Bartenders Answer Lifestyle Conundrums – Get a Sock Monkey

Where people live, how they live, what they see, how they interact…the “design” of their lives might be more intentional/self-conscious than others. We find ourselves in a place and time…then, we ask, are we comfortable? Could we find the same or better comfort elsewhere? Simple lives, versus lives in the fast lane…Ask the bartenders, the un-certified psychologists around the planet. Ask them about their lives – where they live and why…how they got there and what works and does not. Peter, originally from Philadelphia, now lives in a three bedroom apartment in Manhattan with two other guys with one and a half baths…walking distance from the quiet but regular bar and intimate restaurant in which this bartender pours his creations – and listens to his patrons. That apartment is a median-priced abode in a multi-level building a midst the towers and surrounded by every single piece of home décor for sale imaginable. The sensory overload is unbelievable, the offerings are infinite, and so how does one find themselves and their interior design?
The seasonal trends presented in the flamboyant storefronts – each decorator trying to make the outrageous statement that will surpass the last…scissors, orchids, ostriches – Versace, Armani, William Sonoma, they all compete for the consumer’s attention. If you invest in a decision, the next season will have you second-guessing that decision.
It’s an incredibly fast-paced extravaganza. That’s why when I came upon these sock monkeys at New York City’s Time Warner’s multi-level shopping Mecca – I took their photo. The comfort derived from these familiar faces, textures and colors immediately soothed my energized and exhausted designer’s overload.
Be comfortable and EXPRESS YOURSELF!!!

So in NYC where sensory overload is the primary experience…I found these very familiar little friends.

The Color Purple is Outrageous and Elegant, Whimsical and Fun!

The Color Purple is rich, garish, and outrageous when worn by ladies sporting red hats. Purple is royalty, has liturgical significance and makes tongues brand the color after sucking down a cold glass of grape juice or room temperature bouquet of good – or not-so-good red wine (what a waste).
Alice Walker expressed great symbolism of pain and beauty when writing her novel. It is certainly a complex color which for our purposes of interior design would want to focus on the positive attributes and not the less attractive. Purple continually surfaces in interior design and it’s probably due to be an upcoming trend. Whether eggplant or lavender, it is a wonderful, classic, good color (aren’t they all in some context?), – yes, purple can be quite fun!
In nature, our Sandias at sunset – although said to be “watermelon” red, by their very Spanish name, transition from many shades of pastel colors including pinks, blues, lavenders and rosy reds. Lavender fields, lavender bouquets, periwinkle blossoms, red bud trees…the list goes on… Currently, I am designing a purple scheme in a home that will be all of fun and stunning, whimsical and elegant. It seems that the brighter colors of purple often bring a smile. Extracted from a charming oil painting, of a northern New Mexico calle with brilliant white and purple lilac bushes blooming along a dirt road accented by a royal blue picket fence, that we have selected as a focal point – the colors are enchanting. These will be more robust than pastels but softer than the royals – delineated with crisp white against a neutral backdrop of sage/stone.
I often reference colors in nature influencing interiors – and here captured in the artist’s painting is a scene from nature setting the stage as the focal element of the space.
Meanwhile, take a look around. See the earth and sky, new blossoms and colors in the built environment – and consider the possibilities for building a color scheme or punctuating with accents in your interiors.

Posted On March 20, 2011 By pattisays In color and temperature re: interior design, context of interior design, design, environment, environmental design, exterior - outdoor design, interior design, travel and design /

Window Treatments: Folk-artsy Fun With Painted Glass Panes

Window Treatments: Folk-artsy Fun With Painted Glass Panes
Scrape it off if you don’t like it. Sounds like mayo on a sandwich. If it’s not all about privacy… and if it is, use more paint…as shown here with a classic white French door with a few panes painted for fun! If you call in a window fashion consultant do you really think that there might be an occasion when they would say “you don’t need anything on these windows!?” I don’t think so.
I always ask, “Do you want window dressings for privacy, light control or decorative purposes?” And I usually ask each one independently waiting for an answer to each stage of that question. It makes people think. It gives me more information.
The La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe presents an historic example of the decorative painting on French door glass panes. Folk-artsy and colorful they draw a lot of attention and spark a lot of creative juices. Often mimicked as we did here, this treatment is not intended for privacy and rather than light control, it plays off of the light passing through the translucence of the paints for a luminous effect. Not unlike stained glass.
But from those hideous vertical blinds to the myriad variations on mini and maxi blinds, wood or aluminum, pleated shades, up down and all around, open cell, honey-combed, plantation shutters, – there are many treatments that have come on the scene after conventional curtains or the more formal draperies.
I like perforated shades. They are less obtrusive and the degree of privacy can be achieved with percentages of “perf” and color used. Day versus night paired with color and perf offer different degrees of effectiveness too.
Formal draperies still rule and the lesser, shorter curtains have their place. Valances, cornice boards, swags and bishops sleeves…the treatments are many. Do you puddle or hold short? Wood or iron? Sheers or not?
Let the light in and consider this translucent paint on glass – it can be formal or whimsical – try it – you can always scrape it off!!!

Posted On February 18, 2011 By pattisays In art and interior design, design, design trends, DIY design, interior design, travel and design /

Latin Flavors Influence Macho Football Parties – by Design?

I write about things that catch my attention. Generally centered on the world of design- which is actually everything around us – therefore, I have a broad reach of subjects that are constantly popping up and seem pertinent. Today, Super Bowl Sunday having just returned last night from south of our border, I am still in my Latin mode – perfect for this day’s celebrations. And also on this the 100th anniversary of President Ronald Regan’s birth we are reminded that he campaigned on the North American Common Market and that was the impetus for NAFTA back in the mid eighties. He had the vision that we are so closely connected and should celebrate that connectivity with more open and shared economic and cultural exchange. Foodies unite with the flow of firey foods that seep up from the chile fields into our markets, kitchens and ultimately party platters!
From Bill Geist teaching his grandson this morning on CBS Sunday Morning the fine art of being a man honoring the game with the party fare on the cocktail table to my husband making his favorite Firehouse chili recipe, the culinary influences from our own southwest and points even farther south are abundantly apparent.
Not everyone is want to incorporate Mexican textiles, Talavera tiles, brilliantly bright pottery or the like into their home decor…but come football season and you’ll find colonial homes on the historic registrar all over the east coast armed with their obligatory bags of Tostitos and Doritos! I heard yesterday that the avocado sales in the United States goes off the charts this week in preparation for the bazillion pounds of guacamole dip being prepared for the Super Bowl parties!
So all the recent cooking shows and guest spots have been featuring basic to outrageously creative versions of salsas, quesadillas, queso and chips, tacos of every variety and even Mexico’s royal crowned cerveza, Corona challenging the King of Beers…how did this happen? When and how did this particular sports scene morph into an unconscious celebration of Latin American culinary interpretations? Was this by design?
It does beg that question, the answer to which is undeniably true – it began with the macho image – no silly, not nacho, macho – that somehow translated into spicy (look what habaneros in Tabasco have done for our very own Buffalo wings), which means the hotter you can take it, the more manly you are…and thus the tradition was born. Starting back with bowls of that “Texas” chile, tomato based stew of red kidney beans and hamburger meat which by personal preference (remember the manly man likes it hot) is identified by how much red chile powder one adds to the brew to Velvetta becoming synonymous with queso dip it became a theme of hot punctuations of flavor. Chile con queso to be exact – with a can of Rotelle or your own version from scratch with melted cheese and cream and roasted and peeled chiles, onions and tomotoes all chopped into the blend it’s all about flavor and HEAT! Do you use jalapenos or serranos? Do you stuff jalapenos with gooey queso and deep fry for tantalizing poppers? Do you buy salsa in a jar or make your own from the freshest ingredients diced into a fresco pico de gallo? Simple recipe to follow:
5 ripe Roma tomatoes diced 1 med. onion diced (white is traditional – but go crazy with a red one – porque no?) 5 serrano chiles seeded and diced (keep your hands away from your nose and eyes for the next several hours – or use gloves when you chop – like a wimp) 1 large lime or 3 small ones juiced (also nice to have a bowl cut-up for the beer – in which case you will need MANY more) 1/3 c. fresh cilantro leaves finely chopped
Mix it all together and dive into it with fresh tortilla chips – or bagged from the store if you must!
Whether a purist or packaged party planner, let’s pull out our sombrero chip and dip platters, and celebrate our adopted Latin flavors, colors and heat that raise the temperatures on these chilly football afternoons – Ole!

Posted On February 6, 2011 By pattisays In design, design trends, DIY design, food and interior design, seasonal interior design, table dressings, travel and design, Uncategorized /

Beach Vendors Offer Colorful Treats from the Tropics

The dark-skinned vendors gather on the beach roasting day after day surrounded by the relentless sun reflecting both off the glittering sea water and the warm granular sand. No sunscreen bottles in evidence here. Some have tables to display their wares and others continuously stroll carrying a variety of offerings. It is fun to see the colors, clothing, house wares, jewelry and other handcrafts. Some are locally fabricated and others come from different regions of Mexico while other items arrive from across the planet from places like Indonesia and China. It’s interesting what sells. It’s interesting what people will buy and why – and the vendors know.
Some feign a lack of English while others genuinely do not speak the language and try very hard to negotiate their business with their prospective customers. Some boldly call out in perfect English and even assist their compatriots to communicate as required to help close a deal.
It is partly friendly and partly competitive. It seems tireless the way they repeat their mantras and vocal sales pitches – and their personalities read through the crush of it all. A really nice young guy took a second glance at me yesterday and said “Hey” in a way that suggested that he recognized me. I didn’t get the connection at first, but a little later when we passed again, he stopped and said “I remember you from the cuchillos.” I tried not to look blank as my mind struggled to race through my memories to recall about what he must be referring. I smiled and said “Oh yes.” He continued to chat asking me how I had been and I returned the inquiry. And as we visited with small talk it hit me “cuhillos” from last year when this really nice young man assisted me in locating the woman who sold the hand-carved wooden spoons! He reminded me his name when I asked and of course it was all coming back to me – Benjamin! He was not trying to sell me anything – how rare among these myriad vendors along the beach – rather, he genuinely enjoyed making the connection and just wanted to say “Hi, how have you been?” We then discussed that the wood carvers were not on the beach this year – the wood was getting increasingly hard to obtain – that was part of the difficulty last year. We talked about the fact that he marketed woven wrist bands that he made himself sporting NFL teams and people’s names – colorful and fun to watch him and other vendors weave with thread as you witnessed the designs and letters materialize. But he knew without questioning that I was not in the market for this handcraft. While others will even approach me with henna tattoo presentations – “thank you, no” – but you can’t blame them for trying – you never know, I might get a wild hair after a few shots!
This year it was about the straw basket vendor. A towering guy encircled with a variety of colorful baskets, handbags and hats, he balanced this extraordinary collection about his person and was a fantastic sight to behold. I was enchanted with the colors and fine workmanship. I particularly focused on the smaller sized handbags – entirely of colored straw without metal or plastic detailing like some sported – these were purely organic and quite lovely. I selected colors that I preferred and he returned the next day with the perfect collection to fill my order. His family makes them and he is their salesman “on the road.” I bought 10 and will be bringing them back to the shop for another treat from the tropics!

Posted On February 3, 2011 By pattisays In art as gift ideas, design, design trends, fashion and design, travel and design /

Traditions of Yesterday in Today’s Interior Design

P-A-R-T-Y!!!! Still in Mexico and thrilled to discover new things! It’s about the allure of the tropics with the brilliant colors that are so vividly expressed in textiles, architecture, flora, tableware, and jewelry suggesting happy, carefree times. The festive colors evoke the mood of a party – a fiesta in this case. It’s a tradition of color in the southern climes that has been around for ages and is continued today in fabulous passed-down handcrafts and artwork. These exquisitely detailed table runners are woven with care and great historical symbolism and merit by the indigenous people of Chiapas.
While traveling, I enjoy the hunt – ferreting out treasures from various sources, meeting the vendors and in many cases the artisans themselves. The other day, I discovered these tightly woven textile table runners. The workmanship is quite fine, the patterns delightful and the colors bold and exhilarating!
When I weed through the myriad offerings to uncover what I regard as the treasures, I always picture the scene. Where will these beautiful art pieces end up?…From where they were made in the verdant lush hillsides of the jungles of Chiapas to someone’s distressed farm table in a kitchen or dining room in my world. By bringing these things to my shop and my clients, I feel a small connection to the people who fabricated them and a sense of travel – time travel and cultural travel – worlds apart but incredibly, not so far away.
We live in a fast world of commercialism and consumption. Yet, to handle one of these individually woven art pieces and actually take a moment to appreciate the origin and not the mass production that is apparent in so much of what we see and procure, is an awesome opportunity. It’s good to know that these traditions still exist and that they are so appreciated by those who value the art of it all.
So gather your friends and bring out your Fiesta-ware – hand blown glasses and party platters of fun and festivity and enjoy these wonderful focal points at your party! Or…merely place them on your table for everyday enjoyment as a reminder of artisans in the hills, living as they have for centuries with little change and at the least a continuation of these fantastic techniques, the not-yet-lost traditions of yesterday in today’s interior design!

Posted On January 31, 2011 By pattisays In art and interior design, art as gift ideas, design, design trends, nostalgia and design, travel and design /

Artists Gather Along the Malacon Fronting the Estudio Café

Like a groupie at rock concert I stood in front of this towering man of a man as I was being introduced to the artist who made the whales!!! Trying to be cool, I shook his hand and marveled at the reality of this moment. As I previously wrote, this magical scene of a waterfront art exhibit every Saturday at the marina in Nuevo Vallarta in front of the Estudio Café, the setting was already not to be believed. Then, to realize that the very first person to whom we were being introduced was that of Octavio Gonzales the sculptor of magnificent mega-scaled masterpieces, I was star struck. Yes, I’m one of those who have ogled and continue to marvel at the stupendous scale of the elegant hump-backed whales that gracefully swim through the sky at the entrance of the marina in Puerto Vallarta. This encounter was a pleasant surprise!
Anyone visiting Vallarta has seen Octavio’s whales, dolphin, musical mermaids, orcas and other incredible renditions magnificently presented in bronze many of which are located on the main malacon downtown. Highland Park outside Chicago even has one of his incredible whale sculptures -shown unlikely but proudly in Octavio’s portfolio in a snowy scene as winter descends on the humpbacks. Arnold Schwarzenegger owns a desk-top miniature of the whales that he references with fond memories of time spent in Vallarta as evidenced in a personal letter in the artist’s portfolio.
And this was just the beginning…several other fine talents were present exhibiting their work and meeting the people who had come to see the art, have breakfast or just were fortunate enough to happen upon this wonderful waterfront scene. Estella Herrera’s work, with her lively glass mobiles, fanciful hearts, jewelry and architectural panels, was elegant, translucent, colorful and creative.
Gonzalo Espinosa crafts whimsical hearts, fish, clouds and other images from found wood that he shapes, colors with dyes and colored wax pencils posting them on iron stands that suspend them in the air above their surface. We enjoyed an interesting conversation as he told me about his techniques and also about exhibiting his work in Tucson – where I hope to discover his work on our next trip.
Meg Munro paints incredible watercolors with the eye of a camera and the soul of an artist. She captures the details but dilutes with shapes and differing levels of clarity for both perspective and emphasis of composition. Her colors are crisp and bold, real and softened to a pleasing interpretation of the reality that she sees.
I didn’t meet all of them – that is left for another visit. But I encourage anyone interested in beautiful Saturday mornings, magical marina settings, quiet music and delightful fresh food to visit this enchanting art exhibit along the malacon in Nuevo Vallarta. www.estudiocafe.net

Posted On January 29, 2011 By pattisays In art and interior design, art as gift ideas, design, environmental design, exterior - outdoor design, interior design, landscape design, travel and design /

A Little Painting Caught My Eye

At the art show, in front of the Estudio Café on the malecon in Nuevo Vallarta, a little painting with blue blue sky and dancing white leaves falling from a graceful tree gathering in layers upon the ground, caught my eye. It was a happy piece. It conveyed such dimension and texture that the fallen leaves looked like you could remove each one from the painting with the care of a delicate touch. Almost as though tiny translucent grains of rice, these little white leaves, so deliberately rendered, that each individual one had a specific place nestled among the others blanketing the ground
Small things with great impact, it is nice to have the time to savor these details. It’s a luxury to “stop and smell the roses” as they say. Here in Puerto Vallarta, there are many scenes, many different pockets and places, limitless details to examine and enjoy.
After many years of discovering and exploring these myriad nooks and crannies of this fun and fascinating town, we saw things this time through the eyes of our young cousin and niece – both 26 years old and both experiencing Mexico for their very first time. Their wonderment was palpable. There was no pretense to conceal their enthusiasm through cool veils of studied “hip – seen it and done it” placidity. Quite the contrary, these girls were beaming with sparkling eyes and bubbly exclamations for the 10 days that they participated with us in this adventure.
Both are well-traveled. Coincidentally though, neither had been to Mexico. We were thrilled to be the ones to introduce them and share one of our favorite areas. The details that they perceived and about which they enthused were many…from the delicious aroma and tantalizing sizzle of the carne asada cooking on the small grills which circled the plaza in Bucerillas amidst the carnival-like atmosphere of the night’s festivities – to the soft glow of the candlelight dancing on the tablecloths to the sensual beat of jazz in the gentle breeze of the beachside tables at La Palapa – they were amazed.
We tasted tequilas, savored the nuances, and marveled at the smooth warming effects without typical telltale hangovers of the over-indulgent…in fact, they both now swear by the mysterious medicinal qualities of the great blue agaves and their magical distillation! Imagine that! Each tasting experience brought with it a new vessel from which to enjoy the drinks – so exclaiming about the glassware – tall short, green, clear, each had its own unique character that delighted the girls.
The colors and textures of the architecture intrigued them. Those surfer boys on the beach…cute waiters, nothing escaped their observation. Water aerobics in the sapphire blue water of an infinity pool over-looking the sea with thrilling black whales’ tails flipping in the glitter of the sunlight on the water. Surreal…could this be staged? Cameras were constantly clicking off the shots – what did we do before the multi-gigs of our digital camera cards? Hundreds of images were documented for later examination and re-living of the memories gathered in such a short time. An introductory time, we’re sure as each expressed their absolute desire to return again to continue the adventure.
We’ll change gears now and miss their energetic enthusiasm but maybe have more time now to reflect and enjoy before heading back to “reality.” But at home, we’ll see the little white leaves falling through the blue blue sky from the delicate tree branches of the little painting that caught my eye. Thank you Jesus, it’s a treasure.

Posted On January 26, 2011 By pattisays In art and interior design, art as gift ideas, design, design trends, interior design, travel and design /

ART and Magical Moment with a Marine Mammal named Jenny

On Nuevo Vallarta’s malacon a group of friends and artists gather every Saturday to share news, enjoy coffee and present a most marvelous Art Show. Imagine a pristine marina of white sailboats neatly in their slips in a realm of blue as the water touches the sky with surrounding mangroves of lush green completing the scene.
A bonus to the setting, this festive exhibit is prominently positioned along the front of the lovely Estudio Café – Nuevo’s hidden jewel (www.estudiocafe.net) where in a charming open-air dining patio the freshest food of irreproachable quality delights the senses in this magical setting. Excellent musical selections of Chris Botti, Nora Jones, and other jazz vocal and instrumental talents waft through the clear morning air softly adding another dimension of ambiance to this ethereal atmosphere. Yes, it’s like layers of confection each providing a perfectly subtle contribution to this incredible composition. Today, the artists are joined by a special surprise guest, Jenny, the enormous sea lion from the neighboring Vallarta Adventures. She is escorted with her handlers and arrives waddling/bouncing along the malacon to greet her fans.
Jenny is quite friendly and at ease with this exercise. She is not on a leash and responds with alert attentiveness to her handlers. Jenny gives a toothy smile and waves to the small group that quickly gathers around her. With their cameras instantly whipped out in force for this most unusual event everyone realizes that what is already an incredibly enjoyable experience is taking on an entirely new animation! Jenny’s handlers are equipped with a small cooler of fresh fish which they generously use to reward her excellent behavior. She seems more than eager to please and quite happy with the praise and attention. And you can’t believe what’s next… for the morning’s art show, Jenny will paint!
My dear, young friend, Victoria is invited to hold the small stretched canvas that Jenny will use to execute her artistic talents. The handsome young handler has the paints and a special brush with a rubber mouth grip that Jenny readily takes in her teeth and proceeds to apply to the canvas. The handler changes the colors and she applies the paint in a manner that abstractly suggests a vertical green tree with a pink swath of a flamingo and a blue patch of sky. No two of these marine masterpieces are alike. She creates for the moment. She is amazing.
These are the images of magic that you want to freeze and re-open later – to beckon the scene and enjoy when the mood strikes…to evoke the simple luxury of this beautiful morning, in a magical setting, with fine art and conversation, soft music and a communion with a magnificent marine mammal whenever you have the desire and repose to do so. Porque no?

Posted On January 23, 2011 By pattisays In art and interior design, design, travel and design /

The Original Design of the Perfect Margarita – Simply Sublime

Why is it so difficult to get a good margarita? Seems like all these bars with their fancy concoctions and infusions try too hard to reinvent that which is so perfect in its original form. Don’t give me the sweet and sour mix or the carbonated fizz, please don’t add sugar or simple syrup, just keep it simple!
While introducing Heather and Tricia to Mexico this week, Tricia thought that I should post the perfect margarita to which I introduced her last year and she has enjoyed ever since – here we are in paradise and Heather staged a photo shot right on our balcony of the ingredients (using Controy instead of the traditional Cointreau) the perfect picture!
So finding the perfect margarita….down here in Mexico we even find this frustration – perhaps the masses have forgotten the simplicity that is so fine – paired with a cultivated sweet-tooth, common margaritas are often waaaay too sweet. Jalisco, the very state in which the precious nectar of the agave root was first extracted and distilled to create this Mexican treasure – tequila – offers many variations on the theme. Yet the original libation created in Mexico City is simply an equal combination of tequila, Cointreau and fresh lime juice served on the rocks.
Another option of the orange flavored French liquor, Cointreau has been made less expensively here in Mexico in their version called Controy. The other French liquor with an orange flavor, Grand Marnier is often substituted – rather successfully. But the real deal is with the Cointreau.
Whether it’s in a fancy stemmed broad blue or green hand blown margarita glass, big bulbous heavy barbell of a vessel, or even a pilsner like the one I had in the Houston airport at Pappadeaux’s last Saturday, the trick is all in the ingredients. KISS – equal parts tequila, Cointreau, and freshly squeezed lime juice.
Usually, traditionally, it is served on the rocks in a short cocktail glass…whether you salt the rim or not is personal preference – but salted is the way it all started. Here in Mexico you often see a small plate slightly larger than the diameter of a slice of pineapple – with a slice of juicy pineapple. It is that and not water or a damp cloth which is used to moisten the rim before twisting it in the dish of course salt.
And then there are the various types of tequila…first it must be 100% agave. There are blends which add sugar cane (like rum) and other ingredients which are NOT 100% agave. Read the label! It can only really be called tequila if it made from 100% agave. Got it? There are three types of tequila white (new, clear, silver), reposado aged a bit and añejo aged a bit more. Not like the years we see in scotch…12 years, 26 years…but they are often aged in whiskey kegs – the oaky barrels discarded after years of service then re-used to age (for a much shorter time) the tequila which takes on the warm colors and rich tones from the other distillations. The flavors are nearly limitless and the tastings for fine tequila are as subtle, rich and varied as the finest wines. The price can vary too – with incredibly well regarded shots going in the hundreds – now THAT’S a shot!
Many people prefer the crisp silver tequilas in their citrusy margaritas while others prefer the warmer, smoother flavor of the aged versions. However you like it – remember the mantra for a great margarita – what is it? KISS – equal parts tequila, Cointreau and freshly squeezed lime juice – simply sublime.

Posted On January 18, 2011 By pattisays In food and interior design, travel and design / 2 Comments

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