Ode to Nudes on a Dining Room Table

I have clients searching for a tasteful nude to hang above their bed in the master bedroom.  I have been searching for the right one.  Nudes come in all shapes, sizes and orientation.  The following were done by an artist who has left his journey on this earth.  A younger artist, who is very talented and doesn't have a nude in his collection,  has chosen to be a mentor to this gone but not forgotten artist and is burdened with thousands his nudes.  I visited his studio one day and was overwhelmed with the number and types of nudes this artist had generated over his life.  I selected some to share with my client and there are a few I am considering for myself.  Some of the nudes were so graphic I could hardly let my eyes rest on them.

The artist had three muses over his lifetime.  I could not decide whether the emotions he exposed in his paintings, drawings, and sketches illustrated a positive or negative passion for those women that were his muses.  Depending on the work at hand, I think both.  I have several of these works laid out on my dining room table.  They lay in wait for the clients to find time to come and see the treasures I have found. 

This is the one I hope will hang in their bedroom.  It is done is pastel.  The subject appears to be sleeping and has shed the sheets as the night has been hot.  I love the cool color pallet and the serenity this invokes.

This is muse, Leah.  I love the playfulness in this one. 

This subject appears to be having a conversation with the artist.  I love the way she appears to be completely uninhibited in her nakedness.  Not many of us are so comfortable in our own skins.

This nude is cubist.  I feel the artist did this years ago when he was experimenting with style.  There were not many in this style and as I said before he was prolific with over a thousand works piled in storage.

I love this one.  She is done in sepia tones.  She is wrapped into herself as if she is trying to be still and alone.  Is she trying to ignore the artist or is she in deep thought.

Although this is not a nude, I love the sepia tones and the attitude this model has.  She appears not to be engaged with her artist at all.  Completely confident that he doesn't get her at all.

I have the opportunity to look at these everyday and feel I am getting to know the nudes and the artist just a little better.  When my clients do come to look at the girls on the dining room table, I hope they find the one nude that will speak to them and hang over their bed in the master bedroom.

Beige by Any Other Name

I have recently been working with a client on reupholstering her sofa and ottoman.  These items were bought in 2003.  The current upholstery is a shade of beige that is just about perfect in the room.  Much loving wear has made it necessary to freshen things up a bit.  We are looking for a very durable fabric that breathes.  This sofa is at the center of the entertainment area and just off the kitchen so it is the most used piece in the room.  As you can see from our chosen memo samples beige is not as plain as the nose on your face.

Maharam Fabrics:

All of the above have at least over 100,000 rubs.  Rubs are an industry term for durability.  As you can see beige can have green, yellow, and red undertones.  These are meant for commercial duty.  I think they will be eliminated because they do not breathe and would not provide the comfort sought by the owner.  They might be durable because no one would find them comfortable to sit upon.

Lee Jofa fabric choices:

Here we have the Lee Jofa samples.  The rubs are not as high but the comfort level is ever so much better.  Looks like we have two beiges that are yellow in tone and one greige (grey/beige).

These samples come from two of hundreds of fabric companies and they all offer hundreds of beiges in a variety of fabric content.

We shall soon see which comes out the winner.  Ofcourse, there is always the possibility that we will have to tap other sources and start over.  Beige can be tricky.  I will let you know when the outcome is decided.

Watermelon on a Hot Summer Solstice

One would think one could ease into summertime.  Summer solstice, the longest day of summer and the shortest night.  99 degrees here.  That is without factoring in the heat index ( how hot it really feels and it feels really hot).  A day for shutting the blinds, playing some soothing classical music and drinking something cool and refreshing.

Try one of the darling Lee Bros.  watermelon magaritas.  No cooking involved and the

bright pink color is rather soothing.  The green in the lime peel  is cooling on its own. 

4 cups seedless watermelon

Eight 1 inch long strips lime peel

Kosher salt

16 oz (2cups) fresh lime juice (from 16 small limes)

16 oz (2 cups) tequila blanco

8 oz (1 cup) Triple Sec, Cointreau, or other orange liqueur

Cut the flesh from the melon, chop into chunks and transfer it, in batches to a food processor or blender.  Liquify.  Makes about 1 quart watermelon juice.

For each cocktail, alt the rim of an 8 oz glass.  Fill cocktail shaker with ice, and add 4 o of the watermelon juice, 2 oz lime juice, 2 oz tequila and 1 oz orange licquer. Shake vigorously and strain into the glass.  Garnish with lime peel.

Sit down in an air conditined room, turn a few low lights on, put your feet up and enjoy the quiet dark of your shuttered room.  A good time to view all those photos taken this winter when the air was cold and the snow was deep.

Just too hot to blog.  I am headed to the farmer's market for some watermelon and limes.  Would love to hear from all of you about the "coolest" room you have ever seen. Really.