Mark D. Sikes in Elle Decor

At first glance, you may not be one who would give this issue of Elle Decor a second thought. It's loud. Maybe too loud? And while Mary McDonald is one of my favorite designers, the clients for whom she decorated this house have a taste that is bold, colorful, and specific, far beyond my own. If you're at all interested, I highly recommend reading the now edited (by force of attorneys on behalf of the owner and Mary) story written by my friend Joni at Cote de Texas, here. But beyond the cover, and the multi-million dollar beachfront new build mansion decorated in bold colors inspired by a makeup palette, is the sweet and awe inspiring Portola Valley home dressed in neutrals by Mark D. Sikes. 

Photo by Amy Neunsinger for Mark D. Sikes

When I saw the house, I immediately recognized it from Mark's instagram posts over 2-years ago, and a book where the gardens, meticulously curated by Janell Denler Hobart had been photographed by Marion Brenner for a Monacelli Press tome, PRIVATE GARDENS OF THE BAY AREA.

The house had been damaged badly by the fires that ripped through northern California and had to be gutted entirely. Now empty nesters, the owners decided to enlist Walker Warner Architects, the firm that built the house for them in 1999, to help them redesign the flow. Mark was brought in to decorate.

The first picture I remember seeing of the house was this one, posted to Mark's instagram during the install. A beautiful pool and guest house sit on a lower terrace of the property with a large edible garden adjacent the pool area, divided by a hedgerow.

From the Elle Decor story, photo by Dominque Vorillon showing the chaise lounges, and hedgerow dividing the pool area from the garden. The gardens were shot, along with exterior porches and patio areas of the house for the book by Marion Brenner. 

Can you even believe how gorgeous this is? The homeowner is an avid gardener and cook. Her husband grew up with a mother who also had a verdant green thumb, so this is an important part of their lives. Five years in the making, this garden is as beautiful as it is fruitful, and Mark decided to use this as inspiration for the interior spaces. 

Mark snapped this photo of the exterior shorty after installing the interiors of the house, and posted it to instagram.

Another side of the house, shot by Marion Brenner, landscape design by Hobart. I could spend hours walking around this garden, asking questions and soaking up the beauty of it all, couldn't you?

Mark posted this picture to his instagram of the twisted vines that create a tunnel from one area of the garden to another.

And another photo by Brenner of roses climbing softly along the corners of the porch and mudroom.

A photo from Mark's instagram during install showing the view from this window to the outside areas. A flower cutting area and soapstone sink and counter. Even if you were a terrible flower arranger (and you're not) but EVEN IF YOU WERE, who wouldn't love spending time at this sink reaping the beauty of that garden.

A photo by Brenner, showing the porch beyond this mudroom looking out into the beautiful garden, with vine covered pergolas and hedgerows guarding glorious bed after bed of edible delight. And the view! Spectacular.

From the book. Seriously - so good. If you're a gardener, or you simply love the beauty of a garden, you won't be disappointed in your purchase, I promise. Inspiration on every page - particularly in this garden.

Like many of the projects that high end designers like Mark complete for clients, photos are sparse until the house is published by a magazine, or included in a book. And true to form, there aren't a lot of interior shots prior to the Elle Decor feature, nearly 2-years after the house was finished. But Mark did show this: 

On his instagram, Mark sits on the stairs covered in a navy and natural striped sisal with Ruby, the pup of the house. Isn't she beautiful!? Oh the life she must lead! A navy and white dhurrie at her feet. The steel and glass doors of the pantry are on my must have list. I thought that this photo felt like quintessential Sikes - blue, pretty, California.

From the Elle Decor story posted by Mark to his instagram. Gotta love those Birkenstock mules!

   

A broader view of the space, more of the dhurrie, the chairs and antique table, but sadly no Ruby. Seriously, I think Ruby should have been in all the photos - I'm just saying. Precious girl. This felt like the Mark we have all come to know. So it was a pleasant surprise to see that he departed from the blue a bit when it came to the living room: 

There are still hints of blue, but the room is done mostly in shades of apricot, camel and cream. And it's beautiful. Naturally! I found a couple of screaming good deals on Amazon for pieces like Mark used that would give an updated feel to a traditional interior you've already got!  I wonder if this sunset had anything to do with his color choices? 

Again - glorious, captured by Brenner for the book and Landscape Architect's website.

Another view posted by Mark to his instagram, not featured in the Elle Decor magazine spread. This shows the beautiful rug a little more with its rich apricot and terracotta tones. 

A peek into the living room from the entry. Antiques mixed with modern accessories and beautiful fabrics. I really love this house. 

And from Elle, the dining room with wicker chairs soften with beautiful cushions in green, wheat, and blue (my new color palette at the apartment). I'm also gonna be buying some of those wooden bowls I've linked! How fun are they? 

There's more of the house in this issue of Elle Decor, including the beautiful bedrooms. So pop into your local story and grab a copy, or purchase the online version through Zinio. And if you're in need of more beauty from Mark, grab a copy of his book: 

More books featuring the photography of Marion Brenner: 

And purely my opinion, but the interiors featured in Mary's book are much more my taste than the one on the cover of Elle Decor. 

And if you can't get to a garden (or you live near me and a garden is covered by snow) you could always light one of these treasures: 

Blue and White Porcelain for less than $50?

Yep! Blue and White Porcelain for less than $50 is a reality, and I'm gonna tell you where. But first, I wanted to take a second to talk about quite possibly the most wide spread "trendy decor" ever in the world.

That's right. The blue and white export porcelain we know today has been the "it" accessory for hundreds of years. Porcelain began to be exported to Europe and then America from the 16th century. In China, ceramics have been made since the paleolithic era, and since the 17th century, even the best in Chinese porcelain has been made on an industrial scale to supply the demand. The use of blue and white themes, however happen in Chinese porcelain around the 1300's when China was doing export Islamic trade with then Persia and their cobalt.

Honestly, if you're interested in Chinese export porcelain at all - I highly recommend this book, which is BEAUTIFUL and brilliantly informative! Particularly if you're a quality collector:

It's not altogether inexpensive, but as a resource manual it proves invaluable. Alright, so back to the 16th century. China begins to export porcelain to Europe, and gifts are given to diplomats and royalty as part of China's commitment to fair trade. At this point, the pieces become covetable - and it's brilliant, right? I mean, I don't follow Kris Jenner on Instagram, BUT, I happened upon a post she made the other day where she got $5,000 worth of free clothes from Diane von Furstenberg. Clearly, she could afford those clothes, but she was given them for free because when she was seen with them, it would incite people to buy those things, and it probably has. 

Let's take a look at how the royals decided to show off their gifts: 

Beautiful Chinoiserie Temple Jars on gilt and lacquer commodes at Windsor Castle. 

Sandringham House, the Christmas Vacation Home of British Royals with an impressive collection of Chinoiserie Porcelain. And much more recently:

The Kensington Palace apartment of Prince William and Duchess Kate. A Chinoiserie Garden stool (not old) and a collection of Chinoiserie vases on the back wall. American decorators have taken the blue and white porcelain collections and implemented them in their designs for decades. The great Elsie de Wolfe, who was known as America's first decorator used them, along with the great Albert Hadley, who used lacquer screens and furniture in nearly all of his designs.

Of course, Mark D. Sikes uses them, and has probably been paramount in bringing them back into the forefront, even though they've been here nearly forever. So, where and how can you get them at a price that won't break the bank?

Design by Suzanne Kasler

This beautiful dragon vase with handles is new, but inspired by antique versions of the same shape and size. $47.59 on Amazon with free 2-day Prime shipping! (P.S., links are available by visiting the blog directly if you're reading this in email.)

Design by Mary McDonald

An impressive 14" tall, this is a great piece for those of you who already have those 9" ginger jars, and other smaller pieces. A pair of these would look gorgeous flanking art or a mirror on a fireplace, chest, or entry table. You could even have them turned into lamps, like Mary did for the dining room sideboard above. The beautiful chrysanthemum pattern plays well with all other Chinoiserie patterns.

Design by Mary McDonald

I think that these pieces look best in collections of various sizes and shapes. These small ginger jars are great for mixing in with the larger vases, above, and they serve multiple functions. You can store things safely and privately inside, or remove the lid and use as an additional vase! They are also perfect if you're looking to dress up the inside of cabinets or bookshelves.

For the Smaller 7" version

For the larger 9" version

Design by Miles Redd

When you're putting together a collection, I think different shapes are important, too! I love these little tea caddy. It's small - perfect for putting on wall brackets (sconces) or for peppering into larger collections. And so affordable! 

Design by Mary McDonald

Another way to broaden a collection and also to have a variety of sizes and shapes is to include large bowls. This one is 12" wide, 5" deep - so it's substantial enough to be really a big impact, and also useful. It could have a utilitarian use as a place for keys at the entry table, or a decorative use standing along as is, or filled with pretty seasonal things like pinecones or white coral fragments, even utilitarian AND beautiful with fruit in it, like Mary McDonald did in the foyer of her former Beverly Hills home. 

Design by Mark D. Sikes

This pretty 9" vase would work beautifully in a collection, and also be great for putting on wall brackets (sconces). You could also turn it into a small lamp for atop your kitchen counter, or in a powder room! 

Design by Mary McDonald

Another lidded jar, this one is 11" tall, a good stacking height against those smaller 9" pieces on your way toward the 14" vases. Plus a whole new shape. 

Design by Bunny Williams

This beauty is 12" tall. So it's another one that you'd do well in buying a pair. Great for a fireplace, or a sideboard, and also could be turned into lamps! 

Design by Michelle Nussbaumer

Ok, so this one is a little more than $50. But for 18" tall, and that glorious glaze, it's still a TREMENDOUS value! They sell similar vases to this one at Wisteria for nearly $300! 

Design by Mark D. Sikes

Another wonderful way to grow a collection and spread your sizes and shapes is to branch out into jardineres! They look wonderful with a collection of vases and jars and you can keep them filled with beautiful orchids all year long! 

Design by Mark D. Sikes 

Talk about expensive, chinoiserie garden stools can really blow a budget. These little diddies are not cheap, but they look great as little side tables in living rooms or bedrooms (as above) and while this one is a little over the $50 mark, it's still a lot less than you'd pay for similar pieces! 

Design by Mark D. Sikes

Because of their construction, they also look great and weather well outside, depending on your climate.  

Design by Miles Redd

Much less expensive than a chair in most cases, they prove to be useful for short-term seating solutions, too - and can be beautifully tucked under an entry table when not in use.

Design by Mark D. Sikes

Design by Mark D. Sikes

Smaller vases also look great in groups with other blue and white pieces like plates, as seen in this living room designed by Mark D. Sikes.

Of course, for more inspiration about how to place your blue and white accessories, you could also pick up a copy of Mark's book: 

Or Miles' book: 

Or Mary's book: 

Or Suzanne Kasler's book(s): 

Or Michelle's book: 

And finally, the big book of blue and white, Bunny Williams' book on her home in Punta Cana, La Colina: