Donghia's Anziano Chair

When I posted yesterday on the pricey design objects I carry a torch for, I had a nagging feeling I was forgetting something I've coveted for at least a decade. I even had a suspicion it was a dining chair, but whenever I tried to zero in on what dining chair specifically, I came up empty.

Then it hit me! Donghia's Anziano chair (a modern take on a klismos). Duh, Alex. You've only dreamed of a set of 6 Anziano chairs for the better part of your adult life. Or maybe 8? Now don't be greedy, imagination.

Here she is in all her splendor (Yes, she. Look at those curves-- no doubt she's a lady chair):

Source: Chair Blog | Tumblr

And here she is in action:

Photography by Tria Giovan. Source: Coastal Living 

Sigh.

Today on Fab.com: Colorful Kilims

Whether you're pondering a kilim for your kitchen or just looking to make 2013 a more colorful year, Fab.com's got what you need. Check out their flash sale on flat-weave rugs, available for the next 6 days.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Sources

1. Kilim Multi 4. x7.7" by Apadana, Fab.com - $1,078
2. Kilim Multi 5.3x7.2" by Apadana, Fab.com - $925
3. Moroccan Rust 4.5x4.5" by Apadana, Fab.com - $1,000
4. Kilim Multi 5.4x8" by Apadana, Fab.com - $925
5. Kilim Multi 5.3x8.9" II by Apadana, Fab.com - $770
6. Kilim Multi 5.3x9.3" I by Apadana, Fab.com - $815
7. Kilim Multi 5.7x9" by Apadana, Fab.com - $1,230

Objects For When Money Is No Object...(Come On, Indulge Me)

In blogging about design and objects for the home, I make a concerted effort to keep budget in mind. It's a tricky line to walk given that everyone's idea of "priced within reason" varies depending on their situation and financial priorities. But approximately 6 months into this blog, I'm actually surprised by how easy it is to find great design in a cost band that I think most people would consider achievable-- whether achievable means you could buy an object on impulse, or, that you could set aside a small amount of every month's paycheck until you reach your goal.

All that said, today's post is devoted to complete suspension of reality. Why? Because in all my efforts to blog about realistically attainable design, I've somehow failed to blog about the design objects that I most love. The items I've oooh'd and ahhh'd over for years. So while keeping it real 99% of the time is important for my mental health and likely to be of the greatest value to readers looking for inspiration, I wanted to set aside a day to show you how I would decorate my home if money were no object.

And you know what? The results are pretty surprising-- even to me! When I took stock of the items I've been coveting since the second I laid eyes on them (years ago, in most cases), I wound up with a super contemporary look. Most of my posts are a mix of styles, with new and old items paired together. And that's a good reflection of the spaces I inhabit now. Almost all the furniture in my apartment was "liberated" from my parents basement or acquired at tag sales, meaning it veers heavily towards the traditional. And I do love the mix I have going on!

In my heart though, if I were starting from scratch with an unlimited budget, I know I'd want a thoroughly modern, minimalist space. A gallery-like space filled with beautiful, sculptural objects. To me, a modern home is a happy home. In that spirit, I think it's a valuable exercise to occasionally remind yourself how you would choose to live if budget wasn't a consideration. Even if you never find yourself in that situation (which, let's be honest-- most of us won't), it helps keep you on the right path towards living in a space that makes you feel happy.

If money were no object, here are the objects I would love to live with:

Sources

1. Lighting by Lindsey Adelman. Shown: Branching Bubbles - $19,800
2. Anything (and everything) by Paola Lenti. Shown: Swing
3. Modern fireplace. Shown: Shaker from Wittus, Fire by Design (See also: Malm Fireplace via Design Within Reach)
4. Large-scale contemporary art. Shown: Green Bikini by Nick Weber via Tripoli Gallery
5. Lighting by Serge Mouille. Shown: One-Arm Floor Lamp via Design Within Reach
6. Imola Lounge Chair, Bo Concept - $2,595 (See also: Ludovica and Robert Palomba's Lama Chair)
7. Walnut slab furniture by Hudson Furniture. Shown: Ironwood Coffee Table
8. Bamboo Rug - 1801, Danskina
9. Kurf-A Stool, Organic Modernism - $375
10. XL Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius via Hive Modern - $10,755
11. Textiles by John Robshaw. Shown: Jasper Bolster - $190

(See more of my favorite furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories on my pinterest page.)

A Colorful 2013 - Part II

Continuing with my color kick for 2013, today I wanted to highlight a few interiors that introduce a kick of color via furniture, accessories, art and textiles.

Happy Friday!

Source: The Brick House, Tumblr

Jenna Lyon's Brooklyn Brownstone. Source: Domino Magazine via Habitually Chic.

Elle Decor via Pinterest

The Animal Print Shop, by Sharon Montrose.

Photography: William Abranowicz. Source: Elle Decor

Source: Apartment Therapy

Photography by Simon Whitbread via Desire to Inspire

Source: InsideHomePage via Desire to Inspire

A Colorful 2013

Thank goodness for family (and friends that are like family.) Yes, they love and support you, but they also tell you when you're in a funk. And I have been in a serious funk, readers-- a neutrals funk.

After Christmas Eve dinner, when my honorary godmother mentioned that my posts of late were notably lacking in bright hues, I went through my archives and confirmed it. The funny thing is, I think of myself as a lover of color. But somehow over the past couple months, I fell into a pit of black, white and greige.

So one of my New Years' resolutions is to incorporate more color into my blog posts. To ease into it, I thought I'd start with one of my favorite applications: a shock of bright, saturated color in an otherwise neutral environment.

It's a fun technique for highlighting architectural elements or defining distinct spaces:

Source: Desire to Inspire

Source: Coco + Kelly

Source: Desire to Inspire

Source: Desire to Inspire

Source: RedOnline.co.uk via Pinterest

Source: 05 AM Arquitectura (Photo credit: Jose Hevia) via Trendir.com

Source: Dezeen via Pinterest

And it's also a nifty, counter intuitive trick for distracting the eye from what might otherwise be unsightly or architecturally strange. The chartreuse refrigerator cabinet is brilliant-- it's always irked me how counter-depth integrated fridges create a weird lip between the refrigerator cabinet and the wall cabinets. But slap some wildly colored paint on it and suddenly it's a "design statement" rather than a depth incongruity. Ditto with the red radiator-- some pre-war radiators can be horrifying. But when I look at this one, all I can think is, "oooooh, RED!"

Source: Eduardo's Tiny Sanctuary via Apartment Therapy Small/Cool 2011

Source: Victoria Smith, SFBayGirl via Pinterest

Renters with leases that forbid painting, stay tuned for inspiration on how to achieve the same effect with furniture, lighting and textiles.

Happy 2013, all! I hope it's a bright one.

Designs on my new Samsung Galaxy Camera?

Since receiving the Samsung Galaxy camera as a prize for being one of the weekly winners of Time Out NY/Samsung's 'Share Your Now" photo contest, I have been having a great time getting acquainted with my camera. Haven't had this much fun playing with a new toy since my first Barbie Doll, let's just say some years ago.

The camera body is white and about 3" by 6"and won't fit in an evening bag or a shirt pocket. But the big touch screen of the camera makes up for the former minor inconvenience. For me, the ease of snapping a photo, editing it seconds later and emailing out via WiFi is a big draw. That I can use the Paper Artist App to turn my snap into cartoon, watercolor, oil painting or use thirty one other special effects is intriguing. I have spent waaaay too much time toying with this part of the camera and not learning enough about the features for taking a better photo.

When taking a photo, how many times have you heard "Oh my God, delete that photo of me immediately. I look horrible."? Hundreds, Right? With the Samsung Galaxy camera, there is relief for the portrait photographer. When taking a picture, you click on the Mode screen, scroll to "Best Face". Snap! The camera takes 5 photos in quick succession, shows five versions of each subject with a thumbs up on a version the camera thinks is the best shot. Of course, you or the sitters don't have to agree with the camera and can choose personal favorites. The camera merges the best photos of each subject for a group picture where all (or all but the most self critical!) are content. Best photo works in a similar fashion for indvidual shots.

If you really want to play serious photographer, you can go to the advanced icon and use the touch screen "lens" to create your own manual settings. I like using this mode for improving my photography skills.  There are onscreen reminders on how the settings will affect the exposure. A neat tool.

The 21x zoom lens is great for videos and closing in on a subject. I had trouble trying to keep the camera steady and focused when "fully zoomed", but I think this will just take practice.
For further details you can go tSamsung and read David Pogue's review in the New York Times.

There is a lot more to know about the camera.  For further details you can go to Samsung and read David Pogue's review in the New York Times...but right now I am eager to show off some of my special effect photos below!

Clockwise from top left:
Gibson Beach at Sunset: Sunset Mode
Dining Room Edited with Paper Artist: Colarello
Hektor in red jacket at beach: Edited with Paper Artist: Noir Note
Hektor Edited with Photo Wizard: Sketch

The creative possibilities are unlimited; but if a break is needed I can always read a Mother/Daughter Design Interest post or check my email with WiFi internet access on my camera!

Happy New Year to our readers!

Progress on Ryan's Study, But Tough Decisions Loom

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday (or, better yet, that you're still enjoying your holiday.)

I signed off the blog for a couple days to celebrate at Christmas at my parents' house. Very relaxing with great food, cheerful holiday decor, many trips to the beach to wear out Hektor, followed by some glorious puppy cuddling time. Hektor turned one yesterday, so we did a dual Christmas/Birthday celebration. He got a birthday veal bone and a stocking full of tennis balls-- all of which he promptly tore to pieces in under 10 minutes. He's a spirited one, that Hektor.

But, alas, now it's back to the grind! January is typically a dismal month for me, but I think this year might be different. I have a lot of exciting projects coming up in 2013. One of which is to finally complete Ryan's study!

I've been talking about Ryan's study since I started the blog back in May. Since it's the space Ryan uses the most, we initially thought it would be a priority. After adopting Hektor, we (wisely) decided to hold off on decorating the study until we were out of the woods on house training. Oh man, am I glad we did. Ryan's poor Dash & Albert rug has seen it all. It's served us well, but Step 1 will be to kick it to the curb-- with a BIG sign taped reading, "House Training Victim. Take At Your Own Risk" taped to the front to dissuade bargain-seeking Brooklynites.

Step 2 is to pick a replacement rug that can be easily cleaned. While Hektor shows basic mastery of the "do your business outside" concept, he occasionally backslides. And with a dog of any age, there's always the risk of an upset stomach. Enter Flor tiles! Flor has been around for a while, but only since becoming a dog owner have I truly appreciated their offerings.

Flor's products are treated nylon (like an industrial carpet), but in colors and patterns you'd expect to find only in wool or cotton rugs. As the name suggests, their products are sold in "tiles" that attach to each other on the bottom with a patented Flor sticker. So if Hektor does have an accident, we can either wipe it down with a Clorox wipe or, for more serious accidents, detach the one victimized tile and hose it down in the sink or shower. If he does irrevocable damage, like chewing, the one tile can be replaced for about $14 (rather than replacing the whole carpet.) A lot of people complain that the carpets feel industrial under bare feet. They are synthetic fabric, so no, it doesn't feel like walking on a flokati. But both Ryan and I did the barefoot test and were comfortable with the way it felt.

The one weakness of Flor products is that they cannot be used over existing carpet (like wall-to-wall carpet) or any kind of padded floor. The cushioning causes the stickers to strain, which will separate the tiles. I learned this recently when considering them for another project (a super exciting project I'm keeping under wraps for now, but hope to reveal soon!)

That's enough chit-chat. Let's get into some images! Here's what I'm thinking for Ryan's study:

Sources

1. Saranac Pillow, Dash & Albert - $44
2. Cowhide Pillow, Room & Board - $129
3. Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
4. Pedestrian Walkway on the Brooklyn Bridge, by Bettmann (56" x 42" Premium Photographic Print, Unframed) - $159.99
5. Karlstad Loveseat and Chaise Lounge, Ikea - $678 + Unbleached Linen Slipcover, Bemz - $329 + Midcentury Modern Table Legs, Tablelegs.com - $12 ea.
6. 8" x 10" Easy Chair, Burnt Umber, Flor - $420

Ryan already owns the Dash & Albert Saranac pillow, the Brooklyn Bridge print (part of my Art.com winnings!) and a Karlstad sofa from Ikea. He bought the sofa when he moved to Brooklyn in the Isunda Gray. While the slipcover is a smidge rough in texture, it served us well. That is until a teething Hektor discovered a loose thread and unraveled a good chunk out of the fabric playing tug-of-war with the sofa arm. We're planning to replace it with a natural linen slipcover from Bemz, a Swedish company that makes slipcovers specifically for Ikea furniture in a variety of fabrics from European textile mills. The fabrics are much higher quality than Ikea, but still reasonably priced (unless you spring for the designer fabrics, like Marimekko, which is tempting.)

The mid-century modern inspired legs were purchased unfinished for $12 each from tablelegs.com. I sanded, stained them and screwed them into holes made for the Ikea legs. Easiest Ikea hack in history.

The blue is a Farrow & Ball color I fell in love with when I saw it on Emily Henderson's Instagram feed. We may or may not paint an accent wall behind the sofa. Yes, it would look cool-- especially with the Easy Chair Flor tiles in Burnt Umber. But is it necessary? Definitely not. We shall see what happens.

At the moment, more pressing decisions are begging to be made. For example:

Office chair #1? Or office chair  #2?

Sources

1. Modern Director Office Chair, Terracotta by Zuo, Amazon.com - $209
2. Ribbed Mid-back Office Chair, Terracotta by LexMod, Amazon.com - $219

Desk lamp by Logan Hendrickson of One Forty Three? Or his Swing Arm Lamp, to double as desk lamp and sofa reading lamp?

Sources

1. Emerson Desk Light, OneFortyThree - $115
2. Otis Wall Light 24", One Forty Three - $175

Should Ryan hold out for his dream of installing recessed lighting over the study? (He has great recessed lighting on one half of the downstairs, but mysteriously, only over the bedroom half. Over the study half-- nada.) Or give it up and just buy a floor lamp already?

Sources

1. Adjustable Pipe Lamp, West Elm
2. Fujiya Floor Lamp, CB2 - $249
3. Woody Floor Lamp, BoConcept - $299

Thoughts? Strong preferences? Please save me from the throes of indecision.