win nyc apartment : )

pict courtesy of hgtv

i got an email from my sis, han, this morning telling me about an hgtv giveaway.  it appears they are having a sweepstakes to win a super glamorous nyc apartment.  so, i thought i'd let you all know about it too : )

the place is gorgeous.  and the grand prize which includes the apartment and a car is worth $1.5 million.  unbelievable, right?!  well, you should definitely check this place out.  it's completely amazing and the views of the city are phenomenal.

nyc apartment sweepstakes

nyc apartment picts

good luck!.

time travel made easy

christmas in connecticut (yeah, i wish i were there, too)

i've always said i was born in the wrong time.  ask anyone who knows me, and they'll tell you i would have fared beautifully as a 1940s twenty-something.  i covet the clothes, the music, the houses, the lifestyle.  when i watch old films (i love b&w hollywood classics), i feel akin to them somehow.  i feel a longing.  a desire to somehow experience what they had back then in some way.

flashback to 1945.  everyone was so effortlessly fabulous.  ever notice that?  grace kelly.  katharine hepburn.  vivien leigh.  there was a formality to things - not in a stuck-up way - but in an appreciative way.  those people knew how to live.  watch any old movie and when a guest enters someone's home, they immediately walk to the host's fully stocked bar cart and treat themselves to a (modest-sized) cocktail.  why don't we do that anymore?  and when people went out to dinner (or even had a meal at home) they got dressed up and truly savored their meals and their conversation.  (yeah, yeah i know i just wrote a post about couch picnicking... i'm just multi-dimensional : )

mr. blandings builds his dream house

mr. blandings, too

so you can imagine my genuine excitement, when i found a site that has images of some of my favorite movie houses from mid-century.  what a treat!  mr. blandings.  christmas in connecticut.  north by northwest.  rebecca.  first off, if you haven't seen these films, you should.  they're true classics and afford you a glimpse into a simpler yet more glamorous time.  but for now, you should definitely check out the movie images and enjoy some time travel made easy.  ahh, the good old days...

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My Ideas for the Designer Show House

Ever since this past Friday when I visited the May 2009 Designer Show House in which I'll be designing a bedroom, my head's been reeling with ideas. I've been going through endless magazines, catalogues, and websites looking for images and ideas that inspire me.

So far, I know that I want to go for (what I would call) a 1940s glamour look. In order to achieve this, I'll be sticking to a fairly monochromatic color scheme of ivory, cream, soft silvers, brushed golds, mellow metallics, and steely gray-blues...perhaps with touches of rich chocolate brown or even black for added drama. This color palette will infuse the room with an air of subtle sophistication. In the finishes, I'm leaning towards high-gloss, as well as many mirrored and metallic surfaces to reflect light and make the room sparkle like a piece of fine jewelry. Finally, I'll turn to silks, satins, taffeta, and even some velvets to enhance the luxuriousness of the room.

The sketch to the right shows some of my preliminary ideas for the layout of one corner of the bedroom. A small loveseat offers seating beside which a small side table stands with a lamp atop. Above the loveseat, a honeycomb mirror hangs and in front a tray-top table offers a spot to place a book or cup of tea. To the left, a small window seat is nestled between two built-in closets and offers additional seating. The whole idea behind modern glamour is sumptuous comfort paired with understated opulence - perfect for a relaxing bedroom haven.

For more information about Cailen Ascher Design or my upcoming book, Well-Designed Living, visit www.CailenAscher.bravehost.com or email CailenAscher@gmail.com.

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