San José...Do You Know the Way?

Don't you just love the simplicity of a single, fresh flower in a water glass?

We were in room 20 at Hotel San José in Austin.

Cleaver, cleaver!

Their continental breakfast in a box.

The rooms are minimalist...pure and simple.

Last week when Tall Husband and I were in Austin, Texas to cover a design event, we stayed at Hotel San José. This famous hotel is in the popular SoCo (South Congress) district with lots of nearby funky shops and great places to eat. We loved their continental breakfast in a box and the wonderful landscaping by designer Mark Word. See Mark's landscape design for Hotel San José at My Ranchburger blog.

Mercury Design Studio in Austin

Mercury Design Studio in Austin's Second Street District is full of wonderful urban chic for the home; however, it was the edgy items that lured Tall Husband and me...the cabinet of curiosities sort of look.  All over Houston there are signs with the imperative, "Keep Austin weird!" I think that Steve Shuck and Bobby Johns, owners of Mercury, are keeping Austin wild.

Love their humor: mercury water?!

Tall Husband photographed Big Bird, as I wasn't tall enough.

Need a hand?

Sweet!

This is a most unusual catalog of a designer's work. By lifting any small lid, one can view a category of photographs of Barry Jelinski's creations. This is pure adventure!

I feel like this some mornings!

The wonderful coquillage mirror is by Barry Jelinski.

This ethereal construction, using a found bird, is by Steve Shuck.

Here's looking at you, Babe!

This glass-top, maze coffee table is by Barry Jelinski.

Thanks to Steve Shuck and Bobby Johns, charming and talented owners of Mercury Design Studio, for letting us photograph their wonderful shop.

Click on photos to enlarge.

A Nose for Design

Drop by The Bunny Bungalow Blog Monday to find out who has a real nose for design trends.

Camera Candy at Found

Step through the looking glass with me for another look at last Thursday night: Barbara Hill's opening party at  Found for the Home.

Aaron Rambo's signature touch: fresh fruit strewn so artistically.

Don't you just want to sit here with quill and ink to spill about all your delicious indiscretions?  

We remember this book, Domestic Art, with Aaron Rambo's wild and wonderful home featured inside.

Pulpoetry at Found

Last night at Found, Barbara Hill, the designer of The New York Times, Dwell, and Metropolitan Home fame, presented her original Pulpoetry...film noiresque narrative which was silk screened onto cushions and chairs. I tell you, Barbara channeled Bogey and Bacall for this wonderful production.

In the Big City there are hundreds of interesting people and they were all at Found last night. (Oh, dear, I think some of the noir rubbed off on me!)

The lady with the long red hair is Barbara Hill...of course.

Talk about pillow talk...click on the photos to see what pillows are saying these days.

And could one resist bringing home a little something? Well, not this one. Later, over at My Ranchburger, I'll show you the classy item that Tall Husband and I couldn't leave without. It just spoke to us.

P.S. Designer/Blogger Carolina of Carolina Eclectic was there. Can't wait to see her photos, as they are always fantastic.

P.P.S. I was lamenting to Barbara Hill about missing out on the purchase of her famous home in Marfa, Texas, when she told me that the dance hall she has just redone is available. "The Bunny Dance Hall?" No, it just doesn't have that alliteration and cadence I crave. And Tall Husband refuses to move to Marfa.

Making Waves

1920's Wave Machines at David, Etc, Houston, Texas

When Tall Husband went to his hair stylist today, I tagged along with camera in hand. David, owner of David, Etc., designed his Salon, furnishing it with antiques of all sorts. My favorites are his 1920's wave machines. One is a Realistic and the other is a Silverqueen. They look like something out of the movie Brazil, sort of retrotech (Tall Husband's description of this genre of antique.)

The original 1920's Marketing Blurb for the Realistic is framed and hangs on the wall over the Machine stating:

"Start the season right! Install Realistic machines in your shop—now! Earn new prestige and profit. Cater to the tremendous popular demand for lovely soft, flat waves—CROQUIGNOLE waves—for Realistic waves! Use the handy coupon below. It means profit for you."

Okay, I'm going to Google CROQUIGNOLE right now.