Design Block

1-800- FAKE MUNTINS

2008-10-27T21:51:00.019-05:00

I live in a neighborhood in the suburbs that is known for McMansions, large imposing houses that lack architectural integrity. I have a small peeve about the majority of these houses that I formerly blamed the uneducated Joe Blow builder for; however, I have come to realize that that blame lies in that of the buyer because they are obviously willing to plop down several hundred thousand to a couple of million for FAKE ALUMINUM TRIMMED WINDOWS. Why aren't consumers savvy enough to know that the builder just put trailer house windows in a million dollar home? Oh my GOD!! Not only are their windows fake and super cheap looking, but the are inoperable and during Hurricane IKE the owners of many of these ugly window bearing McMansions roasted inside their houses during the day and night. Rather than shelling out twenty thousand dollars on plantation shutters after the fact, put the money in the windows to begin with.

When aluminum windows are in a juxtaposition with wood French Doors... WOW!

This builder not only used fake windows, but didn't even trim out the interior. This would be acceptable for a lower budget home I suppose, but his one is almost a million.

Notice the windows specified for the turrett, the main architectural focus of this home.

I am at a loss for words.

Sunshiney Day at Crave

2008-10-26T21:34:00.015-05:00

I recently discovered CRAVE CUPCAKES in Uptown Park. Not only are the cupcakes super Marsha Brady dreamy, but the interior design makes you happy to be alive. The aqua vintage aesthetic is very 1950's main street. It is clean and fresh and they sell vintage sodas in a a bottle. I find myself popping in several times a week just to be in the presence of Sunshine! If you are in Houston, stop by and perhaps I will see you there!

Back in Black... it is good to be back!!!

2008-10-26T15:57:00.011-05:00

black walls contrast so beautifully with Chicago Brick

before.. blah builder colors

I actually have a quiet house and a sleeping baby, so I wanted to share with you some photos of a design job I did. My client built a beautiful custom home, but was "bored" and wanted her home to be les cliche`. The last photo is the "before". It is amazing what creating contrast will do for interiors. I had to do some coaxing when I first presented black, as it is a bit unconventional. In the end the client was so super pleased.

Namaste

2008-07-09T22:33:00.006-05:00

I am on the road to enlightenment. I put my computer aside and have spent several weeks on an intense spiritual quest. I almost feel like my old self; however, much less ambitious and much more Zen. I am thoroughly engrossed in yoga, meditation, religion, deep study, nutrition, and chiropractic healing, with a little Reiki on top. I have come to a crossroads and I decided "to take the road less traveled" again...

By the way, if any of you find yourself smothered in light blue and brown, substitute the brown with bit of kelly green and happy orange. It make your space smile again. "Nothing brown can stay."

Have your cake and eat it too!

2008-04-07T17:25:00.018-05:00

Attention: buyers, designers, architects, and artists.. .2008 -2012 will be a Rococo Revival. Here is something you can take to market! Occasionally, I get a call from a certain magazine editor asking me to give her a heads up on the next "big" trend. I may be a "has-been", but I still have a idiot sevantish-ability to predict trends 1 - 2 years in advice. Several times I have thought I no longer possessed this ability, and somehow it always hits me when I least expect it. This time; however, I am going to publish this so all of my designer friends can profit off of it since I no longer have the energy to so.

From late 2008 stretching all the way to 2012 the main trend in design, fashion, and living is DECADENCE. Very Baroque, Rococo, Louis XIV furniture upholstered in lots of red, pink, and gold large-scaled damask. Just for the heck of it, indulge in fine chocolates and pastries that your have ordered from France even though they look way too beautiful to eat. You know that gold flat wear that you ostentatious aunt may have owned? It will be way hot! It is going to be perfectly acceptable to indulge a little and enjoy the finer things in life. How about forgoing a video rental and splurging on tickets to the opera? We may only have until 2012, right?

Ahoy, It's Yachting Season!

2008-03-11T22:02:00.015-05:00

Its time to drag out my black and white nautical shirts and accessories and attempt to squeeze into my white linen pants. This is a great 60's fad, that will forever be en vogue. I have not found a source to buy these in the US lately other than Restoration Hardware's sale catalog; however you can peruse http://www.brittanyboutique.com/ or http://www.bretonshirts.co.uk.

KISS MY..... BLACK SATIN NAILS!

2008-03-03T13:39:00.013-06:00

I recently made a business trip to Pennsylvania to meet with the Dutch and they sucked the life out of me; hence no recent posts. The only thing that has gotten me through is the subliminal message that my black satin nails send. They give me power; similar to that that a certain finger gesture, but in a non offensive manor. Bob would be proud. This great fad is sooooo 60's and soooooo reminiscent of UTOPIA. I just need to find some some pink frosted lip stick.

Oscar Town

2008-02-28T17:43:00.005-06:00

Marfa took center stage this year at the Oscars for No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. In this little corner of the earth where nothing ever really happens except for a earthquake in 1993, a secession from the United States in 199o something, or maybe a train derailment yesterday, this is BIG NEWS!

Super Bowl Soiree?

2008-02-03T18:00:00.001-06:00

First of all, I must begin by saying this was this was the second Super Bowl that I have attended since 1989. I swore them off after my gay-cowboy boyfriend drove me several hours to a desolate ranch in the flat, ugly party of New Mexico for his family's annual "party of the year". Keep in mind, it was the 80's...I sat on a wagon-wheel sofa and chatted with a fifty or so big hair wearin women... one in particular was a lady with a bird on her cowboy hat that introduced herself as PECKERHEAD.

Last week, we were invited to our neighbors home, La fourche, to watch the Super Bowl and I gave it another shot. La Fourche is a reproduction of one of the Louisiana plantations on River Road. The owners, one of which is one of Houston's great architects, even commissioned a reproduction of Napolean Crossing the Alps by David. Why Napolean you ask? Well, he was French and apparently if he was alive, he would have gifted them with a French bathtub or something like that. Once they give me the go-ahead, I will feature their home in a post; however until then, enjoy the photos of their party. We had a wonderful time. By the way, I no longer have Super Bowl party anxiety,and I am filled with anticipation about next year.

one of the 2 kitchen islands .... one is for cooking (soapstone) and the other is for baking (marble)

Garett preparing dinner

Derek & Baby Henry

p.s. Before you email me, I have nothing against big hair, wagon wheel sofas, or Gay Cowboys; however, If you introduce yourself as Peckerhead...

Little Girl With Tap Shoes

2008-01-31T21:26:00.000-06:00

Yesterday evening I received proofs of an oil painting that my dear friend Marion Wood has been working on for three years. This masterpiece is so special to me because my daughters posed for this in our first home in front of our piano with Princes Inga, my late father in law's kitty cat.

If you have ever taken an art history class, there are four crucial things you must know: artist, period, title, and date. If you are a true historian of art; however, you know who, what, when, where, and why. I imagine this painting in an art history book a hundred years from now or more realistically hanging above the fireplace in my great-grandaughter or grandson's home. What story about this moment in 2005 will my descendants tell to their friends, children, and hopefully grand-children? Will it be referred to as Jillian & Elise, or will the names be lost and will they call it, Little Girl Playing Piano for Sister in Tap Shoes?

On the late summer day in 2005 when this moment was captured, I was in the height of being a d-list celebrity. Hours before I had attended a fund raiser for Clothes off our Back with W Magazine. Like an absolute fool I hugged the editor of W out of nervousness and made a boob out of myself...I will blog about that later. I had even shared a cocktail with Tommy Lee. (That is for you groovy girl) I flew in to Houston and went straight to the floral market to pick up day lilies per the request of Marion, because they represent rebirth. I don't quite remember dinner, but I do know Marion stayed the night with us and she studied the angle of our great room for hours. At about 7am she popped out of bed and said something like, "by golly, I got it", and she started sketching like a mad woman. Jillian and Elise posed for a couple of hours. At first it was exciting for them, and after about 10 minutes they had had enough... much like our 2005 Christmas Card... Iwill post later.

The tap shoes on Elise; however, will always be a mystery. Did I brain-lapse, did I intentionally put the tap shoe on Elise because that is all we could find, or did Elise put them on herself? At any rate or as I quote Kurt Vonnegut, "so it goes", the tap shoe makes history and this moment in time was immortalized.

Bean's Room

2008-01-25T15:39:00.001-06:00

I was visiting a popular blog today and I ran in to one of my close friends from college. She entered her gender neutral nursery in a design competition. I think you can still vote for her. I hope she wins, and her prize is something really great like a house in Tuscany for a month and she invites us. She and I, along with her husband, were art majors. He is now a highly coveted graphic designer. Back in the day, he did all of my graphics and website. I will blog about that later. Until then, enjoy. It reminds me of the large-scale floral interpretation that Painted Groove blogged about recently.

If I Had a Coke Machine, I Would Stock It With IZZE

2008-01-20T11:53:00.000-06:00

Bob has a coke machine and for the last 25 years you can buy a wide variety of soda pops for $.35. My favorite has always been his "Orange Coke" selection.

Yesterday I stopped by the market to get some refreshments for an afternoon presentation, and picked up some IZZE Clementine Sodas because they look great with my architectural finishes. I purchased some IZZE's several months ago, and they were the darling of my presentation. They were so super yummy that for the next few months I overindulged in any brand of fizzy orange drinks; not realizing that there was a BIG DIFFERENCE.

This morning as I was working on my computer, I realized I had a left-over-IZZE from yesterday; so,I decided to break my healthy life-style diet or did I? READ THIS.... as I look at my nicely designed IZZE bottle thinking, "I should blog something like.... looks great, and tastes great too"; I realized that IZZE is not just fizzy corn syrup like other orange sodas. IZZE is naturally sweet; 70% fruit juice and 30% sparkling water, no refined sugar, no caffeine, no artificial anything. I feel like I have won the lottery! If I had only known this last summer, I am sure I would be back in my jeans by now. There are a plethora of flavors available: LIMON, BLACK RASBERRY, and even POMEGRANATE. IZZE SODA POPS are available in cans too.

Saving Pool Sluts...one at a time

2008-01-18T09:09:00.000-06:00

I live in Suburbia. Have I mentioned that? For the last decade I have seen the same tropical oasis swimming pool in hundreds of yards. You know what I am talking about... a Lima bean shaped swimming pool flanked by large authentic or fake rocks; accompanied with tropical trees and waterfalls.

There are big ones, medium-ones, and itsy bitsy teenie ones. While they can be architecturally stimulating if your house is designed with a Caribbean aesthetic, they can also create disconnect with traditional or more modern architecture; hence, an all- together different type of design block.

My mission today is to offer some alternative design ideas for those of you that will embark on a pool design in future. Before your pool designer / contractor comes over with his bag of tricks to entice you, be mindful of the style of your home. It is easy it is to get seduced by these themeparkish pools; but remember, we have to be able to look ourselves in the mirror the next morning.

ideas:

hasta luego

Sayonara Scrap-Booooookers

2008-01-15T21:50:00.001-06:00

John-William H...

october 2007

By abbey branch

Book Preview

this is the ho...

chronicles of a mo...

By abbey branch

Book Preview

If you are like me and have an overwhelming amount of photos in boxes and on your computer and you don't have time for scrap-booking, check out http://www.blurb.com. You can create custom books that will look beautiful on your library shelves or coffee tables. The "sky is the limit"... cookbooks, photo books, or portfolios of your work.....
They also make great gifts!

WARNING!!!

2008-01-14T10:04:00.000-06:00

Don't try to breast feed your baby in this classic Hardoy Chair aka the Butterfly Chair. That is all I have to say about that.... (in a Forest Gump Accent)

Peace In The Middle East

2008-01-13T20:41:00.000-06:00

2008 would have marked the 10th anniversary of our "Peace in the Middle East" New Years Dinner. This year; however, my husband thought he had a better ticket and forfeited our traditional sit down on the floor dinner for another shin-dig. Only because I am still large and post-partum, I gave him a pass.

I had this bright idea last Thursday, that rather than waiting for a full year, we would invite some of our favorite neighbors for an impromptu Peace dinner. I called our local Indian chef to prepare our meal and we had an incredible evening. The food was perfect and the conversation was everything but prim, proper, and neighborly. It was divine! For the first time in the history of "Peace", we treated our guests to chairs; we knew the time would come... Today, my wine cellar (the bottom of my pantry) is 10 bottles of wine & 2 bottles champagne leaner. I on the other hand, am quite the opposite.

super houston interior designer karen B. & henry

a little food; a litte fancy

you can't call it a party without at least 2 gay friends (the one on the right is an incredible architect )

2 former new orlean's girls who now shake up houston with botox injections & their philanthropic activities

Thank you friends for joining us for Peace. Here is to Peace in 2008!

A Shout Out To The 1960's Ranch

2008-01-11T21:26:00.000-06:00

There is a Suburb called Carperter Addition. All of the houses are ranches; somewhat like Utopia.

Many of these houses have been "21st-century-tweaked". They look nice; however, I worry about these houses; do they miss the good ole days too? Do they long to be liberated? How do they feel when their once "wall of glass" is replaced by French Doors. I fantasize about riding my bike down June Street shouting.. "It will be okay, our children will restore you." ( You know super 60's chic houses will be all the rage in 20 years.) Until then, here is a thought. If you aren't ready for a 60's revival because you may have already lived it and you are itching to tweak your already existing ranch style casa:

You can do this

Come on in!

ahh...

The "Judification" of Marfa

2008-01-08T20:47:00.000-06:00

Here is a little background on myself... pre-has-been-celebrity-designer. I grew up in west Texas and actually was an acquaintance of a hero in the art world Donald Judd. He was kind of like the artsy version of Bob. When he and I both lived in the Marfa area, we were the weirdos; he, much more of a weirdo than I. He established the Chinati Foundation. Don passed away 13 years ago content with being misunderstood by his a small town all the while being one of most revered artists of the 2oth century. FYI, he knew he was revered.

Fast-forward to 2008, Marfa has been invaded by artists, wannabees, and has-beens (like myself). It is absolutly charming and it delights me to no end. There are art galleries on every corner, a super chick Book Store, even the former "batesesque" MOTEL THUNDERBIRD has been plucked and tweezed and deserves a post of its own. I feel like the bumblebee in the Blind Melon video when I visit. It is almost as nice as Utopia.

At any rate, before I close I ask, "What would Donald Judd do (WWJD) if he drove into Marfa, Texas today and saw the metamorphosis of his small cow-town to a Mecca for the artsy-fartsy?"

Nacho Grandma's Linoleum

2008-01-06T14:49:00.000-06:00

As my one reader knows, I am a little partial to Dutch Design; however, even if I hated the __ __ Dutch, the new Marmoleum Dutch Design Collection would knock my uninspired knickers off. Marmoleum was environmentally friendly when green wasn't cool. It is made with 100% natural ingredients, it lasts a life time, and it kills the super bug. Researchers proved it.

At any rate, as I close, it makes me think of Bob's house, the more I realize that we need to bring it back to its glory days. The Marmoleum Dutch Design collection would be the perfect flooring solution for such a chic redo.

How Modern Is My Modern Kitchen?

2008-01-06T09:57:00.000-06:00

Bob is "thinking about" embarking on a new kitchen design for the home I grew up in. I was looking through my design magazines for inspiration (because my creativity has petered out), and I realized how wonderful his kitchen, featuring the Frigidaire Flair, referenced above, is. I will try and post photos of the actual house and kitchen...however; until then, I am sure you will have no problem visualizing it because so many of us grew up in similar 1960's ranch style houses-- one story, brick, 2 car car garage, entry hall, formal living, den, sliding-glass doors leading to the patio.. Back to the dreamy Fridgidaire combinataion double oven and stove... It was featured on Bewitched, and I knew by watching reruns in the 70's that we must have been on to something.

At any rate as I close... how did I go from super-glam-post-modern-roots to this 1920's service style kitchen ?

Farewell Mentor

2008-01-05T22:16:00.000-06:00

Today I learned my dear mentor, Dr. Phoebe Lloyd ,an eccentric "artsy" Grandma figure whom I admired tremendously, passed away in 2005. The first day I met her, she flashed a Mapplethorpe Photo and asked, "Do you know what this is??? After several seconds of silence.... it’s a __ hole.

She was an art historian, a writer, a fabulous cook, and a total rebel. Her lectures were stories of real life in art and I am better for having known her.