Fu for Thought

West Elm or Bust

2008-12-03T08:38:00.003-06:00

Last Tuesday I woke up with a wild hair to drive to San Antonio and pick up two of these Step Side Tables from West Elm (brown ones):

I called my friend Lynn, who's from San Antonio. She was fully on board with the idea of a spontaneous road trip, so I headed over to her house to pick her up.

When I arrived at Lynn's at 10 am, I went ahead and gave the store a call so they could set aside the two tables for me. Wouldn't you know, they did have the two tables...but someone else had already paid for them.

Shoot.

Well, we were all buffed and puffed and in the mood for a field trip, so we decided to just go anyway for fun. And boy, was it fun. That was one of the nicest shopping experiences I've had in a long, long time.

I've always been a fan of their merchandise (although I did discover their seating isn't comfortable to me) but the store itself is just a pleasure to be in. It was very spacious and well-designed, very light and airy. Very California. I could've stayed in there for hours.

I highly recommend the excursion...and if you go, be sure to save some time to hit the McNay art museum, as we did. They have such an incredible collection, it made me feel closer to my old haunts in NYC.

P.S.

2008-11-28T00:35:00.006-06:00

Clearly, I should've also mentioned this:

It's late. I'm tired as hell but bored and too rebellious to go to sleep. I thought I could get by with a quick little shout out rather than waiting until I'd collected three things (my little rule)...but that was just plain wrong now that I see this dresser listed, wasn't it? Who knew the Interwebs were going to provide such a bountiful harvest on Thanksgiving Day?

If I find that third thing that is too cool for school, I'll letcha know.

Love Mid-Century?

2008-11-28T00:17:00.004-06:00

If you are a regular reader, you probably know I've sworn myself off of more mid-century furniture for my living room. I want some modern stuff to balance the mid-century pieces I already have, lest the place starts looking too themey. But if you're not in the same restriction mode, you're gonna love this:

At $15, it's a steal even if it's all scarred to hell.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My Holiday Short List

2008-11-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

I typically don't like to use standard red and green for my holiday decorating...but our new house and new decor beg for red. Here's a smattering of what I'm going for this year:

Home Decor by Larry

2008-11-24T14:05:00.008-06:00

I realize we've been in this house for (over?) two months now, but I haven't taken the time to select decorative pillows to go with our new decor.

Apparently frustrated by my procrastination, my cat took matters into his own hands today...

Mini Makeover

2008-11-19T03:22:00.006-06:00

How many times have you looked at your built-in entertainment wall unit and thought it was just too much? Too much wood, too heavy-looking, too much of the same 'ol same 'ol? Here's a project I recently completed that will illustrate one easy way to transform that area of your room:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Lining the back of the bookcase area with grasscloth broke up the mass of dark color and added a textural element to the built-ins. What you cannot see in this snapshot is that I didn't even permanently adhere the wallpaper to the wood. My client wanted to give this idea a trial run as well as protect the wood finish, so I simply mounted the wallpaper to tightly-fitting foam core and let the adjustable wood shelves hold it all in place.

The beauty part is that if she wanted to, my client could easily create another look by flipping the foam core around and mounting a different wallpaper pattern to the reverse side.

Presto, change-o.

Cool Toys

2008-11-16T09:30:00.016-06:00

If kiddos are on your shopping list this holiday season, check out this line of stylishly simple wood toys by Plan Toys. If they made all toys (and judging by their product line, they soon will), it wouldn't be so nauseating to hang out in the playroom. Oops...is my anti-Disney-Princess showing?

Super Cheap

2008-11-11T15:13:00.008-06:00

It's not every day you can order six stylish items off the Internets and only pay eighteen bucks including shipping. Here's what I snagged this morning:

These small planters will be great for fresh herbs or a little bamboo on the bar in my kitchen.

I picked up one of each of these Andy Warhol plates for my little Princess, who currently has a butterfly fetish. They're just the right size for a three-year old, and they'll be a great, inexpensive Christmas present. My first gift purchase of the season!

Thought for the Day

2008-11-10T22:27:00.001-06:00

Just a note about an easy way to beautify your space without spending a dime. All it takes is some Windex (or similar product), a pair of scissors, a scraper, and/or your fingernails.

Removing tags and stickers.

Since I just moved into a new house, there are stickers and tags in every room. Over a long weekend spent in a luxurious cabin, I noticed a similar affliction, so I’m not the only one who’s procrastinated on this score. They’re on toilets, pedestal sinks, bottoms of blinds, wrapped around light fixtures, sticking out of throw pillows, and stuck to windows. You’ll also find a myriad of warning stickers wrapped around electrical cords on every lamp in the house.

Pull those suckers off! We don’t need to be reminded that your vanity light fixture was Made In China or that your favorite accent pillow is stuffed with fiberfill.

I have removed a lot of them in my own place but there are a few more I resolve to eliminate when I get back to town. I don’t mean to be all Suzy Homemaker about it, but if you’re looking for ways to declutter, this is a great first start.

Red, White and Blue

2008-11-06T00:14:00.008-06:00

After such inspiring speeches Tuesday night, I'm feeling drawn to the ol' red, white and blue...

Goodbye, Mr. Ross

2008-10-29T23:16:00.006-05:00

Tonight Eddie got the boot on Top Design. Sort of a long time coming, if you ask me. I think he's gotten special treatment because of his resume (currently working for Martha Stewart) and not necessarily due to on-show performance. Tonight's room was disastrous but I think what really put it over the top for me were the two sections of granny lattice he put on the walls. I just don't think diagonal lattice has looked good since 1978.

Tonight's guest judge--Jeff Lewis, from Bravo's Flipping Out fame--said it best: "I think you're speaking to an older demographic...and when I say 'older,' I mean walkers, bed pans, and oxygen tanks." I don't know which was more gut-wrenching--hearing that painful (albeit accurate) assessment or watching Eddie smile and take it.

Lewis doesn't really have a flair for diplomacy but he makes one hell of a great judge, in my opinion. You could argue that he's pretentious because of his demand for luxury in the spaces he creates, but at least he's not caught up in the pretention of avant garde design. His spaces are simply elegant, chic and full of class. So when Margaret Russell calls him out for not liking Eddie's room just because Eddie's style is not Lewis' style, I think that's such a load of crap. I think you can appreciate the style of a room and still not want to live in it. When Margaret Russell looks at Eddie's room and implies that it is full of merit, it feels like the Emperor's New Clothes to me. As if only those who are "in the know" can see the potential genius and the rest of us plebes just aren't educated enough to get it.

For instance, I don't personally like the Shabby Chic style, yet the first time I walked into Rachel Ashwell's store at The Domain, I thought it was positively stunning. That doesn't mean I want to live in that type of environment, but I can at least say it was so well put together. I think that's all Lewis is looking for.

I would love to see them replace airhead Kelly Wearstler with Jeff Lewis on the judging panel. Wearstler's wardrobe antics are often so beyond ridiculous that they seem like a desperate attempt to hog attention. To be quite honest, I find it borderline depressing that someone that gorgeous thinks she has to put on some crazy getup to warrant attention. Contrast that with the quiet confidence of the rest of the panel and how can you not reach the same conclusion? It's one thing to be funky and show some personality and it's quite another thing to dress like a doofus. Jeb pointed out last week that she often looks like Charlize Theron's mentally-challenged character on Arrested Development. He is so right.

Chair of Happiness

2008-10-28T11:33:00.011-05:00

If this chair doesn't make you smile, nothing will. I've had a natural high since Friday night, when I spied this floor sample at Crate & Barrel on sale for $699! I've been dying for this seating group ("Petrie"--you get extra points if you knew it's named after Rob & Laura Petrie from The Dick Van Dyke Show) and this particular special order fabric shot the original price from $899 straight up to nearly $1800. So I felt very victorious to have managed to snag it so cheap.

It's now the most coveted seat in the house. I love sitting in it too, but I'd rather sit across from it and gaze lovingly at it.

Oh, and those horrid mini-blinds in the background? Give me time...

My Favorite Side Tables

2008-10-27T15:59:00.020-05:00

I'm on the hunt for end and side tables for my living room but so far haven't found just the right pieces within my budget. Here's a selection of the ones I've come across that I'm either still considering or wish would work:

I've wanted to place this table in a client's home for over a year now. The simple curves and wooden peg joinery make this table a timeless classic.

This ecclectic piece may still make it into my living room...still debating!

I love this silhouette and small scale...great for a little pop of glitz and glamour. At around $100, the price is super hot too!

Another table I've been lusting over for some time. I may flank my new sofa with a pair of these babies.

This is a recent find that I just luuuv. Still on my short list.

Although a bit more traditional than I normally go for, this table makes me smile. After all, it's a stack of polka dots! I'd order this in a heartbeat if my budget weren't so tight.

Don't you love the lines of this stunner? Since my seating is very retro, I'm sensitive to turning the living room into a mid-century set, which I think would happen if my tables feature the slightest twinge of that era...otherwise, this would be perfect.

I love the weight and graphic nature of this table. It haunts me, so who knows...maybe it'll turn up next to my new tangerine chair after all.

Cheap Art

2008-10-25T09:51:00.005-05:00

I bought this $35 reproduction tablecloth several years ago and converted it into an art piece by stretching it on a canvas frame. You can turn fabric and other vintage finds into art the same way, for very little money. Ikea sells 19 3/4" square stretchers or you can pick up blank art canvases at any craft store and cover them with the fabric of your choice. For a custom size or oversized piece, head to Miller Blueprint. They sell parts to make your own stretcher and they're easy to put together.

Restore vs. Refinish

2008-10-21T17:37:00.009-05:00

Now that we've moved and I'm no longer hogging the dining area with my office, we have room for my grandparents' mid-century dining table and chairs. The set has been hanging out at my mom's house for several years, so when I drove to Tulsa to pick it up this weekend, I was bummed to discover I was in for a refinishing project.

The tabletop had several rings and scratched areas...typical wear and tear for a piece of its age. I just hadn't really thought about the possibility of work.

I knew if I set up the table in the dining room, I would never get around to refinishing it, so I headed to McCoy's this morning to get all the supplies.

Dreaded it.

Then I noticed this stuff:

No sanding? No refinishing? Just wipe this stuff on and done? Although it seemed too good to be true, I decided to give it a try...and it worked like a charm! Check it out:

BEFORE

AFTER

All I did was apply it with some super fine steel wool, then wiped it off with a rag. The tabletop came out so great I went ahead and did all the table legs and the chairs. The whole set looks amazing...my grandma would be so proud. I am psyched.

Whether you call it laziness or "effective time management," I highly recommend this stuff if you have similarly damaged goods.

Best of Austin, Baby!

2008-10-16T14:19:00.006-05:00

The Austin Chronicle Readers Poll is out today and I'm so excited to blab that Room Fu has won Best Contractor/Home Service for the second year in a row--YEA!! Actually, we've tied with Handychicks, but hey, double the fun, right?

I got the call Monday and was so excited...have kept a lid on it until I was able to read it in black and white. Check it out here!

R.I.P. Home Magazine

2008-10-13T21:43:00.005-05:00

The publishing world has dealt another blow for shelter mags. I received my October '08 issue of Home Magazine today (slow getting here due to my address change), accompanied by a letter telling me this would be their last issue. Coming in its place? Woman's Day. Hardly comparable, if you ask me.

First, House Beautiful bit the dust...but I could deal with that because I was never rabid for it. Then Blueprint disappeared before my back issues had even started collecting dust. That was a huge letdown, because I loved Blueprint. Home has been one of my favorite magazines for years, so I'm starting to feel a bit like a queen without a country.

So help me gawd, if they shutter Domino or ReadyMade, I will be forced to exact some sort of vengeance. A girl can only take so much.

West Elm in San Antonio!

2008-10-12T10:20:00.006-05:00

Recently discovered that West Elm has opened a new store in San Antonio, which is reason enough to make a trek to Alamo City.

There will really be some celebrating if/when they come to Austin, but at least this will be closer than driving to Houston. I've heard rumors of them going into The Domain or the 2nd Street District. If you have scoop on the subject, do share!

Craigslist Finds

2008-10-12T09:56:00.006-05:00

Things I wish I had a place for:

This pair of vintage couches are so chic and so cheap, you would still come out ahead of the game after the cost of rehabbing them.

Paint this dresser a slick black and it'll look so mod!

Would love to put this in Phoebe's room but I'm looking for a chair, not a chaise.

Ideas for Doctors' Offices

2008-10-06T22:04:00.013-05:00

I spent the better part of the day going from one doctor's office to another today--a total of three, which has to be some kind of record. First stop, the opthamologist, where I discovered the floaters I've gotten recently are just another sign of aging. Then I headed over to the Academy of Oriental Medicine, for an acupuncture treatment (my back went out over the weekend). Last on the list was my GP, to load up on antibiotics to combat what started out as the flu and is now bronchitis. Add to this list an appt. last Wednesday and another one this Wednesday for other stuff, which will certainly get me flagged as a hypochondriac to my insurance company.

After spending time in three different medical environments in one day, I've come up with a list of simple modifications that would help make the experience a little easier for patients:

Install a patient communications system similar to automated phone ques. If a nurse tells me "the doctor will be with you in about 10-15 minutes," I'm going to assume I've been forgotten if I'm still sitting there with my thumb up my butt 30 minutes later. Which is going to tick me off. Who wants to feel like a dolt? Instead, it would be reassuring to hear, "there are two patients ahead of you. Your wait time will be approximately XX minutes." This will also help me determine whether or not I have time enough to read the People Magazine cover story or if I need to stick to Picks & Pans.

Let's update our doctorly color palette, shall we? I understand that lavender--as ubiquitous a color in doctors' offices as I've ever seen--is a calming color, but can we combine it with chocolate and white instead of white and gray? Lavender + white + gray = clinical. Clinical environments make you anxious, right? On the other hand, lavender + white + chocolate = sophisticated, modern, relaxing.

A good designer (meaning me) can help you select other soothing palettes of contemporary shades.

How about a bit of soundproofing between exam rooms? I don't want a neighboring restaurant patron to hear me discuss the latest movie I've seen...I sure don't want the patient next door to hear private conversations between me and medical staff! Too few doctors' offices take this precaution. I realize A/C vents are a big part of this problem, but strategically-placed white noise machines would do the trick for very little money.

I promise not to rob you if you'll please stop expecting me to. That whole glassed-in receptionist box has Got. To. Go. If your other patients are that scary, I'd like a bullet-proof box too, thank you. Besides, these areas just end up becoming a repository for an endless stream of "please do this or that" signs. Which, ummm, are never read.

One last $5 fix: an over-the-door hook and a hanger or two in each exam room will allow me to hang up my clothing instead of piling it on your dismal visitor's chair. And gawd forbid I have my three-year old in tow...who, in an effort to entertain herself and others, may elect to wave a certain garment like a surrender flag for the doctors. Even if I'm alone in the exam room, I feel compelled to fold everything neatly--like I'm working at the Gap--as if a lack of tidiness will reveal some sort of character flaw to the medical team. Do I really need to run this gauntlet each and every visit?

***

I know, I haven't even addressed the biggest design faux pas, like 80s burlap-wrapped waiting room chairs that you can't sit on wearing shorts unless you love skin burns...there's plenty of that too, but these other improvements are what I want first.

Now if only I could charge a co-pay for every doctor's office to take my sage advice...

A Most Unexpected Diatribe Regarding Shower Curtain Rings

2008-10-04T20:11:00.015-05:00

Design is in the details, right? So bear with me while I rant about shower curtain rings for a moment...only in the interest of saving you the hassle I currently face.

I have a steadfast rule about shower curtain rings. I hate the C- or S-hook varieties:

...because if you try to actually move the curtain back and forth, several hooks get knocked off the rail. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but a daily annoyance for sure. So I've outlawed C- and S-hooks in my own home...and never recommend them to clients.

Also on the no-fly list? Those great-looking hotel-style rings with the little roller balls:

If you've ever used them, you know they make a heinous fingernails-down-the-chalkboard grating metal noise when you move them back and forth. I like their look but I won't suffer on a daily basis for it.

So what does that leave me? Generally speaking, that leaves plain metal O's and the cheapo plastic variety, which always reminds me of John Candy in Plains, Trains and Automobiles. Or these:

...but since I've never worked at Enron ($65!), they're a bit out of my price range.

And then I found perfection. These amazing Simply Shabby Chic bling rings (from Target)--ideal for Phoebe's princess-y bathroom.

Or so I thought.

Brought them home and popped them through the curtain. Beautiful. Can already hear her squealing with delight. Started to add the liner and...d'oh! The rings don't fit through the grommet holes on my standard shower liner!

So I thought, "this must mean there are a variety of grommet sizes on shower curtain liners and I just need to trade mine for one with bigger holes." And ummm...there appears to be no such animal.

Seriously? No one tested whether or not these puppies would make it through a standard shower liner? For shame.

I did a little research online and discovered that people who've snapped up shower curtains such as the one below--meant to hang so that the rod fits through the oversized grommets like a window curtain--also run into the same problem.

One online poster advised someone else to buy a grommet kit in a larger size and replace the existing grommets on their liner. I just refuse to buy a kit to retrofit a liner (and all subsequent liners I'll need during the lifetime of these rings)...that's ridiculous.

But it's hard to go back to the non-bling farm, now that I've seen how awesome these rings are with Phoebe's shower curtain. I don't want the hassle of making something similar. So I'm going to have a go at removing one of the jeweled pieces on each ring. Hopefully that'll be enough to stick through the liner and snap the rings shut.

There's nothing Simply Chic about that!

Catchin' Up

2008-09-28T14:26:00.010-05:00

It's been a while since I've been able to post, so let's catch up:

PROJECT RUNWAY
Suede was robbed and Kenley should be long gone. Her attitude was deplorable. You have to be quite the be-yotch to be mean to Tim Gunn. I don't understand her lack of respect for Tim--or the judging panel, for that matter. I doubt she'd sass Diane Von Furstenberg the way she does her mentors on this show. It pains me to see them reward her continuous bad behavior by keeping her on. I would have thought she could win this thing, but I cannot wait to hear Heidi tell her "Kenley, you are out."

As for Suede, I certainly tired of him referring to himself in the third person, and I do not think he would have eventually won. But he turned out a much better look than Kenley. Especially since Kenley kept talking about how she didn't want to make Leanimal look like a fool...then did precisely that.

TOP DESIGN
Poor Preston needs his mommy. "She called me an 'a-hole!'" Waa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a!

You know why Shazia called you that, Preston? In the words of Betty Davis, "b'cause y'ahh-r."

Hated Team Eddie/Ondine/Natalie's room. Well, didn't hate it per se, but it was wildly inappropriate for their particular client. This room would've been perfect for Brad, Rachel Zoe's bow-tie wearin' assistant, but not for a young sports fanatic. There's no decoupage for dudes, as Jonathan Adler aptly pointed out. Their guy needed casual and comfy. I don't know why they didn't take advantage of the opportunity to do something Xtreme. Dude woulda loved that.

COLOR SPLASH
Still lovin' David Bromstad. Don't know if you saw this mid-century modern episode or not, but I am dying to have his painting of a gynormous bowl of mac 'n cheese on my dining room wall. David, you outdid yourself...and if you're taking commissions, sign me up.

Ahhh. I feel better now. I've been holding that all in far too long.

Busted?

2008-09-22T23:35:00.003-05:00

While unpacking the other day, I noticed a woman taking pictures of our house. I'm still paranoid about repainting the front door & shutters without HOA approval, so you know my first thought was, "somebody's already busting our chops over this?"

Turned out it was someone from our insurance agency.

I really have to relax.

Am Never Moving Again

2008-09-16T23:50:00.004-05:00

Geez Louise. Staying put in one house forever and ever is definitely underrated.

I'm still trying to pack up over there, unpack over here, and neither place is far enough along on those fronts to feel anything but depressing. A few mattresses thrown on the floor would be so much easier, wouldn't it?

But of course if that were enough to make anyone happy, we would all just cram ourselves into barracks and I'd be out of a job. *Heavy sigh.*

This is just the exhaustion talking. Underneath the extreme fatigue is pure excitement. Blank slate and all that. It's such a step up from where we were before in so many ways and we're also enjoying one unexpected perk of new construction tree obliteration: sunsets. (We've dubbed the backyard "Montana," as in Big Sky Country.)

I'll still be taking a bit of a break this week from posting, since I'm trying desperately to gain some semblance of normality. Like finding out which box has Phoebe's shoes sometime before winter hits so she doesn't have to wear her flowered sandals in the cold. And wish me luck that Larry, our orange kitty, does not require a house call and intravenous fluid after barricading himself under the bed in the new house for 48 hours.

In two weeks I'll forget all about this, like childbirth, right?

Our Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update (in progress)

2008-09-13T00:10:00.009-05:00

BEFORE:

As of today:

Man, even though we bought the house of our own free will, I look at these original pictures now and think, "ew." The "before" pictures look so unappealing, so cold and impersonal. Now that we've made a few changes, the place is starting to look like a home and the stark contrast is really amazing. And believe me, we didn't spend a lot. I picked out some cheapo tile ($1.89/sf at The Tile Guy), got rid of the ugly cheapo light fixtures in favor of more modern cheapo light fixtures, put some paint on the wall and "splurged" on a bit of a backsplash--glass mosaic that only appears on the focal wall of the kitchen. Voila, Chez Callan instead of Generics R Us.

And I'm not even finished yet. I want to add hardware after I paint the cabinets with a pop of color--what color I have in mind shall remain nameless until I have pictures because I'm afraid you'll revoke my designer card if you can't see it the way I see it in my head. It's gonna be great, and hopefully, a bit unexpected.

In person, the yellowish paint in the kitchen looks more like what you see on the dividing wall, and not the bright greenish-gold on the far right. I didn't take time to light everything the way I would if I were really shooting "after" pics. Just wanted to illustrate with a couple of snapshots how you can make some minimal changes that have great impact. We won't be spending much more...maybe a gallon of paint for the cabinetry, and maybe $2-3 on each door/drawer pull. We're trying to be mindful of overimprovement, so I created room in the budget for my one splurge (the glass tile) and hacked the budget on the rest.

Moving day is (hopefully) Monday, so I'll be taking a breather for a couple of days to power-pack and try to achieve some semblance of "settled in" before I go back to work in earnest on Tuesday!