tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61257226061520220092024-03-05T09:33:03.573-05:00Our Housedesignerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-65153383751155990722015-06-30T09:57:00.001-04:002015-06-30T09:57:35.570-04:00San Francisco Pride 2015<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8FO981vUAny1Iu9PdAfCCbmvLFvvMV5oLyeSWBJQTLnOb_KSVnUhyphenhyphenQWRQLegBUPcHkNmaG2WMQzShIgW-2Ot1q0RV-5OwQgiftyIGqJBKU7HF04bL5_aO3TQIfhppvPs_3Vb1UX8XkoI/s640/blogger-image--1088293352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8FO981vUAny1Iu9PdAfCCbmvLFvvMV5oLyeSWBJQTLnOb_KSVnUhyphenhyphenQWRQLegBUPcHkNmaG2WMQzShIgW-2Ot1q0RV-5OwQgiftyIGqJBKU7HF04bL5_aO3TQIfhppvPs_3Vb1UX8XkoI/s640/blogger-image--1088293352.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Celebrated Decision Day and landmark Pride parade in San Francisco here are the pics<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMKL2Ei1Cr3eGTsZeljx7V-OtwD380irVwT3UH2WThMb2ta9yKvHpg0G7TskzpnGsAYlu6zcajRjxTyVvMt1VlpIhpUT-EFUHx2evrzRtEeYrh7erEYkFF1YcmXZSlpOSkHKvh0LDIo-j/s640/blogger-image--231760566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMKL2Ei1Cr3eGTsZeljx7V-OtwD380irVwT3UH2WThMb2ta9yKvHpg0G7TskzpnGsAYlu6zcajRjxTyVvMt1VlpIhpUT-EFUHx2evrzRtEeYrh7erEYkFF1YcmXZSlpOSkHKvh0LDIo-j/s640/blogger-image--231760566.jpg"></a></div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC_n36110RURLWcv1gyOFlfRlxlZonNt-x3RbvrmixfsZ02JpfyWavMNbIqOIHSxyg7qs5nvWvPXgl9chhm1LDbEx58iXfyty2a4wR6MKUhvUbDMHwbktSLjsDK91Mx3P6QfGM4LGu5Tj/s640/blogger-image--2134421546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC_n36110RURLWcv1gyOFlfRlxlZonNt-x3RbvrmixfsZ02JpfyWavMNbIqOIHSxyg7qs5nvWvPXgl9chhm1LDbEx58iXfyty2a4wR6MKUhvUbDMHwbktSLjsDK91Mx3P6QfGM4LGu5Tj/s640/blogger-image--2134421546.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-59875653997096432322011-03-06T14:27:00.001-05:002011-03-06T14:45:03.607-05:00Details<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QOVoB2AyCBksrh5FzYHCQajiE49fDRN3dKZOKNO5-D-a6zbhSxjt1Mc_sdkiFN0XNJuyHCYGZMsxM9upArTWP0UkGYxgTdCgShYtqCWFyQxCdb9vIVOy2sHtioKf3-ZDkZdtWXSmwPQH/s1600/31532_0_8-7829-eclectic-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QOVoB2AyCBksrh5FzYHCQajiE49fDRN3dKZOKNO5-D-a6zbhSxjt1Mc_sdkiFN0XNJuyHCYGZMsxM9upArTWP0UkGYxgTdCgShYtqCWFyQxCdb9vIVOy2sHtioKf3-ZDkZdtWXSmwPQH/s320/31532_0_8-7829-eclectic-powder-room.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanity framed on end wall of powder room. We could remove the tub shower<br />
and install a feature like this on the back wall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI9XZkgI64b6fgETP6Ugm6nH9XQ_Z6ej6JpCCSZacu_gjuNxuGwDON3E2q7PZx3qNf5B3Rg2tWSOhU78yY12rNAstTo-N-D40msyAx5ZcV4Yoi1Yix_2t5rvab5rLgdNGFMakcwa5cmIv/s1600/51686_0_8-5007-traditional-hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI9XZkgI64b6fgETP6Ugm6nH9XQ_Z6ej6JpCCSZacu_gjuNxuGwDON3E2q7PZx3qNf5B3Rg2tWSOhU78yY12rNAstTo-N-D40msyAx5ZcV4Yoi1Yix_2t5rvab5rLgdNGFMakcwa5cmIv/s320/51686_0_8-5007-traditional-hall.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another way to build on family room stair wall at right of wet bar.<br />
This could house china and dining room storage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ravew0U-BirrNPqTRRlW9SDNQFfpV257RiGL1elDPSNwke10KVjOI-3e0kxuRFOK9_KAc6mZFvcszvgsK19TpARCDbH0mP0dTInnduGWWHaGlE0QqbKs1Jg9yL51ZstC66K0WDuQPsBl/s1600/57043_0_8-7005-modern-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ravew0U-BirrNPqTRRlW9SDNQFfpV257RiGL1elDPSNwke10KVjOI-3e0kxuRFOK9_KAc6mZFvcszvgsK19TpARCDbH0mP0dTInnduGWWHaGlE0QqbKs1Jg9yL51ZstC66K0WDuQPsBl/s320/57043_0_8-7005-modern-powder-room.jpg" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flush door for powder room with streamlined<br />
hardware, diminishes bulk of existing wood panel doors. Lose the stripes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgEQs_exasHu2k1ofETJ7UkiJjqLbPiL0xYYJVg2aOkKO7_HNvcuHsX1DpOzf7ntRvG4-7jGIrYtAjEPn6po959yf4BAc_PBrQwFRyPbzv9U4lm6N4uk2ppv1sBgPd7lUJYURjDPqpW9j/s1600/64245_0_8-1587-tropical-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgEQs_exasHu2k1ofETJ7UkiJjqLbPiL0xYYJVg2aOkKO7_HNvcuHsX1DpOzf7ntRvG4-7jGIrYtAjEPn6po959yf4BAc_PBrQwFRyPbzv9U4lm6N4uk2ppv1sBgPd7lUJYURjDPqpW9j/s320/64245_0_8-1587-tropical-powder-room.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another end wall vanity with toilet in same place as our downstaris bath.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwOaACSaBM6mAyjzBC5yR_mcdLwDO_paQmoe6xNI3URK4nXMX68Bqb0MLdI25IWZis0vVI_5_O7IRM3Ho9DAXBOI9Cil2MegsgPOHx2m5eZVQ8RIPcTh1rigf4dFAqg3dUypc4wFFPaKj/s1600/72491_0_8-0786-contemporary-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwOaACSaBM6mAyjzBC5yR_mcdLwDO_paQmoe6xNI3URK4nXMX68Bqb0MLdI25IWZis0vVI_5_O7IRM3Ho9DAXBOI9Cil2MegsgPOHx2m5eZVQ8RIPcTh1rigf4dFAqg3dUypc4wFFPaKj/s320/72491_0_8-0786-contemporary-powder-room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighting treatment with shutter wall effect, white plastic reflects light<br />
against dark stained wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTuizMZ9RSoStwcPGxWQHwpjPU01XVqMP8wx_Ka0iz9L-ur75etx_3GNjqyeJqaDEiARHU8sYVd279iQ01zUJh5MfKr9wxHCykAdWPJ_tbzD38hW0dAcofubdwVNqr0518aVJlV_XgrMg/s1600/72493_0_8-0788-contemporary-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTuizMZ9RSoStwcPGxWQHwpjPU01XVqMP8wx_Ka0iz9L-ur75etx_3GNjqyeJqaDEiARHU8sYVd279iQ01zUJh5MfKr9wxHCykAdWPJ_tbzD38hW0dAcofubdwVNqr0518aVJlV_XgrMg/s320/72493_0_8-0788-contemporary-powder-room.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceiling treatment. Not to my taste but the dramatic lighting, framing<br />
light color on ceiling dresses up the powder room</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmoToNmKMDagYE1c4XBUR54PkxsHj5MyMwrtVKndOlSNVYghzAS1pikwvW8G2cV6AV9aMu7YwAFhfoi5RkT2O7CmpKylORlckUDpVbnr6OQK5rfW-ZgsFB0WBwDaPnWQDWbegvp0HCoKS/s1600/74848_0_8-2235-traditional-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmoToNmKMDagYE1c4XBUR54PkxsHj5MyMwrtVKndOlSNVYghzAS1pikwvW8G2cV6AV9aMu7YwAFhfoi5RkT2O7CmpKylORlckUDpVbnr6OQK5rfW-ZgsFB0WBwDaPnWQDWbegvp0HCoKS/s320/74848_0_8-2235-traditional-powder-room.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large antique cupboard used as vanity with large surface area. Toilet is exposed, See other examples where<br />
a divider screens the commode from rest of bath.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoR9Oi6IO2ub_Wxh8I33iM6F0Apv34rnz3l_vj5I4vDz2DBwK1uaO0PGJLI-QbWo5xeg5A0-VWWtg-_Wxe3XXLt8Fyjshj8Xox28bkmWj-lJGzJ3LXClEYd55X_I0d9iT5l-kZAkPt7J04/s1600/95864_0_8-2779-traditional-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoR9Oi6IO2ub_Wxh8I33iM6F0Apv34rnz3l_vj5I4vDz2DBwK1uaO0PGJLI-QbWo5xeg5A0-VWWtg-_Wxe3XXLt8Fyjshj8Xox28bkmWj-lJGzJ3LXClEYd55X_I0d9iT5l-kZAkPt7J04/s320/95864_0_8-2779-traditional-powder-room.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall sconces, mirror wall, large scale artwork,<br />
toilet at right behind door in niche. Our vanity is where the toilet is.<br />
remove the tub/shower at back, replace with vanity and move toilet across<br />
room replacing the existing sink and vanity in niche.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmRSV7op5cr7AH1GWh2KLh5IJnUgYKtspJ4LGSDIKSBlGbJ62Q00uLIfN_dfiwkB73FQli-RebbM3DsDMRLjGYNh6BBNQW9YazfKf4fMUsDf85fiuz9IxvmsdMYY-IGioHMUnvLJCEGQN/s1600/98127_0_8-0543-modern-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmRSV7op5cr7AH1GWh2KLh5IJnUgYKtspJ4LGSDIKSBlGbJ62Q00uLIfN_dfiwkB73FQli-RebbM3DsDMRLjGYNh6BBNQW9YazfKf4fMUsDf85fiuz9IxvmsdMYY-IGioHMUnvLJCEGQN/s320/98127_0_8-0543-modern-powder-room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Understairs powder room and streamline door with hardware.<br />
Excellent use of confined space. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7BOHAugXWsWN3Y6lBiYJESaqVYtbSvxX-USmrJgxmowdbKC7LyxWaP830mkVTVnN673cCs4DMKUVJalprlsqXSTjgEi-0VyG9Kex-zP7q6SM6PWuAlmOboJ8I7Bd8mhzZWA_JsLU3vYJ/s1600/106528_0_8-7784-eclectic-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7BOHAugXWsWN3Y6lBiYJESaqVYtbSvxX-USmrJgxmowdbKC7LyxWaP830mkVTVnN673cCs4DMKUVJalprlsqXSTjgEi-0VyG9Kex-zP7q6SM6PWuAlmOboJ8I7Bd8mhzZWA_JsLU3vYJ/s400/106528_0_8-7784-eclectic-powder-room.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trompe l'oeil ceiling treatment wiht chandelier; toilet screened by half-height wall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyE9zxd7kfSzA6K5msdvd7fylxfB6LbV-8ffOGJeB-VHF0bMT3UqhBRl_hX492bTNrmWZVbMueR_VzIUdOFZ-z3N0nLm9NiahDGTEypKQxEx883SlptZfaFSIcb66UWUTk85tMz4wtV9Hb/s1600/115050_0_8-6515-contemporary-powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyE9zxd7kfSzA6K5msdvd7fylxfB6LbV-8ffOGJeB-VHF0bMT3UqhBRl_hX492bTNrmWZVbMueR_VzIUdOFZ-z3N0nLm9NiahDGTEypKQxEx883SlptZfaFSIcb66UWUTk85tMz4wtV9Hb/s400/115050_0_8-6515-contemporary-powder-room.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another screened commode; this one with tile surround. This arrangment<br />
could replace shower/tub with commode add divider and archway treatment.<br />
I don't like a tile floor treatment for the powder room. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6dMYih7No56T17cO25eJrqPPNBcLA0MLlvR9FyVsme_R2sBSSGpKmetGXh_S96kn4Os90e9VsFnKNr7LMBIylSz4keVzQB6BVm609yYmIhwNP27SpqYVIAK_zGqVTe_YNrhuSsj97y-w/s1600/117087_0_8-8002-traditional-hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6dMYih7No56T17cO25eJrqPPNBcLA0MLlvR9FyVsme_R2sBSSGpKmetGXh_S96kn4Os90e9VsFnKNr7LMBIylSz4keVzQB6BVm609yYmIhwNP27SpqYVIAK_zGqVTe_YNrhuSsj97y-w/s320/117087_0_8-8002-traditional-hall.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treatment for backstair closet at top of landing over family room.<br />
Right now there is a tall narrow closet with no racks or shelves.<br />
It would be easy to frame this in and use the open arch idea on top and add<br />
to our book storage. It would make a nice upstairs book stash for guests wanting reading material<br />
but not wanting to go the basement library to find one.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9H03ehyphenhyphenlNaRlX8CqoC-auk2ngZJn2Y5ptZRL3H3NRJjydSpQUvpWGshVdHJDfs9kPkPwVGxFnd5rle-GObBdrPh_tbN3nEdE7Z0Nx_1Hd9xw9dB4czQufa24Xvo_NyEFzGX_vZv-AjhC8/s1600/IMG_1369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9H03ehyphenhyphenlNaRlX8CqoC-auk2ngZJn2Y5ptZRL3H3NRJjydSpQUvpWGshVdHJDfs9kPkPwVGxFnd5rle-GObBdrPh_tbN3nEdE7Z0Nx_1Hd9xw9dB4czQufa24Xvo_NyEFzGX_vZv-AjhC8/s320/IMG_1369.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Partner has a huge armoire like this that we have to put in the basement foyer area at<br />
bottom of basement steps. The ceiling is high here so a wall treatment in synch with the antique piece<br />
to dress up the bare white drywall space. Maybe wood panels or wallpaper. Someting to make arrviing in the<br />
basement more than the ordinary experience, continue through the cross hall and into the library. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM00fzBfqx7mPXTj9VwCvjVqCOgMa6q-y12aEzKMwhx3UmoTFsKhWcTa8sl-Sdt7MoUWcWQ3PS7Ftb_WuB8DBJ0Bbk0_lH2Oi_gQj1gMqgd1sGHQpJxp6F1StpdTtEJmEvTugC2dUFJQqH/s1600/IMG_9122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM00fzBfqx7mPXTj9VwCvjVqCOgMa6q-y12aEzKMwhx3UmoTFsKhWcTa8sl-Sdt7MoUWcWQ3PS7Ftb_WuB8DBJ0Bbk0_lH2Oi_gQj1gMqgd1sGHQpJxp6F1StpdTtEJmEvTugC2dUFJQqH/s320/IMG_9122.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The laundry room has bad tile flooring or vinyl; either way it's butt ugly.<br />
We will definitely replace with this black and white check florring. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-58129181387449611012011-03-06T13:14:00.000-05:002011-03-06T13:14:53.038-05:00Microwave placementThe kitchen remodel on our new house was done well but it's only skin deep. I've already gone into the raw unpainted dark wood cupboard interiors that will involve a lot of extra work and expense on our part. Another downside is the owners are leaving no refrigerator and there is no built-in microwave. So what? Well the fridge we can do something about. We obviously can use a countertop microwave but it takes up room, they usually look lousy and you're always wiping up around them. I did some surfing to find examples of microwave placement in kitchen remodels to get some ideas. One of the main points to emerge almost everywhere was that a kitchen microwave should be as close to the fridge as possible. Make sense? Yes. Other than melting butter and chocolate for recipes, the microwave is used primarily for reheating cold foods from the fridge or freezer so it makes sense to keep them together. Here are some microwave stories to pique my imagination.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Hz0UPsvG1MJT9KupBr7EZWijW6G-gP73UabuReHCqUFCHuZp_UJQ453O9_Tfcd47Q10n8S5lxbXF1ElmSch6fglCEqRwQ_wXEhZmyY44xNDt5JrT1fZviLhEdNltfyCCBFRuixyP5116/s1600/2801241976_b2161889db.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Hz0UPsvG1MJT9KupBr7EZWijW6G-gP73UabuReHCqUFCHuZp_UJQ453O9_Tfcd47Q10n8S5lxbXF1ElmSch6fglCEqRwQ_wXEhZmyY44xNDt5JrT1fZviLhEdNltfyCCBFRuixyP5116/s400/2801241976_b2161889db.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a framed=in microwave next to the fridge. I don't like having no<br />
counter or ledge to set the hot food down after removing it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp160U6hCbc1l4PlAm44w01OMKM-_JTFdMrS9YjfSTPUFLtUNBhGE5PcevHR1QmOYbG0fsIiKwhsznteGqiBzwseEi-hoSIMgHpZPAlK0Dv5vwDmxC-aWba_Ve6cd1JaqZdzjwxJz7I9hR/s1600/Blue-White-Kitchen-Collections-MKOVR0706-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp160U6hCbc1l4PlAm44w01OMKM-_JTFdMrS9YjfSTPUFLtUNBhGE5PcevHR1QmOYbG0fsIiKwhsznteGqiBzwseEi-hoSIMgHpZPAlK0Dv5vwDmxC-aWba_Ve6cd1JaqZdzjwxJz7I9hR/s400/Blue-White-Kitchen-Collections-MKOVR0706-de.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This vented microwave is built in over the range. It's not near the fridge.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4Q-eKMKEr8BU-g8M6WTTyQjx3Zg8NYbkAwvLrAHQ1aLaDo9_JgPv9cu6NBnEyjpsjPqc7etqVrtdWXpYQgCAEpLlnDSMjNZ0pU4Xs78zXuHtpQiX-wKYYM4bUnsOtRiHdFNpQHdm6KD-/s1600/CLV0203COU12-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4Q-eKMKEr8BU-g8M6WTTyQjx3Zg8NYbkAwvLrAHQ1aLaDo9_JgPv9cu6NBnEyjpsjPqc7etqVrtdWXpYQgCAEpLlnDSMjNZ0pU4Xs78zXuHtpQiX-wKYYM4bUnsOtRiHdFNpQHdm6KD-/s320/CLV0203COU12-de.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Fridge area lines up with the hall entry with no separation.<br />
I like this idea of a paneled wall section hiding fridge from the family room. Extra pantry cupboard not a bad idea either</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnWUic40L59GX4TC6ttVOt1y6WV1R_nJOwLzdtDYxPuK3R0i41KzMUPAj_KuSoMULbVN3dLtDy5B5IoPozuC4FUAzzhSvv-JMV9QbLRCr0syOCy4YPvRWZphE37SRs7wZS2MMiWlwOcVp/s1600/IMG_1959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnWUic40L59GX4TC6ttVOt1y6WV1R_nJOwLzdtDYxPuK3R0i41KzMUPAj_KuSoMULbVN3dLtDy5B5IoPozuC4FUAzzhSvv-JMV9QbLRCr0syOCy4YPvRWZphE37SRs7wZS2MMiWlwOcVp/s320/IMG_1959.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This option adds a fridge-depth cupboard that holds<br />
a microwave. Again, no nearby ledge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcB77zNDauiMeFrhj2sKm9tga1MBVSlfX8h1T80yLMxqboFP0F7mtRaYf8rocZLvmiRV_hBCDmgrLnjmUZrGTlgn0rem0V9_G7xcoAXIYjUxpT_Y5BWEO0TInp5tOSUxSndXqNDDPQk_g/s1600/June2006hse027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcB77zNDauiMeFrhj2sKm9tga1MBVSlfX8h1T80yLMxqboFP0F7mtRaYf8rocZLvmiRV_hBCDmgrLnjmUZrGTlgn0rem0V9_G7xcoAXIYjUxpT_Y5BWEO0TInp5tOSUxSndXqNDDPQk_g/s320/June2006hse027.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here the built in microwave is on the left of the fridge. Still no<br />
ledge or countertop surface underneath</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh2BqnQ_UrAPXV-SPfC-mzg_BqhYDuX8tQDL_VL_hD_8tO4-q_2d2synGmN1b5pNwM8yA1wyfnUzUBatytoOdi5WxMqaLQBvgZb8HWnmBP8WAxxwJjiW3MZlQ6pd70uNxlKJIwywBtwxC/s1600/kitchen3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh2BqnQ_UrAPXV-SPfC-mzg_BqhYDuX8tQDL_VL_hD_8tO4-q_2d2synGmN1b5pNwM8yA1wyfnUzUBatytoOdi5WxMqaLQBvgZb8HWnmBP8WAxxwJjiW3MZlQ6pd70uNxlKJIwywBtwxC/s320/kitchen3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here the microwave is small and at a greater height but still near<br />
the fridges and this one was counter space below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenY_PBXGZUsTaMIgUpnm1EM8pX-EwvkgjWl5oEQyMN9D5H7uY-4bsfOla1WuY0-HPIicOnLAL6SyVkcehsnYjo2yW6ADjTvBPTeLXpaxBWiC1CTO5Qr7_fwX0to9KH3EKfLH5kUn4ag_f/s1600/kitchenviews002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenY_PBXGZUsTaMIgUpnm1EM8pX-EwvkgjWl5oEQyMN9D5H7uY-4bsfOla1WuY0-HPIicOnLAL6SyVkcehsnYjo2yW6ADjTvBPTeLXpaxBWiC1CTO5Qr7_fwX0to9KH3EKfLH5kUn4ag_f/s320/kitchenviews002.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here the microwave is placed near double wall ovens. Could work as we have the<br />
same double wall oven placement. It's not near the fridge but it does have conterspace.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cdvwWmR22woPAZ8nWJpZDJesK9Y5oROC5oBbEFnWtxeuK7GklXXwXp7C_dR09DmqXr-zGguVO__vX07cREB-lQyhgWc_ATHHAzYbhQ4Na2EpUL5LfqVbn0FrCrFC04MHqD4gs2EYR5o7/s1600/microwaves-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cdvwWmR22woPAZ8nWJpZDJesK9Y5oROC5oBbEFnWtxeuK7GklXXwXp7C_dR09DmqXr-zGguVO__vX07cREB-lQyhgWc_ATHHAzYbhQ4Na2EpUL5LfqVbn0FrCrFC04MHqD4gs2EYR5o7/s1600/microwaves-01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This placement shows no advantages, not near the fridges<br />
no counter space directly underneath.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTf5_7AaHfrw4-NNWjHJbx9GxuslMeSLRDpZtj_sywxSnPiT7UkeWJI7E1jMaZD4z02Lx242GU9Z1DKFjsy0mt3aV0R3s2HU0XuXP0GlvrAblYPJQNpZb16xy5m8dXkcebwNnVP5WhaIMh/s1600/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTf5_7AaHfrw4-NNWjHJbx9GxuslMeSLRDpZtj_sywxSnPiT7UkeWJI7E1jMaZD4z02Lx242GU9Z1DKFjsy0mt3aV0R3s2HU0XuXP0GlvrAblYPJQNpZb16xy5m8dXkcebwNnVP5WhaIMh/s400/Picture+6.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Counter model next fridge; at least it's partially concealed by a full depth framing of the refirgerator.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4H0IBSQMhoWqXu9EzBT-KkRRzCyJYLzP1Zqw2hQlUMpzLzNMqPMyXWG7_lvROAg6j7cpvK2eM2WF52v69g1lwl70DBNKwOtjMsUHVn-1TN5u6OrJWf1COG4MecvU2WEay1jEK7EBKdgr/s1600/Picture+16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4H0IBSQMhoWqXu9EzBT-KkRRzCyJYLzP1Zqw2hQlUMpzLzNMqPMyXWG7_lvROAg6j7cpvK2eM2WF52v69g1lwl70DBNKwOtjMsUHVn-1TN5u6OrJWf1COG4MecvU2WEay1jEK7EBKdgr/s320/Picture+16.png" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This placement is unusual, plenty fo counterspace but nowhere near the fridge. Not ideal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J3RbyfEc0Du4KJ-ZYYhYJCM93vkh5gHXREfQrEl9oYQ9fHa6gNozxA9jMlbkX_uKUWAg_sWhJxrxVOE7RQDBgTLRvWfHqrqbNm5hvUhfesykCPo31XvyDhicsPwJvobmrihkTB_MfjRQ/s1600/Picture+17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J3RbyfEc0Du4KJ-ZYYhYJCM93vkh5gHXREfQrEl9oYQ9fHa6gNozxA9jMlbkX_uKUWAg_sWhJxrxVOE7RQDBgTLRvWfHqrqbNm5hvUhfesykCPo31XvyDhicsPwJvobmrihkTB_MfjRQ/s320/Picture+17.png" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This ones looks squeezed in and seem to high up for my taste. I'm 6'2 so I could deal with it, but the elderly and<br />
children would be cut off from microwave usage with a model mounted this high. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-34088286898546553572011-02-27T11:47:00.000-05:002011-02-27T11:47:07.203-05:00Closet SpaceOk, I covered this below but I went back to my house photos to look at the master bedroom closet area, exterior and interior to see how to deconstruct it. These photos reaffirm my conviction that this house suffers from overuse of crummy doors all over the place. If you design closet space so it's functional and beautiful it doesn't have to be shuttered behind ugly doors. In my apartment I have a large open walk-in closet off my bath/dressing room and it never looks bad. I somehow manage to keep it in order.<br />
I am so ready to rip off those butt-ugly doors, reorient the shevling layout, add built-in shelves at different depths for sweaters, shoes, etc. I'm open to using crate and barrell close organizers with those fabric covered pull out drawers that go into dark stain wood cubes. I have a few I use for accessories and I love them and the way they look. I've had them for years and they made it from NJ to Atlanta with no damage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuJ3sGXFeFORuPQG4G0OccLmqDgV7ysDtYCubvJAdHfy74zl8PueeAnhqU2bPXHRMevCSr7JxRcA2snJQTTHVYobLZAt9QzN9MLTD2e-rd0S12h2_l26VDoSR2N3pbpheop52UhdCTHyu/s1600/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuJ3sGXFeFORuPQG4G0OccLmqDgV7ysDtYCubvJAdHfy74zl8PueeAnhqU2bPXHRMevCSr7JxRcA2snJQTTHVYobLZAt9QzN9MLTD2e-rd0S12h2_l26VDoSR2N3pbpheop52UhdCTHyu/s640/Picture+6.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open closet inspriation for enclosed master closets between master bedroom and bath. There are 3 doors I can do without. The door to the bathroom. This is our master bath. The toilet is at far right inside it's own water closet with, you guessed it, another butt ugly door. It does have a window high up on the wall which helps but the point is we don't need "privacy" with a bathroom door. The shower stall will keep bathers warm in cold weather. The bathroom is so large and has a skylight and window so it's no guarantee it will ever be "warm" in damp Atlanta winters anyway. Closing the door wont' save us.<br />
Next are the the narrow slit doors to the master closets on either side of this carpeted breezeway. With all the doors open at once and two men trying to bath and dress at the same time, it would be a nightmare. I want all the doors out and those narrorw closet framing walls ripped out so we get one big open wall space for installing new shelving and closer oranganizers. We can coordinate paint, wood for shelves, even rip out the carpet and install new flooring for the space to cut that expanse of broadloom that runs like kudzu all over the top story of the house. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNX9qd7z5jb2pvOw69IDJvCTlZyRmISC6Gv0cII0GURc2WbiDQUb5_DtmmNhugu2K6qlHTSFxZioK9QzqeY8bXpyrjW9nS6kJwmXvRfjw3Q3TexkX8p9I1pZIAmC9Jn6257E2hus2r6Ou/s1600/Picture+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNX9qd7z5jb2pvOw69IDJvCTlZyRmISC6Gv0cII0GURc2WbiDQUb5_DtmmNhugu2K6qlHTSFxZioK9QzqeY8bXpyrjW9nS6kJwmXvRfjw3Q3TexkX8p9I1pZIAmC9Jn6257E2hus2r6Ou/s400/Picture+8.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are both closets, spliced together. The each have double-sided two-tiered<br />
clothing racks with accesoriy shelves on end walls. Rip all this out of both<br />
closets and make continues shelving all round even over the bathroom door and<br />
expand the closet and floorspace for dressing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZCqANyAMi9vteY2OFiVmVxd8iLNLR5_dqwM0b-5K4MB3b_KS_F-9Fk515FoAI5qeIixDo9ri4knLwlyT8EK3CZJWas3Z_VuhThvmi42S-p1HNBFDZJYYSQbgjLY1JNeH4TOQvIzfaNy1/s1600/5-storageorganizing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZCqANyAMi9vteY2OFiVmVxd8iLNLR5_dqwM0b-5K4MB3b_KS_F-9Fk515FoAI5qeIixDo9ri4knLwlyT8EK3CZJWas3Z_VuhThvmi42S-p1HNBFDZJYYSQbgjLY1JNeH4TOQvIzfaNy1/s320/5-storageorganizing.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm repeating this inspiration photo to show what can be<br />
achieved in a bathroom/bedroom connecting space with<br />
thoughtful closet organization ideas.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-2851953418921789152011-02-27T10:15:00.004-05:002011-02-27T11:13:06.825-05:00New House IdeasIn talking over our house purchase my partner and I are starting to think about the decorating phase. We know there are fundamentals to take care of first, like painting raw wood cabinet interiors so they don't look like dark holes where you store cookware and china and pantry items. Ditto for the closets. Everything was refaced beatufully but interior shelves and cupboards throughout the house are dingy and dark. This is a major undertaking in a house this size.<br />
I've been gathering inspiration from designing blogs. Mostly, I'm trying to overcome really bad entrances and exits in the living room (narrow openings with glass french doors off the foyer and a solid frame door painted white in the back left corner of the room going into the crosshall behind. These have got to be overhauled and altered unrecognizably. I have to somehow make them stand out as some of the best features instead of trying to mask them as a decorating coverup never really fools anyone, least of all the decorator. Easiest ideas are the costly ones involving highly skilled labor which may not even be available here: such as a flush jib door with a discrete metal door handle for the back wall opening, or papering a section of the wall and covering the jib door as well with the same paper to really make it disappear until you need to open it. This way the stupid door is nearly always shut. If open, the doorframe in the living room is exactly lined up wth the study door behind it instead of section of hallyway wall I could decorate in a bold way to make the view beyond the door attractive. Unless I cover the study door in fabric or use a bold paint and tie it in with a bold wallcovering for the crosshall, it will be a dead-end ugly view of a typical suburban white paneled door with an ugly knob or if left open, a view of the study and it's half-size window. I plan to give the study a bold look as well but doing the living room, hall and study at great expense right off the bat is, well, a bit batty considering we are not rich.<br />
The good news is it stimulates creativity to think of the best interim solutions we can live with while giving the whole ensemble some style.<br />
Because of the raw wood cabinet interiors, I want to focus on the kitchen cupboards first, then the master bath and master closets. I've found great examples of how to open and redo the master closets by using a great deep color to set off clothes and build on my small start at closet organization with open shelves and drawers.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHddkJ__6x0g3KBQJoqYQVaiZzBUrbhwhveQQ53K6fAhMq7TTLtnClmlBkrf5WqXsQy388UNKZryOixBR4cGLI6bQDV-SuCaA6Mk9KHZgLbRHyThOUIPWaeEzK64KiMMZ4Ex7TPnh5wfjf/s1600/1-storageorganizing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHddkJ__6x0g3KBQJoqYQVaiZzBUrbhwhveQQ53K6fAhMq7TTLtnClmlBkrf5WqXsQy388UNKZryOixBR4cGLI6bQDV-SuCaA6Mk9KHZgLbRHyThOUIPWaeEzK64KiMMZ4Ex7TPnh5wfjf/s320/1-storageorganizing.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plan for living room back (shortest) wall. Built in<br />
bookshelves up to existing moldings. Ceiling is 9ft but<br />
molding takes about 1foot of that. Cupboards on bottom<br />
to store clutter possibly china we use for the dining room as we<br />
have no butler's pantry. We'll skip the ladder. The top shelf is<br />
for complete works and collectible titles we want out of reach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCDeAZuaEsXdxJZK4MlGacV-_SjIS2xXc855o-DX2pBqctEsvmORJtm3IVVxi_M_jlqXkOp87i3hCdYl3IHow_-mWKlFPEaLsapJL9ij2ZL3aIjfwoDlTZkVsPRx-uTRvR4P9nI_acOL8/s1600/1_sleek-italian-closets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCDeAZuaEsXdxJZK4MlGacV-_SjIS2xXc855o-DX2pBqctEsvmORJtm3IVVxi_M_jlqXkOp87i3hCdYl3IHow_-mWKlFPEaLsapJL9ij2ZL3aIjfwoDlTZkVsPRx-uTRvR4P9nI_acOL8/s320/1_sleek-italian-closets.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flush closet doors (at right), strip existing hinges and trim<br />
from master bedroom closets. Still too "WHITE"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdgAjDZKXKFoflXzb0TxAPigwfoLG4dhO1huatgQVCcADH5xwjhHI_jzWYbIlJsTh3S-N7_jg6cuuGqXGSVUag1_bjTgVbFHMSBbLnlCgIHrxP7dJ752OOpknVZYaez6Hm28rhGcO_b30/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdgAjDZKXKFoflXzb0TxAPigwfoLG4dhO1huatgQVCcADH5xwjhHI_jzWYbIlJsTh3S-N7_jg6cuuGqXGSVUag1_bjTgVbFHMSBbLnlCgIHrxP7dJ752OOpknVZYaez6Hm28rhGcO_b30/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall sconces installed on either side of Dining Room sideboard.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34rHBnNJOKdEAaa6PtQm_0rLTdBnJa0MV7DRBhxpH_RNMV8VSQYKDB6IcBynFhlRw_NqdLLjeBJYcyo4tFB7sHSNwDdhesYApTcn2FHbtlGgoDjN34wIjcfIdTAPVl8fSJvekAgtW_Bsv/s1600/2_pantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34rHBnNJOKdEAaa6PtQm_0rLTdBnJa0MV7DRBhxpH_RNMV8VSQYKDB6IcBynFhlRw_NqdLLjeBJYcyo4tFB7sHSNwDdhesYApTcn2FHbtlGgoDjN34wIjcfIdTAPVl8fSJvekAgtW_Bsv/s320/2_pantry.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pantry storage, but where? Basement wine room?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByCDEwKqdshoSti8qpmhXw7ybZeluAMO0OpEamWHuWcGTGuo6WLA4hu3TfnnaLv3R01DwQ9yyHtsHvCx6KQa8pTCcSqmTKCAnsYbMURD_8UNDyA9yFUmCOXFIhcD39a5ubeS82O_D5JM8/s1600/3-darkdoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByCDEwKqdshoSti8qpmhXw7ybZeluAMO0OpEamWHuWcGTGuo6WLA4hu3TfnnaLv3R01DwQ9yyHtsHvCx6KQa8pTCcSqmTKCAnsYbMURD_8UNDyA9yFUmCOXFIhcD39a5ubeS82O_D5JM8/s320/3-darkdoors.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Use dark grey/black paint and replace ugly hardware<br />
for doors. Great contrast if using white walls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBaFzp4Q8NIU7zIiTISU3QehwNMcd5P4NYpL7335WPhM4aRLVNuzhkbhYDx2E4xAOKUGRErmFLe4ofmw6pu1zcdswyf524U71uH-qp0TjqDudaApRDSFSv7NBzGqWs5R_qCkJrMdgs70G/s1600/3_red-white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBaFzp4Q8NIU7zIiTISU3QehwNMcd5P4NYpL7335WPhM4aRLVNuzhkbhYDx2E4xAOKUGRErmFLe4ofmw6pu1zcdswyf524U71uH-qp0TjqDudaApRDSFSv7NBzGqWs5R_qCkJrMdgs70G/s320/3_red-white.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downstairs bath is a full bathroom with shower stall and tub, not<br />
a powder room which is what we prefer. After all there are 4 other<br />
full baths in the house. I like this paneling and tile treatment.<br />
We'd have to rib out the tub/shower to get this amount of space.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh217HmtxgeSV8OKKUs_S5pjjcN-szdH6To2F9V_PyBhj7tt2bfOcZzunXwLgkagZpWHh4lgBnKQVz4JO-Vl5Sf-c-60FeWlvY7Rh0Y_b0BYFm8rSUUEvqlrw9S8Qzg2pUAy5oPtMx4q_yy/s1600/3_sleek-italian-closets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh217HmtxgeSV8OKKUs_S5pjjcN-szdH6To2F9V_PyBhj7tt2bfOcZzunXwLgkagZpWHh4lgBnKQVz4JO-Vl5Sf-c-60FeWlvY7Rh0Y_b0BYFm8rSUUEvqlrw9S8Qzg2pUAy5oPtMx4q_yy/s320/3_sleek-italian-closets.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closet organization: cubes, shelves, hanging rods, etc. The master closets<br />
face each other in a small breezeway between master bed and bath.<br />
They are "walk-in" but there isn't much floor space and they each have those ugly<br />
fake panel doors (stark white, of course) with ugly pewter/nickel finish doorknobs.<br />
Yuck! See below for a doorless solution to join the two separate closets, tying in<br />
wall color, paint, etc into a single space. At least we are both men and there will<br />
only be men's closthes on display. And besides, it's our bedroom so who is going to<br />
be inspecting it?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGulqYBLn-r3_R0aJtQCY7UKnQB2DGW2Egkx8MzzJxvjtvbsvghSzum5BMaiOH1jUYTStxLTi2Pw7Ok7t_ebt_cLpIFzgLmJsBWbm9Eql9X4KVVznHtdLzpLBBuODD55ccm8-a-TLriHp0/s1600/4-darkdoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGulqYBLn-r3_R0aJtQCY7UKnQB2DGW2Egkx8MzzJxvjtvbsvghSzum5BMaiOH1jUYTStxLTi2Pw7Ok7t_ebt_cLpIFzgLmJsBWbm9Eql9X4KVVznHtdLzpLBBuODD55ccm8-a-TLriHp0/s320/4-darkdoors.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another dark door color with metal hardware.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFdJTFURXYoS6a7rHRHCiOy5YjQjz0zxdCvGK8z-9qZjLb_7Unlr4L4Pu78h8R_RJMEOLF8OdFjqMs4Utd1wVjYRhuSvih3wzz9-BPN9Vi8tQ6ZcpfYXNhcLc7vG_sJTGwVY74He4IXQS/s1600/4-goldaccents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFdJTFURXYoS6a7rHRHCiOy5YjQjz0zxdCvGK8z-9qZjLb_7Unlr4L4Pu78h8R_RJMEOLF8OdFjqMs4Utd1wVjYRhuSvih3wzz9-BPN9Vi8tQ6ZcpfYXNhcLc7vG_sJTGwVY74He4IXQS/s320/4-goldaccents.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The study has two double-door closets side-by-side on<br />
a long wall. Door placement in this photo is identical to<br />
the study;. Door at right is that problem door lined up with the<br />
narrow living room opening across the hall and closet doors at<br />
back are repeated. Right now they stick out like a sore thumb with<br />
brass knobs and louver panels. Yuck Again! Smooth Finish flush doors with<br />
invisible hinges, covering doors with wallpaper blends in with the room decor. A great<br />
way to make these eyesores disappear. Sure I like the storage but I don't want<br />
an elegant room I want to spend time in to scream "Look. Wall Storage!" constantly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0eY-FVp2jmRImImQPs7Jrx46prv5yoKOyzPrOytBMCB2NiMlB3SxyhYjKQVwJXgFCDjTw9sq_8kMvkED5gJd-xKBzJ8tajn74Dg6J4N31tMKG8G3MaZ51bhc5xRaIbPpJA_rHzsFwR6L/s1600/5-darkdoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0eY-FVp2jmRImImQPs7Jrx46prv5yoKOyzPrOytBMCB2NiMlB3SxyhYjKQVwJXgFCDjTw9sq_8kMvkED5gJd-xKBzJ8tajn74Dg6J4N31tMKG8G3MaZ51bhc5xRaIbPpJA_rHzsFwR6L/s320/5-darkdoors.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of dark door paint with light stain floor. Our foyer is painted white<br />
and the wood flooring is even lighter than this. Have to coordinate dark paint color<br />
carefully. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVstvSeAi5LqFM5dkaDjGmmHP3WrxuUhGEdNzmjB2nckaLiBJi47c5YbKAiPySxKLOkRxmcKZFNSr13WLiOZuFwgSmukqC8cqVQxNGSrRx5WKCKq5LDJvYrrLm-icHLyNQkVQoBSA1_1SO/s1600/5-storageorganizing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVstvSeAi5LqFM5dkaDjGmmHP3WrxuUhGEdNzmjB2nckaLiBJi47c5YbKAiPySxKLOkRxmcKZFNSr13WLiOZuFwgSmukqC8cqVQxNGSrRx5WKCKq5LDJvYrrLm-icHLyNQkVQoBSA1_1SO/s320/5-storageorganizing.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's my open closet idea. If the facing closets<br />
do not have load bearing walls we can rip the drywall<br />
and framing out and open both and the "breezeway" disappears,<br />
there's more light from the bedroom and bath shining through<br />
and we can unify them with a bold color statement that goes with<br />
menswear. See men's closet photo down below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-q6uSWrDoiHMZ08HxzTilzMZxtvHDv-GcJsCSduCL35ezUM1vQoaddGFuiz1FHM9BYFcSQKKm-RouAcgbwCZ82xM46o12B5Yhqez2QOaIszLVTcsUi5vWWyC545UpL5Y5jWgvey0RbzP/s1600/6_powder-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-q6uSWrDoiHMZ08HxzTilzMZxtvHDv-GcJsCSduCL35ezUM1vQoaddGFuiz1FHM9BYFcSQKKm-RouAcgbwCZ82xM46o12B5Yhqez2QOaIszLVTcsUi5vWWyC545UpL5Y5jWgvey0RbzP/s320/6_powder-room.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Exotic powder room statement. Oh for<br />
a true downstairs powder room. I know it sounds<br />
indulgent to reject a full bath here, but no one is<br />
going to shower or bath down there. The study will<br />
not be used as a bedroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yIEkB006-zwSw_x8UNQHa1CFAK91K8pmRib0dDyE8j0FOeY7QKG4pp5GMmo4GlxpJzrbxtwnLOfzcoA5_dUFoFo7dQRG_guKLDNy12b65PMBLw0XzLgoeueq5TzFbDJ1bJLKgBgvP8za/s1600/6_runway-to-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yIEkB006-zwSw_x8UNQHa1CFAK91K8pmRib0dDyE8j0FOeY7QKG4pp5GMmo4GlxpJzrbxtwnLOfzcoA5_dUFoFo7dQRG_guKLDNy12b65PMBLw0XzLgoeueq5TzFbDJ1bJLKgBgvP8za/s320/6_runway-to-room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another contrasting door color to make a virtue of bad<br />
door placement. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPAE-kTm8wXA1SFPzKHPmCoX_p8Y6dg1Vlo5K2C4eaYTFWLtxe8HIHYd2psJWL7topTnrY2z5RduWKroyXj0Djm7DH41P2gesDtMMAxwu3LRNPxVDhWgkkabaT7vX52ModxdZ9aMHU3Bm/s1600/6_styling-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPAE-kTm8wXA1SFPzKHPmCoX_p8Y6dg1Vlo5K2C4eaYTFWLtxe8HIHYd2psJWL7topTnrY2z5RduWKroyXj0Djm7DH41P2gesDtMMAxwu3LRNPxVDhWgkkabaT7vX52ModxdZ9aMHU3Bm/s320/6_styling-room.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attic guest room twin bed treatment. Paper the window<br />
wall with a nice print, coordinate bedding accessories<br />
with the wallpaper color, sisal over broadloom to add<br />
texture and hanging bed lamps because the two twin beds<br />
have no room for end tables. They have to share the chest<br />
surface for water glasses, books and eyeglasses, etc.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNRxdCSk1mtu7RGvgk60nym_VTO_AApNFv3j6c7oPBceuo97fPQVcQG1fBwOzCOw5re3d3dWAKs-Hz-z_ck57lsuKUjPwVnSg06XT8Uw5A4R0Rbqi2lK07Oi9xB7hZsWCNMgN_vbe5-px/s1600/6a00d8341cf77353ef010535e3d12f970b-500wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNRxdCSk1mtu7RGvgk60nym_VTO_AApNFv3j6c7oPBceuo97fPQVcQG1fBwOzCOw5re3d3dWAKs-Hz-z_ck57lsuKUjPwVnSg06XT8Uw5A4R0Rbqi2lK07Oi9xB7hZsWCNMgN_vbe5-px/s320/6a00d8341cf77353ef010535e3d12f970b-500wi.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stain or dark contrasting color on cupboard interiors.<br />
I'm not married to white for interior cupboards but I need the paint color<br />
to reflectlight, not absorb it, to see what's inside. My eyes<br />
ain't getting any younger, kids.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxEDAUCk0fEWKZrppRPDg66lavHNqZUgfxUFoF73KEGhPOeFU6dcTP9E2UBqCrLNd9q8FTx_RfVlmra737dm6stbQ5rMZtSNXlWCet5arsVY_PIoP1KYAdb2OG0FtuKbCE5c5sbuJzus2/s1600/7_styling-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxEDAUCk0fEWKZrppRPDg66lavHNqZUgfxUFoF73KEGhPOeFU6dcTP9E2UBqCrLNd9q8FTx_RfVlmra737dm6stbQ5rMZtSNXlWCet5arsVY_PIoP1KYAdb2OG0FtuKbCE5c5sbuJzus2/s320/7_styling-room.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical bad boring dull suburban bath. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzOShjq8TBIPcDDXdWPxbLGg7ut6uYujI88D6v7447ksj2PXdnLk1G4UMv70Ut-i_Y4RbHMHPF8O2pbxfpWqmKqlW2Hqn04UnP_-hWfAebCLrDlItTEnr2JvE1EgFZXgJrAjV47aizSzh/s1600/8_styling-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzOShjq8TBIPcDDXdWPxbLGg7ut6uYujI88D6v7447ksj2PXdnLk1G4UMv70Ut-i_Y4RbHMHPF8O2pbxfpWqmKqlW2Hqn04UnP_-hWfAebCLrDlItTEnr2JvE1EgFZXgJrAjV47aizSzh/s320/8_styling-room.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same bath reborn. Botanical illustrations from a<br />
magazine pasted all over the wall. Textured framed mirror<br />
or medicine cabinet. Neutral shower curtain replaces cold<br />
metal stall frame. Certainly softens and beautifies<br />
the room. Not sure I want to wash and disinfect a curtain<br />
liner when I have 5 bathrooms.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pCH1n_cGacxRTMag1pVZRJbh_pF4dYmxr1sRDaiuEv8GIVHLzRFJrU9EJNL9G4_ph2b-nyamqCazv66Hmuujx_JNgIkqsBKwWEQPtmKM_ODYTaathtgByk4rrgEZOJJebqQN3D0VDvdq/s1600/13_designer-dilemma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pCH1n_cGacxRTMag1pVZRJbh_pF4dYmxr1sRDaiuEv8GIVHLzRFJrU9EJNL9G4_ph2b-nyamqCazv66Hmuujx_JNgIkqsBKwWEQPtmKM_ODYTaathtgByk4rrgEZOJJebqQN3D0VDvdq/s320/13_designer-dilemma.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floor to ceiling bookshelves, no discrete cupboards and no ledge<br />
to stack books on. This one is backed with paper or panelling or the<br />
wall treatment for the rest of the room with open backs? </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdPssHw3-XlONZ1bTQLu4Tv0O3YNEAaOlxylmhGP-9PU1F7BYvrgNPnebeqOVNHiBny80XWS9iEPHDTdb3LU2wtKYSZEgVcZLdstFLH2zt0YZ_gR1fdyoO2uqBJQ3Ys_euxkEZ82MnFpe/s1600/bluedoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdPssHw3-XlONZ1bTQLu4Tv0O3YNEAaOlxylmhGP-9PU1F7BYvrgNPnebeqOVNHiBny80XWS9iEPHDTdb3LU2wtKYSZEgVcZLdstFLH2zt0YZ_gR1fdyoO2uqBJQ3Ys_euxkEZ82MnFpe/s320/bluedoor.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another contrasting door color with downscaled hardware.<br />
This door might work instead of two narrow glass-paned french doors<br />
now hung in the living room foyer entrance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJwV5hQl4MO3Aa5rxlLXjVjj-3Jj_V0NtjE7G02goj9UuX2l8QZnBjahmKOFDx5TppNz15SKrsDUXKK_Rr6haIUq2KOXKCEwu99UAhGTGWs5IeR1wc4Wl3HCn9G8yQK7sn9Xr-NmrYtYx/s1600/country-estate_lavender_pale-blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJwV5hQl4MO3Aa5rxlLXjVjj-3Jj_V0NtjE7G02goj9UuX2l8QZnBjahmKOFDx5TppNz15SKrsDUXKK_Rr6haIUq2KOXKCEwu99UAhGTGWs5IeR1wc4Wl3HCn9G8yQK7sn9Xr-NmrYtYx/s320/country-estate_lavender_pale-blue.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More door color contrast. Blue foyer, violet door color<br />
for living room doors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH54Lf95hbXKQnSYISyu2v79TGweFvLeXzSAXluACzhSUCW-31bm5LAP9lU58CdHPRCLjVLqD5l9fIuHey0MrMqXdeAgqrkNaxkfypsOIGRcvBAFRyicxsqh5mvznhaAs_y83PWmQynjk/s1600/decor-kitchen-books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH54Lf95hbXKQnSYISyu2v79TGweFvLeXzSAXluACzhSUCW-31bm5LAP9lU58CdHPRCLjVLqD5l9fIuHey0MrMqXdeAgqrkNaxkfypsOIGRcvBAFRyicxsqh5mvznhaAs_y83PWmQynjk/s320/decor-kitchen-books.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What do with our huge cookbook collection? We have some<br />
shelf space above the kitchen desk and we may use the ugly food<br />
pantry next to it by ripping off the door and shelving more cookbooks<br />
and some heavy cookware. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp-f7k6bAyjbnZtddZmglbvJzMV8pWwEThFKjzsntNeDQvGguQiWTI040_JgPFs3tu4V4ODuUvPyVpjRidvpDT0jeMsFmXHRQAg2r0X5kydk5nS1qrk4PYxsGjHrsLS-8MWUfrJ2RiZ1w/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp-f7k6bAyjbnZtddZmglbvJzMV8pWwEThFKjzsntNeDQvGguQiWTI040_JgPFs3tu4V4ODuUvPyVpjRidvpDT0jeMsFmXHRQAg2r0X5kydk5nS1qrk4PYxsGjHrsLS-8MWUfrJ2RiZ1w/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks crowded, doesn't it? but scale is still right even for a smaller<br />
room. It's intimate instead of cluttered. Console and painting mounted<br />
on mirror over-scaled, while chairs and occasional tables are small scale with open legs<br />
for air and light to travel. Dark glazed walls add luxury and mirror reflects<br />
bookcase wall opposite. Use floor lamp or wall sconces for lighting instead of table lamps<br />
in living room where there's no floor space for lamp tables. Put armchairs or settees against the bookcase<br />
and mirror walls and install sconces at reading height instead of lamps. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDD7E5d4HlQWxqHs9XYjP12cIIGKLtNJiCX3EEnF4KqNneQ732wEbup0tSn2BJgzMkFc5QRKJibZk4uzIuTEYBKmawEbZgyPZMZSpZ5gkBCd-irBfhKWlTH4BKxT39vGnlN-P2LYukUDw/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDD7E5d4HlQWxqHs9XYjP12cIIGKLtNJiCX3EEnF4KqNneQ732wEbup0tSn2BJgzMkFc5QRKJibZk4uzIuTEYBKmawEbZgyPZMZSpZ5gkBCd-irBfhKWlTH4BKxT39vGnlN-P2LYukUDw/s320/IMG_0008.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always remember sconces facing a mirror reflect nighttime<br />
lighting and warms the room up for inhabitants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqetln17D2nc2WUys206oEThfzbu0PIEINdhJ0X0HDIKRMj3_WFR_tX3W9YpPaV3CNkv7O1TlFB3wQS_ZsMH5KKe5C62o0zXrMqReZe8YcvgevqbVprX7k_iaYS1Tga7jQtbqbc-IBWqDh/s1600/IMG_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqetln17D2nc2WUys206oEThfzbu0PIEINdhJ0X0HDIKRMj3_WFR_tX3W9YpPaV3CNkv7O1TlFB3wQS_ZsMH5KKe5C62o0zXrMqReZe8YcvgevqbVprX7k_iaYS1Tga7jQtbqbc-IBWqDh/s320/IMG_0009.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possible LR treatment with wall mirror and desk jutting<br />
out into the room from the wall, lamp near outlet on wall,<br />
of course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCmjcEjJpeh3vF1Ad8mXV4eUhyGtjjQnuEq_Pq-cKK4xg0BC9jmmeg6XOoivxT-L4lnL58U7Yl2wVMmY64OMMPrLQ4Rr8nLIVcbVIG7qRwxAfb-e3Vw3kloIctFCRcM5pFLtfa38L5g4J/s1600/kitchen+cabinets2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCmjcEjJpeh3vF1Ad8mXV4eUhyGtjjQnuEq_Pq-cKK4xg0BC9jmmeg6XOoivxT-L4lnL58U7Yl2wVMmY64OMMPrLQ4Rr8nLIVcbVIG7qRwxAfb-e3Vw3kloIctFCRcM5pFLtfa38L5g4J/s320/kitchen+cabinets2.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks like stain. More trouble than paint and you can<br />
tell what you may get with paint whereas stain is pain. It's always<br />
uneven and streaked. No Thanks. I do like the contrast in tone.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydsJNnDJQcOL1hfzvsHK7ebk7qxfnjm4jb7kN5L7Xpw3yEIe_Mo3sieqcNdTRNr3KRvqdUS-px9bQw42nnuQX-GFYWJlF9afEBrULnjK0-cvK4NcM9OP_JQ885-mZcFCkRqQcx4c5yhvA/s1600/kitchen_cabinets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydsJNnDJQcOL1hfzvsHK7ebk7qxfnjm4jb7kN5L7Xpw3yEIe_Mo3sieqcNdTRNr3KRvqdUS-px9bQw42nnuQX-GFYWJlF9afEBrULnjK0-cvK4NcM9OP_JQ885-mZcFCkRqQcx4c5yhvA/s320/kitchen_cabinets.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen cupboard interior paint: Tiffany blue.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeysSBabVzdaxWfh7gHKoT8joigr9zuodoPPSge22UfQVowcl_kwhg3XSyMvXMnJl7e9Hslz6dCdbz1K5Bde0AT0o5VAuWhk_z5jlFEA7i36lzL01ZUyxBgU_HvU8gCHq2zrCfUluFDrWl/s1600/madamedep_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeysSBabVzdaxWfh7gHKoT8joigr9zuodoPPSge22UfQVowcl_kwhg3XSyMvXMnJl7e9Hslz6dCdbz1K5Bde0AT0o5VAuWhk_z5jlFEA7i36lzL01ZUyxBgU_HvU8gCHq2zrCfUluFDrWl/s320/madamedep_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is an arched window at one end of our LR. Maybe building an<br />
arch for the single door exit on back wall will complement that and<br />
get rid of the suburban box look.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9GRbnOOFx4vpeyJWlKH0xrIor2OaL0k75q2oyF1wJLW7S1bg7QH7kaCetK8Ngof-KcTe-bK80xEyEqBhvdT2OTbZHLvAXCVtxjKtLpsTo6hPDzaCya_Jt1gwFj3VT1TUShy30115oLAu/s1600/Miles+Redd+chinoiserie+red+painted+inside+closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9GRbnOOFx4vpeyJWlKH0xrIor2OaL0k75q2oyF1wJLW7S1bg7QH7kaCetK8Ngof-KcTe-bK80xEyEqBhvdT2OTbZHLvAXCVtxjKtLpsTo6hPDzaCya_Jt1gwFj3VT1TUShy30115oLAu/s320/Miles+Redd+chinoiserie+red+painted+inside+closet.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's my closet idea with a great red that works well with<br />
menswear fabrics and dress shirts. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC5dz1X0RrH1jqUsNt4BV90L8caW1uxXPTq3ot072u3dlkjpmd-yBH_QJ_u5LunSIQwf3zdDcdV4wJbHzxWTxz2H0hLsxrZbtHr3iIy8AU8OxWSaAZsmLBqC8PBz6gaiQYyB5pWctGGG3/s1600/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC5dz1X0RrH1jqUsNt4BV90L8caW1uxXPTq3ot072u3dlkjpmd-yBH_QJ_u5LunSIQwf3zdDcdV4wJbHzxWTxz2H0hLsxrZbtHr3iIy8AU8OxWSaAZsmLBqC8PBz6gaiQYyB5pWctGGG3/s320/Picture+6.png" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain black for LR doors</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyZjyssJbbsaOWHvCfEiszQm8feQryx5dUSLS9biUM7uBu3b5OWYOKMi7-0QwR29mWPEwqHQpI6qJe81A_pcc0eEIzalsjgL4CrZYHI1NqtZpIFl3v30NiuEc5O6-eIB2YhJT2uF6bv8r/s1600/Picture+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyZjyssJbbsaOWHvCfEiszQm8feQryx5dUSLS9biUM7uBu3b5OWYOKMi7-0QwR29mWPEwqHQpI6qJe81A_pcc0eEIzalsjgL4CrZYHI1NqtZpIFl3v30NiuEc5O6-eIB2YhJT2uF6bv8r/s320/Picture+8.png" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benjamin Moore Just Black for doors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-45651455527238461312011-02-26T12:00:00.007-05:002012-01-02T16:30:45.034-05:00My First trip to NYC October 1976My sixteenth birthday gift was a fall trip to NYC, a place I had fantasized about all my conscious life. This was true of millions of suburban kids of my generation across the US, but my interest in this urban mecca was heightened by my obsession with musical theater, devoted attendance at all the Kenley Players productions I could get to see at Memorial Hall in downtown Dayton. I had the usual vast collection of original cast LPs, was alway on the lookout for any show albums or studio remakes, longed to know the shows that came and went whose recordings were far out of my reach in suburban Ohio. NYC was the home of broadway musical theater and all its denizens and the focus of many of my adolescent fantasies of fame, fortune and a glamorous life in the theater. I don't know how this interest of mine was born; i don't recall any point where I was tuned in or turned on, particularly, except my first exposure to music of any kind that stimulated me began with the R&H soundtracks every early 1960s house had: Oklahoma, King and I, South Pacific. I listened to these over and over and memorized every word and each note. When I was five years old, I was taken to a huge cinema downtown Dayton to the premiere of The Sound of Music. I will never forget this; I have a very good recall of that day while my memory for most other far past events in my life is hopelessly muddled and out of focus. That day, we had perfect sunny blue skies; I can still remember walking across a busy intersection to cross to the cinema entrance and a giant 70mm cinnescope screen curving from end to end of the vast auditorium. When the Alps appeared and a camera zoomed in on a tiny figure who slowly grew into close-up of Jule Andrews who I'd seen the year before in Mary Poppins, the music swelled and I was hooked.<br />
Well that was a long time ago. I'm still hooked but with a few more reservations about NYC and the theater than I had then. I don't recall planning the 1976 birthday visit but it was to take place long after my birthday in October that year, probably because my mother had to schedule vacation to join my grandmother and I who travelled out first together.<br />
We stayed at the now demolished Abbey-Victoria Hotel between Times Square and Rockefeller Center.<br />
Our room looked just like the one in the postcard in terms of decor and plaster walls and square windows, but we had a corner room with twin beds on one end, an ell-shape with another bed (for my grandmother) and a large old fashioned bathroom with its own large window. From the main bedroom window I could see the huge marquee of the Winter Garden Theater announcing Pacific Overtures in large block letters. The downer was that the show had closed already which I learned after running downstairs and across the street to buy tickets, finding a shuttered and locked theater with a bare closing notice taped to the doors.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP6LMYYc7XJshC-bAxpf8incEY97e4yATR8-GdRVLnMN33qOFgUfbv-cmx1thxECLAllRr2LF1oGkzXUtzyZfFV9DAwYlMujUZZ-TJGaUnZ3FDLVb1cCrIeYS8kUQKouA27CenjBNDxI6/s1600/7th+ave+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP6LMYYc7XJshC-bAxpf8incEY97e4yATR8-GdRVLnMN33qOFgUfbv-cmx1thxECLAllRr2LF1oGkzXUtzyZfFV9DAwYlMujUZZ-TJGaUnZ3FDLVb1cCrIeYS8kUQKouA27CenjBNDxI6/s400/7th+ave+side.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7th Ave Marquee of Winter Garden Theater today. A shuttered house in<br />
1976 with Pacific Overtures in tall block letters across the marquee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9L-U1pA2cFI6DKvcn_oxwkahgSx-fnRygQ7stiSaz6V7tHnTAnUKHuiKCT2fWR6fzoQR-D__tJezK-LaLjAHd85ei-hmLXZA1JDQBRoHPvwoxC52fkDU68QlKkSSUIXpKxPz8GsW04F6/s1600/7th+avenue+side+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9L-U1pA2cFI6DKvcn_oxwkahgSx-fnRygQ7stiSaz6V7tHnTAnUKHuiKCT2fWR6fzoQR-D__tJezK-LaLjAHd85ei-hmLXZA1JDQBRoHPvwoxC52fkDU68QlKkSSUIXpKxPz8GsW04F6/s400/7th+avenue+side+2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Abbey-Victoria stood on the right corner at 51st St. From my corner view on a high floor<br />
I saw the 7th avenue marquee of the Winter Garden with Pacific Overtures still on the bill nearly<br />
three months after its July 27 closing. In Nov. 1976, Natalie Cole moved in for some concert dates.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My first taste of show business reality. There are a lot sadder things in life than a show closing but to me it was a slap in the face, a reality check that a real trip to NYC might include disappointment and letdowns I'd experienced in my life back home. It wasn't all a bed of roses, but I loved the grit and dirt and smells of mid-seventies Manhattan.<br />
The hotel was completely old-fashioned. It hadn't been updated since the early forties and I loved everything about it. It's newstand whose polished brass fittings had seen better days. The giant, upholstered round pouf in the center of the lobby was hopelessly out-of-date then, comparing it to the spanking new modernity of the Americana lobby on Times Square that looked like a Disney resort.<br />
The dusty pendants of the grand chandeliers suspended overhead. You can see all of this in the postcard photo. No one today could admire this decor but at 16 this was my idea of a great NY hotel lobby. The ticket desk, the coffee shop, gift shop, and Stockholm restaurant were all in full gear when my grandmother and I arrived from the airport at around noon that October day. The weather was chilly but sunny. It got much colder the next few days but stayed dry during our entire visit.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgo5TIN0o3Thu-g5obB-Sm4QCdZdWL0vV7JUXYoYGhhTNc2oTewwzg7SQoWCo1iTlr37P_kZ62FycEo6uBbHG_Oq6Kh6Y92CEXVTpUWMVmfmr9ES_R-2g6iKT1XJBrpjl2nkmQZY8MgYk/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgo5TIN0o3Thu-g5obB-Sm4QCdZdWL0vV7JUXYoYGhhTNc2oTewwzg7SQoWCo1iTlr37P_kZ62FycEo6uBbHG_Oq6Kh6Y92CEXVTpUWMVmfmr9ES_R-2g6iKT1XJBrpjl2nkmQZY8MgYk/s400/Picture+9.png" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Abbey-Victoria Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I love this matchbook cover MAP of the Hotel and environs. First it depicts NYC as its own planet. The north pole is Central Park and the meridian lines stretch from Columbus Circle to Madison Square Garden. The most evocative aspect on this map is the curving line of Broadway that cuts across the straight as an arrow line of 7th Avenue (where the hotel was located). The artist dotted the script like marquee lightbulbs and instead of naming the curving black line as 'Broadway', he spells out "The Lights of Broadway." There is no better illustration for my own dazzled viewpoint at 16 then this matchbook cover of my temporary home base in 1970s Manhattan.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuehMyOrvVG2kNuF3cQqJrbnn0oLYz-tB7f-THIYTzQTjY3MemAZi6Ht5bikOKaf1W-b2k-4eSIstTejWKBBT8kKt6LLodQOaI4aYX33qdvtjFR5Hi_amI3q6fB7zPgnR5G3B8V2bd43zX/s1600/Picture+18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuehMyOrvVG2kNuF3cQqJrbnn0oLYz-tB7f-THIYTzQTjY3MemAZi6Ht5bikOKaf1W-b2k-4eSIstTejWKBBT8kKt6LLodQOaI4aYX33qdvtjFR5Hi_amI3q6fB7zPgnR5G3B8V2bd43zX/s320/Picture+18.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwsMNDuuZOsPqDO-tcTviAYdGqvJ696YovUez77886lrothlZT2Ra3m7Bhxm1RPuPQcY_eBfeY7O2-28QyAF20xJhyJG31ozNpDfeL2BHS9HkFYnmFT9hNPIkqlix_E2rbhsJr_joHhHj/s1600/Picture+20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwsMNDuuZOsPqDO-tcTviAYdGqvJ696YovUez77886lrothlZT2Ra3m7Bhxm1RPuPQcY_eBfeY7O2-28QyAF20xJhyJG31ozNpDfeL2BHS9HkFYnmFT9hNPIkqlix_E2rbhsJr_joHhHj/s320/Picture+20.png" width="201" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jmJ-cP_VW54iPs095QmvV7I_IzsHld87FWQ_rjriCl4tUgNfgJX5Uc5Ac8Uv3g-61oMkjne72m3pPDfWcMn2iIa67Rxx8FNT-KcpBpCb8qqgU9Y_6_dincpv69XnRbwfjITBKXEcbYM1/s1600/Picture+16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jmJ-cP_VW54iPs095QmvV7I_IzsHld87FWQ_rjriCl4tUgNfgJX5Uc5Ac8Uv3g-61oMkjne72m3pPDfWcMn2iIa67Rxx8FNT-KcpBpCb8qqgU9Y_6_dincpv69XnRbwfjITBKXEcbYM1/s320/Picture+16.png" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NY Magazine review of Abbey-Victoria from the early 1970s</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX6LvD1tiPQVsZZHR2Y8Y_7fCpBbWyvPMRC525T7kMBSvj9A0uOSa5eJhJ5FY5QEJutyR4FPIPjLFYX2ELqPfxPAsnYj7v84iZqXIe1tBb8vsnOJPbjahw4nQSRykFHEz95X4eMcWtXox/s1600/ab.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX6LvD1tiPQVsZZHR2Y8Y_7fCpBbWyvPMRC525T7kMBSvj9A0uOSa5eJhJ5FY5QEJutyR4FPIPjLFYX2ELqPfxPAsnYj7v84iZqXIe1tBb8vsnOJPbjahw4nQSRykFHEz95X4eMcWtXox/s400/ab.png" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Button-tufted settee, chandeliers, gold-flecked mirrors, paneled walls,<br />
well-stocked newsstand, reception desk behind square pillars, french provincial chairs<br />
and upholstered seating. Nothing like a hotel lobby today and much the better for that.<br />
I'm nearly certain our room had the same red carpet and furnishings. Only open up the right wall,<br />
add an ell-shaped addition with another twin bed and a large bath beyond.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The main impetus behind my getting this tremendous birthday gift was tied up with my piano lessons, my undertaking a piano vocal score of Gershwin's Porgy & Bess and a splashy NYC revival of this show by the Houston Grand Opera at the Uris Theater. I somehow convinced my mother this was the perfect sixteenth birthday gift and a reward for all my hard work as a budding musician. She also liked the idea as she wanted a good shopping spree herself. It was decided my grandmother and I would go a day ahead of her and she would join us on Friday and stay the weekend with us. My grandmother was 72 years old and usually up for any sort of travel. She had taken my brothers on several trips to New York in previous years when I was considered too young to go along with them. I resented this of course and this made my birthday request even more reasonable in view of the fact I had been passed over many times before.<br />
It was October. When we arrived there was a distinct wintry chill in the air. Having lived fifteen years in metro NYC i know now that you can have a beautiful Indian summer in October or an early winter blast. Our weather was reasonably mild on arrival, probably in the 50s but it quickly started dropping down into the low forties and below with some tremendous wind gusts. I was relentless and dragged my grandmother all over town that first day. We took a sightseeing bus tour, ended up in Chinatown for a walk through a temple, got out at the UN for a hike through the lobby and gift shop, and hit all the high spots from the Empire State Building to Battery Park. I was uncontrollably happy and she was having a good time as well. After the tour we traipsed all over Times Square. My grandmother loved dimestores and in those days there were still vast emporiums like Woolworths' and McCrory's and we hit many of them around the hotel neighborhood, stopping for dinner at a vast coffee shop with a big diner menu. My grandmother had started to feel the chill by then. She wanted a warmup on her coffee and the waitress was busy so I got up to grab a coffee pot from the warmer plate to serve my grandmother. As I was pouring out the coffee, a typical New York accented waitress who probably had terribly sore feet, shouted across the room at me "Hey, you! What do you think this is, a cafeteria?" Still my grandmother had her coffee and I had a red face, flushed with embarrassment as the entire room had turned to stare at me. I felt I had my first (and last, I hoped) big-city faux pas and was unduly ashamed of my conduct. That's how naive I was at sixteen. By the time I got home it made a funny story and I got over the embarrassment.<br />
My mother arrived either late that first night or the next morning. By then my grandmother had a bad cold and I was sorry I had pushed her too hard the previous day. I remember feeling badly and apologetic but I felt pressured for time to squeeze as much sightseeing in as possible. We had tickets for Porgy & Bess the next night and had to leave my grandmother behind at the hotel to recuperate quietly.<br />
This production was the first to perform the complete opera in a Broadway House since the premiere in 1937. The Uris Theatre (now the Gershwin where Wicked has been playing for years and will probably run for twenty more) was vast and modern with perfect sight-lines. At that time the auditorium was terraced with several deep mezzanines ranged in tiers like a nightclub instead of the usual multi-story balconies that cut off so much of the views. We had terrific seats and enjoyed the entire opera with several intermissions. I was so excited to hear the complete score with orchestra and full-size cast. There was no complete recording of the opera until after this production when the same cast members of Houston Grand Opera recorded the entire show. I got a box set of this immediately after it came out, now lost forever.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaAIde_xnuK_iLTt0Oo5xcmzhJEOnl-r7pF1Olj_3DPn3GSjlvSVjDOazQ4XZbSMbCEqs7IKfwNT6T-AkA9Q76q1xZItMAy_qpkTPNrvcrf-LaSe4MEjlf9DIooilSCFV0VmC3iqqve2J/s1600/159168810_tp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaAIde_xnuK_iLTt0Oo5xcmzhJEOnl-r7pF1Olj_3DPn3GSjlvSVjDOazQ4XZbSMbCEqs7IKfwNT6T-AkA9Q76q1xZItMAy_qpkTPNrvcrf-LaSe4MEjlf9DIooilSCFV0VmC3iqqve2J/s320/159168810_tp.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSsEFHAJOQolM2b9aaVI3NEaRgA5uHf2a-zgUaLdVxRoL6X1aqyxavq0fnbe1lcWfyjKyCs7eMMPYnteNgHPvKVcaOWpaSz2RB8eFhqT6NTaZIsj0EtyZLATYU79l6CIJs4-RHOGSbAq2/s1600/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSsEFHAJOQolM2b9aaVI3NEaRgA5uHf2a-zgUaLdVxRoL6X1aqyxavq0fnbe1lcWfyjKyCs7eMMPYnteNgHPvKVcaOWpaSz2RB8eFhqT6NTaZIsj0EtyZLATYU79l6CIJs4-RHOGSbAq2/s320/Picture+6.png" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last-minute theater booking to a Broadway Play:<br />
Sandy Dennis & Ted Bissell in<br />
Same Time, Next Year</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95cssDoeFfJGpwqeW1BcoI_QkstzhuKlGupZgXyjwQtnr7c7Kg-fhwwIQo75wXmrVaAUzupMd8KKIpMAFK5D6NmwvlyPZE4542_ZKvMne59B41_jsklz5kGUgmN5MrsFKduqnSpdqE-gP/s1600/brass_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95cssDoeFfJGpwqeW1BcoI_QkstzhuKlGupZgXyjwQtnr7c7Kg-fhwwIQo75wXmrVaAUzupMd8KKIpMAFK5D6NmwvlyPZE4542_ZKvMne59B41_jsklz5kGUgmN5MrsFKduqnSpdqE-gP/s320/brass_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ground Floor Restaurant in the CBS Bldg. My grandmother and I<br />
stopped here for lunch and saw Truman Capote a few tables away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjr_Fkf8bBMBR3PW9y1BzfturXYdRlHw7FF2g7rll7stibVE69tPjgPJGRsbWfy0rAQzhqEnrRpATSjIO_-w9O9v73WnLDPLM0VBuMr97934L8_tM1__yHOOjuLrJSag9XqM5FSgRGBJF/s1600/44659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjr_Fkf8bBMBR3PW9y1BzfturXYdRlHw7FF2g7rll7stibVE69tPjgPJGRsbWfy0rAQzhqEnrRpATSjIO_-w9O9v73WnLDPLM0VBuMr97934L8_tM1__yHOOjuLrJSag9XqM5FSgRGBJF/s320/44659.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A color photo of the Ground Floor, ca. 1964.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-39783216873755946182011-02-08T17:41:00.001-05:002011-02-08T17:42:54.518-05:00House Ideas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFIFvxuK-EFp0uRxkmpOWXaiaBA4Nw8DrKpWoq6iBZEmuAii42bCS63fVgQz0bxt-2X-zH4Q3sNVevEg5GSzpaFAIURm4fVNH3JVP7khSxPRYVoq78YAZriZP01o0fMldSq5iBvU9GGSy/s1600/footervestibule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFIFvxuK-EFp0uRxkmpOWXaiaBA4Nw8DrKpWoq6iBZEmuAii42bCS63fVgQz0bxt-2X-zH4Q3sNVevEg5GSzpaFAIURm4fVNH3JVP7khSxPRYVoq78YAZriZP01o0fMldSq5iBvU9GGSy/s400/footervestibule.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK it's over the top and grandiose in a bad way,<br />
but I'm thinking about glazed wall color;<br />
deep, rich satisfying for an entrance hall especially<br />
for a high ceiling or 2-story entrance. If you leave it dead white<br />
it's not going to make any statement except...."ho-hum."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb_1wInnLgQSZlEnwSa5V0UmS7XTeluKe_ozstCcukUx7HZbKYznQioldO8f0q5d-Ije5NVv3eQXtHOi3blSD4Yip6IJeBkAtA5HE_UZxtyfWhVfZc9IqebfP8RhpSL3PXqun0Hij-FMU/s1600/tapestry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb_1wInnLgQSZlEnwSa5V0UmS7XTeluKe_ozstCcukUx7HZbKYznQioldO8f0q5d-Ije5NVv3eQXtHOi3blSD4Yip6IJeBkAtA5HE_UZxtyfWhVfZc9IqebfP8RhpSL3PXqun0Hij-FMU/s400/tapestry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Built-ins for the living room. Great for that awkward recatngular front to back wall<br />
living room. Nice placement of large desk, lamp easily plugs into wall outlet (no special<br />
electrician magic required) and casts glow on wall art and reading light for end of<br />
sofa. Not a bad layout. Great large scale coffee table and perfect place for an ottoman.<br />
Very inspirational.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-31876619507391386392011-02-06T12:49:00.001-05:002011-02-06T12:50:35.439-05:00Daisy Fellowes--Golden Riviera Part 2Roderick Cameron was writing his own epitaph when he launched on a description of Daisy Fellowes in his memoir, <b><i>The Golden Riviera</i></b>. His subject is the ephemeral splendor of the fashionable, rich, and famous:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Her dominance was of the most ephemeral kind and went no deeper than the social scene. But the fact remains that it is difficult to write about the Riviera without mention of her. She has coloured one's impressions of the coast for at least the length of time that any of us who knew her still lives. <b>In all probability death will dispel the lingering reflections of the charm and the elegance with which she, <i><u>and people like her</u></i>, lived their lives. </b> Like the faint odor of a long closed trunk, all will evaporate past recall. Perhaps not? It all depends on how many people will have remembered her in yet unpublished letters or will have made her live in unsuspected memoirs."</span><br />
Uncanny how his hope for remembrance of this vanished existence is actually being kept alive in the blogosphere, which after all, is an aggregated and interconnected record of the thoughts and whimsies of the unknown and obscure "memorist' of today.designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-86092313240336901602011-02-06T11:36:00.008-05:002011-02-06T16:10:23.183-05:00Roderick 'Rory' Cameron<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87IRn1tJhWTHEa9PVLp3CIl7RN3YXDVGl7enKhMCfx_jdXLXsYcyUydxEu4sP2quuWeiP1XAfYjHuAvGc468iT9qe-Huy0WyLDl85dF5YI7r_hCeeYo4jwkbDxIOpJfq9H_Cgwq9hBnMb/s1600/camerondeskangloindianroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87IRn1tJhWTHEa9PVLp3CIl7RN3YXDVGl7enKhMCfx_jdXLXsYcyUydxEu4sP2quuWeiP1XAfYjHuAvGc468iT9qe-Huy0WyLDl85dF5YI7r_hCeeYo4jwkbDxIOpJfq9H_Cgwq9hBnMb/s320/camerondeskangloindianroom.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Rory' Cameron, child of the Golden Riviera, at<br />
his writing desk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Browsing design blogs is a favorite pastime. Topics range all over the place but I like best those bloggers who have a strong sense of the history of design and the cavalcade of personalities, eccentrics and trendsetters who make this history so entertaining. Well-known and influential designers all had influences of their own to start with; tracking down their inspiration is as interesting as looking at the results of their work.<br />
The personal contacts and relationships of famous designers and their personal history often reveals many influences on their taste. Remember, taste is made, not born. Creating a personal style that resonates with people takes innate talent, but taste is formed out of influences and observation and education.<br />
As I was reading the early chapters of <i><b>David Hicks: A Life of Design</b></i> by his son, Ashley, I was taking note of the early acquaintances and encounters of Hicks with the fashionable and wealthy. The author frequently mentions houses and design influences that formed Hicks' taste in those early years. Most of these names and places are obscure references to most of us today, though in their time they would have been as recognizable to magazine readers of that time as the latest <i><b>World of Interiors</b></i> cast of characters will be to avid fans today.<br />
I made a list of Hicks' known influences, past friendships, acquaintances, and blogged many of them. One reference stood out in my list for several reasons. Roderick, or Rory, Cameron was an aesthete, a writer and more honestly, an amateur and dilettante whose inherited wealth and social position, and nearly lifelong residence on the French Riviera, placed him in an ideal position to be acquainted with and observe the fashionable and famous from his childhood in the 1920s till his death in 1970s. Rory had one advantage over most of the faded glories of that dead and gone era. He wrote and published some obscure volumes which are a blend of autobiography, memoir, aesthetic treatises, and travelogue. His books are often unfocused and reveal much about his own snobbery and seem a bit too eager to reveal his connections (translation: name dropping) and his own self-determined social status. This makes him a fun read if you enjoy sitting down with a book of little redeeming value other than it's pen portraits of the rich and famous of a bygone era along with detailed information about their homes, their possessions, their pleasures.<br />
Don't expect salacious gossip. Rory is circumspectly silent about the private lives of his subjects. He writes many pages about Maugham and his "secretary" but only from the perspective of a guest at Maugham's Riviera retreat. The homosexual relationships of many of Roderick's set are not explicitly stated but neither are they denied. They are, rather, taken for granted and not dwelt upon at all.<br />
His best book in this vein is The Golden Riviera (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1975). It is chock full of amusing portraits of high society and chocked even fuller of endless descriptions of the decor of restaurants favored by the rich, parties attended, and elaborate tours of their homes and possessions.<br />
Rory Cameron is no stranger to blogdom. He is mentioned in connection with many mid-twentieth century tastemakers, but few bloggers seem to have delved much into his personality and writings. La Fiorentina, his mother's Riviera mansion where he spent much of his early and mid-life, is well-known and still famous today as landmark of high Riviera style and fashion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_FRwxMFfliQTUYGJup3FAPg7WHQ-eMD9EgsDGtTV_cpPztbNufiP8q3c2ZyLnD0zzl_b8BdgaIx4i4b1p_gy_o5rFfR9oImlc4zRUlgp1wy_EYkK1i9hzA8IAHnijThdtlro2kAWofEG/s1600/sp_florentina0501_main1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_FRwxMFfliQTUYGJup3FAPg7WHQ-eMD9EgsDGtTV_cpPztbNufiP8q3c2ZyLnD0zzl_b8BdgaIx4i4b1p_gy_o5rFfR9oImlc4zRUlgp1wy_EYkK1i9hzA8IAHnijThdtlro2kAWofEG/s320/sp_florentina0501_main1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The immediate approach to the house, a large empty rectangle, proved the perfect<br />
setting for a planation of oranges... they were planted four rows deep in lines of<br />
ten and the drive swept up the middle."<br />
"A further detail was the coating of lime with which we daubed the trunks and lower limbs.<br />
The citrus growers do this as a protection against parasites. We painted them for a purely<br />
decorative reason, to give luminosity to the dappled, subaqueous light filtering through<br />
the dark leaves."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVanZMVMufcu99aXRxkhPcm6BjKpGZtu8pg20-bZ7_9uPvUO40dqFrLFLZ9rO1lTEYxvG91R1LYxC3QLBVDAVwoOCqjKQvbvvFTL4d6YhZm1h-YkfHk2-A0QcVtJTVnvzhT7gjO2kXUne/s1600/lafiorentina-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVanZMVMufcu99aXRxkhPcm6BjKpGZtu8pg20-bZ7_9uPvUO40dqFrLFLZ9rO1lTEYxvG91R1LYxC3QLBVDAVwoOCqjKQvbvvFTL4d6YhZm1h-YkfHk2-A0QcVtJTVnvzhT7gjO2kXUne/s320/lafiorentina-1.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Fiorentina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb83s-dwbkELbboy3ED5yBv8-UwGP3VNKSJwAb6UW7NbLM9mCfemiZfJc59ZPFJXs8fSnXmroQ9tlWdNTZH3TmuhZeUzXiW6JAj3dcxl8cqPv8FqICl7d-X0HjqoQ5p9jfG0Jr392Cgc2/s1600/lafiorentinasalon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb83s-dwbkELbboy3ED5yBv8-UwGP3VNKSJwAb6UW7NbLM9mCfemiZfJc59ZPFJXs8fSnXmroQ9tlWdNTZH3TmuhZeUzXiW6JAj3dcxl8cqPv8FqICl7d-X0HjqoQ5p9jfG0Jr392Cgc2/s320/lafiorentinasalon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early decor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3I20KNXCkeUZ-pZRqNTStvsAoeWK2RSHQ5NR6tNozkClKTxkHv5ix7OSrm1nwrTOMEwPxcCtVogbZpWAzeGlpThK-aYnkX0bypvh84SRW95mU_MJv2VBGyMTEdMJ9v8r0JbVUGvHa2iO/s1600/sp_florentina0501_pop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3I20KNXCkeUZ-pZRqNTStvsAoeWK2RSHQ5NR6tNozkClKTxkHv5ix7OSrm1nwrTOMEwPxcCtVogbZpWAzeGlpThK-aYnkX0bypvh84SRW95mU_MJv2VBGyMTEdMJ9v8r0JbVUGvHa2iO/s320/sp_florentina0501_pop2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redone by Billy Baldwin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEqtzz-Gnsw2iDpi9eYc-z55yEAv3KrNUNu8byzqkK9eZSZMlY2WIKkH4NxTCV8AscZozq8jXxnekkXzRuZH5-ougq57UVHY7VNC-88_YBuYW4yRUBurgcBlWFQizD_kC2Zg_iuwkuhJd/s1600/fiorentina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEqtzz-Gnsw2iDpi9eYc-z55yEAv3KrNUNu8byzqkK9eZSZMlY2WIKkH4NxTCV8AscZozq8jXxnekkXzRuZH5-ougq57UVHY7VNC-88_YBuYW4yRUBurgcBlWFQizD_kC2Zg_iuwkuhJd/s320/fiorentina.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set on the peninsula of St. Hospice, extending out<br />
from Cap Ferrat on the 'Golden Riviera.'<br />
"Angled east-west, the house faces due south and full out<br />
to sea on one one facade, and to the shelter of a large, open<br />
bay on the other."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpJGM1VoQlEpE-av2-vguib3eV2cHqrvZ0qRoJDPirTww5cetPHJSCF7S4zKF4uQgiy5INSnakFsj_h02z-SU7eIfuAD9L7fRl8pTCHkL6_HpADCJ7I4V41LA76HS4DBxys74nuQ7AjGF/s1600/lafiorentinapool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpJGM1VoQlEpE-av2-vguib3eV2cHqrvZ0qRoJDPirTww5cetPHJSCF7S4zKF4uQgiy5INSnakFsj_h02z-SU7eIfuAD9L7fRl8pTCHkL6_HpADCJ7I4V41LA76HS4DBxys74nuQ7AjGF/s320/lafiorentinapool.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the first "horizon pools"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOziyth4PnMLUsM9aE2oraTnjQlLgzLU9h2qRqBIRHIeGqMkFkRhR6bI3hvPxqeOGbgK8Y2d4ev0tqea7O3_Rv1zVod09aytf6iOkfk9pElcr5ILGydehqD7UPLY4so1OaJ-WeDcLfclg/s1600/lafiorentina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOziyth4PnMLUsM9aE2oraTnjQlLgzLU9h2qRqBIRHIeGqMkFkRhR6bI3hvPxqeOGbgK8Y2d4ev0tqea7O3_Rv1zVod09aytf6iOkfk9pElcr5ILGydehqD7UPLY4so1OaJ-WeDcLfclg/s320/lafiorentina.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The second hall Martin Battersby painted for us in <i>trompe-l'oeil, </i> the theme being architectural<br />
drawings on simulated sheets of vellum attached to the walls and ceiling with thumb tacks, and so<br />
convincing is his work that one instinctively touches them to make sure they are not real. The ceiling<br />
represents the elevations of a dome drawn on a sheet of folded paper in sepia."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_8wglaQUyrGTTVvTo2GEaX0o29NNcfCZkwJT4QAk7Pdoxtg_Rs1TDWHceAsMNTdLl44tdIxQExfF7tbWpsp_2MlXhpEtspHxlUEvJTVCdsDPiNI6jMJ-PAZeQhBzFqDvXeXfAhtw91_y/s1600/lafiorentinadiningjoined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_8wglaQUyrGTTVvTo2GEaX0o29NNcfCZkwJT4QAk7Pdoxtg_Rs1TDWHceAsMNTdLl44tdIxQExfF7tbWpsp_2MlXhpEtspHxlUEvJTVCdsDPiNI6jMJ-PAZeQhBzFqDvXeXfAhtw91_y/s320/lafiorentinadiningjoined.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"For the dining room we had been fortunate enough to find a late-eighteenth century Piedmontese<br />
fresco. Using advanced techniques it had been detached from its original wall and backed onto rolls of<br />
canvas" and a team of experts from Pisa were hired to install it. The fresco consisted of a study of "rocks and<br />
trees with, here and there, views of distant castles. Clipped hedges trained roung white marble putti<br />
frame the doors, while birds flit from wall to wall, in company with a hawk who dominates the<br />
ceiling which, of course, is the sky."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfFiegYdAQAimDqEDhWR61w6zc3aeFCOABn7MUKCu310dhMAn-PiR0HEVxUZUZ7aCTERMk-c0n3QmvD2-KXjiAifcZN5IwONJ9IIxlqvp7Ef3NmCMD53RGrjPp1wP4AhhQp7chCCsl5sZ/s1600/lafiorentinadiningterrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfFiegYdAQAimDqEDhWR61w6zc3aeFCOABn7MUKCu310dhMAn-PiR0HEVxUZUZ7aCTERMk-c0n3QmvD2-KXjiAifcZN5IwONJ9IIxlqvp7Ef3NmCMD53RGrjPp1wP4AhhQp7chCCsl5sZ/s320/lafiorentinadiningterrace.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0f2ad9QS1_QWxRW-Kv3-pJbG6mUehAXvxqQWJhYJQn7RnNiwJgmn8STxtYitsIhM9ROR7lzrG9bXE_3ioBRyEoMoyPzZ7J6nWLajrhZNPoy1Jz-8sCJwramYKFqvJdifr5CVjCc035qjY/s1600/fiorentina-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0f2ad9QS1_QWxRW-Kv3-pJbG6mUehAXvxqQWJhYJQn7RnNiwJgmn8STxtYitsIhM9ROR7lzrG9bXE_3ioBRyEoMoyPzZ7J6nWLajrhZNPoy1Jz-8sCJwramYKFqvJdifr5CVjCc035qjY/s1600/fiorentina-view.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Fiorentina's "whole <i>raison d'etre </i>is the position, its<br />
gardens reaching right down to the rocks and heaving<br />
Mediterranean."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The view above is a famous one, at least in the annals of grand Riviera villas of the 20th century. Every famous person from the late 1930s to the early sixties visited La Fiorentina and its spectacular gardens.<br />
Garbo, the Lunts, Daisy Fellowes, Graham Sutherland, Somerset Maugham, the usual litany of Riviera residents and visitors. The focal point of this garden..."the view most often reproduced in the different gardening books--are the great shallow grass steps leading down to the sea."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC2EsjS2pRS5SMWZyFnMOBR3mw1DqweZ9GTf_k8NuTEhWkcDNlYpPIshNAMVQmR45QChOS51zW-WWe_43tSsHPbBjwc6wdjyN_2gPWGuH86FWwAWzAVzasLl8CkREBTRj7by9kKJO12wn/s1600/lafiorentinalibraryjoined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC2EsjS2pRS5SMWZyFnMOBR3mw1DqweZ9GTf_k8NuTEhWkcDNlYpPIshNAMVQmR45QChOS51zW-WWe_43tSsHPbBjwc6wdjyN_2gPWGuH86FWwAWzAVzasLl8CkREBTRj7by9kKJO12wn/s320/lafiorentinalibraryjoined.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Library at La Fiorentina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLJ9xPQXQOo3Jo-SzEJecLj6MsYYdqCMD-ruIEOsf-gXvW3ZIoOG4jckDRoV6jkGeBQEPsPoKJcwynwDYegn0QHpNgSwZf0X-ZuVwa7biHjJnBmvjW7JlJasmEGtRHZavCvyfxFX4Jtiy/s1600/cameronmenerbesgarden8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLJ9xPQXQOo3Jo-SzEJecLj6MsYYdqCMD-ruIEOsf-gXvW3ZIoOG4jckDRoV6jkGeBQEPsPoKJcwynwDYegn0QHpNgSwZf0X-ZuVwa7biHjJnBmvjW7JlJasmEGtRHZavCvyfxFX4Jtiy/s320/cameronmenerbesgarden8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rory Cameron's retreat at Menerbes, his last house in France,<br />
its terrace had a spectacular inland view.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQecWOaaz2jiRJ45ggoURkLu0X8NU5dC8r8cJXAarY_Xr8IJZ2RaxI5HN1si1NXwpglnqKfmFDJG6v1nHVOWECmAydPLb0PQtvZYqJq25I1838zfI4eLRktlntwR3xZKI9dicQQ54Te81/s1600/IMG_2995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQecWOaaz2jiRJ45ggoURkLu0X8NU5dC8r8cJXAarY_Xr8IJZ2RaxI5HN1si1NXwpglnqKfmFDJG6v1nHVOWECmAydPLb0PQtvZYqJq25I1838zfI4eLRktlntwR3xZKI9dicQQ54Te81/s320/IMG_2995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0JzkFZmyKUZdD2zg99fJcSt4wzo7pOoTSQ71iBofqz1DprU418YuSsSq6vP3y0zlEHyG1A90oTXgQxFcuuCVt2Ys7_znlMksxWKsfywKHjOv46o9UXzTjREINgrWybdIsoZzGjpkAoCw/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0JzkFZmyKUZdD2zg99fJcSt4wzo7pOoTSQ71iBofqz1DprU418YuSsSq6vP3y0zlEHyG1A90oTXgQxFcuuCVt2Ys7_znlMksxWKsfywKHjOv46o9UXzTjREINgrWybdIsoZzGjpkAoCw/s320/IMG_2997.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1YOoaslvuT83WvVa4GJW2MJb78qLEGyQyw0zLsb8bSGsa20LbkmVX9O3-KkPOg_ixOjctpmXHQlEcHLALitCHUM9RcEAAvJmh6IAO750XZmGEuyCDZ7BNlPE_sajdlMrTXtRseoQXXaz/s1600/IMG_2998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1YOoaslvuT83WvVa4GJW2MJb78qLEGyQyw0zLsb8bSGsa20LbkmVX9O3-KkPOg_ixOjctpmXHQlEcHLALitCHUM9RcEAAvJmh6IAO750XZmGEuyCDZ7BNlPE_sajdlMrTXtRseoQXXaz/s320/IMG_2998.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-67265422675374021582011-01-22T11:07:00.020-05:002011-01-22T12:17:35.074-05:00Britwell House: David Hick's Country House2010 was a banner year for huge coffee table tomes about famous and influential decorators: Billy Baldwin, Mark Hampton, Madeleine Castaing, Syrie Maugham each got comprehensive coverage and in The Great Lady Decorators, we get a lavishly illustrated treatment of the cream of the 20th century's crop.<br />
<br />
But I'm reading and studying David Hicks: A Life of Design written by his son, Ashley, and released in 2009. Part family history and biography and in-depth exploration of his father's design work for himself and others, this is a superbly written account of a fascinating personality. In an odd way you never feel quite close to the real David Hicks throughout but you can't wait to see and hear what he will do next. The persona and the work are everything here: the person is composed of these two elements, so a portrait of Hicks is really achieved by examining his life's work and the very public life he led. Reviewers may cavil at his snobbery, publicity-seeking, and social-climbing but these are beside the point. He had genius and his genius clears the slate.<br />
<br />
His son has wisely taken an amused stance on his father's personal shortcomings by never directly addressing them. A book such as this would be spoiled entirely by some dry assessment of character. Ashley Hicks has managed to satisfy the reader's curiosity about the man while offering a complete retrospective of his design work, including extensive coverage of Hicks' many homes, London apartments and shops.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMKrlC42mmUZD77BJUNfit5mVExYuNb7ygU2Ktn-5ukh-kVWGAoxkzzC07rj7fUNH6qPRJhlyUQVEkt2EsH56CMYlD8yTdLhCR06tfu2Zf0jsPAeBt7QK_H1Hllkzqtkvf1OOYkJ_sEkH/s1600/1dfhgrfc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMKrlC42mmUZD77BJUNfit5mVExYuNb7ygU2Ktn-5ukh-kVWGAoxkzzC07rj7fUNH6qPRJhlyUQVEkt2EsH56CMYlD8yTdLhCR06tfu2Zf0jsPAeBt7QK_H1Hllkzqtkvf1OOYkJ_sEkH/s400/1dfhgrfc.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Britwell House, 1728.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5Hk5EnPUnVEQPEgw4zb0G-TLXuUInSeTvSlW2BVup89H_U5tiP6oq187JDVqTvdmN3FkGuQNsmX82bCQ-y-2YqM0zDg0QpO3TZTzRDMOAHxqGkWHZTRCa-2qdF-nO4YaWOaS04mYSmRp/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5Hk5EnPUnVEQPEgw4zb0G-TLXuUInSeTvSlW2BVup89H_U5tiP6oq187JDVqTvdmN3FkGuQNsmX82bCQ-y-2YqM0zDg0QpO3TZTzRDMOAHxqGkWHZTRCa-2qdF-nO4YaWOaS04mYSmRp/s400/Picture+2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Overview of Britwell House and garden. Hicks dug a canal and<br />
added the lime walk bordering it. You can see the canal at left<br />
in the aerial photograph.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA2lRUs2IOp9uZOKf_uWhRe7lLgbh8DfXwV-tlbMEn2tPqJDXuphT-hld3D1S-GSR-AJiDW-slCRytHqAaC577BPLuJ5u32IaAfWHVS934htj6CtWbBdG1iWsNKsNjd-BninzxWMBUesg/s1600/contact_img.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA2lRUs2IOp9uZOKf_uWhRe7lLgbh8DfXwV-tlbMEn2tPqJDXuphT-hld3D1S-GSR-AJiDW-slCRytHqAaC577BPLuJ5u32IaAfWHVS934htj6CtWbBdG1iWsNKsNjd-BninzxWMBUesg/s400/contact_img.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hick's reason for digging the canal was not merely decorative.<br />
He claimed such a large house needed a water supply in<br />
case of fire.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Britwell House in Oxfordshire functioned as Hicks' family home, a laboratory for design ideas, and inspiration for the evolution of his style. Purchased shortly after his marriage to Pamela Mountbatten, daughter of India's last Viceroy, Britwell was built in 1728, an early Georgian style brick mansion with early 20th century wing additions. The main features of the historic main structure are described in British Listed Buildings <a href="http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-247473-britwell-house-and-attached-walls-and-co">http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-247473-britwell-house-and-attached-walls-and-co</a> .<br />
<br />
Hicks transformed the interior by emphasizing its eighteenth century features while adding his color sense, a mix of antiques inherited by his wife, and contemporary design elements to strengthen the overall grand sweep of the rooms. The house and its contents were sold in 1979 when the tax burden and upkeep were too costly for the couple to sustain. Hicks had many other homes and haunts but Britwell was his home base and inspiration for much of his long career. Fortunately, Hicks ensured his design work was documented extensively and this affectionate portrait by his son is a fine retrospective tribute to a 20th century genius.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsrVVeuZyXCgiH_7lNFqNVeOTT49gJ9-dFQ9yCtEvcBVPDtHD18std4JC6ChaZR7ip5LfWkC7ToT89EgfEeu7KKB8w4vosuKIwT-NWxFskqksj04J04uuZ7scx6QGWEIBMWv_eUwE4w9k/s1600/DavidHicks_p091_BL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsrVVeuZyXCgiH_7lNFqNVeOTT49gJ9-dFQ9yCtEvcBVPDtHD18std4JC6ChaZR7ip5LfWkC7ToT89EgfEeu7KKB8w4vosuKIwT-NWxFskqksj04J04uuZ7scx6QGWEIBMWv_eUwE4w9k/s400/DavidHicks_p091_BL.jpg" width="385" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hicks' library at Britwell with his signature geometric patterned<br />
carpet, black walls and black-bordered Roman shade supported<br />
by rich red tones of leather book bindings, desk chair, and<br />
red leather chair cushion.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIqJr8PxfG7sZqICt5zIkwncDsF1NBXFrmTzdE02AuD6NvzWvVEwfsSUROQIVXrIZwjNF8pUjiXsP7vxhxAB-kDT0imE4DhJrc6d3GB0XkFa9MWYuX7Mhrl7sqojeWkppj3XusunbbLBV/s1600/Picture+14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIqJr8PxfG7sZqICt5zIkwncDsF1NBXFrmTzdE02AuD6NvzWvVEwfsSUROQIVXrIZwjNF8pUjiXsP7vxhxAB-kDT0imE4DhJrc6d3GB0XkFa9MWYuX7Mhrl7sqojeWkppj3XusunbbLBV/s400/Picture+14.png" width="290" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hicks created one of his famous tablescapes</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">using his own posessions for the cover of</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sotheby's </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sale catalog.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMd4c0Y5f6Di_pqpvy015-Ou0MuxHmJMjEfP1cJIxyg585r5vFpR4vs08J_kMgOF_G0oN7y5734N5DQ-o_MJ8X85IDJAvaQ-6NyDpmUG64uVMjlLU-GXIMo6Ex4Pw0SwmgXaiiXIKSSX9/s1600/5hbtefc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMd4c0Y5f6Di_pqpvy015-Ou0MuxHmJMjEfP1cJIxyg585r5vFpR4vs08J_kMgOF_G0oN7y5734N5DQ-o_MJ8X85IDJAvaQ-6NyDpmUG64uVMjlLU-GXIMo6Ex4Pw0SwmgXaiiXIKSSX9/s320/5hbtefc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Front Drive with column. Britwell is now a wedding venue;</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> hence the bride and groom.</span></span></td></tr>
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</span></span></div></div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-90594532086448344742011-01-17T11:44:00.002-05:002011-01-17T11:51:15.580-05:00Adaptive Re-use: Bar CabinetAll species have to adapt to survive. This is true of furniture as well as human beings. When we moved into our house eight years ago, my partner had a lot of inherited furniture that he had gone to great expense to refinish and care for over the years. One tricky problem was that he had two dining room sets, one from each grandmother. We ended up using almost all of the pieces in these sets but this post is about one particular item and how it evolved into a useful and functional part of our lives.<br />
One of the dining room sets dates from the early 1900s; the style is very old-fashioned William and Mary with baroque stretchers and elaborate carving. It's a good thing he had it all refinished as it's not to my personal taste at all, but the refinishing exposed beautiful wood and inlay.<br />
<br />
Early 20th century reproductions prior to the 1930s often copied William and Mary pieces and usually added a lot of imaginary detail with little relation to the historical period. A entire room furnished in this style would feel heavy, overdone, and antiquated. I wasn't sure we could use any of this stuff in the new house. I argued against it even before it arrived from storage on moving day. The only piece I had my eye on was a large two-door cabinet meant for china display in a dining room. We had selected his other grandmother's set for our dining room, so this china cabinet was up for grabs. He wanted to use it for china and place it in the center hall near the doorway into the dining room. I argued that it was over-scaled for the hall and would look terrible right inside the door, basically stopping traffic whenever anyone entered through the front door. We already had a huge china cabinet, a server and sideboard stuffed with china in the dining room proper. The rest of the china could go into a large basement cupboard. I had another idea.<br />
We like to entertain, we like cocktails, and we are both very good bartenders who enjoy making classic and vintage drink recipes. We have a lot of glassware and bar paraphernalia. What better use to make of the tall standing cabinet than as a home bar? I wasn't crazy about the idea of actually keeping the liquor in the cabinet. I wanted it equipped with all the specialty cocktail glasses we had collected, bar tools, stirrers, shakers, trays, cracker holders, all the serverware needed for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres we would be serving in the living room. I also knew the living room needed a tall case good piece on the far wall to balance out another tall cabinet-desk across the room that contained my partner's collection of porcelain and ceramic figurines and some prized books.<br />
After some initial resistance, my partner saw the light and has been very pleased with our bar cabinet ever since. Guests always peer inside curiously when we open it to take out the cocktail glasses and men always wax enthusiastic when they see it. What do you think?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7FyjXZWLbbQKnPJbljQI0iUgvoP7Zei7Mn8i0hiMN800HrBy7mFS00jHT-o-4Lt-yLW-5Ln2T0-LRdOh0yS1wzD8lIiiKrXkjJc1eXViMQozIvmBBgjjKIx-BTdXNWq8QVhJO1xeTWVR/s1600/living+room+3+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7FyjXZWLbbQKnPJbljQI0iUgvoP7Zei7Mn8i0hiMN800HrBy7mFS00jHT-o-4Lt-yLW-5Ln2T0-LRdOh0yS1wzD8lIiiKrXkjJc1eXViMQozIvmBBgjjKIx-BTdXNWq8QVhJO1xeTWVR/s400/living+room+3+%25232.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bar cabinet at right. A large ottoman used as a cocktail table sits<br />
between the two loveseats and the fireplace (not pictured)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4qbtBXV4JLQlTPUhyDzrc4SJU1sRUn2p_6bySYYn5zCVAvR6PWIxVrQpU3v9V3xE42pEcPhyISeozzRRcqhDdVSj8aE6kgqM_59_BGvnQG8QHWGh3GzvzJeJYg1QEg_zfYDfIAr3hm8P/s1600/432387275103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4qbtBXV4JLQlTPUhyDzrc4SJU1sRUn2p_6bySYYn5zCVAvR6PWIxVrQpU3v9V3xE42pEcPhyISeozzRRcqhDdVSj8aE6kgqM_59_BGvnQG8QHWGh3GzvzJeJYg1QEg_zfYDfIAr3hm8P/s400/432387275103.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The heavy scrollwork and ornate<br />
stretchers and baroque hardware make a<br />
strong statement.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyAlgmKACHaUO3V33jfHSEcIZsLkCNJ5OSEEm6bY-HN1qZI-mmS54fX5V9CrPVxzLk2yvIuZpy8BtPmU582QNpUVNLK-72xiQSliQ_wGPyJL9FmfL-DRNUHLh2gZMit9wQjz81M7nmhID/s1600/247977275103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyAlgmKACHaUO3V33jfHSEcIZsLkCNJ5OSEEm6bY-HN1qZI-mmS54fX5V9CrPVxzLk2yvIuZpy8BtPmU582QNpUVNLK-72xiQSliQ_wGPyJL9FmfL-DRNUHLh2gZMit9wQjz81M7nmhID/s320/247977275103.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The base liquors are in decanters on a table by a window.<br />
The cabinet stores glassware, cocktail shakers, some liqueurs,<br />
vermouths, and bitters.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_q-VFrS0rLobHUNJypQMW76OKB4ZIfvmeJAWWtJrP3vVSpuTUVuH-8xzXOTsw7W_ByPK7BUaEC8jmq8xYpPrI5gj7rLmCl0bMJBcPMujr7gKqzvjttIFspVM8prKJwZY61Oj5jtIdAmQ/s1600/323287275103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_q-VFrS0rLobHUNJypQMW76OKB4ZIfvmeJAWWtJrP3vVSpuTUVuH-8xzXOTsw7W_ByPK7BUaEC8jmq8xYpPrI5gj7rLmCl0bMJBcPMujr7gKqzvjttIFspVM8prKJwZY61Oj5jtIdAmQ/s400/323287275103.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of cocktails shakers, glassware, and<br />
bar tools</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGLz9L51MZm43ClRZK0pO_Gst_GkSXZqOQMGUNVldyxuYVbhK6WzaKCyYQu5q6A1hkOVs-bSBICv6taIoMQu2wP2HRTdnAzZhvvAthviBxb1v_sDJUuwmgUjFWUP3TkwxFRzShcb6qU5G/s1600/338187275103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGLz9L51MZm43ClRZK0pO_Gst_GkSXZqOQMGUNVldyxuYVbhK6WzaKCyYQu5q6A1hkOVs-bSBICv6taIoMQu2wP2HRTdnAzZhvvAthviBxb1v_sDJUuwmgUjFWUP3TkwxFRzShcb6qU5G/s400/338187275103.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Specialty glassware for Manhattans, sours, martinis, sherry, liqueurs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lesson learned: The cabinet adapted to our way of life and earned its keep in a very prominent place in our home. I learned to get over my initial dislike of the entire William and Mary style and appreciate the strong statement this very personal piece makes and found a way to love it. My partner always appreciated it but more so now that it plays a big role in our everyday lives. A decorating win-win for all concerned.designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-44271551073422772612011-01-16T12:21:00.011-05:002011-01-16T17:03:52.851-05:00Cigarettes and tablesettingsForget your political correctness for a moment. I am a non-smoker; in fact, I never learned to properly inhale so I literally cannot smoke, even if I wanted to. Having confessed this much, I also don't object to guests who want to enjoy a cigarette with cocktails or after dinner. I don't banish them from the house for this purpose. It's rude. Don't argue with me about it and don't rush in with warnings of the danger of second-hand smoke inhalation. I know all about it; I don't deny it's validity. I just can't be rude to guests.<br />
So if I die from it, it's my business. This is all by way of preface to my actual topic which is smoking at table.<br />
Smoking at table was as common as smoking everywhere else was the norm (at the office, in hospitals, etc.) up until the mid 1980s when anti-smoking campaigns turned ugly and cutthroat. I have memories of people in restaurants smoking throughout their meal while some elected to wait until that moment of rest between the meal proper and dessert. I have noted in vintage etiquette books that smoking during dinner was frowned upon in private homes where you were an invited guest. The consensus seems to be that the classic moment for cigarettes was before dessert was served as this was a natural time let your food settle and relax before the sweet was brought on. So how did hostesses provide for their smoking guests when entertaining ?<br />
I collect every vintage book I can find about table setting. There is an extraordinary abundance of such titles published between 1940 and 1969 as these were the earliest books about entertaining, lavishly illustrated with photographs and exhaustive coverage of how to lay the table from cloth to china, napery, flatware, floral arrangements and even decorative objects artistically placed to give your dinner, luncheon, or buffet a theme.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eszknGFDAHfKo91-EvxmqHqE_o4ynqc2HzhT7vcPmfN9JBTCCTim4dO8hDp80MX4v9m2m3MNILTCaZQ2d6exPY_mp696aJ3KOLZfSlFw4OCTO-99HM3Log3knTYcQ91GfLrs_aWW6ZCR/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eszknGFDAHfKo91-EvxmqHqE_o4ynqc2HzhT7vcPmfN9JBTCCTim4dO8hDp80MX4v9m2m3MNILTCaZQ2d6exPY_mp696aJ3KOLZfSlFw4OCTO-99HM3Log3knTYcQ91GfLrs_aWW6ZCR/s320/IMG_0611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Most of those titles I own do not discuss or show a table setting with smoking articles. The one exception that proves the rule is the classic Tiffany Table Settings (1960) which reveals an obsession with finding creative ways to provide the smokes and the igniters at table. This book deserves its own blog to analyze its contents, it teachings, its thinly-veiled snobbery and it's self-serving merchandising but I have no quarrel with those aspects of this work. This post is to bring back a moment in history when the socially ambitious hostess aspired to entertain in the same manner as the elite society dames whose ideas are purveyed in this work. And Tiffany was selling a concept where the table not only boasted of fine china and cutlery but decorative objects that Tiffany could sell also graced your table. This included all manner of high-end containers for cigarettes and matches or table lighters. See for yourself.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpf7qo97j31uZTNJIjyPPYm8l0AdqI9JlgF8fIc-H0cng0cVeVu2-EYYDofQ6Gu5N7J5yJpY8ZZMVtSYVMWcDM5RXwwqHIq4ZOS89qoyE6VoyFkBifuSeMKT0kjqJltrzI44kWDlD9T6t/s1600/IMG_0614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpf7qo97j31uZTNJIjyPPYm8l0AdqI9JlgF8fIc-H0cng0cVeVu2-EYYDofQ6Gu5N7J5yJpY8ZZMVtSYVMWcDM5RXwwqHIq4ZOS89qoyE6VoyFkBifuSeMKT0kjqJltrzI44kWDlD9T6t/s400/IMG_0614.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vermeil cup holding cigarettes. The shell salt cellars must be intended<br />
for ashtrays since there is a sterling salt and pepper set by the centerpiece.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VVh_rYx4aXv6I4kjNSYuyNZOLfEMZafaUHu2q8w_SMKRZhVXCaQrVKqL6qDQHCtGllU6FtlNZ1D_P8HhFJWmfvUHsGICL8mH1-0HN2W94G354Ln3Pq0U7mjXeADepjVxURqJzclJc0kH/s1600/IMG_0615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VVh_rYx4aXv6I4kjNSYuyNZOLfEMZafaUHu2q8w_SMKRZhVXCaQrVKqL6qDQHCtGllU6FtlNZ1D_P8HhFJWmfvUHsGICL8mH1-0HN2W94G354Ln3Pq0U7mjXeADepjVxURqJzclJc0kH/s400/IMG_0615.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Sterling cup and saucer for the smokes. The rhinoceros figurines<br />
were a Tiffany exclusive. Throughout the book they promote their<br />
commissioned animal figurine collection by an Italian artist, specially<br />
designed for "table decorations and centerpiece themes" but to "fit in with<br />
equal ease into any part of the decor of the home."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgn59lzpDzaJMEVO_hJz5ZKmBZDTgtqulGfx8gMKvt7sL0A97THxwLVweo1Ic_vx8l_1u0h6PPoU4wnYJj810UJWAqUWh6gDHy9xblPAALrVZceDVnFzMdpQ1oIHxzLpBh5WfF-7aYlIU/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgn59lzpDzaJMEVO_hJz5ZKmBZDTgtqulGfx8gMKvt7sL0A97THxwLVweo1Ic_vx8l_1u0h6PPoU4wnYJj810UJWAqUWh6gDHy9xblPAALrVZceDVnFzMdpQ1oIHxzLpBh5WfF-7aYlIU/s400/IMG_0616.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here the shell salt cellar holds the cigarettes with a table ligter discretely<br />
tucked behind</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YG1Sonl6AbLGadfgnsxnbnQMio1W5hGA-C0r2Y-on3vtIsXw7YAn5ZL5BtEeL4Xiwb3dOTJpAPcWOsiAmvpY0-YKdgnajX5UjgQP236jG5X5ey0mwKMXafaS0QsHS8ZW-COWyRC8dUuR/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YG1Sonl6AbLGadfgnsxnbnQMio1W5hGA-C0r2Y-on3vtIsXw7YAn5ZL5BtEeL4Xiwb3dOTJpAPcWOsiAmvpY0-YKdgnajX5UjgQP236jG5X5ey0mwKMXafaS0QsHS8ZW-COWyRC8dUuR/s400/IMG_0617.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. J. Gordon Douglas uses her 18th century table ornaments, including<br />
"a pair of sterling wine-tasters, doubling as ashtrays."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0FQzML6SKRelo-w-GbFzECDrh_sBK5VdZas4nMDkOfoLFDtEz3ZxNLgzQOLMdmkGTlFee5OMrkc11oTp92v2aHHabPVOfBHcJKUOLHVGxraqrodofcKQP7_OtXvusly2g98Sy08oRGzY/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0FQzML6SKRelo-w-GbFzECDrh_sBK5VdZas4nMDkOfoLFDtEz3ZxNLgzQOLMdmkGTlFee5OMrkc11oTp92v2aHHabPVOfBHcJKUOLHVGxraqrodofcKQP7_OtXvusly2g98Sy08oRGzY/s400/IMG_0619.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Understated modern crystal bowls for the smokes in a Baroque setting with<br />
Capo di Monte porcelain centerpiece. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3GkQ950EJbSxSafKxNlZKyncRHTwRQQjoKGd901DbamWUuPzY2zl2K-hqata4FbqV3xtAcQl2RBZp0F4b_AO8OSYW81ykiCSgZty_P4HIm9GPTlxpavyyGWEj-LGtwFkXua3FN79PcM3/s1600/IMG_0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3GkQ950EJbSxSafKxNlZKyncRHTwRQQjoKGd901DbamWUuPzY2zl2K-hqata4FbqV3xtAcQl2RBZp0F4b_AO8OSYW81ykiCSgZty_P4HIm9GPTlxpavyyGWEj-LGtwFkXua3FN79PcM3/s400/IMG_0621.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Yellow daisies ...mixed with cigarettes in black basalt<br />
demitasse cups provide the perfect decorative accent."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mQ41siQw8cUKgzaLtdzQh31VYHzvURqNhIMA-lWjcfbNTUXD5pDCNs18whOkYC0Y33ODVLHb1SEtw6WrV3JImjnx7i_X3DTVv19yWiusv712w8GDtZJwkWCvMrcyMJjayaqWtpa9tjFU/s1600/IMG_0623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mQ41siQw8cUKgzaLtdzQh31VYHzvURqNhIMA-lWjcfbNTUXD5pDCNs18whOkYC0Y33ODVLHb1SEtw6WrV3JImjnx7i_X3DTVv19yWiusv712w8GDtZJwkWCvMrcyMJjayaqWtpa9tjFU/s400/IMG_0623.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unbridled genius! Note the sterling porringers used for ashtrays and jiggers<br />
to contain the cigarettes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZyxun2hEF-zrkojHFFuyghAnMqkoKoOfOisGZn6Y34H83taOTHiSaKqMyAdozQj0yP24Rt8Ju5XO_bp9zKNe8xM1feeWNnFmEz-uB-kxYThRPZUsPdd_BGSO6IzOvTKgNKgo40UroIou/s1600/IMG_0624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZyxun2hEF-zrkojHFFuyghAnMqkoKoOfOisGZn6Y34H83taOTHiSaKqMyAdozQj0yP24Rt8Ju5XO_bp9zKNe8xM1feeWNnFmEz-uB-kxYThRPZUsPdd_BGSO6IzOvTKgNKgo40UroIou/s400/IMG_0624.JPG" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plain undecorated crystal for the cigarette urns and ashtrays. A perfectly<br />
simple Summer Table (of course, the crystal is Tiffany)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-35305318550533552862011-01-14T21:36:00.016-05:002011-01-22T10:19:30.774-05:00Guilty Pleasure: Hotel 1967<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> We go to the movies about every 8 years or so when something worth venturing out and sitting in a crowd of Nacho-eating, cell phone barking contemporaries coaxes us out of our sleeping beauty hibernation. We saw "The King's Speech" a few weeks ago when my partner was in town for the holidays and loved it. Of course we did; it's a throwback to an era that is dead as a doornail. And no patrons that night at the Tara Theatre in Atlanta had nachos! An enchanting evening for us, indeed!<br />
<div>But the point of this post is I'm kicking off a new feature here called "guilty pleasure" because even though I know the stuff I'm presenting is culturally suspect or even verging on camp, it's a nice category to plug my taste for over the top excess. Watching a film like 1967's Hotel with Merle Oberon, Michael Rennie, Karl Malden, Rod Taylor, Melvyn Douglas and onscreen appearance by the immortal jazz singer Carmen McRae deserves its own place here. It satisfies a craving for the look and feel of the early 1960s with its decor, costume, jewelry, hairstyles and, an added bonus, takes place in glamorous New Orleans hotel in the late 1960s before everything went south in the worst sense. Better yet, my old VHS verison of this flic is now on Turner Classic Movie's archival on-demand dvd list and I bought a widescreen version on DVD where I will finally get to see the director's cut instead of the pan and scan hatchet job on the VHS. Film fans, rejoice. The first all-star disaster pic of the era, HOTEL, 1967, directed by Richard Quine. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r6d77hLmW-OGkCbXrP96BMeS8DxGOS5rD_LNIrdfLcJFBjt8XsYfQcU7oyhD8DRJUJWxhqsQd6U66w6LOS-YPrhYsaNTjjygotaR_82j0y28815JMZtGegddbjTyjuSVb56I0kkmzsev/s1600/MPW-11201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r6d77hLmW-OGkCbXrP96BMeS8DxGOS5rD_LNIrdfLcJFBjt8XsYfQcU7oyhD8DRJUJWxhqsQd6U66w6LOS-YPrhYsaNTjjygotaR_82j0y28815JMZtGegddbjTyjuSVb56I0kkmzsev/s320/MPW-11201.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Star Extravaganza 1967-style</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCAFycbBwEuqZVe4lxdEbQsJl-QbXLFJvwDGQti4iG_si-B0uLuu33AOuAqQjYYvhlnnUFyakzzyw6oqRNAjsy9juRU1zbP2mqh6QwmZug98IN_hDHvJsWsM3sBy-xJapjoho3ySqYlZc/s1600/1967_HOTEL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCAFycbBwEuqZVe4lxdEbQsJl-QbXLFJvwDGQti4iG_si-B0uLuu33AOuAqQjYYvhlnnUFyakzzyw6oqRNAjsy9juRU1zbP2mqh6QwmZug98IN_hDHvJsWsM3sBy-xJapjoho3ySqYlZc/s320/1967_HOTEL.JPG" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of between the sheets<br />
scenes in this ad</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1UGyOfcB4WGdIYVRRoSKIbwGpB5n6nsYIx-z0tpvfG3kYtkiq8ChXISQo92B3LAENTfDAhBslQGySgbMgMN9rp8tpUfQ_wNR8pHJK9trtwD55PeGXDt5xHCoqp_vcgvEZ3117eF9fxYZ/s1600/70spaak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1UGyOfcB4WGdIYVRRoSKIbwGpB5n6nsYIx-z0tpvfG3kYtkiq8ChXISQo92B3LAENTfDAhBslQGySgbMgMN9rp8tpUfQ_wNR8pHJK9trtwD55PeGXDt5xHCoqp_vcgvEZ3117eF9fxYZ/s320/70spaak.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine Spaak. European. Divine. Sexy and 60s chic. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWtbHuyDenGOLIo2NW9-Pf0JHWaE057qRA5R3Y0Po4PTI-N2JFW8iCUb0tJQQCz970UjvkbFRlzREGjoM1xAjo2TGZmH8lJHorrIbvN0K5Cukf-uXVcNhuB2IUtHepJzEWX08bnsSs3Lh/s1600/2064926%252CMqveFMRzikFV7Hc_8n63Uc1ipmVb1vLp9msrFhS3XaFwpWgi6UYEvgJgPeOS3%25E4%25BC%25B3%25EF%25AE%25AA%25EA%25B0%2582%25E7%2582%25BC%25E8%25B8%258D%25ED%2591%25BB%25EF%259F%259D%25EB%2591%259E%25E3%258E%25B0%253D%253D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWtbHuyDenGOLIo2NW9-Pf0JHWaE057qRA5R3Y0Po4PTI-N2JFW8iCUb0tJQQCz970UjvkbFRlzREGjoM1xAjo2TGZmH8lJHorrIbvN0K5Cukf-uXVcNhuB2IUtHepJzEWX08bnsSs3Lh/s320/2064926%252CMqveFMRzikFV7Hc_8n63Uc1ipmVb1vLp9msrFhS3XaFwpWgi6UYEvgJgPeOS3%25E4%25BC%25B3%25EF%25AE%25AA%25EA%25B0%2582%25E7%2582%25BC%25E8%25B8%258D%25ED%2591%25BB%25EF%259F%259D%25EB%2591%259E%25E3%258E%25B0%253D%253D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's corporate Raider, Kevin McCarthy's mistress and has her<br />
own bedroom in their suite but she's into hotel manager, Rod<br />
Taylor and doesn't want him to sell out to her boyfriend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJdpyrVS7qWKVCaabkj0cNi5Te8trE9E8e-eB3qRmBslSQWvDyuXqGEUdPvZ0QxzkcgAAPBT2tNnUCnrRP1IXHer7EP7F27G6_kcqUzYJEAgufo2SFSaR9c57UPu1CNTNrW-Hw4fUoTxx/s1600/catherine+spaak-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJdpyrVS7qWKVCaabkj0cNi5Te8trE9E8e-eB3qRmBslSQWvDyuXqGEUdPvZ0QxzkcgAAPBT2tNnUCnrRP1IXHer7EP7F27G6_kcqUzYJEAgufo2SFSaR9c57UPu1CNTNrW-Hw4fUoTxx/s320/catherine+spaak-004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hats, gloves, jackets. jewels, the works. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBarAVfbtMDmw9jk6quSG8795G2JnwXrFl3YJmhlb7CnMxMQeGgqJ_fE_lrS_CQ4OewSGGYRBt4atrgV0BRs53pnjI6ao4dljjbZbsu-Ao1ViXd-R08oFHh8C47TmOwZouW54TA0l2tSs/s1600/hotel_spaak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBarAVfbtMDmw9jk6quSG8795G2JnwXrFl3YJmhlb7CnMxMQeGgqJ_fE_lrS_CQ4OewSGGYRBt4atrgV0BRs53pnjI6ao4dljjbZbsu-Ao1ViXd-R08oFHh8C47TmOwZouW54TA0l2tSs/s320/hotel_spaak.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So she's all buttoned-up in this scene (Chanel or Dior?)<br />
but in just a few screen moments she will shed all the<br />
couture wrappings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FDUHPjZc6MDZabxtp_ch_nxPUBRX6yL-L9Gv8QGTHHgvEgC0j-M2T4D8ZHxSz9eHFKqsaoi-ihQFDxHK8KRLx0mcyJ3k9ZhKG4qlZ4JysqYavwui7IQgZxzNPcCYAvBgP3-6FbrjUEgn/s1600/hotel_street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FDUHPjZc6MDZabxtp_ch_nxPUBRX6yL-L9Gv8QGTHHgvEgC0j-M2T4D8ZHxSz9eHFKqsaoi-ihQFDxHK8KRLx0mcyJ3k9ZhKG4qlZ4JysqYavwui7IQgZxzNPcCYAvBgP3-6FbrjUEgn/s320/hotel_street.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's her guy, even though he's not. After an innocent lunch<br />
in the French quarter she asks to see his apartment.<br />
He obliges and the haute couture outfit comes off in a flash.<br />
That's sixtie's romance, folks! And how great is that?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55l19pQrewV9MWa5jOKvVC62zC2ngcM-xYamd80htdEasfFe38o8zOHY_KTPs8qPBnugBbDqMqRyHfb_KGW_yXerj33PQiNXmTij_JR_FVAOlpbOWWLARU6RXKr-QbEXRk0kFEqPe6sTN/s1600/MO07b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55l19pQrewV9MWa5jOKvVC62zC2ngcM-xYamd80htdEasfFe38o8zOHY_KTPs8qPBnugBbDqMqRyHfb_KGW_yXerj33PQiNXmTij_JR_FVAOlpbOWWLARU6RXKr-QbEXRk0kFEqPe6sTN/s320/MO07b.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merle Oberon plays the Duchess, paired with Michael<br />
Rennie's Duke. He's up for some ambassadorial<br />
post in Washington but he's run over some poor<br />
kid in a hit and run and the Duchess is spinning<br />
fast to make it good and get his car fixed and driven<br />
to DC by Richard Conte for a chunk of cash.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi3bMDTxn_QM3csoaW4JK1C7Ut2jOlW-5O2r1Bw-T9KiNJRKVTYj2u84wtqocDbJx0iVfcwF0ILMiwcEZqjOjrHZRz28kmwTNz1VhRZXV1s-NnC9sYG2KaunZNSS5UcpfBsNTWeZC4YKw/s1600/MO08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi3bMDTxn_QM3csoaW4JK1C7Ut2jOlW-5O2r1Bw-T9KiNJRKVTYj2u84wtqocDbJx0iVfcwF0ILMiwcEZqjOjrHZRz28kmwTNz1VhRZXV1s-NnC9sYG2KaunZNSS5UcpfBsNTWeZC4YKw/s320/MO08.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phone fight! The Duchess is stopping the Duke from reporting<br />
his hit and run so they can move on and get back to a fabulous<br />
life of schmoozing on the British government payroll.<br />
They are impersonating the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The<br />
plot may be thin but the impersonations are dead-on. Go Merle, Go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0cn0WQO2hcP_dCLyG8j779MtWFKbryOG0Qi-FvSYDsfagVC7lDuH3dhxf47p0d58RLhXWDZmCsID7XbTeGembS1Qi81nH-WpYLGoI7-pYDNh9rRTFpycuDjl5TTaw-OCWX50n7XKlHDG/s1600/MO08d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0cn0WQO2hcP_dCLyG8j779MtWFKbryOG0Qi-FvSYDsfagVC7lDuH3dhxf47p0d58RLhXWDZmCsID7XbTeGembS1Qi81nH-WpYLGoI7-pYDNh9rRTFpycuDjl5TTaw-OCWX50n7XKlHDG/s320/MO08d.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That necklace is the real star and Merle Oberon knows it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IBMnr6qeA2e3tNZCBLBElLtj_8mXNT2YLk2scp9zZB9BIAQeu9LiS2vk-QqKQsvhcEflHu9cvvddZ0yFTwQ4on9O-PV8UmAsnZ6jMdXGPRv1LUkq61Bc_ptpZRQ1pcTtM8LITZEbjWPB/s1600/vlcsnap2010122310h22m13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IBMnr6qeA2e3tNZCBLBElLtj_8mXNT2YLk2scp9zZB9BIAQeu9LiS2vk-QqKQsvhcEflHu9cvvddZ0yFTwQ4on9O-PV8UmAsnZ6jMdXGPRv1LUkq61Bc_ptpZRQ1pcTtM8LITZEbjWPB/s320/vlcsnap2010122310h22m13.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Class Act, all the way around. Forget the Royal Suite and<br />
the couture gown. The Jewellry says it all!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTS4VXVIXfFGBnxKOaQtkmmL2t5O5jMehE8_gqo2GJz5IlLuIktqvPMNxz-78vwJ0DShOjo-4XXvnVotNDSLedXzbi_tTD4FPVR1BNDRZnqUfsitZQowRTvv3TXH-pTGJWZ0MLVh9OVcx/s1600/vlcsnap2010122310h22m21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTS4VXVIXfFGBnxKOaQtkmmL2t5O5jMehE8_gqo2GJz5IlLuIktqvPMNxz-78vwJ0DShOjo-4XXvnVotNDSLedXzbi_tTD4FPVR1BNDRZnqUfsitZQowRTvv3TXH-pTGJWZ0MLVh9OVcx/s320/vlcsnap2010122310h22m21.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard Conte is Chief of Security for the Hotel St. Gregory,<br />
New Orleans. Rod Taylor, Hotel Manager, hates his<br />
guts but has to deal. Conte is shielding the Duke and Duchess<br />
on the hit and run charge for a payoff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDkfLD4sXMRjc4M3Z8IXyl1IyL3poMegGArB-_i3MFg3RWmbdCvYaKPBdf-9-sOeTVeT7sXE1fb0QZriJZh8mJw3QSswkvJ8giAG216qmFcH7RMhn59APt1NaIM9nTxY1ObMSvMWRXw-N/s1600/vlcsnap2010122310h22m30.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDkfLD4sXMRjc4M3Z8IXyl1IyL3poMegGArB-_i3MFg3RWmbdCvYaKPBdf-9-sOeTVeT7sXE1fb0QZriJZh8mJw3QSswkvJ8giAG216qmFcH7RMhn59APt1NaIM9nTxY1ObMSvMWRXw-N/s320/vlcsnap2010122310h22m30.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the payoff promise. Duchess sneaks off to a louche<br />
French Quarter backstreet to meet her "Security Chief"<br />
and bribe him with fifty grand to get that damn car<br />
out of town and into DC for them before the Duke<br />
gets busted.<br />
Check out her big shades and the baby blue pillbox hat<br />
and matching tailored outfit. You have to see Merle's wardrobe<br />
and hair to believe it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FsRtHZascxOj3nvAUaLf0pkul9SnRXgyvNFFo2Om8Qj2eIkJZUjr4N4eWqilkmSCE6-QhyZRivzgtlhNDa7reoaRDkHKGInPVFqNnPODCG5vrDirDThlrVnWyyFDZaLjxDa5Cxh-BZFU/s1600/2064925%252CB5jGH8SUJdtW9mW4BIbKPtiqzHTDZzEtgHM7pp77xTJdMf3pUgk7xLDXZ8tKvlDi1H1IAfmPU7pckuW_8sNCwg%253D%253D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FsRtHZascxOj3nvAUaLf0pkul9SnRXgyvNFFo2Om8Qj2eIkJZUjr4N4eWqilkmSCE6-QhyZRivzgtlhNDa7reoaRDkHKGInPVFqNnPODCG5vrDirDThlrVnWyyFDZaLjxDa5Cxh-BZFU/s320/2064925%252CB5jGH8SUJdtW9mW4BIbKPtiqzHTDZzEtgHM7pp77xTJdMf3pUgk7xLDXZ8tKvlDi1H1IAfmPU7pckuW_8sNCwg%253D%253D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why did I call it a disaster flic? Well, the glamorous St. Gregoy<br />
Hotel needs to have it's elevators inspected more often. Cant' spoil<br />
the ending but it's a tearjerker, par excellence! That's Karl<br />
Malden as a comic hotel thief who never gets a big take<br />
until he grabs the Duke's briefcase!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
OK, I warned you. I said it was guilty pleasure. Try it and see if you don't OD on the over the top excess of it all.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxFwzKhNWtAEKiDPSMg1xel8386aG1Wid8pwIfmbWrD_7bZE7iO1NCdDOfhn5XTYUtICo-cMeni-KrrJauKhNC3vy0XD3R-zjgcVEsDab69ZHMx8Zz4-UwQhkGRGu5urn4SfcU5Qi0ThF/s1600/hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxFwzKhNWtAEKiDPSMg1xel8386aG1Wid8pwIfmbWrD_7bZE7iO1NCdDOfhn5XTYUtICo-cMeni-KrrJauKhNC3vy0XD3R-zjgcVEsDab69ZHMx8Zz4-UwQhkGRGu5urn4SfcU5Qi0ThF/s320/hotel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TCM's Warner Bros. Archive release on DVD</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
</div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-89547792310084627882011-01-14T17:40:00.002-05:002011-01-16T17:11:49.830-05:00Rosemaling -- Norwegian hand-painted decorative motifsMy mother married an Iowan of Norwegian descent some years ago. He is second generation so he inherited a lot of Norwegian lore and lifestyle. They live in Florida but her husband often wears Norwegian sweaters and they possess a large collection of Norwegian arts and crafts. One object of theirs I have always lusted after is a large wooden Rosemaling tray that rests on the their huge square glass coffee table. The tray is also of grand proportions and they have books and magazines stacked inside. The design is a traditional hand-painted floral motif. The real thing from Norway can be incredibly expensive as this is a traditional folk art and its rare to find older examples. Modern artists continue the tradition but a real old-style Rosemaling object is something to treasure.<br />
Right after moving to Atlanta I scoured all the great antique and collectible spots around town for decorative objects for the apartment. I brought a long coffee table I had bought in Houston in 2000 which we had never used in the NJ Colonial house. It was in the attic used as support for bins containing Christmas decorations. I love the table. It's an authentic handmade Mexican table which I'll feature in another post. Since I brought a long Ethan Allen upholstered sofa for the apartment living room this long Mexcian table was paired with the same sofa when I had an apartment in Houston. Long story short. The table is so huge I needed a focal point and thought of a tray large enough to hold cocktail napkins, paper coasters and the media remotes for the television as my sofa faces the TV. I found the perfect tray almost as soon as I knew I needed one. It was at a great Atlanta consignment store (saving that for later post as well). The minute I spotted it I knew it was mine. It was a generous 13 x 18 inches with a 2 inch border with delicate oval cuts in the sides for handles. The colors were just right to contrast with my medium-brown stained table. The decorative motif was centered on the tray. In the center, symmetrical petals bloomed surrounded by the most delicate leaves and tendrils that resemble teardrops. What's really special about this motif are the two prominent tulip-shaped unopened buds that appear to be carvings instead of painting, giving the design very three-dimensional effect.<br />
<br />
I like to think my wooden tray is an example of Norwegian Rosemaling; the technique is used in many Scandinavian countries but differs in emphasis depending on where its made. I'm no expert and folk art is not usually my preference for decorative arts, but I know have a Rosemaling tray facing me every day on my coffee table. I don't have to envy Mom's anymore.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCk4Js8nzcOW2U5RK6sdwgSd90d7xXnZb03feq2aM-xoiKCxG8vcawRdH6ttlI6Kqrc5VMZZBTJjuPKhe0VNqIQj5rJ5oWg7zMxTjvIHU3uxI7JBcOkxY_0eIIxTomo7REUQJZKNCI1OG/s1600/IMG_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCk4Js8nzcOW2U5RK6sdwgSd90d7xXnZb03feq2aM-xoiKCxG8vcawRdH6ttlI6Kqrc5VMZZBTJjuPKhe0VNqIQj5rJ5oWg7zMxTjvIHU3uxI7JBcOkxY_0eIIxTomo7REUQJZKNCI1OG/s400/IMG_0592.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contrast with dark stain of the coffee table</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7OzjxBTs910riGu7xO6lVRCo8jHp29IHafFLtOEJDSj5oclDO1qN-mTf74zlknkqYWiz65mMdAMpoMeym5ynPa9GQB4sG93dawXG65daoeF8KiSl9HGeTaRTJFEbT1s9Ep3318AHWWIZ/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7OzjxBTs910riGu7xO6lVRCo8jHp29IHafFLtOEJDSj5oclDO1qN-mTf74zlknkqYWiz65mMdAMpoMeym5ynPa9GQB4sG93dawXG65daoeF8KiSl9HGeTaRTJFEbT1s9Ep3318AHWWIZ/s320/IMG_0593.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the tray's shape and creamy background color</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIrEJNaPf6idO5_vgXRvnVqT5qTgGxVXt8Hl75x-fIFbafbSZIjindOdZmUxYw7QneXvGiVGKbfOt-uPaLrdq6HGRmRgeT3CapJvNbpGm7zvqp-jlQ8KoUcOrbRNhhBD_DiN_uVBE7Xtj/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIrEJNaPf6idO5_vgXRvnVqT5qTgGxVXt8Hl75x-fIFbafbSZIjindOdZmUxYw7QneXvGiVGKbfOt-uPaLrdq6HGRmRgeT3CapJvNbpGm7zvqp-jlQ8KoUcOrbRNhhBD_DiN_uVBE7Xtj/s400/IMG_0596.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pink unopened tulip bulb looks sculptural with a 3-D illusion<br />
when seen from above or a little distance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiOk9hmlVv2Eh0KyVbUlvxbH5Rlk12L63O3t-P0XnvDz-L8zK_dMhXvNDZvUSApncIEROfIWx9WjFQdehyzKkjPzstzeFt7dfL0AnJ5DcAtlFQnk3rXb3B15KzYaa-Dcl5YWSQO4VQ2m2/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiOk9hmlVv2Eh0KyVbUlvxbH5Rlk12L63O3t-P0XnvDz-L8zK_dMhXvNDZvUSApncIEROfIWx9WjFQdehyzKkjPzstzeFt7dfL0AnJ5DcAtlFQnk3rXb3B15KzYaa-Dcl5YWSQO4VQ2m2/s320/IMG_0598.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Rosemaling motif has more delicacy than most<br />
due to the large area devoted to tendrils and leaves<br />
rotating away from the central floral pattern</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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</span>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-70866564929692706112011-01-13T17:12:00.002-05:002011-01-16T17:08:12.095-05:00Marjorie M. Post Entertains at Hillwood Estate in DCThanks to Life Magazine archive for the story on the Kellog-Post heiress and her entertaining backstory as revealed in the following extracts. We visited Hillwood on our second DC trip. Hillwood is an experience not to be missed. We honestly didn't care about all Mrs. M-P's Romanov treasures and antique European furniture. We ignored the museum aspects of the place and focused on the de luxe lifestyle implications of the joint. Translation: we were more entranced with her baby pink dressing room and hatboxes lining the shelves, her fabulous kitchen and pantry which combined are as large as one of today's McMansions. As often in our visits to house museums, we were fascinated by how the homes were run and how the inhabitants lived in them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mXsimsOLqvd9DfEWOol6H8Ygur-noeTk6VSdXZwJc11qq_mbxbrAupDmdhU42g1IYhBHxhZgl7BbZBmgsQwH-vUH_6XSJGlgb6xcMpboyqPWSRsl5TxKMv8d6IZB1RGJWaiH4kclcrPg/s1600/Picture+14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mXsimsOLqvd9DfEWOol6H8Ygur-noeTk6VSdXZwJc11qq_mbxbrAupDmdhU42g1IYhBHxhZgl7BbZBmgsQwH-vUH_6XSJGlgb6xcMpboyqPWSRsl5TxKMv8d6IZB1RGJWaiH4kclcrPg/s320/Picture+14.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hillwood's South Portico where you have a great<br />
view of the Washington Monument from above<br />
instead of below the way most people have to<br />
view it :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNJDoUZfeEormF2Ox90qej1FifpxEaZbPVgCNwoUtdasISndq1Pw7THtqCdKCzRp52T7lJ6XQDZNjRBI1QMG4QHpY6PTX8i0UP9wULpWcSK5zxY8Ytyyjf_1kvh8vnPtdalYBksvCGNLk/s1600/Picture+15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNJDoUZfeEormF2Ox90qej1FifpxEaZbPVgCNwoUtdasISndq1Pw7THtqCdKCzRp52T7lJ6XQDZNjRBI1QMG4QHpY6PTX8i0UP9wULpWcSK5zxY8Ytyyjf_1kvh8vnPtdalYBksvCGNLk/s320/Picture+15.png" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grand old dame herself. Aged 76 years<br />
and still ticking (off the gardener, probably)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7790pQV2CxqbQe1K5nxK-XQWkNWZMz17HVYQJQXl2eNW0HhDTnkIeklhB9aJCSjTtkAIgNOiI1pWGB9XARaIH6pYlXHrKIrPenQVTWTnKD1enEeZ-5LKH1KuOHj4_PSAK2qOu4vpp4XLp/s1600/Picture+16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7790pQV2CxqbQe1K5nxK-XQWkNWZMz17HVYQJQXl2eNW0HhDTnkIeklhB9aJCSjTtkAIgNOiI1pWGB9XARaIH6pYlXHrKIrPenQVTWTnKD1enEeZ-5LKH1KuOHj4_PSAK2qOu4vpp4XLp/s320/Picture+16.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party preparations with supervison</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Vh3wZz4J49erehZrzMiAaho1I3SgFF89LpLV806tuse72_06CrhKBNN2Z96p2UJOkLe7aOkicd-O_uMReFFNkhKjo8kCKkUAfmS5TjQJqtLD-X3qaLvOkxJ-DIl47wcGj_CKJTHG2vXl/s1600/Picture+17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Vh3wZz4J49erehZrzMiAaho1I3SgFF89LpLV806tuse72_06CrhKBNN2Z96p2UJOkLe7aOkicd-O_uMReFFNkhKjo8kCKkUAfmS5TjQJqtLD-X3qaLvOkxJ-DIl47wcGj_CKJTHG2vXl/s320/Picture+17.png" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No great lady ever delegates the final<br />
table inspection before entertaining</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sntGqavYyol90yLqxVAVJFhniw8P9ZSz8Nr6bH9PvsgGuGsVDvEekZKOLgIYesNWJnVfVOJ16AIV9VGfJrkpsNY2uMOy4-I0cYumOqlc9_tKeWgkgcD7Zj5CiuO__hlYJ1i_kG_YpanQ/s1600/Picture+19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sntGqavYyol90yLqxVAVJFhniw8P9ZSz8Nr6bH9PvsgGuGsVDvEekZKOLgIYesNWJnVfVOJ16AIV9VGfJrkpsNY2uMOy4-I0cYumOqlc9_tKeWgkgcD7Zj5CiuO__hlYJ1i_kG_YpanQ/s320/Picture+19.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27Mk4wM7YYJlZC624-P1s_z01uMCPY8KlLBoH5-pO1uuEyQOdYnF88MLwhf9Ovq1MSymVLD7dGZAmiWSIDEr3Y_uN1wpWxzBXDn7VBidTBI4L6Y7O25xZbOsDfkI5DYA3xasEJc0YdOVj/s1600/Picture+20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27Mk4wM7YYJlZC624-P1s_z01uMCPY8KlLBoH5-pO1uuEyQOdYnF88MLwhf9Ovq1MSymVLD7dGZAmiWSIDEr3Y_uN1wpWxzBXDn7VBidTBI4L6Y7O25xZbOsDfkI5DYA3xasEJc0YdOVj/s320/Picture+20.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XKFAlUKEARuFeQ4r-k1kkr0fhWLKXiysIwT5YG4SXHKYYGpHcCwsKZoq0kP62enf585b759IdD2oZgIaRXlRwE-BedKfJW5ZJe_WYhBWwLE2kX_OLGKUbUDsOvII-kBDEVReOfF2Qwir/s1600/Picture+22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XKFAlUKEARuFeQ4r-k1kkr0fhWLKXiysIwT5YG4SXHKYYGpHcCwsKZoq0kP62enf585b759IdD2oZgIaRXlRwE-BedKfJW5ZJe_WYhBWwLE2kX_OLGKUbUDsOvII-kBDEVReOfF2Qwir/s320/Picture+22.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contemporary view of the pantry. Polishing up the gilt plate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-27082793262525472622011-01-13T12:48:00.003-05:002011-01-16T17:08:41.932-05:00From the Desk of ...Being a literature major and voracious reader of lit and litcrit I have a natural fascination with the working methods of writers, famous or not. Tie this in with my passion for historic home visits and interior design I can't even count how many writer's homes and haunts I have toured and researched. So it's natural that I show my current and temporary workspace. I can't dignify it with terms such as library or study. In October I had to move to Atlanta, rent an apartment near my new job and begin the waiting game for selling our NJ home and having my partner rejoin me down here to househunt and get out of this human cage (read apartment complex).<br />
I managed to bring my desk, desk chair with its charming chair pad and a few of my favorite things. Let's take a look<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd-faFf4hqegl5S2b8vUTw8F4FKG-0972jXT-v841fvh_HaA7vpUcT3wKkCGHQ928YRDVrg2qRFYkloZU3CL_hd7PuDEAJZWWLjfBiU4G-scYNzYKM2leFzRPOIv7ICw8_BmNs_2RK2nN/s1600/IMG_0582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd-faFf4hqegl5S2b8vUTw8F4FKG-0972jXT-v841fvh_HaA7vpUcT3wKkCGHQ928YRDVrg2qRFYkloZU3CL_hd7PuDEAJZWWLjfBiU4G-scYNzYKM2leFzRPOIv7ICw8_BmNs_2RK2nN/s320/IMG_0582.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 1940s desk</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvG3ql2nF02xqpEfMPD-NSGzOoSwQ8kj1xr36C04trLEdbKbTtZF59XYxY8b12LQKNtBI7Se6i2mXVZQwTS6HGCizmqT01_CRsvAWGkVc8vJDYWyYU7elKuwjnMK__vnHWfZFC-hkTrX0/s1600/desk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvG3ql2nF02xqpEfMPD-NSGzOoSwQ8kj1xr36C04trLEdbKbTtZF59XYxY8b12LQKNtBI7Se6i2mXVZQwTS6HGCizmqT01_CRsvAWGkVc8vJDYWyYU7elKuwjnMK__vnHWfZFC-hkTrX0/s320/desk.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silverplate Deco notepad (engraving photoshopped out)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLM-bNVcPcFm7ocTHysseHPdDbIwMvEHrmbUTepRHKIxB-mjlSUKwntTV3HNiopJq7OqOskaczWs7XD4Kgu9gmgHj_END5B6bAoQKwNTuWMLd3hR_4LqkEETOZLzCzKi2CJ_X9j0Hyx-zt/s1600/deskchair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLM-bNVcPcFm7ocTHysseHPdDbIwMvEHrmbUTepRHKIxB-mjlSUKwntTV3HNiopJq7OqOskaczWs7XD4Kgu9gmgHj_END5B6bAoQKwNTuWMLd3hR_4LqkEETOZLzCzKi2CJ_X9j0Hyx-zt/s320/deskchair.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beloved desk chair and pad </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz-Y7TE2idKItAJx-UMdfD55top04_oGoRoMeUweoo2BRy5CBzyrJ_BdiEyHPjedt_-GG1Q6auZLT6G0Jj79iUjLM2a4_ANVmYbpeEHWEDNjfd2YXIND61v3qym-xW7q6ZP4DmEJdXu2r/s1600/IMG_0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz-Y7TE2idKItAJx-UMdfD55top04_oGoRoMeUweoo2BRy5CBzyrJ_BdiEyHPjedt_-GG1Q6auZLT6G0Jj79iUjLM2a4_ANVmYbpeEHWEDNjfd2YXIND61v3qym-xW7q6ZP4DmEJdXu2r/s320/IMG_0577.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julep cup for pens & stamps, favorite photos & cards, and 2010<br />
Christmas shadow box from my partner</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0MbHW7gTLF9cA5IqSRL6PthwYUMbKmEtzXK2wq0qPlpoJ8X4LeHXqYKD7JBdsysQudpRGgWeGyVjYjcp0cQCKbDcMUA0PwU-Nb7zoUJtZyrahKHDJpJiwxaZGOJqYlIzxkGYCqQRzeth/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0MbHW7gTLF9cA5IqSRL6PthwYUMbKmEtzXK2wq0qPlpoJ8X4LeHXqYKD7JBdsysQudpRGgWeGyVjYjcp0cQCKbDcMUA0PwU-Nb7zoUJtZyrahKHDJpJiwxaZGOJqYlIzxkGYCqQRzeth/s320/IMG_0579.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading Glass holder (gift from Ptnr), partner's childhood photo and<br />
clock</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tzUJj8X8-qvZmzmAFXFs3mAxEtk3t7hGZ3Zntea3jqpsNAehTNMnU6hfJ_t_nINYjBxn70P9lUC8glLBxHZPNB2sqix5nNMZf00YxdfwhtuqcxbzEBY0wmSavYz7YmPj3sbR34ZN0s96/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tzUJj8X8-qvZmzmAFXFs3mAxEtk3t7hGZ3Zntea3jqpsNAehTNMnU6hfJ_t_nINYjBxn70P9lUC8glLBxHZPNB2sqix5nNMZf00YxdfwhtuqcxbzEBY0wmSavYz7YmPj3sbR34ZN0s96/s320/IMG_0581.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writer's House no. 1: Tennessee Williams in Key West<br />
photo taken by me back in 1988</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0gifg47NcGFIpPeEHyVdLjhHiCl39LrdgdYQ9hXbrPJ19UrXagGfYAaINhA2WxJTdZ_7r1-IW4HGPXTxJX3CUrceP9bqnhe9JJy6bqZfge0QVns1CQ0MO3CWKysVwgh7DkRVDf5RyJtk/s1600/vitadesk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0gifg47NcGFIpPeEHyVdLjhHiCl39LrdgdYQ9hXbrPJ19UrXagGfYAaINhA2WxJTdZ_7r1-IW4HGPXTxJX3CUrceP9bqnhe9JJy6bqZfge0QVns1CQ0MO3CWKysVwgh7DkRVDf5RyJtk/s320/vitadesk.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a postcard of a writer's desk on my desk. Wheels<br />
within wheels? This is Vita Sackville-West's writing<br />
desk at Sissinghurst, in a Tower room at her famous<br />
garden in Kent. I was there in 1997: writer's house no. 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdMoZOSOpx8pK48CQhiQP1s6kfQ8SO9DJM67dV7mPBB2PjXLfxrWwghIpYNrqi8_x51AUNxAITXCUFUQZ56NBdpKewRes9w3HieADSo56FR7WIkgbFNcA6XIayKf48gRjiJhuMtfEZ9j3/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdMoZOSOpx8pK48CQhiQP1s6kfQ8SO9DJM67dV7mPBB2PjXLfxrWwghIpYNrqi8_x51AUNxAITXCUFUQZ56NBdpKewRes9w3HieADSo56FR7WIkgbFNcA6XIayKf48gRjiJhuMtfEZ9j3/s320/IMG_0586.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">original tapestry fabric on chair with tie-on chair pad lifted up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrLyikhUOHKhpo_TY_o1sacvz_-ctbp8C_G4g4W4E-jvHvCxUaxVi24hfN_TQiM2ZjkRRqvlgb4d6vlSrppJAkJqfqWXdAgpVGey9KLMIff2llmCJ9mTY0XyJ8T2oXeYDLFP-z0IdFK_G/s1600/IMG_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrLyikhUOHKhpo_TY_o1sacvz_-ctbp8C_G4g4W4E-jvHvCxUaxVi24hfN_TQiM2ZjkRRqvlgb4d6vlSrppJAkJqfqWXdAgpVGey9KLMIff2llmCJ9mTY0XyJ8T2oXeYDLFP-z0IdFK_G/s320/IMG_0589.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love my chair pad. I bought this for a quarter at one of Martha<br />
Stewart tag sales at my former company</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba3MF1geJ9iNp1sTfuZHVg2xu1ympV-b1Dx6CkvSr6tqxpNF-IblQLqZKzFg4-hMVBaTZKHPCaHpBR8mqhLKd68yiYV_g27wKNhLZ14HDJQL8tmIPcVzACpvGuTCZ5fjNyOogcbsqpVxC/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba3MF1geJ9iNp1sTfuZHVg2xu1ympV-b1Dx6CkvSr6tqxpNF-IblQLqZKzFg4-hMVBaTZKHPCaHpBR8mqhLKd68yiYV_g27wKNhLZ14HDJQL8tmIPcVzACpvGuTCZ5fjNyOogcbsqpVxC/s320/IMG_0590.JPG" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I said I was obsessed! I'm trying to show the great green/yellow<br />
highlights in this fabric and the piping and ties. It's the<br />
perfect chair pad and I don't know where anything<br />
like it could be bought. It may have been made from<br />
scratch for an MSO photo shoot</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMDHhti_pc4Czs17AmSzsCa_EcaU2aIxhIB_G6MWJzIEbxQ2IEs4H0J0b94Jcit2nMOBWo0qN32SE5BXUf4np2rr_sfO3G-dB1wCrAxsv-HyXV1r7v-XN1MJzqiYV14wSuNgcpjdHhDEf/s1600/officecontext.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMDHhti_pc4Czs17AmSzsCa_EcaU2aIxhIB_G6MWJzIEbxQ2IEs4H0J0b94Jcit2nMOBWo0qN32SE5BXUf4np2rr_sfO3G-dB1wCrAxsv-HyXV1r7v-XN1MJzqiYV14wSuNgcpjdHhDEf/s320/officecontext.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like reverse views. Here's my workroom seen from<br />
my living room</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTGtfU-IlKsu__i4mFEKLnJg4jUp_-4-OzDeNEKwwJga30FRAJzAWr6LVYRy0ad7p3OaK6yNMstkgWblnskYRkTa1A5TFtjNEEoyCHq2LbWY_GbfkhVxw7gN7hhVDvfW6DnS8qVvoR2oU/s1600/reverse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTGtfU-IlKsu__i4mFEKLnJg4jUp_-4-OzDeNEKwwJga30FRAJzAWr6LVYRy0ad7p3OaK6yNMstkgWblnskYRkTa1A5TFtjNEEoyCHq2LbWY_GbfkhVxw7gN7hhVDvfW6DnS8qVvoR2oU/s320/reverse.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the opposite angle</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2vBJ-T-OeVEPvB0JOGNxKvSRxmQokY8hoZxIRXRFwe7fx8iVE06c-gNyU2k_g8elbbRS-WF9qgeoPgmfXyeLplgQcwooeaLBIAasQFO9ZKdPfUu33ztPklMT0SkHJ-rWXdwh9iTL_7vS/s1600/wastebasket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2vBJ-T-OeVEPvB0JOGNxKvSRxmQokY8hoZxIRXRFwe7fx8iVE06c-gNyU2k_g8elbbRS-WF9qgeoPgmfXyeLplgQcwooeaLBIAasQFO9ZKdPfUu33ztPklMT0SkHJ-rWXdwh9iTL_7vS/s320/wastebasket.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this wastebasket. The striped interior<br />
is in immaculate condition and the exterior<br />
is vivid red with Roman coins. A classic<br />
vintage find</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL72JAANlC8DEWOKXVUM1Ho3KpV9QIzhmAIK8twx26TJaPQy87pVEFq33Fj8adDz7Rue2g0YFXG4fKCZIprhwBIiObMxgVSpbQcCgGy1c7pDLwXV0WjXWRpPOHzv9KH7MPhnBrdjfEmWt/s1600/window.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL72JAANlC8DEWOKXVUM1Ho3KpV9QIzhmAIK8twx26TJaPQy87pVEFq33Fj8adDz7Rue2g0YFXG4fKCZIprhwBIiObMxgVSpbQcCgGy1c7pDLwXV0WjXWRpPOHzv9KH7MPhnBrdjfEmWt/s320/window.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Desk of ... Our House Blog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-82543499367941174572011-01-13T11:08:00.013-05:002011-01-16T17:09:44.733-05:00Playgrounds of the World 1955-1960<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I bought this series of "travel" prints a while ago. I always liked vintage travel art and illustration from the 1950-late sixties era which was the great era of illustration before photography</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">took over in advertising. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13ha1iecmWveF1GUOfAFFd4KCPhZY_7j_hLZrt757LC6R6aSzmRdom5Z74BS06UT-F20hWro7RSzpWhQXk3Z0jAIF_tyt8sMroC_xIzbhFYwfTItNhw8LOLr4Xse9pfTh2RIK2R3kbi53/s1600/Fireplace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13ha1iecmWveF1GUOfAFFd4KCPhZY_7j_hLZrt757LC6R6aSzmRdom5Z74BS06UT-F20hWro7RSzpWhQXk3Z0jAIF_tyt8sMroC_xIzbhFYwfTItNhw8LOLr4Xse9pfTh2RIK2R3kbi53/s320/Fireplace.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The artist is Frans Van Lamsweerde, a Dutch illustrator who moved to Southern California in 1950. He did book and magazine illustration and made time for what he called "Overseas Study Tours" which resulted in a series of paintings known as the "Playground of the World" series. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m7rVR_JrEomy2uVLzitpoLXAokc5jybuEwG77IIqNXUYYkUnninUbnYiB2aYv2988HgQI-AvQiz8seuR6nCIsC6Y7LQR0U03MeoRg5sV590_QL-D0B19xWBnikc2R_YLO89notXxXDOL/s1600/POTWset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m7rVR_JrEomy2uVLzitpoLXAokc5jybuEwG77IIqNXUYYkUnninUbnYiB2aYv2988HgQI-AvQiz8seuR6nCIsC6Y7LQR0U03MeoRg5sV590_QL-D0B19xWBnikc2R_YLO89notXxXDOL/s320/POTWset.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">FIrst up, Hong Kong</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AsHOV9H8YGllLRfuShhARk-zxmUWlQ40mLFK3LV45GX6odDcSd1BFnls8PFjpi28li3-AIN-hXGJP2oXrKfADK7XRqOqMaGLEA9WkS8QzrtmJRNIKiLJ5UiExrYcpKG4_bk0tJ0sN9ho/s1600/HongKong.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AsHOV9H8YGllLRfuShhARk-zxmUWlQ40mLFK3LV45GX6odDcSd1BFnls8PFjpi28li3-AIN-hXGJP2oXrKfADK7XRqOqMaGLEA9WkS8QzrtmJRNIKiLJ5UiExrYcpKG4_bk0tJ0sN9ho/s320/HongKong.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These prints from the series of paintings were reproduced by Brown & Bigelow's unique color-etch process and presented as Christmas gifts to the calendar-maker's special customers. There were also sold in portfolios.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzOqwPKmsNbayp2oE_IgjdSrCiNzCt8GfYIrEGJpdWtnzw-V3Hyxc149XCacpZF2zRJ2s-1z5SgnKtW-Who6UR83Llwo1Ava56pPYUBrHS3_mwawchmqZngr6b8gO6Rzbf2DDwWDZKrPu/s1600/bermuda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzOqwPKmsNbayp2oE_IgjdSrCiNzCt8GfYIrEGJpdWtnzw-V3Hyxc149XCacpZF2zRJ2s-1z5SgnKtW-Who6UR83Llwo1Ava56pPYUBrHS3_mwawchmqZngr6b8gO6Rzbf2DDwWDZKrPu/s320/bermuda.JPG" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bermuda</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotogp1x7N5uAtbrkmJZ_LIJ48sgiUIzpFotedIlmYnH1hDu-KMCHuRw6kj2oKC6BRHC_z1-0wJA4SKMUMta1505o2EZk1DOFYFsiMF8RblaObMX83B8F7zG4HrYKC3PXnhEkfVKKH90RZ/s1600/bermudaCU.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotogp1x7N5uAtbrkmJZ_LIJ48sgiUIzpFotedIlmYnH1hDu-KMCHuRw6kj2oKC6BRHC_z1-0wJA4SKMUMta1505o2EZk1DOFYFsiMF8RblaObMX83B8F7zG4HrYKC3PXnhEkfVKKH90RZ/s320/bermudaCU.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bermuda detail of divers on coral reef</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzubULhKP933aU0ov-Vt4XcpgbzKbIRGIlX_5FI0pBlx2vQoAir31viRirk-joPjP1Fn_IU_ig6MLs135jFYQYE4Cox9MAKr1MH8Dp49Xv_SVjwGB5d8f7WOtHJSuoEq4VCHNktqSToxp/s1600/Acupulco.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzubULhKP933aU0ov-Vt4XcpgbzKbIRGIlX_5FI0pBlx2vQoAir31viRirk-joPjP1Fn_IU_ig6MLs135jFYQYE4Cox9MAKr1MH8Dp49Xv_SVjwGB5d8f7WOtHJSuoEq4VCHNktqSToxp/s320/Acupulco.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acapulco</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtbyaz39dj32EIIZcCk6uBLdan6oLIEFQjCIol4Qg3NfpKwjrhZFTvzRBXUE4nnf_EVYvV6co7s4LRzrH4OPRBee6V7Sw_ZHGct8BWIV6EcgAErE-bbX9F9bXkQPE8l6ptIiRPeKxL_Ct/s1600/Monte+Carlo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtbyaz39dj32EIIZcCk6uBLdan6oLIEFQjCIol4Qg3NfpKwjrhZFTvzRBXUE4nnf_EVYvV6co7s4LRzrH4OPRBee6V7Sw_ZHGct8BWIV6EcgAErE-bbX9F9bXkQPE8l6ptIiRPeKxL_Ct/s320/Monte+Carlo.JPG" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monte Carlo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSLZLfXeii_B_yDpVZDhbe6dggfEaMUDvo5gKIjulIER02pTMYERWGVg4UN3YdD7dHIx4CNvwtZx_orB9OgfFPbrNOh496yEnlaoYz0gaVfa6TSln1UlRS-SFMsS3V8aHznBa62rszjNi/s1600/Rio+Detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSLZLfXeii_B_yDpVZDhbe6dggfEaMUDvo5gKIjulIER02pTMYERWGVg4UN3YdD7dHIx4CNvwtZx_orB9OgfFPbrNOh496yEnlaoYz0gaVfa6TSln1UlRS-SFMsS3V8aHznBa62rszjNi/s320/Rio+Detail.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The paintings were reproduced on foil by a color-etch </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">process that enhances </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">the striking detail.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> This carnaval Parade in Rio is a riot of color </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">and movement</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eHJEMovh3_lhnoFhKG17Cu2SjPkIRu9ZU8uV4f-fbJSAOfqQCo5QCBkEKRzlV_R-33SCFyW7UmLonF1u3Vb0g_nwj3AiWNWq5ViiuhFpOYwz110mssQH7gDk4nbaiON8tjQ-YyNvawt3/s1600/Rio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eHJEMovh3_lhnoFhKG17Cu2SjPkIRu9ZU8uV4f-fbJSAOfqQCo5QCBkEKRzlV_R-33SCFyW7UmLonF1u3Vb0g_nwj3AiWNWq5ViiuhFpOYwz110mssQH7gDk4nbaiON8tjQ-YyNvawt3/s320/Rio.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the full size image of Rio</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMX3ta50EDtKyXVuCFEECup1OURL2dm_GMZX-GYZ6EdnX4EFVhu3gcZFMzbe2cD6bP1mc5mtrlw85Nf9hQtShutW6qu6-nsnMLX9WYDoayrBgGDyaBjYE7Yava7vvDRMaCU1vSbAAzjivT/s1600/Vienna.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMX3ta50EDtKyXVuCFEECup1OURL2dm_GMZX-GYZ6EdnX4EFVhu3gcZFMzbe2cD6bP1mc5mtrlw85Nf9hQtShutW6qu6-nsnMLX9WYDoayrBgGDyaBjYE7Yava7vvDRMaCU1vSbAAzjivT/s320/Vienna.JPG" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure why Vienna is part<br />
of the playgrounds of the world series.<br />
Vienna had legalized gambling<br />
which may account for it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoI28eX1-pHuPRA5G9edq8J-lBd4qMrhzDETOctWAjYIco1OkaxtgbMH4lKZqq_9v6hLCl_uPyGNEgi7-SZURmZjmPH31y_RZ4zgMo7_iRIMU7iHBR1as-jrZ390UXZxOeOBIsJ-VfxJR/s1600/viennaDet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoI28eX1-pHuPRA5G9edq8J-lBd4qMrhzDETOctWAjYIco1OkaxtgbMH4lKZqq_9v6hLCl_uPyGNEgi7-SZURmZjmPH31y_RZ4zgMo7_iRIMU7iHBR1as-jrZ390UXZxOeOBIsJ-VfxJR/s320/viennaDet.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vienna detail of horse and carriage and a flight of doves</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o6-SiCuz_159By1bt9SprOcQtMheltPkTcpB0HKQCHOrSXB8lv_0c-IfKTN6skpPWha08kM2fbylx7qk-6OgMzWMQEjv6u3mxmMQRKnV6IjeNjr-JMXbZodSN_0FK4QF-tlOp45PCYGl/s1600/Zermatt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o6-SiCuz_159By1bt9SprOcQtMheltPkTcpB0HKQCHOrSXB8lv_0c-IfKTN6skpPWha08kM2fbylx7qk-6OgMzWMQEjv6u3mxmMQRKnV6IjeNjr-JMXbZodSN_0FK4QF-tlOp45PCYGl/s320/Zermatt.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zermatt Switzerland</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGo44I4xV_eO7hA4lyv9JZrEAfWmZKYPUQAAmJeu54f_YH4CbCjDFmOGxjlFpBq55356wkjVcGqJCZ7_6Fus5VFRUUSmj4s8JRJeIpUa15KJNjpRIGxmi2MCAXtX8GWk-7VdSac-bTcz-M/s1600/ZermattCU.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGo44I4xV_eO7hA4lyv9JZrEAfWmZKYPUQAAmJeu54f_YH4CbCjDFmOGxjlFpBq55356wkjVcGqJCZ7_6Fus5VFRUUSmj4s8JRJeIpUa15KJNjpRIGxmi2MCAXtX8GWk-7VdSac-bTcz-M/s320/ZermattCU.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zermatt detail of skiers and landscape.<br />
Note the wall decoration on the inn</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The seller told me the head of the firm had kept first impression prints of all the work by commissioned artists. Some of them were matted by the seller and all of them remain in their shrinkwrap so my photos may not do justice. I have one framed (Zermatt, Switzerland) and hung over my bureau. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My idea when I first saw them was to use in a powder room where some sparkle and flash is not out of place. I'm still reserving them for use in a future powder room where I think their color and shine will add that eccentric touch and flair. </span>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-7620764886409440962011-01-12T21:22:00.003-05:002011-01-16T17:10:03.750-05:00Garden TeaHere are some shots of my partner's preparation, set-up, and tablesetting for a garden tea a few summers ago. Outdoor entertaining is always more involved than indoors because of the distance from the kitchen and having to transport everything needed for service and the table outside the house. It's even more complicated when your house sits on a slope and the yard is two floors below the ground level of the house. We found how hard it truly is to entertain outdoors when we held a 4th of July party for forty people. After a huge amount of planning and setting it all up outdoors it was a nonstop fetch and carry all day long. People enjoyed themselves which was the point, and the talk was so nonstop, they just put used plates, cups, etc on the ground where I went discretely about retreiving them while ample trash bins were placed strategically for guests to use. We also kept cold drinks directly inside the basement with coolers and bottle openers tied down with string and I still had to offer people drinks all day long. The last guests left at 9:30 pm. It was a gruelling day but we felt we had done our job as hosts. We made a lot of people happy. So it was worth it. Even so, we never invited such a crowd again. We prefer more intimate entertaining.<br />
This garden tea was a party for four, the two of us and our goddaughter and her mother. We all dressed up. it was a warm July day but we all wore straw hats to keep off the sun and this nice screen for the treats.<br />
It was a classic English tea with all the trimmings, down to those tiny ladylike tea napkins. Our godchild had a wonderful time dressing up and going through the ritual of tea. It was a memorable afternoon for all of us. I'm a lucky guy to have someone like my partner in my life.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcwt0dBIgieNS29Fm3E6BUdo3P0tEc1nm8aRgAM66EaX339VOZn600F3fY65Y_K62rCNqOfQoFo6Ux9PjQY3lMK2ALaMfyDAvmG7nF74JZEEPSa9OLPkWRil0nIAm6AnkWAPNNQy_wKfn/s1600/CIMG6235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcwt0dBIgieNS29Fm3E6BUdo3P0tEc1nm8aRgAM66EaX339VOZn600F3fY65Y_K62rCNqOfQoFo6Ux9PjQY3lMK2ALaMfyDAvmG7nF74JZEEPSa9OLPkWRil0nIAm6AnkWAPNNQy_wKfn/s400/CIMG6235.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table set waiting for the tea</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxe-hGmRqDldQ020kjVCzez6eesAghQkReh8Xf_kENxN23z-9m7Kpnq_k9aV9BPodMNLOCWMmmG7gSR0K7JdRjkL9BnsGP7XG-WCO9h02fYl12s_qOnHURs96HOD7XhuYe4aY06ZQtR1To/s1600/CIMG6245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxe-hGmRqDldQ020kjVCzez6eesAghQkReh8Xf_kENxN23z-9m7Kpnq_k9aV9BPodMNLOCWMmmG7gSR0K7JdRjkL9BnsGP7XG-WCO9h02fYl12s_qOnHURs96HOD7XhuYe4aY06ZQtR1To/s640/CIMG6245.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scones, clotted cream, james, tea sandwiches under the screen on side table</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjlYwuGcNvFSS3Z9hr4lwJNIt7jphtRC3GGQlmGUUiPcASIMxQVLKKdoqd_HaGSESsd94eLfVQ0ZryHqEn4FG6I1r5uj80mXChV5cW1m8phKlm2ikf3O8OSDedpdm3rk_bKuMLfRu9gNh/s1600/CIMG6253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjlYwuGcNvFSS3Z9hr4lwJNIt7jphtRC3GGQlmGUUiPcASIMxQVLKKdoqd_HaGSESsd94eLfVQ0ZryHqEn4FG6I1r5uj80mXChV5cW1m8phKlm2ikf3O8OSDedpdm3rk_bKuMLfRu9gNh/s400/CIMG6253.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Fostoria Cake Plate, Red Bakelite flatware, red embroidered napkins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A candid cropped shot of handing the tea sandwiches round after the tea is served<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFi4OBkO10nlBfBaLQU0gdZSiZ2N8d4rLIpLNlTYrjsG4ihBWU3vkNdiYWgSU9o_7mWlc71kWFa5lmWi8MB_IyMv9LGizBeeVK5qq1tbi00ggGR4uGpLK5DBC3PhZlLU9HZU6e9tTBnHoU/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFi4OBkO10nlBfBaLQU0gdZSiZ2N8d4rLIpLNlTYrjsG4ihBWU3vkNdiYWgSU9o_7mWlc71kWFa5lmWi8MB_IyMv9LGizBeeVK5qq1tbi00ggGR4uGpLK5DBC3PhZlLU9HZU6e9tTBnHoU/s400/IMG_0022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-26135775948658064572011-01-12T20:21:00.007-05:002011-01-16T17:20:08.053-05:00King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel NYC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxM6WzaBUQPqBSKkIKqFwayT4KpnewyhMvSpmLeyw1P4zkvs-0bxomHWHSn1R5WekH8VlEKavHIfuWmOPkWi1gtpjzSAD0JFyqE1Ne9qZuqXgQq8HJgCYweFyKb1I9puK7TCx-27LKyPn/s1600/KjKgLj0Unff1ah7of8YdFBnCo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxM6WzaBUQPqBSKkIKqFwayT4KpnewyhMvSpmLeyw1P4zkvs-0bxomHWHSn1R5WekH8VlEKavHIfuWmOPkWi1gtpjzSAD0JFyqE1Ne9qZuqXgQq8HJgCYweFyKb1I9puK7TCx-27LKyPn/s320/KjKgLj0Unff1ah7of8YdFBnCo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>A prosperous and thriving dinosaur, the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis upholds the old gold standard of grand hotel bar service even though its clientele is often an odd mixture of well-groomed & haute-coutured hotel guests and casual tourists in gym shoes and shorts who are bound to squabble about the price of the drinks here. Since i moved to NYC in 1995, I started a weekend habit of dropping by at quiet hours (2:30 pm on Saturday) and savored the hushed atmosphere and excellent cocktails served by an always discrete but convivial bartender who made your drink your way with no resistance. On more recent visits, the hushed early quiet has vanished. There always seems to be a full house, all bar stools and tables taken and a noise level that is off the decibel chart.<br />
A lot has happened in the past 15 years....cell phone ringtones blaring from all the seats in the house, the serving of a full menu in the bar, making the table turnover non-existent, the pulling up of extra chairs from a storage room that don't match the decor to accomodate larger groups who are dining here rather than sipping drinks and having quiet conversation which is the old raison d'etre of a hotel bar.<br />
I think the food service is the main culprit. God knows bars ought to be making enough from the booze, but it seems food service is de rigeur everywhere and frankly it completely spoils the experience for a couple or foursome who simply want to sip cocktails and converse in civilized tones. The bar waiters here remain expert at traversing a small space crowded with diners and drinkers, both seated and standing, with classic drinks in the correct cocktail glasses (correct size and shape, that is, according to a classic standard) balanced ably on small round trays. The trouble is too often they are also slinging hash at tiny tables meant for drinks and nibbles only to loud patrons who continue to ask for this and that addition to their meal, glasses of water and wine, and asking greedily for dessert.<br />
<br />
This is a grand mistake. This bar is small and intimate, well-lit, still has not succumbed to large screen televisions (muted or not). There ought to be one place left in Manhattan where you can escape the deplorable norm. The King Cole Bar should be a temple dedicated to cocktail service. It should refuse to serve anything more than assorted nuts and chips to patrons who want some hardier fare with their licquor. They do their best to uphold a tradition of bartending and mix excellent quality cocktails and their servers are well supervised and trained and have just the right tone and personality for the job but this effort is being wasted in the morass of food service and noisy overcrowded activity that makes it impossible at peak times to hear anything anyone is saying with the exception of some loud goon shouting from across the room.<br />
<br />
The King Cole Bar is a victim of its own success. The death knell came when some bean-counter or hotel management dunderhead insisted on food service in the bar as a moneymaker. It's a shame because this legendary bar still has personnel who know the difference between the ideal and the all too real. <br />
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These calm, voluptuous photographs of the bar belie everything I said above but be persuaded that I am not making this up. I regret more than anyone the hard times on which the King Cole has fallen. I hope they wake up before they install a breakfast buffet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LYX7SZexzkAWGgvIwr5SwwrkTEssehb3_iE2mD17taz99in-s_zDJmZaXj4-VET3LG9SNKuoUlhd7nu6wYbolpMHk0CsdsJPLtJGuszFo1oT29N7LjA1OGlTmEgz1v5mM6slvIOi5OpO/s1600/2kingcolebarlounge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LYX7SZexzkAWGgvIwr5SwwrkTEssehb3_iE2mD17taz99in-s_zDJmZaXj4-VET3LG9SNKuoUlhd7nu6wYbolpMHk0CsdsJPLtJGuszFo1oT29N7LjA1OGlTmEgz1v5mM6slvIOi5OpO/s320/2kingcolebarlounge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Famous Maxfield Parish mural with its infamous "secret"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilptSUlXqU9hVbG31v7vCuXKwZdBoHSTY7_g7FYK1RhOWifCEtbjhkgKM1txVLjeNXEPXL_KlXt7OOqVb1Q42wt4iVymDYvMn_iiGBqPTmpoftyTWKsXpR26wssz0cyLPmNDxca_vfp7sq/s1600/kcillustr.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilptSUlXqU9hVbG31v7vCuXKwZdBoHSTY7_g7FYK1RhOWifCEtbjhkgKM1txVLjeNXEPXL_KlXt7OOqVb1Q42wt4iVymDYvMn_iiGBqPTmpoftyTWKsXpR26wssz0cyLPmNDxca_vfp7sq/s320/kcillustr.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Good Old Days from a 1950s Life ad<br />
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</tbody></table>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-26692479041461074032011-01-12T19:11:00.002-05:002011-01-22T12:33:47.386-05:00In the Before Time: La Maisonette Restaurant (Cincinnati Ohio)My partner has a catchall phrase for everything belonging to the period of our childhood when we had the illusion the world was civilized and people cultivated manners and "correct" social behavior. He prefaces all remarks about this lost world with the phrase .... In the Before Time...<br />
I'd like to use that as a special recurring feature here because I expect to have a lot of posts looking back at those days gone by to recapture some social history and personal memories before it all fades to black.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt0jtEkRqxSwTp36MWEVqwsugSJgXnhVw5ujHyoio-3wAwHSGN2OHFJKrXvzsKfeUTe_Tr6rSK2XNeSHsjBgijmiy4RB38FPnHG8_Ll_hI9flEtMbHnji8OZr0BDV6GyKFPqjL_TsZcrv/s1600/maisonette+BW.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt0jtEkRqxSwTp36MWEVqwsugSJgXnhVw5ujHyoio-3wAwHSGN2OHFJKrXvzsKfeUTe_Tr6rSK2XNeSHsjBgijmiy4RB38FPnHG8_Ll_hI9flEtMbHnji8OZr0BDV6GyKFPqjL_TsZcrv/s400/maisonette+BW.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vOLpdWSiF4u_LFhzTb2RCVWYU0Cbr25PW6ju8jABv-_aq7KA0SI00XHJVakIb__ExVOpiod6cgmozQNqSvspdp_o2kplczjz5OVXQxkyBCLkTcPGr88Fwf-TtZpwk1vKGwFpYp1TaVjt/s1600/Maisonette+dining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vOLpdWSiF4u_LFhzTb2RCVWYU0Cbr25PW6ju8jABv-_aq7KA0SI00XHJVakIb__ExVOpiod6cgmozQNqSvspdp_o2kplczjz5OVXQxkyBCLkTcPGr88Fwf-TtZpwk1vKGwFpYp1TaVjt/s320/Maisonette+dining.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>First up, a fancy French restaurant from my childhood. La Maisonette, in Cincinnati Ohio. Gone now, but a major go-to destination for the sixties and beyond generation and our parents. This was the ne plus ultra in fine dining in the entire region. We lived in Kettering, a Dayton suburb, and we had a few grand places in town like the King Cole Restaurant, but nothing to compare with La Maisonette. Here are a few photos from the restaurant's past. They had a fantastic art collection, wine cellar, authentic French chefs and menu. I remember several visits when I was in my early teens, though what the occasions were I can't remember in the least. I was fascinated by the heavily draped corner booths which some patrons left looped and open and some were closed for privacy. I could hardly pay attention to anything but what might be going on behind those corner booth curtains. Every time a waiter discretely parted them for service, I craned my neck to stare as I suppose even a lot of adults were also doing at the time. There was nothing in my childhood to compare with an evening in this restaurant, the drive south to Cincinnati from Dayton, the valet parking, the downtown location, the grilled entrance, the low lighting and candles, the mirrors, the fabric on the walls. It sounds corny but it was the chic-est experience a 9 year old Ohio boy could have had in 1969. This post is a thank you to that lost world for offering such a great glimpse into a civilized adult dining experience. I hope these photos convey a bit of the glamour and mystery of the place.designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-80680271362968781832011-01-12T18:47:00.005-05:002011-01-16T17:14:24.507-05:00Grace Kelly's Mark Cross Overnight Case in Rear Window Mystery SolvedMark Cross, the famous 152 year old leather goods maker was bought by Sara Lee in the nineties. Then in 2005 the company was dissolved due to increased competition from Coach products which stole the limelight in leather goods from the long-established firm. The most famous instance of early product placement in films occurred in Rear Window (1954) where Grace Kelly brought a black leather Mark Cross overnight case to James Stewart's apartment clearly intending to stay the night to stake out his neighbor's rear window. They have a seductive conversation about the case and its contents while she unpacks a sheer negligee from the case. My partner was obsessed with the case after seeing its appearance in the film and I did some detective work to learn that the actual case was given away in a contest after the film's release and the owner's sold it at Christie's in NYC on 20 Dec. 2002 for $5019.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpJwNdc71LZ-FpqFcjFGR8s_3GTY2pSZn0VaCfCJM28c-QXmyt8d5qWhl2n4wOxSNLRuzbvhAD6ER40p3XRHEma4fbBBOSkBNxktdoUOhOS4wa1UEkbHt-3HUll6F0jwLE2BcTF4tesSV/s1600/d4040983x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpJwNdc71LZ-FpqFcjFGR8s_3GTY2pSZn0VaCfCJM28c-QXmyt8d5qWhl2n4wOxSNLRuzbvhAD6ER40p3XRHEma4fbBBOSkBNxktdoUOhOS4wa1UEkbHt-3HUll6F0jwLE2BcTF4tesSV/s320/d4040983x.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Cross Overnight Case 1954<br />
Sold at Christie's NYC Dec. 2002</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMWOJLHpfx_9aZ6VfaPssUWDR8lEtCqSkEISmHbYYJhofQRnDeu-G7W-sOLeuxafh6DoLpEIc_aJ6CrFRinGTWMPUy0jPOFGUuHAQ4vU8-h3JEKb0CoHjQrvcLvnVRpBb4FZokv5TdFYK/s1600/rearwindow15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMWOJLHpfx_9aZ6VfaPssUWDR8lEtCqSkEISmHbYYJhofQRnDeu-G7W-sOLeuxafh6DoLpEIc_aJ6CrFRinGTWMPUy0jPOFGUuHAQ4vU8-h3JEKb0CoHjQrvcLvnVRpBb4FZokv5TdFYK/s320/rearwindow15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mark Cross overnight case</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2fqHeSJ-Rq98jt20LOR4y07fonfmw4_I2rtlXbMdr2-o1SshKSmEIUP6rPyOFE4KU46cf3nNdbX50tazGtUnUfRSTnKnddMw-2z3Uhj-DDx5_0pSQ-c234aYS0LHLR5n3uts4TNbAC2q/s1600/rear+window+mark+cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2fqHeSJ-Rq98jt20LOR4y07fonfmw4_I2rtlXbMdr2-o1SshKSmEIUP6rPyOFE4KU46cf3nNdbX50tazGtUnUfRSTnKnddMw-2z3Uhj-DDx5_0pSQ-c234aYS0LHLR5n3uts4TNbAC2q/s1600/rear+window+mark+cross.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The negligee she never gets to wear onscreen</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At last, a mystery solved. Also note that recently there is a revival of the Mark Cross label at SAKS with some stylish leather bags available for sale, though no copy of this famous original as yet. </div><div><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-82043551559335677532011-01-12T15:01:00.010-05:002011-01-16T17:10:47.256-05:00Enfilade<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">an</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">enfilade</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is a suite of rooms formally aligned with each other .</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.. The doors entering each room are aligned with the doors of the connecting rooms along a single axis, providing a vista through the entire suite of rooms. The enfilade can be used as a processional route ... as it facilitates the movement of large numbers of people through a building.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">---Ask Jeeves Encyclopedia</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Exactly what we want. Because we had the effect of an enfilade in our 1946 center hall colonial we know how this opened-up perspective adds to the sense of architectural space. The two wide square doorways on either side of our center hall were aligned and offered vistas beyond the room you were in through the hall and into the room beyond. The dark-stained wood floor was continuous from the dining room through the hall and into the long living room with the fireplace at the end wall as the focal point. This continuity of flooring and continuous vista achieved by the room openings off the hall really gave the rooms flow. When we entertained we could have a buffet set up in the dining room and a large crowd of guests could move through all three spaces and still hear and see what was happening in the entire space. Here is a composite photo of this space with reverse views from the living and dining rooms. I hope you agree that this perspective lends enchantment.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rkK4K9Wb9V9EkLVY_OsJsNpsVznj-3jMEIb4Wi3yO467EzRrhFCsep2VS6avhl4e7-5igQH4hBclGaQFff6vCCLqtL2Xt8icUj_TPbjeiiJZIxcawcXiDkCrGQxSn4PcCIzNydkRjPyH/s1600/Picture+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rkK4K9Wb9V9EkLVY_OsJsNpsVznj-3jMEIb4Wi3yO467EzRrhFCsep2VS6avhl4e7-5igQH4hBclGaQFff6vCCLqtL2Xt8icUj_TPbjeiiJZIxcawcXiDkCrGQxSn4PcCIzNydkRjPyH/s400/Picture+7.png" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Strictly speaking, enfilade is an architectural feature referring to connecting rooms. I realize our center hall is not a "room", per se, but the perspective effect is the same. There are no doors to close off the view, either, as in the classical definition, but my point here is that we have a modest enfilade that achieves the same impact on human scale and vision as a grand one. Here are examples of the classic French version and a modern adaptation which are both more "correct" in the architectural sense, but I don't like them as much as my modest home-grown version. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1J5qKp1f11N_BlJpP6Nz0RhQQ-qFmS2FUW1N5k54S4oMseiTmLUavOukTy_Vkoy3yzLh12i0bruCZi0l0IoeTv6wYgtAlm3PL2iQ8VFUYdM_ulm7j6iesOy10JeMKZ_2AEQzk0Oavebr/s1600/grandenfilades.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1J5qKp1f11N_BlJpP6Nz0RhQQ-qFmS2FUW1N5k54S4oMseiTmLUavOukTy_Vkoy3yzLh12i0bruCZi0l0IoeTv6wYgtAlm3PL2iQ8VFUYdM_ulm7j6iesOy10JeMKZ_2AEQzk0Oavebr/s400/grandenfilades.png" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OK, I dug up a photo of the perspective with holiday decorations. This is not the best photo to illustrate the magic but I don't have all my photo collections on hand here in my new temporary home. This is a Christmastime version with holiday decorations and lighting. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can illustrate in later posts how beautiful the view was with a Christmas tree and holiday decorations in both rooms, lit at night, aglow with Christmas magic.</span></span><br />
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</span>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-90513412392283284892011-01-12T13:51:00.003-05:002011-01-16T17:15:07.268-05:00Peg's Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After lamenting about our massive collection of china and tableware, I thought it might be useful to show an example of how we entertain with these possesions. When we moved to our new home in 2002 we met a great neighbor who became a close friend. Her name was Peg and she had lived in the neighborhood since the early 50s with her husband who was a paraplegic as a result of his service in World War II. Peg was in her nineties, very lively, gracious and a great conversationalist until her death from stroke this past year. We miss you, Peg.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPCfrYX6YZQYBk5YN2r3OSAS2F1UQHsxdSouSI8kHkKPr4o4fiKfibiEoSzeHlpLDQeNBbexiVGl_UErf2sKOuqE5T0uJ-oKYFbzeUZRfpqJ9XtN6Gh4rwXgxzN1bj5GFCGbvHoZx22Hg/s1600/DCP_6216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPCfrYX6YZQYBk5YN2r3OSAS2F1UQHsxdSouSI8kHkKPr4o4fiKfibiEoSzeHlpLDQeNBbexiVGl_UErf2sKOuqE5T0uJ-oKYFbzeUZRfpqJ9XtN6Gh4rwXgxzN1bj5GFCGbvHoZx22Hg/s320/DCP_6216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My partner is a devotee of the English formal tea and has become adept at preparing not only the table but the treats that go along with the tradition. His cucumber sandwiches take a lot of effort to make but the taste is worth it. Here are some photos of a tea given for Peg and her daughter, Harriet. It was winter so the tea was held indoors in the dining room.<br />
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My partner always makes menu cards for formal occassions, birthday and anniverary and holiday dinners. This was the menu for Peg's Tea, describing all the treats on the tea cart.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUJap0ono5YFd_l_6x5Fi_Fly64mMwxSxU5sGQzxysodtP-KD4u_m7BHWWzZ0oEnIBflOxJ0ZOaHcx-k22BFiAz6DcoaGpnwngBWjoGhDOnqaZ-mYWzreC4xalJHSp77UVg_RK14IVrOf/s1600/pegteamenu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUJap0ono5YFd_l_6x5Fi_Fly64mMwxSxU5sGQzxysodtP-KD4u_m7BHWWzZ0oEnIBflOxJ0ZOaHcx-k22BFiAz6DcoaGpnwngBWjoGhDOnqaZ-mYWzreC4xalJHSp77UVg_RK14IVrOf/s400/pegteamenu.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
On another memorable occasion, he gave a garden tea outdoors in summer for our godchild. Maybe another posting on outdoor teas next time?designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-9071658750168947052011-01-12T13:01:00.002-05:002011-01-16T17:15:29.504-05:00Butler's PantryThis is a topic that drives us wild. In today's mutlipurpose "dream" kitchens there is no provision for storing and displaying china, silver, serving pieces, trays. One reason is no matter the income or status of today's homeowners, they simply don't care about and don't own a variety of china and table linens and don't entertain on any scale other than the most casual. That's not us, I'm afraid. My partner is a self-proclaimed "china whore" and has a vast collection amassed over time. Along with this are new and vintage sets of china we have purchased. Add to the mix a huge amount of table linens both inherited and collected over the years, silver services, sterling flatware, and various kitsch tableware, holiday tablesettings for thanksgiving, christmas, even Halloween and we have a serious space shortage for convenient use of all these treasures. At our current home, we had a large cupboard in the basement and bought a huge breakfront also, alas, in our basement because we had little space left upstairs to put it. These are filled with china and glassware, drawers stuffed with table linens and lace overlays. In the new house we are as concerned with having room to house these more conveniently for constant use. If there is no butler's pantry on the main floor near our dining room we are going to build one if we have to knock out a wall or divide a large kitchen area to serve as a butler's pantry.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9y0RnnLtLWN78arvlyf9EikIUcj4k0fWY5IYcQ5EJFdcRLD_F9m75NZJXebyEAKJJkqyBJaxb2txQ2Gf_ISgA3uOV9sc9SaWqDyzLBeGD2gluGUUXNY0isOaiNg9ZkAiVs4ngA1-YHs7/s1600/hB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9y0RnnLtLWN78arvlyf9EikIUcj4k0fWY5IYcQ5EJFdcRLD_F9m75NZJXebyEAKJJkqyBJaxb2txQ2Gf_ISgA3uOV9sc9SaWqDyzLBeGD2gluGUUXNY0isOaiNg9ZkAiVs4ngA1-YHs7/s320/hB.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>This is an interesting example from House Beautiful, architect Joan Moore. It's a mixture of traditional painted wood and glass cupboards with stainless appliances (a SubZero fridge) and stock medical cabinets for china and glassware storage.<br />
Here's an elegant treatment with chandelier, subway tile backsplash, Corian countertops. Smart.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaEAJfHK2Yo8z_9H1gSEC4zNt9bMjK-Ktjp3Qr25Wa6QLNO34FLzPLbAsjjNfebPCHp5p-bu3pyBeUadvw06sHxVM1W50y5DeEgXvJYXu7l83LexCA2-OyyA3CawTuk9k3joVYsLH3-Gp/s1600/butler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaEAJfHK2Yo8z_9H1gSEC4zNt9bMjK-Ktjp3Qr25Wa6QLNO34FLzPLbAsjjNfebPCHp5p-bu3pyBeUadvw06sHxVM1W50y5DeEgXvJYXu7l83LexCA2-OyyA3CawTuk9k3joVYsLH3-Gp/s320/butler.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elegant Look</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up, here's what we had planned to have done in our basement store cupboard but other projects took precedence. This is a great example of what we'd like to have for surplus storage in our new basement. No matter how great the proportions of our main floor pantry we won't be able to devote enough upstairs space for everything we have. Only the most-used and prized tableware will be housed near the dining room and kitchen. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS3OjvmN-0dCpQZweHv60BirnvAl07lKknLfrVUZSKv-duyypD2XpZVVZZ5Q5nuHIA6_XFpSI8KSEDBNugS56NHXEr_-awx8-YGgsfTTwSEoHmXRFhdpu30_dS8uvBWIofbq0IZAiTLBg/s1600/chinabeene.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS3OjvmN-0dCpQZweHv60BirnvAl07lKknLfrVUZSKv-duyypD2XpZVVZZ5Q5nuHIA6_XFpSI8KSEDBNugS56NHXEr_-awx8-YGgsfTTwSEoHmXRFhdpu30_dS8uvBWIofbq0IZAiTLBg/s320/chinabeene.jpeg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sturdy open shelving with usable corner storage<br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next is a great design with space for hanging linens, shallow drawers for flatware, napkins, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JYNeEwX0WUS3Bxmsl613OwsN4i24WdRnUp7Fi10cPnQQqgyiwQjIvqWLAYc_6oy_U8CMFTKKLbhs0ItKZuRJckDvu7KqQYYENHoXOjcU6TE-AFJXF77MP7ezTbLYk2u8hEffNul7DUu7/s1600/chinawilliams.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JYNeEwX0WUS3Bxmsl613OwsN4i24WdRnUp7Fi10cPnQQqgyiwQjIvqWLAYc_6oy_U8CMFTKKLbhs0ItKZuRJckDvu7KqQYYENHoXOjcU6TE-AFJXF77MP7ezTbLYk2u8hEffNul7DUu7/s320/chinawilliams.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll keep adding to the pantry post as this one never goes off our home agenda.</div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125722606152022009.post-32602920489027080182011-01-12T12:23:00.010-05:002011-01-16T17:16:55.026-05:00Edward Lehman's watercolors of Jackie Kennedy's White House<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">A few years ago I was looking for wall art for the bare wall facing our center hall staircase. I had already purchased a botanical runner from the martha stewart collection. This botanical design was taken from a victorian hooked rug owned by Gael Towey, Chief Creative officer at MSO. I had seen it in her Greenwich Village townhouse while attending a going-away cocktail party for the Chief Information Officer who was my boss. I loved the design and the quality of the original that looked like crewel-work. The Macy's version was just as successful in rendering the quality and vibrant color of the original. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">To complement the flooring I wanted something with green and red tones in the wall art. I came across the Edward Lehman limited edition prints on the website of the JFK Musuem & Library while doing Christmas shopping online. I bought them and we hung them in early November. They are still there awaiting the sale of our home and a new home in here in Atlanta. Who knows where they will end up but I love the idea of watercolor renditions of decorated rooms, not only famous ones. This was a common practice in England. Artists were often commissioned to do renderings of interiors for the great country homes of the gentry and aristocracy. The practice pre-dated photography but lasted long after color photography was available and is obviously more interesting to hang and view than a photograph. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From JFK Museum & Library Gift Shop.<br />
Reproduction watercolor print.<br />
Commissioned by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.<br />
Limited Edition Print signed and numbered<br />
by Edward Lehman.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnUMSeJNO92eENccQEaAcsMKUKRqzeY-n40BHyXTSh-MUYWeRl2uqx-Mkwcl5jE1GIuBg57jpHUUmNmXs3nauAtasfPIQPw30JYR6F7XGnoR27KudmyKHUINNQ9bqmRWg6jgDbN4o1shg/s1600/green-room.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnUMSeJNO92eENccQEaAcsMKUKRqzeY-n40BHyXTSh-MUYWeRl2uqx-Mkwcl5jE1GIuBg57jpHUUmNmXs3nauAtasfPIQPw30JYR6F7XGnoR27KudmyKHUINNQ9bqmRWg6jgDbN4o1shg/s320/green-room.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Lehman's watercolor of the Green Room was used as the White House Christmas Card, 1963.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvcjoSD6HunC79uNcOY0gSTynf_a6gsjgdX9oAO8XoemqCiM6iOVvovVjJQYZQoSFC3zFW-Wg2WFvWP3IP6Q9Ohi7a7bj7V0h95N31KIXzDSB9H-CZS8NcJEPglxyclTmzjG-PxfWItLl/s1600/red-room-kennedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvcjoSD6HunC79uNcOY0gSTynf_a6gsjgdX9oAO8XoemqCiM6iOVvovVjJQYZQoSFC3zFW-Wg2WFvWP3IP6Q9Ohi7a7bj7V0h95N31KIXzDSB9H-CZS8NcJEPglxyclTmzjG-PxfWItLl/s320/red-room-kennedy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Red Room at the Kennedy White House after redecoration</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4d_VCdsBsed4tUxnJ2D890-Al3svF7G5ZPZ6esbmLgGsbIFo8yBLAlc9sKlpOtCgs7G7o8xyt9jpHi52X_4C5ADQsJE2Hp67wToiHix-yUcZU0nVjPIj-yiaNmex1Lv9e4hwHrnk6-4GH/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4d_VCdsBsed4tUxnJ2D890-Al3svF7G5ZPZ6esbmLgGsbIFo8yBLAlc9sKlpOtCgs7G7o8xyt9jpHi52X_4C5ADQsJE2Hp67wToiHix-yUcZU0nVjPIj-yiaNmex1Lv9e4hwHrnk6-4GH/s400/Picture+9.png" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Green Room at the Kennedy White House after redecoration</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><ul style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>designerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10752869837075148640noreply@blogger.com1