Unexpected Guests: Eszter Rabin.

Today we're not venturing too far away for our Unexpected Guests visit. We're spending time in the home of Eszter Rabin of Emma Rose Papery, a local San Francisco design and letterpress studio, specializing in wedding and social stationery, and business collateral/website design. Eszter and I are the best of friends, and have known each other for many years now. You've seen her lovely home before on sfgirlbybay, but today I'm sharing the beautiful, brand new home she and her husband Dan have recently purchased in San Francisco. Every time I walk into Eszter & Dan's new place, I totally swoon (and am consumed by some really ugly jealousy!). It's not just the lovely, eclectic and somewhat European feeling it effuses, it's the wonderful light! It is so open and airy, with fantastic French doors that open to a terrace overlooking all of downtown San Francisco. It is such a stylish, warm, and wonderful home, and I'm really excited to share it with you.



What neighborhood do you live in?
Eureka Valley, which is near Noe Valley and the Castro.


What is your idea of a perfect day in San Francisco?
Going to the Botanical Garden and Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park with my husband.



What don't you leave home without?
Oye, it's more like what I leave at home - I'm very forgetful, so it's amazing if I manage to take everything I need.


What's your favorite local shops?
I really like the BellJar and The Curiosity Shoppe.


What's on your wish list?
A trip to Mongolia and another trip to Bhutan.


What's your favorite bargain find or product?
Most everything in our house was a bargain find at garage sales, flea-markets and craigslist. But I love our vintage KitchenAid Mixer, it's from the 60's and still works perfectly!


What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
It would have to be black furniture, although leopard print is up there too.


Who is your favorite artists? And why?
I really don't have any favorites, I admire many, many people for different reasons. One person whose art I never get bored of is Andy Goldsworthy, his ability to create art from nature that changes just as our lives and life on earth changes is unparalleled.


Where do you find inspiration?
Mostly in my travels and nature, but really, anywhere from books to the streets. I think as long as you have an open mind, inspiration will find you.


Who do you admire and why?
My mom and my husband. My mom is incredibly resourceful and creative, she inspires me in many, many ways. My husband is so calm and well grounded, and he is the only person who can always make me smile.

Do you collect anything?
I collect old photographs; people with their pets in the photos. I have been finding them for over a decade, eventually I would love to put them in a book.



What's your favorite feature in your home?
I love our deck, it's peaceful and quiet, so each time I sit out there it's as if I was on vacation.


Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
Too many people to list here, but some of them would be Madeleine Albright, Marguerite Yourcenar, and Haruki Murakami.


Do you have a guilty pleasure?
I love Nutella and Dulce de Leche, I just simply can't say no to either of them.

What is your most treasured belonging?
My passports - I have dual citizenship which allows me to travel to just about any country safely.

What's souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
I got a set of hand embroided raw silk napkins from a shop in Vietnam where they help physically and/or mentally challenged people by selling their crafts to tourists.

What is your greatest indulgence?
Traveling.



What is your idea of living hell?
Not having my family, my friends and my pets around.


What are some of your favorites websites/blogs to visit?
Cuteoverload.com, Pret a Voyager, smosch, sfgirlbybay, and Hula Seventy.