Evolving in a Week

When last we saw the "guest room," Mom had taken up residence to be near her new job while awaiting the closing of their new house.

Well, I am pleased to say my parents are now officially residents of Massachusetts and, as of last week, our extra bedroom was back to being a blank slate.

I'm beyond embarrassed to admit, this is how this room has sat for the past 2 years (there was a large purple chair and a half in here prior to Mom's stay, but it went to a better home with a friend).  I know this may come as a HUGE shock, but zero design went into this space.  Not an ounce.  Not even a drop of paint.

The challenge of this room is it's variety of functions:

• den
• work out room
• office space for me (now that I've conceded the office to Hubby)

...and all this needs to work in around 100sf of space.  Recently, a lighbulb went off and I finally knew exactly what to do in the space and over the weekend, I got to work.

I flipped the way we previously used the space and somehow, with adding storage, made the room feel much larger.  (The following pics are in progress and there was no styling involved.)

I still have a good deal of finishing to do for it to feel complete (mounting the tv on the wall, fixing the secretary desk, accessorizing/styling...)

This is the first time since living here that this room has felt like part of this house and not just the forgotten space.  It makes me happy.  Very Happy.  I can't wait to really polish it up and let it shine!

(5 points to anyone who finds Charlie, the orange cat, in the progress pictures!  It's like a furry Where's Waldo)

Design on Wheels

I'm a secret car geek.  Not in the 'muscle cars, vroom vroom' kinda way, but in the 'I appreciate good design in all forms' kind of way.  Vintage cars are a work of art.  I fully intend on owning a Corvette Stingray (late 60s, early 70s) and a '57 Chevy Bel Aire at some point in my life.  I was raised going to car shows with my parents who would show off their '46 Plymouth Special Deluxe or whichever car my dad was tinkering with at the time. For almost as long as I've been living in the Boston area, Dad's been talking about going to a local car museum, but the timing just never worked out.  It's been years since I went to a car show or a cruise night, but the local museum, The Larz Anderson Auto Museum, was having a VW event on their grounds in addition to their usual exhibits.  My parent's and I used this as an excuse to make the time.

I got FAR more than I bargained for.  In fact, I didn't even bring my good camera (even though Dad suggested it), because I didn't realize the amazing design I was going to see. (WARNING: lots of pics ahead)

The museum is the amazing stone structure in the background.  The property this is on was originally the estate of the Anderson family & the museum is in the carriage house.  Yes, I said carriage house.  Doesn't your carriage house have doors like this?  What, you don't have a carriage house?!

In the feature exhibit World War II and the British Automobile in America, they paired period outfits with each car.  How cool is that?  Leopard luggage and amazing cars.

The Anderson family's personal collection is a part of the permanent exhibit.

Meet the Andersons

They bought a new car almost every year for 32 years starting their collection in 1899.  Totally typical.  Especially for that era, right?  14 of their original 32 are still in the collection, making this the oldest auto collection.

Why yes, that is a car in the library.  How else would you have a library dedicated to automobile history?

As I mentioned, the VW event was our excuse for the visit.  There were all sorts, from perfectly restored to perfectly rusty and everything in between.

Camp in style in a VW bus

Of course, people watching is always so entertaining at public events.  How's that for a baby carriage?

You Know You're a Designer When...

....you can't shop in certain stores because of poor design. I actually wasn't planning to blog today, but the mall decided otherwise.

Have you ever heard of the store Love Culture?  Me neither, but apparently one recently opened at the mall by me.  I was intrigued and wanted to check it out- until I took two steps in.

The design was promising.  The entry portal was an amazing patterned mirror/glass glowing element. (Although it took me a minute to find the name of the store on the entrance... not the best branding).  Please excuse the poor cell phone pictures, but I just had to share/vent.

Your computer does not deceive you- that store is BLUE.  I first thought it was glass tinted for effect.

Nope!  This store is the WORST example of LED lighting I have EVER seen.  The overall design of the store wasn't bad- it was your standard young/hip store.  If you changed the sign it could be Forever 21 or Wet Seal or (insert generic "hip" store here)  But WOW, the lighting.  Being in that store hurt my eyes and my design sensibilities.  If I was a lighting designer, I'd be crying right now.

LED lighting is the current thing in lighting and can be completely and totally amazing when done right.

This. is. not. right.  Your store should not be blue.

Yes, LEDs are naturally blue, however modern technology allows you to get them in any color- including crisp white... even colors to mimic incandescent light.

Love Culture, you have now joined Hollister on the list of stores this design snob will not step foot in.  Congratulations.