I Heart Rainy Days.

What are two great tastes that taste great together? Why, it's Friday and it's a deliciously dark and cloudy rainy day, of course! The ideal day to open-up all the windows, kick on some jazz, listen to the rain fall and feel the fresh cool air. All enjoyed from the comforts of a living room such as this...

I know you're probably thinking, "Where is the comfy couch?", but the dark rich colors are what I was really going after...I absolutely love the mix of burgundy and brown with a splash of light blue and yellow.

And best of all, I could easily devour a ton of decor magazines in this heavenly bed...

It's a shame my scanner isn't wider, the sleek walnut bed frame goes on for days. Ask me how badly I want that Barbara Kruger print above the bed.

I Could Live Here...

I have to admit my mind is in a million places these days and unfortunately the furthest place it's been lately is in inspiration land. That being said, how about feasting on some low-hanging fruit? This groovy late 1960's home is currently on the market in Austin and comes replete with fossil and lava rock walls and my favorite part? All the rooms open to the pool!



If you lived here you'd be home by now...

Hmmm...this room needs a little somethin' somethin' and I can't quite put my finger on it. Oh! I know! I would toss that cowhide rug into that floating lava rock fireplace...which also happens to seat 12. Ahhh, much better. Via Modern Austin.

Czech it out...

I am very proud to have been born in Slovakia, or Czechoslovakia as I knew it as the little dumpling of my parents' eyes...in a city named Kosice to be exact and regrettably it has been well over 15 years since I have visited my amazing homeland. A dream (read: goal) for this year is for the Mr. and I to visit my friends and slightly dysfunctional but lovable family.

No doubt about it, I can no longer ignore my beloved Bryndzové Halušky, Pierogi, Slivovice and Goulash beckoning me to once again divulge in all things decadent and artery-clogging. Sigh. Food and booze talk aside, my nostalgia for home sweet home has gotten me wondering about what my homies have been up to in their world of design. Let's Czech it out!

First and foremost, we'll need an uber stylish and expensive place to crash, so let's see what the popular Hotel Josef has to offer....but first, I feel a boutique hotel dilemma coming on. Two swanky hotels, both of which are decorated by a one Eva Jiricna.

I know I've been touting color as of late, but nothing says sweet slumber like a neutral room, soft white sheets and no overhead lighting...and a splendid Ghost chair.



...and next we have Hotel Maximilian, just a few steps from Old Town Square, with Art Deco, Modernism and contemporary design influences.

I'm digging the all-white living area...and those corset-inspired chairs?!?! Super-sexy!

Love Art Deco, Bauhaus and Czech Modernism?...now THIS is a plant stand I can stand - Found at gallery Kubista:


...and an Art Deco couch to die for!



Eat your heart out with this original chair circa mid 1930s by Jindřich Halabala. Can you believe the arm rest/legs are made of one piece of solid beech bent in a mould? Found at Modernista.

And finally, the most important burning question for any style junkie/foodie? Where is the best place to eat? Funny thing you should ask! As I was cyber-stalking just one of my chef crushes, Gordon Ramsay, several months ago, I knew it was true love when I discovered one of the restaurants in his empire was located in Old Town Prague. Sadly, I recently learned after a little over a year, Maze is shut its doors February 2009. Here are some photos of what would have been...

So we don't conclude our little adventure on a sad note, let's go to plan B. Housed in 12th-century Roman cellars, in one of the oldest buildings on Old Town Square, restaurant Bílý koníček offers fine cuisine in atmospheric and tranquil medieval surroundings...and it turns into a discotheque at night!

Want to help out the economy?

A little birdie told me Kirk Gallery has just launched it's very first vintage sale! Everything in-store is marked down 10%-25% and for those of you who prefer to let your fingers do the shopping, free shipping on web orders over $100. The sale runs through May 15th, and info about it (including pics and prices of all the sale merchandise) is in the 20th-c. section.

In similar related news proving the Design Gods are smiling upon us, Ligne Roset (can you say Togo?!) is set to open April 16 in Austin, Texas. According to a recent article in Forbes, "While hundreds of storefronts will close this year, some retailers are bucking the trend. French contemporary furniture brand Ligne Roset will open its U.S. "concept" boutique next week in Austin's hip 2nd Street District. Unlike its other U.S. outposts, this 2,000-square-foot location will feature a curated selection of the line's most innovative and unique pieces, including everything from tables to lighting, textiles, sofas and chairs. The brand is betting on its distinctive look--think Spirograph-covered pillows and chandeliers sculpted out of foam--to draw in Austin's most discerning crowd."

Vintage Modern Homes!

I'm proud and happy to announce...it's official! This past Saturday I passed my Real Estate exam and am going to be a Realtor associated with one of the coolest (in my opinion) brokerage firms in Austin, Vintage Modern Homes.

According to Broker Steve Herbert, "Vintage Modern is a full-service real estate brokerage, design, and remodeling company dedicated to preserving Austin’s plentiful mid-century modern architecture. We provide expertise and services for purchases and sales of homes, renovations, and whole remodels. Many mid-century modern homes in poor condition are in jeopardy of being torn down and replaced by a “McMansion.” Vintage Modern rehabilitates these classics, improving the value of neighboring properties while preserving Austin’s neighborhoods and unique culture. Our unique blend of real estate, design, and construction knowledge, coupled with our broad range of services enables us to fully serve all of our clients’ needs."

Take a peek at one of my favorite homes broker Steve Herbert has renovated here. More details soon to come!

MCM "The Incredibles"?...Incroyable!!

I just had to share these really great animation stills from Pixar's animated hit, "The Incredibles" depicting an amazing and quite perfect rendition of mid-century modernism via The Mid-Century Modernist. It's all in the details...

This house is out of this world.

Color Me Badd

In the last several of my posts, I've made no secret of my penchant for color - I'm not sure what it stems from, whether it is the need to add some pizazz to our house after having moved in a little over a year ago or my present affinity for all things bold and bright. What I do know, is as soon as I saw fashion designer Matthew Williamson's kaleidoscopic crib in Domino last September, I knew then we were two peas in a pod. For the time being, anyway.

Hark! The herald angels sing...a mirrored tile fireplace.

Less truley is more - I would scale back on some of the books and tsotchkes and display the side table against the wall in all of it's neon lucite splendor.

Ok, folks - I realize neon is not everyone's cup of chai, but I embrace it. Hold on to your 1999 Prince album and prepare yourselves for a neon showcase in the near future!




Whoop, there it is again. This time in a lovely shade of pink against an all white cabinet. Thinking about getting one of these bad boys? Pony up that extra $44,000 you've been contemplating how to spend.




And finally, a bit of refuge from the madness in a black and white bedroom.