With the evenings cooling and the days getting shorter many retreat to the indoors and call it the end of a season with regard to outdoor living. However, from a portable clay fireplace or chimenia, to a full scaled fireplace, fire pits and portable gas heaters (and even installed surface-mounted heaters or radiant panels), the possibilities for warming that cool air and moderating the temperature around your patios are many!
This handsome stucco, stone and tile fireplace was completed last week – and only took a little over a week from design through sturdy masonry construction to finished product – ready to burn baby! We designed it to coordinate with the architecture and accent finishes that we had previously designed for the home. The travertine tile on the surround was also used on the floor of the patios and continues inside throughout the entire home. Stone ledges add texture and linear detailing and surfaces for candles at night while the glass and granite accent tiles incorporated into the travertine face are derived from other locations in the home to create an abstraction of color and texture.
The grand under-cover patio of this second photo illustrates how expansive and extensive your outdoor living space really can be. Located in the higher elevations near Santa Fe, this patio has an even more limited season for moderate temperatures. Yet the generous fireplace and flanking bancos piled high with down pillows covered in weather resistant yet exciting acrylic fabrics is a great place to gather on cool nights.
So enjoy this Indian Summer and gather round the campfire – or shall we say patio pit – or whatever…

Ratcheting up on the lift like window washers, we saw two guys on the side of this building working at this attenuated art-piece in the process of actually painting on the façade. We thought we were seeing vinyl, poster-like billboards being hung – but no. These were actual murals/paintings on the wall. Magnificent paintings applied before our very eyes! Artist Thomas Christopher Haag is painting incredible vertical murals at 2nd between Central and Gold Avenues in downtown, Albuquerque. As we walked by last Friday, the weather was perfectly gorgeous – bright, sunny and warm-the looming art was astonishing and certainly caught our eye(s). Three separate inset panels towered with mosaic-like patterns. We were forced to stop and watch the work. The west face of the building was in shadow, making for comfortable working conditions – a welcome reprieve from the otherwise blazing sun.
As we approached the lift with Haag and his associate onboard, we gazed upward at these stunning images, and asked – what was the inspiration for these paintings? Was it aliens? Was it Egyptian hieroglyphics? Was it local, indigenous petro glyphs? Haag responded that it was all of the above. Each mural is of a like-kind color theme – not quite mono-chromatic – but three distinctly different color schemes.
Haag is part of the “Street Text” exhibition. There is a series of citywide events titled Street Arts: A Celebration of Hip Hop Culture and Free Expression – which by name alone sounds like it invites, accepts and incorporates a broad swath of applications on surfaces. The problem with the “free expression” sound of it is that it often occurs on someone else’s property without their consent, approval, or appreciation. In this case, Haag is commissioned by the owners of the building, the McCune Foundation – recognized benefactor of the arts.
His themes seem to follow an evolutionary thread, says Haag of his work: “The characters and images are cut from this abstract and complicated background. They are scarred and marked and shaped by the colors, shapes, lines, text, and symbols of their unguarded lives and the shifting boundaries that define them. They are holy because I want them to be”.
Whoa…he’s approachable, affable, interestingly educated, well traveled and has brought all of this intensely beautiful and complex simplicity to Albuquerque. His subjects are a colorful, mosaic with many faceted and dazzling patterns of humanly graphic imagery.
Enjoy!

This is big buzz about GAP and their attempt at branding a new logo. Seems it was met with a hearty burst of worldwide negativity from nearly everyone! Regardless of the seemingly tacky approach to soliciting design submittals from their fans and the social media public at large, the result was an enormous disappointment to the world of graphic design and seems the fans too! Not that the fans/public might not find it fun to participate in a “contest” of sorts to influence and place their mark on such a popular brand – designers too for that matter – but the GAP brand, blue square with attenuated white serif-style capital letters has been successfully recognizable and well-represented the company for 20+ years and the new logo was not only lacking in graphic effectiveness, it was appalling to nearly everyone that they selected it and put it out there. It’s not because it was too simple – less is often more – but it was so painfully plain as to not even make a positive statement, much less a leap into the future for the company.
When your public – clientele – and the design world both rush forward with criticisms, you can think that it has at least evoked a response – but the intended contemporary update of the icon was not about evoking such a backlash of negativity. Or was it? Was it a publicity stunt? Not the best way to call attention or cause a stir.
Companies that stand the test of time often want to make identity changes to insure that they are abreast of the competition, forerunners in their marketplace, etc… However, it is not always the best path to take. Maintaining a strong, timeless recognizable brand might be the best plan. What is YOUR opinion – do you care?
Lately I’ve been thinking about getting some new, hip little square two-sided business cards…they’re fun and happening…but I don’t think I would change my logo – might fiddle with the colors like I do with the logo on facebook – different colors for seasons or events – even that is frowned upon by staunch branding experts. However, regarding my logo, there is not going to be a thunderous response either way – but I’m thinking about it!!!
“If it ain’t broke – don’t fix it”. If you’re going to make a change – it better be for the better. “Fall into the GAP” – they tripped and fell…now it’s time to get up and get back to business.
http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/talkingpoints/archive/2010/10/08/what-do-you-make-of-the-new-gap-logo.htm

As I sit here, completing today’s post about our magnificent hike through the aspens, I find that I had forgotten the precious leaves that I had tucked away in the front pocket of my sweatshirt. Funny, how I had recently blogged about “Design Scents.” NOT that you would want your interior environment to have the fragrance of freshly fermented leaves, however, when out in nature, this aroma, paired with the fresh air and sensations of the forest – is delectable.

This glorious weather! We set forth at – yawn – dawn -7am, before the sun peeked over then mountain (this being a Saturday and the alarm clock sounded at pre- 6am…). Naturally, that peeking sun washes across the west mesa and all points that direction before it rises high enough to clear the ridgeline and ultimately bathe its west side and the foothills. This time of year, the sunrise over the Sandias is quite a bit south of the crest. From the city, there are some patches of aspen visible, but we have heard that this magnificent hike will take us up along the crest to the north and open onto an expansive view from an overlook called Del Agua and back along the Ellis Trail.
Although the temperatures have been well above normal and we have enjoyed magnificent weather for Balloon Fiesta this week, as we got out of our car, despite being on the east side of the mountain, we realized that it was not balmy…it was chilly – NO IT WAS COLD!!! Well, not wintertime cold – but low 40s really got our attention as we pulled on sweatshirts and pants over our optimistic attire of tank tops and shorts!! The parking lot is not quite up to the crest, but high enough that a mile or two hearty walk up the service road takes us to our first stop, at the tram. Hot chocolate anyone?? We perch on barstools and collect our tall Styrofoam vessels of steaming and very creamy (we were surprised to discover) hot chocolate laced with the little topper of specially requested coffee.
So after enjoying the sweeping views from the observation deck outside High Finance Restaurant, we took off along the La Luz Trail. This trail, below the crest-line, follows the striations of limestone through quite green vegetation and into the sunshine that was now hitting the path. We stripped off our outer garb and rejoiced at the warmth that we had so hoped to enjoy this brilliant October morning!
The skies were clear – not a cloud in sight. We all but scampered along the trail noting small forest animals skirting away through the undergrowth from our approach. Squirrels ran along towering tree branches and chattered like exotic birds. Blue jays swooped through the air into the tree tops. Chipmunks darted across rocks chasing each other in energetic games of chipmunk fun.
We hiked to the trail that leads to the Crest – winding upward and giving that good cardio workout that we had anticipated – raising us up to the parking lot beneath the collection of red and white towers piercing skyward into the very blue yonder.
But our destination was still a couple of miles to the north and as we wound through the enchanted forest of handsome pine trees peppered with the shimmering leaves of the now quite evident stands of golden aspen – the sun filtering through with dappling light patches and bold beams penetrating the cool shadowy woods. Aspen…their leaves sprinkled all over the forest floor covering our path with the leaden grays of the spent leaves, layered with brilliant yellow, some chartreuse that fell too early, and surprisingly orange and red leaves more like the color of maples in the fall. These patterns and colors of the coin-sized leaves on the forest floor were so inspiring to my designer’s eye. I saw fabrics and color schemes screaming to be translated into the materials and fabrics that we use in the trade.
Vertical patterns also offered vivid opportunities with the shimmering disks of warm yellow leaves still clinging to the trees that contrasted so sharply against the clear blue sky. Blue and yellow – a classic combination, inspired by nature. Imagine the paint manufacturers meeting this challenge of replicating nature and then the often bizarre names that they assign to their finished products – when in this case “aspen yellow” and “sky blue” would say it all! But would it? You had to be there. The variations of the colors were endless.
Mannington Carpet has a pattern that mimics the organic patterns that we saw today. Style, “Squareberry” it uses the branch-leaf pattern – very much like the aspens we encountered. So, take a hike, experience the colors and textures and know that the root of all design is an interpretation of nature. Even the most progressive, metallic cloud treatments, transparent Lucite surfaces, layers of patterns, geometry of forms all are derived from an experience or concept that was rooted in our natural world. Whoa.

IMAGINE , John Lennon would be seventy years old tomorrow. Just imagine. Not many single words can be attributed to a single person as this word and the timeless song of idealistic hope and peace released in 1971 by the cerebral one of the original fab four. Yes, as a Beatle, he was destined to mark his place in history with enormous success. But the evolution of his many talents kept materializing as he opened his creativity to more than just the good music.
Apparently Lennon loved art even before he owned a guitar. He had a great sense of art and design. From 1957-1960, before he was a Beatle, he studied at the Liverpool Art Institute. And although his music became a full-time occupation, his passion for drawing continued throughout his life. He also wrote 3 books in the 60s’s for which his own drawings were used as their illustrations. Ten years later, in 1970, he actually went “public” with his art in a series of personally signed limited edition lithographs which were sold in galleries.
Well recognized for his drawings, a complete collection of his lithographs from the “Bag One” portfolio is in the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art. This series depict John and Yoko’s wedding and honeymoon which he gave to his bride as a wedding gift. Some images contained erotic contents that were considered to be obscene by some. Due to court cases and mishandling during this controversy, Lennon was discouraged from further public exhibits for many years.
Yoko’s Japanese influence paired with his world travels resulted in his creating a “chop” with which to personally mark his drawings. This patented hand-stamped design was created by Lennon to read “Like a Cloud, Beautiful Sound.”
If you’re wondering about post-mortem editions, these later editions of his drawings have been authenticated with embossed signatures, printers and publisher’s mark, Yoko Ono’s signature and Lennon’s personal chop.
Yoko keeps a pulse on the continuation of her late husband’s legacy and has since added color to Lennon’s drawings where she thought that doing so would enhance their appeal.
His work is still collected by museums worldwide. To buy a piece of Lennon’s art, go to http://www.lennonart.com/ to learn more.

John Lennon Art

Seasonal changes do affect Interior Design. It is a bit more challenging to design a tropical retreat when there is snow standing outside. There’s a psychological connect (if not physical too) to current weather conditions and perceived comfort levels. And with that, the selection process can get skewed.
I have a friend with whom I tease that she dons her corduroys in mid-August when the kids get ready to go back to school. You know that quarterly change when you purge your closet and reorganize for the next season. And for sure the example of corduroys in August illustrates the perception of a seasonal change even though it is still summer and quite hot!
This season we are having a delay in the changing of the leaves. Often during Balloon Fiesta, in early October, the bosque is turning yellow and that belt of golden cottonwoods bisecting our city is a clear signature of autumn. Right now however, most leaves are still green, the weather has been warm and yet the Halloween decorations are out, pumpkins and fall leaves are all over the stores – but all the flowers are still blooming and summer seems to keep hanging on. That same friend who marks very decided seasonal changes can’t stand to see lingering pink or white flowers remaining from summer. She wants to yank them out (even in other people’s yards) and force the seasons to move forward – it’s Fall for crying out loud!!!
So be mindful that as you consider changes in your interiors that the heavy chenille fabrics in a burnt-orange color that sound so appealing in the coming weeks will need to carry you through the re-birth of spring and the hot summer months. Think balance. To conquer these seasonal dichotomies, it’s always a combination of textures, finishes and colors that will result in the successful creation of a room for all seasons – that and the decorative seasonal accoutrements of a pumpkin or pot of tulips – depending upon that time of year!

Do you like adding scents to your home or office? It’s becoming an increasingly popular thing to do. It can be your signature of YOUR space – an identity that is associated with your presence not unlike personal fragrance colognes and perfumes.
It was always thought that boiling a pot with cinnamon sticks was a nice seasonal touch in a home or a trick that realtors used to market a home. Not a bad idea. Yet, I have encountered some examples that do NOT qualify for “good design scents.” One such interior was so permeated with a musty, moldy smell that the attempt to mask the source was doubly unpleasant. Often people think that the addition of a candle or diffuser will eliminate the animal accidents, neglected litter boxes or leftover bacon from breakfast – NOT so! Clean is good and it is an imperative, in any interior, to locate and clean the offensive odor and only then begin to build your multi-sensory environment.
From a berry nice “Red Currant” to a refreshing “Clean Crisp White” the fragrances on the market today are seemingly endless. While candles are romantic and continue to contribute a dimensional effect by their fire-light that dances in the darkness, bamboo diffusers offer a means of controlling the amount of fragrance that you release into the air. By turning only one or two of the sticks rather than flipping the entire wad, you can control the intensity of the aroma. Let it also be noted that one is not playing with fire with these sources – thereby eliminating that risk!
For candles on the dining table it is advisable to use unscented. Nothing worse than vanilla bean, honey suckle or black ginger wafting under your nose as you enjoy chicken enchiladas or a handsome roast beef! Confusion of fragrances is another thing to avoid. Most tapers are unscented and certain columns too–but be sure to check!
These new pear-shaped candles by Vance Kittera come in attractively boxed sets of three lovely colors, yet burn cleanly and without fragrance so you can create tablescapes without imposing on your dinner party. Organic and handsome when placed on tiles of black slate, these pears present a perfect party presentation. Dress them up on a silver tray for a more formal effect.

We all have it. Some more studied and self-conscious than others. The other day, “personal expression” artfully presented himself in front of me in a manner that decidedly caught my attention. Meet Oscar – sporting a neat and tidy ensemble of clothing, bright and clown-like right down to the greatly over-sized bright yellow sneakers – a Converse-like type – he was a vision to be examined. Rings on all fingers, pins attached here and there, odd-shaped red plastic sun glasses with Technicolor tattoos wrapping his neck and peeking out from his sleeves, a brilliant checked shirt and coordinating vest all topped with a straw hat wrapped with a bright red band. He was decked and designed from head to toe!
Personal expression…taken to this length it truly was an art-form. Proudly he posed for the camera before he peddled off on his bicycle, khaki cargos banded so as not to interfere with his pedals, we wondered in what fantastic garb he might next appear.

We have incredible landscapes here in New Mexico -dramatic, luminous, surreal and downright magical. Painters have known this for quite some time. Masters have gathered over the generations in Taos and Santa Fe to express their interpretations of this enchanting land.
With the thousands of visitors in Albuquerque this week sailing through the skies in their hot air balloons, driving to attractions and hiking the terrain, it seems important to acknowledge the many artists who take license to render this powerful landscape – even if in real life it needs no enhancement.
Upon arrival from the air we certainly look desolate. My first arrival was just that, a disbelief that I was in the same country if not on the same planet! It defied nature in my mind. Often referred to as “brown” once on the ground the colors of the landscape come alive punctuating the high desert terrain in a way that is like no other. It is a landscape – an Artscape. Each tree has identity – it has form, color, texture that is singularly noticed and appreciated in startling contrast to the anonymity of trees in the deeply wooded areas of much of the rest of the continent.
The evening mountains loom skyward turning bloody with color (Sangre de Cristos), watermelon crimson (Sandias), apple red (Manzanos) and this is just one frame! Sunsets challenge the most blazing versions experienced over exotic seas. Sunrise is awash with pastel tones and the drama of the formations of land astonish. The shadows of the tent rocks, mesas, and plateaus rising up from the valley floors – moving and tracking the brilliant sun through the day’s cycle – all seem to be from some imagined planet.
Yes, imagination that takes these spectacular scenes and makes them even more playful and animated through the eyes of the artists. As seen here, a detail from a large oil on canvas by the late Peggy Zuris – an Albuquerque treasure – who left us quietly like her soft spoken delivery which was in direct contrast to the loud celebration of color that she applied to her magnificent paintings.
So get out there and see the sights, climb the mountains, hike the trails and visit the galleries that showcase the artists, that capture these scenes, that with their imaginative creativity transform that which is already incredible into enchantingly mystical fantasies.