Dining Room Renovation: Finishing Touches

I have finally had a chance to change the chandelier in the dining room.  This Supernova light fixture was made by Lou Blass from Adlib Antiques in Hudson, NY. Longtime followers of the blog know my minor obsession with light fixtures in general, and this one, in particular.

 Thanks to my mom, I was reunited with this self-portrait done in 1985.  Always fun to rotate the artwork-- don't you agree, modernemama?

After a frenetic rug search, I took a leap of faith with this one from Crate and Barrel. The Chrysanthemum rug, which seemed to have a mid-century feel, reminded me of the circular shape and spindles of the light fixture.  Better yet, it was the only 6' x 9' offered.

And finally, Jackson shared his heart with us all-- the ultimate finishing touch.

Platonic Ideal

Ask any child to draw a house and you'll find the classic gabled roof.  Despite the variety of houses they've seen, engrained in our consciousness is the triangular roof and straightforward facade. Here are two examples-- George Washington's house at Valley Forge, PA, and the other a Presbyterian church in Old Scotland, AL.  Divided by geography, function, materials, and about 50 years, they nevertheless retain the same ideal form.  Don't be surprised if both wind up as the subject of my next two paintings.

White House Champion of Change Environmental Panel

Earth Day 2012: Two Years After the Spill

Pictures of Perdido Pass in Orange Beach, Alabama, June 2010

The proximity of the second anniversary of the Gulf oil spill to the celebration of Earth Day is not lost on me. No matter how we greenwash our desires, our nation still has a long way to go to protect our natural resources. Take plastic bags, for example. A petroleum-based product, they wind up in landfills and waterways-- and for what? Convenience? But the damage this short term convenience causes is costly to our environment in the long term. And yet, everyone still seems to roll their empty cart into the store without reusable bags. Pesticides too-- houses all over Long Island are thrilled with their water views, willing to pay extra for them. And yet, many houses along the water pollute their lawns with pesticides, some chemical compounds derived from, you guessed it, oil. The water run-off destroys the very seaside habitat they love. As we continue to dig in unsafe and expensive ways to access these fossil fuels, you cannot tell me that it is more cost effective in the long term than using that same money to establish a long term and cost effective alternative energy system. Sadly little has changed in the energy industry since the spill in 2010. But we have. Our lives have taken us down the unique path of environmental activism, and this year, Team Bouler is quite keen on setting up solar panels. As we head to our next environmental activity next weekend at the Ned Smith Center, we are hoping that the legacy of the Gulf propels us to row harder, even if we are going against the tide. For more Earth Day insights, please read Olivia's Huffington Post article today.

Earth Day: Go Garden

Have you ever found yourself sitting in traffic, wondering how you would survive if there was a full scale apocalypse? No? Obviously you haven't spend enough time on the Southern State Parkway. One morning I began to run through one such scenario and realized that, despite my packed cupboards and stocked freezer, I'd be at a loss on how to grow my own food. Sure I have a small kitchen herb garden, but beyond the oregano and the sage, then what? This year will be different. With starter plants and seeds, we've been preparing for a vegetable garden. I've ordered a rain collection barrel and recycled soaker hose, and to celebrate Earth Day, James tilled up a stretch of grass in the sunniest part of the yard. Step by step, our goal of a summer garden will hopefully become a reality, and not the nightmare scenario that inspired it.

Before and After: The Dining Room

Before

After

Before

After

Eleven years ago, I decorated the dining room, and at the time, I loved the rich red walls and the historical qualities of our 1920's home. And then I didn't. A redesign that was more in tune with my current aesthetic was long overdue. Scouring Craigslist for Danish mod furniture, Crate and Barrel for a rug, offering up my own pieces for free, and a day painting, here's the result. The only missing piece-- the light fixture, which is waiting for me at ADLIB Antiques in Hudson, NY. But that's an entry for another day.

A Tribute to Godzilla by James Bouler

This entry is dedicated to modernemama, who was rightfully concerned that the evolution to our family room decor had left the dinosaur population extinct. On the contrary, through a selective, 'survival-of-the-fittest' purge, our cold blooded friends seem to be happier than ever. With a Malcolm Morley painting serving as their tropical paradise, James decided to create the photographic tribute above to show just how much the Godzillas and hula girl are enjoying their improved surroundings.

Please, everyone, take a bow. . .