A Perfect Day For Bananafish

What a perfect title. Rest In Peace J.D. Salinger. The bathtub scene in Franny And Zooey made me laugh out loud, every time I read it. Holden Caulfield's little sister Phoebe. Goddamn Phoebe I loved her. I loved Salinger. We didn't read him in school. I went to Catholic schools, not at all liberal or progressive. I was about as self destructive as Holden Caulfield and managed both an expulsion from boarding school myself, and one from all girls Catholic college too.

Reading saved my life. My grandmother taught me to read when I was 3. I read Gone With The Wind in 4th or 6th grade. What ever grade it was, the nuns did not approve. I was always in trouble, never studying, always a mouth on me, but boy could I read. Books showed me there was a larger world out there, different kinds of people, everybody didn't wear a uniform. I wore one for 12 years.

A big thank you to all the authors who opened doors to different rooms for me, who led me down different paths than the ones I was shown. Who provided a much needed escape hatch. Who continue to enrich my life every day. Let's hear it for the written word.

Hello, pattern book!

We've been waiting for this pattern book to arrive in the post but it hasn't come yet and this is the first we've seen of it. ( Over at Print and Pattern ) Its got our Isak Tree print on the front! Hurray!

Bambino Goodies

Thanks to Kat over at Bambino Goodies for featuring some of our new feature wall papers.

The Bachelor at The Madonna Inn

Confession time: I love The Bachelor.

Please don't stop reading my blog! I love The Bachelor because of the drama, the absurdity, and the pure entertainment. It's a guilty pleasure and I have no excuse for it. I'm sure you have a show like that, right? Anyway, I know a lot of you are feeling disillusioned about this fact so let's get going on the pure entertainment for you! In the last episode, the crazy girls and the bachelor, Jake, stayed in this hotel, The Madonna Inn. I was blown away at the unique and surprising rooms. They are not your typical boutique hotel rooms, like the bachelor, they are so much more.

There is lots of talk about how crazy the bathrooms are in this hotel but very few pictures because of the fact that, well, they are bathrooms! Everything seems to be made of rock here. Showers look like rock waterfalls, too.

The lounge restaurant is full of these cushy horseshoe shaped booths in red which seems to be a color used a lot around the hotel.

This is one of my favorite rooms. I love the sleek circular staircase and the intricate strange ceiling. This room is called "Just Heaven."

Do you like fur? Well this room is for you (I'm looking at you D.). This room is called "the Caveman Room." Everything seems to be furnished in leopard fur and rocks. I wonder what it's like to actually be in this room!

Remember when I said there were lots of rocks everywhere? Yeah. Large wing chairs in the lobby seem to be dwarfed by the massive boulders. The Madonna Inn, which was founded over 45 years ago, is actually named for the owners, Alex and Phyllis Madonna.

These rooms do seem a little (a lot) kitch, but at least they stand out. Seems like the perfect spot for some drama on the Bachelor, right?

This looks like one of the quirkiest hotels I've ever seen. It's right up there with the hotel made out of ice that I blogged on last year. Each room is some sort of fantastical world sort of like a movie set, which is perfect for California. Next time I'm in California I really must take a look at this motel. Has anybody been to it? Just so we're clear, I promise I won't talk about The Bachelor again unless it concerns interior design--unless someone wants to gossip about the latest episode!! No? Yes? ANY TAKERS??

Alicia B.

Petit Trianon: the grand stairhall

I'm about to start a comprehensive series of posts on the Petit Trianon utilizing drawings and my photographs; not all at once, mind you! What better place to start than the stairhall where any tour begins. Like many grand houses, the Petit Trianon is designed on a Piano Nobile layout. The ground floor is relegated to servants quarters (with the exception of the stairhall, guards room and a billiards room which all flank the courtyard to the bottom of the drawing). Above you see the ground floor plan.

The stair wraps the grand 2 story space and brings you up to the main floor above, which contains the entertaining areas as well as the primary bedroom and boudior.

This section shows the relationship a little better in blue. The main kitchen is the area on the ground floor with the large fireplace and the salon is above. The top floor were guest and servant bedrooms. I think the building is best understood here in section as it contains numerous floor and ceiling levels: not handicapped accessible!

The view above from the guards room, through the stairhall and into the billiards room shows the beautiful marble floors in the hall as well as the enfilade. The light was amazing in this space reflecting off the limestone walls, as it was within the whole house.

Stepping into the stairhall (along with the other tour members, it was crowded!) you notice the beautiful limestone staircase with gilded iron handrail. The symbols in the center portion are the monogram of Marie Antoinette. The low doorway (see the gentleman ducking) steps down into the kitchen.

The lantern crowns the space: I would love to see the room in the evening lit by it!

The doors and shutters are painted a light blue which adds some color to the neutral space.

I loved the juliet balconies and windows into the space, much like a courtyard. This one straight ahead opens into the private dressing room of the master bedroom.

A closeup of the railing where you can see the gilded monogram of Marie Antoinette.

A detail of one of the limestone brackets which decorate the room.

I'll end this first tour with some elevations, you should recognize them after the photos!

Next up, the billiards room!

Spring News

 

These are extracts from the new collaboration range with Three Little Trees. Gorgeous kids clothes featuring Isak prints. All available in the shop shortly! Foto: Luminessence, Australia.

The Simple Things

Today Soul Aperture blog is sending 1.00 to Doctors Without Borders in Haiti for every blog that lists the simple things that make their souls sing.
Let me count the ways:


Sunshine. A summer day in June. Being at home cooking during a rain
or snow storm. Windows wide open with birds singing and a breeze blowing.
Discovering a new author who has written lots of books. Rereading a favorite
book. An iced grande skim latte, especially one drunk with friends all talking a
mile a minute. Laughing at work. Working in the garden. The first
snowdrop, lily of the valley, smell of lilac, fruit tree blossoms. Taking a cool
shower after many hot hours weeding. Feeding friends and family. Being fed
by friends and family. Finding a new blog that speaks to my heart. Exercising
my heart muscles. Loving, living every moment of my life, feeling gratitude.



From the garden: ripe tomatoes, juicy raspberries, fresh basil, the first fig.

At work: a sharp knife, fresh flowers, a beautiful arrangement by a coworker.

At home: flannel sheets in the winter, cool cotton in the summer, a cup of tea, walking barefoot on clean floors.