No Place Like Home.

In a one-thing-leads-to-another Internet search I stumbled upon this amazing project called The Places We Live by Magnum Photographer Jonas Bendikson. It is an incredible digital exhibition that takes you into the homes of slum dwellers in cities all across the world. More than a third of all city residents, nearly a billion people in all, live on the outskirts of major cities in unregulated, unplanned, off-the-grid housing. Without architects to design structures, sanitation systems, police, fire, or other government services, these slums are a different world than the planned cities most of us know.

The visuals in this project are stunning. You can take virtual 360 degree tours of dwellings in India, Africa, South America, and Indonesia. There are compelling voice overs in which each home owner tells you their story. These are places most of us will never be able to see first hand, but this virtual tour provides incredible access to the lives of people living in ways most of us wouldn't think possible.

Give yourself some time and explore this phenomenal project. You will not be disappointed.

Uh Oh, There Goes My Social Life!

How did I not know about The Selby? Actually, God, why did let me find The Selby now, in my vulnerable, way-too-much-free-time, down-market state? I'm never leaving the house because I'll be too busy looking at other peoples's places. Are you kidding me? Fascinating virtual tours of the inner sanctums of fascinating (chic, fun, creative, colorful, stylish, musical, talented, artistic) people? Friends, sorry if I don't call you for a few years...I'm looking at cool shiz on The Selby. Like this:

melia marden - chef; and frank sisti jr. aka kid america - filmmaker
at their home - east village new york - jan 12 2009

Warning! The Selby may be incredibly addictive to susceptible readers and may invoke feelings of acute agitation with both negative and positive effects. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to euphoria, intense jealousy, general casa envy, decor inspiration, perspiration, intense feelings of longing, hives, nauseating urges to poke overly styley people in the eyes, and in rare cases, calm. Use with caution.

Gift It: Turn It On

I've been a big fan of dressing up light switch plates for years. Switchplates are an often overlooked element of a room. I've decked mine out in everything from handmade papers to old photos to spray paint and silhouette stickers. Here's a readymade decoupaged switchplate that any girl worth her glamour will love.

For $10, you can get a pair and light up your room before you even flip the switch. Click the pic for ordering info.

Nice Rack

As one might suspect, I'm a magazine fiend. I've got a collection of fashion mags that may yield me a small fortune one day, if the market for 1993 Harper's Bazaar issues improves. But for now, they are overflowing from under my bed like some multiplying paper organism. I need a storage solution now. And, I think I found one:

Granted it can only hold a few at a time, but I like that I can switch the zines at my leisure to allow for easy access to the ones I want to keep above the bed. It's made of powdered steel and for such a designery (yes, that is a technical term) item, at $37.00 it is a steal. Get yours here, from Umbra.

Butter in the corner.

Follow one man's journey to pixelate his bathroom. Not fashion, but fun!

I want my house to wear it

If I had an unlimited budget and a whopper sized apartment, I'd be creating the kind of art-filled wonderland director Roland Emmerich has staged in his not-so-humble London abode. His art collection is taking over and I like it.


A life sized Pope John Paul II figure reads his own obituary under the stairs.


That's a White House inspired bird cage and a Thinker shaped Arnold Schwarzenegger.


Princess Diana holds court over the fireplace while her and Charles' dolls feed the flames.


Check out the ball-o-Barbies under his WWII plane wing desk in the chalk board paint covered home office.
Wanna see more, including a taxidermy Zebra and a JFK assassination diorama? Click here for the full NYT profile.

I want to live in it.

Hi. It's me. I'm back!

These houses were featured in a slide show on Elle's website. They look like they were built of old wood and spit. I'd live in them if I ever went hermit on your asses:

This one was built by a Russian outlaw. He never finished it because he was locked up for a third time. Snow capped roof peaks?

I'd ski them.

And this one would be perfect for the couple who has a ground phobia:
This proves that exists.

And here is a taste of where I actually live:

That's my mirrored mantle homage to Avedon. And my clothing. Sweet dreams.