Design Crisis

Ditte Isager

karly — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:53:46 +0000

Good morning all and I apologize for my absence Tuesday. Internet failure combined with ability to stay awake failure has lead me down a shameful blogless path. But you all understand, right? Well-zo, here I am and I’m all well rested to show you some surprisingly un-karly-esque interiors. Let’s just call it a continuation of Erin’s theme from yesterday. Like she said, life can’t be all coke tables and mylar wallpaper, right? Ok, maybe it can, but just not today. Or yesterday. But most certainly tomorrow and all those other days after.

Perhaps it’s my constant craving for sleep that has me loving these monochromatic interiors shot by photographer Ditte Isager, but most likely it’s that sexy chandelier / rustic hardwood / window-filled loft combo. win / win / win / win.

when God builds me a kitchen, this will be one of the photos I show him

For more of Ditte’s work: Home of Ochre

Sick Day

Dylan Thomas — the Photographer, Not the Poet

erin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:55 +0000

For well over a year I’ve been nursing a crush on 70s design stars like Milo Baughman, Willy Rizzo, and Pierre Cardin, but I think the coke party may be over. Well, sort of. I can’t just quit burl and chrome and brass and glass cold turkey, but I think it may be time to start mixing it up. Mixing with what, I have no idea, but recently I’ve been trying to broaden my horizons and garner inspiration from some unlikely sources. Enter Dylan Thomas, protege of famous royal photographer, Lord Snowdon.

Thomas has photographed everything from the home of fashion design team Preen to old money estates for World of Interiors, all in his signature moody, low contrast style.

It’s all a wee bit frenchfied and don’t worry — I’m not going to go cat lady collector on you, but I am loving crazy fringe on pretty much anything, so that gets an instant pass from me. I also appreciate the mutedness of these spaces, the way almost nothing “pops.” It looks expensive.

And it would probably look even better with my gleaming 70s Pace chrome and glass waterfall coffee table sitting pretty right in the middle of all that tattered history.

GoGo Soho

erin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:00:12 +0000

Did I really get home from Hawaii only nine measly days ago? Because I could swear that I am already in desperate need of a getaway… apparently, funerals and sick babies aren’t that relaxing. Who knew? Sadly, the vacation days are all tapped out and our bank account is circling the drain, so I’m not going anywhere — unless you count sitting on our patio in sweltering 100 degree heat “going somewhere.” Which I most certainly do not.

But enough about that sob story. Let’s talk about Berlin. No, not the band (though they really take my breath away). Berlin, the city.

Doesn’t Berlin just seem like it would be the mostest? All kick ass German philosophy, with a little fringy Euro flair to soften the hard edges. Because there’s no need to be brutally serious all the time — even Nietzsche needed a little break from the angst (that syphilis didn’t come from nowhere, right?). Obviously a stay at the at the Soho House in Berlin would bring some sweet relief. Not that they have syphilis there, or anything.

No sir, all the Soho Houses are high class, high dollar establishments, available to an exclusive members only cadre of rarefied beings. All except for the newly opened Soho House Berlin, where 40 rooms are available to us regular folk, and for my mental vacay I plan to check in and sit for a spell.

Sit at the poolside bar, I mean. Well, I shall sit until I’ve drunk my fill and then I shall swim.

And then I will lie and lounge on the rooftop terrace, where I will pretend to contemplate the mysteries of life, but really I may just read an In Style or some other pedestrian crap because I’m deep like that.

Oh, and then I’m gonna get my nails did.

With my polished tips in tow, I plan to indulge in a giant meal, which best include some goulash and knodels. Anything else may put me in an existential tizzy, wherein I might be forced to jump off the terrace…

Or I will probably just watch a movie. I like movies.

Then I’m going to get my drink on at this jazzy establishment. I hope the pianist knows how to play some Eazy E.

Tuckered out by my long day, I shall retire to my Deco/Nouveau boudoir, ostensibly to meditate myself into a restful, dreamless sleep.

But more likely I will lie awake all night, wondering how I could fit that giant spider lamp chandelier into my purse. And who is in charge of upholstery at this joint? Holy expensive fortune — it must have cost a ton of knodels. Did I already mention how deep I am?

About as deep as a puddle.

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Daydream Nation

erin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:00:23 +0000

Sweet baby Ike is sick today. Nasty sick — like twin rivers of Tigris and Euphrates snot sick. It takes a special kind of mama love to kiss a baby’s slimy germ infested face, to comfort them even when they cry like… babies. So, either my nurturing mode is in high gear, or the sleep deprivation is getting the best of me, because when I saw these pictures by Adele Enersen, my icy black heart just melted.

Enersen photographs her baby Mila while she sleeps, quietly (I imagine) constructing impromptu sets out of sheets, socks, blankets and books, for her slumbering stage. I’m not sure if I’m more impressed by the creativity, or by the fact that Enersen’s baby is such a great sleeper… Ok, the creativity part is awesomer (by a small margin).

Have a great weekend!

We Are a Part of the Patchwork Nation

Not Really My Scene But

karly — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:23:51 +0000

I’m kinda digging these pictures

Summer of love series by Saiman Chow. For $100 a pop one of these precious works of art could be yours. Just think, you’d be well on your way to filling up your own X-Rated art pad like the one we saw Tuesday.

Mom’s in town today, so short post, dudes. Peace out

via Below the Clouds

Let’s Talk About Money

erin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:00:12 +0000

While in Hawaii, my mom twisted my rubber arm into touring the furniture megacomplex that is Inspiration Interiors. I think she said something to the effect of, “There’s a giant life sized horse with a lamp on its head!” Oh, you mean this horse? The horse that Karly has been obsessed with for years?

Dudes, I kid you not: I walked around with my jaw dragging the ground like a neanderthal for entire time I cruised the showroom. And I felt like little more than an uncivilized cretin when I looked at the price tags, because every piece seemed more expensive, more rarefied than the next. Inspiration houses wares by Mooi, Front Design, B&B Italia, Fendi Casa,and de Sede, among other more mid range brands like Bo Concept and Natuzzi. It’s like a who’s who for the uber rich decor set.

Do you have any idea how much a new de Sede Endless sofa costs? Now, I have been in love with this sofa from way back — check my credentials here — but I’m just going to put it out of my mind because it costs FIFTY THOUSAND dollars. Yep. $50,0000. My youngest brother was totally nonplussed by this information, and already has plans to buy up the entire showroom once he makes his first billion.

Meanwhile, my other brother was utterly appalled by the prices. Coming at it from a woodworker/craftsman’s perspective, he just couldn’t reconcile $16,000 for a Fendi chandelier or $20,000 for a Fendi crocodile embossed dining table with the cost of the materials or the time and effort that went into producing the pieces.

He probably wouldn’t be into paying $1200 for a sparkly Fendi pillow, either, and I can’t say I disagree with him on that point.

And then there’s this $26,000 sofa that my mom is obsessed with. The back moves around the perimeter to form different seating configurations, which is cool, but the piece really isn’t that big. I can’t imagine paying $26,000 for such a wee little guy. Ok, if I had $26,000 to spend. Because I would probably buy a car instead. Scratch that — I wouldn’t even spend that much on a car.

Now I know I’m cheap and I get a thrill from scoring big off craigslist, and maybe it’s just impoverished sour grapes on my part, but does this B&B Italia chair really have to cost $8,000? Because I kind of like it. But I doubt I would pay even $800 for a chair that you can’t sit in on the showroom floor. I guess she’s a delicate flower.

There were some “bargains,” though. Maarten Baas‘ iconic, singed works were surprisingly affordable, as in the chandelier has less than four numbers in the price.

It was kind of an incredible experience to view all these ridiculously expensive pieces in the same location, because I don’t think you could see a single thing I’ve written about in person in Austin. It was also rather depressing to realize that these lust worthy things — things that Karly and I have written about and obsessed over for years — are utterly unattainable for us regular folk.

If not us, then who buys this stuff? Well, not this thing — I don’t want to know who has $5000 to blow on a boxing glove chaise. Whoever buys that deserves to be punched in the ass.

Nice though it may be, who can afford to buy this?

Or this?

You know, who besides the (admittedly scrumptious) restaurant housed in the same complex that is furnished entirely by Mooi? (Aside: Wow! Butts!)

In response to my brother’s perplexity, my sister in law remarked that what you’re paying for is not necessarily the materials, but the design. I couldn’t agree more, but I also have to wonder at the sanity of charging $50,000 for a couch in the midst of a huge recession. I mean, man I love that couch — I want to marry it and have endless de Sede babies. Or, at least I did until I saw the price, but I have to say the sheer nerve of it kind of killed my boner. Which is not to say that I wouldn’t snatch that puppy up if I found it on Craigslist.

Or, as Karly would say, if only it were a tenth of the price.

Got Money? Old Money

Move-In Ready

karly — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:12:56 +0000

I guess I’ve been living under a rock because I just today caught a first glimpse of fashion designer David Delfin and his luva, photographer Gorka Postigo’s Spanish home. And, well, let me tell you, I wouldn’t change much. Ok, maybe I’d swap out a piece of artwork or two when little junior has a playdate, and perhaps the little art “installation” over the bed could take a permanent vacay, but other than that, really, it can stay as is.

For the record: those creepy baby heads would not move an inch under my watch. I’ve been working towards a creepy bust collection for years but they are surprisingly hard to get your hands on. I’m maxing out at 2 really good ones and 1 medium good one right now.

In other news: my love affair with white walls is still going strong.

In other other news: Erin and I would like to send a big, fat, congratulations to the King of Paint, Sanders, who just became a dad for the second time around on Sunday. He and his wife welcomed a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Welcome MacKenzi, xoxo to your whole family!

I’m Kinda Sorta Back

erin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

In case you were wondering (and I know you were, right?), I spent the last week in Hawaii attending the funeral of my beloved grandfather.

Harold Buddy O’Connor survived torpedoes at Pearl Harbor, brawling sailors in Turkey, and long car trips with two annoying grandchildren. He built a house, a Model A, a sexy seventies sports car, fine furniture, and ornately gilded frames. Plus he could draw and photograph like nobody’s business. They don’t make people like they used to, and a 21 gun salute and formal flag ceremony provided a fitting end to his big life. I’m sure he would have approved.

I would love to shower you with fantasticness this morning, but I’m still getting over a nasty case of jet lag, so I’m going to save my hot diggity dog post for Wednesday… you best tune in because you do not want to miss my epic tour of $20,000 dining tables and $50,000 sofas.

And finally, I have to give a huge THANK YOU to the fabulous Naomi of Thirteen and South and the lovely Alison of Life In the Semi-Fab Lane for guest posting while I was away. They did such a good job that you probably didn’t even notice I was gone.

Ok, time to sleep. See you Wednesday!

Before and (sorta, kinda) after: Diana’s Fireplace

Featured Artist Friday: Mandy Greer

karly — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:42:57 +0000

Last night a reader left a comment on Erin’s pom pom post with a link to a bedroom she had personally pom-pom-ified. While I waited for the page to open I anticipated a neuvo pop pom bedspread and maybe a cute throw pillow. What I got was this:

Holy Awesomeness!!! Mandy hand made the rug and pom pom installation as part of her larger work at the Bucheon Gallery.

Here’s what fiberarts magazine had to say about the matter:

In December 2008, the Bucheon Gallery of San Francisco invited Mandy Greer to create an installation at the international contemporary art exhibition Aqua Art Miami, Florida, a satellite fair to the annual Art Basel Miami Beach. Whereas Art Basel Miami and its sister fair, Art Basel, Switzerland, typically assign booths to their exhibitors, Aqua Art Miami was presented at the Aqua Hotel in South Beach and used the facility’s individual rooms to display a wide range of artwork. Exhibitors at the Aqua Hotel typically tend to disguise the fact that the rooms are sleeping areas. Not so for Sheila Cohen and Sidney Brown, owners of the Bucheon Gallery, who invited artists to play up the bedroom theme. Greer included (among other works) two pieces from her 2004 installation project the Wolf Prince and the Parrot Princess. In their original incarnations, these pieces—a white rag rug and a chandelier comprised of a multitude of pom-poms—evoked a vast arctic landscape that separated an amorous yet oddball couple. In Miami, they came together more literally as erotic ornament for the boudoir: the soft chandelier hung seductively overhead while the supple coverlet, like swirls of pure white snow, adorned the lovers’ bed.

For a complete view of the installation, check out the flickr gallery, check out Mandy’s blog and recent work here, see a preview of Mandy’s work in the film The Silvering Path Here.

Oh! And be sure to have a super happy weekend! xo

Fish Are Not Decoration

karly — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:05:12 +0000

The New York Times is running an article online about extravagant fish tanks: $200,000 tanks with $1000 monthly maintenance fees. What I find particularly jaw dropping about the story isn’t the cost of the homeowner’s decor, it’s the fact that the homeowners consider fish decor in the first place.

Fish are animals. They do not belong in little glass boxes and they do not exist to decorate your room or to amuse you. They are living creatures. And seriously, before I get a bunch of hate comments (I’m not changing my mind) yes, yes it is different from having a cat or a dog, both of which are allowed outside to roam and coexist in a mutually beneficial relationship of companionship with their care givers. I do not own a cat so that my living room looks prettier. In fact, my cats make my space look much worse, but I love them more than my things so I manage.

(sorry for the long disclaimer, I just really don’t want to fend off hate comments today.)

The designers interviewed in the article note that aquariums answer the age old questions: “How do you humanize this space, how do you introduce natural elements? How do you make it feel like you’re not standing in a white, pristine, soul-less box?”

8 fish swimming endlessly around 2 rocks doesn’t feel soulful to me. Fail.

The owners of this 6,000 pound, $200,000 suspended tank “get lost in it” at night rather than the television set. I’m so so glad that nature’s creatures are able to provide you with endless entertainment.

It is noted that the owner’s of this tank’s other point of pride in their home is the tanning bed in the basement. Need I say more?

Ok, really, I’m sure there are lots of people who will disagree with me today. I’m sure several of you have aquariums and love your fishies and I’m sure you make great homes for them. And, no, they are not being hunted and eaten. I know there are several sides to the fish-in-home debate, and I could probably be persuaded to accept several of the gray areas, but the bottom line is that fish as decor creeps me out. Please try not to get too hatey today. Besides, this whole look is really 80s, and not in a good way. xoxo

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