Highlights from IMM Cologne 2009

<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDKLvfydAB5cOPwctj067-iExaGg6rcGn57qGYu1dJbkIGzHVaXBJAQLgSokrq3jtl8FHKj5jKjxP26C9w0EOBzmTNXc_QBDkER52EL7YPriUOqFmiLMr_zUo-bgDUkQ89r9cSU2UmPsT/s1600-h/Seracs_atStand.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306362546643260626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDKLvfydAB5cOPwctj067-iExaGg6rcGn57qGYu1dJbkIGzHVaXBJAQLgSokrq3jtl8FHKj5jKjxP26C9w0EOBzmTNXc_QBDkER52EL7YPriUOqFmiLMr_zUo-bgDUkQ89r9cSU2UmPsT/s400/Seracs_atStand.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 243px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Seracs stand at IMM Cologne, 2009</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eqTFmxwDw6CZZUrbrAKmWozpM_7gzrMlTTpf09W5x1k2zPIJyIhybD02V4eOYke9acCnK0OUOlB8NYd565-lwU0KMtJCLfEKA5KINMuvdjP1WlUoqZxRFDyhiT680qrE6u2EDhKIDkkO/s1600-h/SusanAvatarMeezNewCrop.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280617527768125954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eqTFmxwDw6CZZUrbrAKmWozpM_7gzrMlTTpf09W5x1k2zPIJyIhybD02V4eOYke9acCnK0OUOlB8NYd565-lwU0KMtJCLfEKA5KINMuvdjP1WlUoqZxRFDyhiT680qrE6u2EDhKIDkkO/s200/SusanAvatarMeezNewCrop.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 80px;" /></a><br />Contributed by <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/search/label/Susan%20Schultz">Susan Schultz</a></span><br /><br />“Cautious optimism” seemed to be the key phrase at <a href="http://www.imm-cologne.com/">IMM Cologne</a>. Everyone—the show producers, the exhibitors and the attendees—seemed to be pleased that traffic was only slightly down, overall exhibitors were only slightly fewer, etc. It did feel as if many of the exhibitors had cut back on their product introductions, but there were still so many great new pieces to oogle over.<br /><br /><br />Adaptable, flexible use sofas were introduced by several of the major European furniture brands, and one of them was an IMM Cologne award winner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/confluences_multiplecolors/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/confluences_multiplecolors/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 435px; height: 310px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Confluence_4pieces_PhilippeNigro/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Confluence_4pieces_PhilippeNigro/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 476px; height: 236px;" /></a><br />First up is Confluences, the aforementioned award-winner, designed by <a href="http://www.philippenigro.com/">Phillipe Nigro</a> for <a href="http://www.ligne-roset.com/">Ligne Roset</a>. Nigro’s challenge was, as he put it, “to create a sofa capable of satisfying the greatest possible number of users. It would have to accommodate many different body shapes, seating preferences, taste and space requirements…” The result is a series is shapes that fit and flow into each other to create hundreds of different seating combinations, from a single lounge chair to four-seat set, to a contemporary take on the vis-à-vis. It’s an ingenious system that hides its deeply researched and engineered concept in a deceptively simple form.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Threesixty_view2/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Threesixty_view2/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 427px; height: 219px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Threesixty_view1/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Threesixty_view1/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 436px; height: 224px;" /></a><br />Next is Threesixty, a new introduction from <a href="http://www.walterknoll.de/">Walter Knoll</a> that builds off the company’s success with its Lazy Island and Living Landscape collections. Threesixty is a smaller, more streamlined piece that either of its two predecessors, but to my eye, far more elegant. The two base seats fully rotate in any direction, allowing the backrest to act as an armrest, a side table, or even extra bench seating. As static photos don’t really do this piece justice, I recommend<a href="http://www.walterknoll.de/en/1908.htm"> this link</a><a href="http://www.walterknoll.de/en/1908.htm"> </a>for a little animation that shows the functionality. And given the quality engineering the Germans are known for, each piece moves and rotates so easily…really one of my favorite pieces I saw at the show.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Seracs_armConfig/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Seracs_armConfig/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 193px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Seracs_alfredo_haberli/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Seracs_alfredo_haberli/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 417px; height: 625px;" /></a><br />Seracs, designed by Alfredo Häberli for <a href="http://www.fredericia.com/">Fredericia</a> consists of five pieces that can be infinitely arranged and added to, allowing clients to create a piece best suited to their requirements. If you’re on a windows system, you can check out the <a href="http://www.fredericia.com/show.asp?lang=uk&s=news&i2=61">Seracs planner</a> which allows you to choose the upholstery and color for each section and play around with the arrangement. Häberli, an Argentine who has had a studio in Switzerland for many years, also designed the Kavdrat wool fabrics for the upholstery.<br /><br /><br />Another consistently strong category at IMM Cologne is that of shelving and storage systems. Perhaps because Europeans typically live in smaller homes than most Americans, attractive, flexible solutions are always in demand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Arie_Vertical/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Arie_Vertical/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 404px; height: 255px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Arie_Horizontal/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Arie_Horizontal/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 406px; height: 333px;" /></a>Arie by <a href="http://www.ariklevy.fr/">Arik Levy</a> for <a href="http://www.e15.com/">e15</a> can work as a long, low linear shelf, a single book shelf or a corner unit. Hidden supports mean it works as either a free-standing unit or can be attached to wall, and also helps lock the sections together if desired. Currently available in either solid European Oak or white powder-coated MDF.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Yomei_Bar/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Yomei_Bar/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 413px; height: 253px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Yomei_desks/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Yomei_desks/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 421px; height: 257px;" /></a><br />Suitable for either the hedonist or the workaholic, Magic Cube from <a href="http://www.yomei.de/">Yomei</a> is a not-so-basic box that can be outfitted as a bar, a dressing table, or a computer workstation. Thanks to innovative customization each version is as functional and as stylish as the other. As a bar, the Magic Cube includes a mini-fridge, a back-lit mirror, plenty of storage shelves and a power outlet for a blender; in working mode you can get an extendable desktop, integrated surge-proof outlets and additional shelving for all those digital accessories. As a dressing table, that large backlit mirror is back in place, along with felt-lined jewelry drawers, outlets for your hair dryer and curler and cosmetic storage. Beautifully finished with leather drawers and trim, it can be further customized in myriad ways.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Verwoben_threelooks/web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/linda.m.merrill/100856/Verwoben_threelooks/web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 428px; height: 226px;" /></a><br />My final shelving selection comes from the d3 design talents section of IMM Cologne. <a href="http://www.santospina.com/">Marco António Palas dos Santos Pina</a>, a Portuguese designer studying in Düsseldorf introduced Verwoben, a shelving unit that allows the user to thread a textile “runner’ through a series of slots cut into each shelf. Clips keep the fabric taut and make it a fairly simple process to change out the fabric for a new look when the mood strikes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ULbuFxY73UIkhLNB_OCb5oOYZTLMuqIFpp1gVjd4gaFzvsKsdoq71at67txqCxkf0pyJyBPMX06UjwQmiJJbRa5zmk0mXtaCOYv4EdOK5mbSFL3VG1aaqLywdTzYNADpUJtlfXSiR5p5/s1600-h/SusanAvatarMeezNewCrop.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256105495331996370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ULbuFxY73UIkhLNB_OCb5oOYZTLMuqIFpp1gVjd4gaFzvsKsdoq71at67txqCxkf0pyJyBPMX06UjwQmiJJbRa5zmk0mXtaCOYv4EdOK5mbSFL3VG1aaqLywdTzYNADpUJtlfXSiR5p5/s200/SusanAvatarMeezNewCrop.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 71px; height: 71px;" /></a><br />Photos and text contributed by <a href="http://designbizrx.wordpress.com/">Susan Schultz</a><br /><br /><br />Click <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/search/label/Susan%20Schultz">here</a> to read all of Susan's posts.

Highlights from IMM Cologne 2009

Seracs stand at IMM Cologne, 2009Contributed by Susan Schultz“Cautious optimism” seemed to be the key phrase at IMM Cologne. Everyone—the show producers, the exhibitors and the attendees—seemed to be pleased that traffic was only slightly down, overall exhibitors were only slightly fewer, etc. It di…

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Little Town, Big History

I've written before about living here in Duxbury, MA - a small town on the South Shore of Massachusetts, just north of Plymouth [America's Home Town]. Duxbury was founded in 1637 and has its share of historical sites.<br /><br />Beginning in 2010, the U.S. Mint will be releasing five new quarter designs every year in a program called America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter, similar to the 50 States Quarter Program. One preferred and three alternate sites in Massachusetts will be submitted to appear on the reverse side of the quarter. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is running a contest to select the four recommended historical sites out of a slew of nominated places from around the state. And, my little town has five of the ten sites nominated from my county!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWocdusMSQefCryaYwyZKM282A7FbhHkFKYpokWC8WmWoiVd2k2CpzLUA3QRsWTFiuY9ho0Z8jgPvLTNldTQrcm-4ImgGHwBoyWaWBgedmKKl_xHlz89IZ8vrFQ-_xKvMnPL-GrYXXTdD9/s1600-h/Alexander+Standish+House+.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305035855289535106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWocdusMSQefCryaYwyZKM282A7FbhHkFKYpokWC8WmWoiVd2k2CpzLUA3QRsWTFiuY9ho0Z8jgPvLTNldTQrcm-4ImgGHwBoyWaWBgedmKKl_xHlz89IZ8vrFQ-_xKvMnPL-GrYXXTdD9/s400/Alexander+Standish+House+.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" /></a>The Alexander Standish House is said to date back to 1666. It is privately owned and the least known of our historical homes. It was added to the National Historic Register in 1978.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.alden.org/our_house/images/ex_sesideview.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.alden.org/our_house/images/ex_sesideview.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 432px; height: 286px;" /></a>The Adlen House was the home of John and Priscilla "Speak for Thyself, John Alden" Alden. This 17th century site is still owned by the <a href="http://www.alden.org/">Alden Kindred of America</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat7b73B1OXokoWq4hkNCX3qIe9XmN3EgJ2h6X23xWKlrxn46LjSB42He_3fy_FZJrd8YX1TplYIU2w6BuYIhpARZFJ3do4P0jXm9Wpu7e_-2RnluyueXQH5T07Xwm_UZl38LzGIfSDav-/s1600-h/King+Caesar.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305029570583590530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat7b73B1OXokoWq4hkNCX3qIe9XmN3EgJ2h6X23xWKlrxn46LjSB42He_3fy_FZJrd8YX1TplYIU2w6BuYIhpARZFJ3do4P0jXm9Wpu7e_-2RnluyueXQH5T07Xwm_UZl38LzGIfSDav-/s400/King+Caesar.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">King Caesar House (owned by<a href="http://www.duxburyhistory.org/"> Duxbury Rural & Historical Society</a>).<br />Photo by Linda Merrill for</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/">::Surroundings::</a></span></div><br />The King Caesar House was home to Ezra "King Caesar" Weston - a shipping magnate and one of America's first millionaires. This house, built in 1807 is classic Federal style and still retains much of it's original mouldings and pictorial wallpapers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUkfdUeu-YNE_aPR05RGdU7KJUvXSZ71QkCRyqvWDhpw7gVedP2OxRrHATMn5L_7a5IVsVm8Szy-hnfaLBBn1-RUeNPRsn_9eT0NcyNWdMuWkoTlXpCpdxL2atLEM_82E6tdOu0hujY2T/s400/100_3360.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUkfdUeu-YNE_aPR05RGdU7KJUvXSZ71QkCRyqvWDhpw7gVedP2OxRrHATMn5L_7a5IVsVm8Szy-hnfaLBBn1-RUeNPRsn_9eT0NcyNWdMuWkoTlXpCpdxL2atLEM_82E6tdOu0hujY2T/s400/100_3360.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.duxburyuu.org/">First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church</a><br />Image by Linda Merrill for <a href="http://www.chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/">::Surroundings::</a><br /></span></div><br />Built in 1840 in the then popular classic Green Revival temple style, the First Parish church was the fourth in a succession of meetinghouses which started in 1637 with the First Meeting House, led by Rev. Ralph Partridge, who assisted the aging Elder William Brewster, who was the original founder of the town. I am intimately familiar with this building, as I lived nearby when I was growing up. While I wasn't a member, I did use the grand piano in the sanctuary for practice when home on vacations from music school. And, more interestingly (well, to me at least), I once climbed up to the belfry with a friend and we scratched our initials inside the bell. Now, I'm not actually sure if it's the same bell, but if it is, and this is the winning historical site - well, that's got to make me a Bacon-2 away from being on the quarter!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://duxburyhistory.org/Wright%20Building.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://duxburyhistory.org/Wright%20Building.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 443px; height: 346px;" /></a>The Wright Memorial library was built in 1909 and added to the National Historic Register in 2007. It was built by architects Joseph Everett Chandler and John Osborne Chesley Jr. in the Neo-Renaissance style. This building was until the mid-80's the town library and is now the archives and research library for the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society. A very un applealing 1960's addition in the rear (not shown) now houses the Duxbury Student Union - a hangout place for middle and high school students.<br /><br /><br />Of course, there are many other important Massachusetts sites nominate for this honor - such as:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.whalingmuseum.org/img/2001.100.7551_low.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.whalingmuseum.org/img/2001.100.7551_low.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 182px;" /></a><a href="http://www.whalingmuseum.org/">New Bedford Whaling Museum</a><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Round_barn%2C_Hancock_Shaker_village.jpg/280px-Round_barn%2C_Hancock_Shaker_village.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Round_barn%2C_Hancock_Shaker_village.jpg/280px-Round_barn%2C_Hancock_Shaker_village.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 210px;" /></a><a href="http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/">Hancock Shaker Village</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.edithwharton.org/images/slideshow/The%20Mount%20East%20facade%20by%20David%20Dashiell%20web.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.edithwharton.org/images/slideshow/The%20Mount%20East%20facade%20by%20David%20Dashiell%20web.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 280px;" /></a>Edith Wharton's home<a href="http://www.edithwharton.org/"> The Mount</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/images/dhbefore.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/images/dhbefore.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 265px;" /></a><a href="http://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/">Emily Dickinson house</a>, Amhearst<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mountauburn.org/interface/homeImage2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.mountauburn.org/interface/homeImage2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 239px;" /></a><a href="http://www.mountauburn.org/">Mount Auburn Cemetary</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/42/Acorn_Street%2C_Beacon_Hill%2C_Boston%2C_Massachusetts.JPG/250px-Acorn_Street%2C_Beacon_Hill%2C_Boston%2C_Massachusetts.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/42/Acorn_Street%2C_Beacon_Hill%2C_Boston%2C_Massachusetts.JPG/250px-Acorn_Street%2C_Beacon_Hill%2C_Boston%2C_Massachusetts.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 333px;" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_Hill,_Boston,_Massachusetts">Beacon Hill Historic District</a><br /><br /></div>Do you have a favorite? Within my town, my vote would be for The King Caesar House, but I have to say, I am partial to The Mount and Beacon Hill.<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=quarters_program">here</a> to vote by February 26th!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><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></p>

Little Town, Big History

I've written before about living here in Duxbury, MA - a small town on the South Shore of Massachusetts, just north of Plymouth [America's Home Town]. Duxbury was founded in 1637 and has its share of historical sites.Beginning in 2010, the U.S. Mint will be releasing five new quarter designs every y…

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My Inner Pink - Living Room Chronicles

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2007Q2/mla102768_0507_fireplace_xl.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2007Q2/mla102768_0507_fireplace_xl.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 450px;" /></a>A couple of years ago, Martha Stewart profiled her all pink Maine cottage interior in her <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/marthas-maine-guesthouse?lnc=1a89cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=lpg_home&lpgStart=1&currentslide=2&currentChapter=1">magazine</a>. I think this was the point when I really started to think seriously about painting my living room/dining room pink. I also realized that anytime there is a magazine on a newsstand that has a predominantly pink cover - I make a beeline right to it and usually buy it. We need to listen to these visceral reactions!<br /><br />Because I live in a condo that has vaulted 16' ceilings, I can't just slap up paint to try it out. So, I'm still dealing with all white walls and getting tired of it. I could really use a pick-me-up right now too! I've been slowly morphing from a green, black, white and cranberry color palette to a softer green and pink, with some black and dark stained woods.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHPMdTaYSZixPrkIASbeYbRxaXvacpSzXM7LS1BPfTmVaR93Kim0y7P6Rx_ltU7lxHok7K8lRMry81VTCgpeQMS7boj9UOEIpiTPfKgPd-EpjyCg-ioj0dY1Pw9LYpZDv17g6Q3aJFGZQ/s1600-h/100_4911.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304668265339083474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHPMdTaYSZixPrkIASbeYbRxaXvacpSzXM7LS1BPfTmVaR93Kim0y7P6Rx_ltU7lxHok7K8lRMry81VTCgpeQMS7boj9UOEIpiTPfKgPd-EpjyCg-ioj0dY1Pw9LYpZDv17g6Q3aJFGZQ/s400/100_4911.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />This year, for Christmas, I did a pink and gold theme, and loved it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RwAcRyrgLdm4f_ym2eszYJuuyUeEuzOxsfSvDNu8x89q2-7BlwSmXLash1uo93nbqEFm8saeRQ2W-zVFj_kbvshokCimWLu_n4fBVO3c1lD5AS1q3DNHN0GI3gKLTo8NVa3oUmbR2aC-/s1600-h/100_3846.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304668265699331634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RwAcRyrgLdm4f_ym2eszYJuuyUeEuzOxsfSvDNu8x89q2-7BlwSmXLash1uo93nbqEFm8saeRQ2W-zVFj_kbvshokCimWLu_n4fBVO3c1lD5AS1q3DNHN0GI3gKLTo8NVa3oUmbR2aC-/s400/100_3846.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>Last summer, I <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2008/08/diy-weekend-upholstering-settee.html">reupholstered</a> this cane back settee and made the striped tablecloth - and really committed to the pinkier palette.<br /><br />I've been collecting images of favorite pink rooms in order to get some inspiration about the tone and shade of pink that really appeals to me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/5-color-0309-xlg-13661573.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/5-color-0309-xlg-13661573.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 460px;" /></a><br />House Beautiful -<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/colors/outrageous-colors?click=main_sr"> Mary McDonald design</a> - Benjamin Moore Coral Pink 2003-50. I love this look (well, not the rug, so much). The walls are such a strong, statement pink and the blue/white chinoiserie dishes really pop. But, ultimately, my space is just way too big for such a strong color (for me at least!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/pantone-705C-xlg-12366123.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/pantone-705C-xlg-12366123.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 460px;" /></a>This House Beautiful image (wall color is Pantone's 705-C) has tall ceilings and the lovely French-y feel that I like. But, I think this color is a little bit too chalky.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/younger-colors-21770120.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/younger-colors-21770120.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 460px;" /></a>This House Beautiful image ( <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/colors/30-days-of-color-201609?click=pp">30 days of Color</a> ) is a design by<a href="http://www.suzannekasler.com/"> Suzanne Kasler</a>. Gorgeous and it certainly did make the rounds on the blogs. I love how she mixes beige and pink together. (And how easy is that artwork on the wall? Could be just a pretty piece of fabric wrapped around a board!). Very pretty - but it looks like it tilts a little towards the purple.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlO3ItgA-OtFJPMZLb-zvpfRHpyKG-rz0ju3tCAsODMZ34NYQEkqL3gp7N8__3bnnD_4t10uMzdLWYgiIWDq3Xb37O3xnQLJbKl8IRF8a0hiWQp2ow8AWO5lQ9vmliMCkhAw6K_Lm3jC8/s1600-h/kaslerbeigepink.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304679565120152994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlO3ItgA-OtFJPMZLb-zvpfRHpyKG-rz0ju3tCAsODMZ34NYQEkqL3gp7N8__3bnnD_4t10uMzdLWYgiIWDq3Xb37O3xnQLJbKl8IRF8a0hiWQp2ow8AWO5lQ9vmliMCkhAw6K_Lm3jC8/s400/kaslerbeigepink.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 344px;" /></a>This Suzanne Kasler dining room (which I first saw on Joni Webb's <a href="http://www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2008/11/truce-when-flowers-say-it-all.html">Cote de Texas</a>) practically defies adjectives it's so beautiful. I could stare at it for days (and may have...). It doesn't have pink walls, rather beige, but the drapes, the upholstery - knee weakening beautiful. However, since I've already committed my upholstery to the greens (and can't afford to reupholster) I do need to stick with putting pink on the walls. But, this palette is tucked away for the future. It will be mine!!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/10-feature-shubel-0109-xlg-22014426.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/10-feature-shubel-0109-xlg-22014426.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 460px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/3-feature-shubel-0109-xlg-17252392.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/3-feature-shubel-0109-xlg-17252392.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 360px;" /></a>These two images are by Steven Shubel on<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/power-of-color?click=main_sr"> House Beautiful</a>. Certainly, very pretty. But, the color just seems too... shallow?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigz8r0s3_om3IM7Ye2_z2yb34UJhNQSsluoYHdRsb0yoew8_-zqhJoTWBJzcbrt6yerNzGmX2GelzjroAzAaWjRaMjfn1A4GURsyYyf6YYQmAWEebUi_Xt1qHslt7877nvrP0X1inQedq/s1600-h/DominoPinkrmStevenGambrel.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304661234861217570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigz8r0s3_om3IM7Ye2_z2yb34UJhNQSsluoYHdRsb0yoew8_-zqhJoTWBJzcbrt6yerNzGmX2GelzjroAzAaWjRaMjfn1A4GURsyYyf6YYQmAWEebUi_Xt1qHslt7877nvrP0X1inQedq/s400/DominoPinkrmStevenGambrel.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 375px;" /></a>I do love this darker pink from Steven Gambrel in Domino Magazine. It seems mature without being old; deep and rich, without being dark. And, it plays off the green quite nicely. But then I think of all the wall space I have, and I start to feel overwhelmed by it all!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP1nObX1fcMXAjipbwkb4ouCbpMf8fhCWZ3YW28mWJetgsX6phE9Ud9DRydEA3XgLkg5hGfbNsCZMeIyu3ZX0PpHjEor5iWsd_1KUdoZ7Tr0qkaE1VhozEZUJhcJHTRg6fj9bzNLt7SzB/s1600-h/DominoPinkrmBenMoorePinkLilly.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304661231078747858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP1nObX1fcMXAjipbwkb4ouCbpMf8fhCWZ3YW28mWJetgsX6phE9Ud9DRydEA3XgLkg5hGfbNsCZMeIyu3ZX0PpHjEor5iWsd_1KUdoZ7Tr0qkaE1VhozEZUJhcJHTRg6fj9bzNLt7SzB/s400/DominoPinkrmBenMoorePinkLilly.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 375px;" /></a>This room, from Domino Magazine, uses Benjamin Moore: Pink Lilly. It seems to work nicely with the greens and would probably look very well with my complexion (never underestimate the value that the right paint color has when it comes to how we look!).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/2-Varney-0209-xlg-15444652.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/2-Varney-0209-xlg-15444652.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 460px;" /></a>This <a href="http://www.dorothydraper.com/cv.htm">Carlton Varney </a>living room (which actually looks the closest to my own, architecturally) really caught my eye. If you saw it in <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/classic-to-wild?click=main_sr">House Beautiful</a>, you may remember that the colors are richer than they appear in these online photos. With the exception of the floor (mine is dark cherry stained oak), the rest of the palette is very similar to what I already have now.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/4-Varney-0209-xlg-78693221.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/4-Varney-0209-xlg-78693221.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 460px;" /></a><br />This space just feels happy and a little bit beacy. Since I live near the ocean, it just seems appropriate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/3-Varney-0209-xlg-45400927.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/3-Varney-0209-xlg-45400927.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 460px;" /></a><br /><br />By the way, have you read <span style="font-weight: bold;">House Beautiful</span>'s <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">COLORS</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >FOR YOUR HOME</span>? It's a handy little guide that showcases the 300 colors various designers like the best - and why. What colors work best in which rooms. It's a perfect size for throwing in a purse (okay, a large purse) when shopping!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=chameleoninte-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1588167399&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />Now, all I need to do is find someone willing to hike up the tall ladder and start painting for me... anyone... anyone.... ?<br /><br /><br />Check out what Julia - and many other folks - is <a href="http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/19/hooked-on-dutch-doors/">Hooked On</a> this week.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><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></p>

My Inner Pink - Living Room Chronicles

A couple of years ago, Martha Stewart profiled her all pink Maine cottage interior in her magazine. I think this was the point when I really started to think seriously about painting my living room/dining room pink. I also realized that anytime there is a magazine on a newsstand that has a predomin…

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What do The Carlton, the Big Screen and the Great White Way have in common?

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeV1yGMJhiyGeTXq_XVaWBz1cmJzJJauN3rs_KjzZwn_lJrto5lHnJUbkcaE1TYT1Ck7BCja5-tW2IOWNv9jIwwNWa02yLdMMh9ymXLpUIE9WAgqIJOAgJbMfHppW3I5fVcdqPUE1PENF/s1600-h/dome_01_lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304351694954758514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeV1yGMJhiyGeTXq_XVaWBz1cmJzJJauN3rs_KjzZwn_lJrto5lHnJUbkcaE1TYT1Ck7BCja5-tW2IOWNv9jIwwNWa02yLdMMh9ymXLpUIE9WAgqIJOAgJbMfHppW3I5fVcdqPUE1PENF/s400/dome_01_lg.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 491px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos.oscars.org/downloadpreview.php/David_Rockwell-p.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos.oscars.org/downloadpreview.php/David_Rockwell-p.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 340px;" /></a><br />Interior Design hall of fame architect and Broadway set decorator (“Hairspray,” “Legally Blonde,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “The Rocky Horror Show”) <a href="http://www.rockwellgroup.com/">David Rockwell </a>was tapped to design the sets for the 81st Academy Awards show airing this Sunday, February 22rd.<br /><br />David has just released some design sketches for his sets and tells us “We created a spatial and architectural solution for the 2009 Oscars that is based on storytelling, spectacle, and community. We wanted to use a surprising and dramatic integration of technology and movement to celebrate the awards ceremony, which has become one of the greatest shared rituals of our time.”<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl16ul09vd7KcFq9k67U185DMwuRf3Amz-veacUTZpTt8BgbfuGRSHCqcRhZfnV3uyrUGRTbXeqJ94yqLHPjaEUlXW5JXWf33JjfjMkwsSl8apq_Cz7fY3vqED9Uj1VBSCVr8fjSVXBZmg/s1600-h/OscarRendering-2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304360674079746306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl16ul09vd7KcFq9k67U185DMwuRf3Amz-veacUTZpTt8BgbfuGRSHCqcRhZfnV3uyrUGRTbXeqJ94yqLHPjaEUlXW5JXWf33JjfjMkwsSl8apq_Cz7fY3vqED9Uj1VBSCVr8fjSVXBZmg/s400/OscarRendering-2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Click to view larger<br /><br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1boxkaqNjhAzI9gc9WXcjFAJp2d4hcSWnW_eWhNxteej9a7UZpNrHV9N1PzbmjAxKwrzVvUldp1j0aNJ7kvsnkoYEeArTYtHGums8SDjvZgi5TVBr7HyqHMKDL4lXLMNqoywD9ZkRrfOx/s1600-h/OscarRendering-1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304360674378562834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1boxkaqNjhAzI9gc9WXcjFAJp2d4hcSWnW_eWhNxteej9a7UZpNrHV9N1PzbmjAxKwrzVvUldp1j0aNJ7kvsnkoYEeArTYtHGums8SDjvZgi5TVBr7HyqHMKDL4lXLMNqoywD9ZkRrfOx/s400/OscarRendering-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 361px;" /></a><br />David's storied career includes the design of the Kodak Theatre, home of the Academy Awards ceremony, stage sets and several hotels, including the recent redecoration of <a href="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/">The Carlton on Madison Avenue</a>. In honor of David's Oscar sets, The Carlton is offering a special Oscar Night rate of $199 complete with gourmet popcorn and optional in-room dining from Country restaurant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/userfiles/lobby_01_lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/userfiles/lobby_01_lg.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 419px; height: 347px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/userfiles/lobby_02_lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/userfiles/lobby_02_lg.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 306px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/newPix/cafe_lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/newPix/cafe_lg.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 439px; height: 328px;" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/newPix/executive_lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/newPix/executive_lg.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 441px; height: 330px;" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/newPix/queen_lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/newPix/queen_lg.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 534px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/newPix/deluxe_lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/newPix/deluxe_lg.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 442px; height: 331px;" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/userfiles/room_01_lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/userfiles/room_01_lg.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 437px; height: 292px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/userfiles/room_03_lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.carltonhotelny.com/images/userfiles/room_03_lg.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 417px; height: 277px;" /></a><br />The Carlton has tapped David’s friend Cindy Allen, editor in chief of <a href="http://www.interiordesign.net/">Interior Design Magazine</a>, to host a private Academy Awards viewing party at Country’s Champagne Lounge located inside the hotel. David’s sets are expected to showcase the Oscar’s “champagne popping” glory days, so the Rockwell-designed Champagne Lounge is a fitting choice for Cindy and her VIP fashion and design pals to watch the show and honor the success of their friend--David is the first architect to design the Oscars. Guests include Angel Sanchez, Fashion Designer, Yeohlee Teng, Fashion Designer, Vicente Wolf, Vicente Wolf Design, Stefan Beckman, Set Designer, Shamir Shah, Shamir Shah Design, and Paul Siskin, Siskin Valls Design, and more. Sounds like fun, too bad it's private!<br /><br />Will you be watching the Academy Awards on Sunday? Click <a href="http://silverscreensurroundings.blogspot.com/2009/01/and-nominees-are.html">here</a> to view my breakdown of the nominees for Best Art Direction and vote for who you think will win!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><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></p>

What do The Carlton, the Big Screen and the Great White Way have in common?

Interior Design hall of fame architect and Broadway set decorator (“Hairspray,” “Legally Blonde,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “The Rocky Horror Show”) David Rockwell was tapped to design the sets for the 81st Academy Awards show airing this Sunday, February 22rd.David has just released some design…

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