AESTHETICALLY THINKING: June 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

VIRTUAL VACATION

It is supposed to be 105° today in Atlanta, it was 86° by ten this morning on a photo shoot - which was OUTSIDE by the way! So with two more meeting to go this afternoon, I needed a virtual vacation! Enjoy everyone and have a wonderful weekend!!

Mario Ciampi

Mario Ciampo

Mario Ciampi

Fritz von der Schulenberg

Louise Dahl-Wolfe

Toni Frissell

Arthur Elgort

Herman Landshoff

Norman Parkinson

John Rawlings

Sources : En Passant par la Demeure / By The Light of the Sea by Jean-Loup Daraux

An Island Sanctuary / A House in Greece by John Stefanidis

Resort Fashion by Caroline Rennolds Milbank

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ILLUMINATE ME PLEASE

I've been traveling a lot lately and there appears to be a frightening trend in commercial bathroom design. Consider this a formal complaint in fact, directed at the hospitality design industry. Don't get me wrong, as I am all about the "design aesthetic", but I am a woman and as said woman, there is that whole hair and makeup thing at least once and often twice a day! Who is responsible for the lighting going into hotel bathrooms of late? I'm talking about some five-star hotels here! How does one ever get dressed with fluorescent bulbs? It's hard enough for one to look good at a certain age and stage of life in the warm glow of incandescent - but fluorescent - no way (not even at twenty years old). In the ghoulish green glare of a fluorescent, no one looks good! Also, did you know you need twice as much light to see at fifty-five as you did at twenty ???

So, to be most effective begin the bathroom lighting at the vanity with the lights that do the most work. These lights must be bright enough so you can see to shave or apply makeup, but soft enough to compliment facial features. Fixtures located on the side of the mirror really should be at eye level to be most effective.When selecting a fixture style, choose one that has a translucent lens to avoid glare.

Bulb selection is as important as the fixture. Try colored or frosted bulbs designed to enhance the skin tones. A halogen light above the vanity provides cross illumination when used in conjunction with wall sconces. You want to avoid using recessed alone, as the shadows can be horrendous!

Layers in the final end are always the key to success when it comes to lighting. So here is my plea to all those sitting at the drafting table - just remember there are people staying in those luxury properties who are just a little ways past twenty-two!

to go further : http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,403815,00.html

via Pinterest

Michael S. Smith

Miles Redd

Phoebe Howard

Gary Spain

via Pinterest

Cococozy

Steven R. Gambrel

Steven R. Grambel

Steven R. Gambrel

David Scott

via Pursley Architecture

via Pinterest

Celerie Kemble

Thursday, June 21, 2012

SHOE FETISH

Absolutely everything about the shoe designer William Frawley's Soho loft sends me! Precocious as a child, Frawley was obsessed with drawing anatomically correct figures as early as three years of age. He later went to Parson's and over the last three decades amassed a "jaw-dropping" collection of nude studies and sketches mostly done between 1898 and 1907. We share the same passion for figurative works which is why I'm so drawn to this cabinet of curiosities.

Did I mention that in addition to the fabulous art and the myriad objects, Frawley also has a massive collection of vintage shoes and handbags-about 3400 to be exact. I'm certain I could move right in!

Photographer : LAURA RESEN for ELLE DECOR

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

LOVELY LALANNE

The Lalanne exhibit ends June 16th at the Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York and I am completely distraught I will miss it! I adore the work of Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne and have for many years! I covet their work....what I would do to have just one single piece! Oh well, I'll have to settle for the catalogue for the time being.