say it ain't so!

I was deeply saddened (the tears are still coming) when I learned that one of my favorite people from Parsons had defected to Trading Spaces. Goil how could you?! I just don't understand what good can from this.



--heidi

the most loved

Happy Birthday to "THE MAN"!



Those who know us know that we love this man and know how much he means to us. He will always be our most loved.

heavens to murgatroid!

I am sooo glad that I don't have to commute on a train like this every morning.



--heidi

sold!

Tuesday night was the Christie's auction that I mentioned in this post. I worked late that night so I watched the auction online in between meeting prep. It was so intense to watch the auction live since I couldn't hear what was happening (no speakers on my work computer, argh!). All I could do was watch the price of each item go higher and higher. When the Kaufmann House came up the auctioneer spoke for awhile, probably talking about the history and design importance of the house. The bidding started somewhere around 9 million and climbed up to 15 million. Then the price just stayed there while the auctioneer was talking to someone off to the the right of him. Not having sound to hear what was happening I had to sit in anticipation and wonder what was happening. I envisioned someone bursting into the auction shouting "Stop! I must have that house! I will pay a bazillion dollars for it!" then the room would gasp. Of course that didn't happen but the mind wanders when you can't hear what's happening. The price finished at 15 million plus then with the buyer's premium it was 19 million in the end. This surprised me because I really thought that it would sell for much more. Who ever purchased the house got it for a steal.

The rest of the auction was very entertaining since there were many fantastic pieces that were going for insane amounts of money. There was a painting in the auction by Mark Rothko (one of our most favorite artists) that went for 50 million. It was the second highest amount ever paid for a Rothko piece. You can see the results of the entire auction here. Plus highlights of the auction here and here.


--heidi

**update 28 May**
The sale fell through. On May 23, the president of Christie’s said that “the contract has been terminated by the seller by reason of a breach of its terms by the buyer.”

psst... is that a pig?

This morning we went to the DUMBO district of Brooklyn to check out Brooklyn Designs. It was a rough start since Heidi discovered that her wallet had fallen out of her purse and I don't have a pin # for my debit card, since it was $10 to get in-I didn't get in (at first). Heidi got in for free since she's a designer with a fancy interior design firm and had an email confirmation to get her in on the guestlist. It was in four different buildings and the first two were really small and people weren't really set up yet since it was only 10 am. so I wasn't really bothered about not getting into those and I could basically see it all from the door anyway. Heidi said rather sheepishly, "Yeah, designers tend to be late a lot."

The next space was much larger and, while being twins had nothing to do with this other than we've done stuff like this before, I really wanted to go into this one so I took her email confirmation to the ticket box and got in for free too! I'll let Heidi talk about the various designers but after we were done and walking back to the subway we walked over to a really cool bookstore (and we do LURV bookstores). The bookstore is on a corner and there was a girl standing there on her phone that I didn't think about her much since we were in deep conversation about some items we had just seen when she whispered to us "Are those PIGS? Are THOSE pigs? Hey, are those pigs?" At first Heidi and I had no idea what she was going on about as I didn't see anything and I was wondering if she was referring to policemen or something. That's when I noticed across the street a guy with TWO pigs on leashes. Yes, they were pigs but how is it this guy has two for pets in Brooklyn? Maybe he thinks he's George Clooney? They were so cute and just sniffing/snorting around on the ground-it just fits in with the crazy things that we encounter when we're not even looking for it.

-Katie

oh the horror

Yesterday on my lunch break I walked past a truly horrendous "fashion" item and I was so disgusted I immediatly had to call Heidi to share what I had seen. Prepare yourselves for what I am about to tell you... There was a woman sitting at a cafe table enjoying a cup of joe with the worst shoes. She had on back mule Crocs with a creme satin ribbon tied into bows at the top of each shoe. REALLY?! SO B.A.D. I understand the need for comfortable shoes but that's like putting a bow on a steaming pile of doggy poo.

-Katie

design overload

May is a busy month for design in New York. First off is Brooklyn Designs from May 9-11 in Dumbo. I wasn't able to go last year so I will be sure to make time for it this year. This design gathering features designers and manufacturers of contemporary furniture, lighting, rugs, and home accessories all made in Brooklyn. The design scene in Brooklyn has a more quirky style and a bit more edge to it in my opinion.

via

May 17-20 is the International Contemporary Furniture Fair or ICFF. I didn't get to go last year to this either, but a few of us in my office are planning to go this year. I heard that last year's show was a bit so-so, hopefully this year will be better. I'm especially looking forward to see the designs from the UK, Sweden, Brazil, Denmark and Norway.

via

The last design related event is the annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House on the upper east side. Decorator show houses have 10-12 different interior designers with each decorating a room in the house. It is a great way to see what the current trends are and to get some great ideas for your own home from professionals. When I was a student at Parsons I would volunteer to be a room minder so I could get free admission. I'm very tempted to be a volunteer again since the admission is still $30. I don't know if I will be able to work this into my schedule but I am sure going to try.

--heidi

tee he he

One of my favourite comedians from the UK is Catherine Tate. Her characters on her show are brilliant. When ever I need a good laugh I watch a few of my favorite clips on you tube. The first time I saw her was in a sketch with Daniel Craig. My favorite line in the sketch is "dems the brakes" her character in this is heeelarious!




My other favourite is her Lauren character, sooooo funny.




--heidi

dwell bedding

I am totally obsessed with this bedding-that is le fact. I see it everyday at work and I just love the colors and the print more and more . If anyone wants to get it for me I wouldn't say no.



*how great is that mobile above the bed too!

--Katie