January 7th, 2010

We’ve Moved. Again!

If you can read this, you’re missing out on our latest redesign.  Room Fu and Fu For Thought have a brand new look–come check it out!

P.S.  Don’t forget to update your RSS feeds too!

January 6th, 2010

Artist of the Day: Nick Henning

"Figure 11.08" 2005. Oil and Charcoal on wood. 48"x71" $700

"Figure 11.08" 2005. Oil and Charcoal on wood. 48"x71" $700

Austinites should head over to the Birdhouse Gallery to check out Nick Henning’s work!

Opening Reception:
Birdhouse Gallery
1304 East Cesar Chavez
7:00-10:00 pm

January 5th, 2010

HGTV: Kid-Sized Design with Dan Vickery

HGTV Design Star fans who were chagrined over Dan Vickery’s loss to Antonio Ballatore will be happy to get a glimpse of Dan in action again, this time for his online show, Kid-Sized Design.

As a little nugget of a design video, you can expect to get a great idea or two out of it.  Case in point, this valance that doubles as a display shelf:

Kid-Sized-Design_storage-valance_s4x3_al

The overall design of this room, however, is a bit blah.  Black bed, black valance, black nightstand, black picture frame, black dresser, black storage unit, and curtains–while he described them as “gray and white”–appear black.  I’m dying for a break here.

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

I’m also not digging the Dan Cam, which gives off a creepy stalker vibe and doesn’t do Dan any favors.  The Dan Cam says, “I’ve got your precious little Mackenzie Grace and you can have her back in exchange for a steelcase full of unmarked Benjamins.”

dan_cam

It’s an online show so expectations should be matched accordingly…there likely won’t be any big budgets and they definitely have the B-team camera operators, but in a four-minute segment you’re still going to come away with at least one inventive idea.

Worth catching.

January 5th, 2010

HGTV Dream Home 2010

This year’s HGTV Dream Home is finally up for the taking.  Set outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the modern twist on an adobe dwelling proves Southwestern design doesn’t have to reek of peach paint and Kokopeli.  Some highlights:

Exterior with Vehicle

Set on 3 acres, the house comes with the eco-friendly GMC Terrain.

My favorite spot in the place: this fireside chat before a fireplace featuring trendy tile from designer Erin Adams.

A skylight highlights the dimension of this tile.

A skylight highlights the dimensional aspect of the tile.

There’s more Erin Adams tile in this dramatic floor-to-ceiling backsplash in the kitchen, drawing on the turquoise, silver, and pewter colors of Native American jewelry:

Kitchen

Off the kitchen, you’ll find a sleek and sophisticated butler’s pantry, more luxurious than most kitchens!

This pantry's more luxurious than most kitchens!

The views from the living room are inspiring, though the decor’s a bit…meh.

Meh.

Love the contemporary use of rustic pine on the ceilings, including this casual dining room:

Dining Room HERO COMPLETE.tif

Note the armchairs. They must've been dirt cheap because they're EVERYWHERE in this Dream Home.

Nice office.

Office No Candy HERO COMPLETE.tif

Another of the woven armchairs, far right corner.

I dig the cork walls in the media room–great texture and acoustic sound absorption.  But if you want to snuggle with your S.O. while watching a flick, you’ll be relegated to the loveseat, while those chaises taunt you with their comfy feet placement.

Media HERO COMPLETE.tif

I'm also not a fan of the gargantuan coffee table. Sure, it's modular (4-pieces, bunched), but there's so little space to move around it, your shins will be battered and bruised by those corners.

Cute guest room.  Restful, appropriate for teenagers or grownups alike.  My only beef is that the off-centered-ness of the window wasn’t disguised.

Guest Room

Another cute bedroom for kiddos.  My hat’s off to designer Linda Woodrum and the stylists responsible for taking tacky Disney merch (obvious product placement) and making it look designer-y:

Kid's Room with Toy Chest

Ubiquitous armchair appearance.

The master bathroom is the ultimate in hotel/spa design, including a luxurious towel warming drawer.  Which I want.  Right.  Now.

Barn doors in the master bedroom slide open to reveal the tub and master bath.

Barn doors in the master bedroom slide open to reveal the tub and master bath.

The peek-a-boo barn doors bring the exterior view into focus.

The peek-a-boo barn doors bring the exterior view into focus.

Let’s see…this Dream Home has a mammoth kitchen with two fridges and two freezers, a swanky butler’s pantry, two dishwashers, not-one-but-two laundry rooms, a bazillion exciting features, worth a cool $2 million.  Yet the master bedroom only has…

A queen bed?

Master Bedroom HERO COMPLETE.tif

Starting to hate the woven chairs.

Way to take the dream out of the Dream Home.

Three chairs surround this tiny (by luxury standards) bed.  Could we not eliminate the chairs and have a big-boy bed?  And why are there three chairs around the bed anyway?  Egads…are we inviting spectators in to watch?

Moving on, I was all cued up to adore the casita (luscious Erin Adams tile again) until Jeb pointed out that the toilet is in full view of the bedroom.  Watching your adored in the bathtub or shower?  Sexy.  Watching your adored take a dump?  Not so much.  Please tell me the glass wall features smart glass.

Casita Interior

Substandard beds and exposed potties aside, the red-headed stepchild of the whole shebang is the home’s landscape design. I’m all for xeriscaping and appreciate (to an extent) creating a landscape that fits in with its surroundings.  But the contemporary flavor of this house begs for contemporary plantings…and you’re not going to find that at this house.  Instead, the exterior of this Dream Home looks like one of HGTV’s “before” pictures.  There are several dead-looking trees and bushes, microscopic prickly pears outside the master bedroom.  Poor Jamie Durie had to talk it up for the episode–when based on the promos for his show The Outdoor Room, I’d guess he was cringing horribly over it.  HGTV must know it sucks too, because I had to take my own shots of the landscaping from my TV:

main_exterior

exterior_entrance

prickly_pear

boring_landscape

Next year, let’s please get the Monrovia hookup and let Jamie Durie bring it up a notch, eh?

You can register daily to win these palatial digs and all of the goodies therein (including several cheap woven twine armchairs!) by visiting HGTV.com. Deadline to enter is February 19th.

December 31st, 2009

Steals and Deals: Chiasso

Little Black Dress in a table:

Marie Table in Black, $138 (reg. $188)

Marie Table in Black, $138 (reg. $188)

This makes me hate stools a little bit less:

Coverlet Stool, $138 (reg. $178)

Coverlet Stool, $138 (reg. $178)

As does this one…

Cloud Stool, $148 (reg. $198)

Cloud Stool, $148 (reg. $198)

December 30th, 2009

Steals and Deals: Land of Nod

If you’re putting a nursery together, you could go into early labor at the shock of baby bedding prices these days.  Here are some simple options that won’t break the bank:

Pixel Organics Bassinet Bedding (Blue/Green), $79 (reg. $270)

Pixel Organics Bassinet Bedding (Blue/Green), $79 (reg. $270). Also available in Pink/Orange.

Pixel Organics Crib Bedding (Pink/Orange), $99 (reg. $320)

Pixel Organics Crib Bedding (Pink/Orange), $99 (reg. $320)

December 30th, 2009

Steals and Deals: cb2

I just picked up an original 58″x28″ painting for $99!  I’ve been ogling this for months now, and just like my Crate & Barrel pillows, it’s finally comin’ home to mama.

Palace Portrait Painting, oil on canvas, 58"x28", $99. (reg. $199)

Palace Portrait Painting, oil on canvas, 58"x28", $99. (reg. $199)

December 30th, 2009

Steals and Deals: ZGallerie

It’s a shopper’s paradise these days!

Zara Frames, 5x7 for $16.99 (reg. $24.95), 4x6 for $12.99 (reg. $19.95)

Zara Frames, 5x7 for $16.99 (reg. $24.95), 4x6 for $12.99 (reg. $19.95)

For Rex Ray fans out there (of which I am one):

Parmotrema, by Rex Ray. Print mounted on art block, 36" sq. $149.99 (reg. $249.95)

Parmotrema, by Rex Ray. Print mounted on art block, 36" sq. $149.99 (reg. $249.95)

Burst of color:

Pure Color, by Liz Jardine. High gloss box, 29.75" sq. $99.99 (reg. $139.95)

Pure Color, by Liz Jardine. High gloss box, 29.75" sq. $99.99 (reg. $139.95)

December 29th, 2009

Steals and Deals: Williams-Sonoma Home

If you like to live like a king but spend like a pauper (and when I say “pauper,” I mean, “normal person”), have I got a few deals for you, from Williams-Sonoma Home.

For those whose taste runs more toward the traditional side of life:

Marseilles Paisley king duvet in blue, $149.99 (reg. $450!). Euro shams, $29.99 ea. (reg. $95)

Marseilles Paisley king duvet in blue, $149.99 (reg. $450!). Euro shams, $29.99 ea. (reg. $95)

Sophisticated bath accessories:

Avignon Bath Accessories, $6.99-$14.99 (reg. $18-$38)

Avignon Bath Accessories, $6.99-$14.99 (reg. $18-$38)

Great mirror for an entry, or over the fireplace:

Thick Frame Round Mirror, $299.99 (reg. $695)

Thick Frame Round Mirror, $299.99 (reg. $695)

If you’re decorating with coral accents, cover yourself in cashmere:

Cashmere Throw in Lantana, $99.99 (reg. $298)

Cashmere Throw in Lantana, $99.99 (reg. $298)

Classic wall sconce:

Cornish Single Sconce (double pictured here), polished silver plate, $99.99 (reg. $195)

Cornish Single Sconce (double pictured here), polished silver plate, $99.99 (reg. $195)

Another beautiful sconce…this one would be perfect for your Mad Men pad:

Thomas O'Brien's Preston Sconce in polished nickel, $129.99 (reg. $275)

Thomas O'Brien's Preston Sconce in polished nickel, $129.99 (reg. $275)

The price reduction on this rug is not to be believed!

Giraffe Crewel Rug in ivory & camel, 9'x13', $299.99 (reg. $1,350!!)

Giraffe Crewel Rug in ivory & camel, 9'x13', $299.99 (reg. $1,350!!)

OMG, another one!

Coral Crewel Rug in Egret/Paprika, 9'x13' $299.99 (reg. $1,350!) or 3'x5' $149.99 (reg. $595)

Coral Crewel Rug in Egret/Paprika, 9'x13' $299.99 (reg. $1,350!) or 3'x5' $149.99 (reg. $595)

Better picture of it, color-wise.

Better picture of it, color-wise.

Great prices on solid window hardware, my fave being the shiny nickel with basic cap finials in the center (if you click thru, scroll down and note finials are sold separately):

Final Sale Window Hardware, $9.99-$34.99 (reg. $38-$118)

Final Sale Window Hardware, $9.99-$34.99 (reg. $38-$118)

December 29th, 2009

Steals and Deals: Pottery Barn

Graphic cuteness on a rug:

Bridget Rug, in Sprout or Blue, 3'x5', $59.99 (reg. $99)

Bridget Rug, in Sprout or Blue, 3'x5', $59.99 (reg. $99)

How about a luxurious, crisp, tailored bedskirt for twentydollahbill?

Sutter Jacquard Bedskirt, Queen or King in ink blue, $19.99 (reg. $109/$129)

Sutter Jacquard Bedskirt, Queen or King in ink blue, $19.99 (reg. $109/$129)

Great towel storage for less than half price:

Brayden Train Rack in polished nickel, $69.99 (reg. $159)

Brayden Train Rack in polished nickel, $69.99 (reg. $159)

Talk about champagne taste on a beer budget:

Wood & Metal 18" Towel Bar, $12.99 (reg. $69)

Wood & Metal 18" Towel Bar, $12.99 (reg. $69)

For whatever reason, it’s always hard to find nice-looking, simple bookends, so I’m always jazzed to see something like this:

SurEvolution Silver Apple Bookends, set of 2, $29.99 (reg. $59)

SurEvolution Silver Apple Bookends, set of 2, $29.99 (reg. $59)

Be advised that Pottery Barn has a blankety-blank jacks-no-backs policy on their sale merchandise…so just know that if it doesn’t work in your space, you’ll have to unload it on Craigslist.