Longing for an Edouard-Wilfred Buquet Lamp

Studio Bauhaus lamp from Neenas Lighting, was inspired by Edouard-Wilfred Buquet's 1927 Counterpoise task table lamp.

These lamps, inspired by Buquet's design are from Restoration Hardware and on sale! Hmm, should I?

This is an original Edouard-Wilfred Buquet Counterpoise table Lamp from the collection of Museum of Modern Art (MoMA.)


We must find replacement lamps for our bedroom at My Ranchburger. The one's we have were purchased years ago as temporary lamps. You know, just until we found the lamp of our dreams. Now one of those lamps has a transformer that is on the blitz. And the Edouard-Wilfred Buquet lamp is a lamp a modernist could lust after. But apparently no one sells a satisfactory reproduction; not even MoMA. A quick Internet search reveals that originals can be had for $4,000-$7,000 USD. This is quite out of my price range for a couple of lamps to put in the master bedroom. But they could look so cool on our grey Italian bed's credenza.

This will stir the ire of the purist but I had rather have a good reproduction with a halogen bulb. To my eye, a modern design does not look so chic if it's dented or tattered.

Sometimes one has to be content with longing. After all, it's not the lamp on my side of the bed that's blinking and fizzing; is it, Tall Husband?

Ferris Wheel: Downtown Houston

Ferris wheel as seen from the Architecture Center of Houston

Admittedly, this isn't La Grande Roue de Paris (as seen on Daily Photo Blog à Paris) but it is a ferris wheel. I had no idea there was a permanent wheel in the City until I happened to spot it out the back window of the Architecture Center of Houston (ArCH) the other evening. It is located at the Downtown Aquarium on Bagby Street at Memorial Drive.

If you are a visitor or a Houstonian, you might be interested in reviews of the facility at Tripadvisor prior to planning a visit. According to most reviews, it is for young families.

Naü-haus Now

Paul Kittelson: Modern Conveniences at Naü-haus
September 6, 2008-September 30, 2008

Seen at Naü-haus: Floyd Newsum, Artist & Professor of Art at The University of Houston-Downtown and Artist Burt Long

Kurt Baxter, Owner of Designage in Houston and designer of The Bunny Bungalow blog card

Nancy Smith, Associate Director of Naü-haus

The man with two red shoes is not a spy, he is Dan Mitchell Allison, Naü-haus owner. Dan is also an artist. We have such an impressive collection of his art that My Ranchburger has been referred to as the Dan Mitchell Allison Museum.

99K House Competition Opening Reception

Last night, the 2008 99K House Competition opening reception was packed with design enthusiasts. The Competition is sponsored by the Rice Design Alliance and the American Institute of Architects, Houston Chapter. The challenge to the designers and architects was "to create an innovative design for a small house that is affordable, sustainable, and energy efficient." There were 184 entries from around the United States. The complete list of participants is at http://www.the99khouse.com/.

The competition winner was Hybrid/ORA from Seattle, Washington with Core, a compact, highly adaptable house. Core will be built in Houston. The City of Houston is donating a site for the house through the Land Assemblage Redevelopment Authority (LARA) initiative.

Architecture Center Houston

Houston's Mayor Bill White outlined an opportunity for the design savvy, who can qualify for FHA loans, to build a 99k home on inner city land. The city will assist the future homeowner or investor with low cost land and other aspects of turning one of these modern, energy efficient designs into a reality.


Some of the finalist's models above and below.

At such design events as these, the potential of running into friends with like passions is the big draw and this event did not disappoint.

More friends, some old and some new.

Another winner at this reception was Gourmet Familia, Charles M. Morales' catering company. Also, the gourmet marshmallows by Sharon Erisman of Queen Bee Marshmallows, were a true taste experience. Pictured above are the cayenne pepper with dark chocolate marshmallows, my favorite. Gourmet Familia is located at 12633 Memorial Drive, Suite 181, Houston, Texas. 832-526-8236; Queen Bee Marshmallows: 281-433-5235.

Grand Opening of Cork Wine Bar at Pearland Town Center

Scenes around the new Pearland Town Center

Yesterday evening we met friends for dinner at the New Pearland Town Center in Pearland, Texas.

After dinner, they invited us to the grand opening of Cork Wine Bar, a modernist bar with just the right touch of dark, sultry woods and beautifully done low lighting. One of Cork's bars is the traditional take on a bar with a bartender; then there is a long, sleek bar that has seating on both sides, a design which promotes face-to-face conversation. Then there is the knock-out, back-lit, wall-to-wall wine rack. This all adds up to warm, cozy chic.

Wall-to-wall wine rack at Cork Wine Bar.

This has got to be the coolest wine rack conceived, from both a design and a technical perspective: the lighting is a high-tech lighting that remains cool, so as not to warm the wine.

Best wishes to owners, David and Kimberly Swartz. That's some cool wine bar you have!

99K House Exhibition Opening

According to the e-mail invitation I received, the Rice Design Alliance and AIA Houston will open their exhibition of 66 selected entries to the 99K House Competition on September 3, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Architecture Center Houston, 315 Capitol.

A catalog of this exhibition will be on sale for $9.99.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

6:00-8:00 pm reception

6:30 pm Mayor White opening remarks

(no RSVP needed)

The exhibition will run through October 30, 2008.

ArCH is open Mon-Thu 8:30am-5pm; Fri 8:30am-3pm. Please see attached map.

Admission is free. For more information, please call AIA Houston at (713) 520-0155.

Click on the map below to enlarge.

Original Blog

The Bunny Bungalow, Historic Houston Heights, Houston, Texas

The Bunny Bungalow is my original blog. If you love Arts & Crafts with a minimalist touch and small-town ambiance in a big city, you will love The Bunny Bungalow and all the stories that reveal the uniqueness of this neighborhood. So hop over for a visit!