Organizing books

So you have a bookcase.  How do you organize it?

I must say that I do not like the arrange-by-color trend:

My inner organizer (yes, it's in there somewhere, though buried a bit deeper than A.'s) hates the thought of organizing them by anything other than alphabet or subject matter, or both.  Plus, I just don't like the look of rainbow books (though I do like real rainbows).  I like the way the spines create a perfectly random scattering of color when organized normally:

I admit I do like the way literary French books, which are predominantly white, have a creamy minimalist uniformity to them—but in this case it happens naturally.

 
Nothing, however, could be worse than forgoing all organization like this:

Yes, the books are backwards.  It's like saying "f*** you, books, I'm never going to read any of you.  I don't even want to see your faces."  How awful!  I guess there's nothing wrong with using books purely as decor, but it seems quite soulless.

Designing a process, not a form

I like the idea.  And the bowls are gorgeous.


19.0 from Bocci on Vimeo.

Bocci's outlets are also really nice:

Why hasn't anyone else thought of getting rid of coverplates?  It's a very good idea, though the outlets do look a bit like sad/anxious Thomas-the Tank Engine faces.

Bookshelves

We have a lot of books.  Right now, in NYC, we have the short Sapien bookshelf from DWR...

...but it is full, and the books are piling up in every nook and cranny in the apartment.  So the obvious solution is to get a bigger bookcase.  As it happens, we're going to get a built-in bookcase because it will be practical (room for so many books!), it will be decorative (room for photos and vases and other nice things), and it will expand the space (by drawing the eye to the end of the room).  And though it is a bit $$, it's not like blowing money on a truffle-infused-Champagne toast in a hot-air balloon or anything like that.  (Why did that just pop into my head??)  I'll be able to take my books out of storage, and A. can take the Sapien to Northampton to address the overflowing book problem there.  Progress.

The bookshelf will be on the simple side, but it's fun to ogle really beautiful and dramatic ones like this set of shelves from Fawn Galli:

The divided, offset shelves are unusual but still practical, and though they are unmistakably a contemporary addition to the space, they fit in well and compliment the ornate fireplace.  The whole effect is pretty great.  Speaking of Fawn Galli, I might as well share the lovely room that we took as inspiration when renovating the living room a couple of years ago:

So nice.  I like the way she mixes styles—she manages to create rooms that are interesting, elegant, and fresh.  If I had the moola, I'd hire her.

Also pretty:

Then there are the innovative bookshelves I find very impressive and interesting but wouldn't actually want to use:

Wine racks?

Really impractical.

The much-blogged staircase + bookcase.  Or (case)(stair + book).

Our new bookcase will be installed this week.  It won't be nearly as attention-grabbing as these, but it will be a most welcome addition.  Photos to come!

Droplets

I took this photo in January.  I love the way the tiny, glass-like drops of water are suspended from the filament (a spider's thread?) at perfect intervals, and how the larger one at the bottom makes the whole thing look like a spectacular natural necklace.  Isn't it beautiful?!


(Click on the photo for a larger version.) 

Um, Massachusetts?

Why do you have a bump?  I've always wondered.  (There must be a good story there...)

Kitchen cabinets: to splurge, or not to splurge?

A.'s kitchen hasn't been touched since the early 80s.  It's starting to die on us—the stove has two fully working burners, a knobless one that needs to be turned on with pliers, and one that doesn't work at all, and some cabinet hinges are breaking—but for a kitchen that old, it has held up remarkably well.  The fridge and dishwasher still work (will the current fridges last thirty years?), and it doesn't look nearly as dated as you'd expect.  If you look closely you'll notice the laminate and the appliance brands that are no longer recognizable (Tappan ranges anyone?!), but if you don't look closely the kitchen still feels quite airy and fresh.  It's a rare early-80s kitchen that still doesn't look too bad.

But now we're remodeling.  New cabinets, appliances, and countertops, and a new coat of paint in the kitchen area.  Yay!

When we first started looking at the options, I fell in love with these totally splurgy cabinets from Viola Park.  To me they seem really expensive, although they're right in the middle between budget cabinets and custom ones (which are really crazy expensive).  The walnut version makes me drool:

Aren't they pretty?  I love this look.  I just love it.  The oak is nice too:

But using them would have meant an extra $5k, which, I agree, can't be justified.  A single walnut drawer unit from Viola Park is something like $1400, whereas the same unit from Ikea is about $270.  Yikes.

So we're going with Ikea, because they sell some very nice designs at a really reasonable price.  Here are the sleek Nexus brown cabinets we chose:

  

The cabinets will be installed on Monday, but the countertops will take several more weeks.  I'll post the photos when it's all done!

Dinner for 30!

This past weekend A. and I had a party, for 30.  I did a lot of the cooking.   Yes, it was a bit hectic.  But it was also a lot of fun.

The key to catering your own party is to plan carefully and choose recipes wisely, so that you can finish everything in good time and avoid exhaustion (allowing you to enjoy the preparations and the party itself).  Last year I was a bit insane busy with last-minute cooking and the party ended up being somewhat of a blur, but this year things were more under control, and by the time the drinking started I was relaxed and rested and ready.

(Can I talk about cooking on this blog?  This isn't by any means a food blog, but it would feel odd to leave it out since I love to cook and do so often.  Anyway, dear reader, consider yourself warned.)

Last year I learned a few lessons.  (1) When people have been drinking and eating appetizers for an hour, they are not very hungry and eat only very small servings of the main courses.  (2) Hardly anyone actually wants a dinner roll with dinner.  (3) Lettuce wilts easily; for a crowd, stick with sturdier vegetables.  (4) The limiting factor is the fridge, followed by the oven.

This year's menu (there was a Scottish and French theme going on):

Gruyère gougères
Smoked salmon canapés
Endive spears with blue cheese

Poached salmon*
Rumbledethumps*
Caramelized onion and cauliflower tart
Asparagus and tomato salad
Butter and radish tartines

Cake*
Almond shortbread cookies

*I didn't make these

I think the food was good overall; it was definitely better than last year.  The highlights were the gougères, the tart, and the tartines.  And I learned more lessons!  This year's takeaway: (1) Completely avoid recipes that require last-minute fine-tuning.  The endive and blue cheese things were lovely when I tested them in small batches, but not quite perfect when I threw together a very large batch in a bit of a hurry.  (2) Purchased cake just doesn't compare to homemade.  (3) Most people want bread with their dinner if you put enough butter and sea salt on it.  And sliced radishes make it nice and pretty.  (4)  Buy less beer, and more white wine.  I'm surprised by this, but the evidence was irrefutable!  (5)  Have a backup bartender.  They have a tendency to get sick the day of the event and cancel on you, forcing you to hire the first person who answers your desperate last-minute craigslist plea, who will turn out to be very sweet and cooperative, but who will also ask you how to make a gin-and-tonic, thus letting you know that they do not in fact have any bartending experience.

It was fun though!  Really.