Kitchens

Keeping a kitchen practical during a rehab isn't always easy. With high end stainless appliances and granite counter tops being all the rage budgets can quickly go out the window. There are ways to bring the cost under control and end up with a design that is beautiful, highly functional and doesn't break the bank. My dear friend Suzette lives in Atlanta and is redoing her country kitchen. We used to be roommates in San Jose and had great experiences in our kitchen. Now she wants to bring her country kitchen a bit forward and I thought I'd post these shots to give her a few ideas since I can't be there. I'm doing as much as I can over the phone to walk her through it. Often small touches of detail add so much to a space with little cost...the right cabinet knobs, a few glass doors, under mount lighting, and a 4x4 tile backsplash!!....Enjoy Susie!!

image: Red River Interiors

image: Red River Interiors

Miss Pettigrew Style

If I'm going to spend 90 minutes of my precious time to go out and watch a movie... then the set design better be pretty awesome. I don't think the set of the movie "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" will disappoint. The movie takes place during Pre World War II London...and the decor wraps you around English art deco with a Hollywood glamor sensibility. Sounds "tres chic" to me! Expect lush fabrics of silk, satin and velvet....muted tones and lots of detail. I may not be able to follow the story line fully if the set is as awe inspiring as I'm expecting....movie opens next week.

images: LA Times

Do It Again

Remember in January when I said one of my New Year goals is to recycle, and reuse?... Well, I bet you never had office furniture that looked like this.... me either. Here's a great way to give a second life to sturdy durable steel office furniture. Rescued from government office buildings, repaired and refurbished, these pieces by Twenty Gauge bring a vintage feel to any space. The color and fabric combinations are endless. Once rehabed, why limit these pieces just to an office? They've been liberated and now take on a fashionable and personal quality....to be used in any room anywhere.

Soft taupe suede redone on this chair adds the sophistication of style... a dining room that's timeless.

I can imagine myself playfully rolling across hardwood floors on this graphic print chair.
Spice it up with an aqua desk partnered with a black leather roller chair.

images: Twenty Gauge

Tagged

image: Red River Interiors

I have been tagged by Arch at Rang....love her site... Well, the rules are I have to write 7 random things about myself and then tag 7 other fellow bloggers to do the same. Here goes:

1. Red is my favorite color... it energizes me
2. I drove cross country from Calif to Virginia...loved it
3. Would love to decorate for Dr. Robin Smith
4. Traveled to five countries in Africa when I was single
5. I can always find the silver lining in any situation
6. Taught my son that"Mommy is so very smart", when he was 2
7. He still believes it...he's 13!

Shag It !!

From my design files: I don't remember where I collected these photos but they've been tucked away on my hard drive for the right time to reveal themselves....now' s that time. Carpet has been the work horse of traditionally designed spaces but these designers decided to take it off the floor. A few years ago shag carpet made a comeback...nobody wanted to be reminded of shag from the 70's so they called it frieze.... sounds tre elegant....frieze, frieze. When used on a chair or bed in eye popping colors it adds a touch of whimsy!

Impact with Lighting

Never underestimate the impact light has on a room or its ability to set the atmosphere. The pendent fixture (above) is a show stopper. One might say this glass and chrome fixture is a throw back, retro, classic or even old school. When grouped three in a row in a classic black and white kitchen...the kind of kitchen you see in old movies with the checked floors...I just say cool!!

image: Red River Interiors

So you're looking for a fixture to...set it off. Well, this is it!! It's Euro, jeweled, and girlie... It can dress up the most subdued decor and it's 40wat bulbs create just enough light for a relaxing night at home with a glass of chardonnay.

image: Anna Spiro, Absolutely Beautiful Things

When you want task lighting why not add this floral patterned shade lamp? Use it on your desk for journal writing and enjoy its feminine fuschia base which looks great with coordinating accessories.
With a fixture as beautiful and exotic as this why not bring it indoors.... though it's iron and rustic it would function well as ambient lighting....I'd use a scented candle...ahh

image: The Drawing Room

"Let there be light"! What better lighting can you have than natural glowing light from mother nature...it's the best...let it in!

A standing O

David Mamet’s dialogue has never been my thing. Too choppy and brittle, like someone sitting behind me in the theater poking me with twigs.

But the problem wasn’t with Mamet: I’d just never seen him done right. Last night I did, and I’m advising everyone I know to go immediately to San Jose Stage and see “Glengarry Glen Ross.” It’s fantastic, the best production I’ve seen in a very long time. (No, I don't have a Palo Alto connection for this story. The show's so good it doesn't need one.)

These actors and this director really get Mamet’s words and cadences. Last night, the rhythm of the dialogue -- the back-and-forth, the stops and starts that make a conversation human -- was so impeccable that I found myself nodding in time, as though at a jazz concert. I kept smiling at the perfection of the pacing, all the while appreciating the power of the acting.

Afterwards, we introduced ourselves to actor Stephen Klum, a particular standout as Shelly Levene. He said several of the actors had worked together before, which contributed to the ease of their chemistry.

But a big part of the rehearsal process was simply listening to the pulse of Mamet’s play. “We had five weeks to rehearse, and we treated it like a piece of music,” he said.

It works. I would never have expected to be so captivated by a tale of conniving Chicago real estate agents.

Luxury in Bed

There's a sleeping arrangement for everyone with these beds. One can take a casual nap on these sheer covered white upholstered twin daybeds. The sheer window treatments add to the room's light and flowing feel...That's exactly how I would feel with the window raised, letting in a cool night breeze.

The faux fur at the foot of the bed adds a touch of sophistication and flair... Coupled with the rustic feel of the other items in the room rustic and refined coexist beautifully.

The use of Kente fabric was a sign of royalty in the former gold coast/Ghana...drape it across a wood or bamboo, bed for an organic touch.

Decorative Artistry

Decorative painting can be used to enliven reclaimed architectural elements or to add age and a patina to new ones. During my "Richmond Walking Tour", in October I came across a cute store front studio on Boulevard Street. I got the impression it was only used as a working and storage space for the artist and not a retail store. Well, the work was simply beautiful and I couldn't help but take a few shots while standing on the sidewalk. From my vantage point the work was detailed and brought each piece to life. The paint color selections and the decorative effects used showed an artist with a discerning eye for detail. Large store front windows were displayed beautifully with natural elements such as granite and marble. There were area rugs, faux finished lamp shades and a host of projects. When I return to Richmond I hope to catch someone on the premises and glean insight on where and how they're using these pieces.....I was inspired...

images: Red River Interiors

They're talking, but are you listening?

The rotunda at Mountain View City Hall is currently filled with plastic torsos. This looks better than you’d expect.

The torsos are the plastic molds that Costco uses to display swimsuits. Each has been painted in acrylic by students from Tehila Eisenstat’s “Creative Expressions” painting class. The students are all cancer patients at El Camino Hospital.

One person turned a torso into a purple aquarium, with fish and plants across chest and waist. Another cut slits in the breasts and wove in ribbons. That one made me shiver.

A powerful painting had the torso bound with thorns. I thought about how you feel trapped in your body when you’re sick; you’d be all right, if only you could get up and leave it behind in the feverish sheets. The artistic talent varied, but that wasn’t really the point. On a sign nearby, Eisenstat gave kudos to her students and “their powerful message: ‘I am here and I have something to say.’”

Not many listeners when I was there, though. People kept clipping importantly through the rotunda like they had a meeting with the Queen. No one stopped to look at the art. One guy did pause and I thought, “Hey,” but he was just answering his cell phone.

The rotunda is lovely, with tall windows and light streaming down. It could be like a piazza. Maybe in a less busy country.

I got more curious looks than the paintings did. Probably because I had the audacity to be standing still when there was so much to do.

Big thanks to The Almanac's David Boyce for the terrific "Improv Everywhere" link.

Valentine's Day Party

What my Valentine's Day Party
looks like....

...treats too cute to eat....hold one on a desert plate
walk around and feel yummy!!... no calories gained that way

Romance and intimacy are planned into this event
Sheer drapes create mystery.... Red, the color of love



"I Love You Back"..... B.O. ....yes, I'm an Obama girl !!

Powder Room Chic

What's the chicest way to add drama and color to an otherwise plain powder room?
....Wallpaper..... especially in new construction. It makes an impact on visitors entering your home for the first time. I recommend bold patterns that are singular in color....keep it simple in a small space. You won't break the bank if you use companies like Seabrook, Thibaut and Eisenhardt....oh!, don't forget to paper the ceiling and hang a pretty light fixture.

image:Red RiverInteriors

image: The Drawing Room

images: Red River Interiors

Casa Midy

There's nothing like natural materials to convey old world artistry. Mexico is know for it's silver mining which dates back to the time of Cortes. These bold mirrors from Casa Midy were created with the hacienda in mind. Elegance and grandeur are their hallmark.

The beauty of the Casa Midy bed could never be captured other than by the silver artisans of Mexico. The city of Taxco celebrates their artistry by holding an annual silver festival in late November. Because of the detail and intricate design in these headboards bedding should be minimal and understated.

How about a hallway of leather tiles under foot? Designers are finding new ways to use natural products. Leather tiles are becoming increasingly popular on walls as well. When you want to warm up a stark space and add a bit of texture...try leather on the walls or floor.

Mas Casa

Everything by Casa Midy in San Miguel De Allende , Mexico is awe inspiring. They use natural materials and put a contemporary twist to a somewhat traditional design. Their workmanship is artistic and beautiful . It's all hand done using hand tools and traditional methods. Their pieces add an eco sensibility and a contemporary flair to move your space fashion forward.


These box lanterns were designed to be all weather....made from a tropical hardwood. Their effect at night sets a romantic mood to any space.

images: Casa Midy