Monday 31st July
If Los Angeles is the city of Angels then maybe San Diego is the city of lights (stores that is). The May/June gloom continues unseasonably to blanket the early day in that now familiar marine stratus cloud. There is no accompanying wind, all is still when we awake in Carmel Valley this morning. We are greeted by Muffy the white female chihuahua cross, tail wagging profusely, while Toby, the just as tiny curly haired white male poodle cross sleeps upstairs with Gaby.
Jim is off to work this morning and Susan is conducting a Jazzercise class not far away. After breakfast we relax for awhile out on the patio, reading and writing.
Susan returns and we make plans to tour some lighting outlets this afternoon although not before graciously making us an enjoyable salmon salad lunch.
Susan drives us to a commercial district where there seems to be a cluster of lighting stores. Our mission is to identify trends in lighting, try to find light fittings for the new house both internally and externally that will add to the houses decor. In the US the choice of product is far superior than in little old Adelaide, but export is usually a challenge.
Our first stop is like walking into a medieval, manufacturer of castle light fittings. Heavy wrought iron products are their specialty. Great monstrous iron and wood chandeliers with candle like bulbs fit to sit above King Arthur’s round table hang from the warehouse ceiling. Wall sconces that take light bulbs instead of oil soaked torches sit on the walls. Out of character a white and gold porcelain chandelier more suited to Louis the XIV sits in a myriad of pieces awaiting assembly. The shop is a jumble of dark heavy pieces that will not fit at all, the proprietor tells us they can make anything we want out of iron but we have the lighter feel of copper and glass on our mind.
We take our leave, proceeding a short distance to another lighting warehouse, more reminiscent of stores at home. This two story store warehouse is filled with lighting pieces and fans but in lots of ways is too similar to home. In fact we see the very same external light fittings we purchased for our current house back in 2009 on display. The available ceiling fans are vast and varied and we do find some we like will just need to research them to see if they are available at home.
Next stop before we leave the area is at a much smaller retailer. We are greeted by a greying round faced gregarious South African proprietor, who once he finds out we are Australian regales us with his Aussie adventures in Sydney and far North Queensland. He does have some interesting pieces both for external and internal use and he is happy to pass on his advice and knowledge but any talk of shipping to Australia kills the conversation dead.
Susan decides to take us to UTC Mall, formerly known as University Towne Centre, the again, Westfield Mall is a large three story outdoor mall that houses some home decor stores that could be of interest. The mall could be the future of malls in Australia. Susan designates the mall a “destination mall”, in that it has a focus on entertainment venues, cinemas, restaurants, even an ice skating rink. Once there presumably you may as well shop anyway. The mall is undergoing substantial renovations adding even more shops and boulevards. We take a look at two stores Pottery Barn and Renovation Warehouse. Pottery Barn is less about pottery than home decor in general, closest store comparison at home would be Freedom furniture but this is bigger and more varied. The entrance is huge, American solid timber barn doors hang on the matching rustic solid timber clad facade. Inside they do have a very nice range of clear glass lighting in the theme we are looking for maybe some possibilities here. We stop for a Starbucks break, not just coffee anymore but a wide range of drinks, from plain iced tea to fruity caffeinated concoctions that boggle the mind, to juices, smoothies and more, much more! I am almost embarrassed to order a humble cappuccino that they have never quite perfected, but they have moved on to bigger, more profitable and less demanding refreshments.
Moving on drinks in hand we make our last stop at Restoration Warehouse, Kate back in Honolulu has raised this store as one we should consider too. The store has an interesting story, the originator a male on finding himself divorced and having to decorate an apartment finds that it is not an easy job, the decorating skills having departed along with his ex wife. Never the less he puts together products and colour schemes that no matter which you pick instantly go together, a clever idea for abandoned males. These males though will need to be well heeled, the cost of pain free home decor doesn’t come cheaply. Their lighting range is small, simple but elegant, Amanda falls in love with a glass and polished nickel spherical piece 24″ in diameter (600mm) weighing about 59Lbs (26kgs). Beautiful but no shipping options overseas.
Susan, our hostess, cook, and now chauffeur/tour guide, patiently drives us back home after our tour of the city lights (shops). We now have some great ideas, now we just need to do some research and search out possibilities at home. Pottery Barn, it turns out does have an online store that delivers in Australia.
Jim & Susan are great cooks and are soon in the kitchen preparing Mexican dishes for tonight, with partially Mexican roots Susan can give us a true taste of Mexico tonight. Gabby forever the teenager, makes a cameo appearance for dinner helping her mother with final preparations. When dinner is served, it is wheat or corn tortillas with sliced BBQ beef, cooked in a smoker oven with a little side chimney and hopper that delivers applewood chips to add flavour to the smokiness. Also grilled marinated pork. Wrap these in the tortillas and add a delicious creamy mild Mexican green chilli sauce, with hot salsa for a bit of spice, garden salad and side of red beans with onion strips and you have I am assured authentic Mexican. A glass of crisp French rose, poured from a crystal clear glass bottle with an unusual glass stopper, not cork, and with a rose patterned base, proving that not all French vintners are traditionalists, completes the meal.
Another day draws to an end and we once again retire for the night.