Saturday, October 31, 2009

Candy Anyone?

I thought after my weird and scary post...
it was time for an EYE CANDY HIGH.

Do you like this room ?
I love the colors and the patterns.
It is stylish and funky.

A Suzani Pattern
from Brunschwig and Fils

From Country Swedish

Love this room. The colors are all mine.

Manuel Canovas


*Scott Snyder's work in Palm Beach

Clarence House (one of my favorite fabric houses)

I am relieved to provide you with candy today after my ghoulish Halloween post.

Forgive Me ?

*credits: New York Times
Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom, Eye Candy High

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Jean Tschumi, Bernard Tschumi & DOCOMOMO

On Wednesday evening I attended a party at Vitra celebrating the publication of a long overdue monograph on architect Jean Tschumi, written by Jacques Gubler and published by Skira. Jean Tschumi: Architecture at Full Scale documents the brief career of the Swiss architect who eschewed his Beaux Arts training in favor of "the polemical field of modernity and its technological expression." In the US, the name Tschumi is more well known prefaced by Bernard, rather than Jean, who died in 1962 at the age of 57, when his son was only 18 years old. His early death may have cut his architectural career short, but the quality of the architecture that he produced is evidenced in the pages of this monograph and in the Archizoom exhibition last year, curated also by Gubler.

jtschumi1.jpg

I'm especially taken by the image on the party invitation of the Aula de Cèdres, a conference center and auditorium at HEP Lausanne:

jtschumi2.jpg

On Wednesday Gubler spoke of Tschumi's architecture relative to color (embraced by the architect, but rarely captured in documentation of buildings) and scale, referring to the book's subtitle and the architect's consideration of design from furniture to the city. The book offers an in-depth exploration of Tschumi's career, which includes a number of office headquarters, for Nestlé, La Mutuelle Vaudoise, and the World Health Organization. (This blog post at New Switzerland gives a decent overview of the qualities of Jean's architecture.)

One is tempted to break down how the father's architecture influenced Bernard Tschumi's, though if an influence on the latter is evident, it is in the year's since his father's passing. Some brief words on Wednesday by the architect of the new Acropolis Museum pointed to little discussion between the two regarding architecture. In fact Bernard admits that he didn't decide to pursue architecture until a trip to Chicago, only a few weeks before his father died. But with time to study his father's buildings, and a role in Architecture at Full Scale, it would be difficult not to find Jean's influence on his son.

tschumi-acropolis.jpg
[new Acropolis Museum | image source]

Looking at the two buildings shown above, I would say the influence of Jean on Bernard happens primarily with thinking about site. The above clearly illustrates how the new Acropolis Museum's top relates to the distant Parthenon, while the lower floor contends with the ruins preserved below. In between, the museum is all about movement and the clarity of the exhibition, but it can be seen as the byproduct of contending with the site below and distant. The elder Tschumi's HEP building skillfully addresses the site's topography (as can be seen here) and adjacent buildings, standing out formally but fitting into the multi-faceted landscape.

docomomo_us.jpg

In the Wednesday-night party's introduction by Nina Rappaport, Chair of DOCOMOMO-New York/Tristate, the preservation of Jean Tschumi's architecture in Switzerland was commended, an unspoken difference between an appreciation of Modernism's gems and the demolition of the same in part or in full an ocean away. The US chapter of DOCOMOMO (international working party for DOcumentation and COnservation of building sites and neighborhoods of the MOdern MOvement) includes ten regional chapters (all tolled the international DOCOMOMO is 53 chapters strong), but fights for preservation seem to be lost more often than won.

While this fact points to a limited appreciation in this country for architecture produced in the middle of last century, I can't help but wonder if this situation is more about ideology than taste. Modernism was predicated on progress and responses to the changes sweeping across the developed world from industrialization and world wars, so the preservation of the movement's buildings seems anithetical to their origin. That people equate modern architecture with the tabula rasa clearing of neighborhoods, towards the erection of towers in the park in that time does not help matters.

A couple issues further complicate matters: how many modern buildings were not built with the longevity of buildings centuries before; the open plans and platonic forms of modernism did not turn out to be as flexible as envisioned. These point to the necessity of preservation less than 75 years after many buildings of the era were completed and the creativity needed by architects to propose and carry out the adaptive reuse of modernist structures. I think the latter is key in efforts to preserve modern architecture, especially when faced with opponents arguing that demolition and new construction is cheaper and therefore better. The fact that many modern buildings are ingrained and important elements in their neighborhoods (ironically, like the older buildings many modern structures replaced) is perhaps the strongest argument for DOCOMOMO's continued relevance today.

Doorway Drapes & Silhouette Art

I've only ever used a door drape (I guess they're technically portieres but I'm a simple girl so door drape works for me) on a closet,but I've always been intrigued by them. I love that they're a little unexpected and work great for softening a doorway and adding texture. Depending on your fabric, of course, they can also add additional color and pattern to the room. Seeing the photo above from Better Homes and Garden's "Wool Projects To Warm Up Your Home" reminded me of the idea, so I decided to do a post on it.

Phoebe Howard

I wanted to include the example below from Better Homes and Garden's "Dress a Door In a Drape" so that you could see how, when hung this way, you still see the kitchen but the drape actually attracts your attention and stops your eye from really focusing on the room beyond.


Have you ever used door drapes? If not, do you like the idea? Where would use this type of treatment in your home?

______________________________________________________

Did you noticed the dog silhouette art just beyond the drape in the photo at the beginning of this post? It can also be found at bhg.com.

Another great silhouette art example is from Karli at Rocky Bella. She recently created a silhouette art display in her entryway. The cute art that you see below is just one example. Didn't she do a great job? Go to her site to see the whole display and tutorial. More table posts (side/end tables and nightstands) coming next week but I wanted to mix it up a bit in between.

oh. and there's a giveaway here on Monday. :-)

If you're interested in creating a mood board for Mood Board Monday (happening on Nov 9th) click HERE for more information.

Happy Halloween! Hope you're all having a great weekend...

Interior Design Bedroom

Interior Design Bedroom

Interior Design Bedroom

Contemporary bedroom interior design

Contemporary bedroom interior design

Contemporary bedroom interior design

Contemporary bedroom interior design

Contemporary bedroom interior design

Contemporary bedroom interior design

Friday, October 30, 2009

Boo!! What Scares Yoo ??

These Are Things That Terrify Me

 

Clowns.
My mother had a freaky clown painting that she painted and hung in my bedroom.

 
For my friend Willow at Willow Manor , a scene from the Stephan King movie ' IT 'below. 




I had nightmares for years after this.

Was this not the scariest ???? 
Did you see this movie in 1973 in the theater ?

Growing up in South 'Fla Fla' swimming and water skiing is how I spent most of my days.
But 
I ALWAYS WAS THINKING OF THIS!!!!!!

I have an insane fear of the water at night. I was afraid to swim in the pool in my back yard at night.
Even with the pool light on. It was just to eerie.
And the woods.
Well, what could be creepier that being alone in the woods at night and hearing things.....

Have you ever imagined that you 
saw something go by and it really wasn't there ? 
Or was it?

You are alone at home....
you open your eyes after rinsing the soap from your hair, 
and you see this man leaning on your
shower glass.
I would just drop dead right there.

I can not watch scary movies.
And if I do, I keep my eyes covered for most of the movie, while squeezing your arm until you tell me that it is numb.
It is ridiculous.

Any form of mutilation...EEEEK!

The Grudge

Goats Eyes!!!!!
People think goats are cute....NOT ME!

Aren't the devil's pupils supposed to be slanted in the same way as a goat's?
( I am creepin' myself out)

Anything related to Satanic ' anything ' makes my skin crawl.

Lastly, an ordinary garbage disposal  freaks me out.
Have you ever dropped something of value down your garbage disposal. Did you reach in and get it?
I am terrified that the disposal will go on while my hand is inside and my fingers will.....
well, you get the idea.
A mini domestic chainsaw massacre right there in my kitchen on a Wednesday morning.
Are you afraid to stick your hand down into your garbage disposal ?
If none of these things scare you, 
What does?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX's
Happy Haunting !!!! : )


Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom

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Luxury Estate on Lake Setting - Just Listed!!

Tina Fountain Realtor just listed a luxury estate located on a 2-3 Acre lake accented property. 190 Columbia Cove is a 4 level retreat style property. Located in the convenient Senators Ridge subdivision, this home is in close proximity to everything that the area has to offer. Four oversized bedrooms and three full bathrooms complete the floorplan with views of the lake that can be enjoyed from every angle. The three story deck allows the lake to be enjoyed from every level of the home. No details have been left out of the chef grade kitchen with granite countertops and stained cabinets. Every room has been completed to perfection including the office room with wood paneling. This home is truly one of a kind! The property is currently being offered at $550,000.

For more information on this property or any other luxury homes for sale in Atlanta, please visit tinafountain.com

Coffee Table Ideas, Tips and Inspiration

Edited to add to The Nester's Linky Party, The Lettered Cottage Favorites of 2009 and The Inspired Room Best of 2009. Since this is a decorating blog, I do a wide variety of decorating posts, so it was hard to choose just one. It really depends on the person and what they're looking for at the time, but I liked the inspiration in this one and it seemed like others did too...

The post title pretty much sums this up, so I won't chatter on about it. If you're in need of a new coffee table or just looking to mix it up a bit, hopefully this post will provide some inspiration and helpful tips.

A large upholstered or leather ottoman is always an option.
Calico Corners

Trunks are great, especially if you need additional storage.
House Beautiful Photo Don Freeman




Add a glass table top to something. What? Use your imagination. :-)
House Beautiful Photo Michael Grimm




Use two (or three) small tables or ottomans.
A small ottoman and a small table...
Better Homes and Gardens

Find something that you love, in the shape that you need, and use it as a coffee table. Having a table that's "mobile" can be a nice idea as well.

Country Living Photo Michael Weschler




Add a mirror to an existing table to make it larger or give it some sparkle.
diyideas.com

Use a bench. As many decorating styles as there are in the world, there's usually a bench style to go with it.
Image Pottery Barn

Cherry plywood table - Better Homes and Gardens.
Coffee table from a door - Kimba at ASPTL.
Ottman/coffee table from scratch - Tutorial here.
Vintage sign coffee table - Tutorial here.
Table base into an a coffee table/ottoman Britt at A Penny Saved.
A cute painted chalkboard table for the family room. diyideas.com.

If you like the table leg style shown in the photo below, you can find a very detailed tutorial for the entire table at diyideas.com .

What is your favorite type of coffee table? Have you ever used something really unexpected?

I'll be talking about side/end tables and bedside tables in upcoming posts. Have a good day!