It's Time To Sell This House...

I’m not at all sure what I am going to write about. For the last few days I’ve been trying to get my head around getting this house ready for the realtor to look at. I have to kind of undecorate, as more than likely the person or persons who buy this will not be decorators and will look at this and go OMG…The living room and dining rooms are pretty good maybe just take down about half the art and remove a few accessories. But the family room has way to much furniture and needs to be weeded out. There is a house three down from us that has just dropped the price almost 30,000.00. Down to more what we were told to list this house  at in the first place. I am very concerned about the yard and think the house doesn’t have much curb appeal especially since early in the summer it looked so good the grass was beautiful before the drought became so severe. I finished the tiny bath and it looks really good, of course it’s painted white. I would have painted the walls with some kind of stripes, maybe what I did in VA. But there is a vessel sink and granite vanity top with a cabinet behind the vanity with a granite top as well. There is a lot of storage and that is what people really want. I replaced all the hardware and the shower door as well. I spent about a thousand dollars, still more than the realtor wanted me to spend BUT I just couldn’t let anyone see it the way it was. There will be a storage unit delivered on the 7^th and I’ll take a few days to fill it and then paint the inside of the garage and power wash the drive and then get it on the market… OH please let this place sell fast I just have to move …

It is time to move along

We have decided to sell our house in Austin; we want to be in a town house, or some other kind of condo. We have never been in the living room, and have used the dining room only once. After all the time, effort, and money, that has been put into this house: it feels like the parts we do use are just to small. Too much of the house goes unused. The kitchen and family room are where we live. I would like them to be larger and all open. I don’t think I want a living room at all, unless it is just a very large room, it must open into the kitchen. We do not have sit down dinners any longer, we are still having people to dinner at least twice a month, but it is all very laid back casual. Last week we had people to dinner twice and both were very simple serve yourself and eat where you may kind of affairs both great, but the dining room goes unused just collecting dust. We don’t have holidays at our house so none of this is needed any longer. And we definitely do NOT want a yard, the water is just too expensive and precious to use on a lawn. I want a balcony and a pot, just big enough for four chairs and a table nothing else. I must have been crazy in VA. To have all that outdoor space and the upkeep, WOW what was I thinking? We hardly ever went out there, and when we did we crowded around the patio doors and never went to the other seating and dining areas on that huge patio. I even had it made twice as large as it was to begin with. I must have been crazy. I certainly did not go that way in the North Austin house it actually has remained quite like it was upon my arrival. Except for adding floor to ceiling windows in the living room, 2 sliders in the family room, adding a third back door, creating a laundry room, moving the kitchen, redoing both bathrooms’ new windows, and of course the new front door and those Interior fixtures used as outside lighting on the front of the house. A few other things like changing all the closet doors, and replacing most all the flooring, and adding MIRRORS yes mirrors. But any way it’s time to stop and just move along…and maybe simplify. Anyway I’ve never met a house I didn’t want to decorate…

In A World Long Ago...

When I was a kid one could go from door to door selling things and make 2-3 dollars a week. And believe me I did. I had a wagon I ask for one Christmas, I kept it filled with all kinds of things to sell. I was a general store on wheels. I would set out in the morning and get back home around 3:30 in the afternoon. I would do this 2 or so times a week I had a regular route. Sometimes I would go into a new neighborhood, this was usually a wise move as the women in these houses had not seen my wears before so they were easy sells. I had 3 women and a man that made things for me to sell I got to keep 25 or 50 cents on each item and this added up pretty fast. Mrs. Brenninger made aprons, pillow cases and trimmed hand towels. While her husband made corner shelves he had designed out of ply wood, and little oak leaf shelves as well. Their daughter Shirley also sewed and made things to sell. But it was Mrs. Luther, who made toss pillows. Beautiful toss pillows there were clover shapes, and triangles, round, and square all boxed with zippers, all had welt cords, and some with buttons. I guess this is why to this very day I cannot stand pillows without welt cords and I like boxed pillows rather than knife edge. To me toss pillows that are not welted are simply not finished, just 2 pieces of fabric sewn together. Mrs. Luther made other beautiful things as well she made draperies and even all her own cloths. She covered the chair in my bed room, I mowed her lawn. She taught me how draperies and toss pillows are made. Although I have never made either I have a basic understanding of how these things are done because of her. I have made some of her designs over and over and sold them for a lot more than the 2or 3 dollars we sold them for in those days. Her clover leaf pillow boxed, welted, and with a centre button is still one of my all time favorites. Her boxed and welted rectangle with rows of buttons is also a favorite of mine. This particular pillow was really expensive, it was at 4.50 out of the reach of many. Mrs. Luther was a great story teller as well. She told how Mr. Luther had accidentally killed her first husband and married her so she couldn’t collect insurance. How he used to knock her son over at the dinner table, how she eventually just got up and took her son away. She had a glass eye too, and would tell me how her brother accidentally poked her eye out. So be careful…  She and I would eat dinner together occasionally. Thick steaks rare, with lots of butter, on thick pieces of bread to soak up the blood, baked potatoes, and red tomatoes from her yard. She would refer to something’s being” hard as a brickbat” I have never heard anyone else use this term other than myself. Imagine how hard a brick bat is… She lived in little aqua house at the end of our street, a miniature of her son’s rather lavish house around the corner. Hers had mums all around it that in the fall would be “white as the driven snow”. Never heard that again either…But my all time favorite “she had a face that would stop an 8 day clock” now that’s a very telling comment…

Saturday Around Here

I received a magazine the other day with a woman on the cover that reminded me of Mr.s Young the lady down the street , So I added it to yesterdays blog …in My mind that’s what she looked like (in the early years),so I thought you might like to see…I spent a few hours yesterday creating the Chanel chairs you see at the beginning of this blog. Aren’t they cool? They are really two old Adirondack chairs thrown out by my unfriendly neighbors. They were bright yellow with stupid Daisies painted all over them and kind of in rough shape. I will never sit in these chairs they are only for the cool factor, and the ridiculous Chanel Item of the moment. The fact they really don’t look as good as the photo doesn’t matter a bit. I needed something to replace the expensive vintage Woodard chairs, as there have been several instances of theft from yards and porches in this neighborhood lately. I bought the dollar spray paint on the bottom shelf at Lowes, it only comes in black or white so of course BLACK has to be the choice. My Mother was right when she told me if It’s  junk paint it black, it will most likely clean up to be something good looking. Had I painted them white they would have just looked sweet and charming NOT ME…any way I love the look, kinda goofy but in a cool way and they will certainly impress guests as they are hard to miss on that little tiny porch. I just hope no one decides to sit in them…

When I was just a boy

When I was a  boy of  5, we moved from Walnut St. to 2389 Hazel. (My Dad still lives on Hazel to this day). He still mows the lawn himself, and will get around to fixing that any day now. He still takes long rides in the back yard with His brother Cleave. The have a boat motor in a barrel of water in the back, and have been testing it out for as long as I can remember. They never get very far, but that’s okay: my dad doesn’t like staying anywhere too long any way.

Tiny and Nellie, Mr and Mrs. Smith lived on the right of us while the Nelsons lived on the left. We knew every one on the street and while most never came to our door, let alone through it: they all knew us as well. In those days one could send there kid out doors to blow the stink off,  and be almost sure they were coming back without brain damage or some other terrible trauma several hours later. Across the street, and down half a block, in the oldest, biggest, and most imposing house on the street, lived the Young’s. They were Catholic, and according to Mrs. Bailey “surely going to HELL”. I was scared to death of them, and very interested at the same time.  Since my Mother had informed me only murderers went to hell, if there even was such a place. I decided to put on my blue and white (mine were always blue and white, while Steve’s were brown and white) elastic waist crinkle crape shorts, barefoot sandals, and go down the block to see for myself. Kit, Jayne and I were sitting on the front porch discussing fashion, (remember I’m 5) when suddenly she appeared, the biggest Catholic on the street: Mrs. Young. She was absolutely beautiful, a secretary just like Ann Southern on TV. She had very dark hair and very white skin, wore a pale blue sailor dress with a big tie, and red spike heel shoes.( I later learned she had several clip on things to change the overall look of these shoes. I thought this to be extremely sophisticated). She had very long very RED fingernails that were pointed. and hyper extended thumbs (how did she type). She got out of her beige 1949 Chevrolet holding her tiny little Old Gold cigarette. Suddenly I just knew she was NOT going to HELL. She was going to open lots of doors for me. Over the next 15 years or so Kit, Jayne, Mrs. Young, and I traveled lots of miles together. I had my first taste of spaghetti at her kitchen table, and my first pizza too (both Chief Boyardee) I learned about Toile de Jouy and Schumacher fabrics. She talked about her life in New York with her cultivated New England accent; both Jayne and I couldn’t wait to go:  

Jayne off to school, to study fashion and illustration at the Fashion Institute. Me years later off to shop, run around Broadway, the Village and any where a cab could take me …One more woman who taught me very important things….   

Good morning, I thought I would take a few minutes this AM and tell you all about a site new I have found, called Hooked on Houses. I stumbled across this the other day when I was looking for information for my friend Jayne on the No. 3 Beekman Place residence of Mame Dennis. I couldn't believe what I found. Stills of all the sets of my all time favorite movie Auntie Mame. As you all know this is my all time favorite house as well. Followed by the real life residence of Mrs. Riggin 3456 Glen Harbor Drive. Of course the Glen Harbor drive house is not on any website. And only lives on in my memory, larger than it probaly ever was in real life. There are also stills of the fantastic ranch house used in the 60's movie The Parent Trap, with Haley Mills. This house was actually a facade built on a corner of Walt Disneys property and the interior shots were all done on a sound stage . If one takes a moment to look at it ,you will see an absolutely beautiful living room shot from seveal angles. It does not try to become a recreation of a Spanish Villa from a century ago but is actually a modern liviable combination of what was then new and modern, and what was old. I could move into any of these 3 houses today and be happy and at home. The site shows you Gwyneth Paltro's house as well. A beautifl light and airy looking place with a black kitchen. As some of you know I love black cabinetry and would use it all the time if I thougt I could. Black will make a kitchen feel glamourous when nothing eles can. Add a crystal chandelier and you really have a LOOK. I of course would never suggest it unless the client is  in the house for the long haul ,as it has limited appeal. And most likely does not add to the value of a house the way a medium wood tone would. I also love chandeliers in kitchens either over an island ,peninsula, or in the centre of the ceiling . A kitchen like this will make you want to break out the sterling every day...

Hooked on Houses

Please check out one of my favorite new sites: Hooked on Houses

An Evening At Neiman's

So, this evening I went to a Soiree at Neiman Marcus to meet my friend Janis. She had a conflict and  couldn’t make it. But of course I met several people and chatted them up, so no problem …Lots of wine and a few vegetarian snacks, I’m ready to talk ,something I have absolutely NO problem doing. This party’s crowd was exceptionally well dressed for Austin, and was good looking too.  I asked where these people were from, and was told many were friends of Lance the editor of Society a new magazine about lifestyle, fashion etc. He was there so I guess it was kind of a joint venture …a good deal for Neimans, there were lots of buyers this evening. These little parties are usually not to well attended, not at all like they would be in metro DC. Neimans is still new to Austin, and getting its footing.  I’m sure this evening was a big success. There were several models wandering around, but no one knew who they were as they were not identified in any way, not to bright in my opinion, but what the hell who am I? I ran into an old acquaintance Adeline I met her about two years ago and have only seen her a few times, WOW did she look beautiful, I had forgotten what and exotic beautiful woman she is, she really is a show stopper. We reconnected and I chatted with her and her friends for about half an hour. They were all lots of fun; I kind of invited them all over to dinner next week. So I’ll have to get out my cooking utensils and get to work. The star of the evening was a very handsome young guy doing makeup. He was really chatty and extremely good-looking; all the women wanted him to do them. Of course all he was gonna do was their make up…

I Hope You Missed Me

Hello,

I must tell you all what has been going on in my life and why I have been remiss about writing.  I flew to Washington DC,where I visited several clients and attended an extremely important event. ( I was there 9 days thanks to my friend Ali) Unfortunately, the weather the day of the event was horrible. At noon on the dot as predicted it began to rain and it rained like HELL.  One of my favorite client’s middle daughters was being batmizvahed. Even with a hurricane it was a fabulous affair, on one terrible evening weather wise. Many of the guests simply could not make the drive to the hotel in such awful weather. But the party did go on, and it was beautiful. I had an absolutely wonderful time, I wish there was a photo of the outfit I wore. I’ll see if any are available, if so I’ll add it later. But for now you’ll just have to imagine me, in a Hugo Boss skinny leg tuxedo with a long sleeve horizontal stripe T shirt in black and white under, black suede tassel loafers NO socks. I’ll tell you it was a good look. The decorations for this event were wonderful as was the food music and mood. The tables had fantastic floral arrangements with wire musical instruments in the centre and another floral at the top so they were definitely a statement, but one that could be looked through so not to inhibit conversation. It was a wonderful evening. I really didn’t do as much business as I had planned while there as one of my biggest clients had an emergency. Those things happen. But I did see a few clients and perhaps accomplished a bit of business. As I have told you all before this can be a very unpredictable business, one never knows what is around the next corner. I’m missing a cocktail table from a room redo on Capitol Hill. This has become a nightmare, the rest of the room is coming along very well and I’m pleased about that. My client is being very understanding and I hope to get the problem resolved sooner than later. Another had an apartment purchase fall through. There were several people wanting it . I was really hoping to be able to decorate this tiny little 1850 sq ft on one floor residence for my client but it looks like they will be staying put for the near future. So life goes on, and still NO rain in Austin, AHH to be in Houston…