man in the gray flannel suit

I just texted my colleague Lynn over at the egg design group about this movie (I have not heard back from her but my guess is she's seen it and knows all the great lines - she's a flick chick) ... but she may want to revisit it for inspiration for her lighting blog.  Nelson lights everywhere . . . and I count on Lynn to identify the myriad of other illuminators.  

I loved the movie for its style but even more for its message.  Shoot straight.  Be calmly honest.  It takes Tom Rath (Peck) some struggling and encouragement to find his voice.  But when he does it's magic.  I'd like to think that it's like that in design.  It takes some time, some dues, some struggling.  But in the end if the design is honest and straight . . . it will take flight.  Watch this movie, all 2 hours plus . . . it's a design gem in many ways.

Milo Baughman

I am working on a 3dMOD for a client that involves creating virtual stagings of a new home - one in traditional and one more modern.  Hence, I'm into sofas, chairs and tables . . . creating google sketchup models of my own interpretations of some pretty cool and classic pieces. 

I've always liked the Shelter Sofa which of course led me to revisit Milo Baughman.  While I am not a fan of Crate and Barrel's Shelter reproduction, I sure love lots of his originals.  Here's his rosewood sofa. It's so cool it's hot.  Who would not want to get dressed up and sit on this sofa with a close friend, a great book, a martini?  And this 1971 Thayer Coggin ad sheet.  Too cool for words.  And inspirational.  What about a setup like this in the family room?  Don Draper himself would drool (to himself, of course).  

designer identified

A little research has turned up the designer for the Knoll Sling Chairs. They were designed in the 70's by Andrew Morrison and Bruce Hannah. In fact, here's a pic of a two-seater.  Turns out that the "big red sofa" my nephew Forrest has is a four-seater from the same line.  Small world.  Is taste in furniture genetic?  I'd love some blogger thoughts on that question.

mid century find

Two house guests spotted a great mid century modern booth a Copper Country Antiques in Tucson.  They took me down to shop and these two chairs called out "take me home!"  But at $450 I was a bit concerned that this was too much of an impulse buy.  I solved that by offering $300 and to my delight loaded them in the truck and brought them home.  They are, simply, lovely.

Update on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 5:00PM by Anne Hunt

Can you believe my nephew has a four-seater of from this line?

although I'm BLUE, I'm heading for red

I'm off to Tucson next week to work on the Arthur Brown house.  While there, I think a trip to RED in Phoenix is warranted!