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Roundup: Homeland Security
While I'm definitely a peace-loving gal, I can't deny the influence that war and weaponry have had on home decor as of late. From gun vases to bullet planters, it seems as if product designers have a different definition of homeland security than our national leaders. While this may be a commentary on our society's obsession with weapons, I'm still not necessarily willing to stock my home with guns — be they real or made of ceramic.
Love It or Hate It? Warpaper
Designer Michael Ciancio's Warpaper (prototype) is a series of wallpapers based on different eras of American warfare that confronts the analogy, "Warfare is to natural history what wallpaper is to a beautifully decorated home." Each wallpaper pattern features a weapon motif such as hand grenades, tanks, sniper rifles, or shotguns. If Ciancio is suggesting that war is an important part of natural history, then he must be suggesting that wallpaper is a must-have for a beautiful homes; I'll, at the very least, give him the latter, though I'm sad to think that the former may be true as well.
Love It or Hate It? War Bowl
The Dominic Wilcox War Bowl ($400) for Areaware is an art piece made from melted and partially melted plastic toy soldiers, that makes "a statement on the futility of war." It's also available in red, white, or blue. Coincidence?
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This Just In: Philip Seymour Hoffman in a Western!
According to Real Estalker, Philip Seymour Hoffman and his costume- designer girlfriend and mother of their two children, Mimi O'Donnel, are under contract to purchase a 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath Pre-War co-op in Manhattan's West Village for $4.4 million. The listing for the property reads:
A one of a kind three bedroom, 2.5 bath apartment in the best location in the West Village. High ceilings, beautiful wood floors, authentic doors from Provence, and a wood burning fireplace.
On the Market: Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates's Restored Revolutionary War Georgian Colonial
It's always interesting to see how the other side lives but, in many cases, the celebrity homes you see are underwhelming, cookie-cutter LA mansions. As for this restored Revolutionary War Georgian colonial recently listed by Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, I'd consider it a coveted crib even if one half of history's most successful music duos didn't sleep in it. Beyond its good looks, there's much more of a story behind these digs than the "unparalleled views" and "updated appliances" of those California cribs.The Dutchess County, NY, property, known as Flint Hill, is actually two museum-quality homes that once belonged to Revolutionary War captains, and have since been joined through a beamed living area with a fireplace.
Coveted Crib: A Multigenerational Mountain Retreat
I love the idea of creating a getaway that's all about family. Those were exactly the intentions of architect Kyu Sung Woo, when he decided to build a three-home compound outside of the small town of Putney, VT.
When Woo was forced to flee his hometown during the Korean War, he decided that he would re-create a family home for his extended relatives when he had the opportunity.
Roundup: Stripes
In honor of Independence Day, I'm bringing you some twists on the iconic emblems that represent this holiday. You won't have to store these in the garage, though, once July 4th is over. It's fitting that one of my favorite striped finds is the French Six Leg Upholstered Bench ($599), since France was our ally in the Revolutionary War.
Artist of the Day: Daniela Cunha Lay
It's not unusual to find a 26-year-old who cites Andy Warhol as an inspiration or who thinks she can emulate Jackson Pollock. But, it's a rare thing to meet a young woman whose mixed media, Warhol-inspired pop art speaks of revolution in Spain, war crimes in Iraq, and human perishability, whose Pollock-inspired paintings give you chills. I recently caught up with the young São Paulo-born, Brazil-and-California-raised artist Daniela Cunha Lay at the opening of her exhibit at one of my favorite design stores in San Francisco, Flipp.
Roundup: Peace and Dove
Yesterday, I showed you some home décor items that had been inspired by weapons. Of course, I can't show you war without bringing you some signs of peace as well. Besides the obvious peace signs, I included some dove-related items as well, since doves are a traditional symbol of peace.
How-To: Start Your Own Victory Garden
Today, US First Lady Michelle Obama, along with elementary school students, took part in the ground breaking of the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn. This is the first kitchen garden on the White House lawn since First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden during World War II. Victory gardens are vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens that were planted at home residences during World War I and II to increase families' food supplies during the days of rationing and boost morale.
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