It’s not very often that you get to see a real-life dream house. Sure, you can ooh and ahh over all those celebrity homes and epic Airbnbs, but seeing them IRL is a whole other experience. Sunset Magazine totally understands this and is here to satisfy all us home-decor nuts with their latest idea house, where some of the greatest minds in design have come together to create the ultimate living space. We were able to tour the 2016 Bay Area Sunset Idea House in the sunny Oakland Hills, and you’d better believe that it was ah-mazing! This four-story home is nestled high in the Claremont Hills with gorgeous views of Downtown Oakland and the San Francisco Bay. Chock-full of decks — seven to be exact — this house was made for outdoor entertaining and weekend lounging. The interior, curated by local design legend Lauren Geremia, is a mix of eclectic, modern and Berkeley-inspired, craftsman styles and is perfectly adorned with locally made art. Scroll on to get the tour, and if you’re in the Bay Area, get your discounted ticket ($20 with the promo code BRITCO5) here.
If any home were to give you major #deckenvy, this would be it. The two larger lounge decks have party-ready seating areas and glass railings to really show off that view. Imagine having your morning coffee on the bottom-level couches or cozying up by the fire pit with a glass of wine on the entry-level deck. Anywhere you hang, you will be seriously stunned by the epic San Francisco Bay views.
The first floor opens to one large living, kitchen and dining area, all with huge west-facing windows and plenty of natural light. The use of layered rugs — here and throughout the house — makes for a cozy and texture-filled space.
Speaking of texture, how gorgeous is this woodland-esque wallpaper? Geremia and her crew covered the wallpaper with glass to avoid any water damage or splatter stains. Now that’s a hack worth pinning!
To give a nod to the artistic and eclectic Berkely culture, Geremia added an art room to bring a more creative and local vibe to the main floor. Filled with sketches and prints from one of the featured local artists, Lena Wolff, this art room is sure to inspire.
Did we mention the bathrooms in this house are totally swoon-worthy? This sparkly gem is made better with hand-painted wallpaper from Sarkos. To keep the space from feeling too dark, Geremia incorporated lots of gilded accents and dark hardware for a surprisingly bright and warm room.
The local art and flea market finds were the real stars of the show in this house. Combined with more modern and minimalist furniture, textiles and palettes, these graphic beauties made every room tell a unique story.
And that’s a wrap! Check out more photos online and on Instagram with the hashtag #SunsetIdeaHouse. You can view the full list of designers, products and artists here. To see this space IRL, buy discounted tour tickets ($20 with the promo code BRITCO5) and get ready to start planning your very own dream home.
Are you ready to dream up your own idea house? Head to the Brit + Co Pinterest page for all kinds of home decor inspo.
(Photos via Sunset)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.