Lex Tyndall & Nisreen Gardner

HOMME for Crown and Home
by Claudia Juestel

Multi-talented Michelle Homme officially opened her new namesake Russian Hill boutique during Winter design market week. I headed out into the rain that night to join her and her guests for a glass of Champagne and to check out the wares.

Mastercraft 1960s brass dining chairs, American Deco sideboard, 1950’s handcarved peacock lamps, C. Jere 1970s seagull sculpture on rock, collection of late career John Axton realist paintings.

The small shop has amazing variety of cosmopolitan treasures, a clear reflection of Michelle’s diverse training. She studied Modern Literature at Oxford and Decorative Arts at Christie’s in London, apprenticed with a milliner in England, honed her design skills local interior design firms Tucker & Marks, Edward Lobrano, and Steven Volpe, oversaw the set decoration for two independent films, and designed accessories for a home furnishings company.

I feel like needing to take a breath. Michelle has quite an impressive résumé, and as a result HOMME (pronounced hom-me due to the name’s Norwegian origin) not only carries 20th century furnishings, objects and art, but also one-of-a-kind commissioned pieces, as well as her own hats. Architect Jennifer Weiss and interior designers Grant Gibson, Will Wick and myself are already fans.

White dove by Cleo Hartwig, turn-of-the-century French painting, C. Jere 1970s seagull sculpture on rock.

Anggi, Kaenon & Roland Strick

Georgia Gerstein & Catie Hart

Styles and time periods are as eclectic as the owner herself. Michelle’s spirit as a designer is clearly expressed in her unique selections. A 1970s giraffe garden stool and a rhinoceros coffee table contrast with a ceiling light made from a propane tank that had been used for target practice and a rustic handmade wash stand by an artisan from the Mojave Desert. She also just acquired a collection of later paintings by John Axton. Stop by to see her newest shipment and try on one of her fabulous millinery creations.

Photos by journalist Jason Florio, rhino table, 1940s California clay pottery, 1960s brass arc floor lamp, mirrored 1970s sideboard Chicago.

Katherine Jacobus & Michelle Homme

Joe Lerner & Brennan Gray

Pair of Fortuny pillows, John Axton abstract 1967 painting, George Nakashima bedside table, Halsea tote bags, 1960s wet bar by Pierre Cardin.

HOMME
2354 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 400-4299
Store hours: Monday – Saturday 11:00am to 6:00pm, Sunday 11:00am to 5:00pm
homme.1stdibs.com

Photos: Drew Altizer