New house dreaming

I have been doing more "new house dreaming" than one person should. "New house dreaming" is when you decorate the rooms of houses that you do not own but actually have plans to move. I have no idea what our new house will involve at this point, so I just fantasize.

I am a big fan of mixing traditional pieces with modern pieces and I hope to take my decor a bit more to the traditional side this time. 

I chose a Chesterfield sofa with a burled walnut chest and some blue and white pieces from the Pink Pagoda for the traditional part of this living room. I threw in a Dana Gibson pillow, lamp from Wisteria and the White cocktail table from Aerin.com to add some zing.

I also used my painting "Smolder" which is being offered by Gregg Irby Fine Art in Atlanta to make the whole thing a bit edgier.

Do you decorate houses that you don't own just for fun?

Don't fall in!

Herman Miller

I saw this picture in an article about the Herman Miller collection and was drawn to the mid-century iconic look. The huge windows and roaring fire were enticing too but then I tried to imagine myself, my family, or a group of my friends in the room. Would we all sit on oddly low stools and color? Or would the over 40 set (myself included) ever be able to launch their rears out of those sleek but deep black chairs? Can you really imagine sitting anywhere comfortably in this room with a cup of coffee or a martini?

I have problems with it.

Corporate chinoiserie

Back lit chinoiserie panels

A few weeks ago, I had to put our very old dog down and felt horribly guilty. It may sound crass but I indulged in a little retail therapy to cheer myself. This was supposed to be a post about the fabulous pendant fixture I got at IKEA. The fixture was fabulous, not at all flimsy or cheap looking but its one measly light bulb left my kitchen dining area too dark. It had to go back. My husband was kind of bummed that I had gone without him so we both went back yesterday. I had misplaced the receipt and was terrified that they would not take it back because my husband would have killed me.

Clearly, I am still alive and we capped our pleasant shopping trip with lunch at the newly opened P.F. Changs. I have eaten at them before and I must say that this was a huge disappointment food-wise but the decor had my attention.

Above is a close up of the huge acrylic chinoiserie panels that were back-lit and mounted in a very modern way.

The panels were about 2 feet by 3 feet each and there was an enormous wall of them, creating a very cool effect. In the first photo, you can see the interesting lighting that was hung from free-form fretwork panels it was great in terms of concept but so many of the pendants were crooked that it was distracting.

I enjoyed the modern take on chinoiserie and wish I had gotten more useable shots.

Definitely food for thought, but seriously don't eat there. yuck.

I was absent that day

I was dreadfully sorry that I did not post a"cool art term Monday" yesterday.
Next week, for sure.
 Truthfully, wretched Fall allergy Sunday prevented it and Monday was crazy catch up day for me.

I am just going to show you a few things that have moved me lately and humbled my sense of art knowledge. 

Joan Mitchell

I fell into the "I already know it" trap. My grandmother taught art history and my first year and a half of college was spent in that major but I had very little instruction  about the post modern movements.

Joan Mitchell

I doubt that I have anything profound to add to that discussion but to the modern art haters, I must ask does this not conjure something? Disgust? Perhaps an odd confusion? A sensory memory?

Does art like this annoy you with its simplicity or vagueness?

I have nothing against representational art, in fact, I admire a great deal of it, but it is these bits and expanses of color without form that intrigue me. I wonder, why does this remind me of the scent of lemons or fresh tires? Often I do not know where the fond association lies.

I wish that I had stayed on for the post modernist discussion in college or that I had my grandmother to mull it over with.

I challenge each reader to seek out a new bit of art that is, maybe out of your beautiful /comfort zone, and find something interesting, if not good, to associate it with and DO TELL.

A Chinese bridge

The bridge I am referring to is not the one in this antique export china but rather the role Chinoiserie elements can play in bridging traditional and modern elements in a room.

Jaimie Meares

Look how the blue and white lamps with their pagoda shades work with the funky wall covering and classic mid-century sunburst mirror. My point is that the lamps could have been in Grandma's house but the inherent whimsy in Chinoiserie helps the newer, sleeker and funkier items come together with the traditional ones to form "the mix" that is so popular.

Melanie Turner

In the example above the country farmhouse style table is paired with Chinese Chippendale chairs and a very mod color palette of white, apple green, and gray. The wicker pendant, side chair fabric and lacquered Parson's tables are more modern than traditional but it all slides together effortlessly.

The toile is an updated Chinoiserie element and smacks of uber-femininity as does the bed. The spare lines of the mid-century lamp and graphic bedding are the modern twist that somehow manages not to clash.

These examples should help anyone wondering exactly how to mix styles of furniture without it looking dumb. Simple, pick some stuff you love and throw in a handful of Chinoiserie to taste.

Stir gently.

and Voila! Chinoiserie fixes it all.

Its a mod, mod, mod, mod world

This room really reminds me of early 1970s mod style. 

There are a few telltale giveaways to see that it is not a vintage room. The technology is one but the wallpaper, room divider, and color scheme make me expect Anita Bryant to step out and offer me a glass of orange juice.

I have been noticing these more lately because I am craving a little more mid-century groove in my mostly traditional house.

What do you call retro, futuristic style, besides a contradiction?

Mod.

Coffee table voting

Soon I wish to buy a new coffee table to replace the one seen here. Its too something... and not a good something.

Everything else pictured will remain.

Here are my budget friendly choices, please vote people. I am actually going to do this.

1. CB2 Smart round coffee table

2. CB2 Peekaboo coffee table 

I am heavily leaning in the clear Lucite direction

3. a pair of Cb2 Smart glass top side tables

The difference in these is that they are 19 inches high and 18 square. The other two are 12 to 13 inches high.

The pricing is similar, $299.$249, and $149 each, respectively.

Can you picture any of them here?

So, PLEASE tell my indecisive self which to choose!!!

Which came first-form or function?

Years ago, when I was in college I took a design theory class that I loved. If I could take that particular course again I would. Seeing it through different, older eyes would be interesting.

We talked about form and function mostly. We talked about the design of taillights, ad nauseum. 

We discussed stalacmites and stalactites and smoke vortices. 

I did a research paper on the latter. It covered the question "does form follow function?" I don't remember what I said but I put a lot of thought into it and I'm pretty sure I got a B+.

I still ponder this question on a day to day basis.

The mavericks of post-modern design answer the question with objects almost totally devoid of ornament. 

le Corbusier

When you discover beautiful things does this question come up? Do you wonder why it is you prefer one style over another?

roll arm

For instance, the curve of a roll-arm chair vs. a track-arm style seems on the surface to be a matter of style preference. The roll arm being for the sake of ornateness.

track arm

I think the roll-arm, while traditionally traditional, gets its form from the necessary function of comfort . The track-arm, while seemingly lacking in ornament is rather the opposite. Its streamlined appearance is for looks and not comfort.

I suppose that ornament does not necessarily lack function.
A painting's function is ornament.

In nature, form always follows function whether it be self-preservation or other forces that cause its form. 

In design, form does not always follow function. Sometimes form is just form.

While utilitarian need not be ugly, I think life would be pretty boring without ornament for ornament's sake.

Do you prefer purely functional, yet beautiful designs over decorative objects?

An old flame

There are so many well-know motifs in textile that I truly love and few I hate, but only one that has me on the fence.

I can't decide if I really like flame stitch or find it ugly. This is an odd way to feel about fabric, I know, but flame stitch and I go way back.

That's me with the lopsided pigtails in a flame stitch dress. Check out Mrs. Tackerell's groovy get up.

I vaguely recall hating that dress and suddenly one day, probably picture day, deciding I loved it.

It has that dusty, old castle feel but the geometric quality lends it to more modern applications.

Ok, I definitely like this

I can't help but think of the less-than -appealling attire of the 1970's, that may be in style again but I just can't stomach some of it.

I have decided to bite the bullet, albeit in a small way, an embrace the flame.

As soon as I can lay my hands on a yard or two in a good colorway, I will make myself a table runner for the dining room.

I was thinking a tartan but it is just too obvious a choice.

What do you think? Is flame stitch a yay or nay?

Barcelona Penthouse

This Barcelona, Spain penthouse is rife with art and just about every mid-century icon there is.

What do you think?