Friday Night Fun

Because we'd taken advantage of the fabulous weather on Thursday evening and taken guests to Prime Restaurant for a sunset seafood and fish dinner on the deck overlooking Huntington Harbor we forwent (really, forwent? went without? denied ourselves? Whatever) our usual Friday night booze fest Martini and meal in town and made this vegetable thin crust pizza (recipe over here) instead. OK I had a Martini and some olives to start but it was basically a low-calorie supper.


Then because it was still early I had a crazy desire to get a jump start on the weekend by putting up the curtain rods for the drapery panels I bought.


Of course the previous sentence makes it sound as if I was actually wielding the drill when we know my role is to take photographs and alert The Guy to the fact that the middle bracket is 1/4" off center.


You'd hardly think from his smiling face that he had a drill in his hand and it was menacingly close to my eye, would you? Still, in the end it all went off quite smoothly. I believe the drink before dinner helped, and the pizza, of course. There's nothing worse than tackling projects with a rumbling stomach, is there?


There was only one teensy-weensy little problem. When the curtains went up. I HATED THEM. They're definitely oatmeal not pearl and I hate oatmeal. What was I thinking?


I couldn't bring myself to fess up to The Guy that I thought they were a mistake, especially as he didn't want drapes in the first place, so I lived with them until Sunday afternoon but in the end they had to go. We tried them in the our bedroom but they were still oatmeal. Not every plan is a good plan and I'm admitting this was not my best but at least we know what won't work in both the den and the master.

1970s Chairs: Simple to Ornate

Mario Bellini’s Cab chair is one of the seven design pieces The Financial Times picked to represent Design decade: 1970s. A seemingly simple design, the chair's steel frame is encased in leather, an idea that has been copied often since, which gives it clean, modern lines and a timeless quality that belies its seventies origin.
I love this design but I found the original Cab chairs hard on the backside over the course of a dinner party. When it came to choosing chairs to go with the Le Corbusier LC6 table for our dining room I wanted a more forgiving version. I found one, unfortunately without the iconic front leg zipper but still Italian and in black leather but more importantly with a much more forgiving seat.


At the opposite end of the 70s design spectrum, Alessandro Mendini's Proust Chair is a colorful and ornate homage to the French: Louis XV style, impressionist Signac-inspired fabric and of course Marcel Proust himself. At one time I wouldn't have understood this design, now I covet its overblown glory.

Read the Financial Times Design Decade:1970s article here, but take note that the FT managed to place the photo of the 1976 Cab Chair on the subsequent 1978 paragraph on the Proust armchair. Any easy cut and paste mistake to make but a pretty obvious one I would have thought.

Saturday Shoot

Just to prove we're not exclusively modern, we're off to the city to look at Parmigianino’s Antea before it goes home to the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples.
I'll leave you with a few shots from the yard

vinca flower

pachysandra flower

heather
Not as stunning as Antea but it's the best I've got.

Perception is everything

Monster showers rule.


These imposing (the larger size is 2.4m or almost 8" tall) outdoor showers from Designerzeit are certainly stunning but they need an exceptional setting to show them to their best advantage. In the above shot, this one, appropriately called Wave, dwarfs the surrounding houses


while the beautiful modern, sculptural Ocean showers shown here (on a gorgeous platform deck) are jarringly juxtaposed with a traditional carriage post lamp and a couple of small terracotta planters.
Do you think they had a professional in to style the photo shoot?
via Trendir

A tall coffee and a new trowel

Here's an interesting thing I discovered this morning, well interesting may be going a bit far but noteworthy anyway. Do you know how much coffee is in Starbucks "tall" size? I didn't until today. Possibly I don't drink enough of the stuff to ever judge but we ran out of Jacqmotte Mocha, the house blend of choice here at The Cool House (which friends and family bring from Belgium by the suitcase full) and the only other blends we like are Starbucks Italian and French Roasts.

So I jumped into the Jeep, which still has the hard top on because the place we normally store it is full of stuff for the powder room redo - moan, whinge, whine - and set forth for Starbucks. With my large bag o' beans I got a free tall coffee, actually half a tall coffee because if it's too full I might spill it and coffee is hot, you know, and I took it home because driving while drinking hot liquids is a skill I have yet to master. And then of course I forgot about it.

As the weather dudes promised temperatures in the high 70s I'd already decided to dedicate this morning to moving a whole load more hostas, to make an effort to finish the transplanting before it got too warm and not touch the towel again for the rest of the week. I put out all my tools, cut through the first hosta, put the trowel underneath and....snap. The handle broke off leaving me with a choice of grabbing the serving spoon from the kitchen (and when I say serving spoon, it isn't a typo; for some reason we only have one, as anyone who has been here for dinner can testify) and excavating holes with that or driving back to town to buy a new trowel.

By the time I'd bought the trowel and finished the transplanting I was really thirsty and I remembered the free coffee, which by now was stone cold. But that's what microwaves are for, no? So I emptied the tall coffee into my mug and the thing overflowed. Half a "tall" coffee is more than my mug can handle. Yep, perhaps not the most interesting post so here are some hosta shots:

Hostas transplanted today

Patriot Hostas transplanted fall 2007

Hostas transplanted fall 2006

I'm hoping this morning's efforts will soon be as rewarded as last fall's.

Host a Hostas

Just because I split a gazillion of these back in the fall doesn't mean I can't transplant a similar number again this Spring, does it? I'm trying to split only the ones I didn't touch last August and September, those I've molested in previous years are fair game.
The aim is to get as much of the ground left bare by my ivy-removing escapades planted with hostas before they get too big to be split. They are currently growing 3" a day, so there isn't much time left....

Earth Day 2008

Recycle, reuse, resent and refuse

A little gem from the local market.
As I handed the cashier my cloth bag he said he knew it was Earth Day because a lot of shoppers had been using their bags today. "Everyone's saving the planet" he said.
Everyone it would seem except the adjoining cashier who whined "But I like plastic bags"..........
"Why?" I asked "because you can use them to line wastepaper baskets at home? Or because you can re-use them?"
"I just like them"
Rather than bang my head against the wall, I'm off to throw this morning's coffee grounds under the rhododendron bushes. Micro-composting, good for the planet, good for my yard.
But here's some environmental information for anyone else still clinging to their bright, new, shiny plastic bags.

Curtains

Or how I tried to decorate the master bedroom and ended up back in the den.
In the package of pillows I received from Crate & Barrel last week were two Taylor Panels in Pearl that I thought would be a good replacement for the non-functioning roller blinds in our bedroom. Damn inaccurate computer monitors! They were more oatmeal than pearl. I was going to return them when I remembered we had never come up with a solution for the large window in the den that looks out on the back terrace. We wanted something that would co-ordinate with the roman shades without being too matchy-matchy. So I held them up against the window and whadya know? They look awesome. I even got a clothes hanger, draped the panel over it and and hung it on the built-ins so I could see the effect from the other side of the room. Inventive, no?
Of course I now needed to get a curtain rod and the ones we bought in 2005 have been discontinued, but with the aid of the internets I tracked down the last Pegoda rods at sears.com.

If The Guy will help on Saturday I'll attach the hardware and hang the drapes and take photos. Until then there's a polyvore mock-up above.
The Crate and Barrel curtains are really nice quality (and in the Outlet section) so it would have been a pity not to use them but I still have to find something for the master bedroom so I can open the windows without a roller blind falling on my head.

Crate - for Renovation Therapy

I meant to blog this last week and then got busy and forgot.
I've always been a big fan of British designer Jasper Morrison. His Glo-Ball lamp is simple and beautiful, a work of art. And his Bus stop for Vitra is a mundane structure re-imagined as a breath-taking architectural piece.
But I think this is taking post-modern irony to the limit. $220 and he can't even think up a snappy name for his new product? Oh wait, $220 includes a copy of 'The Crate Picture Book'. Perhaps the book is worth $200 and the Crate $20?
If I had fourteen wine crates lying around my house I would be selling them as Jasper Morrison-inspired bookcases right now. And I'm sure reno can put together a tie-in book while she's about it!

If I had $1,000,000

Or two, I'd buy a mid-century modern house in California and furnish it with this table from Carl Chaffee. Doesn't it make you want to sit outdoors in the sunshine sipping orange juice?
via Blinkdecor


Of course if I had around $25,000,000 I'd bid on The Kaufmann Desert House at Christie's next month.

A poke in the eye with a sharp stick

Or how I battled the ivy and it fought back.
*don't forget to play today's theme-related music below


I can't remember how many bags of ivy I've cleared from this yard over the past forty-five months, but I've blogged about it here, here, here and here.
This is the first time it has fought back, though. I gave one giant tug to a creeper that was tangled in a juniper bush when a stick that had been buried in its midst came flying out and stabbed me squarely in the left eye.
All those times when I've said "it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick"? Take it from me there are few things more painful than a poke in the eye with a stick. Any kind of stick. Additionally you have to deal with the mental anguish that the blindness you are experiencing may turn out not be temporary.


Turns out the damage wasn't permanent, it just increased my determination to get rid of the remaining dusty, dirty green blanket. Ironically I had decided to tackle it today because I've been tripping over some tendrils ever since we moved the path a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was getting dangerous. Look how clear this bed is.


No ivy here either.


Absolutely all gone. Everywhere. The kitties will just have to play in the hostas instead.

Silver Screen Inspiration

When I saw Down With Love, the 2003 movie starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor pretty much the only thing I liked were the sets. I loved the whole candy-colored retro vibe in her space and the staid, spare modernism of his wood paneled room. Now I can recreate the surreal 60s look thanks to Linda Merrill's new blog ::Silver Screen Surroundings::.
Promising 'movie set decor, set decorators, and how to "Get that Look"' Linda's new blog has links to lots of design resources, including this Campbell Laird Flit #3 Print from 2modern design that I've long coveted.


I'll be checking in often to see what other movies sets will be offered up as inspiration. Two of my favorites: Woody Allen's Interiors and Ang Lee's The Ice Storm

Knock, knock

We started Saturday with a long list of things to do in the yard, things we'd been putting off until the weather got warmer and with temperatures in the mid-seventies we had no excuse not to get on with them.


First chore was for The Guy to jump on the roof and clean out the gutters while I stood below ready to call 911 if he fell off. Division of labour, if you will. I follow him around at ground level, taking the opportunity to check out the siding for any signs of carpenter bee activity and anything else on the exterior of the house that requires attention.


Often there's the start of a wasps' nest, or some other minor problem to take care of but this year had everything beat. Three huge holes an inch or so in diameter with the wood splintered around the side. This was no attack of the insects, this was woodpecker damage. Not only had he or she been drilling for carpenter bee lavae but it had been excavating roosting holes into the bargain.
We have a few woodpeckers in the trees and at this time of year there's usually one trying to bore holes in the siding. I shout at it, it flies off, comes back starts drumming, I run out, shout at it and we play this game ad nauseam. This one had managed to find itself a secluded spot on the corner of the garage and had obviously been at it for a while. I managed to restrain myself from screaming while The Guy was up on the roof and I tried to prepare him for the amount of damage but for someone who rarely curses he really let himself go when he saw those holes. Luckily we had a jumbo sized tube of wood filler handy (for the holes that is, not to shut The Guy up).


Even better we have the perfect solution for keeping the woodpecker away from that corner in the future. One of the Xmas presents we received was a spiral wind chime. I think the twirling shiny copper sphere should do the trick.


Unless it thinks I provided it a perch. During the entire time we were The Guy was repairing the holes and I was taking photos, the woodpecker was sitting in the oak tree chuntering at us. I know it was a just warning: we may have won this battle but the war will continue.

More Saturday Magnolias

It really is spectacular in the yard today, all yellow, white, pale pink and purple with a backdrop of bright green from the unfolding leaves. In between chores (more of that tomorrow) I had time to shoot some more magnolias.


These smaller magnolias are a double variety


The magnolia tree in full bloom
I also spotted a large magnolia in the back of the yard behind the pool that I hadn't noticed before. Unfortunately the blooms are all at the top of the tree and I couldn't get a decent shot but I know that its big pinky white blossoms are there. At least for a few more days.

Saturday Morning Magnolia

Wouldn't that make a great song title?


The magnolias are in full bloom. This is the small bush with the huge blossoms (the size of my hand) shot with the early morning sun behind the tree


close up of another blossom from the same position

Friday afternoon timewaster

More than you ever needed to know about cats...and engineers
Look for very important back-up kitchen appliance at about 1 minute 30 secs.


An Engineer's Guide to Cats

Sabotage

The den is getting a makeover. I have a spectacular new lamp and two new red pillows


two new fawn pillows


and two contrasting neutral pillows. I took some photos to document the upgrades and then I went to upload them. This is what greeted me when I got back


At least she nudged the cushion off the sofa so she didn't drool on it.
Sometimes I wonder why I bother trying to make the house look stylish.

Red Frame/White Light

Red frame, white light


The inspiration?


The music

Silver White Light*

*Today's light-themed playlist at the bottom of the webpage. Bragging rights for the reader who knows the artist who wrote/recorded this song, which is not on the playlist. Extra points if you know what he's doing now!


My prize arrived yesterday, the Jonathan Adler Carlyle Beaded Lamp I won last month over at ::Surrroundings:: and it's super, fabulous, lovely. Although the finish is Polished Nickel the colour is a subtle silver with a white shade. It's also extremely heavy. I had no idea it would weigh so much. I thought it would be nickel painted ceramic but it's too heavy to be that. This is a good thing as there is little chance a kitty will knock it off the end table.


It's a great design, a classic shape yet modern enough to fit into my den and I love the mix of metals we have going on in there now, the poished nickel with brass spotlights and a chrome and glass chandelier. It seems a lot but it all works together. I need a small accessory or two to sit next to it but it goes well with the new Hayward Red pillows I got from Crate and Barrel a couple of weeks ago. This room is starting to come together and I'm delighted I entered that competition.

My Superpower: Total Mastery of Water - Updated

Nearly 40% of the keyword analysis on my statcounter is coming from people searching "Kohler Karbon".* That's the new pot filler introduced by Kohler at K/BIS last week, which reminded me of the articulated robotic arms Fiat used to replace manual labour in its auto factories in the 70s.
To be helpful to those looking for more information on this revolutionary faucet I researched the product and here's what I have learnt: it is made from carbon fiber, that means it's very strong and yet flexible; you can move it into several different positions and then use it hands-free; you can place the control on the right or the left; it has a button for spray. In other words it's like many other kitchen faucets but it's made from a more unusual material and aesthetically it looks very different. A lot is made by the copywriters of its modern design; having looked at the faucet in more detail I now think it resembles a socket wrench as much as a robotic arm. That is not necessarily a negative, why shouldn't a "powerful kitchen tool" look like a powerful home improvement tool?
What I'd be buying it for, though, would be it's effect on my psyche, for the Karbon promises "a totally different experience with water at the sink" whereby I will "achieve mastery of water". Now that's a tagline I can get behind.
It won't be available for some months yet so to experience the faucet for yourself try it out virtually and be sure to check out the two videos Kohler have produced to promote their new product.

*and it would seem, Kohler themselves. Someone from Kohler has been visiting the blog regularly since I posted this .

Update: It would seem that I made a huge error in labeling the Kohler Karbon a pot filler. It is not. It is a faucet. I stand corrected. Its flexibility allows you to easily fill tall pots without having to place them in the sink but it is not designed to fit behind a range or cooktop. However, the wall-mounted model still looks like a pot filler, it folds back flat against the wall and extends out to, well, fill pots. So my question for M. Kohler is: Why not design a Karbon Pot Filler and extend the "mastery of water"?

Spring

There's lots of yellow


And the promise of more colour to come

The morning after

The Cool House is a great place to entertain and we love having company over for drinks or a casual supper, especially those who have never been here before or who haven't heard of Andrew Geller and his work. We show off the house and describe how we found it, hopefully without boring other people who have heard it all before. But the pressure is really on when another of the guests is a frequent visitor and loyal blog reader and his wife is an extremely talented interior designer.


I know I'm expected to blog something pithy and acerbic about last night's dinner but I'm going to throw this curve ball out of left field and present some shots of the spring flowers I received instead.


Fabulously beautiful, no?
I don't know why I'm feeling so mellow this morning. Perhaps I'm still relaxed from the marvellous company and conversation last night? Perhaps it has something to do with the seven hours uninterrupted sleep I had for the first time since we got the kittens?


Or perhaps it was the amount of wine I consumed?
Thanks to all concerned for making it such a great evening: the chicken carver, the bottle openers, the plate passers, the table clearers and the dishwasher stacker. The Guy and I really appreciate the way you worked for your dinner.