"I Want to Go To THERE"...

Have you ever stumbled upon a store, or a window display, or a well-curated section of a thrift store and thought... Everything about this scene is ME INCARNATE!!! The french have a term for window shopping...and with such streets as Avenue Montaigne, Rue du Faubourg, and the Champs Elysee, its only natural their word for such a pastime:lèche-vitrine, literally translated means "window licking". For me though, my latest obsession is London based design team duo James Russel and Hannah Plumb, or James Plumb as they call their collaborative effort.


One of their most recent commissions was to design the interiors for London based boutique Hostem, a progressive, somewhat dark, somewhat gritty sort of upscale menswear emporium. Located in Shoreditch, the new London bohemia...prices in Chelsea have skyrocketed since the bond-boom...its the sort of store that maintains that gritty fleet-street-esque unassuming industrial brick facade 1930's depressed worker's housing aesthetic with a tim-burton hilt to it.

...exposed old-fashioned light-bulbs & a floor that looks like it hasn't

seen the likes of a broom since King George IV went mad...

..and that undulating ceiling is interesting, which is more than we can say for the shoes...definitely a detour from that pseudo-Victorian modern aesthetic...

It was not only the look of the store, but the lifestyle they were selling which really got me excited. after flipping through their lookbook, I've decided I need them to style my life please. The looks are very dark and in some respects luxuriously pesimistic? I felt sinister was a bit too far. But most importantly there's a graceful dignity to the clothing that seems like it would let one be different, edgy, and new without being completely unrecognizable to the general populous as some progressive brands do. hem* hem* Rick Owens, but as demostrated below...every single image they've created for their lookbook makes me want to throw fits on the floor for them not having an American operation...

...theres a certain gracefulness to a longer form of clothing...

...lately an obsession of mine: mixing Black & Navy...

...okay, honestly its only acceptable to have

cropped pants when you've high boots on...

... ubiquitous hipster uniform, but still cool...

...simple clothing makes you find the details in

texture, materiality and subtle colour changes...

...I've always wanted to be able to operate in a

single colour sceme, but I'm to random for it so

images like this are eternally out of my grasp...

...but I want to! I so want to!!!...

...sure its simple, but its still evocative don't you think?

...and my personal favorite...not the most wearable, but definitely

underscores the "incognito-chic" look I feel they're going for...all you'd

have to do is unzip the jacket a bit and it'dbe slightly less formidable...

Their other artistic works are also very ethereal and evocative. Their furniture design almost seems Edward-Gorey-esque? Their whole approach to design isn't so much to create these "creepy" pieces of furniture and objects, but rather to use objects of the past, objects often overlooked and forgotten and to give them new life without coating them in modern paint colours, or restoring the pieces, but rather to leave them in their existing state, to maintain their inherent age and dignity, but to do so in a way that serves its function as a chair, or a chandelier...I'd offer this explanation...its like they're inviting us to live in this forgotten world of memories, sure it may be tattered at the edges and suffer cracks and discolouration, but its a dignified re-use of what most would simply have chucked into the trash-pile...I'm getting so inspired I may just start carting back broken "curbiture" to my apartment to cobble together new furniture pieces...my poor roomates.

...reminiscent of Coraline's upstairs attic dwelling acrobatic neighbor much?...

...with a few good pillows this could actually work, but I think

from an artistic perspective its absolutely pitch-perfect...

...some find it creepy, others bizarre, but in the words of Christian Boltanski : "Objects are waiting for love - for someone to say "I want you"...well James Russel and Hannah Plumb...you make me want to go to there, live in it, wear it, Eat Live and Breathe it!!!

Sandals...on a Sunday...

Just this last week I shared with all of you my ardent love for Sunday and its myriad of sartorial selections one can indulge in. Last week it was HOT. Hurricane Earl, which turned out to be a minor prolonged period of late-evening drizzle, had yet to sweep away the unbearable heat and the city was the typical image of the American city in August...heat rising in waves off the pavement, snarling traffic, horns blaring, fans blowing, steam rising, and taxis swerving...it was like a bad establishing shot for Law & Order. Dun dun...

Yet still somehow people were adequately dressed for a Sunday. While Boston CERTAINLY isn't the most sartorial of cities, men were still in blazers, women in dresses...or both sexes at least in collared shirts. So why then? Did I just get back from a long-winded bicycle ride through Newton, Brookline, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, East Cambridge, Harvard, Porter, Davis, and greater Somerville...In full suiting mind you, and see such lack-luster effort. Clearly they're not reading my blog...which is abhorrently apprehensible...But in all honesty, I've never seen so many flip flops.

Flip. Flops. ... !....?....!!!! lets just unpack that word there. A pedial accoutrement device involving two straps of leather and usually a foam or leather sole, depending on how fancy-pants you feel. And they call them Flip. Flops. the very words conjure how you'd expect them to sound. Loud, obnoxious and throughly, thoroughly undignified.

Now that Earl has passed, and the weather's cooled to a perfect 72 degrees with nothing but whisps of clouds between you and a brilliantly blue sky...I'd expect a little more decorum. Perhaps its my insanely outdated puritanical sensibilities, or just that fact that ALL of college-dom has now officially moved into Boston, but I was honestly caught off guard being the ONLY blazer-clad bicyclist in all of Boston.

...photo from my new favorite bicycle blog...

I know I'm crazy...this is something I'm well aware of. I know that most people don't honestly rifle through their winter storage the FIRST day of mildly unseasonable cooler-weather to find scarves, wool blazers, and sweaters to wear, all the while thinking..."I could wear this Icelandic wool sweater if only I just stay in the shade and out of direct sunlight to keep me from overheating"...In fact some people detest the cooler weather and all the layering possibilities which go along with such a season. Take my friend and co-worker Samantha Chu for example, while certainly the LAST person to break out her winter wardrobe on such a sunny day as this...she also manages to be the best dressed person at ALL TIMES!!! She's the sort of style minded individual whom if you were to show up to her house on a Sunday you'll find her vacuuming carpets in high-heeled patent leather shoes, full jewelry regalia, and evening gown adorned. Its that sort of person who is so whole-heartedly swept up in their own "personal rules to live by" that thankfully make me feel like I'm not alone in the world.

...check out her blog! Its 100 ways of awesomeness!!!...

That being said, lets just you and me get one thing straight. As I'm writing this, and you...must be reading this...you must think me an absolute purist J.E.R.K. While I personally would never be caught dead in sandals; alot...and I mean ALOT of the people I know wear sandals and do so frequently. Do I hate them for doing so? NO. Do I secretly scorn their sense of style? N.O.!!! While I don't share their likes and dislikes I also make a point of it NOT to be a jerk about these things. We every one of us need a little variety, and there are days when I'm 20 minutes late for the bus I SHOULD have taken, but didn't, because I'm still pulling out my hair stressing over "not having anything to wear" and standing in front of the mountainous heap of clothing strewn about my room having just been wrenched furiously from the hangers in panicked grasping for a "coherent look". Its days like these that I wish I didn't mind so much, get caught up in my own rules-to-live-by, and just go with the flow. But thats just what I'm trying to get at.

Each and every person has their own set-of-rules that they live by. Its usually dictated by what they feel looks best on themselves, but we all share this in common. And while Sandals certainly may not be in my personal repertoire...er...or unless they're Chloe and fantasmagorically well-executed...(never say never), I certainly won't hold it against you if you find yourself wearing them in my presence...

Its ok, I promise. We can still be friends.

If Apple were the Operating Systems for Architects...

I just saw this amazing version of an Arcitectural presentaiton one would present to clients. I think its incredibly clever in its approach to both provide all the information which goes into a buidling, yet still keeping a streamlined approach...

After seeing this video, and how seamlessly things seemed to come together in the video...it makes me want to personally lobby Steve Jobs to create a Mac O.S. version equivalent of Autocad...something with Intelligence built into it...

Sartorial Sunday

Sundays have always been my favorite day of the week. Some people dread it like the plague, being the last day of freedom before Monday rolls around. Some people prefer Fridays for its festive nature signaling the end of the work week and the beginning of their time for post-work debauchery...Saturdays have a cool sophisticated air, perhaps the benefit of being situated between the Licentiousness of Fridays and the Sanctity of Sundays. Its a day of strolls in the park, brunch on terraces overlooking tree-lined avenues and sailing along the Charles...But Sunday. Oh Sundays really take the cake...

Being that Sunday is a day of worship, one is especially expected to dress in a manner that they don't usually aspire to. While I'd say I'm usually conscious of what I wear most every day, its Sundays that give me carte-blanche to engage in the pursuit of sartorial gains. Boston in general certainly may not be the most sartorial of cities, but at least on Sunday you'll see people wearing things a bit nicer than they usually tend to...the leggings are gone, the madras stays at home, and every once in a while you'll see a blazer or a tie. As for myself, and being that its so ungodly hot today, I chose to keep it simple this Sunday with a light blue western, some professional looking raw-denim, Gucci horse-bit loafers, the crocodile attaché, a good pair of Persol, and my light blue Hermes belt...the closest thing you'll ever find to me wearing that features a monogram of logo from a designer brand...I buy things for their quality, not for their social prestige...

I attend services at the Arlington Street Unitarian Universalist's congregation of Boston. Apart from having truly mind-blowing sermons they also have strong ties to the Symphony and the Longwood conservatory, which often means some truly amazing performances. This Sunday's piano-piece was Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. Its an old classic, but I thought you'd enjoy the modern way in which its presented...

...heres to a wonderful Sunday...

Blown Away...

Its come to my attention, that many of you "hip, with-it" bloggers use Polyvore to create your own evocative looks which pull elements from the things one writes about. Well, I've finally given into this trend, after all who doesn't enjoy the ability to essentially have an all access granted artistic pass to "buy" whatever you want!!!

In honour of my last post, and given the unchanged weather conditions here in Boston (dismal and grey, hovering mist clouds, and hurricane winds) I've decided to create this little assemblage of all the things one could need for their very own rainy day "walk with themselves"...after all you cant ponder the vast mysteries of life if you've water in your shoes, best come prepared...and here's what I'd plan on...

...I hope this gives you lots of good ideas on what to plan on wearing for your own rainy-day excursions!!!

Rainydays are here again...

***Side note before you start reading...try playing the music (scroll to bottom) while you read...its incredibly calming and underscores the words...give it a try!!!***

If you're a local to the Boston area, then I'm sure you're aware of the unseasonably cold, damp and blustery weather we're currently experiencing. August usually tends to be one of the hottest months of the year, a time so hot and humid you could cut the air with a knife and half expect to find water. Its times like these that really impress upon me the stick-to-it'd-ness of those first explorers and pilgrims. I'd have felt like we'd reached the borderlands of Hell and high-tailed it back to the temperate climbs of the continent on the next frigate back...

After about a years worth of life in Boston, I've come to expect the unexpected in most things, particularly the weather. I'd expected August to be just as hellish as last year, which is why I'm so delighted this current grey cloud of blusterous mist has descended. Most people really seem to detest the rains, and I myself find times when I'd rather be home in front of my electrical outlet painter's tape fireplace than be out in the cold swearing into the pelting hurricane force winds...But, I've so needed a break from Summer. It seems like such an odd thing to say, "needing a break from summer", but frankly I'm sick of the sun.

When I was a child, whenever it would rain, I always had this feeling that when I grew up and was an adult and could make my own decisions for myself, I'd go out of my way to spend as much time outside when it rains as possible. I'd swing from lamposts like they do in "singing in the Rain", and splash in great big puddles, and just generally enjoy being outside. And to a certain extent I've managed to keep this promise to myself. However unlike that unabashedly confident inner-child I certainly don't have the courage to swing from lamp-posts, or to tap-dance my way through Beacon Hill, I do find myself sheepishly go out of my way to at least walk through puddles. Its times like these when the weather is DISMAL and everybody is home indoors, or huddled under awnings that I walk, and walk, and walk.

Without a doubt, it can be said that I can walk for miles. Not bragging here, other people have walked with me and found they've ended up with blisters and bruised, bloody and beaten, and meanwhile I've still miles to go before I break down. Theres something within me that seems to compel me forward, unceasingly and relentlessly progressing my way through the city. perhaps its my background in Architecture and my fondness for Urbanism which drives me to experience the city as a sequence of spaces, enthralls me, and draws me onward. And its times like these when the weather is at its worst and the streets are deserted that I can have the whole city to myself. No distractions, no annoying tourists, no homicidal taxi-cabs, just me and an endless stream of thoughts...

I do some of my greatest thinking while on these walks, and while I've always been somewhat of a solitary soul, Its times like these that I can truly think. Talk to myself, sort out all the things in my life, examine my past, my present, my future, all the mistakes, the regrets, the losses, the good times and the bad. And while I may come away regretfully nostalgic, a bit forlorn and penitently despondent, I always walk away a little bit more of myself. A little bit wiser. And a little bit happier for having done so...

so here's to all of our rainy-days to come...

I first listened to this song while attending service at the Arlington Street Church here in Boston. Its Gnossienne No. 1 by Eric Satie and a new personal favorite of mine. Reminds me ALOT of Yann Tierson and his work for the film Amile. The presentation is such a great visual and sonal work, very evocative, I just had to share it with all of you...its a great rainy day listening piece...

Design is for E V E R Y O N E !!!

...Recently, while waiting for a friend to meet me at a Local Harvard Square bookstore, I stumbled across a unique yet poignant reminder that Design with a capitol D, requires that we as designers must be sentient in our pursuits to serve all of humanity. Flippantly flipping through the pages of one of my favorite Arts magazine, Art: Das Kunstmagazin, was a brief article on a young German designer's re-design of the rubiks cube...you might be thinking, "why and HOW would anybody do such a thing?"

Just take a look, I think the pictures will speak for themselves...

they did for me, my grasp on the German language just isn't what it used to be...

...combining my love for Art, and my incessant need for finding German

Language publications to try and keep myself from forgetting the language...

...It was just a brief design highlight in the magazine, but reminded me that as

designers we need to be concious of a broader, sometimes forgotten audience...

...and lastly, a brief diagram of the colours for all of you non-braille reading people...

...it was just a brief article, and the concept just so simple, but sometimes its the simplest of ideas that can have the greatest impact. I hope that as designers we can remember that the best design is one that is accessible to everybody...

Townhouse Tour - 559 E 2nd Street / Boston

...A bit boring what with all the grey going on, but its whats on the inside that counts...

...Lovely little front stoop, nice mix of natural materials to convey hierarchy...

...As an architect, I'm falling over myself with such a beautiful example of rectilinear form...

...fortunately the owner enters the home through the main foyer unlike many suburban homes where the owner must enter from the garage through the kitchen/utility room/service area, thus the foyer's grand/hierarchical effect is lost on them...and in the end...a waste of space...

...room just enough for some art and a side console...

...and despite the narrow nature of the townhouse, it does

seem to get an awful lot of natural light...

...Money Shot. I love this townhouse because its use of colour really

separates spaces, and keeps the space from becoming just another

white-box "Modern" townhouse...you know who you are...

...that, and their mod furniture aesthetic they've got going on...

... Living room, with dining space behind...

...I also really like the idea of the sliding panel to conceal the kitchen...

open plans are nice and all, but sometimes its better just to close a door

and watch as all the dirty dishes/cooking mess Magically disappears ...

...the only thing special in this room is the chandelier, but it somehow makes

everything seem pulled together under that "Mod" aesthetic...all you need is ONE good

piece to center a room around an idea and its works...frugal too...

...although, not going to lie, everything else in their apartment looks like it came from Design within "reach"... the furniture store of really purist design savvy rich people...

...we all have our weaknesses, mine are fireplaces, inglenooks, and STAIRCASES!!!

...the staircase is really quite modern, all metal, but has a familiar traditional quality to it...

...I think its the hand-railing's switchback moments that give it that

sleek-updated look of a modern townhouse's staircase...

...Master bedroom is a bit bland, but what do you expect, its Boston...

...another vivaciously green bathroom...are they reading my blog!?

probably... No.

...wait this colour reminds me of someone...is it!? could it be!? Yes! the UGLY ONE..."Gnarly Nursing Home Green"...

...really liking the second bedroom / study...are they a psychologist!?

is that how they're paying for all these expensive pieces of furniture!?

HEM* HEM* Barcelona daybed...

...but wait there's more!!!...

...at the top of the stairs...

...a fourth floor Family Room!!! and another extortionately expensive chair...

...AND!!! A ROOF TERRACE!!! SOLD!!!

...GAH! every townhouse needs a descent roof terrace...

...and lastly of course...a good floorplan for you analytical architect-types...

So you see, with a few pieces to center a room around they managed to create a coherent Mod-design aesthetic...and kudos to the owners for at least including SOME colour into their modern townhouse. So many people think just because a thing is modern it has to adhere to a specific white/black/grey aesthetic, BOSTON ESPECIALLY...so its good to see a few crafty colourful people out there...as for me...I kind of which they'd gone

a few more shades neon like our swiss freinds...