Perhaps it is ironic (as a blogger) that we can't rate last week's H&H, but we just don't feel comfortable doing it without seeing it in person. Since we were away last week, we have been reduced to catching up online, and the experience is just not the same.
That said, we get a rather lukewarm feeling from the top stories, especially Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe: Oscar's Retreat, which is a perfect example of the frustrating and compromising role the interior designer gets to play when practicing his or her profession. The designer, Mark Zeff, is good.
But hey H&H! Stay away from the stars! We need you to remain somewhat in touch with reality and not become celeb addled like the rest of the media.
Even more disturbing - from a design perspective - are Hilary Swank's parting words, ""We may be filming somewhere and fall in love with the place and want to move," Ms. Swank said. "I love living here, but I'm not so connected to the house that I can't live without it." After nearly 2 years of work..."not so connected." Ouch. Stay away from stars.
Other Top Stories
- Trailer Trash? Not a Scent of It: Trailer parks are the new hot locations
- Heave-Ho, Silver!: Rick Marin brings his obsession to color coated fixtures - not stainless. He is on to something here. Color like this IS in our future.
- Goodbye to All That: Barbara Jakobson is selling a good deal of her collection at Christie's on May 12 - Slideshow
- Personal Shopper: Spring cleaning tools - most too big for us, but, boy, how we ogle the new Dyson vacuum...
Currents
- the Central Office of Architecture, a Los Angeles firm (www.coalabs.com)
- Enameled copper mobiles by Kate Niemela
- A four-building Marc Jacobs complex has colonized the intersection of Melrose Place and Melrose Avenue
- William Stranger forged the Monolith bench out of a California walnut tree
- Orange22, a downtown studio with a new showroom
- Lilith Rockett is an owner and one of 11 ceramists whose work is at Flux
I agree that I am sort of sick of celeb coverage, but I really liked this article--perhaps because of the famous story that Hillary Swank grew up in a trailer park, and she graduated to this. However, I see nothing wrong with not being married to a location. I love New York, but am itching to live abroad for a while, so I can see looking at your house as a temporary abode. On the other hand, I look at the things I collect to furnish a house as investments, and things I will have a long time. I think you are reading too much into her comments, Maxwell! ;) JMO.
Maxwell, I too grow tired of celeb coverage, but remember as an actor Hilary needs to live a somewhat "gypsy" life and I think she's right not to be to tethered to her house at this point in her life. If you check the latest Owner thread Tim is having a related conflict.
Fiona,
I agree. I think that comment may be rubbing MGR the wrong way as a decorator. I could certainly see them being attached to objects like that sign that Hilary badgered the producers of 42nd St. for, but not necessarily the house. I think there are people like my mom, who would send roots down so deep into a home that she just couldn't imagine leaving and then there are people who believe their attachment should be to people and memories and perhaps the occasional thing, but not necessarily to a place. I don't think either is wrong. I also don't think it's wrong for H&H to cover celebrities once and a while. Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe's house seemed no more or less extravagant than most of the apts. shown on those pages. And far more livable. I liked it.
You know, I think it just goes to show that this is such a personal take. I know that Max always gives a lower rating when H&H doesn't have a substantial gardening article. For me, it's always a waste of space. I don't garden, don't plan to ever garden and, truthfully, couldn't give a rat's ass about other people's gardens. My favorite articles are about people's homes and new products and resources (otherwise known as "shopping"). So I almost never agree with the rating. But then, that's the nature of criticism, isn't it?
My interpretation of MGR's comment was that it was directed to the actual two-year process, and not the things or furniture she/they ended up with. I agree with him... if you end up with no emotional stake in a custom process to create a HOME, a process that took much time and (hopefully) passion, I'd think there'd be some emotional connection to the space. I think given her mobile life, and the chunks of time she spends away, she is smart not to forge too much of a connection with "things" or any one location. But why, then, so intricately engage in a redesign?
I enjoyed the article by Rick Marin on his quest to rid his home of all traces of stainless steel or metalic finishes. I fear we'll soon be seeing a lot of unwanted stainless steel appliances on Craig's List.
Maxwell, I wondered about the comments by Hilary Swank about her connection to the house. It seems that many homes that are featured in magazines and papers are soon or are already on the market and, it seemed unusual that the street the house is on was mentioned as well. Those comments threw me, after enjoying the article and dreaming about having an industrial floor lamp in my living room.By the way I went to Pascal Boyer Gallery on Friday and the Adnet daybed is in the front of the store.
MGR--
You West Coast trendsetter! 5 out of 6 Currents postings were West Coast/LA/Hollywood-related.
Well, I got a good drubbing on this one, but all comments are totally valid. My take is a personal one and even off the cuff, but it comes from intuition/emotion and the sense that a home that is a showpiece is not a home. With Ruth, I love shopping and I also love creating a home, but in anything, connection is so important. I think Hilary Swank is just fine (and good for her on her success!), but that house seems barely hers, it is more Mark Zeff's achievement. Perhaps it is being shown off, because it will soon be on the market.
I think that particular article was hard to get a read on... while she summed the whole process up with rather aloof detachment (for reasons that do makes sense because of how she lives), she does seem to place value (personal and sentimental) on certain objects.. the Joan of Arc statue, the (covetable) sign from 42nd Street, etc.