Weekend Project - Take Some Pictures Of Your Home For The Apartment Therapy Room For Color Contest

You can officially enter the Apartment Therapy Room For Color Contest now by going HERE
It's fun to do! Take five photos of your room, and enter!

Come into my office! It's the most saturated color in the house.

My whole house is colorful. But you can only choose one room!


I'm hoping my office will catch their eye!

It's a hard room to photograph, and they prefer the whole picture as opposed to detail shots.


It's a viewer voting situation, so I'll let you know when and where and how to vote when I know about it, and maybe you'll throw the old vamp a bone.

If not, at least I had fun taking the photos, and doing the contest.
Let me know if you enter, and I'll get the word out for you too.

Click on images for larger views

Happy Weekend!

The first weekend of Fall!
Hope you enjoy the beginning of a new season.
The photo above is being sold at perch.
Go HERE to see more fabulous ways to use over size photos and prints in interior design.

Photo by John Michael Smith

Click on iamge to see larger view

Decorating With Pairs - Do The Autumn Shuffle

I flipped out this morning!

A change of season, means at least the furniture gets rearranged, though at this point I have exhausted all the options in my teeny living room! So I just sort of flip flop the sofa and the settee, along with a couple of tables. I also move the art around a bit, and edit the accessories.

Before the flip!

The top photo is now, the bottom photo before the Autumn shuffle

However this is the latest (and I think last) upgrade to the living room. The Big Girl Drapes were just added in here. I did the bedrooms and my office HERE all in silk, all lined beautifully with thermo-suede, so it was only a matter a time before I would add the living room to this luscious collection.

The new drapes! Marilyn and I love them!

The color is in the same family as the old drapes, a distressed Fortuny style poison green velvet that I had for nearly ten years.

Last year

Sans drapes - the Summer look I just changed

The new drape color is a chartreuse, shot with threads of purple. It has in iridescent quality, sort of like a man's silk sharkskin suit.



The color changes with the light. It is absolutely wonderful!


This shade of green has been a signature color of mine for years. I never get tired of it.
The drape s are a perfect addition for the Fall season. The green reminds me of a color of leaf that I see in Autumn.


It's not just about bright reds and yellows and oranges. There's a bright green leaf that appears too.



But speaking of red, I also added another pair of something in my office!


I had one of the turquoise lamps for my desk , and I got another one (from perch.). I like the pair of lamps on the desk. I'm a bit of pair queen. The symmetry of pairs calms my lively decor! At least that's the story I'm sticking to!. The shades are custom from perch. They're silk and just so luxe. I love the floral pattern.



I also added a white cow hide rug. I have had the brown and white hide rug for over a year now, and I find it the easiest thing to care for. Dirt and dog hair simply do not appear, and it is so easy when I rarely have to vacuum it. So I acquired the white hide from Argentina for my office. I think it adds a bit of warmth for the Fall, and coming Winter months.


A young woman came into the shop and picked up a pair of plates, and then put one back saying she was told she has too many pairs of things, and she's trying to reform. I laughed and asked if the decor police had been snooping around her house. I told her that each of us is attracted to the same things over and over for a reason, the reason being that those choices can be depended upon to make us feel in sync, to make us feel good. She bought one plate, but came back the next for the second one.

Click on images for larger views

If You're In Kansas City Save The Date For This!

A sale by glamaureen

It's been whispered she's the daughter of a mortician!

Find out if it's true--and other secrets of a

(Dr. Jekyll and Mr.) Hyde Park

Halloween aficionado!

Pre-Halloween at GLAMaureen

For dismembers only!!

You and your ghouls and appendages

Are invited to a scarily fabulous

(Above the garage) sale

Saturday, October 3, 2009

From three p.m. until the bewitching hour

Down the driveway and up the creaky, shadowy stairs to the teensy
candle-lit carriage house!

Choose from the sepulcher of

Previously-owned and recycled

Art, Artifacts, shrouds, furniture, photography, 'candle'iers,

and Shocking surprises for your own crypt or resale

All with a lightly dark theme!

Bring your imagination and cash only, please

Fun and treats provided

Park in the moat in front of the big house

mblair16@kc.rr.com.

e-mail for the address and tell them the Vamp sent you!

Mrs. Blandings

don't miss this!

Photography by Eugenio Recuenco, Spain

Decor For Pleasure

A fantasy room at The Magnolia Mansion
A bed and breakfast in New Orleans

How would you decorate a love hotel? A house of pleasure? A pleasure pagoda?


The pleasure house is as an ancient edifice. The Chinese and Japanese had pleasure pavilions and pleasure pagodas.

The western world had its own version of pleasure houses too.



As it’s common in Argentina to live with your parents until your mid- to late-twenties-or until you marry-a trip to a love hotel is more than just a rite of passage: it’s the only way for many young Argentines to have a sex life.
Officially known as “temporary lodgings,” and in local slang as telos, there are countless hotels renting rooms by the hour, discreetly located in every neighborhood, with less subtle names such as You & I, Dreams, and Venus. Sometimes only a discrete red light designates a telo is behind an ordinary looking door.
Varying wildly in interior design—from chic, modern, and minimalist to twee, floral, and tacky—telos may feature overblown Egyptian-themed chambers or flashy Vegas-style boudoirs with mirrored ceilings.
Around $45 (pesos) buys you three hours of fun, porn on the TV, and access to all manner of toys, gels, and oils. The more expensive hotels boast luxurious suites, fully equipped with plasma screens, saunas, and complimentary champagne, while other, specialist establishments offer kinky vibrating beds and more technical apparatus such as sex chairs.

The neighborhood we live in when we are in Buenos Aires is upscale and trendy.

One day I peered into this garage and saw all these lighted votive candles. It was two in the afternoon and the garage was very dark, and the candle light intriguing.

Sitting on a ledge at the garage entrance is this retro looking sculpture.

The front of the building looks like a trendy boutique.

The crest on the front of the building is odd.

And so are the architectural brackets.

But I love the colors! Very retro and girly!

La fusta. Let me get out my Spanish dictionary:

whip [wɪp]

sustantivo

1. látigo (m) (for punishment); fusta (f) (for horse)

verbo transitivo (pt & pp whipped)3. azotar (lash, hit) (británico); fustigar (horse)

Ah! We live in the neighborhood where the polo field is located, and there are a dozen fancy shops selling polo things, including fustas! So this little love hotel, this chic telos takes inspiration from polo!

Ignacio Figueras and Prince Harry
Inspirational poster boys for polo

On our way to the airport to fly home, I saw another telos with the sign (in English): Quick Love $45 (pesos about $12.50 US). Our cab was whizzing by, so I couldn't get a photo.
I just love a country, especially a Catholic country that is so open about love hotels.
I think La Fusta is decorated (at least on the outside ha ha) so cute.
I got to thinking about decorating a love hotel.
I wouldn't do it all Lady Marmalade, but maybe playful and chic like La Fusta.
You can buy a fusta HERE.
There's also an Argentine restaurant in New york called La Fusta HERE. I wonder if they know about their namesake in Buenos Aires?!

Fusta chic?

Click on images for larger view

Happy Fall Decorating!

It's officially the first day of Autumn, even though it still feels like Summer in so many places. Despite global warming, the inner clock of humans says that it's Fall. Don't you have the urge to get out your Fall clothes? Aren't you ready to do a little Fall decorating too? Or even to get out the soup recipes?


There are some things to keep in mind when using Fall colors to refresh your rooms. The first thing to remember is that a color can be considered a Fall color when you see it during the Autumn months. If you love a color that you see in nature in the Fall, then by all means be inspired to use it. Fall color is so different depending where you live. If you love a color from another region, use it! If you love the Fall color outside your door, use it! The idea is just change a little something with the season.

Another thing to think about is the fact that so many of Fall colors are on the darker side. This means that if you decide to choose the main paint color of a room as a Fall color you'll want to consider the amount of light it will take away from the room if it is a darker tone. It can create a cozy cocoon of color for the Winter months ahead. But you don't have to repaint the whole room to add a little Autumn spice.


There are lighter colors, like gold or greens, that you find in the Fall that can inspire you to use lighter colors for the majority of a space. Rather than having four walls in a room painted in all the same rich color that you find on the changing Autumn leaves, consider doing an accent wall. This way you can still get color on the walls but you can choose a lighter color for the rest of the walls and still allow the room to be bright. Keep the value of tones in mind.


There are some ways that you can incorporate Fall colors in a room that won't require you to permanently change your walls. Add new Fall color lamp shades to your lamps and/or pillows to the furniture that you have. A new area rug is another way to change the season in your room. If you have Summer sea grass, add a rug with another texture and color on top of it.


We all get a little restless with a change of season. People who love to decorate feel the urge to change something in their spaces. Curtains or drapes in Fall colors will dress up even the whitest of walls. Changing the simplest things and adding the smallest details can really make an impact.


Ready for even more color? The 2009 Apartment Therapy Color Contest is launching later this month - keep an eye out for all the details in the coming weeks! The images above are from the Southwest 2008 entries. Go HERE to see more entries from last year and to get details for the 2009 contest.

I just did a couple of little things in my living room and office to introduce some things for the change of season. I'll be posting photos in a couple of days.

Will You Be Watching The Emmys Tomorrow Night? Here In New Orleans We'll Be Watching To See How Mad Men Will Do!

Andre, Bryan, and Tom

Local guy Bryan Batt is in on one of my favorite shows on TV - Mad Men shown on AMC. It has been nominated for several Emmys again this year! Season three is well under way, and it is the best one yet. It airs on Sunday nights in most places, so I will be playing switch-a -rooni with the old remote tomorrow night.

I've reprinted is a nice interview with Bryan (who we all adore!) from The New York Post.
And you can go HERE and HERE or some links to some previous posts I've done about Bryan.

Bryan Batt: 'Mad Men' Proves Our Society Still Has A Long Way To Go

After matching, exactly, the number of Emmy nominations the show received for its first season, you could assume that "Mad Men's" costumers were looking into ways to enlarge the star's now-signature hats to accommodate their ever-growing heads. You'd be wrong. Way wrong.<p> </p><br />"Everyone is so thrilled but we still have to go to work tomorrow," says Bryan Batt, who plays Sterling-Cooper's closeted art director. "It great, but there's no ego, no bull."<p> </p><br />And as the show is (finally) moving full-steam ahead on filming season three, the series' second season has landed on store shelves just in time to rewatch before the premiere on August 16.<p> </p><br />It's with that spirit of reflection that Bryan and I took a gander back at "Mad Men's" bound to be Emmy-winning second season. We chatted about his favorite season two moments, what his Pollyanna version of the show would look like and why he advises all actors to never actually eat anything!<p> </p><br />PopWrap: "Mad Men's" no spoiler policy is well-documented, so is it weird to now look back and talk about the show?Bryan Batt: It's bizarre. Plus, we filmed it so long ago. It's not like I go home and watch the show every day, but I sat with some old episodes yesterday that I hadn't seen in a long time, which was great, because I only shoot Salvatore's scenes, so like a fan, I only get to see how it all comes to fruition when the show airs.<p> </p><br />PW: What were some of your favorite things about season two?Bryan: The one visual burned on my retina is Betty Draper sitting in that dress for on her bed for days after learning about Don's affair. It was so affecting.<p> </p><br />PW: And with Sal? I loved your reaction when European Kurt nonchalantly admitted he was gay.Bryan: Oh yes, there were so many emotions going on in that scene because Sal is not only shocked that this kid has come out, but he also realizes that he could never do that. He's also a bit jealous of that generation feeling free enough to do so.<p> </p><br />PW: Do you think Sal's greatest regret is not being the one to Queer Eye Peggy Olson? Bryan: [laughs] Oh gosh, I don't think he's a hair person. Sal would definitely like to take Peggy shopping. I mean, look at the way<p> </p><br />he dresses!<p> </p><br />PW: With fans, what question do you get the most often: When is the show coming back, or what's going to happen?Bryan: People stop me all the time and the first question always is, "when are you Wcoming back?" As a cast, we don't even bother trying to guess what's going to happen any more, we just take it one "oh my god" at a time.<p> </p><br />PW: Why do you think the show is so capable of catching fans off guard?Bryan: I think it's quite titillating because we open every door, but just a little bit. We only see a glimmer of what could happen. Then we turn and open another door. It's the constant tease of possibility.<p> </p><br />PW: Hypothetically if creator Matthew Weiner asked you to write an episode, what would happen to Sal?Bryan: I would love to see Sal explore a real relationship with a man and see him torn, because he does love his wife. I'd like to see him have children and bring that torture on! Also, I've heard so many stories about gay men in that time finding their soulmate, leaving their families and in the end, everyone is good friends. The children are accepting of it. I'd love to see that -- but that's the Pollyanna in me. But that is not the "Mad Men" way!<p> </p><br />PW: Yes, although the show is real to a fault, it doesn't give any false happy endings. Bryan: I am constantly amazed at how our show mirrors society -- how far we've progressed yet how far we still have to go. We're still debating issues that were discussed back then. It's amazing that there's no equality in this country, and that women still make 80 percent of a man's salary.<p> </p><br />PW: Most actors say the first season of a show is about finding their footing. Looking back, what did you learn in year one?Bryan: I learned in the pilot, don't take a bite.<p> </p><br />PW: What does that mean?Bryan: In that episode, I happened to pop a cherry into my mouth during a scene, not realizing that there would be 50 takes, from every possible angle. So I ended up eating about 50 maraschino cherries!<p> </p><br />PW: The timing on the release of season two is perfect since season three kicks off in 17 days, I hear there are a few Sal-centric episodes coming up.Bryan: Yes and no -- I tend to exaggerate. [laughs] I do have some great material coming up, but I think everyone does. Season three is really shaping up wonderfully.<p> </p><br />"Mad Men" Season Two is now available on DVD!Photo: AMC

August 06, 2009 by Jarett Wieselman

After matching, exactly, the number of Emmy nominations the show received for its first season, you could assume that "Mad Men's" costumers were looking into ways to enlarge the star's now-signature hats to accommodate their ever-growing heads. You'd be wrong. Way wrong.

"Everyone is so thrilled but we still have to go to work tomorrow," says Bryan Batt, who plays Sterling-Cooper's closeted art director. "It great, but there's no ego, no bull."

And as the show is (finally) moving full-steam ahead on filming season three, the series' second season has landed on store shelves just in time to rewatch before the premiere on August 16.

It's with that spirit of reflection that Bryan and I took a gander back at "Mad Men's" bound to be Emmy-winning second season. We chatted about his favorite season two moments, what his Pollyanna version of the show would look like and why he advises all actors to never actually eat anything!

PopWrap: "Mad Men's" no spoiler policy is well-documented, so is it weird to now look back and talk about the show?

Bryan Batt: It's bizarre. Plus, we filmed it so long ago. It's not like I go home and watch the show every day, but I sat with some old episodes yesterday that I hadn't seen in a long time, which was great, because I only shoot Salvatore's scenes, so like a fan, I only get to see how it all comes to fruition when the show airs.

PW: What were some of your favorite things about season two?

Bryan: The one visual burned on my retina is Betty Draper sitting in that dress for on her bed for days after learning about Don's affair. It was so affecting.

PW: And with Sal? I loved your reaction when European Kurt nonchalantly admitted he was gay.

Bryan: Oh yes, there were so many emotions going on in that scene because Sal is not only shocked that this kid has come out, but he also realizes that he could never do that. He's also a bit jealous of that generation feeling free enough to do so.

PW: Do you think Sal's greatest regret is not being the one to Queer Eye Peggy Olson?

Bryan: [laughs] Oh gosh, I don't think he's a hair person. Sal would definitely like to take Peggy shopping. I mean, look at the way he dresses!

PW: With fans, what question do you get the most often: When is the show coming back, or what's going to happen?

Bryan: People stop me all the time and the first question always is, "when are you Wcoming back?" As a cast, we don't even bother trying to guess what's going to happen any more, we just take it one "oh my god" at a time.

PW: Why do you think the show is so capable of catching fans off guard?

Bryan: I think it's quite titillating because we open every door, but just a little bit. We only see a glimmer of what could happen. Then we turn and open another door. It's the constant tease of possibility.

PW: Hypothetically if creator Matthew Weiner asked you to write an episode, what would happen to Sal?

Bryan: I would love to see Sal explore a real relationship with a man and see him torn, because he does love his wife. I'd like to see him have children and bring that torture on! Also, I've heard so many stories about gay men in that time finding their soulmate, leaving their families and in the end, everyone is good friends. The children are accepting of it. I'd love to see that -- but that's the Pollyanna in me. But that is not the "Mad Men" way!

PW: Yes, although the show is real to a fault, it doesn't give any false happy endings.

Bryan: I am constantly amazed at how our show mirrors society -- how far we've progressed yet how far we still have to go. We're still debating issues that were discussed back then. It's amazing that there's no equality in this country, and that women still make 80 percent of a man's salary.

PW: Most actors say the first season of a show is about finding their footing. Looking back, what did you learn in year one?

Bryan: I learned in the pilot, don't take a bite.

PW: What does that mean?

Bryan: In that episode, I happened to pop a cherry into my mouth during a scene, not realizing that there would be 50 takes, from every possible angle. So I ended up eating about 50 maraschino cherries!

PW: The timing on the release of season two is perfect since season three kicks off in 17 days, I hear there are a few Sal-centric episodes coming up.

Bryan: Yes and no -- I tend to exaggerate. [laughs] I do have some great material coming up, but I think everyone does. Season three is really shaping up wonderfully.

"Mad Men" Season Two is now available on DVD!

Photo: AMC

Happy Weekend - Take Little Arm Chair Ride On A Venetian Gondola

It's been a fabulous hectic week. We resumed teaching our regular tango classes after an exciting whirlwind in Buenos Aires.
I'm back at work at perch. where we are doing a great business. We are restocking for Fall and the holiday season. It is so much fun to unpack all the goodies and rearrange the store.
One of the most extraordinary things we acquired is an antique Venetian gondola chair. It is such a romantic item - we have visions of Casanova, and Carnivale in the 1700's. Take a look at this post at perch. HERE.
It's been a very rainy season in New Orleans, and the garden is a jungle! I hope to get out the machete this weekend and clear a path to my door.
Enjoy your weekend!
PS Click on the image to see all the details of the pretty shop I work in!

Mid Century Modern in NOLA by Guest Blogger Laura Casey

Laura Casey who has the blog Laura Casey Interiors left a link to the following post for us on the comments HERE. I liked it so much, I thought I'd reprint it for all of you...enjoy!

Mid-Century Modern in NOLA

by laura on February 19, 2009

This mid-century modern house once stood in the beautiful neighborhood of Metairie (New Orleans, LA). It was built in 1950 by Johnny M. Gabriel, an architect from Lake Charles, LA. The ranch style house with its low slung roof and different sized limestones on the exterior was one of the first houses built on Woodvine Avenue. The entire house was furnished with original pieces from the Chicago Merchandise Mart by contemporary furniture designers such as Herman Miller and Charles & Ray Eames. The floor plan, materials used, and furnishings were all quite modern for the time.

Using the exterior limestone on the inside was a way of bringing the outside in, originally one of the priniciples of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture. You can see on the right how there are three sizes used which makes for interesting patterns. A variety of natural materials were used in the construction of the home. The slate which was used in the front hall, living room and dining room was brought to the house from North Carolina. I love the original front door with the windows centered on the mullions.

The house had a very contemporary floor plan for the time. The public spaces- the Living Room, the Dining Room and the front hall all were in the center of the house. The private spaces included a wing with the bedrooms to one side and the kitchen, a playroom and back entrance to the carport were on the other side. The ability to go from the kitchen to the bedrooms without having to go through the public space was somewhat of a new concept. The frosted glass wall and connecting partition to the left also allowed for greater privacy in the Living Room. Only some of the original furniture is here. The house was featured in a local magazine on August 27, 1950 and the article says “Mrs. Davis and her decorator chose an ebony coffee table and ebony Eames chairs with a plush red sofa for accent.” Sounds extremely hip, note the Noguchi coffee table which is a classic today.

The original table, chairs and sideboard. My mother-in-law is the left portrait.

The division between the LR and DR also had a fireplace. Mr. and Mrs. Davis wanted a division of space, an open feeling and a fireplace. The architect solved it by centering the house around the fireplace, also a concept that stems from Frank Lloyd Wright.

Originally the play room, this room had cork flooring as did one of the girls bedrooms. A sustainable and durable material, cork is used today and considered to be eco-friendly. Gabriel was ahead of his time.

Cork flooring and built-ins in one of the girls bedrooms.

One of very few houses in NOLA to have an O’Keefe and Merritt gas stove. When the hurricanes would hit and the electricity was out everyone wanted to come over to boil water. The stove is currently at one of the sister’s houses in FL. It is a vintage treasure.

The frosted glass was also used in the kitchen as an interior window. Behind the window was the playroom. By sliding the center bottom window pane mom could see the girls in the playroom and send snacks through.

All of the other furniture was custom designed by the architect to fit each room. Built-ins like these were an incredibly modern feature. LKD was my husband’s grandmother. I do not have a picture of the master bedroom but one of the most forward technologies of the house was that all of the lighting for the house could be controlled from the master bedroom. There was a cabinet built around the headboard so that one could turn on any light in the house before getting out of bed.

An on/off switch for heat in the bathroom. I love the art nouveau inspired grill work.

The open floor plan, full width open doors and a greater connection between the house and nature signaled a trend of houses incorporating more modern elements. The house had a great screened in back porch with sliding doors. The lightweight awning type aluminum framed windows allowed for maximum ventilation throughout the house.

The pool was added to the house a few years later. It was great to swim in the pool and then go play cards and have some lunch on the back porch.

After being sold, the house was torn down to our sadness in 2004. Thankfully though when Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005 the house and all it’s family treasures were spared. I was fortunate to be able to visit the house many times and love the wonderful woman who called that house her home for five decades.