Category Archives: Look What I Found!

Interesting people, places and things.

More From 2nd April Galerie

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 26, 2009 – 6:02 pm
Filed under Digging Others' Digs, Look What I Found!

This morning my sister called me, not because I am sick and she is worried about me, but because she remembered that she wants me to go to First Friday with her when we visit during Spring Break.

My sister lives in my hometown of Canton, Ohio.  Canton is your typical mid-western small city, struggling for decades to transition to a service economy.  It is my impression that people in Canton really TRY.  They work hard.  Even at The Grotesque.

Brennis is a case in point.  A childhood friend, Brennis owns 2nd April Galerie & Studios.  He works diligently feeding and nurturing Canton’s art scene.  He and his partner, Todd, throw a bash on the First Friday and encourage all their downtown neighbors to participate in a Gallery Hop.  Coincidentally to my sister’s phone call, today Brennis posted pictures from a recent event on his Facebook page.  I stole them and am reposting them here.  (Thanks, Brennie!!) 

They sell First Friday gear.  Maybe my sis will buy me something.

2nd April Galerie Photo from Brennis Booth

Wood-turned bowl by Marty Chapman

2nd April Galerie Photo from Brennis Booth

Wood Sculptor Todd Migge

2nd April Galerie Photo from Brennis Booth

From left to right: Clare Murray Adams, photography by Bob Baker, (top) Kevin Maxwell (bottom), Chris Triner

2nd April Galerie Photo from Brennis Booth

From left to right: Ted Lawson, Kevin Maxwell, Bev Stafford and BZTAT

2nd April Galerie Photo from Brennis Booth

On the wall from left to right: Ted Lawson, Bob Davis, Joe Martino, Gail Wetherall-Sack, Linda Hutchinson and Greg Kandis

2nd April Galerie Photo from Brennis Booth

Glass by KC Glass, X3 Latex Enamel on Paper by Patricia Zinsmeister Parker, Sculpture by Marcy Axelband and Joseph Close

2nd April Galerie Photo from Brennis Booth

A First Friday.  Must be summer because people are in shorts.

2nd April Galerie Photo from Brennis Booth

I spy a Christmas Tree, so this one must be more recent. (I told you, I stole the pics!)

2nd April Galerie Photo from Brennis Booth

Kindle

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 25, 2009 – 1:51 pm
Filed under Look What I Found!

Kindle 2 Image from Amazon

Today is normally the day that I post internet super deals.  Today’s deal is expensive, no doubt about it.  359 dollars worth of expensive. 

But I have NEVER EVER EVER been so excited about a product in all my days.  Not in my entire life.  Not even when I just had to have that yellow banana seat bike.  Or that little sheltie pup.  Not ever.

I was catching up on local blogs when I saw this post.  Now I can’t seem to catch my breath.  Remember how much I love books?  How much I love to touch them, smell them, collect them?  Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined there could be a device to rival my passion.

Enter the Kindle 2.  

Thinner than a pencil
Lighter than a paperback
Viewable in bright sunlight 
Electronic ink is easy on eyes, unlike a phone or laptop
2G-holds 1500 books!
60 second downloads anywhere, anytime without computers or special service
$9.99 Bestsellers
Daily uploads of the NY Times and Washington Post for $10 each a month
250,000 titles with more daily
Stays charged for days and uses a standard USB.
Turn wireless off and read without recharging for TWO WEEKS
Built in dictionary
Access to all of Wikipedia
Search function!!
Reads out loud to you 
You can download your mp3s and listen while you read
Books purchased are backed up online
And the best part: sturdy enough to withstand dropping!!

“Three years ago when we started to create the Kindle our goal was to improve upon the book…Something that has resisted change in 500 years is not going to be easily improved.”  Jeff Bezos

I can’t come up with a single reason why I wouldn’t love it.  A Kindle will not, however, replace my huge collection of decorating books.  Not yet anyway. Today electronic ink is only available in black and white.  I don’t know who will be the first to invent the color version, but can you imagine?  I would be able come to a consultation with my entire library, bookmarked, annotated and highlighted!

Watch a video and be convinced.

Christopher Lowell at Smith+Noble

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 24, 2009 – 1:16 pm
Filed under Design Principles, Look What I Found!, They Made Their Mark, Windows

Christopher Lowell on the Smith+Noble website

Christopher Lowell has created four “lifestyles” for Smith+Noble.  From the website:

 America’s leading resource for window treatments teams with America’s most trusted designer to bring you an exhilarating new way to decorate your home. With easy, beautiful, premier quality window coverings and décor accents personally selected by Christopher Lowell. Achieve top-notch designer results in any room with materials pre-coordinated to harmonize beautifully with four universally appealing lifestyles: TOWN, COUNTRY, CITY & SHORE Each lifestyle covers a world of design influences from global destinations visited by Christopher Lowell.

I have two of Christopher Lowell’s books.  I was introduced to him by a friend about 10 years ago who had checked out of the library Seven Layers of Design and used his advice to paint her family room.  EXACTLY as he listed in the book.  At that very moment, I knew I needed to write a business plan.

(I purchased that very book the day I registered my business license.  If ministers and nuns have a higher calling, than this was mine.  All those lost souls using a color palette out of a book…when millions exist in nature…)

I spent a little time perusing  the site and thus far the lifestyles consist of exactly the same products.  Perhaps the release came before the website was ready??

Order now for free standard shipping.  Just don’t expect pre-coodinated universally appealing lifestyles.

SwapitShop vs Bookins

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 19, 2009 – 11:11 am
Filed under Look What I Found!

Screen shot from SwapitShop. Notice the big banner with Taylor Swift. Now try to guess the targeted age.

Have you heard of SwapitShop? I hadn’t until yesterday.  It’s kinda like eBay, only without money. You advertize something you want to get rid of and wait for someone to bid on it with Swapit points. Once you have a winner, you send the item to SwapitShop, along with extra postage so that they, in turn, can send it off to the person with the highest bid. After the transaction is completed, points are awarded so now you can bid on stuff. If you are negligent in any way, points are deduced. And I saw quite a few sellers with negative points.

Does this sound good to you? It seems clumsy to me. The website even LOOKS clumsy. But I could be biased. As my sister knows, I hate to go to the post office to mail a package. I have never sold anything on eBay for that very reason (even though I have a nice pile of American Girl crap). But I love bidding. Especially on books. And I love receiving even more.  So for me, Swapit has a fatal flaw.  If I can’t sell, how do I buy?

Some of the items listed are ridiculous. Notice in the screenshot-someone is selling a card that looks like something my 11 year old would have made. Three years ago. Now don’t hate: I love homemade cards. But unless the card is made by an artist, I want to actually KNOW the person who made it. It’s just creepy otherwise.

In all fairness there are other ways to get points.

Screen shot from Bookin. Back to sitting with my age group.

Coincidentally, or not-lightening fast memes fly through cyberspace these days-my local paper highlighted another similar site. Bookins has a cleaner, more grownup looking layout and with this site there’s no bidding. Here you must pay shipping $4.49 for everything you receive. Postage for items sent is free, you simply print postage labels right from the website.

When posting an item on Bookins, you must give the ISBN. They take care of creating the listing. Which is why it is much easier to find what you want on this site, as opposed to the often garbled listings in Swapit.

Sadly, there are no decorating books on either site. 

 

London Fog

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 2, 2009 – 1:12 pm
Filed under Color, Look What I Found!, Trend Spotting

Have you had the London Fog Tea Latte at Starbucks? I am smitten. No, more like addicted. As I sit here and type, a whisper can be heard. “Go to Starbucks. Go to Starbucks. Go to Starbucks. ” Can you hear it?

I know this tiny, tinny sound can be heard by others besides me. What else explains the frequent importuning I get from my children? “Mom, can we stop at Starbucks on the way?”

I am usually immune to the lure. I prefer my coffee straight. Black, Strong. Singularly early in the morning. But now all that has changed. My attempts to avoid such conspicuous consumption foiled by a deceptively simple latte.

And not any old Latte. The London Fog is perfect. Sweet and creamy, but balanced with an earthy bitterness. Warm and cozy and full of fat, a sip can chase away the torment of winter. I can’t get enough of it.

Starbucks creates the London Fog from Tazo Earl Grey, Vanilla flavoring (I ask for sugar free) and foam (I ask for breve, which is Barista Lingo for made with half and half. Sorry. For this drink, the fat is essential to the experience.) It is perfect. Here is how the Tazo website describes the tea:

Aroma of citrus, lavender and light smoke harmoniously blended, the tea flavor and astringency of Tazo Earl Grey are perfectly balanced with the slightly spicy, lavender-and-lemon taste of the bergamot.

Last week I was introduced to Kris’s Color Stripes. Kris pulls rectangles of color out of photos and art work. I commented that it could be interesting for decorators to do this, only more specifically by pulling out actual hues that correspond more usefully to popular paint palettes. Fortunately for me, the Tazo box of my obsession wears the BIG TREND of purple and gray.

Tazo Earl Gray tea box as an inspiration

All colors from Ben Moore

From the Classic Color Palette from Benjamin Moore:
Moon Shadow 1516
Ashley Gray HC-87
French Violet 1427
Gargoyle 1546

  

Blocked Vision

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Posted by Denise Smith on January 29, 2009 – 7:08 pm
Filed under Book Review, Living Rooms, Look What I Found!, Rooms

This morning I visited a client with whom I have been working for many years.  The icy path to her door was treacherous, so it took a few deep breaths for me to notice her front room.  But once I trusted the ground below my feet and was able to gaze straight ahead instead of at my feet, I was pleased. 

A few months ago I had suggested to her that she rearrange her Living Room. Her sofa was positioned against a wall not viewable upon entry to the space.  A large armoire loomed, smack center of the sight-line.  The complaint from this family was that this space, with its wonderful furniture and global decor, was seldom used. 

My suggestion was very simple.  Move the armoire to the corner of the wall not seen.  Place the sofa on the wall opposite the entry, and flank each side with chairs.  Position the rug beneath.  Creating this conversation U draws occupants in. 

And she confirmed this is now the case, and this Holiday season the room was used more than ever before.

My camera motor is dying.  Unfortunately I have no photos to illustrate this post.  But in the spirit of yesterday’s post, I will borrow a few from Domino, The Book of Decorating. 

Domino The Book of Decorating. Image from Amazon

Recently released by Domino editors Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello and Dara Caponigro, this book covers the fundamentals of decorating enough to be useful for the most design challenged.  I find the layout to be sloppy and a little chaotic, but if it is read like the magazine from which it came, in little bits and pieces, than it is navigable.

Three photos drawn from the book illustrate my earlier point.  In the first illustration, the sofa back is impeding entry (if we assume entry is at our viewpoint.) 

The sofa acts like a sentry. Do not enter! Photo from Domino The Book of Decorating Pg 18

 In the second, the conversation area is closed. 

The sitting area is closed. Photo from Domino The Book of Decorating Pg 18

In the third photo beacons.  “Come in.  Sit and talk to me.”

COme on it! Photo from Domino The Book of Decorating Pg 18

Cool Stuff That’s Not Cheap

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Posted by Denise Smith on January 28, 2009 – 1:45 pm
Filed under Look What I Found!

Last night we had freezing rain, so my youngest and I curled up in bed waiting for the county to close the schools.  She is a big fan of Jonathan Adler- the butt vase cracks her up (bad pun noted…).  I have been lusting after the Fish Salt and Pepper shakers for years.  I know, I know.  They don’t exactly meet my criteria of all white, streamlined tableware.  But they ARE all white, and they would add a little humor…

Fish Salt & Pepper Shakers Image from Jonathan Adler

As we admired them yet again I noticed a sad sad fineprint.  “Sorry! The Fish Salt & Pepper Shakers are out of stock.”

The horrors. 

So crazily coincidentally, today’s post from Design*Sponge, ny gift fair: jonathan adler, features a picture of what-I-assume-is-the-new-model. 

Image from Design*Sponge: ny gift fair: jonathan adler

Not as cute. Excuse me while I get a tissue.

I did have a bright spot in my inbox this morning.  Thanks to my client, Danielle, I now have an eSubscription to Daily Candy.  Check this. 

Vivienne Tam Mini hp image from HP

It’s a laptop!  If it were ANY other color, my income tax rebate would be GONE!! 

Target Gets Better by Adding Orla

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Posted by Denise Smith on January 13, 2009 – 10:20 am
Filed under Look What I Found!

Image from Apartment Therapy New York

It’s all over the blog world.  I first saw it here, who saw it here and again here.

Orla Kiely is coming to Target.  So now we have another reason to love.

I have talked about Orla Kiely before.  I am taken with her retro-meets-feminine-Irish shepherd look.  Her colors are mine–lots of redhead flattering oranges and olives.  (Go Figure.  She is Irish.)

If I could wear this... Image from Orla Kiely UK's Lookbook online.

Here is the rest.  (Thank you to Apartment Therapy New York for the images.)

Image from Apartment Therapy New York

Image from Apartment Therapy New York

Image from Apartment Therapy New York

Image from Apartment Therapy New York

Books By the Foot

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Posted by Denise Smith on January 6, 2009 – 11:45 am
Filed under Accessorizing, Color, Design Principles, Look What I Found!

In yesterday’s post I mentioned that I plan to read more actual books this year, as opposed to reading web pages. This resolution partially comes from my visit to Strand Bookstore in New York City a few weeks ago. My friend, Kirk, warned me that I was going to freak out when I went in there and he was so right. This store is heaven right here on earth.

In preparation for yesterday’s post I went to their website and I discovered that they will sell books by the foot. Did you hear that?? Books by the foot! The intention is to create instant libraries.  From their site:

“Strand Book Store should be your first and last stop. We assemble decorator collections in any subject, including art, biography, reference, law, music, theater and classic literature. We’ve put together libraries for hundreds of clients, including the Plaza hotel, Steven Spielberg, and Polo Ralph Lauren. Working with you, we will custom design a library that is sure to be a perfect match for any home or office space, one that will please the eye and satisfy the mind.

Designing a film or theatrical set on a tight schedule? Contact us right away. We are the experts, with a long tradition of sales and rentals to the entertainment industry. We guarantee a 24-hour turnaround on most orders, and will arrange car delivery to locations in New York City.”

The most expensive antique leather books will set you back $400 a foot.

photo of antique leather books from Strandbooks.com

But for only $30.00 you can specify a color choice and they will pull books that meet your needs.  (Can you imagine how interesting this could be?  Think lime green books and grape walls on a dark bookcase or fuchsia books and turquoise walls on open steel shelves.)

books in choice of color from Strandbooks.com

The cheapest, Bargain Hardcovers, are $10 a foot.  New Art books are $250 but used Final Sale Art Books are only $75!  I am so tempted. 

Bargain Art Books from Strandbooks.com

What do you think about this? Is it cheating? Or is it just another decorating strategy?

Fabulous Fusion

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Posted by Denise Smith on December 15, 2008 – 12:07 pm
Filed under Digging Others' Digs, Look What I Found!

Arijit designed this home. It is perfect.

I had the pleasure of spending the weekend with my wonderful old friends from college.  The reunion was wonderful and, just as before our long separation, we have much in common. 

But Kirk’s house stole the show. 

(Be aware of the magnitude of this statement.  We went to BROADWAY….)

Kirk is very much an artist.  A Renaissance Man, really.  Having owned an art gallery and a restaurant, and now selling high end real estate, Kirk understands good taste.  He and his partner, Arijit, who is a landscape architect, left the rat race to create an oasis in a field.  A short train ride from the heart of the largest city in America, they have created a sophisticated country haven full of art and beauty.  I loved everything about it.  Their home is rich and warm, full of teak and tile.  Yet it still remains modern and clean.  It is a little bit Indian, a splash Santa Fe, a touch mid-century, a smidgen country cottage, reminds you that you are few miles from Manhattan, and pays homage to my hero Frank Lloyd Wright. 

The original house was comprised of a tiny room with a bedroom above and a lean-to kitchen.  Most of that structure is now the guest room.  Arijit designed the rest of the house to gracefully project behind.  Full of wood, windows and light, the home seems to be rise naturally out of the landscape.

Sitting at the table, enjoying the benefits of having friends that owned a restaurant, I noticed the light over head.  Kirk adorned it with holiday decorations before we arrived. 

A light fixture decorated for the holiday.