beachbungalow8

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:27:00 +0000

photo credit: elena shabalina

oh, and also, I'd like to fill my house this weekend with the smells of pancakes, fresh coffee, fruit and the sounds of
Tin Hat Trio::

it's

"I live in Brooklyn. By choice." - Truman Capote

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:25:00 +0000

I found this mildly interesting. But I know I'm in the minority of being bored with the whole, Breakfast at Tiffany's obsession. And I'm always a sucker for looky-loo, historical house tours of sorts.

Here's an inside look at the digs for those of you, not so jaded as I:

The Upper East Side brownstone is currently owned by Peter Bacanovic , of Martha Stewart insider trading infamy. He bought it in 2000 for 1.88 (more like, 'snagged it'. I had no idea prime property in NYC was going for that 12 yrs ago ) and has it on the market for: $5,850,000.00. Here's the skinny if you need more deets

The party scene, and many others, were filmed on a sound stage about 10 miles from where I sit typing this. But look at 0:16 in the film below (try to ignore the, very un-P.C. Mickey Rooney in 'yellow-face') at least they tried to recreate the actual interior .

how's that flat screen treatin' ya? Nothing like highlighting a beautiful fireplace by shoving a panel of modern technology right in there.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

and by odd coincidence, the town house in which Truman Capote lived, while writing Breakfast At Tiffany's, is also on the market.

.....and to be honest, this one rings my bell by a mile.

"....The Brooklyn Heights, Greek-Revival four-bay townhouse was built in 1839 on a four-square country villa plan. Three-story elliptical mahogany staircase with rosette oculus window at the top. Double parlor with 12+/- ceilings. Interior period detail designed by Minard Lafever. 40+/- columned Charleston porch along rear of house leading to garden." read more here

Capote lived in the Garden Apartment for ten years. It's yours for $13,995, 000.00. Of course, it never matters what it is, I always choose the most expensive.

that is all.

retro editorial

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:48:00 +0000

everything, the palette, the photography, the styling....

'The Dream Weaver'

photo: Daniel Sannwald

styling: Lucy Ewing

Model: Iris Egbers

Publication: The Sunday Times style 5/11

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:26:00 +0000

photo credit::tumblr

There are a lot of reasons why I shouldn't like this song, "Video Games", by Lana Del Rey - the low energy dirgyness of it, being number one. And maybe the weirdness of the lyrics ( My, "12 yr old boy thinking" has me going to weird places when I hear, 'Swinging in the backyard" ....what does that mean? ) But oddly, I keep wanting to go back and listen to it again. However, do it with caution. And not if you've been diagnosed with seasonal depression or any other kind of malaise of the mind for that matter.

......And with that, enjoy!

&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;th

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

We often talk about owning a house in the mountains. I vacilate between how I would design and decorate it. One part of me wants something very "Chalet Chic" with layers of European antiques, rich textiles and important art. The other side of me, just wants something that allows us to live among the trees, simply ( still with great art ). The former would be host to formal dinners and beautiful Christmas holidays while the latter, a more practical concept, would be perfect for kids playing board games and general family loafing-a place of simplified beauty. After seeing these photos, I think my mind has been made up.

Sebastopol residence:: designed by San Francisco architects, Turnbull Griffin Haesloop

You can read more about the project here.

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Charles Eames, having a toy moment....I think I need this poster of a photo orignally printed in LIFE Magazine. It would've probably given my kids nightmares when they were little, but we're all a little older now.

{photo :: alan grant}

“I’m a little taken aback by anyone calling himself an artist because of my feeling that that’s the kind of designation that other people should give. You can be an artist in any field, but getting a degree to call yourself an artist would be like getting a diploma to call yourself a genius. If your work is good enough, it can be art, but art isn’t a product. It’s a quality. Sometimes that’s lost sight of. Quality can be in anything.”
—Charles Eames

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:14:00 +0000

It's funny, I'm trying to think back upon when I started to need such order in a house that it came to a level, of neurosis. I know that in high school this wasn't going on. Most of the time my school uniforms lay in heaps of navy blue wool, all over my room. The logic being, that it saved time because I only had to swing my legs out of bed and into my skirt. See? efficiency! It was the same sort of logic that brought me, 'Why make your bed, when you're only going to mess it up at bed time!"

I think something happened around the time I moved into a sorority and lived with 3 girls in one room. You touched anything on my dresser, you were dead. I knew if you 'borrowed' a bit of my perfume, or picked up a framed party pic to get a closer look. God. I must have been a nightmare. Amazing that these girls are still my closest friends. Don't even get me started on living with babies and all of the plastic, primary crap that comes with or my daughter who is by nature a ball of explosive creativity leaving behind messes of mass proportion as she goes through the house or my very masculine, 'boy' of a husband.

In order not to end up in a fetal position, rocking in a corner, I've had to come to grips with the reality that, "A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of A Misspent Life". It's been a hard program to stay with, and one day at a time is chanted often as I give it up to my higher domestic power.

Mary Randolph Carter, celebrates a house that is both beautiful and lived in. Her book A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of A Misspent Life, records this mantra through beautiful photographs that are both encouraging and inspiring. "Don’t scrub the soul out of your home"; "Make room for what you love". I know I'm not completely 'there' yet, because although pretty, a few of the shots from this book make me itch.

{ this book's been out for a few years and its been covered 'round these parts. But like most things, it made its self known to me during a particular day of weakness, when I really needed to be reminded of this }

artist::jorey hurley

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:19:00 +0000

I've been meaning to do a post on print and textile artist, Jorey Hurley for quite sometime. She's sort of a design super hero to me.

A little digression, and personal sharing: when I was a freshman in college, and was enrolled in Design 101, the first few weeks, we were given the assignment of drawing several, 4 x6 boxes and then placing 24 dots within the space. As the weeks progressed, we were allowed to add color. I didn't 'get' the whole assignment and, found it tedious, slow moving and a waste of time. What I didn't 'get' back then, but understood much later, was that this was an exercise in composition, using the simplest elements.

Over the years, I've recalled this assignment and quietly thanked, Professor, Eleanor DuQuoin who put up with my eye rolling and questioning of the task (as I saw it to be). Because, as elementary as it seemed at the time, the importance of learning how to place anything in a given space is essential to all good design. And you know what? It's not that easy to create, 'simple design'.

Jorey Hurely has the ability to see pattern in design everywhere she looks and then, breaks it down into the perfect composition. Her colors are always clear and sharp adding to the overall happiness these prints evoke.

Jorey was on the design team for 5 years of one of my favorite textile houses, Hable Construction and has worked on surface design projects for their clients, including Procter + Gamble, Garnet Hill, and Barney’s New York.

And if that's not enough, she had her own bag line that sold to boutiques in SF. Oh wait, you want more? She studied art at Princeton and surface/textile design at FIT and then, three years of law school. See? She's kind of a stud.

She sells prints as well, which you can buy here: Jorey Hurley @ etsy

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:44:00 +0000

Listening to this, Goyte cover, all week. Featuring Walk off the Earth + Ingrid Michaelson. The video itself is pretty awesome if you have a chance, go check it out ::

( does anyone else get hooked on a song and play it over and over? thank god for headphones or I'd drive everyone around me nuts. )

Happy Weekend!

A quick tour...

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:51:00 +0000

A few weeks before the Holiday Madness was to begin, Nick came to me and said, 'Guess what? I just booked a trip for us to London! And we're leaving on Christmas Day!!' In my head I'm going through the list of things that hadn't been done, gifts that hadn't been purchased and sent, the photo for the card needed to be taken, the ordering of the card, the addressing of the cards.... ornaments that hadn't been pulled from storage, the tree needed to be delivered, what are we doing for Christmas Eve dinner? The girls are out of school and home for two weeks - which means, 2 people standing around staring at me while I attempt to work saying, "Julie McCoy I mean, mom, we're bored" ....... and oh, that dinner party for 22 that I needed to pull together in celebration of his birthday. December is major. Leaving on a major trip at this time is kinda huge.

Do I sound like an ingrate? I don't mean to. Honestly, I was thrilled, and am always so grateful that I've married someone with wanderlust and a generous spirit. But the stress of creating The Perfect Christmas/Birthday for everyone was weighing heavily on me. Throwing a major trip on top of the pile, had me a little freaked. When would I have time to research everything we needed to do, see and experience? I mean, you can't just, 'play it by ear' when you go on a trip like this. You'll miss someone's tomb or the Magna Carta. You need to have an itinerary.

As it turned out, Birthday party was a success ( thanks to a local restaurant ) cards got mailed out, gifts were purchased and sent, tree was put up and decorated.....in the end, Birthday/Christmas happened. So as I bade farewell to my little birds for the week ( who were heading to some relatives in the Mid West ) I pulled out my luggage and packed the best I could, including a couple of books on London that I was hoping to read on the flight. I had also consulted one of my best resources for travel, my friend Karen. She totally gets what I like from food to galleries. And her recommendations are always exactly spot on.

The birthday party that happened, 10 days before Christmas (holiday birthdays are tough business. Vying for importance against that, other birthday, is not easy )

So here is a brief (sort of) photo tour of our week...

The view from our hotel, The Cadogan, in Knightsbridge. Loved the location, loved the people who worked there, super comfy rooms.

Not a day went by that we didn't hit a gallery

The Main Hall in the Natural History Museum ( taken with ye olde iPhone )

The great hall o' minerals. I wasn't much interested in the minerals but the room was pretty incredible.

frozen face in front of the Carousel and ice rink (these people love their ice rinks at Christmas time)

Street art near the Tate Modern.

The Tate Modern building, in itself, is worth a visit. It's housed in what used to be the Bankside Power Station. You can read more about it here photo credit from here

And to the Saatchi Gallery...

The floors and the light at the Saatchi gallery were beautiful. The whole building (an old Military School ) is so well done.

Gorgeous, moving and provocative works.

The above paintings were huge. And detailed and beautiful. I can't find the artist's name but when I do, I'll add it. I assumed that I could look it up on their website when I got home, but have had no luck.

I thought the Saatchi gallery was great for its architecture and art, but some of the art, just seemed a bit questionable. Here's a mirror, that quivers, activated by a motion detector. Art?

hmmmm. I don't get it.

More galleries......

And of course the Tower of London had to be done, if only to look at the wall etchings left by the captive prisoners imprisoned in the towers or the oldest, authentic 'Tudor' houses in existence. So cool.

A tourist's gotta have her map.

Stepping out in my new DVFs that I picked up at The Community Collection.

The last time I was in London (in the 90s) the food, was not memorable. Karen mentioned that I needed to investigate the whole 'Gastropub' movement. And boy did we.

Our first pub was the Cadogan Arms in Chelsea. The food was served on a plank and we dined on perfectly cooked sirloin and ale. The place itself has a 'hunter's lodge' vibe to it. That began our tour into pub live. We started asking waiters where their favorite pub was. Not the touristy type, but where they went on their day off. We crisscrossed the city eating at dark little pubs with their uniform, black lacquered fronts. Shepard's Pie? bring it. Beef Ale pie? alrighty Blood Pudding? mkay. Jingle Knockers? whatever you say.

pheasant pie and mash. rich.

mmmmmm. Fish + Chips and some sort of meat pie.

I'd be huge if I lived in London.

Mind yer head, mate. This became our favorite pub. It's in Kensington. It's a rabbit warren of little rooms with even smaller doors one has to climb through in order to pass to the next.

photo courtesy of their website.

We didn't just hang out in pubs the whole time, we also managed to spend a fair amount of time on the Fine Dining genre of restaurants (which i'll list at the end)

Rowley's on Jermyn Street. A nice little place to have a quiet lunch.

(above ) Probably the best Indian Food I've ever had. And the place itself had some of the best people watching, ever.

I did not eat here, but felt it would have been appropriate given the gout-tour we were on.

...............................

Off to the Cotswolds for the day (not long enough)

"meats"

I fell in love with this area of England, many years ago, and coming back here always makes my heart sing. It's great because it hasn't changed in a few thousand years, so you always know what to expect.

The requisite visit to, Shakespeare's boyhood home.

Shopping? why yes we did. And lots of window shopping as well...

The Giuseppe Zanotti shop window on Sloane St.

I was a little disappointed to see the Forever21 lined up next to, Urban Outfitter, American Apparel, Gap, and Anthro. I was hoping their Anthro would be different. But it wasn't. I could have been in El Segundo plaza just south of LAX - not Chelsea. They did have wallpaper in stock, which ours does not. bonus.

The Trisha Guild windows, on King's Road, were so pretty.

This was just a Frieze on the outside of Turnbull + Asser. Nick thought the photo looked like 'baby head salad' at first glance. It's not.

It's all in the way you say it. (btw, that's a steep penalty)

Alexander McQueen shop windows. Bodice made of china.

Partridges, on King's Road, had a whole shelf of 'bonbons' packaged in the most beautifully boxes. I drag Nick into every Grocery Store, when we're out of the country. I find it fascinating to see what they have that we don't. Ditto on the pharmacies. (we must have hit Boots, 10 times for various needs)

primping for the evening. (the weather was balmy enough for just a trench on some nights)

Trafalgar square on New Year's day, with the Olympics count down clock.

Party's over, time to go......

home.

Good bye fog, hello smog. ( thank god I live at the beach, makes coming home from the trip of a lifetime, a little easier on the landing side )

Oh! the places we went. A few of our favorites.......

Pubs:

Cadogan Arms, Chelsea

Princess of Prussia, Aldgate, London

Charles Dickens

Windsor Castle, Kensington

Restaurants:

Bar Boulud

8 Bells, Chipping Campden

Champions

Les Portes des Indes

Patara Thai

it's what i wore...

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

coat:: burberry, prorsum

I'm back!! yes, it was, 'amazing', 'fabulous' and every other overused superlative. My god, London, at the holidays is something to behold. I hadn't been for years and I must say, it was better than I remember. I will follow up, hopefully, this week with photos from our trip and highlights of our newly found love for Gastropubbing among other things. Happy New Year!!!

London calling

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

....be back next week.

it's what I wore

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Black + White skirt - H&M
Pony fur pumps - Banana Republic circa '95
Monogram ring -Jennifer Zeuner | Jewelry Link Bracelet-J.Crew | Glasses- Ray Ban
Green Cardigan with ball trim- Anthropologie circa '05

peace out

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

credit :: michael b. harrington photography + minted design

have a great holiday week see you next year.....

worn

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Plaid Wool Jacket, with detachable, faux fur collar - Goodwill + H&M
Leopard i phone case - J.Crew
Vintage snake skin + brass bangle - Etsy
Vintage brass bauble bracelet - Etsy
Gum Shoe - Sperry

..............................................................................................................

For the past month, I've been disciplining myself to sit down, once a week, and make-art. I'm not sure why I even have to force myself to do something that, in the end, brings me great satisfaction. But for the past several years, I've all but given up painting. Illustrating has always been one of the few things that has always come easily to me. I've never been one to take the easy road, though, and instead like to fill my life with challenges - or rather, I take this gift for granted.

This time of year, is one of reflection and of being thankful for all that we have. It almost seems sacrilege to me not to embrace our innate abilities and outwardly express our own uniqueness through creativity. On the other hand, it's not always easy to stop, slow down, get in tune with that inner creative light that burns in each of us. Sometimes we have to make time - if only for half an hour.

I want to propose a challenge to you: Once a week, make time for yourself, sit quietly and create, using whatever medium you feel most comfortable. There is no judgement here. Just create freely with the knowledge that self expression can never be wrong. Post your art/recipe/writing/sewing/music etc...on Monday. Then, let me know via a comment, and I will include a link with my own Creative Monday post.

I hope this provides inspiration, whether you participate or just become a weekly on-looker to the challenge. xo

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:59:00 +0000

headed up to the mountains for a few days. The calm before the Christmas Mayhem....peace out.

( p.s. I want that Pendleton Blanket)

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Why not....

Pick-up some great temp. tats. from Tattly. 'Designy Temporary Tattoos' They won't make your mom sad. In fact, get some for her stocking.

......................................................................................................................

Proseco + Popsicles. huh. Why have I never thought of this? fun AND tasty. Maybe even make your own pops, with real fruit.

......................................................................................................................

Homophone time: DIY a lampshade. Super easy tutorial, right here

......................................................................................................................

Why not.

What else do you have going on this time of year?

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:47:00 +0000

What I Wore to the Parent|Teacher conference :

Free People, Vegan, Moto-Jacket with hood (except I didn't include the hood, here)
Striped Shirt - J.Crew, ( Spring '11)
Free People - rivet embellished, acid washed, skinny jeans - that i cut off (3yrs old)
'Spike The Punch' painted, rhinestone necklace
Free People , boots
Ray Ban Aviators

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:33:00 +0000

photo: andrea galvani

I think this is the opposite of a unicorn.

oh, and.......

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:28:00 +0000

Stay with me here....I'm not normally one for cloyingly cute videos, but there are some seriously, AWEsome shots in here that shouldn't be missed.

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:09:00 +0000

daaaaang. I know, I know, these are so, Brad Goreski, 2011 fashion week { and who doesn't love Brad anyway? } . I want a Cambridge Satchel.

I really want the gold, the satchel love child of Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons + Cambridge Satchel Company, for my upcoming trip to London. Seems like the perfect, tourist-not-trying-to-look-like-a-tourist-but-maybe-still-looking-touristy/chic, bag. yes.

and, also? those shoes. GUH!

GERONIMOOOOOOOOO!

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Tell me these are new to some of you out there. I can't tell anymore what's new and what's so done it's no longer worthy of blog-versation. I love Confetti Systems with all my heart n' soul, and Geronimo Balloon Troopers are right there with my adoration for tinsely, sugary-colored, shiny, crepey, balloony creations of celebration.

I swear, I've sat and stared at photos of these things, and even if I could figure out how they're made, I'd never put the hours in, it must take to create them.

macaroons are the grossest tasting confection on the trend market currently, but they look perfect here.

What are "Balloon Troopers" ? I personally, had never heard of the term (or maybe it's totally made up).

The troopers are made using vintage ribbons, hand-marbled Italian tissue paper, metallic frill, gold tape and a whole lotta other stuff. Right here in L.A. they don't come cheap, but if you're trying to go all 'budget', try and make one of these yourself. My guess is that the starting price of one balloon at $55.00 will sound totally worth it.

..............................................................................................................................

I didn't want to bring this up initially, but now that I've had a convo with Jihan Zencirli, maker and artisan of these beautiful creatures, I want to add an explanation for something on their site.

Here's the deal: the Geronimo Balloon Troopers gang is planning a mass, balloon bombing of 499 balloons { time and date is undisclosed until 48 hours prior } They especially welcome photographers and videographers to capture the event, which will no doubt be breathe taking....but what about the ocean and all of its denizens ? When it rains in L.A., all things get washed into the bay, and things like balloons, get gobbled up by our beautiful sea creatures who mistake them for food.

This morning, I emailed, Jihan and she responded immediately. Here is her response:

"Thank you for your email! And for your concern. The way I have the 499 routes structured will require my volunteers to retrieve the balloons within 24 hours. Contracts/stewardship agreements too. The balloons, balloon string are also biodegradable.

I could talk all day about it!
Thanks again for being a conscientious fan. You are the very first person to ask these questions- and I'm glad you did!
Warmly,
Jihan "

I know that many of you are environmentally aware and this might be broached. I wanted to let Jihan, explain so that this wouldn't be a conversation. And from someone who's raising kids at the beach, please be responsible for your balloons. Don't let them float off. What goes up, must comes down. Also, sign up to get the 'launch' email so you can be a part of this mission!

a little woody

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:20:00 +0000

Aren't these the cool? Bole flooring uses nature's.... natural curves to create these lyrically lined floor planks.....

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:17:00 +0000

saturday's soccer game outfit.......

Karen Walker, sungalsses
FXXI plaid scarf
j.crew plaid shirt
FXXI polka dot sweater
U.O. velvet slippers
Gap, Always Skinny Pants
Seiko gold watch + Saks, vintage pearl necklace

noreply@blogger.com (beachbungalow8) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:33:00 +0000


photo::chinako.

deuces.