by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset Home & Design writer; photos by Joy Kramer
As maid of honor in my roommate Alexis's upcoming wedding, I've had the privilege of being part of many great pre-wedding moments: from helping her fiance shop for the ring to being in tears when she tried on her first wedding dress at the bridal shop—which, true to her keen eye and lack of the indecisive gene (of which I'm in constant awe), is the one she bought.
Last weekend I had the pleasure of accompanying Lex to her appointment with designer Lisa Wong Jackson of Good on Paper Design to talk wedding invites. I've long admired Lisa and her work (see some tributes here and here), and thought we were going to an office space to talk shop, so I was surprisingly thrilled when our google map directions took us to Lisa's new Berkeley home—a Cliff May (same legend who designed the Sunset magazine headquarters). The just-perfect sized home (I'm still suffering from residual effects of acute house envy) has amazing natural light through the front wall-length window looking out onto San Francisco bay and the cityscape. This, paired with bamboo floors, and Lisa's artistic touch (delicate, gorgeous, well-edited personal decor) launched me into photo flurry (though the ones pictured here are by the talented mother of the bride, Joy Kramer, a professional).
Above: Pouring over colors, card stock, and design ideas. (Cousin Heather, me, Lex, and Lisa)
Above: A few examples of Lisa's work. We loved the visual organic quality of the wood veneer (middle left).
Below left: Lex with the Pantone swatch book. Below right: Lisa with the invite order sheet.
.
I couldn't get enough of Lisa's little moments on display (and she was so gracious as Lex's mom and I trolled around the home with our cameras clicking away). It's the kind of memento-made-still-life styling I've always envied.
Pictured: There were decorative treasures arranged casually on floating shelves, intriguing plants, playful artwork, elegant vases, a dog almost too cute to be real, a Cliff May tribute, decorative birds (a quiet trademark of Lisa) on branches, and a headboard wall art frame display that fed my attraction to geometry.
Above: I loved seeing this little shadow box by Lisa framing a few sweet mementos of her courtship with husband, Nick Jackson, including the little piece of paper reading "You're a cutie. Hi." that launched their relationship. For me, this might be the cutest little love story ever. Read it for yourself. Isn't this how every girl wants to meet her man?
Below: And finally, a note on ambiance and comfort... Upon entry to the home, the soft scent of this candle made me want to sit on the amazing living room cable rug and meditate. And I adored the basket of slippers available for visitors at the front door. It truly is the little things...
