BACKSPLASH TRANSFORMATION

I really dislike the standard 'builders' style backsplash of 4 inches of countertop.  Really?  That is the most boring thing I can think of to do with a backsplash... you might as well not do one at all.  Backsplashes are such a great opportunity to bring in color, texture and design. 

Well, I have a client that really wanted to do something with her standard 4 inch backsplash in her kitchen, both for functionality and looks.  She had a great kitchen to begin with, so we were able to pull some great tones from her countertop and cabinetry and came up with this beautiful backsplash which was simply installed on top of her existing 4" granite backsplash already in place.  I think it turned out great, making this a real focal point in the kitchen and also allowing my client to easily keep her kitchen wall clean.

Yes, the tiles are iridescent... love!

And since this tile was so beautiful, we decided to tile the powder room wall as well!

Thanks again to Melissa McCafferty for the great photos, and Gene Paskett for a great tile installation!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Looking forward to filling up my table.  Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

COOL, CLASSIC TILE AT BEDROSIANS

I was recently at Bedrosians Tile and Stone (an awesome resource for product here in SLC) and happened upon some really beautiful tile that brought back memories of my time in the Paris metro, small town Portugal, and particularly my father's intense love of all decorative tilework.

Now I just need a project for these....

And my favorite-

TO NYC

I was lucky enough to be in the Big Apple and surrounding states a week before Sandy hit, and it is odd to think of the destruction that has occured.  And believe you me, I understand it.  I lived in Miami when Hurricane Andrew hit.  So here's to NYC, NJ and CT, good luck getting back on your feet and hang in there!

And a few good memories from my recent trip...

Always the skyline (at Park and 53rd):

I visited The Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking for the first time (on my cool hotel bucket list for some time now):

 

 

And I was able to take a Sunday stroll down the Highline Park (the old elevated rail line transformed a few years ago into a very cool park) which has just fab views of the city and Hudson River.  I hope it was not too battered by Sandy...

 



WEARSTLER FASHION STYLE

I LOVE Kelly Wearstler's interiors.  Just love them.  Her layers of texture, shapes, and periods really come together wonderfully.  Here is a very small sampling from her website-

 

However, I recently checked out some of her Fall 2012 clothing collection, and I hate to say it, but I am not sure if her talents translate.  I know everyone is supposed to be able to do everything creative these days, but some of the below styles make me wonder...

 



BUCKET LIST ITEM # 3

 

French Furniture Heaven.  That is what the Getty is. (I know, I know, they have some artwork there too.) I was also able to visit the Getty Museum in LA this summer, and wow, Mr Getty must have purchased the very best of everything from France.  What a collection!  Across the board, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical and Empire, they have it all.  I have to share a small sampling of the ridiculous amount of photos I took!  Furniture lovers, make the pilgrimage!

 

I am such a sucker for the details, and what details!  OK, just a few more...

BUCKET LIST ITEM # 2

I was also lucky enough to visit a room I have loved and hoped to visit for many a year.  The Peacock Room by the great James McNeill Whistler at the Smithsonian's Freer Sackler Galleries.  This is not just a wonderful room due to the beautiful Aesthetic Movement decor created by Whistler and amazing pottery collection housed within it, but also for the wonderfully colorful story of the room's creation.  After hijacking the entire project from the architect, and after several disagreements between Whistler and the room's owner, he in fact locked himself in the room to be certain of finishing it as he desired, and nobody else.  The owner Mr. Leyland was less than thrilled about this, and often fought with Whistler through the locked door before Whistler actually painted two peacocks fighting each other to represent the two men.  Or at least so I have been told.  I never heard what Leyland thought of the final result...

All photos courtesy of the Freer Sackler website.

For more information, visit the museum's website here.

SHORTENING THE BUCKET LIST

I was lucky enough this summer to shorten my bucket list by three line items.  The first and probably one of the items towards the very top of the list was a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water.  While I have seen many photos and documentaries of the icon of American modernism, there is nothing quite like seeing it in person, especially on such a perfect summer day.  It has not just stood the test of time, it is in fact a much better piece of residential architecture than almost any house I have seen built today.  So I encourage everyone to visit, especially all architects out there.  But, if you cannot make it, here are some more photos I had the pleasure of taking during my visit. 

 

 

 

 

What made the visit even more enjoyable and fullfilling is the fact I was able to visit with my father, a former furniture designer, Parsons student, and forever lover of all things design, also a FLW nut.  Even more than myself.