Sayonara Scrap-Booooookers

John-William H...

october 2007

By abbey branch

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this is the ho...

chronicles of a mo...

By abbey branch

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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!!!

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 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

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

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

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?

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 ?