VT (for all of my design-obsessed peeps)

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW celebrates FALL BEAUTY !!! / Day 6 : photobeatrizdacosta courtesydesiretoinspireblog Peeps, Tomorrow I'll be heading south for some much needed R + R.  Although the weathe...

photobeatrizdacosta courtesydesiretoinspireblog Peeps, Tomorrow I'll be heading south for some much needed R + R.  Although the weather report suggests that it's gonna be pretty windy and perhaps lots of rain, I intend to pack as if it's 82 or 8.  I already know that regardless of nature's fury or favor, the costume parties will keep banging until 2 or 3 (pm).  Thanks for all your emails this past week, and be sure to keep an eye out for next week's series entitled, ' The BLACK + WHITE Of It All.'  Until then, keep living it up, as well as reaching for the stars!! Sincerely, Shane Today's soundtrack is DAVID GONZALEZ's I Would Give Everything For Nothing ( http://soundcloud.com/david-gonz-lez-espinosa/sets/ambient-and-chillout-music )

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents FALL BEAUTY!! / Day 5 : imagecourtesyathoughtfuleyeblog Peeps, Reception or waiting rooms seemed to have fallen out of favor to some, somewhat similarly ...

imagecourtesyathoughtfuleyeblog Peeps, Reception or waiting rooms seemed to have fallen out of favor to some, somewhat similarly to 'good manners.'  It seems odd or strange to the uninitiated or ignorant (or unaware) that perhaps not all callers at the door should be entertained in one's private rooms, such as the kitchen or family room/den/library, or bedroom.  Sure, I'm all for relaxed casualness, yet nothing beats the slow process of carefully worded civilized conversation--in the waiting room--to flush out the undesirable and pretentious, as well as keeping riff-raff at bay.  And if finally allowed entree to the more private areas of a home, be a good guest and keep one's feet off the coffee-table, use the coasters, and try not to linger past 10 unless invited to do so, verbally or otherwise . . . Have a wonderful day. Thanks, Shane Today's soundtrack is ZAIKA's I Always Wanted To Watch The Sky With You ( http://soundcloud.com/zaikad...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents FALL BEAUTY!! / Day 4 : photocourtesytrunks12 viacoloroutsidethelinesblog Peeps, We've all come to expect so much of ourselves with the advantages of new ...

photocourtesytrunks12 viacoloroutsidethelinesblog Peeps, We've all come to expect so much of ourselves with the advantages of new technology.  Suddenly--actually not so suddenly but a way of life that has crept up silently upon many of us--everything and everyone is expected to be on-line or available through the wee hours to keep conducting the business of the day.  Wearily, I've noticed that emails keep arriving, text messages proliferate, and incessant tweets have become deafening to tired ears.  When is enough, enough??  In the evenings and practically every weekend I am most content when sequestered within the walls of my little nest.  As of late, bundles of books have began creeping from shelves onto table-tops, and now almost cover the kitchen counter-top which functions solely as a coffee-bar and prep-area for micro-wave meals.  Innumerable lamps provide illumination, as well as visual warmth, allowing me to gaze upon walls of accumulated ...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents FALL BEAUTY!! / Day 3 : imagecourtesystylesalonisteblog Peeps, Besides allowing us to peek into the rarified world of Anne Getty's famed West Coast interiors...

imagecourtesystylesalonisteblog Peeps, Besides allowing us to peek into the rarified world of Ann Getty's famed West Coast interiors, today's visual treat most aptly demonstrates that nothing is more stunning, challenging, or satisfying than wonderful art hung against the backdrop provided by a patterned paper.  Oh, how many times have I read (or heard) some designer (or decorator) justifying their decision to use a neutral color (read: pale, insipid, forgettable) so as to allow the 'art' to be seen; or better yet, 'we didn't want anything to detract from the art.'   Rubbish, I say.  Good art looks even better against bold, rich color; and if one has the mojo, hang it against a pattern.  I can almost guarantee that you'll either see it all in a new way, or, realize that whatever had been considered a piece of art is now closer to an article fit for passing on to some less fortunate, or discerning, soul.  Re-echoing the words of Washington-based de...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents FALL BEAUTY!! / Day 2 : photosourceunknown designbyluispuerta Peeps, I've always struggled with the concept of the 'accent' wall.  The decisio...

photosourceunknown designbyluispuerta Peeps, I've always struggled with the concept of the 'accent' wall.  The decision to paint, wallpaper or decoratively treat one of the room's four walls, in a manner quite different from the other others, must never be arbitrary but should feel as well as look just right.  When done by the wrong hands, an interior could feel unfinished, off-balanced, or just plain odd. To me the accent wall should add a dash of whimsy, a bit of drama, a hint of mystery, a sense of expectancy, a thrust, a burst, a hit--whoa! bam! kaboom!!  An area or segment of wall which offers some architectural interest, like: an extension or addition/a curved wall/a protruding or recessed wall/a half-wall/a partition/a free-standing wall.  The reason behind an accent wall is to accentuate or highlight some feature of an interior (or exterior); it should never never be about playing it safe with neutral or blah-blah colors on three walls, ...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents FALL BEAUTY!! / Day 1 : designbyjeffreybilhuber sourceunknown Peeps, If I had realized earlier, much much earlier that is, that autumn's glory as seen...

designbyjeffreybilhuber sourceunknown Peeps, If I had realized earlier, much much earlier that is, that autumn's glory as seen and experienced through the phenomena--we've now come to expect-- as the foliage undergoes the transformation from green to the brilliance of brown-and-gold, is not always guaranteed, I probably would have cherished more deeply the past week where the garden seemed so perfect.  Crimson dahlias abounded, sunflowers arched and preened, and miniature zinnias nodded merrily from every little corner (and flower-pot).  Even the tomatoes and ocra and pumpkins over which Lady Emblom fretted during the drought of July and August, as well as September, have come around and now offer abundance without restraint.  At times, looking back with some regret for not having embraced 'that moment in time' seems to be my modus operandi, and this I vow to change.  Thankfully, today offers another opportunity to start fresh, and slow it down. Hope ...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents IT' S BATH-TIME!! / Day 5 : imagecourtesydesiretoinspirebog viakatarinamalmstrombrown P eeps, Transparency should be celebrated, and nurtured, yet I remain s...

imagecourtesydesiretoinspirebog viakatarinamalmstrombrown P eeps, Transparency should be celebrated, and nurtured, yet I remain somewhat ambivalent as to the degree to which today's visual treat (a glass-wall enclosed bath(room)) attains.  Fabric panels do provide some degree of privacy, although the feeling of being on display still persists.  So call me old-fashioned or archaic, for I prefer the cosseted feel of solid walls of brick or timber, and the notion that for a few minutes or more, the world can be shut off while drifting towards a dream-place unseen and unheard by others. Have a wonderful day. Thanks, Shane Today's soundtrack is ALVEOL's Wolves ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuittXXe7aQ )

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents IT' S BATH-TIME!! / Day 4 : imagecourtesyvintage&chicblog Peeps, When the skies outside are grey, and the damp chill of autumn (especially today) compels one to ...

imagecourtesyvintage&chicblog Peeps, When the skies outside are grey, and the damp chill of autumn (especially today) compels one to abandon deck-style living, a cozy and warm decor will get us through the bleaker days of October (until the drama and excitement provided by the election and then Thanksgiving).  Large ceramic pots filled with magnolia branches, rosemary, chinese lanterns, and drying hydrangeas add a nice touch, as does boldly-patterned tribal carpets; perhaps new pillows on the settee, and additional reading lamps to illuminate previously dark corners should be considered while the seasonal shop-sales still last.  Draperies (removed during the summer) should be rehung, and artwork can be repositioned and highlighted with the addition of easy-to-install picture lights or track lighting.  During the weeks before Halloween and the crush of monster holiday-parties, little steps can be easily undertaken to celebrate the festivities of the holiday...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents IT' S BATH-TIME!! / Day 3 : imagecourtesydesiretoinspireblog Peeps, I'm glad to see that claw-foot tubs are back in fashion.  Some long-time industry insiders w...

imagecourtesydesiretoinspireblog Peeps, I'm glad to see that claw-foot tubs are back in fashion.  Some long-time industry insiders wearily point out that while the demand for any particular object or 'look' may vacillate for a myriad of reasons, any well designed furniture piece or home accessory will always be smartly utilized by those who have the vision to stay ahead, or, away from, trends.  I realize that familiarity does breed contempt, and this may have been the cause for the previous decline (of claw-foot tubs) and an on-going fascination with whirlpool tubs and soaking tubs in the French/Japanese/Modern style(s), as well as tiled showers with skylights and rain-heads and water-proofed television, radio, or phone, and so forth; yet the claw-foot tub has a history and charm that can't be easily denied.  Suppliers and manufacturers offer new models in a variety of styles and materials including acrylic which makes for less heavy tubs.  Older pieces can b...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents IT' S BATH-TIME!! / Day 2 : imagecourtesymarksikes Peeps, Besides the spartan and sparse bath(room), I've also adore 'cozy.'  Especially when elements not nor...

imagecourtesymarksikes Peeps, Besides the spartan and sparse bath(room), I've also adore 'cozy.'  Especially when elements not normally associated with the bath are introduced, such as easy chairs, lamps, wonderful art, books, and so forth.  If one considers that about one-fifth of our waking hours are spent in the bath(room), why not make it as comfortable and pleasant as one possibly can.  Even now I can clearly remember Sir David Hick's bathroom which included a comfy reading chair, beautifully framed art, reading lamps, and classical statuary.  While something of that calibre may be difficult to emulate, putting lights on dimmers, shades over bare bulbs, oriental carpets instead of the dank bit of fabric festering at the base of the toilet and/or outside the shower, and a waste-paper basket with a lid in lieu of a plastic grocery-bag stuffed inside of an inadequate bin--these are all small changes that will contribute nicely to a more appealing bath(roo...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents IT'S BATH-TIME!!! / Day 1 : imagecourtesyalife'sdesignblog Peeps, It's reasonable to assume that the bathroom pictured above, probably belongs to an single indiv...

imagecourtesyalife'sdesignblog Peeps, It's reasonable to assume that the bathroom pictured above, probably belongs to an single individual, or perhaps a couple who are very, very meticulous and tend not to have the usual junk that many of us hang on to--and then unless confronted--will cart from place to place long after we should have disposed of them; items such as half-filled shampoo bottles/partially-used cakes of hand-soap/bottles of scent now odor-less/make-up that is clearly expired for the mascara is hard as nails and the foundation-cream has clumped/hand-towels and tissue-boxes best left behind at that fabulous but overpriced hotel/bags of hair-clips and plastic rollers still available at the dollar-stores/dull emery-boards/pills and other potions now dangerously green (or yellowing) from age/broken combs/dull razors/packets of dried-out chewing-gum, and so forth.  I believe that many of us have inherited that particular gene, which makes accumulation almost sec...