Newsletters

Claire Bock

Claire lives in San Francisco by way of a SoCal childhood and 6 years in London. With a background in photography and interior design, her current creative obsessions include sewing, calligraphy, and anything neon.
    A Renter’s Life in London: The Inside Scoop
    London is a city with so many vibrant neighborhoods that there is one for every type of personality. I moved to London four years ago with no clue as to where I would end up. But with a little exploring, I found my fit, and you can too! Here is an American ex-pat’s perspective on London neighborhoods. Neighborhoods Notting Hill, Kensington, & Chelsea Types of Rentals: Lots of houses that have been broken up into flats and large family homes.
    Claire Bock
    Oct 12, 2022
    Phillip & Claire’s Colorful & Bright London Flat
    Name: Phillip Stoup and Claire Bock Location: Clerkenwell; London, UK Size: 650 square feet Lived in: Six months; Rented My husband and I moved to a new flat this past October after our landlord sold our previous flat. I was in love with our old flat and it has taken a while to settle into the new one. Photographing the flat for this house tour proved to be a great exercise for making the house feel like our own.
    Claire Bock
    Dec 19, 2019
    Before & After: A Fresh Bathroom Remodel
    This bathroom had lots of color in all the wrong places prior to its renovation. Old cabinetry and cheap teal tile made this bathroom makeover a must. Check out the fresh and modern facelift that this bathroom desperately needed after the jump… When selecting materials for a bathroom, the most important material to start with is the stone or tile, along with the cabinetry.
    Claire Bock
    May 5, 2019
    Before & After: An Expanding Kitchen Renovation
    This 80’s kitchen was in need of updated appliances, cabinetry, and an overall space adjustment. By taking extra space from adjacent rooms, the kitchen was opened up into a light and bright gourmet chef’s workplace. Check out the difference after the jump…Although it may not look like it from the before photo, this kitchen was very dark and narrow.
    Claire Bock
    May 5, 2019
    Decor Tips for Sharing the Master Bedroom with Baby
    The corner nursery nook is popping up in cities such as London and New York where parents might be avoiding upsizing until absolutely necessary and mothers are less than thrilled to move while pregnant too. Having a baby in the bedroom doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice style and sanity. In fact, many mothers claim that they sleep better having the baby in their room instead of relying on a baby monitor.
    Claire Bock
    May 5, 2019
    Easy Home DIY Project: How To Sew a Table Runner
    A table runner is one of my favorite ways to dress up plain tablecloths or bare tables. This is probably the easiest sewing project that you could take on, and the same steps can be used to make napkins, too. For those who hoard designer fabric remnants found in the bargain bin like myself, the table runner project is a great way to put those pieces of fabric to good use. For this project, I created two table runners out of just one yard of Designers Guild Kashgar fabric.
    Claire Bock
    May 4, 2019
    Before & After: An ’80s Contemporary Kitchen Gets an Update
    This kitchen was originally built in 1989, and after 20 plus years of daily use, it was falling apart. While it may not look too bad on the surface, behind the before photograph were broken cabinets, a cooktop that barely worked, and granite countertop edges that were falling off. The kitchen had a contemporary feel for 1989, but for 2013 the owner was hoping for a softer, more family friendly feel.
    Claire Bock
    May 4, 2019
    How To Get Rid of Bedbugs
    A warning before you read further: this post will make your skin itch. A good friend of mine aptly pointed out that bed bugs are like the adult version of head lice. I never had head lice as a child, and I never imagined that I would have bedbugs as an adult, until it happened to me. I had heard about the great bedbug epidemic in New York back in 2010, but my personal nightmare with bedbugs began last fall.
    Claire Bock
    May 4, 2019
    Look for Less: Sarah and Matt’s Expertly Styled Family Room
    The family room featured in Sarah and Matt’s Expertly Styled Home is the perfect amount of comfort and style blended together expertly by Sarah and her talents as a professional stylist, editor, and location scout. Stylists are lucky that they shop for a living and always have the latest news on sample sales and insider hook-ups to the best deals, but you don’t have to be a stylist to put together a similar look for less.
    Claire Bock
    May 4, 2019
    How To Make Dip-Dyed & Painted Paper Lanterns
    Taking inspiration from the IKEA summer catalog and Designers Guild, I decided to dip dye paper lanterns to replace the grubby, aging ones currently hanging from my balcony. The 4th of July holiday gave me a good deadline to finally get this DIY project off the back burner. This is one of the cheapest and easiest DIY projects that I have done.
    Claire Bock
    May 4, 2019
    How To Clean and Care for Wooden Utensils
    Wood utensils date back to ancient Egypt and are still one of the most common tools found in the kitchen today. Wood is a great material to cook with for a variety of reasons, and with the right care wood utensils and cutting boards can last decades. After many years of new materials such as silicone dominating the kitchen tool market, wood is making a comeback thanks to its timeless functionality.
    Claire Bock
    May 4, 2019
    Do You Like It Big in the Bedroom?: Oversized Art
    The bedroom is a great place to make an impact…with oversize art. Fewer windows and, often, a tendency to leave the walls blank is an opportunity to add a focal point with one big, grand piece of art. Top Row 1. A colorful, abstract painting brings focus to the center of this vibrant bedroom. Real Living magazine featuring Andrew O’Brien artwork (available here) 2. A monochromatic room is punctuated with an ironic canvas. Tamara Magel Home on Houzz 3.
    Claire Bock
    May 4, 2019
    Color Battle: Navy vs. Indigo
    Indigo might be the dark blue of the moment. However, it is nothing new to home interiors; it’s a stylistic reincarnation of navy blue. Indigo and navy are both a dark blue bordering on black, but one color name is associated with an eclectic style, while the other expresses a traditional style. We love it, whichever name it goes by. Indigo is a natural dye extracted from plants and has been around the world for centuries.
    Claire Bock
    May 4, 2019
    Trend Watch: Educational Charts
    Vintage maps have been popular for quite a few years now, and as that trend starts to wane a bit, the new twist is the vintage educational chart. While traditionally hung from wooden dowel rods, some are more suited for framing or simply tacked up onto a wall. From flora and fauna to human anatomy, there is a subject matter to suit any style. As more reproductions become available, the demand for authentic vintage charts with their crumpled characteristics grows.
    Claire Bock
    May 4, 2019
    An Engineer’s Quirky Beach Bungalow on Balboa Island
    Name: Corinne Schnieders Location: Balboa Island, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 9 months, renting Corinne has never been one to follow the crowd, so when it came time to decorate her apartment on Balboa Island in sunny Southern California, she made this back guest house all her own. Forget the bohemian beach style populating everyone’s Pinterest boards these days; this mechanical engineer followed her heart by gathering finds that reflect her love of comfort and fun.
    Claire Bock
    Jun 3, 2017
    Steve & Heather’s Colorful San Francisco House
    Name: Steve and Heather Sacks, kids Cameron and Jasmine, and dogs Rockit and Haley Location: Potrero Hill; San Francisco, California Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 1/2 years; Owned Walking into Steve and Heather’s home makes you feel like you have escaped to a relaxing, tropical retreat in the middle of a city best known for its cold and foggy summers.
    Claire Bock
    Apr 7, 2016
    David & Jeremy’s Cozy & Colorful Style Collaboration
    Name: David and Jeremy Location: San Rafael, California Size: 954 square feet Years lived in: 1 1/2 years; Owned David and Jeremy purchased their condo just over a year ago, and they have been busy making the home their own with a colorful sense of style—and lots of DIY projects. The home reflects David and Jeremy’s equally vibrant personalities, and the stories behind their place are hysterical.
    Claire Bock
    Feb 7, 2016
    Paul & Katie’s Modern Eclectic London Flat
    Name: Paul and Katie Alexander and their daughter, Mabel Location: De Beauvoir — Shoreditch, London Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned Katie and Paul searched for a flat in London that was close to both their work in the city and the nightlife of Shoreditch, and they ended up finding the perfect compromise: a lovely flat in the leafy De Beauvoir neighborhood a stone’s throw from the exciting city life.
    Claire Bock
    Jan 29, 2016
    Carl & Ben’s Modern Art Collective London Flat
    Name: Carl Blucher & Ben Location: Hackney; London, UK Size: 900 square feet Lived in: 1 year; Owned Carl has built his career curating gorgeous collections for retail stores throughout London, and his home is filled with the best furniture, art, and objects he has found. Located in a classic Victorian mansion, Carl’s flat is the exact opposite of what you expect to find in an old Victorian building.
    Claire Bock
    Oct 1, 2015
    Claire’s 2015 January Cure Check-In
    My second week began with the pantry purge and the decluttering carried on throughout the whole week. For my parents, the pantry purge couldn’t have come at a better time. On Christmas Eve, several of the pantry shelves collapsed onto each other under the heavy weight of too many wine bottles—and now it was time to find a solution. The Pantry Purge After observing the pantry situation, I decided to do a bit of research on wine racks.
    Claire Bock
    Jan 26, 2015
    Claire’s 2015 January Cure: My First Week
    This January, I am ditching the dreary London weather and living with my parents in Southern California. Instead of performing the January Cure on my own home, I am enforcing it on my parent’s home to help them get 2015 started off right. The weekend floor cleaning was much needed after the Christmas tree removal and loads of houseguests and animals running around over the holidays.
    Claire Bock
    Jan 12, 2015
    Ben & Viv’s Organic Mews House
    Name: Ben and Viv Yapp and their one year old son, Covey Location: Sydenham; London, United Kingdom Size: 890 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; owned Set in an old dairy mews in South London is the eclectic and creative home of the Yapp family. You may remember the cool colored House Call of Viv Yapp from the summer— the wall colors were so striking in the photos that I had to go and see them in person.
    Claire Bock
    Sep 22, 2014
    Style Forecast: Sofa Trends for 2014 & Beyond
    I recently bought a new sofa and it felt like I was buying a car. It’s such a big decision; both in terms of cost and how long you’ll likely live with it. New sofa styles for 2014 are harkening back to classic themes – a Scandinavian take on mid-century, natural wood legs, colorful upholstery, tufted details and retro silhouettes.
    Claire Bock
    Aug 7, 2014
    Location, Location, Location: Things to Beware of When Moving to a New Neighborhood
    There are exterior elements in a neighborhood that can easily be overlooked when you fall in love with a beautiful apartment. But even if the apartment that you live in is perfect, you also have to live in the neighborhood itself. When an apartment price seems too good to be true, take a second look at the street and neighborhood and make sure that you can live with these warning signs. As I was searching for apartments recently in London, I found several “perfect” apartments.
    Claire Bock
    Jul 16, 2014
    5 Ways to Optimize the Single Wall Kitchen Layout
    The latest kitchen layout to become popular in new build London flats is the kitchen wall. With a kitchen spanning just one wall of a flat, a bit of clever space planning is needed to optimize valuable kitchen real estate. With the kitchen laid out along one wall, it leaves the rest of the flat open for a “loft” feel. But in reality, these kitchen walls give little storage space and can make living areas feel more like a studio apartment.
    Claire Bock
    Jul 9, 2014
    Tamasyn’s Colorful, Patterned London Flat
    Name: Tamasyn Gambell Location: Bow; London, United Kingdom Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath Years lived in: 3 years; owned Who else lives here: Tamasyn’s boyfriend Jamie and their baby Stepping into the home of Tamasyn Gambell, the first thing you notice are the patterns and collections, but go deeper into the home and you will see that her use of pattern and color is united by nature themes which lend a tranquil feel to the home.
    Claire Bock
    Jun 26, 2014
    Robb and Jamie’s Schoolhouse Flat
    Name: Jamie Gray and Robb Smigielski Location: Islington; London, United Kingdom Size: 2 bedrooms, 988 square feet Years lived in: 1 1/2 years; rented Who else lives here: 2 house cats Jamie and Robb moved to London a year and a half ago, and found the perfect converted schoolhouse with white walls and high ceilings for adding in their own blend of creativity.
    Claire Bock
    Jun 2, 2014
    Style on a Budget: 10 Sources for Good, Cheap Lighting
    Bad lighting can date a house. Fortunately, lighting is something that can be updated with a quick weekend project, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it. Lighting can also be the item that comes at the end of a remodel when money is tight and you need some less expensive, stylish options. Here are 10 companies providing bright and functional lighting at reasonable prices. 1.
    Claire Bock
    May 29, 2014
    London’s Secret Garden
    One of the world’s most famous flower shows, the Chelsea Flower Show, is underway in London this week. While tickets are sold out to the main show, London’s posh Chelsea neighborhood is in full bloom, with floral creations popping up everywhere along King’s Road.
    Claire Bock
    May 23, 2014
    My Small Home: Claire’s Small Space Solutions
    My husband and I have lived in the same 600 square foot London flat for four years and each year it seems we start to outgrow one space or another. Here is a year-by-year look at how we have outgrown our space and the solutions we came up with to continue living small.
    Claire Bock
    Apr 23, 2014
    Isabelle’s Top Floor Flat of an Old Converted Church in London
    Name: Isabelle Palmer, the Balcony Gardener Location: Hampstead; London, United Kingdom Size: 3 bedrooms Years lived in: 14 years; Owned Isabelle Palmer has made a career out of small space gardening, and it’s not hard to see how her home has inspired her business. Isabelle’s flat is a top-floor treasure inside of an old converted church in London’s leafy Hampstead neighborhood. Living in one place for the past 14 years, Isabelle has constantly reinvented the space.
    Claire Bock
    Apr 19, 2014
    Gallery Wall Inspiration: Eclectic Layouts
    The gallery wall trend is still going strong, and it’s a great solution for collectors of art and objects. Gallery walls have evolved from perfectly matched and level frames to an eclectic mix of art that gives the viewer insight into the person behind the collection. While these galleries may seem effortlessly thrown together, they can actually take years to accumulate. Thinking of starting a gallery wall of your own? Here’s a little inspiration. TOP ROW: 1.
    Claire Bock
    Mar 5, 2014
    Small Space Storage: 8 Ways to Go Vertical
    I live in a one bedroom loft apartment where the only built-in storage is in the kitchen. There wasn’t a closet or a single bathroom cabinet when we moved in, so I had to get creative with my storage solutions. I am lucky to have high ceilings, which allows me to have vertical storage pieces in even the narrowest of corners. Here are a few of my favorite finds for when you need a lot of storage in a tiny space. 1. The Grid Tower is perfect for a tight bathroom space. CB2, $199 2.
    Claire Bock
    Jan 29, 2014
    West Elm Comes to London
    The news in London this Fall has been all about the launch of J.Crew, but for those who prefer to shop for their home rather than their closet, another exciting shop has come across the pond! West Elm just launched a brand new store on Tottenham Court Road, the main drag for super sized furniture stores. The highly anticipated hip branch of the Williams-Sonoma group opened last Thursday.
    Claire Bock
    Dec 11, 2013
    James and Sarah’s Notting Hill Home
    Name: Sarah Bernard, husband James, and stepson Edward (on weekends) Location: Notting Hill, London Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; rented Sarah’s home has a modern, graphic style and a laid-back vibe that makes guests feel immediately at home in their colorful surroundings. Nothing is staged or forced.
    Claire Bock
    Nov 12, 2013
    What Does It Really Cost to Live in London?
    Living in a foreign country can be challenging enough — add in the weak dollar to the British pound and it seems impossible to live in London. After three years of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities, I no longer bother to do the mental conversion rate to US dollars in my head, as it is just too depressing to think about… Essentials & Entertainment • Milk: 89 p/1 liter • Monthly Tube Pass: £116.
    Claire Bock
    Sep 4, 2013