you know how it is

we’ve been thru this before but it doesn’t change how a fleeting glimpse into cyberspace can create a vortex beyond your powers to resist. tonight the peek was into lightlocations.com. i feel like i’ve been there before there was so much eye candy i couldn’t stop from looking through everything. resistance was futile and way more fun!

so thank you natural history for the link and if you visit either site, be prepared to stay a while, it’s a deep rabbit hole. in fact, natural’s blog is full goodies…check out her other discovery: ensuite, two sisters’ life in their paris apartment. don’t say i didn’t warn you tho!

ok well i have to go while it’s still a beautiul afternoon, there’s the antique show on at lincoln road. a tout alors!

March 28, 2010. Bedrooms, Decorating, Design, Dreams, Locations for Shoots, London. 12 comments.

some time has come

hey guys, it’s been awhile but when i get with my friends and their kids, it’s like the rest of my life melts away!

you know that friend who knows you better than you do yourself? that’s who i’ve been with for past few days, having a grand old time with my college roomie, mb and her little lambs at their home just outside san francisco. i’m here in sf for the fancy food show where i’ll be helping my guy at his booth, serving teas and other yummy products from around the world that he imports. it’s a big change from the maison objet (i just couldn’t go in the dead of winter), or the ny gift show, but i’m looking forward to that change in a way. stepping outside my usual box it’s easier to see what to do next with what i have instead of just piling on new and more info, people, products, trips and all the things i usually do this time of year.

mb’s an idea and action girl but we’ve only been talking about doing so many things for so many years. normally all our big talk dies once i’m back east, so for the first time in almost a decade, we made a pact to turn the talking into action, which means sequestering ourselves together for the next couple weeks to combine forces. in college we had no idea what we’d be, we were major blank slates. but over the years i’ve developed into, well, we know what i do, where she’s become organized and focused. let’s just say the opposite of me!

i have to run to the show now but will take some pics and maybe even video. so more soon!. hope all is well with you!

xoc

January 17, 2010. California, Dreams, Friends. 6 comments.

decorating in paris: take two

hi guys! hope you’re enjoying a bit o’ RnR and watching your favorite guilty pleasure! you may remember about this time last year when i was asked to spruce up an apartment in paris. of course i was thrilled and when the owner said i should ask the bloggers for their opinions and naturally, i did just that. you also may recall that the owner got really offended by the suggestions. she thought we said she had bad taste and told me to %#@ off!

i was bummed of course for the misunderstanding but also cause it was a dream of a lifetime! well, another chance has come along. this particular client just purchased a two bedroom in the 5eme. we’re going to meet in the spring and decorate floor to ceiling in a week.

and (thank god) this one really does have good taste (these are before pics. i know you know but someone may not)!

she said: I really want to maintain the traditional style of the apartment. I have a good idea of how I’d like to furnish it. I’d like an elegant, cosmopolitan, warm, comfortably romantic Parisian apartment. I like a mix of old and new.

of course we’re shopping for it all at the fleamarket so everything’s right at our fingertips. (it’s almost cheating).

the kitchen and bath will get renovated before i get there.

but the bedrooms, living and dining rooms are ready to go.

ok, with this shot you may have to really use your imagination. oh, who am i kidding? i think we all see the potential here, even with this decor. more soon, bonne nuit!

October 9, 2009. Antique Shopping, Decorating, Dreams, Fleamarkets, France, Paris, Paris Apartments, Real Estate. 10 comments.

waking up in haven

good morning! it’s my first in this glorious apartment. i honestly feel like a princess, it’s so bright and open and just gorgeous!

the mouldings, the doors, every detail has been considered from the colors to the furniture, marble baths, parquet floors, technology, and the linens!

did i mention the linens? the closet is full of the softest sheets, fluffy towels and down comforters.

i haven’t met the owners but their collection of art, books, cd’s and music is incredible. there’s everything from art books and guides to jean moreau films and all sorts of series.

this is definitely an apartment that can satisfy both a man and a woman’s taste. i took tons of photos and will add some more later as i have a bunch of meetings all day.

outside it’s a new hood for me, the 2e. it’s one of the more understated areas but has so much going on.

this apartment is on an absolutely silent street but the house colette lived in is right around the corner.

there’s a pedestrian area right nearby and you can see the old and new converging seamlessly.

even though i walked for miles yesterday i’ve only touched the surface of course.

i’m headed out now for something to eat. there’s a fantastic passage down the rue called Vivienne. it was full of life last night but i was too tired to enjoy it. now i’m about to meet with audrey and anthony to talk about photographing the apartments, starting with this one. this book is an enormous undertaking but i’m up for the challenge.

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passage vivienne

park around the corner

this is what i mean about mixing the old and the new. i love the sense of humor and efficiency of these window boxes! ok well i have to get ready, so more to come! i’ll bid adieu for now!

April 13, 2009. Design, Dreams, France, Paris, Paris Apartments, Paris Trip, Real Estate, Travel. 33 comments.

louis’ lovely ladies

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hi friends! i know it’s pretty cold for so many right now so i hope you’re tucked in warm and cozy tonite!

yesterday i started cleaning off my desktop and was happy to see you enjoyed it. today i started working on some of the folders. so many of the images aren’t hi res so they can’t go to print. soooo the next best thing is to share them with you! i wish i could figure out how to get them to blow up when you click but it seems like wordpress may have changed that feature.

so tonite it’s louis icart, one of my favorite artists. he captured moments of contemplation,

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trepidation

elation!

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and anyone who loves dogs, well…

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he painted women so delicately but still kept them strong

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i have tons more so if you like him too let me know and i’ll finish up that folder tomorrow!

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for tonight, stay dreamy

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don’t work too hard

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and enjoy your friends in person or on their blogs! love you!! xoc

January 8, 2009. 1920's, 1930's, art, Design, Dreams, Louis Icart. 37 comments.

i can’t go on

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hi friends, hope you’re enjoying a night of fun filled blogging visits and cheer!me? i’m still running ragged in ny and leaving for miami in the am.

if you’d like cheery, tonites’s just not the night. it’s bit of a dramatic title but truly my work/life has got the best of me right now. i desperately need to comprehend a few major lessons so i can move on. stop repeating mistakes and do what it’s gonna take to stop butting my (ram) head.

at least there’s an end in sight just knowing that.

this was me at my big client’s clients’ place. it made him look bad and that’s the worst.

i just want to learn to do things the best way, from old mistakes not new ones.

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i wish i could show you something beautiful from the exquisite apartment, i took amazing shots today. being the bad part of it was devastating.

please, may this be a catalyst that incites change on all levels!

the good news is i have one more shot…

December 30, 2008. Architecture, Design, Dreams, New York. 27 comments.

a long winter’s day

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hi guys! hope you’re cozy this wintery night! in nyc it started as a morning wonderland but as the day wore on it proved to be everything but. i have no idea how i was able to take harsh ny winters for so many years.

but, today i had a mission and by god i was gonna conquer it. i was determined to see some store windows and had a feeling bergdorf’s would inspire a little holiday spirit. when i got there i was drenched and bitter and cold but it was so worth it!

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i’ll keep adding them over the evening so check back cause there are like 10!

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December 20, 2008. art, Decorating, Dreams, Fashion, Holidays, Living, Marie Antoinette, New York. 27 comments.

the stuff of dreams

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bacarrat, paris

bonsoir guys! i hope you’re having a great sunday maxin and relaxin. me? i fell into the abyss again.

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i may have told you my guy’s an importer, mostly artisan foods from around the world. our business lives are pretty separate so i listen but would much rather look at slipper chairs. so when he told me he had an organic olive oil of course that was cool. when he said philippe stark designed the bottles, that really piqued my interest. after a brunch at the delano last week i was starck struck by its beauty. i’ve been before but somehow it never realized it was designed by philippe starck . his name is attached to so many places i’ve been like the clift, the hudson, and the and the cafe costes and bacarrat in paris. i humbly say i never realized how deeply he has influenced our world culture, from the everyday to the exquisite. i started doing a little research on hotels and restaurants he’s done and got lost in an unbelievably beautiful otherworld.

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katsuya, la

i’m forcing myself to stop cause this ride is infinite…but it was fun and inspiring and he has a great sense of humor! hope you enjoy it too. I never realized how many of his properties and designs we see everyday world wide!

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