Kim Wheeler’s Laid Back Nor Cal Style

I am so happy to be featuring my friend Kim from Northern California Style. Kim is passionate about her home state, stylish approachable home design, and chic fashion choices for women over 50. Kim and I met through blogging and we have done our monthly Signature Style Series together for the past four years. I have great respect for Kim’s sense of style, her love of her family and her home state. Let’s chat about my friend Kim Wheeler’s Laid Back Nor Cal Style.

Hi Kim – you are a third generation Californian and a blogger / writer, with a keen eye for design. Tell us how you landed in this career path – did you stumble upon it, or did you know this was what you wanted to do?

Well, I always was into style and fashion and worked for Nordstrom while in college, where I learned a lot. I missed fashion so much as an at-home mom. In 2011, my husband Max told me I should start a blog, as an outlet for my travel, style, and decor things I was into. I started Northern California Style while raising my sons and wrote sporadically until the last few years. Now as an empty nester, I have time to devote to it weekly, and it’s been a great outlet and a way to connect with others while sharing things I am excited about!

Renee Kim Photo

You started Northern California Style in 2011 – how has the landscape of blogging changed and where do you find your inspiration?

Well, a lot of it has now moved to social media, with microblogging and videos on Instagram and TikTok. People had less attention spans for blogs, with all that, but I think the trend is changing. With the popularity of Substack, people are craving deeper posts, less scrolling on social media, which I think is good. I am glad I am still blogging. Bloggers stand out from the other content creators.
I am inspired so much by living in Northern California and its beauty and these amazing places we are so lucky to be near. I love to share those tiny towns and neighborhoods people haven’t heard of. I also like sharing how natural world figures in how we live. It’s how I was raised with the yard and the garden as an integral part of our lives, which I think is so unique and special about California!

Renee Kim-photo

You do a Signature Style piece with me each month – how has this evolved over time? Do you have anything to share with our readers about topics you would like us to cover in the upcoming season?

I feel so lucky to get to do this with you Cindy. You were one of my first bloggers I admired so much. I am excited for the warmer days. I already bought a cute matching short set which I haven’t worn before. I keep seeing these and can’t wait to wear it on vacation in May. I am focusing on adding less and better, maybe a few easy dresses, pinstripe easy linen pants, the perfect flared leg white jean, cute sandals – and a woven bag. I don’t need much. Those are the things on my spring/summer wish list!

Tell us about your Weekend Meanderings that you collaborate on with two other bloggers and what’s coming up in the months to come for this.

A few years ago, I was asked to join my lovely pals Elizabeth and Juliet to do a Saturday post called Weekend Meanderings. I’ve been so lucky to be a part of it and it has been a great way to share happenings in the Nor Cal, Bay Area for things like daytrips I like to do with my family, and cool things that crop up on my radar each week. I will be sharing my Hawaii trip and packing I am sure in May, and a 60th birthday trip to London and Paris this summer (including the packing and planning!)

Tell us how living in California influences your three passions – fashion, design, and travel.

Nature informs all I love here! I have a lot of natural textured things in the home – woods and wovens, found elements like shells and rocks, along with plants and more organic sort of materials and light colors. My husband is a nature freak too and loves birds, so we have created a natural yard that is pesticide free, and we have a lot of beautiful birds visiting here all the time – and bird art! I am attracted to botanicals and plant prints.

If you had to describe your signature style in 5 words, what would they be?

Gosh! I think:

Casual

Funky

Relaxed

Pretty

Whimsical

Name five items in your closet that you can’t live without, that get you through all the “seasons” in California.

Jeans, jackets (adore a jacket every day), chunky sweaters, a good white button up shirt, and my mom’s diamond stud earrings.

What do you love most about living in California?

The casual and accepting nature of this place. The embrace of nature, the weather of course and that we are always on the forefront of a better way of life. I mean like doing good for the planet, even before others have decided it is the right thing and that kind of mindset. I am proud of that.

You have great design sense. You completely remodeled your primary home a few years back. How would you describe its style and is there anything that you would do differently if you could start over? You purchased your darling Tahoe cabin furnished. What have you done to make it your own?

Well, I am happy with the way we took a fairly dark home and added a lot more light! We took out a big dividing wall – so light could flow through both sides of the house. We opened it so it feels like we are focused on what’s outdoors. I converted a few windows to French doors and added 9 skylights because I really love natural light. It makes me happy. If I could redo it, I would have added one shelf along the back of the kitchen only in stone…with lights above, and a small pantry, but we were limited with space.
My Tahoe cabin came furnished. I slowly have been adding my own things like a shaggy New Zealand wool rug, baskets, and a native American inspired Ralph Lauren lamp, and floral bedding. I made window coverings for the new doors with a bird print fabric. It’s a work-in-progress and has been fun! It’s teeny and a log cabin, so you have to choose wisely so it doesn’t feel cluttered.

Renee Kim Photo

Travel is another one of your passions – share with us your top three trips to date along with destinations you hope to visit.

My favorite trips…Belgium and Netherlands are hugely inspiring to me for their homes and design. I adored Bruges and the flower boxes and baskets all over and want to go back.
Wengen, Switzerland: up in the mountains was a trip that I think back to all the time. My family says it is the best place we ever went. Walking the towns up there is magical in summer. I adore the UK and driving through it – and Edinburgh! I have not been to Paris in 15 years or so, so I am excited to go this year.

I know you are an avid tennis player. Do you have other favorite fitness routines/wellness regimens that you adhere to?

Walking my neighborhood a few times a day is how I get my steps in. I have weights by my television and try and lift a few times a week when I can and stretch daily. I am grateful that I got back to tennis in 2007. I am not the best player, but it has kept me limber and strong just by playing a few times a week, and it never feels like exercise! Plus, the social aspect of meeting so many nice women is a bonus I didn’t expect.

For anyone visiting California for the first time, where would you tell them to go and what should they focus their time on?

Number one would be San Francisco as there are so many pretty neighborhoods and walks to take. I would make it to a small area like Cole Valley, see the many staircases, and the Presidio – especially the new Tunnel Tops area with a view to the Golden Gate. Carmel is also a must and while there get to Point Lobos for a walk, and a drive down to Big Sur with lunch at Nepenthe!

Your hair is naturally beautiful – what are your favorite hair care products for blonde hair?

Well, it’s largely grey now, but I keep it blended in with just highlights and some lowlights about every 7 weeks. I mix up shampoos but try and use nicer products and always a leave in conditioner applied to the ends. I like the Phyto 7 hair creme from France, or the Kerastase Nektar Thermique which is a leave-in blow dry milk. Seems to help my hair from looking too fried. I don’t do too much to it. I have a lot of hair, but it’s fine and it does better with less fuss. I
can often look like I have a bird nest in it thanks to the fine nature.

Skincare! Which brands/products do you trust and why?

I have rosacea and my skin is extremely reactive, so I trust nothing! Just kidding, but it is trial and error for me. I wash with a spa brand Epicurean herbal cleanser, and I like their moisturizer too. I like Jan Marini Bioclear Face Creme. I use Elta MD sunscreen or the Supergoop tinted SPF 50. I like Lune +Aster tinted moisturizer and CC creme, and Jane
Iredale Pressed Powder. I try and use things that are clean beauty when I can, like Jones Road blush and eye liner and Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara- all so good. My two lip faves are LIKE lip color from Glossier and Boy by Chanel.

Give us a snapshot of a normal “day-in-the-life” for you.

I love to get up early and have a coffee by the fire with Max. I have a light breakfast and then plod away on something for the blog. I try and get out and walk my neighborhood if I am not playing tennis. I do spend some time in the yard and then pop by the grocery. We cook almost all nights. I love to watch a show or series we are following before bed. I get over to see my dad or have coffee with a friend weekly. On the weekend, we try and do a hike and meet up with our kids or friends! I also try and get out to the local shops and see what’s happening with retail and new and all that.

Renee Kim photo

What are your tips for balancing work life and family life and how has this changed as you have gotten older?

I’m not sure if I have the key but taking time for those things that bring you joy, has to be worked into every day. It could be going to get yourself a latte and pop into a shop, or enjoying the birds in your yard, or time with a book or magazine and a cup of tea or meeting a pal for lunch. I now say “no” to way more things and ask myself what do I WANT? We women are raised to be pleasers and that is a hard habit to break.

If you could give your younger self any words of advice, what would they be?

Be brave and try more things. Get out of your comfort zone and travel a lot. Don’t worry about what others think, be unique and forge your own path. It takes us a long time to realize how much more fun it is to do your own thing, than follow the masses.

Share your words to live by.

Make the world a kinder place and leave it better by your actions. I try for that!

Get Kim’s Northern California Style

A big shout out to Kim for letting us interview her! I hope you enjoyed learning more about my friend Kim Wheeler’s Laid Back Nor Cal Style. You can read Kim’s popular blog Northern California Style here, and you can follow Kim on Instagram here.