in every dream home a heartache

The other day, as I was trawling the wilds of the internet, I came across this:

It was probably the first home I ever fetishized. I remember myself belly-sprawled on the floor, chewing my lip and flipping through the Sears Wish-Book, admiring the windows that really opened and closed. It represented all of my young ideas about worldy success - stylish furniture (in matching sets for every room); a modern kitchen tricked out with appliances; everything new and clean and specific in a hygenic new house made just for you.

It's amusing and a little frightening to see how closely old ads for Barbie's dream house mimic a realtor's pitch (you can watch for yourself here). Plenty of room! A sundeck! Sliding doors! The idea of dream houses pre-dates the Mattel era, though:

This photo of an enraptured little girl is from 1915, and even earlier examples abound, but back then, miniature dreamhomes were mainly the province of the well-to-do. It wasn't until after WW II that dollhouses became affordable and mass-produced, neatly coinciding with the post-war boom in home ownership and general prosperity. These dream houses for all were disarmingly modest - brightly painted tin transmitters of the property aspirations of the newly solidifying middle-class. Picture windows, tile bathrooms, fireplaces, bedroom sets, well-kept yards for cook-outs and shiny televisions in pride of place. Modern and up-to-date, but not outlandish - no hot tubs or elevators.

These appeal to me. I often think about creating my own little subdivision, a la Rachel Whiteread, but there's the rub: these little ranches and colonials were the cheerful harbingers of fifty years of relentless suburban growth.

I wonder about desires and expectations these toy houses establish.  Maybe Mattel is thinking the same thing - in these uncertain days, you can either spring for the dream house, or confine your child's play to the comparatively cramped confines of the Forever Barbie Totally Real House or the even more humble Barbie My House. Since a dollhouse may be the closest any of us ever get to owning a dream home, I say swing for the fences, consequences be damned. I'll take this one. Or maybe this one in the city and this one for the weekends ...

Lightning Only Strikes the Same Place a Thousand Times

We are experiencing a major drought here in Texas.  My once lush green lawn is now on life support and with the city's water restrictions the prognosis isn't good.  Everyone in the lone star state has their hands clasped together in prayer for some serious serious sky water.  So, I'm not sure if I just have rain on the brain or if there really is a lightning bolt trend happening out there in the rest of the irrigated world.

This glorious wallpaper has been in my office wall inspiration folder for some time now.  I've written about the magic of Minakani wallpaper before and my love for them has only grown stronger since releasing this design.  Since my office renovation is scheduled to start next week (I'm doing it myself and just took a couple days off) I've had this design on my mind.

Then, low and behold, I spotted this genius art piece on one of my favorite blogs Me Melodia:

If ever I had the need to have a urinal in my home, it would most certainly be this Duchamp knockoff with lightning bolts by Hellovon.

Bombarded by TWO badass lightning bolt images, I decided to super sleuth the possible trend to see what else I could find.  Here's what I dug up:

Admittedly, much of what I found was clothing - but doesn't fashion usually preempt home decor?  There were gazillions of lightning bolt earrings, so, assuming that you've probably already seen them, I excluded them and only picked the best of the best.  This Miss Miln Lightning Dress from Asos certainly takes the cake.  If I had my way I would buy it and time warp back to 199X so I could wear it to the prom, then maybe I would have had a good time.  Note to self:  find a new date, too.

This lightning bolt skirt is feeding my craving for all things bright yellow.  And short.  At only $30 from Karma Loop, I think it just may become mine.  How rad would I look in my new lightning bolt office with this skirt?  It's totally work appropriate, right?

Don't worry dudes, I did find a few lightning items that will dress up your den, not your booty.  Like this watercolor from Etsy user HellsSewingCircle

Or this stamp set from another etsy artist, WhimsyByJess.  Get a load of that green background, pretty rad, Aye?

This laptop cover by another etsy user MichelleChristina will trendify your mac lighning quick

And finally, one last fashion image.  Sorry, but I thought it was too cute to pass up.  Etsy user Aeon's lightning tee

Real quick like I want to say Thanks so much to Waxyhearts for her awesome guest post yesterday and Jen for her yellow, black and white roundup on Friday!  Stay tuned this week for lots of fun and excitement:  Tomorrow Even Cleveland will be ripping your heart out with some to-die-for-designs.  I'll pose a design question for the ages on Thursday and Friday you really really won't want to miss:  our own Mrs. Erin will be dropping by to give you all an update on la bambino and to finally make a public reveal of his little name.  Sadly, it's not Berin.

Kisses!

A guest poster's crisis...

Hello DC Readers! My name is Amy and today I am honored to be guest blogging here on Design Crisis - its like a dream come true - somebody slap (or spank...) me!  My usual home is over at Waxyhearts where I write about basically everything I love on the internet - most often Etsy - since I am addicted.Enough self promotion...(but I need more readers - really!  My chihuahuas are neglected and they can't justify the time I spend at my computer without at least 100 readers...)...but glad to be here at Design Crisis today where I can have a much larger audience to frighten.  Anyhow I had one heck of a time coming up with something Design Crisis worthy...and I still haven't...so instead I will bore you with the details of my day yesterday - which certainly qualifies as a freaking crisis...

 

So the day begin with turning on my bedside lamp - luckily it takes up most of the nightstand with its huge base - so not only do I not have to dust the nightstand, but I have no room for an alarm clock - thus I have gotten fired from every job I have ever had and now I am on food stamps (thanks to all you hard workers out there for supporting me!!!).

So I go the bathroom to get ready for the day - ugh - accidentally went in the one with the fresh flowers in the faucet - yuck! Flowers and minty toothpaste scents do not go together first thing in the morning (or ever?)! Moving on to the other bathroom...

Just remembered (and forgot due to severe head injury) why I never use this bathroom... Get some ice out of the freezer for my head injury and attempt to sit on my favorite chair...shoot - I forgot that I prefer to sit on my behind...won't fit here!

 

Moving on to my anatomy chair - this is very helpful when I watch Grey's Anatomy...and if I never see Denny again it will be fantastic...

Once my head stops throbbing I head out to the garden to do some planting with my trusty leather handled bucket...since buckets often transport liquid don't ask me why it has a leather handle...at least it looked good when I bought it, right?

 

Heading out for the day! I think I will stop in at this shop - stores that are all white and have limited items always have the most friendly sales people, don't you think? Walking through the door is just like interrupting a conversation between a bunch of people you don't know.

 

Next its over to my friend's dinner party! A few drinks later I get disoriented by the mirror balls (I have a twin? What's happening???) and pass out - my friend not wanting me to mess up their dark house (who would notice vomit in that place anyhow?) drops me at some new hotel close to their condo of darkness....I remember none of it...and luckily I didn't grab one of the guns on the table...

I wake up here - in a hotel made for 5 yr olds?  What???  It takes quite a bit of time to unfold my 6ft body...

 

I guess it could have been worse - they could have made me sleep in a cage surrounded by a bunch of ghosties...Yikes!

 

ahhh - and now I am back home telling you my story! Hope you enjoyed it!

Thanks again to Karly & Erin for the privilege of allowing me to guest post - and a big shout out to Erin's husband for getting her knocked up - without him this would not have been possible! Yippee! Don't forget - you can catch me at Waxyhearts if you want to write hateful comments! And don't abandon DC - tomorrow will be better, I promise!