SPACES Kansas City

Many thanks to David Jimenez for including me in his article on color stories in the June/July 2010 issue of Spaces Kansas City Magazine. Not only is David a talented designer (see his beautiful portfolio here), he is a VP at Hallmark Cards, Inc and in his spare time writes for a magazine; Wow, now I feel lazy!The article is really useful for anyone who is thinking about painting a room with tips from practical application to color options. In the 2nd half of the article, he asks some bloggers we all know and love for their opinions (cleverly typed out in the very colors we recommend!).I recommended the use of a lovely warm French gray.

"A paint color I have used in three separate projects now (including my last apartment) and really love is the absolute perfect French gray color: Scroll Beige by Glidden. It's color that changes throughout the day but remains crisp and architectural - the perfect neutral. Pair it with white moldings and you have an amazing space."

Many thanks to David and SPACES for including me!

ArchitectDesign in CA

Next week for my birthday, I'll be traveling to the west coast to the fabulous places shown here.

A day trip to San Simeon (aka the Hearst castle, the indoor pool seen in the top photo) was the catalyst for the whole vacation. I wanted to spend my 30th birthday doing something fabulous -whats more extraordinary than a fairytale castle along the ocean!

Exploring San Franciso, the Filoli mansion and Carmel are on the agenda, can you recommend any other must-sees or restaurants in particular?

Of course I also plan on staying at a few fabulous hotels that I can't wait to share with you all :-)

ArchitectDesign interview

Check out my interview by Samantha on We Love DC for some of my thoughts on architecture in DC.

Thanks for the opportunity, Sam! Check out her blog, Pretty Lovely Things.

Don't fence me in

Unless it's a beauty like this one! After yesterdays post, celebrated blog commenter Toby Worthington contacted me with this fence he designed for his own house.

Toby based the design on a fence in upstate New York found in a book by a local architect. The design complements his 1860s Gothic painted brick house; Now THATS something I'd want to see, how about you? Thanks for sharing, Toby!!

Inside ArchitectDesign

Yesterday Catherine from The Shiny Pebble tagged me in her Bag tagging post. I feel so guilty that over the past 3 years (and change!) I have been tagged quite a bit and have never played along; Bad blogger! I thought it might be interesting to compare my workbag to a woman's purse as all of the other nominees were ladies. However -my messenger bag is basically a 'manbag' as you can see - so purselike it's embarrassing! Lets dig through this mess, shall we? Don't judge!

-Reading materials for the bus - check! Vanity Fair and Veranda today.

-Sketchpad (courtesy of Little Augury) and drawing pens.

-Ipod, flashdrive and camera (obviously not pictured) with associated cords

-Wallet and keys. Yes -my keychain is a measuring tape, I am an architect after all!

-Library card, work access card, extra business and blogging cards and a random coupon.

-2 burts bees chapsticks (I'm addicted to these but still not sure why I have 2), powder paper (to 'clean' my face if i'm going somewhere after work), gum, random old allergy medication tablets, a mint and some hand lotion stolen from a hotel (don't make fun -I get VERY dry skin in the winter - ouch!).

-Ordinarily I carry lunch and a snack to work and papers and drawing sets home as needed. Neither of these were in my bag at the time so they're not pictured!

The bag is a hard canvas messenger bag with leather trim by Jack Georges which I love and always get compliments on! Simple, practical but still attractive; I've been using it for about 3 years now. Thanks Catherine for thinking of me! On with our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.

Thank you, Examiner

Many thanks to Kerry Steele who, for some reason, thought I was interesting enough to feature in an article on examiner.com! If you're so inclined, you can read the interview HERE.

Congratulations EEE!

The inestimatable Emily Evans Eerdmans of the eponymous blog, has recently been married and the bloggers on her blog roll have decided to throw her a wedding shower! As she is an Art Historian, I thought she would appreciate the history (as well as craftsmanship) of commissioning fine works of art from jewelers, a royal tradition.

Cartier has been accepting comissions from European royalty, maharajas and jetsetters for generations. As Emily is so entirely fabulous, she and her hubby are definitely worth of 'Le Flamboyant', a tableclock made by Cartier,Paris. The round clock is perfect for the center of a library table, so Emily won't forget a date with her husband while busy researching for one of her well-known books! The clock is formed of gold and silver and set with 1,540 diamonds, 1 ruby, 12 emeralds, 230 green tourmalines, 230 iolites, 140 pink tourmalines, 160 citrines, and much mother -of-pearl, lapis lazuli and onyx. As the name suggests, the clock is certainly bold and ornate!

Congratulations to the happy couple as they make their way home from a honeymoon in Hawaii to start married life!

Kevin Sharkey discovery

Did you know Kevin Sharkey, the editorial director of decorating for Martha Stewart Living, has his own blog? I tivo the Martha show for his all too brief appearances on the show and love his articles in the magazine (one of the few reasons I subscribe!).

We all know his fabulous office with the wall of blanc de chine and color coordinated library, seen here. Visit the blog for his signature style (that I so love!).

http://homedesign.marthastewart.com/

Now on your Kindle!

Do you have a kindle? I have yet to get one but have heard glowing reviews from everyone who has one (it was even talked about on the skirted round table!). The benefits of space & environmental savings are obvious. Well, now blogs are available for subscription on the kindle and I've uploaded ArchitectDesign! It appears on the kindle similarly to reading a blog online: see last Saturday's post above.

The only complaints I've heard are that the kindle is still in b&w and most blogs (that I follow, including this one) are visual; color is important! Also, the larger sized device is both pricey and a little clunky. I'm still not sold completely on reading books on an electronic screen like this, I'm old school and LOVE books! I would love to hear what you think of it. Check out my blog on your kindle if you have one and let me know what you think!

Bastille Day Announcement

Since today is Bastille Day (or Fete Nationale as it's known as in France), Heather from Habitually Chic and I thought it was the perfect time to announce our trip to Paris in early September!

We had talked for months about wanting to go visit Versailles and you can't do that without visiting Paris! We plan on staying in the city with at least a day devoted to exploring Verailles. Another must of course are the fleamarkets! I can't wait :-)

Of course, I'm most excited though about visiting the Petit Trianon which i've blogged about several times in the past. I hope that by the time i'm in my dotage I'll be an expert on the small chateau and this is just the start :-)the theater at Versailles

We have a lot of exciting things planned to share with all of you, but I hope you can share with us as well. Are there any 'musts' we should do on this, our first trip to the city of lights?

Have you been following the series Little Augury has had interviewing different bloggers about summer reading plans? She's been having a book giveaway associated with it and I was lucky enough to win 'A perfect Red' by Amy Greenfield. It arrived in the mail today beautifully wrapped in a handmade grey & white striped paper with the perfect shade of red striped ribbon (a nice touch!)She was sweet enough to have interviewed me as well as one of the first which you can read HERE. Thanks so much, Little Augury!

Blogger inspiration

I feel a bit uninspired lately, I have to apologize for that. I want to thank the kind people who have emailed me to make sure I'm ok: I'm fine and just a bit pre-occupied! Hopefully the weekend will rejuvenate my blogging sensitibilites and 'think different' as this old Mac ad proclaims with the divine Callas. I hope her singing will inspire you this weekend!

Blogger Tea Party

This past Saturday I hosted local design bloggers for a meet'n greet High Tea at my apartment. A few of us had met before, but it was so great to be in one room all together. We are trying to keep up our blogging social meeting once a month - power to the DC bloggers!Here you see Beth of Style Redux and Chinoiserie Chic serving champagne to the guests.
Only a blogger can know how fun these online friendships can be. We get to share our design passions and interests online daily with one another and it's fun to bring these into real life conversations!Michele from My Notting Hill poses by the drinks station. Champagne, lemonade, sparkling water, tea and coffee were the drinks of the day.
Allie from Summer is a verb took some artistic shots of the tea table, which she thinks are blurry but I think are more impressionist! Strawberry shortcake, croissants, tea sandwiches and some other snacks all proved popular!

The spread before....... And the spread afterwards -chaos and empty plates show that everyone had their fill! I used my Harebell by Coalport china for most of everything, but couldn't resist using a plate from my strawberry cream service by Royal Doulton for the tea sandwiches to go along with the strawberry theme!

Whats a sign of a good party? Empty champagne bottles and glasses litter the coffee table!

Also in attendance was Scott from Domicidal Maniac (who I've known since early college days and motivated me to start blogging),

Thomas from My White Shirt,

Janet from JCB

and last but not least, Abby from Semigloss Chic

The peonies even got some showtime in the bathroom - I put one single flower in a bud vase to liven up the sink.As little 'host' gifts, I gave away my favorite carrotcake cupcakes from Georgetown cupcake -a nice little treat for the ride home :-) Hopefully this will encourage you to meet some of your local blog buddies!

Participant in Tablescape Thursdays!

What a weekend

I had a very busy weekend here in rainy DC seeing fantastic things that I can't wait to share with you all. Look forward to a few virtual tours of some famous old mansions here in DC, thanks to one of the annual Embassy Tours. Reminder that next weekend, May 9th, is the European Union embassy tour. You have to go on it if you're in DC!

I toured the grounds of the fabulous Hillwood estate with Janet from JCB and spent a delightful day with her and some friends; I went to the Renwick Galleries to see the exhibit based on the work of Greene and Greene - and I can't wait to share it all with you! Don't forget to tune in and also enter into my little giveaway! Happy Monday

Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed: The winner was Little Augury!
I have to apologize for not being a regular blogger as of late, to make it up, I decided to host a small giveaway! I had been eyeing these little porcelain houses at Anthropologie for some time so when they were finally 75% off, I bought not just one but two! They actually are 2 pieces and hold some incense (included). When the incense is lit - the 2 chimney's smoke! THE CUTEST THING EVER. I have to admit I don't like the scent of incense at all, but I love the cute houses. I think you can see the smoke in the attached photos.To enter: leave a comment and a way of contacting you should you win this randomly chosen contest (blogger ID or email). A winner will be chosen Wednesday, May 6th and I'll get it off to you in the mail along with some other small 'goodies'. May the best blogger (or reader) win!

Lilacs and a Thank You!

I want to thank Michele of My Notting Hill for naming my blog among her favorites in a fantastic interview done by Emily Leaman at Washingtonian magazine! Read the entire article HERE: she has some great solutions for common design problems that I think everyone will appreciate. All of our April showers have brought us beautiful May flowers! These are some fragrant lilacs I picked up tonight, aren't they beautiful!

Save our Urban Centers!

While reading this months Preservation magazine (magazine of the national trust for historic presevation) I came across a plea to save a bank by Louis Sullivan (whom I've blogged about recently here). Of course, Sullivan is a great architect. He was a key innovator in the modern movement and was mentor to such great architects as Frank Lloyd Wright and generations of students. However, I think this is bigger than just this one bank and I'm really upset! Of course, I'm going to blog about my feelings on the matter and I hope you take the time to read this unusually wordy post from me!

Our nation's cities were decimated by city planners in the 50s-70s. They are only now beginning to regain a little strengh and the sense of place they once had thanks to preservation efforts. The powers that be in Cedar Rapids, Iowa are planning on destroying what is left of their historic urban center as well as a NATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL TREASURE in a strategy they feel is a cost effective way to combat nature (building levees).

One of the fundamentals of urban planning is to work with what the land is giving you, in many cases to the advantage of the city! Look at places who have prominently featured rivers and waterways in their recent revitalizations: Chicago, Austin, Pittsburgh, Providence and others are feeling the benefits of creative solutions. Older cities that are based on water management also prove to be popular and successful: Stockholm and Vienna as examples. What do we know about levees? Well...look at how well they worked in New Orleans. Is that a long term or even a creative solution?

So much good work has been happening in the past 20 years to save our nation's architectural heritage as well as our urban cores; to let Cedar Rapids continue on this OUTDATED path of destruction is monstrous. PLEASE join with me and sign the petition to make city planners of Cedar Rapids, Iowa consider alternative ways to manage flood waters and save their urban core! Sign the petition online HERE, I have!

Thanks to Hello Beautiful blog and Fred Camper for letting me use the photographs of the bank.