Roomsies.

My sister gave me lillies the other day when it was very sunny.

And then I thought, what if I created the illusion of wall molding by taping it off and painting the rest?



Slatted

Finally came up with something for my room that makes sense, is potentially easy to do, and a comfortable balance between permanence and temporariness (renting, after all).   Inspiration- exterior solar shading.  Also for the bed, which I mentioned a long time ago, I want to upholster just the edge of the platform that sticks out (1-3" on two sides).  Desk- mdf and/or plywood, 1" and 1/2" thick.  
No, I don't really have an Eames chair.  Yet.

When you first get up to my loft.

From my bed looking at shelves, desk, slats, and wall extension.

Looking out.

Step One: Loft Renovation

I'm a nerd.  I spent this morning excitedly surveying my house (finally!) in preparation for construction.  Monetarily, still a ways away.  But it's a step in the right direction.  So this is just what we have now- not including furniture.  Ultimately, we want to extend the existing loft and build interior windows and/or sliding glass doors above.  Here's some funny styled pics from the sketch up model.  And now, off to pool parties!

 

Where's Tim the Toolman When You Need Him.

An interesting/busy couple of days.  My side work lately had become complicated due to lack of desk.  The other day after work, filled with vigor, I found this wall mounted shelf/table in a discarded pile that I planned on putting in the niche by my bed.  Fast forward a half hour and the scene was grizzly- drywall a mess, books everywhere, and both the temperature and frustration boiling.  Just before I almost gave up on the thing, my sister came to the rescue, and with logical thinking solved everything.  Now I've got a lovely workspace where I can work whenever, on whatever.
Including- designed my invoices!  Personal milestone.  Question is, do most people who freelance just use their name, or do they have some kind of company name?  Also, what are the benefits of having a "company"?  If I wanted to get something for my computer to help with freelancing, a. Could I write part of it off for taxes? b. Do I have to have a company name to do that?  I hung out in Barnes & Noble last night (air conditioning) and picked up this book that should answer those questions... I hope. 
Also in the works, potential hosting site change, updating portfolio, yadda yadda.
My brain is sizzling, so lastly, here's the link to the Architizer page for the flyNY project I worked on (graphics).  Kite design competition, this August!

Hey, Instant Console

New things I like about my home (1) books arranged by color. I found that glass skull in my hallway. It's from Skull Vodka, and coincidentally, someone who did a home tour in NY Mag's design issue had one too. Only they used theirs for olive oil, and mine has sand in it from beaches where I backpacked (2) turning my bookshelf on its side - I also mixed that turquoise paint color myself, and that lamp used to be a floor lamp (3) chilly morning light/waking up to a giant ladder in living room.

Next Year We'll Fireproof the Centerpiece...

I'm feeling lazy, but also that it is justified to feel so.  So here is my Thanksgiving:

Awaiting My Food Coma

Turkey day is a here, and I can call it that now that I no longer indulge in tofurkey on the big day.  My big thing is setting the table.  I get a real kick out of it.  Previous years in California I experimented with various napkin folding styles, stemware styles, etc.  Our first Thanksgiving out east (two years ago) was a DIY miracle.  Table made from scraps of plywood, tealights on upturned PBR cans, tablecloth some old fabric from India disgarded from a nearby studio (washed of course).  We kept all our beverages tied to a rope hung out from the window because our fridge was too small!
This year, we've really stepped it up a notch.  Pics to come, but my sister whipped up the centerpiece.  Consisting of a large piece of driftwood found at the petite beach in Red Hook, she drilled holes into it and stuck seven white candles down the center.  It's beautiful! 
I just picked up some extra silverware, and I'm contemplating name cards.  To-do: rearrange living room furniture, assemble table for 17, set table, clean/tidy, and make my dish.
This year I'm reviving one that my brother and I tried last year: Coconut-Marshmallow Spiced Sweet Potatoes.  I've got the sweet potatoes on the stove right now!  I might nix the marshmallows though.  Maybe honey instead?  I'd stay my cooking style is pretty organic... so we'll see how it comes out.
This year I'm thankful for the opportunity to live in this wonderful city with all its design inspiration, for my loft, for having creative people around me, and mostly, for my family.
Here are some fun Thanksgiving ideas to get you in the mood.  Happy day!

Dwell Studio

jmoranmoya's photostream

Martha Stewart.  (Don't you want your table to make your guests to do a squirrel-related double-take?)

Fall Backwards

Wow, laggy laggy.  What a week!
Things are picking up at both works and I did a little freelancing on the side.  I had my aunt staying with me, as well as my dear friend, who was in town with her exhibition promoting health care reform.  I lent a wee hand in the beginning stages of design a few months ago, but the ball quickly started rolling, and it turned out wonderful.  You can follow her journey here.  
I built what can be considered my home office, after realizing that the hunchback (gobbo) situation of my previous workstation did not behoove productivity in any way.  I inherited a lovely old drafting desk that has its charm. Though I wish I was doing some hand drafting these days, just a little.  I regret tossing my t-square.  Anyways, a pic soon to come.  
A friend and I joined the NY chapter of Architecture for Humanity.  So far in the beginning stages of getting involved, but hopefully will jump in on a project soon.  It's a really great concept- a way to give back using project-specific talents.  I like the idea that I can give a service that also challenges me to think.  I don't want to count my chickens yet, so for now here's the link to their website.  
Now that the time changed, suddenly I feel like a night owl just walking home from work.  Since we're all busting out lamps lately, here's a neat one:

The Tribe by Ingo Maurer


...And my top favorite Halloween costumes that I saw:
1. Large man dressed as Julia Child (curly wig, rolling pin, voice suddenly booming "Hello dear!")
2. Double Dare contestant (tshirt, helmet with cup attached, determined expression)
3. Data from the Goonies (punching bag coming out of chest, dangling clippy teeth, weaving through crowd like an awkward sneak)

Baby It's Cold Outside (Already)!

Today marked the inaugural double-layer pants kickoff of Fall/Winter 2009.

In honor of this, I decided to celebrate a new roofing innovation that was just invented by a few brainiacs at MIT.  Designed for a materials engineering contest, a group called Thermeleon created a solution that reacts to heat and encapsulated it in a tile.  Long story short, black roof tiles in the winter turn white in the summer or when its sunny.. respectively absorbing or reflecting heat.  Read the details here. Way to be green, neat, and save money.
In other news, I'm looking for ways to retain heat in my home.  With a large south facing window, it is pretty warm during the day (now that the drafts are sealed).  And generally a portion of the heat stays throughout, judging by the temperature difference in my apt and the hallway.  But how to keep the heat longer than the day?  This one I'll have to research more.

September, you minx!

I blink for one second and the month is nearly gone.
Alas, lots to discuss. I went to the New Island Festival on Governor's Island earlier in the month. For being only an 8-minute ferry from Manhattan, its got a whole different feel. Kind of like historic suburban Philadelphia. The main action was in (eight?) historic houses that surrounded a central grassy area. In each house was a different design or cultural group, and in the middle were sculptures or installations (left). All in celebration of Dutch design. The organization and design of the event was very cohesive and intriguing from day one, including the humorously disorienting signs during the event. And another point- each group of people coming off the boat was required to witness a nonchalant ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with full Dutch fanfare. Make what you wish of that.
I'm getting increasingly interested in honing my graphic design skills. At work I've been learning tips and tricks, though I am looking for some means of lessons to get a solid education. Maybe a podcast? I want to explore typography first.
Speaking of podcasts, I've devoured almost every episode of NYC History by the Bowery Boys. The intro is enough to get you hooked. Coney Island part I and II are my favorites.
And lastly, progress on the loft-front. Long-set concrete columns and beams have posed a problem in several areas. By means of crafty C-clamps and spare bamboo, we were able to devise a way to hang our curtains off the mullions of our 18' x 10' window. Since our housewarming, we've been edging the house into better shape. It is difficult with three different tastes- minimalist, eclectic, and functional- and opposing schedules. But we're making it work, and I'm getting increasingly proud of my new domesticity. Here's to Red Hook.

New workstation

These two end tables were found by my sister. She decopaged them with a cool rose print and also found the beautiful red velvet chair. I saw the hollow wooden door on the street the other day, and dragged it in. Combined: A new place for us to draw, craft, etc!

Building Things in the Loft

Finally the aluminum ladder is gone. Replaced by this lovely part-bought/part-reclaimed wooden one. I sanded it down after we finished it and it gave me a lot of joy to know that we made something ourselves. Time to get the ball rolling.

Also here's a photo of the main space, just because.