The New Way

We here at the DC headquarters are so busy painting the last happy duck stencils along our borders, rehearsing with the marching band, and doing final fittings for the majorettes in prep for Erin's baby's homecoming that we can barely find the time to remember our names.  So, we've decided to do things a little differently for the next couple of months:  we're rockin long weekends for the rest of the summer.  Yep, from now until the school bell rings we're taking the easy way out on Fridays.  Here's how it's gonna go down:  we're going to show you ONE pretty picture like this:

A quick description like this:

The Cloud Sofa by D.K. Wei:  a concept couch supported by nothing more than a magnet

And maybe we'll even throw in a link to a new blog we've found like this:

Hey, check out this new blog we love: me melodia

Happy Summer, homies!  See you on Monday!

Seat Treats

Because we are not four legged creatures and gravity is a bitch, us bipeds need to take a load off and rest our tushies now and then. Small wonder, then, that there is nothing more reimagined, recycled and redesigned than the humble chair.

(Per Ranung)

But chairs are not content to be merely functional; they are the shoes of the furniture world. You can't have just one pair -- oh no. If you're like me, you can't even walk into a thrift store without picking up a stray or two, because who can resist a sad, lonely chair with good bones, just begging for a spit shine and new fabric? Evidence of my obsession lives throughout the house. And the garage. And the shed out back. And now that I am stuffed to the gills with chairtastic finds, I get busy convincing my friends that they need such and such chair. It is a disease, I tell you.

So while I may not have a spare square inch left for these beauties, I though I'd share some sweet fantasy finds with you guys. Who knows? Maybe you could provide a good home for these fellas.

Jurgen Bey is a master of transformative chair design. He takes a simple, recognizable form and ratchets up the crazy a notch or two with this chair designed for his Fitness Flat exhibition. You know you want grandma to crochet you a snake coozy for your dusty shaker chair, don't you?

Bey is also responsible for the cultured neanderthal look shown in this Suzy Hoodless designed room. The Tree Trunk Bench costs $15,700, but let me tell you a secret: it's just a log with some chair backs stuck on it. Who wants to make one and send us the pics?

Fredrik Farg gave these classic shapes a glamorous boost with dressy details. Thrift store finds were reupholstered with suiting details and me likey.

(OWI)

This ain't no hollaback chair -- this beauty was destined to be noticed on the initial cruise through the store and will always have first pick of admirers. Mmmm, her purple tufted wings make my heart sing with lust. I can think of a few chairs I'd kick to the curb to make room for her, but shhhhh, don't let them know just yet...

You can't talk hot chairs without mentioning Jaime Hayon. Homeboy knows how to tweak a form to bring out the best in chairness.

He also knows how to pimp the goods, like this slutty red chair he designed for Camper. Hello, sexy!

(Stephen Randazzo)

While I appreciate and desire chair bling, a well designed form will always be on point, much like a classic piece of sculpture. Old school boyz Bertoia and Eames knew a thing or two about how to make a lasting impression.

And sometimes the right chair is like the perfect piece of jewelry. This home photographed by Tom Scheerer isn't really my style, but that El Greco-esque attenuated chair takes the whole room to another, edgier level. What I wouldn't give for a set of six of those babies...

But, of course, I will always be drawn to the weird and unattainable, like this Cow Chair designed by Niels van Eijk, via Droog Design. I don't think I'll be getting one of these anytime soon unless someone slaughters a cow and sends me the entire hide in one piece. I'm pretty sure I can take it from there.

And then there's this. It's a frame! It's a chair! It's my butt in the Mona Lisa's face! Somehow that doesn't seem quite right. What do you think?

On the other hand, I feel pretty confident that this Coin Chair by Johnny Swing is a solid investment. Welded from 1500 half dollar coins, it costs a mere $59,000. Yes, that is more than $58,000 in profit for the artiste, but humor in the face of a mounting recession is priceless, right? Right.

Anthropologie Does Austin: Part 2

As you may remember from Erin's post last Friday, Anthropologie recently dropped into austin, rubbed it's faux flea market goo on every last street corner, then took pretty pictures of the results.  What can I say, Austin is a star, Austin shines, she deserves to have the rest of her pretty pictures shown.  Don't worry, it's easy to ignore the $300 cotton tops.

We pick up right where Erin left off:  smack dab in the middle of the catalog and in the middle of town.  I'm 90% sure this was shot at Flashback Vintage.  A shabby shack on South First with western boots and pants for days.  There's also lots of pyrex, which makes me happy.

Hot Gossip:  This shop used to be in a different location (I won't say where) they moved and the house they used to rent was torn down and a well designed local restaurant was built.  BUT, looks can be deceiving, without saying the name of the new location I will tell you that I will never ever go there again.  Last year I did some web work for the owners for free (I owed a favor to the owner's best friend).  THEN, I went to said restaurant for dinner and left with a $140 bill, they didn't even comp a glass of wine.  

So, there's your hot austin gossip:  Flashback = good, business in old location = bad

These photos were both shot on South Congress Avenue.  Left was taken from some ole shop window looking out to the street.  Right is in front of Jo's coffee, which Erin told you about Friday.  Here's some info you didn't get:  Their Chai tea is too watered down, even if you ask for extra chai.  Their BBQ pulled pork is worth driving across town for, if you don't do meat, the tofu is just as good (but lame because there's no meat in it) and if you drink regular coffee, the iced turbo is AWESOME.  Voila

I do believe that this was also shot at Flashback Vintage.  I have run out of gossip on this joint.

All of these pix were taken at Roadhouse Relics, purveyors of all things neon.  The top right image is an old sign from the Deep Eddy Cabaret that has now been reclaimed by Roadhouse and sits in their lot.  Deep Eddy Cabaret still stands and slings $2 Lone Stars like there's no tomorrow.

*Insider Tip:  If you are going to partake in the cabaret's drink specials, might I suggest that you do so after swimming in it's namesake:  the Deep Eddy pool.  It's pretty much the most perfect place in town:  it's a gigantic pool that feeds off of a cold freshwater spring.  You get all that natural water, but there's no dirt or fishies in the mix.  It's the jam.

This postcard mural is also at Roadhouse Relics - my god, what isn't at that place.  It was designed at painted by my friends, the geniuses at Blue Genie.  We sang the praises of Blue Genie once before HERE

I can promise that the model in this picture has never eaten at Fran's Hamburgers.  One bite of their greesy burgers and ice cream floats would keep her from fitting in the frame.  The place is cute, but do as I do:  get a yummy crushed-ice diet coke.

Fun Fact:  This place is sandwiched between a meat processing plant and Birds Barbershop on South Congress.

Oh! Another fun fact:  See how you can sorta make out a little yellow bungalow house in the bottom left of this picture, right by the sign post?  That house has a big hairy goat living in it's yard, the goats name is Nic (according to the sign the pet owners erected).  This house is only 1/2 a block off of one of the busiest streets in Austin.

Ok, this is where my tour-guidery gets a little shakey.  It's not for lack of Austin knowledge, but for lack of theater love that I totally fail on these next few shots.  If I had to make a bet, I would probably say this was shot at the Vortex Theater (excuse me, Vortex Repertory Company).  I was there once, it was for a wedding.

Same.  Let's talk about those South African Grazing Sheep.  Pretty cute, aye?  But for $448 a pop, I'm guessing my money will be better spent flying to Africa, taking a safari then picking those sheep up for 4 dollars U.S.

Good Lord, Anthropologie, are you still showing me the Vortex?  Ok, here's a fact:  within walking distance of the Vortex are 2 Joel Mozersky designed spaces: Red House (positive: yummy lemon-grass mojitos, stellar horse decor, negative: doors shut at midnight, boo) and el chilito a yummy taco stand (apparently the stripes on the side of the building were Joel's idea, cuz you can't step inside.) 

Oh, also, those lights are $398 each.  As in Each.  Just One.  Not a cluster.

Photo one, another theater shot, ugh.  Photo 2 - the poster close up - is actually shot in Nashville where the catalogs were designed and printed.  

Also in Nashville. 

There you go.  Now you know everything you ever wanted to know about Austin.  

Kisses!