Hue: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Academy Award corpses

What's with all the corpse-like colors at the Academy Awards this year?
All that "pale shimmery" washed out-ness? Blech

Apologies if I accidentally mixed in some other recent red carpet events, I think a few snuck in there.

Updating a Spanish Revival kitchen

It all started with a leaky kitchen window.

Notice the water splashing out of the tupperware.

So we got the windows replaced. Ah, much better on the inside.

But what is all this dry rot discovered outside? What, you say, the kitchen addition was never properly affixed to the side of the house?

You say the kitchen is actually falling off the side of the house, that our subfloor is rotted, the cabinets along the window side are warped and rotted too? And the kitchen is being held up with wood that was not pressure-treated, and so is full of dry rot? And the pier blocks are sinking into the top soil?

Splendid!
We have found ourselves in the midst of an unexpected kitchen renovation.

Back in the 80's, a bump out was added to the kitchen to allow for more light to come in. Alas, the contractors didn't know what they were doing, and 20 years later, we are experiencing the results. Great.

So, the subfloor has to be ripped out and replaced, and damaged cabinets have to be replaced. While we have to endure construction in our home (can we say, goodbye naps for my 9 month old?), I figured, it's the perfect time to make some changes!

That is, if our landlord agrees. As we rent, we don't hold the purse strings, and don't have the final say. But as a designer, my advice does hold some weight, and I'm ready to toss out some ideas. Nothing risked, nothing gained, right?

If this were your quirky Spanish Revival/California 1930's Bungalow kitchen, what would -you- do?

We're talking floors, cabinets, countertops, maybe even layout (within reason). Appliances all stay. Let the fun begin- I can't wait to hear what you dream up!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Funky fashion: Desigual

After my post on mauve in fashion, I started thinking more about how the clothes we wear reflect the image we want to project. My taste in clothes has always run more expensive than my budget allows, so my wardrobe has yet to really represent me the way I'd like it to. So I was thrilled when I stumbled upon a brand new clothing brand called Desigual. Well, relatively new to the United States, and certainly new to me!

Here is their newest shop, located in Union Square, a prime shopping district in San Francisco.

Out of Barcelona, Spain, they are known for multi-colored patchwork fabric in the craziest combinations you've ever seen.

Each season the Desigual design team, with about 20 designers, prepares a collection of over 1,000 items, including clothes and accessories, built around a unified concept.

Not the best choices for outfit basics, but great for a few show-stopper pieces.

Say goodbye to that little black number, and hello to a riot of colors and patterns. No one piece is the same. Each garment is produced in parts, every one with its own design, color and fabric, and then assembled in different combinations.

Not sure if I know any guys brave enough to wear these numbers, but it's refreshing to see some color injected into men's wear, regardless.

images source

and of course, little kids can get away with crazy combos like these.

Aren't they great?

Monday, February 14, 2011

Hottest color of the season? Go back 30 years

Want to predict the hottest color of the season? Simply back-track 30 years, and you're likely to run into a color about to make it's grand come-back. Take mauve, for example.

I recently met up with some girlfriends in San Francisco for some much-needed rest and relaxation, prepared to do some serious damage with my credit card. I have to say, my reaction to the fashions being marketed now is "blech!" I wish I had snapped some pictures of the clothing displays to give you a better idea, but alas, I was too busy being disappointed that I couldn't squeeze into skinny jeans.

What I did notice was a resurgence of mauve. "Ack, really?" you might say, recoiling in horror. Yup.

Icky gray, 1980's, Miami Vice, hospital palette, grandma's bad dye job, over-used, guilt by association, pink trying to be purple, mauve.

I wonder what it has been renamed? Dusty Rose perhaps? Pale pink neutral? Blush? Lilac?

It was everywhere. You couldn't get away from it. Mauve, gray, taupe and peach. For those of us who prefer saturated hues, the prevalence of insipid, washed out tones was, well, depressing! (That's not to say that there weren't beautiful rich colors available in other area, like home accessories, etc)

I don't completely dislike the color. I guess it's more that I am amazed how similar the color palettes are out there in the fashion world. As if designers all gather in a room to discuss what limited options they will provide mass consumers for any given season. For once, I would love to see brands breaking away from trends and blaze their own color ways. I rail against color trends in this post from a few years back.

I know it's not breaking news here, but I had to vent to ya'll.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Tracking Hue- monthly banners

I always try to change out my Hue banner every month to reflect the weather outside, a mood, or just a theme I am currently obsessing about. Each banner is created from little snippets of my pet portrait paintings, which were painted with gouache, an opaque watercolor medium, on Bristol vellum paper. Not to worry, the actual paintings are safely with their owners; these are just copied from archived scans.

Getting ready to save February's banner, I realized that this blog is going on 5 years! Can it be? Here's a look back through the years for your enjoyment:

2007