The Lyric Theater - Birmingham, Ala.

A couple of years ago, while I was working at Thicket magazine in Birmingham, Ala., we shot our Spring fashion spread in the Lyric Theatre, a Vaudeville stage that opened in 1914. Rumor has it that when it was closed in-and-around the 1930's, it became Birmingham's premiere dirty movie venue. Can't verify that, and I'm not sure who to ask. In any case, it has been vacant for over 50 years and is in a horrible state of disrepair. The decay made for an incredible backdrop for our shoot, but I'm rooting for its restoration. For more information on restoration efforts: Lyric Fine Arts Theatre





The word asbestos, in Greek, means "unquenchable."

The Arctic Club, Seattle

On my recent vacation to Seattle, my two brothers and I had no idea where we were going to stay in town until we got there. We rented a car and just started driving around, and as luck would have it, we pulled up to The Arctic Club, a recently refurbished turn-of-the-century gentleman's club. WHAT A TREAT. They've done an incredible job of preserving the architectural detail of the building, but have incorporated just a hint of modern sensibility in the decor. What caught my eye most were the colors they used in the hallways - that rich, primary blue on the doors paired with the mustard yellow walls and brown, deco-checked carpeting.

Whoever was put in charge of branding has done an incredible job as well. The logo (below) is seamlessly incorporated throughout the hotel, most notably on the handsome stationery provided in each individual room - a belly-warming throwback to the days of gold mining and heavy scotch drinking.

Over all, just an incredibly unique, luxurious, and distinctly Northwestern place. Click here for reservations.

P. Allen Smith

I hadn't heard of him either, but EVIDENTLY he's the "Martha Stewart of the South". I'm jealous.

The Rich and Boring Need Not Apply...

Great article on the rise of Todd Selby in the NYTIMES.

...Mr. Selby’s online gallery is also indicative of a trend toward a rawer, more photojournalistic approach to interiors, a movement typified by indie design magazines like Apartamento or the interiors blog Homebodies, which are less interested in the faux perfection of shelter magazines than in the effluvia of everyday life. The spaces actually look lived in because they are.

The Wedding Sheet

I came across the concept of the wedding sheet in Josephine Ryan's French Home last night. I'm getting married in the Fall, and I'd never heard of this tradition, so I did a little bit of research.

It is referenced as both a French and Italian tradition, where the bride is given an ornately embroidered wedding sheet in "fil de lin" linen as part of her trousseau. On the morning after the couple's first night, the tradition states that the couple will hang the sheet out a window to show their family and nosy neighbors that the bride was indeed a virgin.

My guess is that if they are still being given on the occasion of a wedding, the second, more public part of the tradition has fallen in favor.

I came across this site, Fleur d'Andeol, which sells impeccable antique wedding sheets and other fine linens. Worth bookmarking for sure.

At Home with Joan Parker...

I am mainly posting this so you can see dear Joan's incredible powder room. Picture 8 out of 9 in the slideshow. Deco, with a touch of industrial. And the cool green on the walls and ceiling, the cream trim. I'm in love.

Wattage

Who knew vintage light bulbs could be a political issue? Love them, energy efficient or not. NYTIMES.

My article in Coastal Living...

Hi! I'm super excited about my article in this month's issue of Coastal Living magazine. I had no idea until I discovered it at the checkout at my local Publix that my story got the cover photo. Cheers to Meg Braff, the fabulous designer of this house, for making my job so easy!

Muted Candy Stripe Bed Linens

These are really nice.

Good China Bad China

Fine bone china featuring 7 deadly sins and 7 contrary virtues in prussian blue script. Set includes 12 dinner plates and two serving plates, or can be bought in pairs for $49 at Generate Design. From Remodelista.

Campers- High and a Little Higher, Brow

What is it about campers that incite such wanderlust? I see an airstream on the side of the road and visions of a "Wonder Years" silent film footage trip cross-country ensue- me, the man of my dreams, a golden retriever, good barbeque.

Ah, dreams. In the meantime, check out this camper eye-candy.




The Teardrop trailer, by Silver Tears Campers. Courtesy of Garden and Gun.







This "wagon" as they call them in Britain can be found marooned in a Cornish meadow, where the family of 6 who owns it vacations. They bought it at a roadside sale in mint condition (the family who owned it previously had all of the upholstery covered in plastic). Courtesy of The World of Interiors.

Casamidy

Stumbled upon some promotional postcards that the design firm Casamidy sent out to promote their unique vacation rentals in San Miguel de Allende and Paris, to name a few (pictures above. The settings and interiors are simply stunning.

The company, based in Mexico, was started in 1998 by a woman named Ann-Marie Midy and her partner Jorge Almada, fueled by their desire to combine native artisan talent in Mexico with the design concepts that they both studied in school. The result is a product line and design aesthetic that is a rustic, provincial approach to high style. Everything they produce seems worn and cozy and worth keeping, like an old woman with good stories and lots of wrinkles.

Check out their website to learn more: www.casamidy.com

Exciting Book Purchases

I'm on an architecture kick and can't get my nose out of these two books:



(Above) It's just a good thing to have and I hope it will one day greatly inform my real estate purchases.



This book is by the renowned architect Christopher Alexander, who teaches at Berkeley. Apartmenttherapy.com has referenced this book several times in regards to "making sense of your surroundings". So far, it reads like the "interiors" version of Jane Jacob's The Death and Life of Great American Cities (sweet original cover below).

Bedroom: Before and After

My bedroom was previously this deep mustard yellow/doo doo brown color and you know, I didn't HATE it but I wanted to lighten up the room a little bit, so I painted it white. Here are some before and after shots. I'm also experimenting with the clothes pin system for pinning up clothes that would otherwise be in piles on the floor, photos, hats, laundry that needs air-drying, etc. Any suggestions?

Before:





After:

My First New York Apartment...

...was a shitty NYU dorm room on Lafayette in Chinatown. The mere thought of it makes me want to throw myself out a window. THIS, THIS does NOT!

Inspiration: Upholstery

Found these chairs at Dolce here on S. Dixie. Have you ever seen a chair upholstered with this curtain on the back? The shop keeper says it was done in the 60's...so divine.

Second Home, Starter Budget

How did I miss this? Such a dream. From NYTimes.

Hotel Delano

Paul and I spent the day in Miami yesterday, and boy, for an hours drive away it felt like we were half-way across the world. Such a difference from the pace and people watching of West Palm Beach. My favorite part of the day was spent at the Hotel Delano, designed by the renowned Phillipe Starck. See pictures below. By all means, a design destination.



So Alice in Wonderland...



Fell in love with this cafe table and matching liquor cart..


Evidently they play classical music under water in the pool...