A beautiful dormer

I noticed this grade school in Georgetown the other day and loved all of the little details. Check out that terra cotta dormer with the greek key details! click the image to open larger
I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

A miniature world

In the recent NYT magazine, did you notice the little piece on Ji Lee's parallel worlds? The very talented graduate of Parsons is currently the creative director of the google lab but his other passion is the 'empty' space all around us.You know what I mean by that? Well -the pictures probably make it pretty clear -but ceilings and backs of business cards are 2 things he mentioned in the article. He sees these areas in our modern world as yet another great place to express yourself. In one of these miniature rooms for instance, he has placed a tiny guitar and Jimi Hendrix posters to express the inner rockstar of the client. What a charming idea, don't you think? The idea of anything in miniature generally will gain my support: so cute!

His idea of this parallel universe going on amongst our daily lives is also a pretty interesting one. Remember the children's book, the borrowers, by Mary Norton: Tiny little people stealing small items from us all and living their lives behind our very walls? That notion always intrigued me. If not behind our walls, why not on our blank white gypsum board ceilings which no one seems to notice in our modern age.I remember years ago seeing an article about an older woman who collected miniatures (or doll house furniture, whichever you prefer to call it) and arranged rooms on her bookshelves in her living room: LOVE that idea. I think we all like to play god on some level and be the master of a smaller universe. Why not take after Ji Lee and place them on your ceiling?

All photos from BOOOOOOOOM

original article in the NYT by Johanna Lenander.

St. Patricks

First off, I want to thank all of you who were kind enough to email and comment with places to see and things to do while on the West Coast. I now have a full and exciting itinerary! I'm busy packing and wrapping things up before my trip, but I wanted to share a few pictures I took of the charming Irish Catholic church here in Downtown DC, St. Patricks. I love the little wooden tower room above with the leaded glass windows -don't you?

Two entrances to the church's school are still marked boys & girls -something you don't see anymore. Most of the old schools, even public ones here in DC, still have these seperate entrances (although they are now coed).

I remember the horror stories my dad told me about his childhood spent in similar catholic schools in the 1950s. I'm sure they were overly dramaticized but they scared me enough back in the day!

ArchitectDesign in CA

Next week for my birthday, I'll be traveling to the west coast to the fabulous places shown here.

A day trip to San Simeon (aka the Hearst castle, the indoor pool seen in the top photo) was the catalyst for the whole vacation. I wanted to spend my 30th birthday doing something fabulous -whats more extraordinary than a fairytale castle along the ocean!

Exploring San Franciso, the Filoli mansion and Carmel are on the agenda, can you recommend any other must-sees or restaurants in particular?

Of course I also plan on staying at a few fabulous hotels that I can't wait to share with you all :-)

Get decorated

Happy Decoration day / Memorial Day! Don't forget to remember your passed loved ones and those who have so bravely fought for our freedoms. I decided last minute to stay in town and because of the hot weather have been nesting. Lilies from the Dupont farmers market.