Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Baskets to Inspire Spring

With Easter almost upon us, here are a few baskets to enjoy. Cheery daffodils and moss are joined by little chicks for a sunny tabletop landscape above, while the monochromatic greens of the basket below offer a more sophisticated take. At the bottom, the paper basket crafted from a lunch bag offers the simple elegance of nature and resourcefulness.


All images are from Martha. See more beautiful ideas here or click on the images.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Egg-Citing for Easter

Here are 3 easy ideas to add to your repertoire of spring holiday decorations and centerpieces. They are all from Martha, of course.

I am definitely going to do this one. I'm quite certain all the materials needed are on hand.

The delicately dyed lavender egg shells with tiny blossoms are so sweet. They would look lovely in a cluster or at each place setting.

For more info, click on the images.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Dreaming of an Escape

Here's a little inspiration for your dream garden (and climate) -

Clever homeowners made up for a small master bath in their house with a garden bathing pavilion created from a funky old garden shed in their backyard. They cleaned it up, added a new tile floor, installed awning windows and trained ivy around the exterior for their very own spa.

Click here for more photos.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Still Life Distilled


In her recent work, photographer Sharon Core has beautifully rendered still life paintings in the style of Raphaelle Peale (1774-1825), one of America's early masters in this genre.

His still life paintings featured perfectly articulated everyday objects: ceramic tableware, glassware, fruit and flowers.

Core has recreated Peale's tableaus with collected antique serving pieces, vegetables and ripened fruits. Her brilliant attention to composition, scale, color and lighting produce a visual feast for modern and traditional tastes alike.



More images from Sharon Core's "Early American" series may be found here and here.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

My Whistling Kettle

There are few possessions I treasure as much as my whistling kettle. I bought it when we were living in Italy and splurged to have an Alessi kettle to call my own. We had a very efficient and modern European kitchen with a tiny 4 burner hob. The kettle was the perfect size.

Back stateside, the kettle remains a fixture in my daily life, and a cheerful reminder of life abroad. I adore its fabulous design and the two note harmonious whistle reminding me the tea water is ready. The only problem, and it is a small, but telling detail, is the seemingly perfectly sized kettle in Italy is precariously small on my American cooking range. If it is not placed exactly on the iron ring, the handle starts to melt. One is alerted to this off-centeredness by the pungent smell of burning plastic.

But this is the price (and pride) one must pay for a piece of classic Italian design in an American kitchen. I recently learned this is a problem other Alessi 9091 fans may have also encountered. They do sell replacement handles, along with pipes and springs for Richard Sapper's 1982 design, now called, the first designer kettle.

Richard Sapper is a name that may be less familiar to design addicts that do not have a 9091 kettle for their tea. However, the German born industrial designer was also the elegant engineering genius that brought us the Tizio lamp in 1972 by Artemide and the IBM ThinkPad. His career has taken him from Mercedes Benz to cutting edge Italian consumer products through his independent studio based in Milan.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Subway Car Transformed

Imagine stepping onto a New York city subway car and entering the visual delights of a Dutch collector's salon. Take the S shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square before March 4 and you can experience the fabulousness for yourself. Mahogany wainscoting, damask wall covering, paintings by Dutch masters, even ceiling medallions and tufted seats have all been thoughtfully faux furnished to invite you away.

The wrapped subway shuttle has reawoken in color and style thanks with the The Netherlands Board of Tourism marketing campaign, "Just Be. In Holland." The three different themed cars (decorated inside and out) represent the city's cultural, classic and contemporary attractions and include translations of fun Dutch phrases and words. Catch it, if you can!

Image courtesy of PointClickHome

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Liberty at Last


Venerable favorite for floral fabrics, Liberty of London isn't too stuffy to dress up in their Betsy print for a little fun. This popular fabric was designed for the firm in 1933 amongst their ever classic designs, rich colors and pleasing patterns.

Now, Liberty is launching floral patterns stateside at Target on March 14, a week ahead of spring. It's blooming good news.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Color in Patterns

Brighten up your winter with a new tropical color combination or two. In this inspirational rethink of a simple chandelier, the fixture was painted a cheerful canary yellow and the shades were re-covered in contrasting wallpaper patterns of pink, yellow and red. Pink trimming on all the shades adds a dash of style and subtly pulls the various papers together.

A whimsical substitute for simply mixing around patterned pillows on the sofa.

Image courtesy of bhg.com

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Collections


Hunting and gathering is collecting. And it's fun.

And so is sharing it with other appreciative obsessives.

Click here for a fix and a collection a day.


Collection a Day via Cafe Cartolina

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Interior Details

In this photocollage from the 1860s, the artist painted the interior scene and added photographs of 14 family and friends (including the pooch) to liven things up a bit.

Some nice details to admire in
clude the curtains hung over the mirror above the mantel, the lovely blue carpeting and matching hearth rug, the openwork, woven plant stand with greenery and the oval frames hung from the decorative, maybe wallpapered, picture rail and ornamented with ribbons and bows.

Thank you Lady Filmer for sharing your real or imagined Victorian parlor.

Photograph courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
Mary Georgiana Caroline, Lady Filmer (English, 1838–1903)
Untitled loose page from the Filmer Album, mid-1860s
Collage of watercolor and albumen silver prints; 8 3/4 x 11 1/4 in. (22.2 x 28.6 cm)
Paul F. Walter

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Love and Color Rising

German born artist Horst Glasker is not only a painter. His art includes his music, performance, sculpture, installation, and architecture. This project of color, architecture and words was created in 2006 in Wuppertal, Germany on the Holstein, steps built in 1900. It is called "La Scala" the Italian word for stairs.

Each colorful step has also been painted on the front with a word describing human relationships. There are 112 steps and they've painted to represent the course of a relationship. They are painted on a color related to the emotion and the text appears in a complementary color. In translation, they include such terms as: friendship, forgive, remorse, protect, jubilant, honor, family, fear, innocence, cuddle, mother, loyalty, love.


For more info on the artist, click here and/or here.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Vintage Valentines


Happy Valentine's Day with Love from 973 Third











Vintage card images courtesy of

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Going Nowhere

It's winter alright and no one is going anywhere. There is so much snow outside, the entire town has just called it another day off. After the second big snowfall this week, even the sturdiest snow shoveling enthusiast might feel a tad overtaxed.

Perhaps it's time for a winter fairytale escape?

Special thanks to Susan for sharing the images of ice sculptures from the Fairbanks Ice Festival in 2008.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Victorian Photocollages

With advances in photography in the mid nineteenth century, sharing and swapping inexpensive photo booth style portraits became so popular it was called cardomania. The availability of photo portraits inspired amateur watercolorists and artists in the 1860s and 1870s to include cut outs of these images and insert them onto scenes or create scenes around them.

Photocollages, which were predominantly made by English women of leisure, created a new form of creative expression for the Victorians. An selection of these delightful works on paper is currently on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through May 9.

The image above, reminiscent of an 18th century conversation piece painting, is an untitled page from the Sackville-West album, made by a great aunt of Vita.

Photo: Courtesy of George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Gold Fish Style

Ever since I saw the goldfish trash bags, I've been feeling nostalgic for the little swimmy pet that entertained us in his traditional goldfish bowl in the kitchen of my childhood. Maybe goldfish, real or imaginary, are making a comeback through industrial and home design? Where will we see them next?


Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Make Your Own Zig Zag Rug

Stylistas are going wild for zig zag rugs this season. There are many designs to inspire a clever and patient frugalista (or frugaliste) to make her/his own bold design underfoot.

Many thanks to Suzannah at Adventures in Dressmaking for sharing her zig zag rug tutorial.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Inspiration: Wedgwood Pattern Book


After experimenting with his innovative ideas and glazes at the pottery firm of Thomas Wheildon, Josiah Wedgwood opened his own pottery company in 17959 and helped transform English ceramics from crude and utilitarian wares into beautiful forms inspired by neo-classical art and architecture. Above is a page from a period pattern book of border designs for elegant tablewares.

Perhaps it's time for another look at these designs?

Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

There Will Always Be An England

Since 1824, Cadbury has been an English chocolate producer and has grown into one of Britain's best-known brands and businesses. Kraft Food's potential takeover of Cadbury has been met with spirited unhappiness.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Recycled Tennis Balls

Go green with recycled tennis balls crafted quite cleverly into a stylish chair, by Hugh Hayden.

Be eco-comfortable court-side or inside.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Log Cabin Envy


Cabins, huts, tiny houses and work spaces in winter sheds offer an appealing place for quiet, focused time. Recently, I've enjoyed catching up on a blog called Shedworking. Each entry brings new inspiration on the endless possibilities this form of architecture may yield. The log house above is a garden house and music studio on wheels in the Netherlands. For more photos, click here.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Twelfth Night

With the twelve days of Christmas concluded, I am finding new excuses to leave the tree decorated and indoors a little while longer. Perhaps it's the cozy scene it evokes in the evening with the lights delicately illuminating the ornaments? Perhaps it's the cheerful view of the home-made red tree skirt, embellished with smiling reindeer and sequined trees? Or perhaps it's the joy of having found our own Charlie Brown tree this year.

The sweet holiday scene above is from an old Johnson Brothers dish I keep on my desk. Most of the year, it's filled with clips and other important fasteners in various colors and sizes. But in December, in anticipation of the holiday decorating, I clear out the dish and enjoy the inspiring view it provides.


Next week, I'll think about trees and mulch, for now, the Christmas season continues at this address.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year


May your 2010 be filled with much happiness, good health, and joy. With all good wishes from this address to yours!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Being Martha's Daughter


Mothers and daughters have complicated relationships - period. Here's a fun article on Alexis Stewart and her mum, Martha.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The Smallest Calendar

Start your new year with a paper gadget - high style, low tech and very small. This diminutive treat offers the entire year in less than 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/4 inches. Click here for the free download from an Italian graphic designer at Grafish Design.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Green Christmas Trees


Again this year we struggled with the concept of a green Christmas Tree and what it should be. As much fun as it sounds to find a vintage white or aluminum tree that we can save and make our own - it's just not happening in time this year. We couldn't find that old artificial tree looking for a good home. But we did enjoy the hunt. Instead of a tree, we happened upon some fabulous retro vintage ornaments and dazzling decorations long forgotten and still quite fabulous. But I digress.

We toyed with a living tree, root ball intact, but it seemed harsh to subject it to our indoor climate, then expect it to adapt again to a garden and thrive after all that excitement.

A tree of recycled paper seems environmentally thoughtful. And some may argue a tree of green bottles is sort of responsible, too.


We're still most enchanted with the trees we featured here last year and think they offer the eco-conscious style and classic beauty we admire and respect in a green holiday tree.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Green Wrapping from Japan

Ms. Yuriko Koike, former Japanese Minister of the Environment, recommends the Japanese practice of wrapping things in a furoshiki, a large piece of fabric, to transport purchases and gifts and help reduce waste from plastic bags and wrapping papers.

"It would be wonderful if the furoshiki, as a symbol of traditional Japanese culture, could provide an opportunity for us to reconsider the possibilities of a sound-material cycle society. As my sincere wish, I would like to disseminate the culture of the furoshiki to the entire world."

The furoshiki can be used to wrap purchases and gifts of almost any shape and size. Here are some traditional folding and wrapping styles. Click here and here for more instructions.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Color of the Year


It's not surprising that the color Pantone, the professional color standard, has selected for its 2010 color of the year is: sort of green. But it's green made better, with a blend of blue and called Turquoise or 15-5519. It evokes the calm image of tropical waters and the vacation we so desperately need at this time of year. (Okay, well maybe I should only speak for myself).

For more info on this or any color, visit Pantone.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Green Wrapping with Paper

Looking for green wrapping solutions often brings me to patterns in eco-friendly inks on recycled paper or tote bags that can be used again. For sources closer to home, recycling a sheet of newspaper or a map works nicely as an eco-wrapping choice, especially when it's brightened with a colorful bow made from a magazine.

Jessica Jones of How about orange... shares her brilliant and green (well, orange) bow made from a magazine page in a tutorial here.

May your wrapping be inspired and fun!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Personal Art Gallery

Need a quick decorating fix or just want to bring some of your favorite drawings, photos or clippings out of boxes and into view? Here is a great idea for hanging your choice of two-dimensional art on the wall. With inexpensive and cool looking bullnose clips, you can put together a gallery in little or no time. Start with a handful of clips and make your choices, then hang the art with relatively uniform space between them. For a small collection, try hanging them in a row - horizontally or vertically.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Make Your Own Pipe Cleaner Wreath


Feeling the pinch this holiday season? Here's a beautiful art project to easily craft. With a lot of pipe cleaners, a pair of scissors and a little patience, you can create your own masterpiece of lightness and design.

Make a wreath of green and red to hang on your door, or in front of a mirror. Try a silver design near a dark painted wall. Or maybe a graphic statement in black pipe cleaners on a white wall.

Many thanks to Kate Pruitt and her DIY projects at Design Sponge.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving


If you need a few extra turkeys to put around the table this Thursday, here's a quick and charming idea for DIY place cards.

Thank you for being our guest at 973 Third Avenue. Have a wonderful holiday!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Green Walls


If you're already a fan of green roofs, green walls seem a logical next step. But creating a vertical garden that stays where it's intended to, is considerably more challenging. That, of course, is what makes it so interesting.

Living walls are fascinating outdoors and in. It's magical to enter an interior space with a green wall. As you get closer you can't help but feel healthier. The planted wall is reducing the CO2 while adding oxygen to the room. All that good energy and it is visually enchanting, too.

Here's a New York Times article on edible walls and here are more examples of living walls.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Holiday Food Safety


With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, we are getting stuffed with recipe ideas and images of table settings and seasonal decorations in all forms of media. Equally as important is holiday food safety. I wanted to share this clip I just learned of today. I hope you'll find it interesting. It's part of a Holiday Food Safety Success Kit put together by the non-profit group Partnership for Food Safety Education.

May your meals be safe as well as delicious!