Hello, we've been busy with our renov.. We'll be back soon!!
ps: We love this vintage African American Strip Quilt from Ricco Maresca Gallery. Ain't it cool!?

Thank you Austin, you've been so nice (and weird) to us!

We are finally back to New York after spending some time in the south. Although missing our ultra cool hotel, wonderful natural pools, holiday everyday (yep, you'll see christmas lights every night all around downtown), cool tunes (ohh KUT 90.5), and friendly bugs (the ones that float on your margaritas), it is definitely good to be back.
As you know, one of the greatest things about travelling is all about opening those luggages after you returned home. So for today, we would love to share some of our cool buys from the 'Live Music Capital of the World":

* Dr. Bronner's All Natural Peppermint Liquid Soap (see Cool Product of the Day)
*
Stella McCartney high-heel sandals from By George 6th+ Lamar (we got the ones with stiletto heel)
* Vintage crocheted blankets and fun Mexican folk oil painting from secondhand shops along Congress Ave.
* Vintage Kiddie Books from Uncommon Object
* Sasek's 'This Is Texas'
* Bedspreads, Made in India, ethnic style
* Roasted Pecans

Hurrah for rugs!

C'mon.. a scooshie layer for your cracking bare heels, a warm padding for those who cry at least half-a-day per day, a soft cushion for occasional spontanious living room love-making sessions...
We mean (seriously), who doesn't need one in her home?
So here they are, our top 5 rug picks:



1. Carpet no. III, Josef Frank via Svenskttenn
2. Persisk, IKEA, $499
3. Caravan Red, Tibet Carpet (pic)
4. Tribe, Matthew Williamson for The Rug Company
5. Fadded Glory Red, Paul Smith

Important tips:
- Pay attention to these: the overall theme of the interior, how much traffic the area gets, color (bright= larger space vs. dark= cozier room), synthetic vs. natural yarns.
- The denser the pile, the better the rug will wear.
- Always use an underlay. Not only will it absorb the impact of feet and noise, it will reduce wear and tear on the rug and make vacuuming easier.

COOL PRODUCT OF THE DAY

Josef Frank: Carpet nr. VII

Viva si globalization!
We lieben mestiere del mundo und كيف هو يكون del 我们的生活.

Translation:
Sprint to the closest Target and get in touch with international gems from around the world through Target's Global Bazaar.
Make sure you arrive before 02.17. Also available at www.target.com
"Aku cinta buatan dunia!!"

COOL PRODUCT OF THE DAY

Marrakesh Chair

On 3 neon Post-its on the refrigerator door:

Green:
hey baby, i killed. AGAIN. this time is for real, i'm seriously considering taking that class “how not to kill

Green:
your houseplant" or i'll start investing my time doing the whole nine yards of those mini landscape in jars, or even smtg like

Pink:
start calling a houseplant specialist. SORRY!!!! ps. don't forget to feed floppy...


Help sources:
- “How Not to Kill Your Houseplant", Brooklyn Botanic Garden, call 718-623-7220 for course schedule and further details
- Soil Moist moisture-release granules 718-836-2402
- Will Creed, houseplant specialist, www.horticulturalhelp.com, 917-887-8601
- Terrariums
- Forest Mural, Graham & Brown or Target

Photo: Davies + Starr

COOL PRODUCT OF THE DAY

Steroids for Soil

Ok, we admit that we've been into structural lines, textural yet visually-light chairs, and the color red these days. And to our delight, we found two designs that are successfully delivering all the requirements in very elegant and unique ways.
Price-aside (one costs something like 8G), we love Zanuso/Raboni's Super Elastica Chair and Droog's Marcel Wanders' Knotted Chair (red-tinted version is limited to 99 pieces only).
Truly sculptural pieces, both chairs are light-weight and ergonomic, making them irresistable to design lovers/collectors all around the world.

HUDSON TOUR DE FORCE

Link to Apartment Therapy posting today (click the title).

SLIDE SHOW

VIEW ALL AT ONCE

Aug 25th 2006:
Maybe it is not appropriate for me to post people's emails on the blog, but these are just way-too-cool to pass:
- Direct email from the amazingly talented international artist, Oliver Lutz (the family owns one of Lutz' tree paintings):
"your posting is beaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutiful! very nice job, indeed."
- Email from artist Dan Levenson to Max and Allyson (they also own one of Levenson's paintings shown in the slideshow):
"First my friend Jeff calls me and says he was looking at apartment therapy and there's the nicest home he's ever seen, in his words, and there's a painting in one shot that looks like it might be by me.

THEN my coworker Liza calls me over to her computer to show me this apartment that she and her architect husband were admiring last night. It's her dream place. When she found out I knew you two she was so excited she had to call her husband at work. She says it's cooler than knowing Ben Affleck.

Both events were within an hour of one another."

Again, many many thanks to Max and Allyson for being so gracious introducing one of the most magical houses in America.