Designer Crush: James Slade ….

Going on vacation afforded me the opportunity to do one of my favorite past times – reading magazines.  Well technically, I read magazines at home all the time, but I always feel guilty when I do it, like I should be spending that time doing something else more important.  However, being on vacation almost dares you not to read your favorite mags.  Fortunately, our hotels in Spain were always located near some magical booth or bookstore where I could pop in and pick up something fun for the next leg of our adventure.

During our stint from Seville to Barcelona, I was introduced to Casa Viva Magazine and was floored by a project they featured by New York architect, James Slade. While the architecture was amazing, I was smitten by the design elements in the space…..

I know…I know.  The wall of heads gives off an “American Psycho” vibe and certainly isn’t to everyone’s taste, but you have to give credit that it is a visual statement and definitely impactful.  I love the use of repetition and that it is a big installation.  As I have repeatedly said…GO BIG or go home when it comes with your art pieces…..

The framed cowhide above the bed is simple and elegant – a quiet statement in a bedroom that anchors the space.  Recreating this look could be as simple as picking up a cowhide rug from Ikea, having it put on stretcher bars and mounted in a walnut frame.  Total cost about $300.  Total cost of impact is priceless.

And my favorite element is the galvanized metal picture wall.  It elevates the concept of a “gallery wall”.  Most of us slap pictures up on our fridge but Slade takes this idea to the nth degree by sheathing the entire wall in metal and having the home owner fill it with a rotating supply of Polaroids, snapshots and drawings.  Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day fame has a DIY tutorial on how to create your own magnet wall on a smaller scale.

As I said, the designs may not be for everyone but through elevating simple concepts and blowing them to large proportions, the designer was able to create a space that is stylish and bold.

So tell me, how do you make a bold statement in your homes?  Is it through paint, lighting, or accessories.  Today I am off to pick up a table for a client and create inspiration boards for my meeting next week.

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Vacation: Days 8-9 – Barcelona to Paris…

Bonjour!

I find myself in the City of Lights for the next three days – yes my friends, I have made it to Paris!  While I loved Spain, I absolutely adore France and could not be happier to be here.  We finished our last day in Barcelona with a trip to the Olympic Village nestled into the city’s hills that played home to the 1992 Summer Olympics.  The complex is within a larger municipal park that holds the city’s former military fort and the Miro museum.   The views from the fort are some of the best in the city and can easily be had for about 9 euros round trip via cable car…

After the trip to the Village, we went back to the hotel, packed up and  headed to the train station.  We arrived early this morning (Wednesday) via an overnight train from Barcelona…

There is something romantic about the dining cars, sleeping in bunk beds to the gentle swaying of the tracks and being forced to leisurely pass time with The Partner.  However, all of that quickly changes when you realize at 7:30am that you need a shower, your hair looks like a rat nest and you can’t check into your hotel until 3:00pm and it’s only 9:30am.

So what does a boy when faced with such a dilemma?  Well this one opted to throw care to the wind and just go with it – rat nest hair and all!  We dropped our luggage off at the hotel (Mon Hotel) and toured the chic bottom level.  On a side note, I am in LOVE with our hotel.  It makes me happy.  It makes my giddy.  It makes me want to figure out a way to move in permanently….

Located on a side street in the 16th Arrondissement, the hotel is centrally located for all the things we wanted to do but isn’t dead smack in the middle of tourist “chaos”.  Each of the 36 rooms has a small terrace (yup that is my view from the room) and is equipped with an espresso machine.  While not a big deal to you, by the espresso machine has already been put to use ….twice.

After our quick tour, we started walking, hitting the Arc de Triumph, the Opera House, Eiffel Tour and Galeries Lafayette with its four levels of high-end men’s shopping.

We finished the afternoon with a delicious lunch at the cafeteria at the Galeries Lafayette – yes we ate lunch at the store cafeteria and I have never had better quiche.  Besides, they have a soda machine that dispenses red wine – RED WINE PEOPLE!  Do you know this was a game changer?!?  Well that and the 84 varieties of yogurt.

American yogurt doesn’t hold a candle to any of this stuff.  It’s tangy, delicious, unpasteurized jars of freakin’ goodness and I plan on drowning in it!

Okay, time for a nap and a shower – then off to meet some friends for drinks!

Au revoir!

Wanna see what I am doing on vacation? Catch me on Facebook and  Twitter for updated details.

Vacation: Days 5-7 – Seville & Barcelona…

The Partner and I ended our time in Seville by visiting the 1929 site of the Latin American Exposition, a beautiful park filled with wide promenades, gardens and large exposition halls housing the museums of military and culture.  It was the perfect place for an early morning stroll or in our case, a group of rambunctious (and slightly inebriated) boys to pass the time.

Afterwards, we retreated to the coolness of our hotel, Hotel Rey Alfonso X (which we love & recommend!  The front desk attendant, Imma, took amazing care of us!) and relaxed for a few quiet hours reflecting,  packing and composing ourselves for our 5-hour train journey to Barcelona….

After a good night’s rest, we hit the ground running on Vacation Day 6 with visits to several Gaudi’s architectural landmarks including the glorious Sagrada Família.  Words cannot describe this amazing structure – it at once hits you viscerally  because of its sheer size but then once you cross the threshold, it grabs you with his beauty.  It moved me to tears and profoundly has changed the way I view my own work…..

After our Gaudi tour, The Partner and I strolled Barcelona, soaking in the culture, the sites and the tapas (oh brother, I have gained some major poundage!).  However, it was the quaint side streets that drew my attention. Barcelona was once an ancient Roman city and still holds vestiges of its past. Tucked into tiny corridors are remains of tiny foot bridges, walls and alleys the house shops, restaurants and just beautiful residences….

Today (Vacation Day 7), we opted to flex our consume muscle and take in some of Barcelona’s shopping.  We visited a variety of stores from clothing, home goods to food markets.  My favorite had to the massive food court, La Boqueria, an open air market in the heart of Barcelona that was not only a feast for the belly but for the eyes.  We gorged on fresh fruit, juices, candies and of course tapas….

Tomorrow, we are off to a few museums and then we pack up for an overnight train ride to Paris.  My fingers are crossed that the experience of a train trip is as “romantic” as the concept …..

Wanna see what I am doing on vacation? Catch me on Facebook and  Twitter for updated details.