Extra Closet Space

Photograph by Paul Costello for Domino Magazine, February 2007.

It has come to my attention that there are a lot of people out there in blogland are looking to turn their spare bedroom into a luxurious, oversized closet. While my best advice would be to call a professional designer, I can offer this do-it-yourself dressing room, featured in Domino a couple of years back, as inspiration for a budget, weekend project. I accidentally recycled this particular issue a long time ago, but was happy to discover photos of Olivia Chantecaille's room makeover on fellow closetphile So Haute's blog.


Although the font is now too small for me to read, this is what I can remember from the article:

Step 1) Buy some basic garment racks. (These are by Elfa).
Step 2) Cover with inexpensive fabric and decorative accents using a glue gun (this is the part that is easier said than done).
Step 3) Combine low-budget furniture pieces (the ottoman and mirrored vanity are from JC Penney) with an more expensive looking decorative accessories, like the floor-length, gilded mirror.
Step 4) Add wall hooks for belts, bags and jewelry
Step 5) Hang clothes and enjoy!

Historic Preservation

Detail of the Crum and Forster Building in midtown Atlanta. Photograph by Allen Sullivan for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution.

It looks like another one of Atlanta's architecturally significant buildings needed rescue from the landfill. Thank you, lady bloggers for bringing this story to my attention. Didn't any of you people with a wrecking ball see Wall-E?

Sex and the Sixties

Are you watching this show? Because until about 48 hours ago, I was not aware of the brilliance that is AMC's Mad Men. Now I am eleven episodes deep--thanks to the newly released DVD box set. (Thank you, TV Gods for sending me something good to watch this summer). Season Two starts Sunday, July 27. Yeay!!

For a small sampling of what makes this TV show so great, click here. (Photograph via Entertainment Weekly).

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

...because we know it's not blogging. So, here are a couple of things that I have been up to so far this summer:

1) I Netflixed My Kid Could Paint That. At first glance, it's a documentary on four year old painting "prodigy" Marla Olmstead. (Photographed above). What it soon becomes is an unsolved mystery and a fascinating commentary on what defines abstract art, creative genius and adult greed.

2) I visited what is slowly becoming my favorite beach destination within driving distance from Atlanta: Amelia Island, Florida. Please don't tell the usual masses that are out to ruin my peaceful beach vacation with loud country music and drunken Pro-Kadima.

3) I met Top Chef-testant, Richard Blais after having a meal his Atlanta restaurant, Home. His elegant, Blaisian version of "Shrimp and Grits" with slices of citrus, chorizo and she-crab butter was to die for. My mouth still waters. Even if you didn't win, we are still rooting for you Richard!

4) I picked up my newly recovered chairs from the upholsterer. The commitment-phobe in me decided that natural linen was the only fabric I wouldn't regret six months from now. Next plan is to add pillows, perhaps with a cool fabric from Of The Young and the Restless.

5) I helped my grandmother celebrate her 80th birthday. This is her posing on the cover of Davenport Steward's 1950's literary masterpiece, "No Time for Fear". 58 years later and she still looks great (much better than the tattered book jacket remains which I have framed on my wall).

Hope you are all having a wonderful summer as well!