Not judging

But.

Million Dollar Decorators

Really?

I love books and they are very decorative.

I now understand why a friend in NY (yes, you) absolutely loathes Bullard. And that was before this show. If he has been watching, he must be apoplectic by now.

Also wondering if Ireland is half the woman I imagine her to be. If she is, it won't be long before she gives that Factor woman a piece of her mind. Hefty commission or not.

Now playing: Martha Wash - Carry On

Now you see it

Dreadful.

Now playing: The Cramps - Good Taste

Now you don't

Unfortunately, they come out much easier than they go in.

Now playing: Jack Johnson - Gone

Could be far worse

Donald Urquhart

Now playing: The Shangri-Las - Sophisticated Boom Boom

It's back

Out and about one summer's day a few years ago, I spotted this chair outside an antique shop. Being a 1920s reproduction, it really wasn't up to the dealers usually high standard.  Originally, its still very sound mahogany frame was stained and polished. And I quite liked the ugly beautiful orange 1980s chinoiserie cotton it was covered in. I thought it would make a great desk chair. And for the princely sum of £50,  I could overlook its weakly proportioned legs.

That autumn we also added Ruby, then a two year old Schnauzer, to our menagerie.  She too liked the chair and it quickly became Ruby's chair. Truth be told it suited her far better. As it was a wet autumn, it also quickly became filthy. Beyond belief. It had to be redone. I redid the frame and sent it out to be re-covered in a sturdy faded indigo linen mix that could take a good cleaning. And, she loved it.

Last year tragedy befell Ruby's chair. The long and the short of it is, someone died in it.  Again, it had to be redone.  After almost a year it's back. And, she loves it.

Now playing: Chet Baker - Little Girl Blue

Something for the weekend

Donna Hay's mint pesto

1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves

1/4 cup mint leaves

1 clove crushed garlic

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tbs olive oil

blend in food processor until smooth

season to taste

 

 Along with 1/2 cup of blanched garden peas,

add to drained orecchiette pasta allowing the residual heat to warm through the pesto.

Serve with grated pecorino.


Gnocchi  works well as a substitute if orecchiette isn't available.

Now playing: Ibrahim Ferrer - Dos Gardenias

Summertime

Now playing: Jill Scott - Golden

Too soon...

to start showing clients things for their new house.  

Just hope these will still be available when the time is right.

Now playing: The Smiths - How Soon Is Now

Reflected glory

 

Designed by Angelo Lelli in the 1950s for Arredoluce, Italy

Now playing:  Foy Vance - Shed a Little Light

Are you the flower man?

Lilium regale

Beautiful by day and magical by moonlight.

Now playing: Cat Stevens - Moonshadow

Does she still exist?

Who?

The woman who could carry a rattan Kelly.

Now playing: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Summertime 

If nobody minds, I think I'll have something

Patrician Stemware Service

designed by Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956)

Lychee Daiquiri

1 ½ ounce white rum

1 teaspoon fine sugar

1 ounce of lychee juice

Squeeze of lime

Crushed ice

Place rum, sugar, lychee juice and lime in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.

Shake - do not over mix.

Strain thoroughly into a cocktail glass and serve.

Now playing: Pink Martini - And Then You're Gone

Now

Cocktail cabinets are a completely different kettle de poison.

1920s chinoiserie drinks cabinet loosely eluding to the Queen Anne period

 An Art Deco D shaped walnut cocktail cabinet

The upper section enclosed by panelled doors and fitted with brushing slides.

A very smart 1960s Danish rosewood cocktail cabinet

Now playing: Cher - Welcome to Burlesque

Wicked...

But,  couldn't help wondering whether the sale will be at Christie's or at Sotheby's?
And, would it be the scrum all the previous single collectors' sales have been in the past...
In the words of Noxeema Jackson, Miss Thing's got some stuff.
Undoubtedly, for the time being at least, nothing more than a baroque worry. 

Iris Apfel’s Exuberant Apartment

Architectural Digest, June 2011

Now playing: Salt 'n' Pepa - I Am The Body Beautiful

November is a long way away

 La Piel Que Habito

Pedro Almodóvar's new film due for release 18 November 2011.

Now playing: This Mortal Coil - Tarantula

Hot chips

the Vogue blog proffered,  Farrow & Ball fatigue?

If so, the new colours by Adam Bray (who is as much a conjurer of atmosphere as he is a designer) for Papers & Paints may very well be the solution. 303 (middle row, far right) is the perfect shade of yellow.

Now playing: M People - Colour My Life

Northern light

Early 18th century German Baroque bureau cabinet, Hannover

The arched top carved with shell and female portrait, the upper part with one door enclosing several drawers, the fall front enclosing a fitted interior above graduated drawers on square tapering legs.

By repute,  this bureau was a wedding gift from Frederic, Prince of Wales to Lady Anne, 2nd Countess of Orkney and William O'Brien, 4th Earl of Inchiquin in 1720.

19th century George III style giltwood framed sofa

With a shaped back, outswept arms terminating in scrolls and a serpentine fronted seat on tapering fluted legs and spade feet.

Swedish 18th century Rococo gilt mirror
 

All that is missing is the right client with the right house.

Now playing: ABBA - Voulez-Vous

Sour sweet

Claire Ptak's

Sour Cherry Pie with Noyau Cream

Now playing: Sade - Cherry Pie

Education

A small boy says to his father "Dad, what's the difference between theoretically and realistically?"

His dad thinks and then says "Right-ho son, go and ask your mother if she'd sleep with Wayne Rooney for a million quid."

The boy toddles off and comes back saying "Dad, dad, she said she would! She would sleep with Wayne Rooney for a million pounds."

"OK son," says his dad. "Now go and ask your sister the same question."

The boy toddles off, and comes back saying "Dad, dad, she said she would too!"

So then his dad says "Right, son, now go and ask your brother if he'd sleep with Wayne Rooney for a million pounds."

The son comes back excitedly saying "Dad! Dad! He said he would too!"

"Well there you have it, son," said his dad. "Theoretically we could be sitting on three million quid. Realistically we're living with two tarts and a poof!"





Now playing: Cat Stevens - Father and Son

Sacred monsters

Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu
(1924 - 2011)

Now playing: Patrick Doyle - Tango from Indochine (1992)