Friday, July 23, 2010

Finding Beauty Everywhere - 365 Photos

M


ore 365 photos? Yep, and a little explanation about how the project has affected me so far;


You know one thing I've really enjoyed about this project? Normally, I would be driving down the street and I would see something I would think was cool and I would think "that would make a cool photograph". But now when I'm driving down the street and I see something cool I think "I'm going to stop and take a photo of that". And sometimes, I've stopped in some pretty weird places to get a photo I wanted.

I parked in an abandoned lot near a transvestite strip club the other day because I really, really wanted a particular photo and it was the only place that was easy to park and walk in the 110 degree heat. I don't know. Maybe that's not particularly adventurous to some people - but for me, sometimes it is. Sometimes I find myself braving a situation or a neighborhood that I wouldn't normally just because I like looking for the beauty in every situation, or something that catches my eye, or something that just begs to be photographed. And sometimes I just can't get the photo I really want. And that's very frustrating. I don't really know that my photographic skills have improved all that much - but I do know that my eye is constantly on the look-out for things. And that makes the world seem like a more beautiful place every day. So even for that reason alone - the project is worth it.

(okay and admittedly, that lifeguard was hard to resist...I apologize in advance for the blatant sexism of the photo...but if one is always on the look-out for beauty, how could I resist that shot?)

So my latest:












Sunday, July 18, 2010

Orange you glad it's summer?


C

an't get enough popsicles this time of year? Me either.

Well in terms of color, we've covered our (my) favorites so far...lime, banana, blue raspberry so what's left? Orange and Grape.

I don't mind an orange popsicle, but what's even better is an orange creamsicle, am I right? And there's an important decor lesson to be contained within that confectionery delight. When you pair cream or white with orange, it's always fabulous.

So for today...I'm feeling some Orange inspiration:

I love how they dared go all the way with the hot pink and the orange here. Ever notice how hardly anyone ever actually dares decorate with orange? Which makes me think you should. Or I should. Honestly, if I ever change my red walls, I'll think I might go orange - especially in my kitchen. But we'll see, I have other rooms to focus on first.



I have a small bathroom like this which is my kids bathroom, and I refuse to spend a lot of money decorating it until they are all grown and moved out. Why? Because I make them keep it clean all the time, and it hardly ever is actually presentable for guests and I figure once they move out and aren't messing it up all the time, I won't mind spending the money on it because it will be my job to make sure it's clean every day instead of theirs. Sounds selfish? Maybe...but also practical.



This is like the entry to a 1960s era home and I love that they did it up in orange. There are some homes like this in my neighborhood (well close to here) and I totally love them.



That kicky orange wall with the exposed ductwork and the gray accesories and wood floor really works. This is a condo in Tempe Arizona. Below is another photo of the same condo.


Don't you love that Banquette? I want to do something like this - I think I've found a spot where it will work too. Will my house ever be done? No. Because I'll keep finding ideas I like and then having to wait for the money to implement them.


What did I tell you about creamsicles? See? White and orange...you can't go wrong.


I don't know that I love the bed, or the khaki green bottom half of the wall. But I love the shade of orange. AND I like that they did the ceiling white. I usually am not a fan of a white ceiling necessarily, but in this case, I think needs it. (love the peep of the Eames rocking chair too)


This soooo borders between orange and red doesn't it? I just think it's a to die for color.




Again, creamsicles baby.



Almost red but still technically orange. I realize this could look dated pretty quickly. But I still love it. It's almost like it already looks dated so you don't have to worry about it, it's so old it's new kind of thing.



AHhhhhhHHHHHH.....true true love.



I don't think I would do this - I know I probably wouldn't in fact, but I do like it and if you have the guts, by all means, go for it.


When we first moved into our house the closet doors were gold lame. I kid you not! Someone thought the answer to covering the wood doors was to put some sort of horrible gold foil all over them. It was just the most hideous thing I've seen in my entire life! Eventually we just ripped the doors out altogether and now the closet is just open to the rest of the room and has shelving. But I love how they've used this wallpaper (or whatever it is...) because it looks like a Trina Turk design.

Lovely. Gutsy but lovely.


Again, I love these oranges which border on red.



Makes a statement doesn't it?



I actually think this orange could have been even bolder - but with the headboard and the other stuff they've got going on they may have felt restraint was in order. I hardly ever think so. :) but I do really like this.



Just gorgeous - love all the elements together here.

Happy summer! It's half over kids!

Friday, July 16, 2010

I miss Sixx Design...but Jeff Lewis Returns Next Month!

I


s it pathetic that my moods sometimes are deeply affected by whatever the Bravo line-up currently is?

I swear sometimes I only watch Bravo and HGTV.

This year Bravo had a new show based on a family design (husband and wife team) called Sixx Design (the show on Bravo was 9 by design...because they are actually a family of 9. Oh how I adored their design sensibility. It's much closer to my own taste than any design I've ever seen featured on a tv show.

It seemed like a really short season, maybe because they were just trying it out - but I think (hopefully) they'll be renewed for another season. I just loved all their crazy ideas.

And I've been missing my Jeff Lewis since his season ended sometime last fall, but last night I saw the first commercial that season 4 of Jeff and his craziness OCD'ness will return in a few weeks.

My love for Jeff Lewis is completely unreasonable and probably slightly (or greatly) dysfunctional. I used to work with someone who was as unreasonable and demanding and crazed as Jeff (though not nearly as funny). And sometimes I wish I could call Jeff up and say "please hire me...I totally know how to take the abuse and I will gladly take it just to be in your messed up psychotic presence for each day of my life...because I'm a masochist like that...I will walk your dogs, and take your cat to the pet shrink, and I will make sure your order has no onions...and I will make your drink 90% sprite with 10% fruit punch...because I love 75% ice with 95% diet coke with 5% Dr. Pepper...just hire me and you will see). I know that's jacked up. But that's just how I roll. But I digress...

Sixx Design.

So please enjoy these lovely designs because just looking at them makes me happy and I really hope they renew them for another season (and in the meantime...the countdown has begun for Jeff Lewis and his design craziness)






















LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails