Join Us in Supporting Children’s Education

In these turbulent times, it seems so clear that a stable future lies within the hands of the littles we are raising, in the education they receive, and with the teachers they are learning from. This is something that Matt and I passionately believe, and that’s why over the past six years we’ve joined hands with more than 20 designers to raise money for one of our favorite local nonprofits, Dollars 4 Schools, through ShowHouse Santa Fe.

As parents of a young child, we can’t imagine what it must be like to not be able to provide school supplies or whatever else your child may need to set them up for success. It is so important to us – and such a wonderful experience – that we may be able to alleviate some of the stress local parents and schools face and help them provide a wonderful experience for our local kids.

We feel so blessed to be taking part in the event once again this year, and we would truly love it if you could join us in showing your support for our local schools. You can now purchase tickets for the Gala Preview and Home Tours online. Keep reading to find out more about this fantastic event.
 

ShowHouse Santa Fe

If you haven’t come across ShowHouse before, this annual fundraiser brings together local designers to share creativity and camaraderie and overhaul a chosen home — all in the name of children’s education. Proceeds from the event go to Dollars 4 Schools, a local organization that supports local schools, teachers and students. Over the last six years, the event has raised an incredible $140,000.

Through ShowHouse, it is our mission to help fulfill any requests a teacher may have during the school year to give kids what they need. That support comes in many forms: backpacks filled with school supplies so these beautiful kids can walk through the front door feeling confident and prepared; the necessary books for reading programs; the art supplies that allow kids to learn who they are; right down to lice combs so school nurses don’t have to buy them with their own money.

The 2018 Event: A World of Taste

This year’s ShowHouse is one to remember. The theme for ShowHouse Santa Fe 2018 is ‘A World of Taste’, a creative mashup of design and food, meant to stimulate all your senses. With a brand new twist, designers (including us!) have been teamed up with top local chefs to create a sensory feast for your eyes and your taste buds.

You can find out more about the event and all the exciting, delicious things in store on the ShowHouse website by clicking here.

Our contribution

One of the most fun parts of ShowHouse is that designers don’t get to play any part in the choosing of the home, nor do we get to choose our room. This year, we’re excited to have been given a rec room to play with.

Our first step in figuring out how to design our assigned space is always to come up with a story and imagine the people who would use it. We imagined a family living in this space, using it as a room to hang out, chill, throw their feet up and play games. One of the focal points of our room is a custom-made, really special ping-pong table where we imagine the family playing match after match.

Our next step was to come up with a colour palette. I’ve been really inspired by browns and pinks right now, and I found a beautiful fabric that incorporated those colours. We also decided to use some really unique, all-natural, mineral chalk-based paint, which was graciously donated by Bioshield Paint, in a really dark espresso brown contrasted with white trim and cabinetry.

We’re also so excited to be teaming up with Strangers Collective, a local art collective that has a network stretching across the country. Much like we want to feature local sellers in our shop, we always like to debut an artist that we’ve fallen in love with at ShowHouse. Strangers Collective is helping us do that this year.

Taking inspiration from our chef pairing

Under the ‘A World of Taste’ theme, we were teamed up with local restaurant Maize and the fabulous Chef Christian Rodriguez. The pairing was really perfect for us, as we’ve been really inspired by yellow lately and were able to take further inspiration from Maize’s love of yellow corn and Southwestern traditions.

You’ll see a lot of yellow hues in our design, and Maize’s aesthetic really heavily influenced our space. We’ve also been asked to decorate a table for the space for Gala Night, and our restaurant pairing inspired us to use an antique Guatemalan tamale pot as our centerpiece.

Debuting four brand new lighting pieces

Every year at ShowHouse, French & French Lighting debuts new lighting – and this year is certainly no exception. In fact, our ‘big reveal’ this year is the lighting we used in the space.

We’ll be debuting four brand new lighting pieces at ShowHouse 2018: a floor lamp, a table lamp and two new chandeliers. They’ll soon also be available for sale in our online shop.

Come show your support

I know many people out there are searching for ways to help – looking for answers and ways to bring some light and good into the world. Well, my friends, this is a truly good cause. We live in a city where 73% of our public school students live in poverty, and every little bit makes a world of difference.

So please – dig deep, donate, buy tickets, come see pretty stuff, and let’s make sure our Santa Fe kids get the education they so deserve.

We would love it if you would join us at this year’s Gala Preview, an evening of beautiful decor and delicious food all in support of a fantastic cause. The event takes place on Friday, October 5th starting at 6pm, and you can buy your tickets by clicking here.

If you can’t make it to the gala, self-guided tours are also available from October 6-7 and 13-14. Tickets can be bought by clicking here.

We hope you see you there.

xo,

The Frenches

5 Kid-Friendly Places to Visit in Santa Fe This Spring

During the summer we spend a lot of time getting things done around the house and in the garden, but sometimes you just need a change of scenery! Day trips are a great easy way to occupy the kids’ time… and they also provide a phenomenal excuse for parents to stop working for a bit and get out of town!

Here’s where we like to take the family during Santa Fe’s summer months. So pack up some snacks, charge those iPad batteries, and head to the car!

Salman Raspberry Ranch

Time from Santa Fe: about 1.5 hrs
This first trip is amazing, especially if you have kiddos with lots of energy who like to be outdoors. During late summer, you basically just drive up there, get a bucket, and pick all the berries you want!

The front page of their website gives opening dates and hours for all the different activities, so just give it a quick check before you go.

Picking berries together is such a sweet activity to do with kids, and there’s a super picturesque general store across the street from the ranch. Make sure to check out the La Cueva mill, which actually generated electricity up until 1949! The old adobe architecture is really beautiful if you want to get some gorgeous pictures.

Make it a Weekend: Stop by Las Vegas, NM and go to Mora; then drive over through Chimayo and back down.

Tubing In Pagosa Springs, CO

Time from Santa Fe: 3-3.5 hrs
This is admittedly a longer drive for a day trip, but can still be done if you’re prepared. We have a house there, but the Springs Resort is also a cool place to stay. There’s a great family-friendly park alongside the river, and they have natural hot springs right on site.

We love going in the summer especially: the river isn’t too deep, so your kids can just run up the river and tube, then hop out at the hot springs to warm up, and continue the cycle as long as they want! With Matt in the role of “playful Dad who keeps Isla entertained,” sometimes I even get the luxury of a couple hours for uninterrupted reading!

Pagosa Springs has tons to do for active families. In July when the water’s down, we can just hang here at the river all day long using the grills and the playground. Sometimes we’ll bring a friend for Isla on purpose, but almost every time we go we’ll actually run into someone we know — which just shows you how popular this place is!

Make it a Weekend (or Long Weekend): Check out one of the amazing folk music festivals that happen there every year! You could also go in September for the hot air balloons!

Eating at The Hollar in Madrid

If you’re just looking for a super quick change of pace, this trip is your best bet. The Hollar is an awesome restaurant just down the road from the Mine Shaft Tavern in Madrid. We did the interior design here, and my brother owns it; we’re just so proud of how successful they’ve been!

The Hollar has great indoor seating and a delicious menu, but the real gem is their outdoor patio. There’s almost always live music, and the atmosphere is extremely family friendly (even though they serve drinks!).

Their kids’ menu is made from scratch (no frozen chicken nuggets here!), and they even have a special menu just for your pups! You can take your leashed dogs on the patio and get a real meal for them too — the kitchen has chicken and rice or beef and rice ready to go especially for your furry best friends.

Madrid is a fun day or afternoon trip in its own right. You can spend a chill few hours checking out out some of the art galleries and various shops around town — there are tons of interesting things to see in this revived ghost town!

I hope you’ll love these trips as much as we do! Practice up on your eye-spy skills, try (in vain?) to learn the rules for those super-complicated kid-invented games, and enjoy the open road with your family this summer!

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5 Kid-Friendly Places to Visit in Santa Fe This Spring

When the weather’s nice, Heather and I take the family outside to enjoy all the fun spots that Santa Fe has to offer. Today, I want to introduce some of our crew’s favorite locations that meet our qualifications for true kid-friendliness:

• Outdoor activities with space for kiddos to run around (and spend that energy!)
• Stops where you can unload once and do lots of things at a single location
• Connections to the city bike paths for easy access

Here are our top choices for you to check out!

1. Outdoor Adventure: The Mountain, Santa Fe National Forest, & Big Tesuque Campground

The Mountain is a huge destination all year round, but it really shines in the spring and summer. Isla loves playing in the stream where it’s cool and shaded. Hyde Memorial State Park is just a quick drive from Santa Fe, and you can camp there too.

For an active family, there are tons of unique hiking trails, some of which are world-class. You can also walk along the river and visit the natural springs.

Big Tesuque Campground offers open space to play and bathrooms (always important for kids!). Pack a picnic to enjoy at one of their tables and take in the scenery of the Santa Fe National Forest.

2. Urban Destination: Railyard Park

The Railyard Park is a great walkable area with tons of amenities for families. Catch a movie at the luxurious new Violet Crown, or spend the day at one of the many outdoor events that frequent this space. Outside Magazine’s Bike and Brew festival will be setting up an expo event here on May 19 – don’t miss it!

The Railyard is an intersection for many of Santa Fe’s off-street bike paths, which can be safer than the streets for kids or new riders. Start here if you want to explore the city using the upcoming new bike path tunnel, or the paved path along Alameda that follows the river.

One of the cooler bike paths in town for kids is the Arroyo Chamiso trail, which will get you all the way from the Railyard to the dog park at Santa Fe Place (the former Villa Linda Mall).

If you need some gear, visit the nearby REI Santa Fe; they also offer super-useful (free!) classes on bike maintenance, hiking, and other outdoor skills.

3. Artsy Experience: Meow Wolf & Santa Fe’s Southside

Meow Wolf is great for those windy Spring days that need to be spent indoors where kid crazy can be contained. Consider this place an artsy gym where imaginations can quite literally run wild.

This is a practical destination that provides visual and tactile experiences for active kids, making it perfect for families. The concept reminds me of when we installed a swing, teepee, and Lego climbing wall into one of our clients’ homes: kids are always moving, and the more we adults can encourage active play, the better. Even more fun when mess is OK!

Meow Wolf hosts some great food trucks too, in case the kids are contemplating kebabs but mom wants a breakfast burrito.

The whole Southside area is growing steadily with added attractions for families. Second Street Brewery is building a new location right around the corner on Rufina, and the Regal 14 movie theater has rooms where you can host kids’ birthday parties. We like to visit Cleopatra’s and the Plaza Cafe; you can also have a good time at the newly-revitalized mall or playing a round of GlowGolf!

4. Educational Action: Museum of International Folk Art & Museum Hill

Isla loves when we visit here, and the attraction is super kid-friendly because you can see so much in just one spot. If the kids aren’t feeling your first stop, just head outside to the big pavilion to get some fresh air before trying another one.

I also think kids can really appreciate the cosmopolitan aspect of getting to see things from all over the world. Museum Hill includes the renowned Museum of International Folk Art, as well as two Native American museums and the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.

Visit the Museum Hill Cafe for an open air dining experience that’s particularly nice in the Spring. The big contained courtyard is also a plus if you need the kids to run around and wear themselves out before heading home!

We also love the Girard Wing here, which houses a permanent collection of works by Alexander Girard that Santa Fe is extremely lucky to have. Kids will be entranced by the colorful environments and different rooms, and it’s so easy to be inspired when you’re surrounded with the folksy vibe and bright displays.

5. Summertime Bonus: The Plaza

Finally, the Santa Fe Plaza serves as the historic center of our city that brings together outdoor family time with fun activities you can all enjoy. The Plaza is home to tons of great shops and restaurants, with outdoor community activities often scheduled as well. During summer especially, you’ll find outdoor concerts nightly during the Santa Fe Bandstand season.

Check out SantaFe.org for a complete list of activities and events happening around town. See you outside!

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Embracing the clutter of a home with children

For this installment of Design Inspiration, I want to talk about displaying your child’s artwork. Let’s face it- we all love the idea of living in a magazine house with no clutter. But guess what? We ALL live in houses with clutter – even designers! And the clutter is almost always compounded when there are children living in the house.

So when people ask me how they should display their child’s artwork, I let them know that my refrigerator looks pretty much like theirs. And then I remind them that a house isn’t beautiful unless it’s pretty when it’s messy.

A house isn’t beautiful unless it’s pretty when it’s messy.

But for those of you who have prolific artists in your home as we do, we’ve created a downloadable reference for some of the creative ways you can more fully incorporate your child’s artwork into the design of your home.

Design Inspiration: Create a Memory Book

Before the artwork corners curl on the fridge, or get splattered with grease or water, scan the picture, or if the art is bigger than 8 ½ x 11, take a picture. Here are a few things to keep in mind so you get the best shot of your child’s artwork:

• Make sure the piece is in a well lit area with no shadows, and preferably in indirect light. Remember – no flashes or direct sunlight- it distorts the color.
• Make sure your camera lens is directly opposite the artwork. Either stand over the art (being careful not to cast a shadow), or tape the art to the wall with washi tape. When the camera is not directly opposite the art, the picture’s perspective is distorted.
• Make sure the edges of the artwork are parallel to the vision field of the camera.

Once you have a collection of pictures, maybe from the year, there are websites where you can upload the pictures and create a coffee table book of art. This can even be a collaborative project with your child. Ask your child to make a brief write up (or tell you about) of each piece, and include that in the book. Download our pdf for websites that create memory books, and other ideas along these lines.

Displaying Your Child’s Artwork: Turn Artwork into Pillows

Yes, you can do this! Remember our Pillow Post? The company 19 Queensgate will take your artwork and create a beautiful pillow for you. What better way to use a keystone fabric than with your child’s artwork?

If you want more than a handcrafted pillow, say you want a swatch of fabric to do your own sewing, we’ve also discovered a few websites that will print your design on any length of fabric. See our PDF for more details.

Design Inspiration: Create a Salon Style or Gallery Style Wall

What’s that? This post by Remodelista offers several creative examples. A Salon Style Wall is basically a large area where you can group pictures of different sizes, colors and shapes.

It adds a very boho-eclectic vibe to a room that’s uniquely suited for children’s artwork.

If you prefer more order in your space, consider a Gallery Style Wall, where you are displaying the artwork an equal distance apart. If framed, artwork would be in the same color and size frame, with the same matte.

Too many pieces to choose from or not enough funds to frame every piece you’d like to display? Consider a rotating Salon Style or Gallery Style Wall using washi tape. Washi tape doesn’t damage painted walls and comes in a myriad of colors and patterns. Ask your children to decide which washi tape goes best with their artwork and how the piece should be displayed.

Displaying Your Child’s Artwork: Create 3-D Art from 2-D Art

We absolutely love this company that takes your child’s drawing and turns it into a stuffie.

This is a perfect way to capture those exuberant drawings that every child creates in early life.

Embrace the Mess

A well-designed home can handle the mess of daily life.

This is a big one for all of us. Life with humans living together is messy- emotionally and physically. Embrace it, revel in it, and accept that it’s part of our human experience. A well-designed home can handle the mess of daily life. Yes, pick up the toys and put away the shoes and the laundry. But remember- there’s no shame in a cluttered fridge, or muddy shoes by the back door. Those things also make up the fabric and artwork of life. And make it uniquely yours.

Until next time…