Japanese Design...So Clever

 

 

 

 

 

 

A friend from The Netherlands visited recently, bringing wonderful house gifts which his wife had sent along.  One of the gifts was a pair of flat pieces of printed polyester, polyamide, polyethylene (see fifth photo from top) by D-Bros of Japan.  The graphic instructions showed the piece being pinched open and filled with water to convert it into a vase.  Thinking this could be a disaster, I filled the first vase with trepidation...voilà, the clever design instantly grew into a perfectly balanced, flat bottomed vase that showed off my orange Gerbera Daisies in all their glory.

Later, you'll see wineglass converted into chic little candle lamps.

A History Lesson in American Industrial Design

Here's a history lesson in American Industrial Design from an unexpected source: The United States Postal Service. Get your icon stamps at usps.com.

Designer Dog

Scooter, a Malti-poo, is a Designer Dog...

...see how chic he looks with the gray Flor carpeting, the black and white color scheme...

...and the black leather Le Corbusier chair.

Also, note his obvious design savvy as he admires the functionality of an Eileen Gray table.

(Please ignore the puppy paw prints and dribbles, 'cause Scooter doesn't shed!)

Milk Bottles Out on the Porch

Design Within Reach Goes Bungalow: British Green Adirondack chairs were purchased through the Houston DWR Studio.

Milk bottles out on the porch? Yes, each of these modern Adirondack chairs is made of 100 milk bottles, by Loll. They sit on the second-floor-screened porch of the Arts & Crafts style garage/studio out behind our 1920 bungalow.

Ligne Roset USA Closing Showrooms

Antoine Roset (right), Executive Vice President of Ligne Roset USA Corporation, at the opening of the Austin Ligne Roset Boutique last year.

As a long-time customer and devotee of the Ligne Roset style, I am saddened and stunned to learn today that many of the Ligne Roset showrooms in the USA have closed, including the Austin and Houston showrooms. Read source here.

Art With an Edge

Allegiance by Sculptor/Painter Patrick Medrano

Detail of Allegiance

The piece is mounted in it's own architectural moment with lighting. The pendulum is a percussion grenade.

Kimber Modern and a Tree Named Hillary

The courtyard at Kimber Modern B&B.

The uncommon common room of Kimber Modern B&B. Architects: Burton Baldridge Architects, Austin, Texas

Guest rooms off the courtyard.

A tree named Hillary

This tree is named Hillary, as she is the namesake of another Hillary. Both were showing signs of losing during construction and recent primaries. The B&B co-owners passionately supported both and point out that both Hillary and Hillary are thriving and looking forward to the future.

If you love modern design, solitude, and pampering, Kimber Modern in Austin is the B&B for you. Tall Husband and I loved padding barefoot across the shaded courtyard to the common room to find a buffet from which guests could put together their own breakfasts. You could stay here for a week and not see staff, which you'll love if your are weary of all the fawning that occurs at most high-end establishments. You don't even have to check in or out or carry a key card. You make your reservation on line and choose your own entry code which will let you into the main entrance and your room.

Oh...if you do find yourself at Kimber Modern, give Hillary a hug for me.

Note: The photos above were taken at a recent party sponsored by Austin's Design Within Reach Studio, Kimber Modern and Tablet Hotels. Also, see my posting about the super cool Tax Trailer which is on the roof of Kimber Modern. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

The Birth of an Icon in Austin: The Kimber Modern

DWR Austin Studio

DWR Austin, in partnership with Tablet Hotels, hosted a fabulous evening with the creators of that Über Chic B&B, Kimber Modern. So, Tall Husband and I had to hop into his red Porsche...my old Beemer just wouldn't do...and head for DWR and Kimber Modern in Austin.

Burton Baldridge, Kimber Modern's architect, and Vicki Faust, co-owner, dazzled us with the magical story of the collaboration that brought a unique, modern concept into existence.

Kimber Cavendish, (she's on the left in the middle, top photo) co-owner of Kimber Modern, drew names for free nights at the Kimber. And darn, we didn't win...!

Tall Husband and I arrive at the Kimber Modern...definitely not your grandma's B&B.

...but hey, we already had reservations at Kimber Modern, which gave us room-side seats to the great party that followed.

Note: I'll later post about the Kimber Modern party, bunnies, the Airstream trailer on the roof and a tree named Hillary.

Remember to click on photos to enlarge.

Thanks to DWR Austin Studio's Vickie Collins and staff for a great event.

Busy as a Bee

Actually this is not a bee. It is a small nectar-eating wasp, caught feasting on an antique rose at My Ranchburger. That potted rose bush now blooms at a young friend's first home.

My Ranchburger has sold. The closing was this morning. Having cleaned out decades of memorabilia in just a short period of time (just under two months!) we are a one-house family again. For several years, we have had two homes in the same city: a main home (My Ranchburger) and a weekend getaway (The Bunny Bungalow.) Sounds strange, I know, but think of the short drives and the convenience.

We have great friends who have given a home to the Ranchburger's furniture and art, or have found others to take some of our things...the big recycle event!

So, you will find us fulltime at The Bunny Bungalow. Come back to visit this blog, for I shall continue to post about modern and contemporary design.

Putting All Our Eggs in One Basket

Our Ranchburger is "Sale Pending." So it seems that we will be downsizing...from two homes in the same city, to one...a tiny 1920's bungalow.

I shall continue to write about modern design and the minimalist life here at this blog. It's just that I'll not have My Ranchburger - well it will be my virtual ranchburger. We will be taking our Le Corbusier furniture with us to the garage/studio that we are building out back of the bungalow. What a shock that will be for visitors, walking into an Arts & Crafts style building then finding oneself in a French modern space. I love shocks!

May Day

Hibiscus at My Ranchburger

May will be our last month at My Ranchburger, so we take our memories with us, leaving only their footprints.

For Sale: My Ranchburger

It's official. My Ranchburger is for sale. We are looking for a great family to fill the place with their belongings, to feel the warm embrace of this house, as they spin their own memories with which to fill every nook.

See the listing here.

Art Discovery

3'x4' art piece that's been hidden away in the garage for ten years.

As I have previously written, Tall Husband and I are preparing to downsize from two houses to one. We are selling My Ranchburger and have moved into The Bunny Bungalow full time. In the process of cleaning out the garage at My Ranchburger, we found a piece of art by our twin granddaughters, Sofia and Andrea. I remember when the two found a blank piece of cardboard and decided on this joint project. They were four that summer.

At four, they were greatly influenced by Joan Miró, the artist and the Powerpuff Girls, a television action animation. If you look closely, you can see the little Miró stars and of course the twins' version of a Powerpuff girl. Sofia recently attempted to take full credit for the drawing, pointing out that only her signature is on the piece. I reminded her that her signature appears on many pieces that Andrea did solo when they were younger. Sofia admitted to the forgeries but defended the misdeeds, saying that she only signed the ones that "showed real artistic talent."

Note: The Twins have just turned fourteen and will be defending their title of district doubles champs in tennis next month. They move across the court as graceful as swans on water...then kill you at the net.