How Little Can I Live With?

Much more than I thought or want.  Really.

My thought was to purge a lot of unwanted stuff and start over this part of my life by living more simply but I still ended up with...say it again?  Much more than I wanted.  This is what was left after a packed-car trip to the new place!

Does not include the furniture that I will take! 

The biggest space hogs among my moving boxes are the six and a half boxes and plastic totes devoted to sewing books and fabric.  That is even more than the space devoted to my finished items of clothing!  That does not even include the two sewing machines, a table and a wardrobe dedicated to hold everything.  For sure, this is not a hobby suited for minimal living!

I guess I will never be able to live like this:

All-in-one unit. Designer unknown.

let alone this apartment in 300 square feet.

The funny thing is that I really thought I had less sewing "stuff n' stash" than most  bloggers I read until I combined the stuff from my bedroom closet, under the bed, in the wardrobe/armoire, on my bookshelf, and next to and in the sewing table. Yes, in denial, was I.  So can anyone show me a seamster/sewist* that does live minimally?  I'm serious, I dare you!


*Of adult garments, not quilts, children clothing or stuffed animals.

Domino Magazine Returns!!

Holiday 2013!

I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but it seems Condé Nast has finally seen the error of their ways and are actually relaunching one of the best design magazine of this generation, Domino!!! Announced last week in Women's Wear Daily, this fall will see the return of the beloved magazine. This time they are being cautious, the print magazine will appear quarterly instead of monthly, as before. Most importantly, the print editions will be accompanied by an e-commerce site developed by e-commerce design company Project Décor. 

 

March 2009

Originally launched in 2005 as a home decor-focused complement to fellow Condé Nast publication Lucky, the magazine became a near cult phenomenon in only three years. It's cancellation launched numerous blog posts mourning its demise.


November 2006

This post on E! pretty much sums up what was great about the magazine and made it stand out from all the others currently on the newsstand shelves. I will cross my fingers that they do not change it too much. I hope they remember how we mourned it in 2009 exactly the way it was, and that version of the magazine is what we want back. Except of course, hopefully they will have more advertising revenue, since that was the reason it disappeared, not lack of popularity or circulation.


October 2007

They are still being cautious, the print magazine will be quarterly this time and is accompanied by an e-commerce site. Pro: original publisher Beth Brenner returns Cons: founding editor Deborah Needleman will not and individual issues will be over $10. Let's cross our fingers, OK?

Hey Domino, see you in the fall!

SHELTER Sets: The New Normal

Note: NBC has cancelled this program but I still had a draft post for its set design, so here it is! In fact, here's a piece on the auction house, One Kings Lane that sold the remains.

I didn't get to watch it much because it was on the same time as some other show that probably got cancelled too but I still think Andrew Rannells is amazing. The main set, a Spanish Colonial Revival home for his character Bryan and his husband David is a gorgeous and believable abode for a the Monterey-based TV producer and a gynecologist. The house was based on the design and style of a 1920s home owned by Diane Keaton, perhaps because the show's creator Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story) owns another of her past homes.

Master Bedroom

Bryan and Tony shopping for props

Furnished and styled by set decorator Bryan Venegas and production designer Tony Fanning the New Normal home set is eclectic and full of leather, dark wood furniture and floors all accented by colorful tile and pottery. The rare and expensive Monterey furniture was replicated by an artisan woodworker.


Kitchen

Detail of kitchen island tile

Interesting tidbit gleaned from an L.A. Times article; the tile in the kitchen is fake. Trying to replicate the tile featured in Diane Keaton's kitchen would have been too expensive. Instead, they photographed the inspiration tiles and printed the images on medium-density fiberboard (MDF). They were then routed, grouted and sealed just like real tile. In another example of creative thriftiness, expensive pottery was crafted in foam and then painted to look like cement.

Home office

Dining room and home office

I don't know why more TV and film productions don't do things like that. If it looks the same on camera, why not? It helps the budget (in this case by thousands) and  the actors don't need the real thing. Win-win.

A detail from Georgia and Shania's cottage

However, the set I prefer on the show is not theirs but that of their baby surrogate and friend Goldie and her daughter Shania. It's compact one-room size with kitschy details, bright colors and its frugality is more my style. Too bad I couldn't find more photos of it.

Living room and bedroom

View from kitchen

Living room and kitchen

Images: One Kings Lane, NBC, Twentieth Century Fox

SHELTER Sets: Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

Relativity Media (2011) Jordana Beatty, Heather Graham Set Design: Cynthia Charette, Don Diers I have never seen this movie, but the images on the Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA) website captured my attention. The look of this film is the work of production designer Cynthia Charette and set decorator Don Diers. The designers took their inspiration from the Judy Moody books written by Megan McDonald and its black and white illustrations, drawn by Peter H. Reynolds. Image: Suzanne Tenner Adorable house, even more adorable to me if the door was orange and the shutters leaf green. Image: Ken Haber I could move right into this living room without changing much. I could even stand the wallpaper, but I would need a richer, spicier rug. That sofa is a dream; the color, the comfy shape, and well, come on - it's velvet! I like that the furnishings used were from a myriad of sources; Pottery Barn, Home Goods, LampsPlus Crate & Barrel, Target, CraigsList and even local thrift stores. Image: Ken Haber This pass-thru shows the eclecticism of the decor, with the whimsical and graphic grandfather clock and the folksy, hand-painted secretary desk on the other side of the entrance. Image: Ken Haber The kitchen is a room where I might make a few more changes. Love the floor, not the rug, Change out the table and chairs for a round wooden table and black Windsor chairs. I would also exchange the chandelier for a old-time surface mounted light fixture, remove the quaint wallpaper, and paint the walls a nice cake batter yellow. Image: Ken Haber Here is their imaginative take on a thrift/antique store. Check out that orphaned old teacup car and the seven foot tall legs! I want to go to there! Images: by Suzanne Tenner, Judy Moody Productions and Ken Haber. Set Decorators Society of America website

Ford Wheeler's Clown-tastic Bathroom

I can appreciate the kitsch but I'm a bit clown-phobic so I won't be emulating this look anytime soon. Still you should check out the slideshow of the rest of production designer (Rachel Getting Married) Wheeler's energy and item-packed home here at the New York Times Style Magazine.

Image: Alix Browne for the New York Times

The 1950s As Lived In The 80s

Images from my scrapbooks:

Songwriter/artist Allee Willis' cool, pink North Hollywood home, a Streamline Moderne-styled abode designed in 1937 by William Kesling. It was featured in two different magazines that I had during the 80s. Her new place and her new Museum of Kitsch were just featured in the LA Times and linked to on Shelteriffic so I decided to get my pages out, scan them and try to clean up the images a bit so I could show them here and on Flickr. I hope you enjoy.

Yum!

In this picture and the next, her own motorized painting/sculpture designs.

The wire boomerang bar!


Kidney bean table and Memphis-like chairs she designed.

Isn't that bed amazing?!

I once had a chance to buy two pink sofas like hers when I was just out of the dorms. Hot pink nubby barkcloth loveliness! They were at a yard sale; I can't remember the price but I can just imagine how cheap that price would seem now!

Ooh, look! More recent photos from the December 1999 issue of Channels magazine.

(Image: Splash Magazines Worldwide)

The back of her bright pink William Kesling house.

Images: Elyse Lewin from Cosmopolitan magazine 198?; David Glumb from Mademoiselle magazine, April 1983

HomeGoods Tries to Read Me

The HomeGoods Style Scope quiz says this about me:

Lisa, you are a Country Classic

You have a naturally refined sensibility with an appreciation for tradition and history. You value beauty, craftsmanship, and family heirlooms, but you like to open things up with pretty, easy-going pieces like painted wood or distressed furniture, lovely florals and other patterns, and bunches of fresh flowers that give your home a breezy, relaxed feeling. You love unique finds, have a thrifty, creative side, and can make these things work together.

You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place, and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space. Elements like pillows, throws, overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood. You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect.

*****************

While I didn't like the "country classic" moniker what it actually says does describe my style, strike the "lovely florals, fresh flowers (allergic) and overstuffed furniture. I highlighted the ideas that really resonate with my style. Go try the quiz and see what it says about you.

Didn't Expect This, Did You?

Montesorri Baby's Room

But I saw this post on Sew Liberated and fell in love with this child's room arranged using Montessorian concepts and ideas. Isn't it amazing?

Image: Sew Liberated

Newlywed's First Home

Because of my finances I've been putting off buying magazines, but the latest copy of Country Living has been tempting me. It's a Makeover issue, I mean, come on?! Luckily, I have a friend that's been "paying me forward" with her copies after she's done with them (she's not a hoarder of mags like I am). So, at the moment, I don't have this issue in front of me.

However, yesterday I opened up my email and found a message from the guy who's story is on the front cover of the September issue and a link back to his design blog, Design Therapy. I thought the story of this little house was definitely worth sharing. You see, it's not just a typical design makeover story as the house was his parent's first home when they got married. They heard it was going to be demolished and had it moved to their property as a guesthouse. And then their son had it redone for under $4,000.

  Lovely, isn't it? Find more photos from the mag on his post here and the whole story complete with the before pictures on the Country Living site here. Images: Country Living magazine

Woo Hoo, More Wary Meyers!

I just found out from this cool blog (drew-o-rama) that designers Wary Meyers also have a blog!!!! It's only three months old but, still how did I not find out about this from other bloggers?

Bad bloggers, bad!

Well, if you didn't know before...now you know. Two of the coolest interior designers are now jotting down their thoughts and opinions over here. Have fun following along, I know I will!

They also have a book (!!) Wary Meyers' Tossed & Found: Unconventional Design from Cast-offs coming out in September from book publisher Stewart, Tabori, & Chang. The book is based on their Time Out New York columns where they made over discarded objects and furniture that they found on the streets of New York.



P.S. Even though I glossed over it before, you should really check out Drew's site. I just found it a while before writing this but it looks incredibly cool and his blog list is full of new goodies. He has the above personal blog and then a separate blog, Kitsch Cafe Studio, for his crafting and vintage businesses.

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