jack purcell.

digging the assortment of jack percell's at converse (range b/w $50-120). clean white look always mod and cool. the plaid is fun and relaxed. blue for the classic boating look + a big pair of jackie O shades.

my own space.

my own space is the place for reasonably priced + one-of-a-kind gifts + knacks for your home or office. i own the green paper clip mouse + think he's great. of course the store (grab a catalog) also offers bedding, furniture + other more high-profile needs.

(one) perfect sitting

i've just configured a nice little sitting/setting from the moma store. contents: a comfy eames lounge, a warm noguchi lantern and a cozy little throw. now it just begs for a good book or a great film.







Books to consider:
De Kooning: An American Master by Mark Stevens, Annalyn Swan (order here)


Veronica by Mary Gaitskill (order here).



Films to consider:
The Beat My Heart Skipped.


or the atmospheric Hitchcock classic, Rebecca.

perfect house.

John Lei for The New York Times

wow. how could you miss today's the new york times profile on susan orlean's berkshires house? watch her interactive video with the piece, stunning and breathtaking. views from all sides with window seats + benches.

well-to-do.

some fun goodies available on sale @ well-dressed home.. such a fan of the birdhouses (pity the cream house is sold out).

two best films of the year...

hands down. go see both.

CAPOTE.



BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.

when in paris...

should you want an affordable place to rest your weary head, check out hotel universite in Arrondissement 7, located at Saint Germain des Pres and near Louvre and musée d'Orsay. I love the spiral staircase, croissants and steaming coffee in the morning, vaulted ceitlings, the narrow stretch of street outside + the cozy lighting.

off you go on your Parisian adventures.

The Hotel is located @ 22 rue de lÂ’Universite 75007 Paris-France

Paris always on the mind...

the french house

as one might remind, or so the website shall..." Burgundy is a great place to stop over on the way to Provence." Or just bring it into your abode at the french house, the rustic shabby chic country look can mix and blend with modern and contemporary tastes (i.e, an eames chair, a zebra rug)...a few of my faves fall below.





the only bummer (or the perks of UK life): The French House ordinarily delivers only to the UK. This is due to the difficulty of delivering fragile goods overseas, and the high cost of delivery.

alas, you can get some nice ideas...or hop the pond for the new year.

too cool (re: iT house)

the iT house + accessories continue my strong interest with simple, sparse and practical living ideas.

even if the idea seems strange it would make for a fun activities, choosing your structure and designing your space. i believe the simple principal behind good living starts here: (text following from the iT website): "As an all-glass house with Bosch Aluminum structure, the iT house offers a truly unique, rapid-construction, and high-design alternative for todayÂ’s living needs. Customize the way your iT house shades the sun and screens privacy by selecting an outFiT that's right for you. Get comfortable using our solar energy system to boost your temperature control. And feel free to enhance your new lifestyle even more by adding a few of our Things to your house."

modular dwellings (blueprints to construct your own)

wouldn't it be great to have one of these in your backyard--a reading shack, a small office, a zen hideout, a lover's den?





these nifty, modern blueprints for the "do-it-yourself" person are unleashed at modular dwellings and can be purchased through Ready Made magazine. They were created by SF-based Edgar Blazona. The rooms can be constructed from Plexiglas, steel, and prefinished plywood. The cost is ~ $1,500.

"Edgar Blazona is a furniture designer, builder and welder whose prefabricated Modular Dwellings (MD) - also available in kit form for do-it-yourself types - have become especially popular with spas. Many of the tiny "modern shacks" have loft or pull-out beds and small architectural details missing from many larger homes - corner windows, translucent fiberglass walls, and ventilation solutions that are as useful as they are attractive."

two thousand + six.

happy new year!

back to work...