Disney gets sued for a chair

Various news outlets are reporting that an LA furniture maker named <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Arman Mkrtchyan is suing Disney for its use of a chair he claims to have designed in the 2010 movie "Alice in Wonderland".  Mkrtchyan is seeking a $50,000 "Decoration fee" for use of the chair without his permission. </span></strong><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWs3c5sovJF8bw1sYVSgb5roRXq01ZFaKUjb2n2xxzmNOayv4xyY2uwyWvTTdkEmkh0kliDZQAsujzdyww-LdJkcik_Exaw4J0f9mXztnh76eVng8KyxCmHcXsAv9FyUIJnE0sJijXAzzP/s1600/RedHeartchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWs3c5sovJF8bw1sYVSgb5roRXq01ZFaKUjb2n2xxzmNOayv4xyY2uwyWvTTdkEmkh0kliDZQAsujzdyww-LdJkcik_Exaw4J0f9mXztnh76eVng8KyxCmHcXsAv9FyUIJnE0sJijXAzzP/s640/RedHeartchair.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><strong><br /></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">There is a set of playing card chairs listed on <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/107927161/CASINO_CHAIR/showimage.html">Alibaba</a> that references Mr.</span> </strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mkrtchyan, but they are not remotely like this chair. </span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">So, has anyone heard of this gentleman? And, if a set decorator did in fact use someone's design without permission, do we think $50,000 is an appropriate payment given the popularity of the movie?</span></strong><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Disney gets sued for a chair

Various news outlets are reporting that an LA furniture maker named Arman Mkrtchyan is suing Disney for its use of a chair he claims to have...

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My Newburyport, Pt. 1: Livin' Large on High Street

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPTGUv5Q5nE6s3myIlLr09TzckwFqxevJw2Ee_lxRlXAFf1QBMuEsSLwlhDXwTsjqWI5i8dHmWnIBLlYXYzYQh2JDQJsapjCNkHeWBztPwQiXF7GmYJc8WZZhDlaq9X-jg9xqX7CbY5Vd/s1600/nport2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPTGUv5Q5nE6s3myIlLr09TzckwFqxevJw2Ee_lxRlXAFf1QBMuEsSLwlhDXwTsjqWI5i8dHmWnIBLlYXYzYQh2JDQJsapjCNkHeWBztPwQiXF7GmYJc8WZZhDlaq9X-jg9xqX7CbY5Vd/s320/nport2.jpg" /></a></div>A couple of weeks ago, I took a day trip up to Newburyport, MA. I posted recently about my side trips to <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/08/road-trippin-new-hampshire-seacoast.html">Portsmouth, NH, the seacoast</a> and <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/08/jewett-farms-custom-cabinetmakers.html">Jewett Farms Custom Cabinetmakers</a>. But, the highlight of my day was just to spend time in my favorite city (sorry Paris!) on earth, little Newburyport, Massachusetts. You see, I used to live in Newburyport, which is an old seaside coastal city, just south of New Hampshire. It's north of Boston, aka The Northshore. I currently live south of Boston, aka The South Shore, in the similarly antique coastal community of Duxbury, MA. I mostly grew up in Duxbury. I lived in and around Boston for the first several years after college. I'd taken a day trip to Newburyport at some point and was hooked. I just knew that I wanted to live there and so I eventually moved "up north" much to the surprise of pretty much everyone I knew. I didn't know anyone who lived there. But I felt connected to the place. The connection may be ancestral. My many times great grandfather Nathaniel Merrill emigrated from Essex, England in 1633 and eventually made his home in Newbury, MA. There are Merrill streets all over the place. Kind of fun. Whatever the case, it just felt right to move there. And so about 15 years ago, I did just that. I first lived in a rental apartment, and then moved into a condo in the 200 year old Federal building shown below. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4881450904_329540a4e6_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4881450904_329540a4e6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I loved this house and my little condo. I was on the second floor, on the right half of the floor (behind the trees). I've always loved a yellow house and this was just such a pretty place. You can see the windows of my second floor condo below, running front to back. A little over 800 sq. feet, there were two bedrooms, living room with gas fireplace, galley kitchen, dining room and deck out back. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4881450326_d09bd50d67_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="564" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4881450326_d09bd50d67_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Amazingly, I have few decent photos of the condo interiors, but when it went on the market, the realtor referred to my place as "Martha Stewart"-like in decor. [As an aside, I moved back south because most of my closest friends had moved back to this area and I was feeling like I was missing out. Plus, my parents were on Cape Cod and weren't getting any younger. Two weeks before my closing, my Dad suffered a massive stroke (this was ten years ago this summer) and it was ultimately a blessing that I ended up closer to them]. But, I still love the town.<br /><br />My condo was on High Street, which is basically the main drag in town. I took so many pics on my day trip, I need to break them into different posts. So, I'm going to start with some of the beautiful homes on High Street. Enjoy!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Before I bought my condo, I looked at a unit in this Victorian-era house below. It was on the third floor and included the turret.  Ultimately, the price was a little high and the space was otherwise small and awkward. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4881450112_16628af88f_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4881450112_16628af88f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />A pretty house in shades of green with an interesting shingle design.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4881450434_c19395abb0_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="598" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4881450434_c19395abb0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />A modified Dutch colonial, probably late 1700's.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4880842557_16edcd5a74_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4880842557_16edcd5a74_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This majestic Victorian has seen better days, but it seemed as if it's undergoing a restoration of some kind. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4881451190_82ed8a276e_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4881451190_82ed8a276e_z.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4880843379_7dfdc8d0fa_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4880843379_7dfdc8d0fa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />And the carriage house. Wouldn't this make an adorable house??<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4881451406_8429097e8b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4881451406_8429097e8b_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />This is an old row house that was always apartments and is now condos. I looked at one of the top floor units, which had a view out the back of the waterfront. I forget why I passed on it... maybe it was the price. Or it just didn't speak to me. I think I liked the exterior a lot more than the interiors, which had been stripped of all original character. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4880843519_07b3bd175e_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4880843519_07b3bd175e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is the "Mall" (pronounced like "malady" not "mawl"). The view is facing across the Mall to High Street and the brick building is the original court house. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4881451810_9419e41f8c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4881451810_9419e41f8c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I hope you've enjoyed my tour of High Street in Newburyport. Next up will be some beautiful front doors and other old homes, a couple of shops, and the beautiful marsh and Parker River Refuge. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

My Newburyport, Pt. 1: Livin' Large on High Street

A couple of weeks ago, I took a day trip up to Newburyport, MA. I posted recently about my side trips to Portsmouth, NH, the seacoast and J...

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Jewett Farms Custom Cabinetmakers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8AoO_9AGya17plqhtTGrIqrZ56m3JP-B7REeE8bql1oOAP5Ajeu2JhA1SLkWHzaW1qTWO00ODkwKxvT5sss4_dmjxaBT3zdtdFe3LIh8SYW1qAWzgwus3QaL-50fPbbFC7MfmVY137jA/s1600/jewettcabinet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8AoO_9AGya17plqhtTGrIqrZ56m3JP-B7REeE8bql1oOAP5Ajeu2JhA1SLkWHzaW1qTWO00ODkwKxvT5sss4_dmjxaBT3zdtdFe3LIh8SYW1qAWzgwus3QaL-50fPbbFC7MfmVY137jA/s200/jewettcabinet.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4881457754_263f094ffc_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4881457754_263f094ffc_b.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><br />A few weeks ago I took a little day trip up to my favorite spot of Newburyport, MA. I previously <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/08/road-trippin-new-hampshire-seacoast.html">shared</a> some photos of my drive around Portsmouth, NH and the beautiful coastal route from Portsmouth to Newburyport. The reason for my trip to the Northshore was an invitation to a luncheon and showroom tour of <a href="http://www.jewettfarms.com/">Jewett Farms & Co.</a>  - a custom cabinetmaker based in York, ME. I wasn't familiar with Jewett Farms and they didn't have a showroom in Newburyport when I lived there, so decided it was a great excuse  take a road trip!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4881457374_9943dc8850_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4881457374_9943dc8850_z.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br />Jewett Farms was founded by Matthew Lord and was joined shortly thereafter by Mike Meyers in 1999.  Since then, they have created a wonderful business model focused on beautiful, custom cabinetry made by hand from wood that comes from sustainable sources.  Starting out as a two man operation where the pair worked on entire projects from rough wood to packing for delivery, this model has been replicated even as their business grew to include some of the region's finest craftsmen and women. Each project is assigned a team which works on it from start to finish. Visit their workshop and you won't see pre-cut doors and drawers stacked up. All projects are designed, built and finished completely to order. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4880849115_973d42215d_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4880849115_973d42215d_z.jpg" width="446" /></a></div>The passion that owner Mike Meyers and Newburyport showroom manager Elena Bachrach show for their workmanship and clients is palpable. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4880848799_f5a74d7737_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4880848799_f5a74d7737_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>During our tour, we talked a lot about process. From design stage to delivery - the folks a Jewett Farms will work directly with homeowners or through a designer, architect or builder. They don't dictate style and their work shows a remarkable range of styles and detailing. From the classic old New England style above with custom punched-tin door inserts to the beautifully finished entertainment center below - if it's made from wood and needs to store something - the folks at Jewett Farms can do it. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4881456380_12c025174a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4881456380_12c025174a_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Well, when I was painting my own kitchen cabinets, I sure wish I could have done this type of finishing below. But, I just knew there was no way! Don't you just want to run your fingers over this? Like buttah!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4880848269_d73dd8b200_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4880848269_d73dd8b200_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4880848169_09c18742d0_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4880848169_09c18742d0_z.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4880847949_8aa6420efd_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4880847949_8aa6420efd_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4881455560_a77f6328d5_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4881455560_a77f6328d5_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>While most of their showpieces are based on very traditional designs, which is mostly the only thing that sells here in New England, they are able to create some more contemporary cabinetry as well, such as the display below, complete with shaded glass front cabinets and concrete countertops.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4880848633_0492b6bd9c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4880848633_0492b6bd9c_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />As a proponent of the smaller house movement that seems to be growing in popularly, I really appreciated <a href="http://www.jewettfarms.com/">Jewett Farms</a> owner Mike Meyers saying that some of his favorite projects are for smaller homes and that they regularly service a more middle class clientele.  While there is certainly a premium on custom handmade goods, these are worth saving for and I get the feeling that their clients are more like family than simply "installations".<br /><br />Coming next, a photo tour of my beautiful Newburport.  <br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Note - Aside from a tasty luncheon, I was not paid for this endorsement.</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Jewett Farms Custom Cabinetmakers

A few weeks ago I took a little day trip up to my favorite spot of Newburyport, MA. I previously shared some photos of my drive around Port...

Read more »