There are a couple of people who send me links to things they think I would like, most of the time they are pretty spot on (how transparent am I?).  This week not one but two of my favorite internet super sleuths sent me THE VERY SAME LINK, so you know that shit was good.  Raina and Hope, I pledge to you my undying devotion for showing me these:

Gun Hoof Boots by Iris Schieferstein (via Jezebel)

While these boots are clearly a masterpiece and Iris could have stopped here, she didn’t.  Check out the other creepy goodies she’s rocking:

Just when I thought taxidermy was dead and buried for good, Iris comes along and makes it seem totally fresh again.

While I’m here, I’d also like to add an update to yesterday’s post:

My mother (while working on her 2 martini lunch I presume) found this Hennessy bottle designed by Thursday’s featured designer, Inga Sempe

Pair the cognac with your gun hoof boots and, girl, I think you’ve got yourself a weekend.  Tell me all about it monday, and yes, I want all the juicy details.

Finally! It seems there’s a home design trend that matches my unwanted yet rapidly growing Fisher Price menagerie (note to Kartell: please make stylish baby toys. Hurry). Collectors and art enthusiasts have long appreciated the pop paintings of heavyweight Roy Lichtenstein, but now it seems that Lichtenstein’s style is increasingly interpreted through textiles, patterns and paint. Yep. Primary colors are back in funky fresh force, along with a cartoonish panoply of stripes, ben-day dots and blocky solids.

Lichtenstein himself did a series of interiors in his trademark style, hinting at the shape of things to come. Funny that he even anticipated the avalanche of Warhol’s Mao paintings that covered the walls of bazillions of featured homes this past year.

This room styled by Jeffrey Miller owes more than a wink and a nod to the piece above. But you don’t have to be so literal to reference the look.

Of course, having a polka dotted ceiling like this room designed by Christopher Coleman helps.

And a glut of seizure inducing stripes can’t hurt, right? Cafeteria designed by Tobias Rehberger.

Obviously, what you really need is a giant stylized glamazon in the manner of Lichtenstein’s famously blond heroines.

The top half of this India Mahdavi designed restaurant is no less comic book chic.

Not to worry — you don’t have to have a towering Barbie in your house (but what girl doesn’t secretly want one?). Playful elements scattered here and there create major impact, as in this room in fashion designer Max Azria’s home.

Just try and stop me from swathing my next couch in these Lichtenstein inspired Missoni prints.

And I wouldn’t be mad if my next house had a Missoni colorblock shower in it, either.

If you’re feeling a bit overstimulated by all this crazy bizness, consider limiting the look to a simple painting by the man himself.

No, not like this hostel, which feels more tragic than comic. Although, note how easy it would be to paint a simple, similar mural in chic black and white…

I was thinking more like this room designed by Vicente Wolf, where traditional furnishings are seriously lightened up by the addition of one of Lichtenstein’s mod paintings.

The flowers are killing me, but you get the idea.

Personally, I like the pop look best when it’s paired with contrasting elements. The Calder mobile in similar style and colors competes with the painting in Patsy Tarr’s home.

On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with going full frontal on a small space, like this quirky vignette styled by Jeffrey Miller.

And what better than a Lichtenstein bust to make a popping fresh statement. Yet another idea for the reinvention of Beethoven?

I read somewhere that every room should feature a sculptural element that adds dimension to the space. Does that mean that Michelangelo’s unsheathed schlong should peep out at your guests from the darkened corner of the living room, like a creepy neoclassical sex stalker? Not so much. I also feel that this is inappropriately inflicted on visitors:

OWI

There is a worse view, but I’m really too kind to force the full frontal on you. I think the lesson here is to save the kinky stuff for the bedrooms, people. And also that it would be cooler to keep anatomical sculptures above the nipple line. Clothing is nice, too.

Abigail Ahern

Trust — you need a bust. True, the eyes may track your movements across the room, but that’s better than… other things following you.

Francois Halard

Karly is going to like this post because she has enough heads to fill a stadium full. Of heads. But not as many as a certain someone else we all know and love:

Kellz is totally into heady tableaux, as seen on her overstaffed dining room table. Click this link to check out more examples of her head games.

Skona Hem

Never fear. Despite her best efforts, La Wearstler hasn’t (quite) cornered the market. Busts abound.

Paul Costello via Roseland Greene

I want to live in this room forever and ever, amen. The chairs.. the logs… the windows… the lady head. Yessss.

Eddie Ross

Miles Redd

Simon Upton

Nick Olsen

Abigail Ahern

Paul Costello

Now these heads are all well behaved, polite and easy to talk to. But tune in on Wednesday for a collection of busts that belong only in the homes of brave and adventurous people. That means you, right?

I thought so.

Interior decor is as much a part of the fashion world as clothes are — trends are born and then trends die. It’s the cycle of style. Because I’m short on time and have to work whenever I find a spare minute or two, I tend to bookmark my posts well in advance (and for my responsible nature I deserve a gold star, right?), but the downside is that I often find I’m tired of the pictures before I even get to post them. So, yeah, I’ve had this awesome black and white roundup lassoed and hogtied for weeks, but I was all sick of it because I’ve already seen a zillion (good) black and white roundups splashed all over the blogosphere. Anyhoodle, this is my long and rambling way of saying that you’re getting a (mostly) black and white post whether you like it or not, because there are some good things about black and white, and besides — it’s a classic, dammit.

Sabrina Bignami

Nicolas Matheus

Richard Powers

OWI

Francois Halard

Studio Ilse

Style Files

Studio Ilse

Jeff Andrews

Emmas Designblogg

Elle Decor

Skona Hem

Jeff Andrews

Sabrina Bignami

Did you see how many pictures I had bookmarked??? I’m nothing if not thorough, and I couldn’t exactly let all that gorgeousness go to waste.

So what do you dudes think? Is black and white itself too chilly? Does it need a pop of color or the warmth of wood to make it work? Tell me your favorite picture, and I’ll tell you mine… Inquiring minds need to know.

Someday, I dream of building my own home in the country. It’s a pastoral dream, filled with ponies and haybales and verdant acres of rolling hills and dales. Ok, so it’s not likely to happen, A) because Austin is too damn hot to be verdant, and B) because the prices for new construction make my eyes gog out like a cartoon character. And that horn sound happens, too. So, maybe what I need to do is cut the finishing costs on my dream home. I can live without fancy molding, polished concrete would be ok by me, and why not jettison the sheetrock while we’re at it?

The Wall House by FAR architects does away with many luxuries to create an ultra modern space that hovers in the nether region of home/tent/cave. What I am not ditching in the name of cost are those windows, since I plan to lay in bed and watch the ponies graze my sun scorched estate all morning long.

OWI

Don’t worry, I’ll still take my books and cute furniture with me. Just cuz I’m living in a plywood hut doesn’t mean I have to live like a nun.

I’m hoping the shower area will be a bit nicer, not that I don’t find the rubber duckies and oceanic liner, uh, charming. This just looks like a mold factory in the making.

Living, Etc

Well, that’s better. Yep, those walls are plywood, cut and set in fancy pattern, so fancy that glorious lucite chandelier looks perfectly at home.

In living spaces, I appreciate the contrast in materials. This home of an art loving couple mixes high and low to the extreme. That console table would be an overwrought nightmare anywhere else; here it’s kind of ironic. And the head is staring at me.

I found this beauty over at Roseland Greene. I’ve always liked wood on wood, but this is on another level. I have to say, the walls really set off the gorgeous credenza. Hmmm… everything looks better next to plywood?

OWI

Of course, if I tire of plywood in my country estate, I could always turn to particle board for a change of pace. What do you think? Grandma and Grandpa obviously approve, and I could just throw a bale of hay in the corner for the ponies.

It certainly looks like an aristocratic country estate, right? I might be a bit concerned about relaxing by the fire with a pipe, though. In any case, I’d double up on the fire insurance for this little tinderbox beauty.

Oh yes, I saved the best for last, yes I did.  No joke — I would move into this gorgeous Paris loft in a heartbeat. Except that I do not live in Paris. Wait, why do I not live in Paris, again?

I’ll just steal the ideas for my future plans, because I bet this kitchen cost substantially less than my own remodel, and it’s pretty fresh. Can you imagine it stained dark dark brown? Hubba hubba.

Sleeping under a big Texas sky with the ponies lowing in the fields below (ponies can low, right?), I would congratulate myself on living a modern life out in the country. As long as I can get HBO out there, I think I will be ok.

DC superfriend and badass interior designer/blogger Raina of If the Lampshade Fits found the silver foil lining of the clouded real estate market when she landed a sweet 70s home in Denver. In celebration of her spectacular find, I’m posting a cornucopia of 70s inspired interiors that manage a modern twist on classic geometric lines. You don’t have to import an entire Karl Springer showroom to get the feel — just a dab will do ya. But a ton of brass, gold, chrome and glass never hurts, because it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that bling.

Don’t worry if you’re a shy wallflower. See how subdued the 70s can be? No disco balls necessary. Via Richard Powers Photography.

Or you could go the other direction and bring it all on. Baughman chairs: check. Chrome and smoked glass table: check. Driftwood sculpture: check. Via Joe Serrins Studio.

Ahhh… it’s quiet again. A smoked glass chandelier and muted color palette ooze restrained elegance. I want to knock that superfluous flower pot off the table, though. Via Desire to Inspire.

Wheeeee, it’s loud again! You could apply lipstick in the reflection of that wallpaper, and the light fixtures are divine. Not loving the starburst wall clock. Via OWI.

Foil wallpaper may be the most ingenious backsplash, ever. I might have to do this in my kitchen… Via Style Files.

Of course, I would trade my entire kitchen, the house and everything in it for these cabinets. BRASS cabinets, people. Holy Jeebus Moses! Via Philippe Stuebi.

And while we’re on the gold trip, I think I want to cover something, anything in these gold mosaic tiles. Maybe a headboard…? Via Colombe Stevens.

Nina Campbell’s brass mantel is almost as delicious, but the clutter kills. Just take a mental snapshot of the brass and mirrors and close your eyes and mmmmmmmmmm. Via Domino.

If I had enough space and didn’t think I might burn my house down, you can bet your sweet ass I would have an indoor firepit. Hello fondue party! Via Jerry Samuelson Photography.

Milo Baughman is definitely the go to designer for all things sleekly seventies. Fawn Galli breathes new life into his iconic chairs with some rockin’ fabric and more awesome foil wallpaper.

My gay boyfriend Nate Berkus’ apartment with his Baughman chair. Copious amounts of mirror action, the chrome coffee table, Arteluce lamp, and tufty time sofa complete the look. The hand chair is available here for $69. Spraypaint is the nectar of the gods. Via Elle Decor.

Cultivating a 70s vibe doesn’t mean you have to keep your original 70s bathroom. Just say no to the triple threat of fiberglass tubs, formica and linoleum and say yes to burnished golden tiles, a black (!) pedestal sink and some fresh accessories. Via Living Etc.

Finally, the bathroom we all dream of. If not, you may be reading the wrong blog. Via Joe Serrins Studio.

Whew, that was a lot of pictures, but Raina’s dreamy home score deserves nothing less. Congratulations, Raina, on your swingin’ seventies pad — can’t wait to see it shine!

Following the story on The New Antiquarians in The New York Times that Karly blogged about here, there remains little question that taxidermy is hot. Of course, that be old news around these parts (see here and here). In fact, it’s hard to remember way back to the time when taxidermy was seen as belonging exclusively to the domain of rednecks and long expired Victorian arcana. Now that taxidermy is trendily displayed by hipsters and preppies everywhere, many clever mutations of the original stuffed animals have been spawned — for example, the works of Rachel Denny and our pal Hope Perkins.

Well, the newest dead heads on the block from the Swarovski Safari series by Peter Pracilio are pretty fierce. Check it:

So I’m thinking this stuffed deer, courtesy of famous French taxidermist Deyrolle,

Plus this diamond studded skull by Brit brat pack artist Damien Hirst,

Equals this crystal encrusted deer mount by Peter Pracilio.

Agreed? Since we’re already grazing on the wild Savannas of Fifth Avenue, let’s bust out our binoculars and view some of Pracilio’s other gems that I’ve hunted down for you.

Swarovski unicorn: uptown version of the jackelope?

via theashenledger (check out her cool prints, too)

So, what do you dudes think? Would these fine specimens be at home on the Hovey sister’s walls?

And what would you choose: flash or fur?

I love things en masse.  Take something small and insignificant and multiply it by 100, suddenly you have an interesting collection.  Take something small and kinda cool, then multiply that by 1,000 and shape it into something awesome then, well, then you have a blog post. 

Scott Jarvie Recycled Straw Clutch Chair

Nendo Designed Fabric Scrap Cabbage Chair

Fully Loaded Chair made from shotgun shells by Alexander Reh (yes, I’ve blogged about this before here)

balloona stool confetti by natalie kruch for umbra made from 500 balloons

Tide Chandelier made from collection of man made debris washed up on Kent coastline by Stuart Haygarth

Tail Light Chandelier Also by Stuart Haygarth

Mr. Haygarth is pretty much the king of making things out of things, view his entire site here

Volivik 347, Bic Pen Chandelier by en Pieza

#2 Pencil Chandelier by Daisuke Hiraiwa Gallery via inhabitat

It’s no newsflash that the 80s are back — even street corners in remote Wyoming and North Dakota are swimming with hipsters clad in acid wash jeans and neon raybans. But if there’s one thing I have learned while couch bound and channel surfing in my cocoon for these past six weeks, it’s that there is a kinder, gentler 80s aesthetic out there. One that might best be described as… mature. For those golden years.

Yep. It’s the sexy sexagenarians (and one sassy octogenarian - RIP, Estelle!) we all found as warm and comforting as an oversized pink bathrobe. Sigh. How I missed the Golden Girls! But I’ve had time to catch up and reflect on their grandma chic style, and I think there may be a few worthy design details to take in among their set pieces. Still, one must watch out for the obvious pitfalls:

Because you know Kelly Wearstler was totally channeling Blanche when she masterminded that mix; note the color/texture similarities between the GG’s tablecloth and KW’s wallpaper. The lesson here is that mauve is scary, and mauve plus any kind of blue is even scarier.

But did you see the GG’s Chinese Chippendale chairs that have been splashed on the pages of every single shelter mag for the past few years? I’m pretty over them, but if you’re gonna go that way, might as well go over the top. Yes, I admit it. I do love me some neon.

I get nothing but good vibrations from this wackadoo room by Doug Meyer that Karlykins posted ages ago, but if you buy these 80s redux chairs (available from Ballard here), nix the black and save the GG white lacquer for your boxy pieces a la Trina Turk’s bedroom:

Yes, that uber 80s Karl Springer nightstand would be right at home in Dorothy’s bedroom. Sorry you need Sophia’s bifocals to see it.

I can dig the blocky 80’s shapes the GGs have scattered throughout their pad, like this blonde rattan couch. But nothing says Florida retirement home like rattan + mauve jungle print fabric. I’m envisioning a vintage couch like the one pictured, but with a fresher pattern:

I pulled these from Marimekko all quick like, but anything bold and bright would do. I’m thinking rattan needs a festive print to stay true to its tropical origins, but instead of faded pink I prefer a crisper color scheme to bring the shape and texture up to date.

Everyone in the world has seen the inside of Blanche’s bedroom. Perhaps she fancied herself a tigress, hunting silver foxes in the jungle of love. Eeeeeeew. Whatever the case, that banana leaf wallpaper is springing up in well heeled homes everywhere and I probably should be tired of it, but I’m not.

However, I’m not sure I love Nicky Hilton’s full monty interpretation here. It’s pink, it’s got chinese chippendale-esque chairs, and it has the wallpaper. Despite all the color, it feels kind of old to me.

I blogged about Nate Berkus’ apartment before, and I still want to go to there. He keeps the furnishings muted to let the wallpaper harmonize with — rather than contrast with — its surroundings. Because that’s some big wallpaper, you know?

Now that I’m back blogging, I’m going to miss my time with the Golden Girls, but I’m so happy to return to say THANK YOU!!!! to all the people who filled in for me while I was gone, and to all the people who read the blog. And I especially want to thank Karly for holding down the fort with style and grace. A girl really couldn’t ask for a better friend. This post be dedicated to you.

I’ll be back on Friday with… something. But in the meantime, stay gold.

Apparently this incredible tat belongs to a friend of a friend. Only in Austin, people! Who better to spend the rest of your years with than Blanche, Rose, Sophia and Dorothy, I say? I call Rose. Which Golden Girl are you?

Let’s just put something out there front and center. I do food. I love design, but I do food. So when Karly and Erin mentioned they needed a few guest bloggers to help round out July and August while Erin was on baby vacay, my first thought was, this isn’t for me. I love poring over design blogs, pondering remodeling ideas I will never have the resources to commit to, ogling furniture I have no business even considering. The idea, though, of posting on my own about design, with some modicum of authority, well that was as about out of my league as that Herman Miller LaChaise I’ve been eyeing. But something Erin posted the other day stuck in my head, specifically that bit about money being wasted on the rich.

That got me thinking about molecular gastronomy. It’s an unappetizing term for what some consider the sexiest most stylish and innovative edibles out there. They’re also design-y as hell. And at about $240 a meal it’s nothing to sneer at. I’m not about to argue that someone has to be clever and creative as hell to make this stuff up and to make it work. You have to be a mad scientist. I’m just saying, with all the money people are forking over for this stuff, couldn’t we harness the scientific genius behind it to instead maybe, oh, I don’t know, cure cancer? Make a new ozone layer? Bring back the honeybees??? I’m just sayin’.

Consider this. It’s a beet. Sort of. Hailing from the epicenter of the molecular gastronomy world, El Bulli, these beets actually strike me as edible. They don’t strike me as beets, but I have nothing against them… unlike what is to follow.

Here we have eggs benedict (duh) created by none other than the molecular gastro star Wylie Dufresne.

I’m not sold on those gelatinized egg spheres as food, but if it was about 3,000,000 times its edible size it would make an interesting outdoor installation piece.

Here’s a fun one. This here is a sandwich. I repeat. Duh.

I didn’t find enough information (besides that this was created by Chef Pascal Barbot at L’Astrance in Paris) to figure out what that is sandwiched around the foie gras, but yeah, that’s foie gras. Again, sculptural? Sure. Edible? Debatable.

Now our little tour de gastro-weirdness takes us to the UK where we visit the The Fat Duck, another destination point for creepy food experiences.

This little baby is inexplicable. Why don’t people label their photos?? People! Help a sister out here! What IS this?? From my perspective it’s a pod of some sort, filled with coffee grounds, the tiny golf clubs sticking out of it are topped in caviar. It’s not a combination that comes to mind when I think “dinner”, so I’m guessing I’m wrong.

Things at The Fat Duck only continue to become more inexplicable with this one. Dry ice, beneath a bed of moss with an odd assortment of odd looking morsels in containers around it. Whatever could it be?

Obviously it’s jellied quail, langoustine cream, chicken liver parfait, oak moss and truffle toast. No notes on whether one is to eat the oak moss.

At The Fat Duck you can round out your meal with this.

This iPod, nestled in shell, is your musical accompaniment for the dish entitled Sounds of the Sea. The dish is composed of seafood and seaweed on a bed of sand-like tapioca. Customers report, and I kid you not, the oyster tastes stronger and saltier when the actual sounds of the sea are piped through the iPod.

I used to think I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t jump at the chance to sample some of this stuff… just for the experience. However, recently, as I pondered a menu that’s most filling entrees were beef tonge sushi and duck testicle shish kabob, both at what equalled a week’s worth of groceries for myself and my husband, it occurred to me… I’d prefer an ugly old taco any day. Design is to look at for years and years to come. Food is to eat.