Vines
Design Among the Vines

 

Join Linda Applewhite for a weekend

of inspiration, learning, history and fun in

Sonoma County's romantic Valley of the Moon!

 

June 27, 28 and 29, 2008

 

 

Tuscan patio

 

In 2006, Linda held her first Design Among the Vines seminar in Sausalito, California and took her guests to Sonoma for a private tour of the exquisite Tuscan estate that is pictured on the cover of her book, Linda Applewhite's Architectural Interiors. The Wine Country setting was so inspiring, we didn't want to leave!

 

This summer, in response to feedback from our guests about how incredible it would be to spend a whole weekend in that spectacular location, we have decided to do just that. For Linda's upcoming Design Among the Vines workshop, all events from Friday evening's reception to the farewell gathering on Sunday afternoon will take place in the breathtaking Sonoma Valley. With its rolling hills, sunny weather, world-class wining and dining, Sonoma is one of the most popular destinations in California, and a perfect place to combine your passion for design with an unforgettable weekend getaway.

 

Destination: Sonoma 

Local legend tells us that the Native American Miwok tribe called it sonoma, meaning valley of the moon, for the way the moon in winter made seven successive appearances between distant mountains. Author and adventurer Jack London settled in Glen Ellen to escape the urban streets of Oakland, and to live out his life surrounded by the nature and wildlife he loved. 
wineries map

 

These days, the Valley of the Moon is still one of the most beautiful, serene and relaxing spots in the Bay Area. In addition to the charming towns of Glen Ellen, Kenwood and Sonoma, we will be a short drive away from Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley, home to many of Northern California's best wineries. There is so much to see and do here, we suggest spending an extra day or two to explore on your own. Schedule a spa treatment at the Sonoma Mission Inn or Kenwood Inn and Spa, visit one of the many local wineries in either Sonoma or Napa, go hiking or riding in Jack London State Park or just take a drive and stop anywhere you like along the way. Linda will even provide a map to her favoriate antiques stores in Sonoma, many of which will be offering a discount to Design Among the Vines participants.

 

 

Video clip: click here to watch a video of a local TV spot about the village of Glen Ellen - it will give you a real feel for this quaint and friendly town. 

 

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

 

Friday, June 27, 5-7 p.m.

Welcome to the Wine Country

We will kick off our weekend with a creekside reception including local wines and delectable edibles from Sonoma County on the deck of the historic Jack London Village in Glen Ellen.

 

Saturday, June 28

9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Design Among the Vines Workshop

In her presentation of photographs and design principles, Linda will discuss in detail the creation of the Tuscan-style estate we will visit on Sunday. From the early decisions that impacted the architectural "bones" of the house to the finishing touches that repeat and enchance the design, Linda will cover:

  • Developing a floor plan for optimal living and dramatic enhancement
  • Using reclaimed and recycled materials for texture and architectural interest
  • Creating the look of 100-year-old walls and floors with faux painting techniques
  • What you need to know when choosing windows and doors to optimize the relationship between indoor and outdoor living spaces
  • Furnishing large-scale spaces to create a cozy and comfortable environment
  • Creating a cohesive look when combining different periods and styles of antiques (in this case, English, Country French and Eastern European) with new furnishings
  • Techniques and resources for the home's furnishings, including window treatments, bedding, fabrics and finishes
  • Creating outdoor rooms that serve and beckon

From 11:30 to 1 p.m., we will break for lunch, and guests will have an opportunity to stroll a block and a half to the bucolic Sonoma Plaza, where you will find cafés, restaurants, shops, galleries and a tree-shaded town square, complete with duck pond.

 

4-6 p.m.  Shopping Field Trip and Reception 

After the workshop, we'll drive over to Cornerstone Place, a collection of shops and galleries where Linda will take you to her favorite architectural salvage shop, Artefacts, to browse their 4000-square-foot indoor/outdoor showroom. Linda will talk about how to find and select interesting pieces, and how she likes to “think outside the box” and use objects in non-traditional ways. We'll end our day with a private wine and hors d'oeuvre sampling at Artefacts.

 

(To see a video of Artefacts as recently featured on TV, click here, type "home improvement" in the search box, then select "Nov. 5, 2007 Home Improvement #4".)

 

Sunday, June 29

11: 00 a.m. 

Brunch and Villa Tour

We will gather for a sumptuous al fresco brunch at the stunning Wine Country estate, followed by a private tour of the home for an up-close look at the architectural design principles and details that Linda wrote about in her book and presented in her seminar on Saturday. The Italian-style villa sits on 25 acres of cabernet vineyards and olive trees overlooking the Valley of the Moon, and has been featured in Traditional Home and California Home & Design; in two Italian design publications, Bagno e Accessori and La Mia Casa (view articles on our website's Media page); in three episodes of HGTV’s popular Sensible Chic series (“Wine Country Living Room” #607, “California Country Dining Room” #512, and “Contemporary Country Bedroom” #505) and, of course, in Linda's book.

 

4:00 p.m.

Wine and Olive Oil Tasting 

In the afternoon, we'll meet at the B.R. Cohn winery in Sonoma for a private tasting of their award-winning wines and estate-produced olive oils paired with local cheeses.

 

Registration

Design Among the Vines is now open for registration. For complete details and registration information, click on Seminar.

 

Linda's Book in its Second Printing

We are excited to announce that Linda Applewhite's Architectural Interiors is now in its second full printing, which will be in stores this month!

 

Coming in September: Linda's Next Santa Fe Seminar

Linda's second Design in the Desert weekend is scheduled for the last weekend in September. Likes its Sonoma counterpart in June, the Santa Fe workshop is about Linda's philosophy of applying the principles of art to architectural and interior design. While the Sonoma seminar focuses more on the design of a structure from scratch, the Santa Fe workshop demonstrates how the same principles are applied to remodeling or redecorating an existing home to bring out its best "bones" and maintain its original integrity.

Mark your calendars for September 26, 27 and 28, and look for more details in the April newsletter.

 

 

See you in Sonoma in June!