Stocking Stuffers
Yes, pun intended. 
Close your eyes. Envision the perfect shopping experience.
Elegant and unique. Beautiful surroundings, no hustle and bustle. Fun and festive gifts for those special people in your life, and a talented team to help you find that perfect gift and in your price range. Come visit the Brick Monkey this Friday, or any day.
We have an array of new items in, from holiday decorations to jewelry, and fancy gifts for that special someone to treasures you can put in your gift stash for teachers, co-workers and other people you may want to recognize with a thoughtful, unique thank you.
Monkeying Around with Tim
There are so many beautiful and exciting decorations and gifts around the store these days! Here’s a secret shopping tip. Across the street from the Brick Monkey is one of those refreshing gems. It’s a french bakery. Awesome pastries, and espresso drinks. Comfortable, casual seating. Okay, the best pastries ever. Come on by. Enjoy shopping at the Brick Monkey. Relax at Pamplemousse Cafe. Tranquility for the holiday season.
Elegant silver and ebony salad tongs
Christmas stockings, candles and holiday decorations
Gorgeous costume jewelry
Holiday Tablescape at "Holidays on a High Note"
Having friends and family over for the holidays? Want to add a little punch to your decor?
“It’s okay to give the standard red-and-green color scheme a pass now and then.”
Kirsten McKay, our art director, was inspired by the Foothill Auxiliary’s 13th annual “Holidays on a High Note” benefit. I asked her how she does it.
“Table-top display is a lot like painting, You start with an idea and it takes on a life of its own once you begin.”
Kirsten chose something unexpected and different, focusing on birds, and affectionately called her setting “Home Tweet Home for the Holidays.” I really liked the pointers she offered. It really helps!
Decorating Without the Stress
- Start with an object or theme as your guide
- Work with what you have
- Give yourself a deadline
A table-scape like this can look intimidating at first glance, but it doesn’t have to be. Kirsten started with a natural, organic theme as her inspiration and let that be her centerpiece. She’s a great believer in scavenging, and gathered easy-to-find items, including branches, leaves and dried grasses for the display.
Kirsten adding a final touch
Silver charger and bronze bird favor.
Then she added ornaments from the store—like this whimsical brass bird—to complement the look and make it fresh and fun. And how do you get all this done you may ask?
“I think it’s good to work with a deadline. Good ideas come when you have a need.”
Monkeying Around with Tim
Here’s some tricks of the trade I learned from Kirsten:
- Create a framework with your big items, and then layer around it.
- Use a triangle, layering at the top, middle and bottom.
- Great style comes from contrasts. Use textures, colors or objects.
First, for the framework and top point of the triangle, Kirsten used large Raku vases filled with dogwood branches. For the midsection, she added the carved wooden reindeer on each side, and for the lowest level, she layered in clusters of leaves and dried grasses to add dimension and depth.
Natural materials can look dull, so add a little contrast.
At Brick Monkey, you’ll see a penchant for including a touch of bling and sparkle in what they do. In Kirsten’s table setting, the silver hammered chargers and brass birds catch your eye and give the table elegance and contrast, making it fun and fresh.
We want you to be inspired
Creating a fun, new seasonal look doesn’t have to be daunting. You can make it fun, stylish and simple. Visit Kirsten, or any of the monkeys at Brick Monkey, and let us help you find your holiday inspiration.
At Brick Monkey, we strive to support our local community, including the “Holidays on a High Note” event. This annual fund-raiser is a benefit for Peninsula Family Services; a nonprofit organization based in San Mateo dedicated to helping transform the lives of children, families and older adults in need.
Decorate with Candles
Temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter. We hope you are enjoying the transition as much as we are at the Brick Monkey! Are you wondering how to bring out the flavor of the season?
Want to add some instant fall ambiance?!
We found an awesome line of decorative candles. Simple and elegant, we think they add instant flair to your living space. Mix and match colors and sizes to make your own statement. Here we’ve arranged them on the coffee table, bringing a new warmth to our sitting area.
Monkeying around with Tim
These candles are beautiful wax candles, no question, but here’s what’s really cool. They are ecological and safe. From the outside, they glow with the warmth you get from a nice candle, but look closely and you will see an inner glass lining with a reusable fuel cell, or if you prefer, use a votive candle inside. Light your candles without worrying about safety or the hassles of having to dig out that worn out wick or clean up dripping wax.
Brick Monkey wants to help you make every day a special candle day!
Come on in to find your inspiration. It’s what we are all about. We love helping you define your style. Our goal is for you to love your space.
Morning Clouds, Oil on Canvas, "22 x 28"
Brick Monkey is excited to present Susan Z. Breyer’s newest abstract and landscape work at a special art showing this Thursday, April 1 at the store. Please drop by for a morning latte between 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. or join us for an evening champagne reception from 5:00- 8:00 p.m.
Over 25 of Susan’s latest oil paintings will be on display, featuring a strong use of color, lush texture and a keen awareness of the underlying force of nature. She uses music to imbue her work with energy and power and believes her paintings mirror her view that nature cannot be taken for granted.
“The essence of what I do is look outside and let the music lead me.”
We hope you can join us. RSVP at info@brickmonkeyonline.com or 650 260-1155.
Gina Viscusi Elson wrote an article for the Home & Garden magazine in the Los Altos Town Crier and gave Brick Monkey a shout out!
Excerpt from Gina Viscusi-Elson’s Make ‘em Laugh:
“Go on the hunt to find something – that one thing that will speak to your funny bone. Barry Johnson, a friend and fellow interior designer, just opened Brick Monkey on Broadway in Redwood City. He and his two partners are passionate foragers, so you’ll always find something curious and distinctive. It’s worth a visit.”
“Determine to live life with flair and laughter.” Maya Angelou
Here are a few whimsical “guests” currently on display at Brick Monkey – chic pieces that will tickle your funny bone!
The dream has become reality – Brick Monkey is open for a little monkey business!
Brick Monkey was asked to create a harvest style tablescape for the premiere issue of Nesting Newbies magazine which will be out in digital form in October 2009. We can’t give all our secrets and tips away until the issue is published but rest assured we gave the table our own curious twist to a traditional holiday setting.
Kirsten sets the table with a selection of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, budget finds and beautifully organic wooden plates (available at Brick Monkey).
Just a peek at the whimsical place setting…
“When I heard that Brick Monkey decided to locate their home interiors store in downtown Redwood City, I realized that Redwood City has reached the tipping point…Brick Monkey is the type of innovative, Class A, local retail business we’ve been working to attract to our downtown. Their arrival is a win for Redwood City that will surely attract other high caliber retail establishments.”
Rosanne Foust
Mayor
City of Redwood City
Brick Monkey is one block north of this historic courthouse!
Bit by bit, Putting it together
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art
Every moment makes a contribution,
Every little detail plays a part.
Having just a vision’s no solution.
Everything depends on execution
Putting it together, that’s what counts!
Composer/lyricist Stephen Sondeim summarizes our feelings over the last few months – we’ve been busy “putting it together” – bit by bit and piece by piece in order to bring a new kind of interiors store to the San Francisco Bay Area. The flower boxes need planting and you can see Kirsten through the window setting everything in place. We’ve been talking about opening a home interiors store our own way and now that dream is going to be a reality! Just a few more things to do and it’ll be time to open our doors and invite you in.
