I swear I left the house this weekend, really I did. For fun, interesting and social things. Did I bring my camera? No. Okay, but honestly the bulk of the weekend was spent sulking around the house. I planned to work all weekend, but then decided to indulge myself when I didn't feel like it. Bad idea. I am not good at switching gears, and since I didn't have any alternate activities in mind, sulking around ensued. I did read a lot, so that's always nice.

Oh yeah, that porsche? I have been crushing on it for YEARS. They often keep it covered (good owners) so I was so happy to finally walk by it uncovered, with my camera. One time, years ago, I asked Ben, "Wouldn't that car look SOOOO cute next to my bike?" He scoffed and said "You can't compare a porsche to a honda." Hmph. Who was comparing? Just, um, pairing.

I made some diagrams for Meg's APW reader survey. Hope over and check them out big, with her commentary on the data! Thanks Meg. I had so much fun making these!!!

I am so bad at reporting back. Finally, here is our new dresser, and in-progress room. Shall we review the plan of attack?


*GET A *DRESSER
*hang the lampshade acquired from mom -I hung it to see how it looks, but I have not actually bought a light for it. Maybe I should uncross it?
*arrange for the nightstands that I started crafting YEARS ago to finally be completed
*curtains, have made-In progress
*repurpose furniture into other parts of the house -If you count dumping it all into the spare room repurposing
*deal with bedding -I found those cute throw pillows and am satisfied. *
*paint walls -still cannot decide if we want a dark grey wall. The one the bed is up against. We really like a light bedroom, so.
*update wall decor -The dresser wall looks good, I think, but I will update the rest after the painting.
*deal with the mirror situation -we really need a floor length one.
*new tend for the dresser top
*decide about the pink thing -it went into the "office" room, no more pink in the room!

*the day after the rad dresser was secured Britt & Carinna and I went to heaven, also known as the yard sale of a mid century collector. I scored so much rad shit for nothing, including 2 of those pillows. The other 2 I found the next week at the swap meet. Also purchased was that hippie wall hanging thing. I still can't decide how I feel about it. Ben's only comment is that it reminds him of his home when they lived in Tucson. (aka the 70's) A sentiment corroborated when I saw something similar hanging in the backdrop of one of my family photos.

In case you missed it, the pre-new-dresser room is here.

It's high time that I post some round ups on our favorite vacation rentals & lodging in the Joshua Tree area. I get emails once in a while, and maybe you all would like to know too. There are some fantastic places in the high desert. (Including, erm, the awesome place we had our wedding. Better late than never?)

Let me warn you, this first one is a heavy hitter. If you read mags like dwell, you have probably seen it already.

I have this idea that I should start a service specializing in architecturally significant vacation rentals. There are plenty out there, it is just a matter of finding them. And hey, I love vacationing, architecture, and being of service. The itHouse is an off the grid, prefab house way off the beaten path in Pioneertown. [Pioneertown is a speck north of Joshua Tree itself, we love staying there to be closer to Pappy & Harriet's and to be even further removed than the hussle and bussle of Joshua Tree itself, ha.] I won't go on about it too much, in fear of sounding like an add. But. Guys, it's stunning. We stayed there last October. We never wanted to leave. Did you SEE the veiw you wake up to in the master bedroom? At 300$ a night for a 2 bedroom it was kind of a splurge for us (late anniversary gift to ourselves) but absolutely reasonable for what you get. It is on expansive and private parklike property, so you can keep all those windows wide open without worry of spying eyes, and cruise out the back door for hiking and milling around. You have to walk to the top of the hill across the dirt road to get phone reception. Awesome.

Remember that is it off the grid, heated by hot water coils in the floor and the fire place, cooled only with passive cooling techniques, so the itHouse is best enjoyed in the milder spring and fall. [Unless you are super hard core and don't mind the desert heat a little.]

for more info on the ithouse (architecturally) visit here. to learn more about renting it, visit here.

I will follow up, maybe next week, with something a little easier on the pockets, but equally rad in it's own right.

first three images via dwell all others via taalmankoch

A much more fun peek at Vegas, or what it used to be. Via A Continuous Lean.

A friend of mine emailed and asked for ideas on gifts for her boyfriend on the occaision of their 3 year anniversarry. His birthday just passed, and she spent a lot of money on that gift, so she is trying to keep this one on the budget side. They are both recent arch graduates, and just moved into a house together. Awww. She wanted something kind of personal, but design-ey.

Here were my favorites;

For free, I suggested she make a meaningful mix-tape (ok, cd, but that just sounds lame) and give it a cover that is, in itself, a work of art.

For money, I suggested that she make a design that would be meaningful to their relationship and have it silkscreened onto throw pillows for their couch, or make it into a poster.

And for lazy, I suggested that she buy an orb from Tend Living. (see the last picture in the previous post.) Cause they are pretty much the coolest thing ever, and it is keeping it extremely local. (Like, we are all in a square mile.) Plus she said she was coming to me since her man always digs my style, and there is little in this world I dig more than Britt's orbs.

Any other good ideas you might have?

*rad mix tape suite via studio on fire