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Form and Function at The Passdoor: When The Passdoor proprietress Jennifer Edwards began frequenting Denmark years ago to visit family, she fell in love with Danish Modern design. Upon seeing items like a cocktail shaker, originally designed in 1967 by architectural and design visionary Arne Jacobsen, Edwards thought, “This product needs to be seen in wine country.” The Passdoor is committed to offering iconic modern finds, which embody elegant minimalist form and sound function. Not trendy throwaways, the items, Edward believes, are “tomorrow’s heirlooms.” Edwards says following the fires, minimalist living has become more important to customers. People are seeking higher quality pieces and fewer of them. The Passdoor, 6780 McKinley St #150, Sebastopol, 707-634-0015, thepassdoor.net (Photo: The Passdoor)
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Fine Art Gallery: The Passdoor opened in 2014 featuring original works of local and regional artists, notably Wayne Berger whose artwork and furniture are sold exclusively at The Passdoor. Above is one of Berger's works, in which he used metal leaf and "secret solutions" to achieve patinas that change with the light. The later addition of home decor to the Sebastopol gallery/store is part of Jennifer Edwards’ mission to bring rare finds to the area that contribute to an uncluttered, "calm" aesthetic characteristic of Scandinavian spaces. (Photo: The Passdoor)
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Shared Inspiration at Robindira Unsworth Home: When jewelry artisan Robindira Unsworth and her family moved into a 158-year-old Victorian in Petaluma, she was inspired to open a home store in town. “I have always loved interior design,” she says, “and this was the opportunity to create an environment that embraced the old (and) celebrated new, while incorporating global design motifs.” Robindira's designing process at home fuels her curation ideas for Robindira Unsworth Home. Robindira Unsworth Home, 119 Kentucky St, Petaluma, 707-789-6495, robindira.com (Photo: Robindira Unsworth)
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Rich in Textures: A wizard with natural stones in her jewelry-making work, Robindira sought to create “a textural environment” with natural elements in her home store. Robindira hopes her store will help others in creating their “own home of light and inspiration.” Her pieces are chosen with a high sensory impact in mind: Mongolian wool, aromatic candles, feathers and eye-catching, grandly displayed art. (Photo: Robindira Unsworth)
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Feeling at Home at Sonoma Roadside: Cozy and customizable are two aims that Harvest Home likes help customers achieve in their home design. With furniture and accessories reflecting a relaxed but sumptuous aesthetic (stained woods, leathers, and woven fabrics), the showroom at Sonoma Roadside evokes a sense of home. “Upholstery is our wheelhouse,” says store owner Craig Miller, who calls their California-made, customizable line: “cozy, put-your-feet-up-type furniture.” Pretty poly-linen fabrics are newly available, lending stain-resistance to their beauty. Among the options, Harvest Home features a very firm and great-looking pull out couch, not your grandmother’s springy hide-a-bed, and slip-covered options as well. Fat Pilgrim & Harvest Home, 20820 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-933-9044, fatpilgrim.com (Photo: Fat Pilgrim & Harvest Home)
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Playful Pieces at Fat Pilgrim: Lest Harvest Home store take itself too seriously, Fat Pilgrim’s general store, in the next room, features what Miller calls “quirky gift and tchotchke stuff.” And in the garden area, among the outdoor furnishings, are the store’s top sellers: large metal roosters, metal pigs and, the most popular, metal pigs that fly. Of, course! Fat Pilgrim & Harvest Home, 20820 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-933-9044, fatpilgrim.com
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Across-the-World Finds at Artefact Design & Salvage: “If I see it elsewhere, I get tired of it,” says corporate manager-turned-world explorer, gatherer and seller of unique finds, David Allen, proprietor of Artefact Design & Salvage. His passion to travel, procure and repeat is a gain for Sonoma shoppers who visit his bright and airy showroom filled with pieces that showcase nature and artisans from abroad. There’s something for every design scheme and budget at Artefact. If the impressively large and sculptural, carved-from-teak-root sofa isn’t your thing, then, maybe, a little recycled glass “blob” magnet is. (Photo: Artefact Design & Salvage)
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Bring the Outside In: Allen likes his pieces to function year-round, like the Java-made silvered skulls we featured back in October. His nature-focused finds come from a desire to bring the outside in. So much so, that he’s designed his own panels for attaching natural objects and shelves and lights to showcase those and other objects of interest. (Photo Artefact Design & Salvage)
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Antique Elegance at Chateau Sonoma: An antique piece, says Sarah Anderson of Chateau Sonoma, has “a history and and energy to it” that “gives a room character or ownership.” A Sonoma purveyor of Paris Flea Market finds, which Anderson handpicks herself from her trips to France, Chateau Sonoma has many loyal customers including major retailers that embellish their catalog shoots with some of the store’s wares. Vintage mannequins and furniture, champagne buckets and spritzer bottles, to name just a few items, are among the beautiful old finds at the store, which also features new, quality home goods: products by Juliska and Match, tote bags and bedding, French-made bistro sets and even tomato jam grown from ingredients grown in Anderson’s own backyard. Chateau Sonoma, 23588 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, 707-935-8553, chateausonoma.com (Photo: Chateau Sonoma)
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Cultural Counterpart: Parisian style is a natural reference for Sonoma style, according to Anderson. The similarity of the countryside, the mutual winemaking culture, and the similar slow-food diets, lend themselves to a shared aesthetic sense. In May and October, Anderson creates a French Flea Market at Cornerstone for Sonoma shoppers to purchase items exclusively from France's legendary resale scene. (Photo: Chateau Sonoma)
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Doing Something Right at Cokas Diko: This Santa Rosa furniture store is celebrating its 20th year of business. With a sister store in Solano Beach, this locally owned business offers a comprehensive selection of an eclectic variety of pieces that evoke the "relaxed and sophisticated wine country aesthetic." A friendly team of designers, including the store's owners Ramon Espinoza and Patrick Mutt, is available to provide a complimentary in-home consultation to help you artfully incorporate Cokas Diko finds into your home. Pictured above is a Mayacama Country Club remodel by Espinoza and Mutt. Cokas Diko, 1125 W Steele Ln, Santa Rosa, (707) 568-4044 (Photo: Cokas Diko)
