Monday, January 12, 2009

What's with the anti-TV decor snobs?

I've seen a theme emerge lately in discussions among interior design enthusiasts: a hatred of TVs as the focal point of the room.

I've seen many comments of people proud to claim they hide their TV, don't watch TV, or don't own a TV. If that works for them, terrific, but when they add that TVs suck the life out of room, are ugly black holes, or kills conversation it appears they have a bit of an agenda rather than simply sharing a lifestyle choice. I guess hanging around the internet to make such comments is a much higher form of technology and an acceptable form of killing brain cells.

The truth of it is, TVs are very much a part of modern life. I see nothing wrong with embracing it by incorporating it into a room's design. Personally, I find TVs that are off to the side, angled oddly and rather uncomfortable to watch, awkward looking in a room. I probably feel that way about uncommitted additions to rooms in general.

For many people, TVs are not just about watching TV, they're about watching movies or playing video games. For those who entertain friends by playing Guitar Hero or play Wii Sports alongside their kids or have family movie night, a TV is an important part of day to day life. I think in many ways a TV can bring people together, not just pull them apart.

Along with the technology age, technology has also become a status symbol. People spend hundreds and thousands on new shiny TVs it's not hard to understand why people would want to show them off.

Are TVs the prettiest thing in the world? Certainly not. But there are plenty of ways the make a television and style coexist. Claiming to hate bran-rotting TVs and banishing them from your home to avoid the design dilemma they present is not necessary. :)

Product Find: Laser Cut Cupcake Wrappers



These are too fun and a cool wake to make cupcakes chic!

Buy them at Fancy Flours.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Apartment Therapy Shows A Little Bias

Against the midwest, that is.

In a post discussing the recent decision by Meredith Corp. to shut down Country Home and move ReadyMade to Des Moines, I stumbled upon this:

"Maybe it would be fun to hide out in Des Moines for a few years while the coasts get gutted, but it's hard to believe that ReadyMade, which grew up on Bay Area inspiration won't shrivel up and die out there."


A comment from AT co-founder Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan. Way to alienate a reader-base. Now, maybe living in Des Moines (practically), I take a extra offense to his statement. However, the midwest as a whole gets a bad rap as being a cultural wasteland, and those who live here and those who have taken the time here, know better. It would be nice if those coastal snobs would take the time to broader their horizons.

Read the whole post here.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Photo-set: Momiji Friendship Dolls

Momiji Friendship Dolls

Clever Clogs

Clever Clogs Momiji

Pixie

Pixie Momiji

Smiling

Smiling Momiji

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Design Trends the LA Times Wants to Die

In a feature at LAT Home (LA Times) is a list of bad design trends that are either on their way out, or the 20 designers who weighed in on the list hope will be. 


Most of the list didn't affect me at all, which I guess is good news if I at all cared whether my style was in keeping with the opinion of the LA Times. A few did catch my attention.

The first two in the list is granite countertops and commercial style kitchens. This works for me, not being able to afford either and relying on a gallon of white cabinet paint as my kitchen makeover. 

A gutsy addition to the list was CFLs. I think most people know, especially designers, how horrible CFLs make things look. Even at a comparable light temperature to incancesdents, something still is just not right. I call it anti-light because I have a terrible time focusing and actually seeing things with any clarity with CF bulbs. It's all just glare to me. Though, admittedly, I have very light sensitive eyes. 

The one thing I did object to was zebra patterns. Okay, so zebra print everywhere is a bit excessive and there is a lot of cheap looking items out there. But I have seen rooms that look awesome because of on little extra and that being a zebra rug. I think it might just be wishful thinking on their part, I don't see zebra going anywhere soon. There's something about the black and white contrast that has sticking power. 

To get the full list and designer comments: Bad design trends we home die in 2009

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

A Bad Sign?

I'm starting to think there may be something wrong with me. Perhaps the repetition of kids' shows daily is getting to my brain, or I'm being brainwashed by them. Maybe it's a normal progression of motherhood that you begin to memorize and enjoy all the theme songs and phrases your toddler does. In the case of Sesame Street I think I'm in an odd demographic where my I can enjoy parts of it along with my son because they're doing a spin-off of something I like.


For example, their rendition of "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White Ts as "I'm the Letter T". I'm starting to sing the song that way now. Scary. 



Or this take on Law & Order SVU: that is close to hilarious. Maybe I think so because I'm an avid SVU fan. 




I can justify singing along to Spongebob Squarepants... but why do I sing along with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse? I maybe shouldn't think about it. 

Monday, January 5, 2009

Room for the Week

I saw the fabulous room while parousing HGTV's Rate My Space  this weekend. It was entitled 'Dutch Loft' which caught my attention. 


That dining set is to die for, especially atop that gorgeous rug. Those bright red lamp shades are pretty awesome too. Can you tell I'm pretty enamored with this room? Check out the rest of the pictures from RMS user husdonsonliving.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

When In Doubt... Dance



Something I learned from my two year old last night.

As I was watching my husband play Guitar Hero, my son was busy playing and being his normal rascal self. He then decided to see how much effort it would take on his part to make things fall to the floor, as casually as possible, of course. When I caught him he paused for a moment and began dancing away to the music from the TV.

I wonder if this would work in the adult world?

Friday, January 2, 2009

To add to the cliche...

As it's a new year, and the in thing seems to be either doing new things or trying to finish something unable to be completed in the previous year, so I'm starting a new blog.

I'm sure my husband will make fun of me, for essentially copying the same thing he did yesterday. Yet, his is a litlle less self-centric (that sounds better than self-centered). And his blog actually includeds me, which is very sweet. For the sake of... um... laziness, I shall link and let his first post explain all.

http://scripos.blogspot.com/ Go ahead, take a look, and rejoin me here when finished.

I suppose I should explain what's to be expected here in the future. The tricky thing about that is that I don't really know myself. I have lots of little projects and ideas tooling around in my mind right now, mostly designs for my house, so I imagine they will feature at some point. Mostly one should expect musings about my day to day, opinions (mostly in the form of rants), ideas, and little bits of this or that which I may feel like sharing.

See you soon.