furniture gossip: tuxedo sofa

"The tuxedo sofa is thought to have first been invented in the 1920s, and derives its name from the same place as does the tuxedo, from the classy town of Tuxedo Park in New York. Along with other pieces of furniture, the tuxedo sofa is often thought of as one of the pieces that heralded the modern era in furniture. Still, many who own such a sofa or couch wouldn’t know to call it a tuxedo sofa, even though the style remains a popular one.

The basic requirements of any tuxedo sofa are that the arms of the sofa are the same height as its back. This usually means that back pillows, and sometimes side pillows rise above the height of both back and arms. Pillows may be attached or loose depending upon the individual sofa; more often they are loose. Early versions of the tuxedo sofa often had arms that curved outward, and you may find this in modern variants. Probably the most modern look, though, is a very straight, streamlined arm that is upholstered and may feature a slight amount of padding."

Source: wisegeek

via decoist

me, myself and drinking

...Coca Cola. :) What did you think? Oh boy! I am Anna and I am addicted to Coca Cola. Drinking Coca Cola is not healthy and not cool, but I am still drinking it. Although I kept reducing the amount per day by not stocking it up at home and at my office anymore, as not to have easy access to it, I wouldn't say that I am less addicted. Nope. Still addicted just more self controlled. Quitting Coca Cola is on my resolution list every (...) year, because I am highly aware of all the con's: I get nervous when I am not drinking, I get more and nervous and impulsive when I am drinking, I lost my taste (any drink that is not sweet is not good), I cannot enjoy any conversation, meal or whatever if no Coke around, and least but not last it is really and surely unhealthy. I am constantly debating about healthy food, and what proteins and carbs are good and bad, I even resisted once seven days only with water (no food, no Coke) to clean my body (and mind), and lectured everyone about how good and benefic it was for me (cause it was). And then I took another sip of Coke. Yeah. Ridiculous. But that's me, and my big ugly and ONLY vice!

my projects: a post that is not a post

As I don't have pictures of the progress of my ongoing projects, I decided to check in very briefly just to promise that I will take some on Friday and I will come back with the real "my projects"  post.

Besides that I'm on a big hurry on my way to the Depeche Mode concert in Bucharest. :)) Never seen Depeche Mode performing live before, so I'm very excited. Hope that I will get to see something, as my midget height is not so cool when standing at concerts, surrounded by of all tall people in the world. 

literary interiors: the great gatsby

"Reading Lolita in Tehran" is a book about books. Among many books discussed by the Iranian university teacher Azar Nafisi with her students at the Tehran University, the controversial Great Gatsby gets a lot of attention. I have seen the Robert Redford featuring movie many years ago, but the movie did not trigger any wish to read the book. What did was these "memoires in books" of Azar Nafisi, so thank God for Kindle, I instantly ordered it on Amazon. Funnily enough the Leonardo di Caprio featuring movie will be soon on the big screen (in Romania). A post about a The Great Gatsby "literary interiors" is the most natural thing to do, especially because houses, clothes and cars are the symbols of the book, incorporated in a natural almost unnoticed way into the plot by Scott F. Fitzgerald.

Well, first of all, things looked a little bit different than in my imagination, especially dimensions. But apparently Jay Gatsby was more grand maniac (in the name of love :)) as I perceived him (I had sympathy with the character, though I know he should be the despiteful nouveau riche), Tom Buchanan more wealthy and Nick's cottage was more homey and cute than I would have expected for the bachelor narrator.

Catherine Martin, the designer behind the sets for the movie, did a beautiful job recreating the decor for the key scenes in Great Gatsby, and I can't help but loving the Art Deco bedroom of Jay.

Nick Carraway's cottage.

The more quite interior of Tom and Daisy Buchanan's Hollywood Regency redbrick manor is meant to contrast with the glamorous extravagant Gatsby house and to highlight the difference between two kinds of wealth. It's lavish as well but in a more traditional, feminine, laid back way.

The story of The Great Gatsby is a sad story, but then again, it's a glamorous sad story.


more about the sets here

furniture gossip: camelback sofa

"A camelback sofa is an upholstered sofa or settee with an arched back that rises to a prominent point in the middle, and rises slightly again at the ends; usually has scrolled arms; primarily found in English and American furniture, it developed in the 18th century; leg and foot styles vary, depending on the exact period-cabriole legs are typical on Queen Anne and Chippendale pieces, while tapered legs characterize those in the style of Hepplewhite (with whose designs the style is often connected), and elaborately carved monopodium feet often adorn Empire pieces"

via antiques.about

photos via: 1stdibs, kkerrdseign

me, myself and food

Currently I have a new (probably unhealthy if excessively consumed) food fixation: hot, melted Camembert with garlic and toasted bread. At Corks they have the perfect one, but as you don't have to be a Martha Stewart to prepare it yourself, it became my quick homemade "snack".

Photo via bbc.co.uk

inspiration: peonies

I don't get to buy as many flower for my home as I would like to. Though the peonies are rather spring flowers, in Romania the weather skipped the spring and landed right into the summer, I hope the peonies did not get confused and stopped growing, and somebody will have the brilliant/sweet idea to buy me some...Just saying. :) They add so much color and uncomplicated freshness to any decor. I love them.

my projects: violin back splat chairs

The picture above does not depict the actual violin back splat chairs that are soon to arrive in our workshop. The real ones are more feminine and curvaceous, but currently not in such a good shape. (The photos taken either:)). Restoration will take them to a whole new level. We'll be back with backstage details. 

literary interiors: tender is the night by f. scott fitzgerald

"On the pleasant shore of the French Riviera, about half way between Marseilles and the Italian border, stands a large, proud, rosecolored hotel. Deferential palms cool its flushed façade, and before it stretches a short dazzling beach. Lately it has become a summer resort of notable and fashionable people; a decade ago it was almost deserted after its English clientele went north in April. Now, many bungalows cluster near it, but when this story begins only the cupolas of a dozen old villas rotted like water lilies among the massed pines between Gausse’s Hôtel des Étrangers and Cannes, five miles away."

"Tender is the Night" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This was an easy one! A simple google search revealed this Cap d'Antibe Villa Picolette where apparently Scott F. Fitzgerald stayed during his expat years in Europe, and got his inspiration for the scenery of his novel "Tender is the night". Judging by the cover of an early edition of the book, depicting the bell tower of the villa, the information seems credible. Nevertheless, I can imagine Fitzgerald, Zelda and his famous friends writing, debating and partying here. My favs: the bathroom and the winter garden with its green doors.

via nydailynews

furniture gossip: knole sofa

"The Knole settee (sometimes known as the Knole Sofa) was made in the 17th century. It is housed at Knole in Kent, a house owned by the Sackville-Wests since 1605. It was originally used not as comfortable sofa but as a formal throne on which the monarch would have sat to receive visitors. It features adjustable side arms and considerable depth of seating, it usually has exposed wooden finials at the rear corner tops, and some exposed wood may be present on the otherwise arms. The arms, more correctly sides, are of the same height. The side arms are tied to the sofa back by means of heavy decorative braid, often with an elaborate tassel."

via wikipedia