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Even Superman needs a place to unwind
I have a confession to make.  In addition to reading all sorts of design and news sites, I enjoy a good dose of celebrity gossip.  Stop judging.  (You do it, too....admit it.)  So imagine my excitment when I discovered a terribly snarky yet informative real estate blog featuring celebrity homes.  The homes pictured are generally staged (and not always terribly well....) so don't get your hopes up thinking you'll see a whole mess of famous people stuff.  But the author does go through the listing in detail adding a good dose of humor.
 
 
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While getting my regular morning fix of New York 1 (that's the local news channel here in NYC), I caught sight of an interesting exhibit going on at the World Financial Center sponsored by Country Living magazine.  It's a prefab house designed by New World Home , in conjunction with Country Living that's LEED certified.  The idea is to show that a home can be fiscally and environmentally sound without losing traditional architectural detail.  The exhibit runs through June 17th and is free to the public.
 
 
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I wanted to share a great site that is chock full of room photos from both designers and homeowners.  If you're looking to make some changes, this is a good website to check out since room photos are conveniently organized by both room use (bedroom, dining room, etc) and color. 
 
 
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Flag tray from Target for $15
There's just something about this time of year that practically forces us to embrace decorating with Old Glory.  Perhaps it's because you've got Memorial Day, Flag Day and July 4th, all within a 6 week span.  Or maybe it's because some people think summer and think crisp beachy Nantucket style.  Whatever the reason, the kick off to summer always coincides with a bit of red, white and blue.
 
Contain Yourself 06/03/2010
 
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There's an interesting article in the Times today about the growing (pardon the pun) popularity of terrarium gardens.  They're an easy and inexpensive way for us apartment dwellers to have a tidy little garden.  But see, I've been cursed with the black thumb of death (RIP herb garden....) and would like to avoid an arrest for herbicide.  Could this supposedly self-sufficient set up be the answer?
 
 
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image courtesy House Beautiful
Most of us tend to use our living rooms for television watching.  And that's fine--I do it.  But we can all agree that there's a lot more to living than watching TV.  When you visit museums you'll see one common feature in historical living rooms is the game table.  (Maybe that's not the first exhibit you check out....)   Back then, the main form of entertainment was a rousing game of chess or cards.  I'm happy to see a resurgence of game tables in all different styles.
 
 
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image courtesy Elle Decor
I got to see a prescreening of the new Sex and the City movie Tuesday night with my friend Vallnez.  The movie was comparable to an "okay" episode.  I found the interiors much more interesting than whose marriage is on the rocks and even more interesting than (dare I say it?) the fashion.  Perhaps it's just the design nerd in me,but I am very glad there are helpful articles and pictures online detailing the set design.  If you find yourself missing the flea markety goodness of Carrie's old apartment (featured on the television program), you can still indulge here.
 
 
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Image courtesy Traditional Home
If you've got a room with lots of empty walls, it can be difficult to figure out a way to add interest without a lot of repetition.  I'm all for a series of artwork hung evenly spaced as a group.  But there comes a time when the question becomes: how many little rectangles does one room need?  One possible solution--decorative plates.
 
 
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image courtesy Traditional Home
There's a scene in that movie "Along Came Polly" where Ben Stiller's character calculates the amount of time he spends removing and replacing the decorative pillows on the bed over the course of his lifetime and then promptly freaks out.  I imagine most men feel this way, but pillow "murder" is hardly the answer.  There is a better way.
 
 
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I was so impressed with the makeover featured in the Times today.  The owner purchased a house on a lake in the Catskills but wanted to stay true to her style.  But how do you have a more modern, clean-lined look in a setting that generally lends itself to a more rustic, country look?  Like this.