love everything a city has to offer, I also tend to gravitate out of the city – especially the North Bay area. There are open spaces for the kids to play and great places to hang out. One of my favorite places to go is Marin Country Mart. I’ve been going since they opened with just a few shops. Now it is bustling with restaurants, great boutiques, and open spaces that are so nice to spend time in. One shop I always stop by and find something interesting, is Poppy Store. They have the most unique children’s clothing, shoe selection and accessories (Amelia loves the bows). I also always find gifts there for baby showers, and even things for myself! It’s a warm and inviting shop with a carousel of horses for the kids to ride outside, and a huge birdcage indoors. A table for the kids to draw at is always an attraction for Amelia. The outfits on my kiddos are some of my favorites that I found at this spring at Poppy Store. When possible, I like being able to find things that are unique and out of the ordinary. This little sundress has quickly become Amelia’s favorite. The saltwater sandals in rose gold are perfect with her adorable dress and bow. Jackson needs clothes he can run, jump and basically be in perpetual motion in. These shorts are perfect for the warmer spring days. But it’s never hot in San Francisco so I paired it with a polo and sweater. The hand embroidery “rebel rebel” is the perfect message for my boy. He is wearing a pair of Birkenstock’s that have a back to them so he can run as fast as he wishes. If you’re in the Bay Area, take the time to pop into Poppy Store. You can also go to Poppy at the Montecito Country Mart and the Brentwood Country Mart. I am sure you will find unique and fun clothes for the kiddos. #lifestyle