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Thursday, September 29, 2011

People and their invented histories.













"First I choose a pic from web
(Facehunter or Sartorialist), then I
draw and then I read whatever comes to
my mind about that person drawn on my
sketchbook. It's fun!" - Fernanda Guedes






















One of our favorite past times, or ways to pass time, in an airport, restaurant, hotel pools etc, is  to create stories behind strangers that we see. I agree, it's great fun. You should try it out sometime. Also, I love this gal's art.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

blah, blah, blah


















Honestly, I just need to get it over with and paper a wall with pages. I'm thinking this idea of glazing over the paper with a tinted finish, is the way to go, one I hadn't considered. And can we just take a moment to mention those padded pink doors and that hex tile? Give me a break. Talk about a powder room. As my friend Patricia would say, 'jeezo-beezo, that's terrific'






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also, I'm totally making this. How easy and satisfying? Now to find the time.











 





I'm not planning on any more tatts (I only have 1,  for the record) because it freaked my kids out when I showed them this image and said, 'Isn't this the best tattoo you've ever seen?' (which it most definitely is ) And also, because, guess what? a tattoo you get when you're young, really does stay with you long after your skin is pretty and smooth. huh. who knew. Can't wait to see what 60 looks like.





By the way,  don't want your kids to get inked for life? Go and get one yourself, they'll be horrified and go the opposite way.  Trust.





mkay. that's all.

Modwalls


Tiles, I know,  not terribly exciting on their own. But when you're flipping through site after site of the same old stuff, looking for something modern, but classic, artisan and organic but not too ceramics class, you have no idea how exciting it is to find a line like Modwalls. Check out these, iconic, cross or "Plus Design" tiles. :













look at the colors, great, eh? I wish you could use them on the floor, but they suggest the best use is on walls. Backsplash in a modern kitchen with stainless steel counters and black lacquered cabinets? (or bright orange if you're going to go for it)














and did you say Subways? Another iconic tile style. Look at these, isn't that glaze lovely? I'd love to lay these out vertically.













I'm always one for penny rounds. These would be so fun in a kid's bath. 











 speaking of the Penny Round look, check these out (below on the floor), Cork Penny Rounds! These are so eco-fabulous. They're gorgeous. They remind me a bit of the, literal, Penny Round floor in the Standard, Meat Packing Dist. but I'm guessing a bit cheaper.









and of course they're loaded with a ton of luminescent  glass subways, which always seem to be a favorite.



















check them out. There's more to these guys, like customization, inspiration images etc. I just don't think I can do them justice.  Modwalls.



Tuesday, September 27, 2011

weekend up date
















Over the weekend we threw a little soiree for some friends of ours who are having a baby... at any time. Her due date,  in fact, was yesterday. Being that this is her first, the reality will probably be sometime later in the week.















It's chevron time. I know, overkill with the chevron design already, but I'm still willing to use it. While trying to come up with a quick idea that was uni-sex, not to juvenile and a bit fall-ish, I decided on a color scheme of gray and yellow. Easy go to. Always modern. The fabric was an easy find, and at $7.00 a yard, a fantastic find (fabric.com). It's heavy enough to create window treatments too. 








 





I was planning on ordering gray, cross-dyed fabric napkins from West Elm but time didn't allow, so I tried to dye some white napkins-  they turned out a muddy disaster . Instead I found these at cost plus, 'Indigo, Ikat' 4 x $15.00. (navy goes with everything)













I also picked up some napkin rings that were perfect and looked a little handmade (which they probably were,  in china). 





.....Then I had to go to the Craft Store. I'm going to be kind and just say, not my kind of joint. I wanted to stab my eyes out with a dried stalk of barley corn. Can they SOMEhow find a way to make the check out experience in these places not make me want to pelt someone with decorative glass stones? How you crafty girls can handle this part of your job is beyond me. My hair smelled like cinnamon and dried flowers the rest of the day.











oh, so here's the other thing, I had in mind that I would fill the table, with loads of these in assorted white vases. Cute with a mid-century vibe.










"Billy Balls" as they are so affectionately referred to. (their real name is something like, 'Casopeai' but that's not it, and it's Tuesday when I should be working--- and to look it up would only mean that I'm procrastinating even more)





ok, so here's what. I saw these "Billy Balls", at the Whole Foods in Venice just a few days before. In fact, I feel like I always see Billy Balls at Whole Foods. Of course, the day of the party, They are NO. where. to be found. Which means, Nick and I spent the better part of Saturday morning making phone calls that went like this, 





'Hi, um, do you have Billy Balls?' 





usually the request was met with silence, or with  a somewhat accusatory, 'WHAT?' 








I even had some lady hang up on me (I wanted to call back and ask her if she Prince Albert in a can, but I was too busy trying to track down Balls)













We never found them. I ended up  buying every last bunch of sunflowers Trader Joe's had. Which is fine. I guess. Sunflowers are fine. Nobody, knew the diff. in the long run anyway. And the party was a big success as it was really just about getting people together to celebrate the biggest miracle in life. We can't wait for this new little guy to make him or self known.
















Also, I have 7 yards of gently used Yellow, Chevron fabric. If you're interested in it, email me. Seriously. 








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oh! I almost forgot. I served up a pitcher of the best cocktail I've had in a long time. A "Blackberry and Lavender,  infused Margarita". 





Silly me, I wasn't sure how they'd go over so I just made 1 pitcher. Next time I'm making a sink full of these beauties. Here's the recipe:





Ingredients:





5 blackberries









1 ounce lime juice





2 ounces tequila





½ ounce orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier, etc)





Process:





Prep your glass if your like your margaritas with a salt rim.





Add your blackberries and lavender syrup to a cocktail shaker. Crush
the blackberries using a muddler. Add other ingredients and ice. Shake
well and strain into the glass. Enjoy!!





(I think you could make a Mocktail replacing the Margie/Alchy stuff with maybe, limeade and soda water? )

























These guys [ Johnny Tapete in Germany ] have a great collection of vintage wallpaper. If you're into that kind of thing. Look how they ran the paper only up to the height of the door. I'm assuming the ceiling is some super high, old European room.








I don't know why, now that I look at it, but it sort of reminds me of the Orla Kiely, Blossom, wallpaper. 










Didn't this come in pink? I can't find any images to prove that, but I swear I saw it once. 












Thursday, September 22, 2011

bruised indigo






























moody violets & dusty blues always remind me of October. 





[ all photos via :: pintrest ]






Wednesday, September 21, 2011

taped










a whole other kind of mixed tape experience, but not without the tension, discord and a fluid zen experience.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011









guh! I'm going through photos of bathrooms for a job I'm working on. Isn't this one beautiful? I think the mirrors are key to the whole design though. The subways are great especially against those bowls, but the mirrors really make it. Don't you think? Wonder what they did with the floor.

oh hey....




 





kinda busy this week but, check out these beautiful, thoughtful, inspirational images shot by photographer, Pia Ulin There's something to love in each image whether it's herringbone floors, clean lined cabinetry, classic modern design juxtaposed against antiquity, a shot of color in a flatly lit room, a palette that looks so ripe you want to bite into it.......see if you can find that one detail that makes the shot.....












































Thursday, September 15, 2011

ephemera




La mac daddy: Lacanche






 whatever. Forget  wolf. This thing is hands down....










 la shizzle dot com. 
















 Lacanche ranges - in their own words, " exude purpose. "



Sure they're a bit pricey, but you could always add some wheels and drive it around town when you're not cooking up a storm. 









 "Lacanche, a little village in the hills above Beaune, where the famous
stoves bearing the village's name are manufactured. The company is
firmly committed to combining the best of modern and traditional methods
both in product design and working practice. And it has every reason to
be proud of its legacy: the site dates back to the 18th century when a
Burgundian gentleman by the name of Richard de Curtil decided to put the
iron contained in his subsoil and the timber from his forests to good
use by creating a foundry at Lacanche. In 1796, Jacques-Etienne
Caumartin took control of the ironworks and the company remained in the
hands of the Coste-Caumartin family until 1972."




hm.  They're gorgeous. And sometimes, at least for me, that'll do. 
















and while we're in the kitchen, check out this blogger's, butcher block, ikea hack.







 I love a dark wood counter top, and they only get better with age and use.










I think the Lacanche would finish out her kitchen (starting at 11k for some models-doh) don't you?