#locallyinspired: beautifully berkeley

My name is Rebekah and I’m a stylist and designer based in Berkeley. I have a passion for small space design, using reclaimed and previously loved products whenever possible and bringing beauty to the everyday and special moments in my styling and event design work. I love living in the East Bay, and specifically Berkeley, because of all of the amazing creatives and artists in the area, the fresh produce and local fare, and the wide range of architectural styles houses all have around here.

Berkeley City Club
Whenever family or friends come to visit I try to persuade them to stay at the @berkeleycityclub simply so I can see this stunning Julia Morgan designed classic Berkeley building. This courtyard is so incredibly beautiful and I could sit here for hours admiring the perfect architectural details.

Discount Fabric 
One #tip for saving money on custom upholstery (something that is sometimes a necessity when picking up vintage pieces) is to purchase your own fabric to bring to your upholsterer @discountfabricsf is a great local resource. I especially love their linens, velvets and African wax print fabrics.

Omega Lighting Design 
Wondering if you could turn that vintage flatware set you inherited into a chic kitchen chandelier, or that amazing vintage photograph speaker you picked up at the flea into a reading light? Truly creative light creations and beautifully restored vintage pieces can all be found at @omegalightingdesign

Mid Century Mobler
Walking into the @midcenturymobler ‘s 7500 sq. ft. showroom feels like walking into a Hollywood prop house. It’s incredible that such an extensive collection of mid-century design is right in Berkeley! I just walk around slack-jawed looking at the extensive inventory and wondering how we could fit one of their loungers (and just about everything else) into our little space!

Mignonne Decor 
@mignonnedecor is definitely one of my favorite local businesses, not only does my dear friend own the shop, but they’re a great source for custom upholstery and vintage furniture. Johnelle does a beautiful job curating her shop so that you feel like every time you go in you’re going to find something new and interesting. This is that shop where you see an amazing piece of furniture and if you waited too long and someone else got it- it haunts you for years (hello petite purple armoire from five years ago!)

Glassy Baby 

Stepping into @glassybaby is truly an interactive experience. Their relatively new Berkeley hot house allows you to get to see a veritable rainbow of different handmade/blown candle holders and drinking glasses, an event space and you even get to watch how each piece one-of-a-kind piece is made because the talented glass blowers are all working just on the other side of the retail section of the beautifully massive space. Cue Flashdance fantasies…

Ohmega Salvage 
You can almost pretend that you’re meandering through the French countryside stopping at various vide-greniers when you head to @ohmegasalvage. There are two locations across the street from each other and the one on the west side of San Pablo has so many amazing historical pieces. Think reclaimed bowling alleys, claw foot bathtubs, giant exterior doors from a monastery, etc. Amazing place for inspiration for restoring old houses or adding historical detailing to a newer space.

The Cheeseboard Collective 
When I was a kid we would grab a cheese roll from @cheeseboardcoll and head up to the Rose Garden or Indian Rock to have a picnic and watch the view of the Bay below. Perfect for your favorite cheese or dose of nostalgia.

The Tail of the Yak Trading Company 
A calligraphy artist friend of mine first turned me on to #tailoftheyak years ago. There are so many layers to this little shop that you have to circle several times to make sure you’ve seen everything. From Spanish hand blown glasses, to vintage silk ribbon and incredibly intricate paper flowers and displays this store is an absolute feast for the eyes.

Urban Ore 

If you’ve seen my #thebittyberkeleybungalow you know that @urbanore is my happy place! We probably go to Urban Ore once a week and even more when we’re in the midst of a project. You can truly find almost anything here from bathtubs, sinks, windows, art, wood, trim, records, the list goes on! Just coming here makes me feel creative.