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Favorite Things (Part II)
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Bluelines
Posted by LenaVolume Two of "Lines & Shapes," a series of small books I co-curate with Maria Vettese, came out last week.
This book's theme is "block," and it's dedicated to projects created by our contributing artists. I find the projects so creative and absorbing, and hope that others will too.
But I'm especially fond of a section in the back of this book, where we show some of the artist's "favorite things." I thought I’d share images of these pages, which include favorite corners of the artist's homes and studios, and single objects which make them happy.
And here is one of my favorite things (not included in the book). It’s a framed bird print, purchased by my mom at Sears in the 1970s.
A little decor for your Kids...
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: MadeByGirl
Reader Design Dilemma-joining rooms
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: HueI would like any advice you can offer about what color to paint my kitchen/family room. It's all one big area and needs to be painted the same color.
Here's a montaged image of the breakfast nook and the living room area
(Kitchen cabinets being painted, so doors are removed.)I'm planning to put a beige slip cover on the small side chair in the family room, but I need to keep the burgundy sofa. The floors are a medium reddish oak color. And there's a small traditional area rug that is gold, beige, black, and burgundy.
I'm really sick of beige walls! But I need to keep the color light. Maybe a light blue or green? I love the grayish blues and greens, and think they might work with the burgundy sofa. Any suggestions?
-Mary Beth
So, where do we go from there?
First, you need to figure out what kind of lighting the space gets. Is it bright and sunny, or shady and cool? What design goals are you hoping to achieve with the spaces? Is the living room supposed to be relaxing, or energizing? Should it be spacious and airy, or cozy and intimate? These are all issues to consider before launching into color selection. That being said, since we don't have all those answers for this dilemma, let's play around with color:
Here's a soft sage green living room, paired with a neutral warm mocha color (you'd need to check how it worked with the detail work in the tiles, as I can't quite tell what color they are)
Alternatively, here's a cool gray blue, paired with the same mocha kitchen color.
Just to get daring here, pushing towards cleaner, brighter colors could further liven up the space. Here, I simply bumped up the saturation level of the green and added a cheerful blue wall for the kitchen.You may wonder where I pulled the bright blue suggestion. When you are really stuck trying to figure out a good color for a space, try inverting the colors to find the compliments.
If you have a photo editing program, you can do it digitally. Otherwise, grab a handy-dandy color wheel, and travel across the wheel for the color opposite your color in question. (Ie with a red couch, we'd be looking at blues and greens) Here, for example, are the inverse colors of Mary Beth's rug. Voila- a lovely complimentary blue shade.
As a last suggestion, to tie the couch into the decor, a rich burgundy wall would work really nicely-pulling in the living room colors with the reddish undertones in the tile work.I'd like to hear from readers to weigh in with your suggestions. What colors do you think would work best for Mary Beth's kitchen/living room combo? How would you solve her color dilemma?
Time For Outdoor Furniture
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Landfair Furniture (Blog)Heather at The Inside Store-y has some tips on cleaning the furniture that you will lie on to get that suntan and sit on to chat or eat that BBQ:
5 piece teak set in Bali design by Faraway Furniture.
Cleaning Methods
It's as simple as soap and water. It's all you need for most outdoor furniture. You may want to ...pick up a power washer.She covers cleaning
- Acrylic Cushions
- Resin Furniture - Resin furniture is easy to clean. Spray off dirt and grime and let dry. If there are scuff marks, use a gentle abrasive to remove. To remove mildew, follow the instructions above.
- Wicker -You can use a hose or pressure washer.
- Wrought Iron, Steel Frames & Aluminum -Use mild soap and water to clean.
- Fabric
- Umbrellas
- Wooden Furniture
The only maintenance we recommend for your teak furniture is occasional cleaning. This should be done with a mild soap (such as gentle hand cleaning soap) and warm water to preserve its natural elements.There are some new ideas in outdoor furniture from The Modesto Bee, for example:
Chat tables are new this year, says Jan Booth of Patioworld in Fresno. These tabletops are higher than coffee tables but lower than dining tables. "It's high enough that you can put a cup there, but it's not like sitting at a dining table," she says.Bev & Mike
Mesh on metal or wood pieces: Patio pieces that have mesh-type material over metal or wood frames also are popular.
"You can lay a towel on it or go without a towel, and you can lie on it. You don't stick to (the mesh), and it's very comfortable. You don't lie there and get sweat on your back and tush."
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery
My Kitchen Shelf...
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Rang-Decor {Interior Ideas predominantly Indian}
There is this small shelf in my kitchen which inspires me to try out various arrangements. The little blackboard definitely helps me convey a message:-) It doesn't require any great skills but has me smiling all day. 
Do you also have such a corner, a shelf, a table or a windowsill in your home that inspires you to try new creative arrangements?Two (Terribly Missed) Fat Ladies
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: BluelinesI recieved an email the other day bearing some of the best news I've heard in weeks.
One of my favorite culinary TV series, "Two Fat Ladies," is finally coming to DVD!
For anyone who doesn't remember this fantastic British show (which aired back when Giada's decollete was just a glimmer in some TV executive's eye), there's still reason to check it out.
Don't expect healthy twists or 30-minute meals here. Instead, prepare to ride off with Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright (by motorcycle and sidecar, naturalement) around Britain (and beyond) to prepare seriously hearty meals.
How about joining a hunting party in Scotland for a menu that includes roast grouse and venison with blackberries (episode 5)? Or perhaps you'd enjoy making lobster for a sisterhood of Benedictine nuns in Ireland (episode 14). Soused herrings, Welsh rarebit souffle, onion soup with Stilton, fruit tartlets...the list goes on.
These aren't all recipes that you'd likely rush out and make, but that's not really the point. The settings are verdant and the ladies are undeniably charming, entertaining, and passionate about food.
Even though the show itself is dated, it's novel and refreshing to see them, polar opposites of the squeaky-clean, book-deal-sniffing personae of today's food TV stars, preparing honest food without pretension.
Welsh Rarebit Souffle
Ingredients:
2 large slices of good-quality white bread
1/2 pound of high-quality, aged cheddar cheese
3 egg yolks
4 egg whites
1 level teaspoon dry English mustard
1 vigorous shake of Worcestershire sauce
1 vigorous shake of Tabasco sauce
Salt and Pepper
Grate the cheese and place in a bowl. Beat in the egg yolks, a level teaspoon of mustard, a good shake each of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce, and salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Toast the bread; whip the egg whites until they stand in stiff peaks. Add a spoonful or so of the beaten egg whites into tothe cheese mixture then gently fold the rest of the egg whites into the bowl. Put the toasts into an ovenproof dish and pour the mixture over them. Bake in a preheated oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes until browned and risen. Serve at once with a salad or spinach on the side.
Recipe reprinted from the Two Fat Ladies DVD box set, Acorn Media, 2008.
Great Color Research Journal
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hue
A sneak peak:
(click to enlarge to read text)
Design History, Films, and Economics
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: style court
Initially this post was going to highlight the evolution of Regency style in the movies. Some cool art history professors I knew years ago often recommended films as a way for students to get better acquainted with furniture and design from different eras. Of course, the scholars intended movies to be used just as a supplement to books and museums since many films take poetic license and are not literal interpretations of a given period.
I asked the dynamic art historian and Regency expert, Emily Eerdmans, about films she suggests watching. Interestingly, her choices came mainly from the 1930s and 40s when Americans were under serious duress from the Great Depression, followed by World War II, and needed a form of escape.
Before turning to Emily's list I want to mention that historically in times of stress people tend to turn either to classic, been-around-forever design, like the 1820 English Regency chair above (courtesy Katie DID and available at Jane Austen at Home) or to fanciful upbeat looks. The Bennett family home, as seen in the recent version of Pride and Prejudice, was out of necessity very much romanticized shabby.
In contrast Windsor Smith's modern spin on California Regency blends tradition with old Hollywood glamour (C Magazine, April 2008).As you read about Emily's picks, you may notice that she and Jennifer Dwyer have similar taste in films.
Here's some helpful background from Emily:"Hollywood and the Regency style – could there be a more perfect pairing? Both epitomize glamour, high style, and - perhaps the most important ingredient – spectacle. It is then no surprise that movies have turned to the Regency period over and over again for inspiration.
During the Depression, the Regency style was embraced by decorators for two reasons: firstly, it was long on look, and secondly, it was relatively cheap. It didn’t take long for Hollywood set decorators to use it for the sumptuous penthouses, ballrooms, and boutiques of the onscreen swell set.
Here are a few of my favorite movies from this period from which the term 'Hollywood Regency' was born. Many of the sets feature lavishly swagged curtains, fringe galore, satin upholstery, and streamlined versions of Regency (and French Directoire and Empire) furniture."
Dinner at Eight MGM 1933
Art Direction Hobe Erwin and Fred Hope
Often it is only a dressing room or bedroom in an entire film that is given the Regency treatment, such as in Jean Harlow’s famous bedroom suite in Dinner at Eight. The white-on-white scheme devised to make the most of Ms. Harlow’s platinum beauty has been dubbed The White Telephone look and is reason enough to see this all-star classic.
Anything Fred and GingerRKO was particularly known for producing movies on a shoe string. Luckily, the studio had Van Nest Polglase and his team of art directors to meet the challenge. Settings that popped and sizzled were created by emphasizing the graphic contrast between black and white and shiny and matte (black glossy floors were constantly polished between takes to maintain their high sheen). Neoclassical elements are most often introduced in a Deco Greco fashion, and given a flat, two-dimensional treatment. Scale was also played up and down – a playful technique that found its way into the interiors of Dorothy Draper and others. Top Hat and Roberta, both 1935, are particularly recommended.
Wife vs. Secretary MGM, 1936
Art Direction Cedric Gibbons, Edwin Willis and William Horning
Besides a delightful story line featuring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Jean Harlow, the use of contemporary style is fascinating in this romantic comedy. While Gable’s office is decorated in the latest “less is more” modern idiom – which his mother compares to a bordello! – his home and particularly his wife Myrna Loy’s dressing room is done in the classical moderne style, with neoclassical inspired furnishings. Love that Lucite, illuminated dressing table!
Midnight Paramount, 1939
Art Direction Hans Dreier, Robert Usher
Interior Decorator: A.E. Freudeman
Any Mitch Leisen film is a treat to watch – having been an art director himself, he always played close attentions to the settings. Lots of money was lavished on this production and it shows! Here we see a later phase of the Hollywood Regency style that emerged in the 1940s. It is less pared down and moderne, and more bold and over the top. It also draws upon not just the Regency (or other neoclassical styles) but mixes in Rococo and Baroque as evidenced in the exaggerated headboard of this bed. Don’t miss the draped lampshade, a staple of the Hollywood Regency interior. Another Leisen delight: Easy Living – the hotel suite is outrageous!The Picture of Dorian Gray MGM 1945
Art Director Cedric Gibbons
Interior Decorator Jack Bonar
For a more pure and academic portrayal of the Regency Style, there is none better than the house of Hurd Hatfield in The Picture of Dorian Gray. The stunning settings for this film communicate the pomp and stateliness of the Regency, and, to my eyes, still looks incredibly chic to this day.-- Emily Eerdmans
For a full overview of Regency style past and present, be sure to get a copy of Regency Redux. Black-and-white images above are courtesy Emily Eerdmans. Images one and two, at top, are © Mira Nair, Vanity Fair: Bringing Thackeray's Timeless Novel to the Screen, Newmarket Press, 2004. See also her Regency-era film, Vanity Fair. Images three and four are from Pride and Prejudice.
Miniature Ottoman Boxes
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: absolutely beautiful things
Look at these cute miniature buttoned ottoman boxes by Kimberly Applegate {yes the same Kimberley Applegate who paints those gorgeous chair paintings}. They are available for purchase on her website Live a Plush Life. Wouldn't they look gorgeous on a desk or even in a coffee table vignette filled with little treasures! Love the styling of these photos too!!
Clean House: A Green Nursery
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hatch: The Design Public® Blo
I think Niecy Nash is hilarious. Thus, I find myself getting sucked into the show she hosts, Clean House, all the time. This week they featured a couple who wanted a green nursery for their baby. After some soul-searching, the mother-to-be finally gave in and sold the nursery furniture at the garage sale in exchange for green nursery furniture by Oeuf. In these days of green-washing, I wanted to let you know what makes Oeuf furniture green. I will use the Oeuf Classic Crib to show you the considerations a designer takes into account when manufacturing an eco-friendly piece of furniture:
First of all, the crib can be transformed into a toddler bed with an additional kit. It’s able to transform to meet lifestyle needs and changes, thus making it a product you can use longer and in different ways. Oeuf furniture is designed to be used after a nursery is no longer necessary:
Second, The birch used in the base is from certified sustainable forests.
Third, the sides, footboard and headboard are all cut from single sheets of wood panel which is eco-friendly MDF made of recovered wood fibers - to eliminate the hazard of loosening joints.
Fourth, the lacquer used on the finished products is, of course, lead-free, non-toxic, and completely inert.In addition to being eco-friendly, non-toxic lacquer is what you want to have if your youngster decides to try to chomp his/her way out of the crib bars!
To check out the entire Oeuf line, click here.
If you have completed an eco-friendly home project, please leave a comment and tell us about it!
top two photos from the style network
Fabrics like a breezy day...
04/24/2008, 19:25 | Original Site: ::Surroundings::
How cute are these Kravet fabrics - both called Lady Day? I just ran across them and am so enamored I wanted to share.
Kravet fabrics are available to the trade.
Back to basics- Starbucks waxes nostalgic
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: HueAfter a hiatus of 9 years, Howard Schultz is back to rescue Starbucks from its sad decline. "Starbucks unleashed an unprecedented wave of brand nostalgia by deploying the original Starbucks logo on the masses"-Brand New
According to the Wall Street Journal, this new itteration isn’t permanent–the retro logo is being used temporarily. But as they so astutely say, "in the annals of brand identity, switching away from a high-recognition logo–even for a promotion–is an unusual move."
There's a tidal wave of talk going on in the blogosphere.
For your reference, here's where the logo has been, and where it has gone again:
What do you think of this new transition from what the public is familiar with, to something less, dare I say, remarkable?
Inspired By Eddie
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: style court
When I reference my friend Millie, I tend to favor the longer description: Fellow Atlantan, design blogger and community arts volunteer, Brilliant Asylum. She just put together a lovely little post on Bravo's Top Design participant and ever so resourceful Martha Stewart Living Senior Style Editor, Eddie Ross.I'm so happy to be aware of his inspiring blog. If you enjoyed this past post, or this one, (or if you ever watched Eric Pike decorate his own Christmas tree) I think you will enjoy Eddie's ideas and finds.
Shown at top, Eddie's English Sheffield tongs. According to Karen Carroll in Entertaining with Southern Style,
Sheffield plate is the most highly regarded silver plate and usually expensive. It was first made in the 18th century and is prized for its patina which may result from the layering of silver over copper.
Above, Eddie's work.The Beautiful Baby Blues
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: * Terramia *
I love the captivating beauty of baby blue... and it simply shines in Sheila Bridges' apartment in New York. A spacious, airy and elegant space... the sophisticated blue and the complementary soft green provides a perfectly classy background for her collection of antiques, collectibles, artwork, and favourite quotes.
Cozy “Homespun” Decorating Details
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: The Inspired Room
Details, details, details.
N ow is the time to gather up your soft blankets, wool scarves and felt to re-purpose them around the house! I’m not that skilled with a lot of the domestic arts, but I love ideas that make me feel like I had some “hands on” experience in creating special things for my home. So, grab your glue gun or glue sticks and get ready for some EASY “homespun” ideas! Fall is in the details.
- How about creating your own monogram with felt & glue? Trace and cut a monogram out of felt. Adhere it on a pretty piece of fabric and tack around an ordinary pillow. Instant personality!
- Add a strip of wool and some fringe to ready made curtains or sheets with a trusty glue gun and even I can be a seamstress!
- I loved those cute little “balls of yarn” in a bowl. These are simply strips of wool wrapped around craft Styrofoam. Such a cute fall accessory for a coffee table or entry table!
- Bundle up your summer pillows, shams and bedding with layers of coziness! Wrap existing shams with scarves, old blankets, flannel sheets, or a sweater. Tie and or tack in place for instant fall warmth.
- Make a seasonal dust ruffle with a blanket or flannel sheets. Tie loose edges with ribbon for a special detail.
- Create sweet little silhouettes of your favorite pooch to fill up an empty wall! Spray paint mismatched frames in autumn colors. Trace whatever shape you want onto black felt. Cover the frame’s cardboard insert with a flannel sheet (how cute to use hounds tooth with a hound silhouette!). Glue the felt shape on to the sheet and reassemble frame.
- Warm up a cold doorway with a no sew blanket curtain! Fold over a rod or hang from hooks. For a custom look, fold over top to create a “valance.” Looks great and can save energy if you use a warm blanket around a drafty door or window. This is something I do every year because we have old windows!
- Use plaid or autumn colored wool scarves to dress up a table or chair!
Find monogram templates here (you will probably have to shrink them down to size if you want to use them on a pillow) as well as other templates for decorating pumpkins!
Photos and ideas found at Better Homes & Gardens!
Click here for lots more ideas on BH&G “100 Days of Holidays” feature!
Related articles on The Inspired Room:
20 Little Things To Treasure in Autumn
The Landfair Retail Focus Is About Rising Costs Of Furniture
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Landfair Furniture (Blog)
Over at The Landfair Retail Focus, Mike has posted about the Rising Cost Of Metal In Furniture and its implications for future furniture.
Another Gene Hovis Creation
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: The Peak of Chic
Remember my post on the late Gene Hovis- the man whose gorgeous home and envy-inducing linen and silver collection piqued my fascination? Well, he popped up again, this time in the Tiffany Gourmet Cookbook
Hovis' library/dining room was the setting for this elegant meal. I know, I know- I've read where many are tired of the library cum dining room concept. But don't you kind of fall in love all over again with the idea when you see how smashing Hovis' dining room looks? Good books, good food, and a beautifully appointed room. Really, what could be better?
The menu consisted of Crown Roast of Lamb with brussel sprouts, deviled carrots, and pan-fried shredded potatoes, served on Tiffany's "Yellow Bird" faience platter. Hovis also included a yummy looking tomato aspic with shrimp and crawfish nestled on a Tiffany ribbed silver tray. (And please, don't knock the tomato aspic- it's really good. I swear!).
The dessert course- coffee profiteroles with chocolate sauce- is laid out in front of a 19th century French hand-blocked paper screen- yes, I am coveting this. And wouldn't you be pleased to take tea or coffee served from this Louis XIV service from Tiffany's?
So my question is- do any of you still entertain like this? And if so, how often? I love formal entertaining but don't do it often enough. I think Mr. Hovis has inspired me to do so.
(You might also be interested in Gene Hovis' Uptown Down Home Cookbook
The Marrakech medina: and buying babouches at the slipper souk
09/08/2008, 09:47 | Original Site: My Marrakesh(Sigh, let?s face it, the blogging girl was simply trying to rationalize why she so often found herself in Marrakech?s slipper souk, known as the souk de babouches. At this rate, it might just be easier for her to set up a small cot nearby.)
PS Many thanks for all the comments on my Marrakech magazine articles! So sweet:)
regional roundup: australia!
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Design*Sponge 
for the past few weeks we’ve been exploring the major design hubs in australia. but as with anywhere, there are those incredibly talented artists and designers who are able to make a name for themselves from off the beaten track. today’s final regional roundup: australia covers everywhere in between. and while these features have been focusing on the contemporary design scene, aboriginal art - a history that covers 40,000 years - continues to make it’s mark on australia, and is something i still hope to explore (talk about patterns! . . . luckily, one of the best collections is at the kluge-ruhe aboriginal art collection at my beloved university of virginia, of all places). but that’s the beauty of these roundups - they’re a starting point to discover a place, begin a conversation and in a world that is constantly changing and each can be revisited. it’s been nearly three months since i started on this piece - which features over 40 designers - and it’s still only brushing the surface. so please continue the dialogue in the comments, sharing your new discoveries, favorite aussie designers, inspiration and observations. in case you missed any, you can find all the posts here. and to view this full post (and many more designers) just click here. [an incredible thank you to everyone who participated!!!] -anne
[aboriginal painting by roslyn ann kemp, above]
1. Where are you from? Where do you live now?Â
Born & bred right here in Adelaide, South Australia.
2. Describe your workÂ
Most important to me is to communicate & connect. I’ve just started a project called The Paper Chase, trading art for paper, it’s all about collaboration & communication. I try to make my work as accessible as possible. I like to use low-tech equipment (Gocco for instance) & commonplace materials, & to lavish care & attention on the forgotten, overlooked & discarded. I tend to work on a small scale, firstly, because I’m a finicky fuss-budget obsessed with detail, but also because I want my work to be intimate & personal rather than to shout at you from across the room. I hope a little bit of wit & levity creeps in there somewhere too.
3. How is your work influenced by where you live?
I often trawl the local secondhand markets for bits & pieces to use in my work, & take lots of photos, particularly of signage & architecture. In fact, I’m combining my interest in architecture & ephemera at the moment by building a house out of paper, loosely based on a lovely row of late-Victorian terrace houses on the seafront near where I live.
4. Where do you go in Australia when you want to feel inspired?Â
Anywhere that’s out of the house! Every spring I start feeling restless & want to take a trip to Sydney.
5. How would you describe the Australian design scene?Â
I really can’t say as I don’t feel that I’m a part of it - I’m a total hermit! It’s a small market, that’s for sure - especially in Adelaide - & I tend to sell more internationally & do more commissions for overseas clients. I think the Australian scene is growing though.
6. If you could go anywhere where would you go?Â
I’m planning a visit to the US in a few months’ time to take a road trip along the West Coast. Now, if you have a time machine handy, where I’d really like to go is back to the mid-20th century so I can go wild amassing huge quantities of ephemera & toys, & taking lots of photos.
Click here for more work by Karena and visit the Magic Jelly Etsy shop here.
1. Where are you from? Where do you live now?
I am From Grenfell NSW (population 2000 ). My family came on the Sirius…the first Fleet of White Settlers/Convicts who came to Australia in 1788. I currently live in Canberra and my studio is in a rural location (Pialligo) surrounded by plant nurseries and vineyards.
2. Describe your work
My work…best described as a ceramics designer. I am drawn to simple, classic forms and I produce a large range (140 profiles and 30 colours) of dinnerware and decorator pieces. I’m a former archaeologist and ancient historian who became tired of excavating broken pots in Syria … so I taught myself how to make them instead! We create forms which reflect the relationship between beauty…and practicality. I am fortunate to have a wonderful team of craftspeople who support me in crafting our Fine Australian Stoneware Collections.
3. How is your work influenced by where you live?
As a person who was training to be an academic… I was captivated by the evolution of design in Classical History…and the amazingly poignant social contexts behind ceramic vessels. To unearth a piece of pottery…over 2000 years old with a fingerprint in it sends chills up your spine. I also went to School in Malmo Sweden and the colours and subtlety of Scandinavian seasons and design…obviously filter through my palette and shapes.
4. Where do you go in Australia when you want to feel inspired?
I absolutely love The Great Ocean Road in Victoria. Crusing along the stark coastline in a car or just spending time at our family Beachhouse near Portsea. Simple, unpretentious…and better still…uncomplicated.
5. How would you describe the Australian design scene?
Australia is changing rapidly in terms of global visibility and credibility. I always find it ironic though that within our own country people find it hard to conceptualize that viable design and manufacture can occur outside of Sydney and Melbourne. People look somewhat bemused when you tell them your studio is in Canberra (Our capital is better known for the Greenhouse gasses which come out of the Parliament Buildings!) That being said I see numerous whimsical and elegant works from talented artists/designers emerging…particularly working with textiles.
6. If you could go anywhere where would you go? If I could travel anywhere and spend time it would be south America…Belize in particular. The fusion of Jungle (with panthers) Mayan Pyramids and Amish/Mennonite settlers….sounds so disparate you’d have to get inspiration!
Click here for more from Bison Home.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE POST
dala häst och tupp
03/17/2008, 02:42 | Original Site: red.house
: : these guys are my inspiration right now. maybe I'll have some more time to spend on my patterns this week.blogwatch: where we’ve been clicking this week
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: shelterrific
In an economic crisis, you really need a laugh. That’s why we love Whorange for posting this money origami by Asegawa Yousuke.
If you’d prefer to spread the smiles yourself, check out these smile stickers (not what you may think) at Boing Boing.
What do you do when your not-quite-three-year-old is tall enough to help herself to everything in the kitchen? House in Progress shares her stories (and asks for advice).
Shannon Quimby is building a new house that will reuse every single piece of an old house — even the kitchen sink. See her R.E.X. Project here. (Via Charles & Hudson.)
Speaking of sinks, Remodelista shares kitchen sink accessories you won’t mind having on display.
And here are simple tips for a greener kitchen at Re-Nest.
It’s apple season. Try some homemade applesauce at Make and Takes. Yummy.
Fall is in the air at Marimekko; see it at More Ways to Waste Time.
There’s (seasonal) art in your entryways, says Poppytalk.
What do you think of this black apartment at Plastolux? That’s sort of the opposite of the thinking around here.
Some dark and light we like: dark metal lighting at Oh Joy!
Going from black to black and white, see Casa Sugar’s decorating homage to Jean Harlow. As lovely as the lady herself.
Spike In Traffic?
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Bluelines
Posted by KerstinDuring this important year (presidential election and all), I readily admit that I don't rush to the front page of the New York Times or the Washington Post each morning.
More than likely, I am flipping through party pictures on style.com or my new favorite: a weekly blog feature on New York magazine hilariously dissecting the latest "Top Chef" victim.
See the latest cooked turkey, Spike, below.
I plan to return each Thursday (the day after the Bravo show airs) to read through the silly commentary. After that, I will look through this and last season's archives.
It's frivolous. I am not learning a thing. But a girl needs to ease into the weekend.
Share your online guilty pleasure -- we won't tell your boss.
Classic Godparent Presents
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: style court
Today these little twins had their first official social engagement: a baptism followed by a special luncheon. This reminded me of my own godmother and the countless presents she's sent me over the years following that first christening gift, which was a porringer.
In the image above, it looks like Ruthie Sommers' daughter Eloise has a porringer in her nursery (Domino, October 2008). These modest shallow dishes with flat handles were originally used centuries ago by adults and children to hold porridge. (Pewter and silver versions were often saved and passed down in families.) In the modern era they continued to be used as practical bowls for babies, and in Vogue's Book of Etiquette from 1969, porringers are mentioned as a useful, enduring, and elegant baby present for godparents to give a godchild.The idea is that the dishes are easily washable, can be engraved, and can be used throughout one's life to hold jewelry or odds and ends. Tiffany's sells the sleek style also shown above, and the 18th-century piece below is from the Brooklyn Museum.
Sippy cups are far more practical than traditional sterling baby cups, but I still think the silver versions are nice keepsakes that make pretty holders for Q-tips or flowers. Other timeless christening gift suggestions from my old Vogue book include forks and spoons, and combs and brushes. Lasting value is the key, so clothes are not traditional presents in this instance -- although fun for godmothers to give later. Piggy banks and classic picture frames can be more affordable, yet wonderful, options.
Anything that the recipient will hopefully save and use one day on a desk or shelf, or for her own children, is nice. The banks shown at the top of this post and below happen to be from Tiffany's. But consider browsing estate sales and antique shops for other similar items. The vintage and antique silver cups are from Beverly Bremer and start at around $100.
BTW: If you are a goddaughter and wondering what to give your godmother, Vogue 1969 recommended the following. I think they've stood the test of time.
Classic, good-looking stationery (G. Lalo.)
Books with general appeal
White guest towels
"Go-with-anything" home accessories such as a letter opener, simple highball glasses, a clear glass vase or a stamp box.
And finally, while we are vaguely on the subject of nurseries, look at this pretty turtle hardware from Anthropologie. I'm not usually the biggest fan of novelty knobs but these might be perfect on a simple two-door cabinet. Wonder if they could be made into magnets for an inspiration board?
