Design Public

Honestly, I am so sick of “the green movement” I could puke. In fact, I predicted this awhile back. I KNOW it’s a good thing and I’m happy that there is so much awareness, but I don’t need G.E.-owned N.B.C. or ultra- conservative Fox throwing it in my face in the middle of my comedy (how hypocritical is that). I don’t need my high fashion magazines to have green issues, and I don’t need my D.W.R. catalog to have real and plastic sod on the covers, asking the “deep” question “is this green?” I think it’s funny when Oprah preaches green one day, then gives away a Ford Explorer to a man so he will no longer have to use public transportation the next. Stop force feeding it people. As someone who went to a school where William McDononugh was the Dean at the time, I really don’t need anymore “green tips” about turning off the water while brushing my teeth. Mrs. Wilson taught me that in second grade.In fact, Philip Nobel ranted about it most eloquently in a little ditty called “Green but not Heard” in Metropolis magazine:

I finally figured it out. For years I’ve avoided reading much about green architecture, let alone writing about it. And not only because it’s boring. As saving the Earth has become the cause of all causes (Hi, Brad!), I thought this might just be my usual knee-jerk recoiling from things earnest and popular. Now I know it’s a deeply principled stand based on the defense of public manners. When one does something good, does one then crow about it, seeking gain? That would be the opposite of grace. But that is exactly what we see in page after page of project after project, each claiming to be LEEDier than thou. Here, planet, I’ve done you this kindness. Look everyone, I’m saving the planet! Clearly there’s a place for specialized literature, a quiet little spot on the journalistic margins where green architects and clients can trade best practices and grow the field. It’s the right thing to do. But that doesn’t mean we need to hear about it.

Anyway, I received this email from a source that has been green and sustainable and responsible since its inception, which does NOT annoy me at all. Dwell.com is having a green contest. Here’s the 411:

Hello Dwellers! We want to invite you to participate in a new contest hosted by Dwell.com and the American Institute of Architects — “How Green Are You?” We want to know. Show us innovative and interesting ways you have “greened” your home and you can win prizes totaling $2000. Entry is really simple, submit your photos and write a short essay on your project. Dwell and the AIA will evaluate entries and choose a winner. The winning project will be featured on Dwell.com for up to one year — great exposure! Enter today at: www.dwell.com/greencontest. Contest entries are evaluated weekly so get yours in today! 

Go on, go act LEEDier than thou and sign up! P.S. Happy Earth Day!

In case you didn’t get in on the action last week, this is your last chance to enter Kaboodle’s Wish-A-Day Giveaway worth up to $500 in DP products. The contest ends at midnight on December 17th so…

GET WISHIN’!

The details one more time:

• Register to become a Kaboodle member and enter the contest
• Get the Add to Kaboodle button for your browser toolbar
• Go to www.designpublic.com and add the items you want to your wish list
• Tell your friends so they have a chance of winning, too!
• At midnight on December 17th one person will be selected to win Design Public items from their wish list. Good Luck!

Now is opportunity #1 of 2 to win $500 worth of Design Public goods through Kaboodle.

If you have been eyeing something for yourself or someone else…enter the contest! But, hurry. Time’s a tickin’…

How It Works :

• Make sure you are a registered Kaboodle member and that you have entered the contest
• Get the Add to Kaboodle button for your browser toolbar
• Go to www.designpublic.com and add the items you want to your wish list
• Tell your friends so they have a chance of winning, too!
• On December 11th (today!) and December 17th at midnight, one person will be selected to win Design Public items from their wish list. Good Luck!

My favorite organization guru John Trosko gave me a head’s up about The Los Angeles Organizing Awards, which will take place on February 1, 2008, presented by the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO-LA). This is the biggest awards show to hit L.A. since The Schmemmys (sorry, I was up late watching Kathy Griffin last night and I couldn’t help myself). Here are a few examples of the 15 categories up for glory:

• Best Home Organizing Product
• Best Office Organizing Product
• Most Helpful Organizing Technology
• Best National Organizing Show

(more…)

…For your favorite entry at the Dominomag.com decorating contest. It’s funny, the finalists are all full shots of living rooms. I thought there would be at least one that focused on a smaller area, or a bathroom or bold dressing area (? - and what’s up with the anatomical torso model?) like this entry that didn’t make the finals:

photos from dominomag.com

1) I am love this clever staircase from The Cloudhouse slideshow over at dwell.com:

2) A great interview with one of my favorite fellow T.V. watchers and bloggers, Paola of mirrormirror over at the design*sponge guest blog written by not martha. O.K., is a blog (Hatch) plugging the interview of another blogger (Paola) by a guest blogger (not martha) for another blog (design*sponge) techinically “meta?” I am still not sure when I am getting the whole “meta” thing quite right when I try to use it, but that sounds about right!

3) The post titled “Mask Masters” over at Bluelines. These Halloween costumes blow most of the other ones I’ve seen out of the water (no, that’s not Apple’s mom, it’s a Blueprint Design Production Assistant!):

4) The water tower turned guesthouse featured in Cottage Living:

5)  Following the Apartment Therapy Fall Colors Contest.  I love this kitchen from some artsy fellow Atlantans.  I should have known they lived in Grant Park (I got nosy and asked).  If you love looking at fabulous Victorians and Arts and Crafts bungalows, I highly recommend a stroll around their neighborhood.  Then reward yourself with some pork sliders at The Standard or a big fat calzone at Grant Central Pizza:

Of course there are a million other ways I wasted time on the web last week, but these were the top five that came to mind!

Hey All! I’ve been catching up on blogs after unplugging in Maine last week and wanted to share some of my favorite posts with you for the past week.

A Day at A Glance via sfgirlbybay - another great renovation blog where you can track daily progress on a San Francisco apartment:

Results of the Ugly pillow contest via design*sponge (go to the posts from 9.20.07). I actually think this one almost works, in-a-it’s-so-ugly-it’s-a-joke-and-it’s-funny kind of way:

Design at Safeway over at sfgirlbybay: (more…)

Contest Alert! If you’ve evolved beyond bare-bones milk crates, crappy plastic clippy lamps, and keg coffee tables, enter the Apartment Therapy and Housing Works My Dorm Room Rocks contest! From my own memories and from scoping out our site, I have a few suggestions and links:

1) Keep the hot pot cleaned out! I’ll never forget the nasty blob with the life all its own that grew in my roommate’s hot pot after she left Chef Boy-R-Dee remnants in it for a month or so!

2) Kegs are not furniture, and they get moldy as well. (more…)

Well, I’m back from vacation. I was pretty cut off media-wise all week - the first day I picked up the WSJ and decided to quit right then and there. Last night I caught up on all the crap TV on my DVR. Apparently, Bret Michaels thinks that “mediocracy” means the same thing as “mediocrity,” it’s very clear why Scott Baio is 45 and still single (though not really clear why Chachi in Charge landed so many hot dates), and the iPhone has been unlocked from AT&T’s grasp by a 17 year old hacker.

As for emails, the one that most intrigued me was from Luciana over at Domino Magazine. All you need to do is submit a picture of your favorite spot in your house and tell why in 100 words or less, and you could win a $10,000 Mastercard shopping spree for your home. For more details, click here. I think I’m going to submit my pursery, but I don’t know. Contests like this make me realize that I am never fully satisfied with any corner of my home - I’m always switching it up and experimenting.  What will you submit?

Thanks to Uncle Wilco for letting me know about a garden Shed of the Year Contest in the U.K.! These are really fun to look through - I am having trouble deciding which one to vote for, but here are some stand-outs:

Charming Green and White Stripes:

Looks like a home away from home:

The British really know how to work the Kelly Green: (more…)