Bunk Beds

I'd love an entire room lined with bunk beds, where the 10 year old me and my brothers and friends could stay up late telling ghost stories on a rainy night like tonight.

Maximalists

I'm not around this weekend but if I were I'd be at The Flaming Lips show on Saturday night. Which reminded me of an article I read in NYTimes (I'm realizing that I mention them a lot!) a year or so ago, "At Home with Wayne Coyne." He, of course, lives in a super wacky home in Oklahoma City.

"Seen from the street, it resembles a do-it-yourself version of a Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie House; inside it feels mazelike and eccentric, qualities the couple have tried to enhance with color. Ms. Martin-Coyne painted an upstairs bedroom “breathless blue,” she said, after a sky blue shade of nail polish, and her art studio across the hallway has a pink rubber floor."

Yep.

And for all those not familiar with The Flaming Lips they're a psychedelic rock band known for their outrageous live shows complete with life-sized stuffed animals. Check them out Saturday night, the 29th, at Festival Pier.

Cleaning House

I recently got a new computer (finally a Mac-only household!) and have been slowly but surely transferring all of the images from my old computer. It's kind of no surprise my PC was on it's last legs... I came across these oldies that I saved as inspiration when we first moved in to our house. Which reminds me I still need to do some good before and afters. If only our stairs would finish themselves!

PS: I don't know where I got any of these images, sorry! Please take credit where credit belongs and I'll make note.

Digg for the Ladies

Do you know Kirtsy.com? It's like Digg for the ladies.

Review of Julie and Julia

I have a new partner in crime! Lizzy will be helping out with posts. We took our love of cooking to the movies last week to see Julie and Julia.

Contributed by Lizzy....

I have read neither of the books adapted for the “Julie/Julia” screenplay. I usually try to stay away from the film of a book I read, or from reading a book that was made into a film I watched. There are only a few exceptions to this rule, one of them being “Heartburn” or Heartburn. And this example may not necessarily count, as the author and the screenwriter are one in the same, as well as the woman responsible for writing, producing and directing “Julie/Julia”, Nora Ephron. The genre of romantic comedy has really begun to scrape the bottom of the barrel in the past few years, cases in point, “The Wedding Date,”“The Wedding Planner” and “The Awful Truth.” The list could go on and on really, since even good romantic comedies are inherently bad and cutesy, polarizing in their representation of gender dynamics and reliant on tired, uninspired screwball comedy tropes. However, even if you hate the frothy, effervescent-ness of this genre, you can count on Nora Ephron to make a smarter than average romantic comedy/ drama.

The synthesis of the reviews of “Julie/Julia” is that it is Meryl Streep’s Oscar to loose and the osculating storytelling between Julia Childs’ life in post World-War II France and Julie Powell’s life in post 9/11 New Yorkcreates two halves of a disjointed movie rather than a cohesive film. The viewer is left longing for more Julia and less Julie. Meryl’s performance is a must see because she has the ability to make you forget she existed as anyone else but the person she is playing in a film. Her representation of Julia Childs is pitch perfect and infectious. It reminded me of how much fun I had watching Julia when I was a kid, how silly I thought she was and how she made me laugh without even trying. Amy Adams plays Julie Powell as kind of a cutesy bitch, and while Adams is an open and approachable actress, Julie Powell is being painted as narcissistic with tendencies towards childish tantrums and petulance. I agree that Julie is those things, but, she also becomes self aware, or Nora Ephron begins to present her as more self aware about half way through the film, and Igot on board with her character more. Also, lets be fair, it is very easy to love and respect Meryl’s Julia Childs. She is so effervescent and strapping; Julie Childs lived, loved and laughed loudly and people were drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Julie Powell didn’t stand a chance going into a popularity contest up against the likes of that; none of us would. While more Streep screen timewould have been great, maybe it would have been too much of a good thing.

I disagree with a lot of critics and have to say I really enjoyed the way the two stories played together. Julie aptly portrays the guilt many post-modern women feel, the backlash of being told we can “do it all” when we were little girls and adolescents. We feel bad when we cannot do it all. We have so many rights that we didn’t have to fight for, and while there is a ways to go before we can claim full equal rights, we can all agree of how far we have come since the McCarthy Era. Julie Powell captures a very 2009 thirty year old woman, feeling left behind by college friends hungry for power and success and stymied in making her dreams a reality because she is depressed at the thought that she is too late to become a success. I liked the juxtaposition of Julia fighting to figure out what “to do” with herself, as she was not fond of the feminine arts and she and her husband were unable to have children, with Julie fighting against the fear that she hasn’t done enough to justify her 30 year old existence.

The real star of the film is the food, which is lusciously portrayed every way food can be presented; its’ sinful, fun, scary, dangerous, sensual and powerful. Anyone familiar with Nora Ephron knows that she is a foodie and can recognize and enjoy that this movie is a love song to how happy preparing and eating food has made her. There were times that my girlfriends and I were literally bouncing in our seats with bubbling happiness and excitement over food and the love the people making the food had for one another; I very rarely experience that when going to the movies. I am glad that Nora focused on making the food look so good and that she made it look possible to make your dreams come true, at any age.

Paperless Post

Who's heard of Paperless Post?!? I've been dreaming of such a service for so long now. I figured it must be a brand new thing since I'm just hearing about it but alas, I did some Googling and there's an article in the Harvard Crimson (Paperless Post was started by brother/sister Harvard alums) dating back to December '08. And numerous mentions in magazines and blogs. And even a Facebook page. Where the hell have I been?

I love paper...I love stationary, invitations, wrapping paper...miniature doses of color and pattern, beautiful fonts, interesting designs and styles and presentations. And I love parties....the planning and hosting, prepping, cooking, and decorating. I've long been a fan of Evite but sometimes it just doesn't cut it. I'm so excited to use Paperless Post, I'm going to have to plan a party!

Beachy Keen

I'm heading down to Naples, FL this weekend to help my Mom decorate their recently renovated place. I'll have lots of before and afters to share in the coming months. I scored a set of Hollywood Regency faux bamboo headboards on eBay which are being delivered on Saturday, can't wait to see them in person! Meanwhile, we're looking to India Hicks for lots of island inspiration.

Designing in a Recession

There's a great article on NYTimes.com today about the roll of interior design and designers during economic downtimes. Design for the masses has certainly been available over the last few years with shows like Design on a Dime on HGTV and designer knock-offs at Target and Walmart. We've even seen the birth of online and "from-afar" design services, many through blogs. And now even the most successful designers (Celerie Kemble) are rethinking their business strategies to work within the current climate. Yay, design for all!

And while you're there, check out yesterday's article on Decorati.

Image courtesy of Kemble Interiors.

Henry Road

I was given a tablecloth from Henry Road for my birthday - a bright, colorful, canvas tablecloth. I love the unexpected pairing of colors (cotton candy pink and bright blue) and the large, graphic print. I looked in to Henry Road more and here's what I found:

"Henry Road is a Los Angeles-based design studio and store. Its' collection of textiles designed by Paula Smail, is supplemented by an eclectic, fun collection of home goods and gifts. Paula views Henry Road as her scrapbook, album and travelogue all rolled into one. One of her childhood homes was a house on Henry Road in South Africa. Since then, she has traveled extensively and includes London, Paris and New York in the long list of places she has lived. Her design aesthetic of bold color is influenced by Marimekko blinds in the house on Henry Road, women wrapped in swathes of stunning African cloth and the work of artists like Rothko and many of his contemporaries."

She makes a variety of 'things' from her fabrics, from lamp shades and pillows, to furniture, bags, and stuffed animals. I hope to visit her store in LA sometime!

I'd rather be....

That's not a very positive title. But it's how I'm feeling right now. I'd rather be back in Jamestown, taking in this view (with my pup!), snacking on some steamers with a Mount Gay and tonic in hand. Sigh.....

Good news is, I'm off to see the boys play at Merriweather!

Newport, RI

I'm on vacation in Jamestown, Rhode Island which is why things have been quiet here at Domicile Tendencies. I've been spending as much time as possible on the water, committed to my tan, often recovering from the night before. So much for some R&R! I've spent some time over in Newport this week, admiring all of the beautiful homes, from the historic row homes in town to the over-the-top mansions on Ocean Ave. I'd love to do a house tour some day! Above is a peek inside interior designer Meg Braff's Newport home, courtesy of House Beautiful. Enjoy!

RIP John Hughes

John Hughes, the master of teen angst, passed away yesterday, August 6th, 2009. He was the creator of so many amazing movies that we all know and love. Ferris Bueller, Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, Uncle Buck (just learned that!), Weird Science, She's Having a Baby, Sixteen Candles....all of the greats from the 80s. In memoriam, here are a few shots of the infamous house and garage from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The house was on the market (not sure if it still is?) for $2.3 million.

RIP John Hughes.

More Americana

I was getting my hair cut this afternoon and picked up the June edition of Architectural Digest. What do I see? Americana.

Americana

I'm getting ready to go on vacation so haven't had a chance to tend to the blog at all. My first real vacation since the spring so looking forward to it!

On Philly.com today there is an article entitled, "For fall, 'Perfect' is out." Certainly fitting for our current economic situation - who has money to spend on a perfectly refined home these days? To me great decor and style is about having objects collected over the years, each with a story or memory, an eclectic mix of pieces. Deborah Needleman, of our dearly beloved Domino, speaks to this "freer...design and style."

I'm not, however, a huge fan of this 'Americana' they speak of. "Americana is big. You'll see the flag and other patriotic symbols rendered in faux-vintage painted wood, distressed cotton and painted tin." Sounds like something straight out of Pottery Barn. Which is probably why the slide show that accompanies the article is full of it!