Open House

The month of May heralds spring and all things new. It also heralds the beginning of sticky beak time for those who love getting behind the closed doors of the 1% in this world! Between now and the end of July, houses and gardens from Manhattan to Maryland, will throw open their doors and gates to the 99% - for a fee. But don't be deterred by this. Now is the time to peek inside some magnificent architectural gems and wander through some dreamy gardens, in search of inspiration for your own little patch. And take heart in the fact that most of the fees charged for these tours are going to some worthy charity. Here are a few of the places I would love to visit.

Petra Island
Any one can visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in Pennsylvania, but what about a residential home he designed on Petra Island? Originally designed in 1950 for the previous owners of the island, this house wasn't built until 2005, when it took 4 years to construct. The current owner, a rabid Wright fan, secured permission  from the Wright institute for the house to be built and it now stands exactly where it was originally intended. It even comes with a helipad!
putnamsecretgardentour.com

Greenwich Village, Manhattan

Who doesn't want to get inside all those glorious brownstones near me? Home to SJP of Sex and the City fame, amongst other celebs, this tour includes 7 houses including Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney's former studio.

http://www.gvshp.org/_gvshp/events/tour-main.htm  

Connecticut

Who isn't a fan of designer Bunny Williams? She has written so many books and appears to have so many homes! But her passion is her Greek revival home in Connecticut, which she generously opens to the public once a year. It is surrounded by acres of wonderfully landscaped gardens. If you fall in love with it, you can buy her book. tradesecretsct.com 

New Jersey

It would appear the much maligned New Jersey has more to offer us than just that terrible show the Jersey Shore. For the first time, the historic Glynallan Castle will be open to the public this month. It is modelled after the English castle Compton Wynnyates, apparently a favorite of the British royal family, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

http://mansioninmay.org/ 

images: dans papers, flickr, nymag, flickr, mine, rural intelligence, trade secretsct, amazon, skylands, filming locations

Mellow Yellow

 I went to Palm Springs for the weekend after the LA conference. My first time there and I really loved it! The desert is phenomenal (photos to come in a later post) and I stayed at the Viceroy which was truly rock star-like fabulous.  This is where I renewed my love for all things yellow.

Kelly Wearstler has made "citron" her signature color for the hotel. It works so well when used as a "splash" of color. It completely lifts a room instead of just using white all the time.

This spring in fashion, it is all about pastels. And yellow dominated across all categories. No doubt we will see yellow in all its guises on the streets. 

Carolina Herrera Spring '12

Derek Lam Spring '12

Oscar de la Renta, Spring '12

Burberry, Spring '12

Jimmy Choo Spring '12

Givenchy Obsedia Yellow Clutch

So whilst its cold and drab in wintry New York, I have compiled a few things yellow that make me feel happy - and bring a little color back into my day. 

Wallpaper from Scalamandre

Mark Rothko

Marimekko fabric

Porthault bedlinen

Le Creuset

images: (1) apartment therapy, (2, 5, 13) mine, (3-4) Viceroy,  (6-9) style.com, (10,11) bergdorf goodman (12) mind of a christian girl, (14) gilly's place, (15) habitually chic, (16) great modern pictures, (17) luxist, (18) sue fisher, (19) this next, (20) stock news on net, (21) drive, (22)camille's style, (23) decor pad

Shack

'Shack' Def: A roughly built hut or cabin (Oxford dictionary)

A girlfriend and I were discussing the power of positive thinking last night. She is skeptical to a degree, whereas I am totally into putting what you want out into the universe. Case in point: When I was pounding the sidewalks of New York in high summer trying to determine where I wanted to live before I moved here, I arrived at a certain street in the West Village and said aloud, "this is where I want to live". I can't explain why I chose that particular place. It just called to me. So 3 months later when I finally moved here, where was the first apartment the agent showed me? Directly across the street from where I had made my proclamation! Needless to say I am still in the same apartment 3 years down the track.

Some people use positive thinking to get better or feel better or to try and articulate what they really want in life. I know one girl who made a scrapbook of happy family clippings because she was channeling this dream for herself. That was a few years ago and I think she is still going, so I'm not suggesting the universe works quickly. (I have to admit here that I actually also started one of these scrapbooks but only got as far as a John Frieda ad with 2 older looking adults and one child. At least I can say I got the grey-haired partner.)

Anyway, the point of all this is that this year, I am going to put into the universe my desire to find a shack. I have always wanted a simply built place somewhere in the country and this dream was cemented when I saw recently in Oz the beautiful new book by Simon Griffiths called Shack; in praise of an Australian Icon.

I wish I could show you some of my favorite shacks featured, because you would definitely hear the magpies and smell the eucalyptus and feel the fresh country air, but alas there are limited shots on line so far.  Here are a couple anyway, to get a taste:

So all I have to do now is start looking at realty websites, visit quaint towns in upstate New York and keep thinking positively that I will find a little piece of land somewhere with a ramshackle hut that has a fireplace and good bones. And one day, I know I will find it.

images: (1-2) penguin, (3-4) flotsam friends, (5) simon griffiths

Alot of Heat about Light

Why is it that the beautiful things are also always bad for you?  Filament light bulbs have become a hot topic of debate here due to their outrageous energy consumption. Australia has already decided to ban all incandescent bulbs in exchange for fluorescent lights and US Congress passed a bill to phase them out by 2012. But that seems to have added kudos to the once humble light bulb. As the debate powers on in New York, (no pun intended) the gorgeous exposed filament bulbs are mushrooming here.

Some of the hottest - and coolest - places in town have these beautiful vintage looking bulbs spreading an antique glow over the proceedings and recreating an industrial look. Maialino hangs them in an Italian trattoria environment, Public and Craft suspend them with no shades, Five Leaves has them flickering in old round glass shades and the Standard Grill sprinkles them over white mosaic-tiled floors and wooden banquettes.

Apparently they have become so ubiquitous here that there is now a backlash amongst certain restauranteurs. Ken Friedman of Spotted Pig fame said "no exposed bulbs" when he was designing his latest eatery, the Breslin.

 But if you aren't tired of them yet and want to make the most of these beautiful bulbs while you can, here are some options for the home:

Pottery Barn sells this Edison Chandelier

Anthropologie helps out with a more industrial collection.

Restoration Hardware goes minimalist.

And here are some simple ways they have been used that I love.

Images: new york times, flavorwire, hotel lx, test of will, pottery barn, anthropologie, restoration hardware, apartment therapy, atelier 29, apartment therapy