Best Places To Add Flair To Your Patio In San Francisco
A patio is an opportunity to create a gathering space to share tranquility, your favorite activities, food and certainly show off your passion for style and design. Simple, contemporary clean lines or eclectic styles are all reflective of a person's personality. Take advantage of the opportunity to have fun designing, creating, shopping, learning and sharing your new patio space. Check out these shops to find some flair for the ultimate patio in San Francisco.
Cliff's Variety Store
479 Castro St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 431-5365
www.cliffsvariety.com
Cliff's Variety Store, located at the heart of the Castro, is a must-stop. Here, decorative items such as solar lights, shelves, hooks, outdoor serving ware, hardware and gardening necessities for installing, connecting and cleaning your patio can be found. Full electrical, plumbing, locks and glass services are offered. Ideas for painting, planting and window coverings such as custom roller shades and paper lanterns, ideal for patios, can be developed at Cliff's.
Paxton Gate
824 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-1872
www.paxtongate.com
Founded by two landscape designers, Paxton Gate is a whimsical store offering unique gardening items. Terrariums, candles, hanging gardens, wardium cases and birdhouses will decorate any patio while a new collection of beautiful hand-crafted Japanese garden tools will add joy to maintaining and designing your space. Games and toys for kids with a natural science theme keep the family involved in your patio project.
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San Francisco Botanical Garden
1199 9th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-1316
www.sfbotanicalgarden.org
If you prefer to grow your flair rather than purchase it, the San Francisco Botanical Garden is a good place to start your project. Spruce up your space by taking a tour of the gardens. After the tour, inspired quests, members and the well-informed return to the the garden's monthly sale at The Arbor to start their journey in horticulture and gardening. Follow up by attending plant and garden events to question the Master Gardeners at The Arbor from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Applying for a volunteer position is a sure way to gain hands-on experience and work with professionals in horticulture.
A. Silvestri Co.
2630 Bayshore Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94134
(415) 239-5990
www.asilvestri.com
This place is known mostly by word of mouth. If you are set in stone about using decorative pre-cast concrete statuary in a patio space, Silvestri, a five-generation family business, just may be the place for you. Cement planters, containers or a small curved bench next to a cafe-sized round table create a low-maintenance and pet-friendly patio. A chiminea adds warmth and light for the cool s'more-making summer evenings. Perhaps the relaxing sound of a wall fountain is just the detail your patio needs for a little spruce and change. All items are made in San Francisco.
Composed of chic boutiques, du jour restaurants and snazzy window displays, a landscape into haute couture can be appreciate at the Hayes Valley District in San Francisco. Not far from the Deco Ghetto, a three-block retail area between Guerrero and Franklin streets featuring art deco havens for admirers, the contrasting yet complementary style of Moroccan design offers illuminating ideas for patios. Lanterns, some in wicker or tin, have metal cut-out designs and are made in a variety of shapes and sizes to decorate a patio. Among the patio furniture collection, mosaic tables featuring beautifully made and hand-cut Morocan zellij tile will surely add flair to a patio. This store also has a unique collection of Mediterranean fountains, benches and chairs.
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Kristina Ruiz-Healy is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
