Bay Area interior designer Catherine Kwong is known for marrying modern concepts with classical décor and architecture. For brainstorming, Kwong, who once worked for Ralph Lauren, looks to San Francisco’s haunts: “Northern California constantly generates vivid new ideas that jostle accepted wisdom,” she says. “I’m open to new invention and fresh ways of seeing food, furniture and design. It makes me a better designer and one with something to say.” Here, she shares her favorite sources of inspiration:

(1) HUDSON GRACE It’s this superb one-stop shop for hostess gifts. I dash in for exclusive Italian candles, large-scale serving pieces and hand-selected style books you won’t find elsewhere.

(2) ALMOND HARTZOG I like the exquisite quality of furniture here. This gallery is a reliable source for beautiful, mostly European vintage furnishings and artwork, with highly collectible pieces from designers such as Eileen Gray and Pierre Jeanneret.

(3) MARCH It’s a compulsive pleasure for everything culinary-related. I like the gorgeous linens, handmade ceramics and the architectural kitchen islands and worktables. The chic shop is so well-curated and styled, it feels like being in a gallery.

(4) TRICK DOG It’s one of the city’s coolest bars and the bartenders make highly-original libations.

(5) CAVALLO POINT  In Sausalito, just across the Golden Gate Bridge, this sprawling national park-turned-low-key resort feels like a hideaway from San Francisco’s hustle and bustle. I got married here [so it’s] very special.

(6) DEL POPOLO They take the food truck craze to the next level with their pizza truck, complete with wood-burning oven. We had them cater our rehearsal dinner for our wedding.

(7) THENWBLK  It’s a retail store, gallery and a collaborative space for artists, designers and artisans to develop and build new pieces together, celebrating craft.

(8) ASIAN ART MUSEUM I like to look to the old collections.

(9) PHOTOBOOTH  It’s a new business specializing in an old craft. They take portraits using an old-school tintype method, and in this age of Instagram and Facebook, sitting still to stare into a camera for several minutes seems almost revolutionary.

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