Christmas TEASER!

Look for some really hip, vintage-y Christmas stuff from William Miller Design...coming soon! Our elves had a very busy summer!

Books on my Christmas List

On my last trip to Just Fabulous in Palm Springs, I saw several books that will make their way onto my Christmas wishlish- Taschen's book on the great modern architect Lautner; Assouline's 'Hitchcock Style' which focuses more on the art, costume, and set designer of the great director (his career started out as a theatrical set designer); A trio of books on furniture designers KNoll and Herman Miller; and a photodocumentation of Cannes Film Festival style....

La Qunita Remodel Update

This is not an episode of Hoarders!

Once you get into a remodel, you find out things are sometimes not what they appear to be at first. The wood flooring is glued down so securely, that it has to be all cut out, some of it pried away, which is not what the contractor expected it to be like...in the words of the homeowner "Looks like you've got quite a mess!"

We have removed existing dated built INS , raised the firebox, added framing for a raised hearth which will receive granite. A new carved stone fireplace surround and entertainment center will complete the wall to add more importance and focal point for the room .

In the dining room, the walls and ceiling have been stripped of old grass cloth and wood molding (it was soooooo cute and quaint!) Now, it's ready for new wall texture and paint.

Remember, we're working with a deadline here. so everything has to be done before Thanksgiving!

Fixtures

I had been in Fixtures (in Rancho Mirage) before, but didn't get a chance to look around yet. IN fact, they are still working on their showroom. They have an amazing selection of some incredibly hip and sexy applicances. Fixtures has two stores- we're lucky enough to get one here in the desert- and one in San Diego. I am in love with this Podium Range by Molteni, and the entire appliance line of The Big Chill's (they have a dishwasher, range, and fridge). The ones in the showroom are PINK! It's about time we got snazzy-colored appliances again! The other amazing kitchen was a Miele kitchen with green cabinets. The great thing about this kitchen is the location of the dishwashers, raised about 18" up from floor level. This store is going to be such a great resource for Interior Design in the desert!

Table Tonic Picks William Miller Design!

We were very excited that Louise from Table Tonic has chosen us as a favorite blog! Thanks for the mention, and we love your blog, too!

Tight Timeline Remodel

When a great client comes to you and says "We've bought a new home, can you have it finished by Thanksgiving?" and it's only 8 weeks before the deadline, of course you say "YES!"

This remodel is pretty extensive, however, and it is going to be a push to get it all done. Our scope includes: new floors, reconfiguration of two bathrooms, replacement of sliding doors in casita, all new window treatments (you'll see why), new porcelain tiles to replace wood floors, adding in accent lighting, all new furniture and accessories, and 3 major built in cabinets. Take a look at what we are starting with: it's about a 4000sq ft home in La Quinta, California.

Just Fabulous Barbie Book

We just got back from Just Fabulous in Palm Springs where we picked up our copy of the new limited edition Barbie book from Assouline. Looking forward to reading this, the photos were great, thanks to Stephen, the owner of Just Fabulous for bringing such a great selection of coffeetable books to the desert. I also picked up a copy of "I Loved Lucy" by Lee Tannen...can't wait to start reading about Lucille Ball- his photos are fantastic!

Paris Hotel Boutique

For those of you who are often in San Francisco, be sure to check out Paris Hotel Boutique. It's one of my favorite resale shops in the Bay Area. These are two of my favorites in the recent arrivals: A velvet mid-century bench (we've used these in both mid-century homes as well as contemporary once, it seems to never go out of style). The other photo is an amazingly hip faux bamboo coffee table. I love bamboo so much! This one I can see refinished in a dark coffee bean brown or something lighter and more colorful...depending on what home it is ultimately going to live in....

Kempinski Hotel Dead Sea

One of the coolest locations that I have stayed at this year is the Kempinski Ishtar/Dead Sea. Apart from the amazing Dead Sea Mud/Saltwater massage and being able to float on top of the water, the hotel itself is a beautiful destination. The rooms have a sleek feel while still being warm, thanks to all the wood panelling throughout the rooms as well as the public areas...Loved the whole interior design treatment. Check out the size of the doors from the lobby into the first-floor Thai restaurant!

Trina Turk Residential

Something that is a total flashback for me are these needlepoint Eyeglass cases from Trina Turk Residential. I picked up the "Palm Springs" version to keep on the dashboard of my vintage car. They remind me of my Great Aunt's cigarette case...as always, we love Trina Turk's approach to color and pattern. She also carries a line of residential fabrics and ready-made pillows...

Palm Springs Modernism Week

One of our favorite week-long events is just around the corner, Palm Springs Modernism Week. It's an amazing time of the year to be in the desert, and it's entirely planned around interior design, and design in general. Cocktail parties in amazing homes, a weekend of some of the finest vendors in mid-century modern items, great historical tours, and this year, I am really looking forward to the Airstream Trailer exhibition. Look for me poolside wearing Trina Turk February 17- 27 in Palm Springs!

First Hempcrete Modern Home

Wow!

I am really impressed with the overall look and layout of this house, but it's also got the whole hemp thing going on! Anthony Brenner, the builder of this home wanted to use materials that were earth-friendly, and he turned to hemp-based concrete as the main material used in the construction of this amazing house. This is the first type of construction in the US, hope to see a lot more: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/A8Gxi5/inhabitat.com/2010/09/23/nations-first-hempcrete-house-makes-a-healthy-statement//r:t

These homes would be amazing here in the Desert, I can totally see them in Palm Springs or Palm Desert.

Abraham Lincoln and Egypt?

I've been home for just a few days now from a trip to Egypt to see the wonders of the pyramids, the Sphinx, the temples at Luxor, and the great temple of King Ramesses II at Abu Simbel. The trip was a surprise gift from my wife this past Christmas, and it fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine to see the splendors of ancient Egypt.

Of course, this blog is not about my travels to the Middle East; it's about Abraham Lincoln. So I had to do a bit of research to find out what connections, if any, Mr. Lincoln might have had to Egypt either before or during his presidency. There of course aren't many, but I did learn about some dealings his administration had with Egypt during the Civil War.

Egypt in those days was technically still part of the Ottoman Empire, which was based in Constantinople (Istanbul). However, thanks to an invasion of Egypt by Napoleon III in the early 18th Century, that country was more or less autonomous of the Ottomans. Lincoln's Secretary of State, William H. Seward, realized at the outbreak of the Civil War that it would be important to assure the neutrality of the Ottomans, just as it was important to keep France and England neutral.

Seward's efforts resulted in a treaty signed with the Ottoman Empire in 1862 which guaranteed continued trade between the U.S. and the empire. Even more importantly, it guaranteed to the U.S. that any Confederate pirates preying on U.S. trade vessels would be apprehended and detained.

Lincoln also wrote a letter to the "Wali" of Egypt (similar to a governor) during his presidency protesting the harassment and abuse of a U.S. missionary in that country. In response, Egypt promised to punish those who had abused the missionary and again assured Lincoln that Confederates would not be permitted in Ottoman waters (Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea, etc.) This action by Lincoln had the additional effect of deeply impressing religious Christians in Europe, which further helped to keep England and France out of the Civil War.

This post was based on two different sources. The primary source is a speech titled "Lincoln and The Middle East" given by Mr. Austin Knuppe at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. It's a learned and fascinating look at how America's involvement in the Middle East actually developed in earnest during the Lincoln administration. Very worthwhile reading.

The second source for this posting is The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln, an indispensable reference for all of Lincoln's known letters, speeches, and other writings. Lincoln scholars both professional and amateur use this source in their research.

Styling the Look of Things

One of my favorite blogs, Dean's Garage, recently posted a great PDF of a 1955 GM brochure titled "Styling the Look of Things." It is a fascinating read, and has some great graphics and illustrations, and falls somewhere between HGTV and Mad Men. Aside from exploring the design process for cars, it goes into additional household products, as well as interior design, and graphic design. I love finding this kind of ephemera, stuff that was never designed to be around for so long. Enjoy reading it!


http://deansgarage.com/2010/styling-the-look-of-things/

Modernway Palm Springs

I just realized that almost all the things that I have been crazy about this week have been yellow! It could be that I am getting ready for "the season" to start in Palm Springs, and thinking about all sorts of interior design ideas for all the fab desert homes. I love Palm Springs' Modernway. Courtney is great with posting his new arrivals. My favorite is this sherbet-toned sofa from Knoll.

http://www.psmodernway.com/page2.html

Dwell Home Peacock Duvet

Really enjoying some vivid colors this Fall! One of my favorite bedding sets that I've seen is this great Yellow Peacock Print from Dwell Studios. This would look very up-to-the-minute in the interior design of a hip space-age bachelor pad in Palm Springs...http://www.dwellstudio.com/

Simrin Housewares

I could spend all day looking over new things for the kitchen, probably because I love to cook and entertain...One company that I loved this year at the LA Gift Show was Simrin. Some of my favorites were these tall tumblers (in orange, a preferred color) and these bright laminate trays!

http://www.simrininc.com/index.html

Yellow Owl Workshop Camera Prints

I came across Yellow Owl Workshop's fantastic prints of vintage cameras. It totally jogged my memory about two boxes of antique cameras that I hadn't unpacked since I lived in Vermont. I'll have to go get them out and figure out a way to display them. In the meantime, if you don't have a a camera collection of you own, check these out! The also have some cast ceramic pieces of vintage cameras. I like the Argus...now I have something to get to work on in my own home! http://www.yellowowlworkshop.com/prints.htm

Hedge: Hidden Gem in Cathedral City!

One of my favorite things (actually three of them) are these mid-century Blenko art glass owl bookends from Hedge in Cathedral City...Hedge is a great place to browse AND buy! Check them out at the "design" area complex in Cathedral City California...right next door is @Hom, Colin Fisher, and Spaces...

Hedge's website: http://www.hedgepalmsprings.com/

Shine Home Orange Console!

We love bright accent pieces, and this bright orange console from Shine Home is the perfect thing to brighten a foyer or just something to make you smile! Check out their great website...http://www.shinebysho.com/ There are way too many great things on their site, and I get really excited just looking at them!

The Lost Art of Mix-and-Match

Mixing in mid-century modern furniture into a contemporary home is an art. This 1970s Ebonized Buffet is hip, retro and contemporary at the same time.

If You Can't Stand the Heat...

We just got in several of these HOT Angie Thornbury Chaise Lounge Chairs...perfect for fall desert sunbathing!

Enhancing Lincoln's Legacy In Washington, D.C.

The scene of Abraham Lincoln's assassination on April 14, 1865, Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C., has been undergoing an expansion project since 2007. The theater itself reopened last year after months of renovation added a new museum and other features which cost an estimated 35 million dollars.

That was only the beginning. Work continues on the Ford's Theater Center For Education and Leadership, which has the goal of enhancing the Lincoln experience for visitors. A 10-story building located across 10th Street from the theater will house various exhibits about the aftermath of the assassination and will explore Lincoln's continued legacy. The center will be run jointly by the National Park Service and the Ford's Theater Society. The target opening date is February of 2012.

Some of the planned displays include a replica of the barn where John Wilkes Booth was shot at the end of the 12-day manhunt, and the story of the 20 day journey of the Lincoln funeral train from Washington to Springfield. Still another feature will be a 3-story tall sculpture of "books" to help people fathom just how much has been written about the 16th president.

Lincoln was a complicated man and his legacy has continued to evolve in the 145 years after his death. For some, he remains the Great Emancipator. To others, he was a tyrant who began this nation on the path to greatly expanded powers of the federal government. The director of the Ford's Theater Society, Mr. Paul Tetreault, hopes that visitors will be able to draw their own conclusions after touring the center.

This posting was based on the original article from the August 21, 2010 edition of The New York Times.