VT (for all of my design-obsessed peeps)

photocourtesyhousebeautiful Peeps, Just wanted to thank you all for your kind emails and phone calls this week.  The weather forecast is sunny tomorrow with the possibility of rain-showers on Sunday; I look forward to not having to water all the beds recently planted with herbs, Big Boy tomato plants, and numerous groups of drought-tolerant annuals installed in long, continuous drifts so as resemble nature at its best.  Maybe I'll catch a movie tomorrow, or at least take a walk through the neighborhood where some front gardens are bursting with color from columbines, irises, peonies, early roses, and wild indigo.  I finally found the perfect spot for a magnolia (Elizabeth), which is similar to the butterfly magnolia, but a third of the price, and I know that next spring I'm probably going to burst from pure joy.  I hope that you all have a great weekend. Thanks, Shane PS:  Today's soundtrack is Gotan Project's Mil Millones (Tango 3.0)

imagecourtesyarchitecturaldigest Peeps, Finally, a designer who doesn't indulge in the cliched and stereotypical to convey class or masculinity.  As of late, actually for quite some time now, the pages of every design magazine have been filled with photos of rooms where a mummified version of death reigns supreme, meaning the stuffed/pickled/taxidermied carcasses of every species of fauna and fowl known to mankind have been trotted out and propped up to the adulation of the masses.  Adding yet more injury to the insult (against humanity or morality), or, contributing further to the annihilation of wild-life, is the 'glam aura' of the adventure-hunt where jaded/bored/thrill-seeking tourists pay to kill game in their natural habitat, with the assistance of native guides, advanced technology in the forms of high-powered weapons and tracking devices, lots of money, and/or influential contacts in the host-country.  King Juan Carlos of Spain, reigning monarch and h...

imagecourtesydesiretoinspireblog Peeps, Sometimes I have difficulty getting to sleep at night.  Thoughts continue to crowd my mind even after sleepy-time tea and repeated attempts at TM.  Things press upon me, such as snippets of talk radio heard earlier in the day or bars of random music I remember from a week past, or last month, or years ago.  While some individuals carefully compile their 'bucket list,' you know, the list of things/places/activities/meals/movies/books to be experienced prior to one's death, Peru or Bali aren't to be found on my list, nor is dining at some 5-star eatery in Paris or Madrid.  I must confide that I am haunted by a particular song that I've heard only three times in my life, and I can clearly remember the time, place, and my mood at each incident.  Lately I've gotten into the habit of flipping though radio-stations on internet-radio which feature disco-mixes from the 70's, this in the hope of maybe chancing upon that p...

imagecourtesyofdesiretoinspireblog Peeps, Whether it's pure whimsy or a post-modern masterpiece imbued with symbolism not readily apparent to the casual observer, the large painting hanging in today's featured interior is certainly arresting, and transforms this dining-room from what could have been merely 'nice' into something extra-ordinary and worthy of prolonged study.  Funny how original art is able to present without any hesitancy, or apology, the reality of representation it purports to illuminate (for the viewer(s)).  Many theorists, philosophers, and critics have written extensively about the aura dispelled by an original work of art; burgeoning volumes and heated debates still ensue as to whether aura(s) of a lesser degree (or simply non-existent) is the price we pay when the image is manipulated through the various levels and layers of reproduction or technology.  Possibly a loss of immediacy, and just maybe a deflection of intent, or so I am prepared ...

imagecourtesymurielbrandolini.com Peeps, Besides all the usual distinctions, such as:  pattern or none/color or simply white/highly and tightly edited. or stuff and more stuff and yet more stuff (you know, salon style), perhaps homeowners may be divided into two camps: those individuals who regard a bit of dust and the stains of everyday wear as all contributors towards the charm and character of a well-lived life; and then there are other individuals who are fanatic about dusting/polishing/vacuuming, and are well versed in all manner of cleaning portions and remedies for removing anything that belies age, or is a departure from the internalized image(s) all too often perpetuated by the creations featured and sanctioned in the model-showroom/the magazine layout/the carefully crafted movie, where subliminally success/peace-of-mind/happiness is best experienced via a matching bedroom suite just perfect for romance/a gleaming dining-table sans finger-prints/a spacious bath wher...