"SAY, WHAT?" OR, MUSINGS ON THE CALIFORNIA GIFT SHOW

We're just back from the CALIFORNIA gift show in Los Angeles, and like every trip to market, we look for the unique, the unusual, and most importantly good design. With the globalization of commerce and the rampant opportunities to market ones product to the general populace, what suffers the most is style, design and fabrication. Sometimes, I fear, that finding the unique may not have an audience after all. No matter, we forge ahead with our convictions that good design lives, though perhaps it just lives in fewer and fewer places. It's a little like a fairy tale, you have to kiss a lot of frogs. We saw the good, the bad, and the ugly, and even some things that were indefinable. This show was no different, and we saw some things that we would have been better off having not seen! I've got a sneaking suspicion that "Mean Guy" is just around the corner!


BEST OF SHOW...

The best of show may well have been a group of Chinese, Ming Dynasty vessels, in traditional blue and white porcelain. There were five pieces in particular that caught our eye, which were in beautiful condition, with handsome shades of blue that only centuries can effect. The sizes ranged from 6-10" in height, with diameters of 5-9". The collection was presented by John Lee, a Japanese- American antiques dealer based in San Francisco, and from whom we have purchased several Chinese and Japanese antiquities over the years.

Mr. Lee noted that these jars are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and that interest in this period (Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644) has continued to increase each year , citing recent auction records set in Japan for porcelain vessels of similar size, condition and age, selling at US $5,000. each.

Lee, the consummate Asian antiques dealer, known for buying more for his personal collection than he could ever resale, said that these were from his personal collection, and that he wasn't sure how many Ming porcelains he owned. He said he sells them as he finds them in his warehouse, and had we not personally visited his warehouse, one might think he was just another antiques dealer parroting the oft and over used statement, "they're from my personal collection". Look for these Ming rarities on the Cabana Home website in early August 2007 (http://www.cabanahome.com/).


THE OTHER GOODS...

Of particular interest were the collections from BO Tree, a California based importer of reclaimed exotic hardwoods, recycled into handsome interior furnishings. Most of the wood is found in Indonesia, but don't confuse this designer with the all too common and typical cheap Indonesian furniture importers that liter our streets of commerce. No bad copies of British colonial antiques here, but fresh and beautifully proportioned side and cocktail tables, consoles, and dining tables. Using virtually petrified tree stumps, our favorites were the square cocktail tables, finished with a clean and clear hand rubbed finish, that would be equally at home in a New York loft, or mixed with traditional antiques in a faux Tuscan manor house in Beverly Hills. The dark interior age rings of the former tree, are highlighted and illuminated in stark contrast to the lighter, outer edges of the trunk.

Old wooden gears, or cogs, standing approximately 22-24" tall, and 12-14" in diameter, had been highly waxed and polished, and were reborn as terribly unique and sophisticated chair side tables. Though somewhat diminutive as compared to the occasional tables reported on above, these tables weighed in excess of two hundred pounds each.

Huge slabs of old growth teak, mostly organic in form, were recreated as Dining tables, large enough to seat twelve persons. These tables cannot be delivered to your home by your average two-man delivery team, four to six persons are required to lift these beauties into place.

The occasional tables will be available on the Cabana Home website in early August, and the larger pieces will be available by special arrangement.


THE GOOD (ABOVE) THE BAD AND THE UGLY...READ ON!

Okay, now, I've been to many a home furnishings show in the last 3o years, and there is always a hideous something or other that we just cannot bear. Just as in a group of people gathered together, there's always one in the bunch that stands out from the others, and I don't mean in a good way. That's a doozy. The doozy can be a conversation overheard; a person--the Buyer or a Manufactures Representative; the Store or Shop, the Showroom, or the Item name or Label.

One of the first times I traipsed through a home furnishings show at the ginormous (you've got it--gigantic and enormous combined--and coined by the MTV set) Dallas World Trade Center and the attached Dallas Trade Mart, which total more than three million square feet (or 914,400 meters for you metro-metric purist). I thought wow, look at this place, what don't they have here? I was perusing the goods at one of the thousands of showrooms, and I happened upon a twenty-something man with big Texas hair (which was hard enough to take on the women). I watched him as he sashayed about the showroom, all in a twitter. I tried to read the name of his store, printed on the required name tag, and finally he slowed enough so I could make it our, it read, Let's Decorate.

Let's Decorate? What? Can you imagine telephoning that store?

"Let's Decorate, when and where? This is Bobby Dale Smith, How may I help you?"

I mean, really now!

More recently we were at the International Home furnishings show in High Point, NC, riding on the shuttle bus to the market center from our elegant Days Inn accommodations, though it was priced like the Pierre in New York.

The women seated in front of us was just having a wonderful time on her cell phone, and talking so loudly we could hear her entire conversation. As she began to hang up, she said, "Oh, girl, I'm so glad we connected. I was meaning to call you so we could get together and snyergize, and all."

Snyergize? What? Is that a word? An activity? I'm sorry! We lost it ojn that one; our complimentary Maxwell House coffee sloshed out of our thin-walled Styrofoam cups. Let's synergize! LOL.

Now, here's one from yesterday: We were sitting in the cafe at the Los Angeles Convention Center, enjoying an overpriced coke and an under-warmed hamburger. A couple sat down at the next table, and you know, I just had to look at the name of their store.

BABY CAKES DIAPER CAKES.

Suddenly, I wasn't hungry any longer. My sick head went straight to the Diaper Cakes part of the name. What are Diaper Cakes anyway?

Lastly, I spotted a banner hanging above one of the booth's as we were making our way out of a vast hall, which read Baby Gag. I have no idea what it is that these people sell, and I'm not sure that I shouldn't have whipped out my cell phone and called Child Protective Services, just in case. Lawsy me!

STAY TUNED as next week we're headed to the San Francisco International Gift Show, where we always find a jewel or two.

More tomorrow! Stick around with the Design Guy, because you'll never know what you didn't know before you got to know the Design Guy.

Good Night Moon.

IN AN LA STATE OF MIND....MUSINGS ON A DAY IN LOS ANGELES

ONLY IN LA!

Yes, I'm in Los Angeles. As a matter of fact, I've been in an LA state of mind since I got off of the 101 and started my decent into LA on the 405. Traffic was bumper to bumper even before I had hit the city limits, and the outbound lanes were as well. What, was this, rush hour? No, it was 9:55 A.M. and it's a typical day in paradise, albeit, life in the slow lane. An oxymoron, the fast life in LA, but traveling in the slow lane! Humph!

I Love Paris In The Spring Time ...(okay so it's summer and I'm in LA!)...

Okay, since we talked about outdoor foam in my last column, I thought I might spice it up a bit today, so hang onto your outdoor foam seat...

As I inched past the Hollywood Hills, I couldn't help but think of that pitiful Hilton girl. Did you catch her on the Larry King Show last week? She was commenting to King that she wants to help the girls that she had met while in jail, and about how their troubles stemmed from being given too much too soon.
Larry asked her, "Paris, have you been given too much too soon?"
Hilton, seemed surprised by this question, (humm, is this a trick...?) and she looked down at the desk-top, and the camera followed revealing several jumbled pages of notes.
There was silence as she fumbled through the pages, the answer though obvious to everyone watching, somehow wasn't readily apparent to her.
Larry's a pro, so he sat there in silence, patiently giving the poor little rich girl a chance to come up with the right answer, though one might have thought that he was giving her the proverbial rope with which to hang herself.
Finally, King asked her again, "Paris, have you been given too much too soon?"
Hilton looked at him blankly, whereupon King cut to a commercial.
I was just thinking about how little time we have for the important things in life, but how many millions of people (and I truly hope it wasn't millions or I'm going to be really concerned) sat riveted before our television screens to see how this white trash heiress fared in jail. I watched about three minutes of it, all the while hoping that my 19 year old daughter wouldn't walk in and catch me.
I could only imagine her surprise at seeing me glued to the television set.
"Daaaaad!"
"Oh, honey!", I'd respond quickly, calmly reaching for the remote control and carefully pressing the jump button so the screen would flip back to the sports channel.
"What are you watching?"
"I was just flipping through the channel's trying to find something to watch", I would answer, though it would have been easier admitting to her that I had been watching the movie, Best In Show.
"I thought I saw Paris Hilton on the screen when I came in" she said.
"Oh that, I just wanted to see her latest act", I fessed up, just in case she had seen Paris on the screen.
I cannot believe that just watching Paris, made me lie! I think I will do just fine in LA, today!


Why am I here?

We're looking for new product, and working with vendors; we're looking at new lines of merchandise, visiting a couple of direct importers, making price comparisons, and shopping the competition; The cross town traffic is so bad, that we can actually talk through entire business concepts or problems in between stops! My wife, Caroline, and our Mill Valley partner, Michael, are discussing our current business, future business, and the possibilities of opening another store (or two, or three, or five).
One thing that has been become readily apparent to me is how few wholesalers actually manufacture what they sell, though many of them claim that they are the manufacturer of the products they represent. More accurately, they are merely an importer; sometimes importing the same goods as one or more of their competitors, who are more often than not, located just blocks away from one another.

Know Your Product--

Perhaps its easier for us to spot differences in the market place, duplications, repetitiveness, and trends both good and bad, because we shop our tails off (a southern expression). We do see more than most buyers because of our exhausting travel schedule, sourcing the home furnishings markets, both domestically and internationally. We attend every major home furnishings show in the US. From High Point to Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. This fall we'll be adding the Las Vegas show into our travel schedule (no, not that one, the furniture show!).
We shop for antiques across the US and in Europe; Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. We shop the flea markets in Paris (Saint-Quen and Porte de Vanves), Arezzo (Tuscany), Brussels, the famed Porto Bello Road (London), and even the Santa Fe "Flea" (New Mexico), adjacent to the famed Santa Fe Opera).
Side Note: I'm beginning to think that every piece of furniture we see in this country is made in China. And that's not a bad thing. We'll talk about that in the near future. More on this later, so stay tuned.

Comparative Shopping--

In just three hours, I found three different vendors who offered the same imported chair for sale. One was at $1,000; another one was $1,400; and one of them offered the chairs as a pair for $3,000. Our customers will save between $400-500 per chair, not because we're having a "sale", but because we did our home work. We shopped the market place for them.

Isn't this the damn'dest--

Even when attending the bi-annual Home Furnishings Market in High Point, NC, the grand daddy market of them all, and the largest furniture show in the world, we hear over and over from the showroom sales people, "Oh, your from California, your sales representative isn't here."
"Where is he/she?" I inquire.
"Oh, the California sales rep's never come to High Point because the retailers don't come all the way over here to High Point".
"Don't come? You've got to be kidding me! I'm here, whose going to help me?"
Well you can only imagine my surprise. But that surprise quickly turns to an adrenaline rush. Hummmm, my competitor's aren't here...goody for me!

LAST STOP...Hollywood--

Just kidding. Actually it was in Culver City (South of Beverly Hills and the 10). We overshot the street we were looking for, and had to make an "I dare you" u-turn on La Cienega Blvd (if you know this street, you know that is no small feat!). Our destination was located on a street that was more akin to an alley, so I double checked that the doors of the MB were locked before proceeding. We traveled about 25 feet, when, like a mirage, a spectacular green garden arose from what had most recently been an oil stained concrete parking lot. It was breath-taking, I'm telling you! Unfortunately for many of you, this oasis is "to the trade only" so to visit it you'll have to pay your decorator to take you.
The gardens were created by the owner, Charles Jacobsen. The plantings were wonderfully original in their combinations, and planted in large wooden tapered, square planter boxes which were painted flat black. Perfectly maintained specimen plantings prevailed throughout the exterior garden showroom. Intricately carved marble planters gave way to serene white marble fountains, all, tasteful and restrained in every way. One small garden was formed by placing an intricately carved, antique wood Indonesian doorway, raw from exposure to the elements over time, was flanked by tall columnar plantings. Other areas were divided or were designated by low rectangular boxes of varying dimensions, planted with perfectly coiffed green grass.
This location is a huge departure from the Charles Jacobsen, Inc., showroom at the Pacific Design Center (referred to as "the blue whale" by the trade), where the cool elegance of that showroom is usurped by the stunning gardens of this tasteful outpost. The gardens ultimately lead you to the warehouse showroom, where the exquisitely restored antiques are presented. The furniture is highly waxed and polished to absolute beauty. Old mirror frames with what appeared to be the original mirror glass (expect to pay more for old, faded mirror glass) graced the walls.
Charles Jacobsen's shop is a real testament to his exquisite taste and style. It is pristine to the point that I'm certain there is a bit of anal retentiveness being practiced here. This perfectly planned and executed presentation runs from the garden throughout the warehouse showroom, where brick walls exposed and others lined with matchstick blinds. The original wood framed ceiling, its framing rendering the ceiling bowed, was freshly waxed making the warehouse hardly recognizable as such.

Our salesman was obviously a bit uncomfortable with us, when suddenly he said, "You may want to see the far building as it will be closing first."
I glanced at my wife, "he's rushing us!" I said to her without speaking a word (an art perfected after twenty two years of marriage).

I asked the salesman, "What time is it?"

"It's 4:20" He answered.

"What time do you close?" I ask.

"5:00 o'clock" He responds.

You get the picture. It was so LA!
We did have ample time to see everything; and we did, we toured the two showrooms; spent time in the gardens; made notes on several items that we had admired, and we then sent our salesman to retrieve the information wee needed. Unfortunately my aloofness afforded us better service. He returned with the info I had requested, and we were on our way, the gates to the garden practically shutting on my wife's pricey little German auto--good thing I hadn't driven the truck!

More tomorrow! Stick around with the Design Guy, because you'll never know what you didn't know before you got to know the Design Guy.

Good night moon.

Is it an Innie, or an Outie?

Alright, alright, so I use made up words! You know what I mean. However today I'm not talking about belly buttons, I'm talking about outdoor cushions. Yeah, cushions are either Innies or Outies, and make no mistake about it or you may be sorry. Read on.


Outdoor Foam...

What a captivating subject, don't you think? Well, it is, I promise. Not only have outdoor
fabrics come into the 21st Century, foam for outdoor cushions has as well. In the old days, outdoor cushions were made from your regular old household foam, the same type used
for indoor cushions. We would upholster our cushions in outdoor fabric, say for that
treasure of a wicker love seat that once adorned Grandma's front porch. You know the
one, the one you found next to the trash after her estate sale. You thought it looked so
sad as you gazed upon it sitting there next to the garbage cans. Then suddenly, a light
bulb went off in your head.
"Why, I'll give that little love seat a new coat of paint and make a new cushion, and it will be wonderful again".
You proceed to try and get it into the back seat of your Eco-friendly sports car, to no avail.
Next, you try the trunk. It works, so you tie the trunk lid down to keep your new found treasure from bouncing out and becoming road kill. When you get home you appraise your
find.
"Oh, I didn't realize that so much of the wicker was broken". Or worse, your spouse or significant other rolls their eyes at you when you show it to them. There will be no approval forthcoming!

Next you...

So, you get an estimate from the local caner (the guy who repairs cane seats and backs
on chairs). It'll be $400. You reconsider your original idea, a coat of paint and a new cushion
will suffice after all. You begin the painting process, but get eleven splinters in the first three minutes of the process. You initially resisted spray painting, for the sake of the ozone, but
now it seems like a pretty good idea, for the sake of your hands.
When the painting is complete you make a template out of the Sunday newspaper for the
new seat cushion; you select one of the new outdoor fabrics at Cabana Home, and rush to
the upholstery shop to drop everything off. There is no discussion about indoor or outdoor
foam. Outdoor fabric should do the trick, right?
No. Not right.


The scoop on outdoor foam...

Okay here we digress again. Its not that the outdoor fabrics of old that didn't work, because after all they too were fade and mildew resistant. What didn't work was using indoor foam
for an outdoor cushion. Indoor foam retains water, becomes water logged, sours, smells, and
can take five to seven days to fully dry. While wet, the limits of an outdoor fabrics "mildew resistance" are tested. Yes, even outdoor fabric will mildew if left to dry on indoor foam.
And, outdoor fabrics are typically 100% solution dyed acrylic and they don't breath like a natural material indoor fabric would.


Now the Details...

So....science and technology have now given us the outdoor foam of our dreams. With catchy names like EZ-Dri, Evidri, Drifast, Dryfast (a different one), and Rain-Thru, all of which are mildew resistant outdoor foam.
Is there a difference? Yes but not as much as one would think, as the technology is virtually
the same for all of them. The main difference is the foam's density, or firmness. Evidri is a medium soft outdoor foam, while Drifast is very firm. EZ-Dri has a built-in fungicidal
additive which inhibits fungus, mildew--important for retarding stains and odor.
All outdoor foam has open cell construction in common. The open cells are large, completely open pores. The open pores are actually holes caused by reticulation; that is, holes created
by air pockets when the foam is manufactured. These holes are what permits rapid draining
and maximum air circulation for fast drying. Ah um...the last two sentences have a strong resemblance to a paragraph from one of the foam manufacturers websites. Okay, maybe
from all of the web sites consulted!


Now there...

Wasn't that interesting?
"No," you say?
Oh come on, you've got to know about this. I mean, think about one of those roadside
treasures that you've passed by, only to regret it later. Now, you can pick it up with new
found confidence gained from your knowledge about outdoor foam!

Stick around with the Design Guy, because you'll never know what you didn't know
before you got to know the Design Guy.

Later .

Good night moon.

OUT IS IN, AND IN IS OUT?

What's that you say? You ask.
That's right, out is in and in is out! What part of that don't you get?
Ah...yes, there is a word or two missing in the title, and a thought or two as well.
Try this: What has been commonly used indoors, is now being used outdoors. Likewise, that which is commonly used outdoors, is finding its way indoors.
Okay? You say, yearning for more...
Fabrics! Its about the new outdoor fabrics, that's what I'm talking about! The technology for outdoor textiles has moved light years ahead of where they were even two years ago. We're seeing velvets being made of solution-dyed acrylic fibers, aka Sunbrella, aka outdoor fabric. You got it! Outdoor velvets.
And, try this one on for size: Embossed faux-alligator in a new outdoor leather collection. Not only does it come in the normal range of reptilian colors, its now available in metallic colors of gold-now referred to as dirty gold, silver-referred to as Smoke, copper-referred to as copper, and a hundred other variations of pastel and primary colors.
There are terrific outdoor suede's with a realistic nap to the eye and the hand; and chenille's that are so soft, they feels like your skinny dipping when you touch it. Dive in baby-these fabrics are here to stay!

Hey, these are outdoor fabrics! Uunbelievable that they are fade resistant, as well as mildew and mold resistant, and mostly dog-proof. When they're soiled, simply zip the covers off the cushions and toss them in the wash, but do not put them in the dryer on a heat seating! In some instances, bleach can be used, but first check with the manufacturers cleaning recommendations.
These fabrics are so refined (now here comes the out-in/in-out part) that our clients are using these virtually indestructible fabrics in their family room, the media room, the breakfast room, and even in the kids rooms. I mean, can you imagine if your parents had used the old fashioned outdoor fabrics inside the home? Those original versions were as hard and scratchy as sandpaper; or worse, they were made of a non-breathable vinyl that made you sweat at first touch; and don't forget how your sunburned legs would so easily stick to it. No, the old fabrics were not exactly of the skinny dipping variety. Praise the lawd!

Please note that there is a huge variety in the type of foams used in outdoor cushions, and the price varies wildly. I will incorporate more about this in tomorrows Design Guy.

Just two years ago, few design houses offered outdoor fabrics. Back then most of us shared a similar understanding of outdoor fabrics, mostly those under the Sunbrella brand name. The colors were mostly brights, but they offered some dull Hunter and Forest greens and browns to broaden their appeal. If you really wanted to put on the dog, you could order a solid color fabric and have the cushions piped in another color; you could even order stripes, if you dare! Woo hoo...

Today, the venerable house of Donghia, headed by Angelo's niece Sherry, offers some of the most sophisticated, and sumptuous woven outdoor fabrics, that you might rival a vintage tapestry in both workmanship and number of threads used in their production. The collection, aptly named Soleil, includes matching outdoor trims, tassels, and even Cabana drapery tie-backs. There are outdoor velvets; fabrics that look like woven African bark; fabrics that look straight of an old loom, as well as printed fabrics. After the death of her cousin, Angelo Donghia, Sherry hasn't lived on the lofty laurels of the company. She has moved the firm into the enviable position of being an industry leader in the development of outdoor textiles, whereas many of the other fabric houses have merely been interpreters. Donghia recently released a book on textiles, Donghia, The Art of Luxury And Style, which has sold out in both of the Santa Barbara and Mill Valley Cabana Home stores.

One of the hottest designers to emerge in this outdoor fabric renaissance is Nomi. She's a first name only gal, as in Madonna, but this California designer has taste, and tons of it. Her color sense is chic and confident and her combinations of color and texture are fresh and sophisticated. Notable is her pique-like fabric bordered in a Greek key pattern. Nomi was first known for her indoor textiles, most notably the painted Fortuny esque patterns in modern fabrics and color combinations. Unfortunately, she has limited distribution, and to the trade only, through a smaller, wholesale outdoor-teak manufacturers showroom.

Not to be outdone, Scalamandre and Stroheim are in the game, as is Shumacher, Kravet, Robert Allen, even Laura Ashley (can't we let this icon rest in peace?), B Berger, and Joe Rugerio for Silver State (a huge Sunbrella distributor).

Now, we keep bating the Sunbrella name around, so here's my understanding of what it's all about. It's actually a process that is used on the actual fibers that make up an outdoor fabric. First every strand of fiber is solution dyed, before it is spun into a yarn and woven into a fabric. In this process, every fiber is treated the same. This is opposed to first weaving the fabric and then dyeing it in the solution dye. So, as in the brand names Coke and Kleenex, Sunbrella is the catch-all name for outdoor fabric. Truth is, most outdoor strands of fabric are solution dyed by Sunbrella, but they may be woven by any number of mills for hundreds of designers and manufacturers and sold under their own labels.

When a designer designs an outdoor fabric pattern, that design goes to the Sunbrella technician, who will analyze and dissect the design into fiber counts; he then specifies x number of fibers needed for each color in the design and pattern. The fibers are then solution dyed, and sent to the mill for weaving. So, that's my crash course on Sunbrella!

Whew, that was fun! See my Design Guy blog tomorrow for, THE INDOORS GO'S OUT!

Good night moon.

FATHER'S DAY---Whats in a gift?

Today is Father's Day 2007. Based on the title, you can surmise that today's article is about gifts, which some of us who are fathers have undoubtedly received. Oh, there are some Dad's who aren't receiving gifts from their ungrateful offspring? Off with their heads!

Personally, I think that we have all received the ultimate gift, that of becoming a Father. I received a card this morning with just that sentiment, not from my off-spring but from my wife. The hand written message was this: "Today we honor you and one of the single most important accomplishments in a persons life--being a parent". She nailed it! Being a Father is the most important accomplishment in my life, (just slightly ahead of getting my wife to marry me). I acknowledge that the ultimate gift for me is that of being a parent.

To borrow a concept from The Lion King, I have always felt that to be a parent was an essential part of completing the circle of life. Your born; you grow into a man or woman; you marry; you have off-spring; you raise and train them; they grow up and leave the home; they marry, have their own off spring. Then one day, sooner than later, your off spring return to you, bringing the love, patience and caring that you once showed them. You're comforted as you ease into your special place in life, that place where so many fathers have gone before us. Yeah, being a Dad is an accomplishment, the ultimate.


The Make you feel old gift...

Now, here's a fashion lesson: I know, I know, this blog is tinging on clothing fashion--but alas, what can I say? My daughter loves clothing (the leaf didn't fall far from the tree). She gifted me with a pull over, zip-front, micro-fiber sweat shirt, with a zippered pocket on the upper sleeve for I presume an IPOD. This gift came with legs I tell you, as in the kind in a new business concept.
"That plastic wind breaker jacket thing you wear, and matching pants have to go!" Declared my daughter.
"They're NIKE!", I protested.
"They're too old-man, Dad" She retorted, with a slight roll to her eyes, as she looked toward her Mom for support.
So, here are the legs to this gift. My daughter was updating my look and my wardrobe with a single article of micro-fiber clothing. The new sweat shirt was just the beginning! Do I remember giving a gift with legs to my Father? Sure, do! But why would I care if Dad looked a little out dated? After all, he was old and wasn't stylish anymore! What was his age when I attempted to update his wardrobe you ask? One year younger than me, 48. Uuooo...that hurts.
Enough of that!


The make you cry gift...

I want to share with you another gift that I received from this same off-spring of mine, her Fathers day card. She wrote the most incredible note to me on the left inside cover of the card. Tears quickly welled up in my eyes as I read her words. It wasn't the first time that she had written a note from the heart to me, and I'd felt the sincerity and love in her words before, but nothing prepared me for these last eleven words in her card:
...and I feel honored to be your daughter. I love you!
Now, that is a gift.

Latter.

Good Night moon

Packages aren't always Gifts!

I know I'm supposed to talk about dressing as it relates to the home, but I've just come from the gym, and well, maybe there should be fashion police. Come on guys...whats up with the spandex. And, for that matter, you gals ought to consider a check in the three way mirror before leaving your digs. No, gentlemen, the gym is not the place to show your package, no matter the content. And ladies, just because spandex is available in plus sizes, it doesn't mean its a good idea.
Now you see? No one's sacred. Me? I wear baggy basketball shorts over my tighties. I know what I've got, and I' good with that. You, spare us the pain and cover up.

Today is a work day, and there's plenty to do. Do? What do I do you ask? I'm an editor; a guide; a sympathetic ear-a listener; sometimes marriage counselor; sometimes therapist. I'm a traveler; an observer; a researcher; a shopper; a thinker. Sometimes I'm impatient; rude; thoughtless; and I hate to admit-a little mean. Words hurt. They hurt us all when used offensively-intended or not.

A friend once said to me, Does it need to be said? Does it need to be said by me? Does it need to be said right now? Wow! Good words, but how can I be all or even a part of the adjectives listed above, if I live by those questions? Humm...

I'll bring the world of design to you as I experience it, from my own unique perspective. So, here's another thing we need to get straight from the get go...this blogs not for everyone. If your hip, slick, and cool; or your not and you want to be; or just here for the entertainment value, and some of you are, then stay tuned and hold on to your Aeron chair, because we're going to roll with it. If it needs to be said I'm gonna say it; and I'm gonna say it now. I'll try to be nice, I really will. But mean guy might show up, uninvited every once in a while, and I'm sure you'll let me know about it. Bring it on, lets Watusi.

Its not just about clothing fashion, though the last two postings were about over-the-calve socks, and proper gym attire. This blog is for your A list. Hang on to it because your home is next. We're going to talk about that, a lot. Be here or be...wherever the hell you want to be (ah, its mean guy talking now).

Latter.

Good night moon.

New Design Blog---Live Well with-Design Guy

This is day one, dia numero uno, for Design Guy. The blog for living well, living right, not living whatever hell; with or without grace , doing it well- with the Design Guy.



The Design Guy is a self-taught, self-made man of style. Opinionated, oh yeah. Say it like it is-chips will fall. The truth may hurt, but hey, this is one guys opinion that you've got to love because he wants nothing from you. Make your way though the unlimited choices of living well, in everything you do. The blogs fun-you've been warned. Yeah, Its fun, intriguing and leaves those of the conscious type wanting for more-sorry, not a blog for the unconscious-a blog for you and me, the Design Guy.



Lets get this straight from the get-go: When I say its great, interesting or good-who gives a damn. But consider this, what is good? To me its an opinion of value, worth only what and how one values the issuers taste or opinion.

Take the Stock Broker who thinks a company's stock is a buy because they are about to roll out a new product, one of an esoteric nature. Now say I know this guy. Perhaps he's in the lucky sperm club, smart, maybe Ivy league, but he doesn't wear over the calf socks with his business suits. If he didn't wear socks at all with his suit, that'd be cool. Wearing short socks that show his hairy calve's when he crosses his legs in a business meeting is well, just bad. "Whats wrong with that?" he protests. Answer him? I don't know, If he doesn't understand why this is bad, well what the hell does he know about an esoteric product? He can't dress himself; do I value his esoteric opinion? Ah...



Alas, a blog is born to help us navigate the good, the bad, and the not so attractive. A blog about your home, my home; the way its done; why I bought this one over that one; why I sold the last one; maybe even about why I should keep it. Blogging about the way to do your home, inside and out-that's my business and I'll take you through the process, answer your questions or point you in the right direction. I'm not known for mincing words, so if you ask, are you ready for the answer?

I'll take you to the most incredible furniture, design, antiques and art markets in the world. You will walk the flea markets of Paris, Aretzo, Brussels, Pasadena and Round Top with me. Some of it you can buy while I'm standing in front of the Vendor with a pocket of expensive Euros. If I'm there-your there, but you have to be here first.

With digital camera in hand, and a quick upload, you'll see what I'm seeing. Photo quality not guaranteed, but you'll get the picture.

We'll look at interior fabric collections from the top design houses in Europe and the US.
Perhaps we will do the largest textile show in the US and really see the goods first hand.
China is high on my list-what is going on over there? I like the Maison & O'bjet show in Paris; maybe we should add the Madeira Exhibition in Valencia? We will do the New York Gift Show, the biggest home furniture show in the world in High Point, and we'll do the Atlanta market because there are so many damn Decorators there that the Vendors are out in full force.
Art Basel, either in Basel, Miami or both; perhaps the Armory Show, LA Fashion Week, the Concourse d' Elegance in Pebble Beach. Cannes, the crowds, but Sundance-still cool.

Sports? Try this: The Kentucky Derby, Indy 5oo, Neiman Marcus Last Call; Cowboys in the Super Bowl, the Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl; Americas Cup, Polo in Santa Barbara, Napa Wine Auction, Natchez Trace; the Clinton's bedroom.

At market we head straight for the temporaries, the manufacturers and designers that don't have permanent showrooms who fill vast exhibition halls with fabric cubicles, bringing their goods and collections from around the world. This is for the the one-of's, the unique.

More? Check me tomorrow.

Good night, moon