I've been coveting a smooth black leather weekend bag for years now. Maybe this one from Banana Republic is finally the one I'll get. It would give us a nice chunk of frequent flyer miles— a good way to take a trip to be able to use it.
5.31.2006
5.24.2006
Happiness:
Yesterday, JB commented on Bri's blog that "all of us are always blah, all the live long day." If that statement is true for most people, I feel more depressed than ever. Maybe it's just because I've spent most of my life coping with clinical depression but I've always assumed (or maybe hoped) that most people are happy. Not all of the time, of course. I know that many people have many "blah" days, but I assumed that was not a constant or typical state. Now, though, I'm wondering if blah is the normal state and it's foolish to hope for more.
So, people, are most of you happy, depressed or blah?
Yesterday, JB commented on Bri's blog that "all of us are always blah, all the live long day." If that statement is true for most people, I feel more depressed than ever. Maybe it's just because I've spent most of my life coping with clinical depression but I've always assumed (or maybe hoped) that most people are happy. Not all of the time, of course. I know that many people have many "blah" days, but I assumed that was not a constant or typical state. Now, though, I'm wondering if blah is the normal state and it's foolish to hope for more.
So, people, are most of you happy, depressed or blah?
5.23.2006
iannone:sanderson "Signature 1" credenza:
Philadelphia-based designers Michael Iannone and James Sanderson make this and many other similar credenzas (or should I say cabinet or sideboard for certain people?) with reclaimed, salvaged or recycled materials. This model uses naturally renewable bamboo. Their green:mod model focuses on environmentally friendly materials by using bamboo, lumber from managed forests and non-toxic lacquer. Finally "green" design is looking cool.
Philadelphia-based designers Michael Iannone and James Sanderson make this and many other similar credenzas (or should I say cabinet or sideboard for certain people?) with reclaimed, salvaged or recycled materials. This model uses naturally renewable bamboo. Their green:mod model focuses on environmentally friendly materials by using bamboo, lumber from managed forests and non-toxic lacquer. Finally "green" design is looking cool.
5.19.2006
5.18.2006
One of Olivo Barbieri's "Site Specific" Photos:
Italian photographer Olivo Barbieri has recently been exhibiting his series "Site Specific", which are large-scale, aerial views of ancient architecture in places such as Rome and Jordan and modern architecture in L.A., Shanghai and Las Vegas. The entire series manages to skew scale and reality— the photos look like they are images of toy models.
Barbieri accomplishes the look by working from a helicopter about 400 feet in the air (which is approximately the height of my office on the 41st floor) using a large-format camera with a tilt-focus lens.
I love this image of the Coliseum but I have a feeling Bri would prefer this image of The Queen Mary.
Italian photographer Olivo Barbieri has recently been exhibiting his series "Site Specific", which are large-scale, aerial views of ancient architecture in places such as Rome and Jordan and modern architecture in L.A., Shanghai and Las Vegas. The entire series manages to skew scale and reality— the photos look like they are images of toy models.
Barbieri accomplishes the look by working from a helicopter about 400 feet in the air (which is approximately the height of my office on the 41st floor) using a large-format camera with a tilt-focus lens.
I love this image of the Coliseum but I have a feeling Bri would prefer this image of The Queen Mary.
5.17.2006
Ethan Ames Sculptural Bench:
Yet again, another covet from this past weekend's Brooklyn Block Party. This gorgeous "Hollowform" wooden sculpture serves as a bench and possibly a playground for kids, cats and small dogs. Our next garden will be designed around one of these.
Yet again, another covet from this past weekend's Brooklyn Block Party. This gorgeous "Hollowform" wooden sculpture serves as a bench and possibly a playground for kids, cats and small dogs. Our next garden will be designed around one of these.
5.16.2006
Vice coffee table:
I spotted this clever table by Matt Hutchinson and Mark Hash at this weekend's Block Party design show. The removable cast aluminum tray fits into the wood table seemlessly. I could imagine using it as a dish for snacks during a party (only if our dogs were being boarded, of course), as a shallow vase for orchids or as a little dish to float candles in.
I spotted this clever table by Matt Hutchinson and Mark Hash at this weekend's Block Party design show. The removable cast aluminum tray fits into the wood table seemlessly. I could imagine using it as a dish for snacks during a party (only if our dogs were being boarded, of course), as a shallow vase for orchids or as a little dish to float candles in.
5.14.2006
Bubble Chandeliers by Lindsey Adelman:
Adelman is a Brooklyn-based artist who creates obsessive bubble-filled drawings. This light was created especially for the BlockParty design show, we attended today. It was part of the annual BKLYN Designs show and was hosted in one of the newly developed modern townhouses on State St. (See my previous post about Bri's desired new home.) Not only did I fall in love with these lights, but I also fell in love with the townhouses. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep until I figure out a way to have both things.
Adelman is a Brooklyn-based artist who creates obsessive bubble-filled drawings. This light was created especially for the BlockParty design show, we attended today. It was part of the annual BKLYN Designs show and was hosted in one of the newly developed modern townhouses on State St. (See my previous post about Bri's desired new home.) Not only did I fall in love with these lights, but I also fell in love with the townhouses. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep until I figure out a way to have both things.
5.12.2006
A condo on NYC's High Line:
The unused elevated railroad tracks in the Meat Packing district, called the High Line, are about to be turned into a gorgeous park designed by landscape design firm Field Operations and the uber-hip architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro. And so of course all the warehouse buildings in the surrounding area are now being turned into condos. Some of the buildings have already been completely sold, even though the first section of the park won't be completed until 2008.
My favorite of the new conversions is being called HighLine 519. They have a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath 2,500 sq. ft. duplex condo with a private 500 sq ft. terrace. Price tag? Approximately $2 mill. (which is actually about $600,000 cheaper than the new designer Boerum Hill, Brooklyn townhouses that Bri covets. It's also about 1,000 square feet smaller, though. But come on, 2,500 sq. feet is much more than adequate. It's enough room for at least one more dog.)
The unused elevated railroad tracks in the Meat Packing district, called the High Line, are about to be turned into a gorgeous park designed by landscape design firm Field Operations and the uber-hip architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro. And so of course all the warehouse buildings in the surrounding area are now being turned into condos. Some of the buildings have already been completely sold, even though the first section of the park won't be completed until 2008.
My favorite of the new conversions is being called HighLine 519. They have a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath 2,500 sq. ft. duplex condo with a private 500 sq ft. terrace. Price tag? Approximately $2 mill. (which is actually about $600,000 cheaper than the new designer Boerum Hill, Brooklyn townhouses that Bri covets. It's also about 1,000 square feet smaller, though. But come on, 2,500 sq. feet is much more than adequate. It's enough room for at least one more dog.)
5.11.2006
Lindblad Expeditions Galapagos cruise:
To be able to nap this close to sea lions would be a dream come true. There are numerous cruises and yachts that travel around the Galapagos Islands, but Linblad is the premier luxury, adventure, eco-friendly cruise line (it does seem like an oxymoron but it perfectly describes my style of travel). The best part is that Linblad offers special photography workshops on some trips that feature National Geographic photographers working with a group of only 16 student passengers and offering
one-on-one mentoring.
Any trip with a National Geographic photographer on board to teach classes would be great, but add sea lions, giant tortoises, swimming iguanas and tropical penguins and it practically gives me heart palpitations of excitement.
If only I had a spare $20,000 to take the whole family.
To be able to nap this close to sea lions would be a dream come true. There are numerous cruises and yachts that travel around the Galapagos Islands, but Linblad is the premier luxury, adventure, eco-friendly cruise line (it does seem like an oxymoron but it perfectly describes my style of travel). The best part is that Linblad offers special photography workshops on some trips that feature National Geographic photographers working with a group of only 16 student passengers and offering
one-on-one mentoring.
Any trip with a National Geographic photographer on board to teach classes would be great, but add sea lions, giant tortoises, swimming iguanas and tropical penguins and it practically gives me heart palpitations of excitement.
If only I had a spare $20,000 to take the whole family.
5.06.2006
B&B Italia Mart armchair:
The way the luxurious leather is stretched across the voluptuous feminine frame of the Mart MPR/1 chair is strangely sexy. Milan-based designer Antonio Citterio is responsible for some of my favorite sofas, including the 1979 Diesis and the Tight sofa, both of which I’ve featured. Brilliant guy. Unfortunately the price of Mat isn't brilliant— it's a little over $4,000 at EuropebyNet.com.
The way the luxurious leather is stretched across the voluptuous feminine frame of the Mart MPR/1 chair is strangely sexy. Milan-based designer Antonio Citterio is responsible for some of my favorite sofas, including the 1979 Diesis and the Tight sofa, both of which I’ve featured. Brilliant guy. Unfortunately the price of Mat isn't brilliant— it's a little over $4,000 at EuropebyNet.com.
5.04.2006
Satyr chair by ForUse:
I am generally drawn to any animistic object, so of course I am smitten with this bird-like lounge chair. Austrian Design trio ForUse— Sven Jonke, Christoph Katzler and Nikola Radeljkovic— came out with the Satyr chair this year for German company ClassiCon. Since I haven't found a NYC store carrying it yet, I may have to make a trip to Berlin as soon as I get off crutches.
I am generally drawn to any animistic object, so of course I am smitten with this bird-like lounge chair. Austrian Design trio ForUse— Sven Jonke, Christoph Katzler and Nikola Radeljkovic— came out with the Satyr chair this year for German company ClassiCon. Since I haven't found a NYC store carrying it yet, I may have to make a trip to Berlin as soon as I get off crutches.
5.03.2006
Artemide's Logico Single wall sconce:
Artemide is an Italian company that's been designing cutting edge lighting since 1959. In my opinion (and I'm not alone in this), they make some of the best lights— and best known lights (inlcuding the Tolomeo sconce that graces our bedroom)—in the world.
Logico looks like a soft cloud floating along. It's gorgeous and even a little fun (a word that doesn't typically describe most of my favorite furnishing). Logico also comes as a suspended ceiling light that floats ethereally above your head.
Artemide is an Italian company that's been designing cutting edge lighting since 1959. In my opinion (and I'm not alone in this), they make some of the best lights— and best known lights (inlcuding the Tolomeo sconce that graces our bedroom)—in the world.
Logico looks like a soft cloud floating along. It's gorgeous and even a little fun (a word that doesn't typically describe most of my favorite furnishing). Logico also comes as a suspended ceiling light that floats ethereally above your head.
5.01.2006
A padded Bubblewrap suit:
After this past weekend I've decided I need a soft, padded, protective suit to keep me safe. A suit of Bubblewrap would be perfect. Anything to avoid another injury— I've have now reached injury number 3 in a mere 18 months.
December 2004: Sprained ligament in my left ankle from overuse (i.e. too much running, yoga, pulling at the dogs to keep them from eating chicken bones on the street). It took about 2 months of physical therapy and about 5 months without running before it healed.
February 2006: Sprained ligament in my right wrist from over use. Once again I can blame pulling on the dogs, along with yoga and typing. Physical therapy completed in April, about 80 percent recovered.
April 29, 2006: Broken right 3rd metatarsal. Expected time before I can once again put weight on my right foot: 8 weeks.
After this past weekend I've decided I need a soft, padded, protective suit to keep me safe. A suit of Bubblewrap would be perfect. Anything to avoid another injury— I've have now reached injury number 3 in a mere 18 months.
December 2004: Sprained ligament in my left ankle from overuse (i.e. too much running, yoga, pulling at the dogs to keep them from eating chicken bones on the street). It took about 2 months of physical therapy and about 5 months without running before it healed.
February 2006: Sprained ligament in my right wrist from over use. Once again I can blame pulling on the dogs, along with yoga and typing. Physical therapy completed in April, about 80 percent recovered.
April 29, 2006: Broken right 3rd metatarsal. Expected time before I can once again put weight on my right foot: 8 weeks.
Design Within Reach's Otto Desk:
Growing up I was fascinated by my father's huge roll-top desk he had custom made when we lived in Taiwan. It has so many compartments that I used to be convinced that it has a secret compartment only he knows about, and I really wanted a desk just like it. But then I grew up and developed my own taste (which obviously runs completely counter to my dad's foundess for huge, old, clunky pieces), and decided a roll-top desk would not be for me. Until I saw Spanish designer Ricard Vila's desk, that is. This is truly a 21st century desk— it features a cable management compartment, a telephone jack, an electrical outlet, an overhead fluorescent light, and a built-in pencil holder. And it probably has a secret compartment, too.
Growing up I was fascinated by my father's huge roll-top desk he had custom made when we lived in Taiwan. It has so many compartments that I used to be convinced that it has a secret compartment only he knows about, and I really wanted a desk just like it. But then I grew up and developed my own taste (which obviously runs completely counter to my dad's foundess for huge, old, clunky pieces), and decided a roll-top desk would not be for me. Until I saw Spanish designer Ricard Vila's desk, that is. This is truly a 21st century desk— it features a cable management compartment, a telephone jack, an electrical outlet, an overhead fluorescent light, and a built-in pencil holder. And it probably has a secret compartment, too.