Kitchen Design Luxury Homes: television

Burke's Peerage

Burke's Peerage

I hope you're enjoying the second series of Downton Abbey! Click the image to enlarge. Hilarious! From the pages of GQ, Feb. 2012

7:10 AM

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0H8hdAE2UYyZjE1pcuyQakpS6uRzvSxo_OsyqL1Md8M0KV2JkxkRAvQWPfWnCGvBCRcJR7_OqxPxwt-587XCA8_vwjmXJiW4gMf5P5iZlA_62RE4uQ2VG0_S-kCe_Pc6dLer1iqilC1u/s1600-h/easy+chairs.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430893883736102882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0H8hdAE2UYyZjE1pcuyQakpS6uRzvSxo_OsyqL1Md8M0KV2JkxkRAvQWPfWnCGvBCRcJR7_OqxPxwt-587XCA8_vwjmXJiW4gMf5P5iZlA_62RE4uQ2VG0_S-kCe_Pc6dLer1iqilC1u/s400/easy+chairs.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Recognize these easy chairs? No, they're not from your local thrift store! These are the chairs of Archie & Edith Bunker (Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton) from the long running tv series, A<em>ll in the Family</em> (1971-1979). These items join the list of hundreds of important artifacts of American Culture at the Smithsonian's <a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/">American History Museum<br /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnWgoTfpL3Sfy7hLYEpn9jUbWTpTtX5OgNzDak5gvZTKWi-l22kg80uUjtt_gfgLjC6fSxzoj4cMKFmNtQdcdDhUmUIUU8JdUwMM8e4OLvtvO5D4glFmLXno_Kg-NJg7cept6EMClNJq4/s1600-h/archie+bunker.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430893877450358722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnWgoTfpL3Sfy7hLYEpn9jUbWTpTtX5OgNzDak5gvZTKWi-l22kg80uUjtt_gfgLjC6fSxzoj4cMKFmNtQdcdDhUmUIUU8JdUwMM8e4OLvtvO5D4glFmLXno_Kg-NJg7cept6EMClNJq4/s400/archie+bunker.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>What I love most about this museum is the mix of low & high brow. Archie Bunker's hat and the original Kermit the Frog in the same collection as the Gunboat Philadelphia and the Star Spangled Banner. All a part of our history and something to interest everyone: Even <a href="http://interior-design-pictures.blogspot.com/2009/04/julia-childs-kitchen.html">Julia Child's kitchen</a>! It's worth a visit (or two or three!).</div>

All in the family

Recognize these easy chairs? No, they're not from your local thrift store! These are the chairs of Archie & Edith Bunker (Carroll O...

7:58 PM

Project Runway #2

So, did you see Project Runway on Wednesday: the green challenge? I know I'm posting a few days late. The green challenge...I don't get it really.I think it's great they were green but how is that a 'challenge'? It limits the fabric choices, that I understand, but they didnt' get to chose their own fabrics, so what's the difference? I loved that the models were the clients and that they also chose the fabric. Hey, it's a challenge, designers, so it's CHALLENGING! I thought a few of them really stepped up to the plate this episode - we're starting to see who is a good designer and who is good tv.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226695881713508674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvrUoocN3QWfcg83avg5rpWgUwaxUk6t6ZEudi9Ywusyi2EyfqOCfcK5qQ8icjKHmApdG5Z0EQT5M9NgNRtfTdoWNtSwfXObxnhVJ-xHEgeuTfAKnJhJGbSiv1Ikg4bmZsBiHO_6Q61k/s400/suede.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> As you probably know (if you've read this far into the post you probably watched the show!) Suede won the challenge. Were you as shocked as me? I would have sworn he was in the running to be cast off! However, he made this super cute party dress with a fun skirt and used the shiny awful fabric in a unique way! This will be available on Bluefly.com soon for sale!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2Ys8IVHjqTLXPwtSrC7yei9uvC-_QPbz_dISdbBbJfbgKSXFfYfloA75flj70VA9aJ4UTv7JEup05gdX99Qbj16YywrH4ZG7meCZUVWyamA4X_7Iwa6jhI3UpnZqhHlQRHdNFX7grUc/s1600-h/terri.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226695888718265250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2Ys8IVHjqTLXPwtSrC7yei9uvC-_QPbz_dISdbBbJfbgKSXFfYfloA75flj70VA9aJ4UTv7JEup05gdX99Qbj16YywrH4ZG7meCZUVWyamA4X_7Iwa6jhI3UpnZqhHlQRHdNFX7grUc/s400/terri.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> My favorite dress (that no one really talked about) was this one by Terri. Isn't it adorabe and well made? Such a sassy model too!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74tSU-2Ir5FFF-R0J4PFDF212h6gnQUCQnK1s7X8pEDSgRBSVIwd6EwtB7xFhtUjAbDl3SBzgIOa4XILkrkqJsZSZwArsObURON6PTx2UNaPh0kov7ArEfTkJkITdt4ukzT2HVXmm_6o/s1600-h/blayne.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226695813358888674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74tSU-2Ir5FFF-R0J4PFDF212h6gnQUCQnK1s7X8pEDSgRBSVIwd6EwtB7xFhtUjAbDl3SBzgIOa4XILkrkqJsZSZwArsObURON6PTx2UNaPh0kov7ArEfTkJkITdt4ukzT2HVXmm_6o/s400/blayne.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Crazy orange Blayne created this fun 80's cocktail dress out of the hot pink fabric that he hated; but I think it turned out really cute, don't you?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i2MeZ8CqvV3crx-oOFJWsYZiBF2KGGNwE_NksUwv3NZACHkhcsMq4dJx4ievW3_q4tYT0BBonxCIfysiimssR5fCPr4vRu4pNhgFX0nHlHOznAovQ2I2NlLCvTSKn1Lsws25oxsnnb8/s1600-h/keith.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226695819616590018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i2MeZ8CqvV3crx-oOFJWsYZiBF2KGGNwE_NksUwv3NZACHkhcsMq4dJx4ievW3_q4tYT0BBonxCIfysiimssR5fCPr4vRu4pNhgFX0nHlHOznAovQ2I2NlLCvTSKn1Lsws25oxsnnb8/s400/keith.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> This is what I call the window shade dress.....it looks like those french style sheer blinds you see in funeral parlors and 'victorian' recreation homes. Shame on you keith! And it's so short, it's like the blinds are half way up! I guess you have to give it points for creativity -and it would hide a baby lump (or two!).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze_bYap8hpk0Pa6huvxE3wu3nO-q8ksSvG3MziaKNY36N1ON7vzNhaYbCxsLKjgZyx8YgwMaC1oOlNNsStWpi9f2_eHarEnMA9MT5DHiMsOAPcSYuXS1Gt73fVQkXinLa9vr7mNDVdZg/s1600-h/kenley.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226695818431495794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze_bYap8hpk0Pa6huvxE3wu3nO-q8ksSvG3MziaKNY36N1ON7vzNhaYbCxsLKjgZyx8YgwMaC1oOlNNsStWpi9f2_eHarEnMA9MT5DHiMsOAPcSYuXS1Gt73fVQkXinLa9vr7mNDVdZg/s400/kenley.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> This dress seemed to come in second place, by Kenley. This was probably my 2nd favorite dress -as the judges said -it was drop dead chic.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oQO1cb6vBGNSyUQiL0Q8l43Knywuuhfvigge2BVqtYmUmoHEOzVeNO8Q7MhozzTbZz8P0eiTHkIfO46ezrD3Md3aw9f6B8khw5NFOWp8c6Z0pTYAUGvrycrajtTjbtfWuOllcrFsxH0/s1600-h/korto.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226695821240536738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oQO1cb6vBGNSyUQiL0Q8l43Knywuuhfvigge2BVqtYmUmoHEOzVeNO8Q7MhozzTbZz8P0eiTHkIfO46ezrD3Md3aw9f6B8khw5NFOWp8c6Z0pTYAUGvrycrajtTjbtfWuOllcrFsxH0/s400/korto.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The biggest shock of the night to me was Korto. I thought she was the designer with the most talent and best abilities.....then this.......It was well made -but those fins are awful.... they make a model look hippy!! I had such high hopes :-(<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovMVdG3fDSiKQ1zPvuskGsj73VuozrgSV1Kip3HhK7EeHaZNPQU5rJcXCd2AICGKF9eivdpSv8O2mNZY1dZ6Roev9N0l6Gc8k9uM6UjVm2II_ayoixFIHChcbZ-ePxYCbvrhuTn0mALY/s1600-h/leanne.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226695820780334210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovMVdG3fDSiKQ1zPvuskGsj73VuozrgSV1Kip3HhK7EeHaZNPQU5rJcXCd2AICGKF9eivdpSv8O2mNZY1dZ6Roev9N0l6Gc8k9uM6UjVm2II_ayoixFIHChcbZ-ePxYCbvrhuTn0mALY/s400/leanne.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The judges didn't seem to like this little number by Leanne. I thought this was super cute though! They said it had too much going on, well....yes......I think though that it's different and cute: i love the pockets. The only change I would make is to have had the model put her arm through that last loop instead of over it like an epulet. Still -it's an adorable little 'romper' (I believe that is the term for this time of garment.....besides it's so fun to say....or write).</div>

Project Runway #2

So, did you see Project Runway on Wednesday: the green challenge? I know I'm posting a few days late. The green challenge...I don't ...

9:09 PM

Project Runway

Ok -so I don't get the channel, but I've kept up somewhat on <span style="color:#66cccc;">Project </span><em><span style="color:#66cccc;">RUNAWAY</span> </em>and from special request from my good friend <a href="http://lodadesigns.blogspot.com/">Loda</a>, here is what I have to say...... <div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>ARE YOU F'ING KIDDING ME?!</strong></span></div><br /><br /><div>I realize this is supposed to be 'haute couture' (*eye roll *) but come on people- these outfits from the final collection are HIDEOUS except for the ones from hunky HOT Rami. Just to prove my point......This is from Jillian's collection<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174735454772159586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjpYnfLAP6qTSUN77lXczErTeiuxbkrOyBXAPOITaoarWFdYVo5_OFSBEq9QFPgHEVVoc79f3UeGOrAnF_mHwXF9YZEZ4Ha3xDNLyIwK8S0eah9TFued60mEATlFsB1Af285SRz-xj0M/s400/Jillian.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div></div><br /><p>The model is super pretty, don't you think? Like Grace Kelly, porcelain doll pretty, but even she can't save this creation!!! The weird sandals, the LEGGINGS ( ewwww ), the gauzey sleeves from a Shakespeare play and the rest of it looks like medieval chainmail. This does not look nice, doesn't enhance the wearer and is super uncomfortable looking. But the model - very pretty ( I think it's always important to say SOMETHING nice ). </p><p>This is an outfit from the winner's collection, Christian.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174735467657061490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9QxkNZzbKqc66zC1rk_cevo33DyTxWZpQTSFciNzV0BrErDL7M6ap0Wau4xg3rGhDkC1hwIb4wC7Zxnx_sICJrC3R4TPOKYXhUsOeQH7yt0wYimqhEyBgl7VqpHfQtd0S5Rv0Dt3e-g/s400/christian.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></p><br /><p>Something nice....umm -well, it's dramatic. Dramatic as in this is like what <span style="color:#ffff00;">Big Bird's</span> bride would wear on their wedding day. How itchy does this make you looking at this? And the hat at the jaunty angle makes me <em>laugh...out....loud</em>. This is like a caricature of French couture. This is a joke......I don't care what Posh Spice says......EWWWWWWWWWWWWW - the EWW heard around the world!! I wouldn't hate it as much if it wasn't from the 'winning' person. Never mind that he's a sqeaky toad and everytime I see him I think 'who's that girl?- oh - it's christian.........'</p><p>And just because I always like to leave on a positive note, here is an outfit from hotness himself, Rami. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174735446182224978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizh1VhpZnUtef8ITON_NmUCJOUlyLoZ-x98gcsq2SPgNI_GIH01a8gAb8oe47jZ8pNt4-aAP4frp8W1lJFn9qhD278anIovYj39IhKTL6pL7Pm6JvvG018jHYxdzfS6T8AIYwmeD0xUKU/s400/RAMI.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The model is perfect, love the headwrap, love the makeup, LOVE the gold. Love the simplicity, love the gold cuff. Love the asymetrical sleeve. If I were a woman -I would want to wear this on my wedding day. Yes, I love this look THAT much. PERFECTION<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174737481996723330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzcQysfED6ayNp4aN-ZJENec_f39qid0OK0dt_KQ3yMdJAxxr8fymHPMoK4TDd4QHand4dFQ-26O4n9G06choOSrHmTs7_NeROEomp-aI7ko1_mr0dBy-edYgMVvXukVrXV5SDF__Wng/s400/rami+sewing.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></p><p>And just because I can't help myself -here is Rami. Sigh with me now............Don't you just want to lick it? Just a little??!</p>

Project Runway

Ok -so I don't get the channel, but I've kept up somewhat on Project RUNAWAY and from special request from my good friend Loda , he...

12:54 PM