The Undie 500

My twin granddaughters and I have had a tradition for years...for their birthday, we go shopping. Their Mama usually suggests what they need but this year is their fourteenth birthday so they decided they would decide. Fancy lingerie was the choice. We headed for a shop in the Houston Galleria that has more underwear than some entire countries.

It was so endearing to see one of the girls hold up a pair of filmy panties and say to herself, "I suppose I could wear something under them." Genuine modesty is so sweet and rare these days.

Never Have Lumps of Coal Been So Chic!

Lumps of coal for the naughty among us.

Natural seasonal touches...only Aaron Rambo and Ruth Davis, at Found for the Home, could be so chic with green.

Our kind of tree...understated and alive!

Without striking a match, this is a warm touch.

Ruth Davis and Aaron Rambo, who hold the keys to Found for the Home, threw open their doors to welcome the season. The fragrance of fresh boxwood, cedar, pine and softly scented candles filled the cool night air. Wherever one looked, there were magical ideas for one's own nest. Everyone loved the amusing jars filled with lumps of coal and tagged Naughty.

Later...right here on this blog...you will see more of Found's retro industrial chic plus a pair of shoes to die for.

White Wednesday: Art Deco White

The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is a stunning white art deco classic. It was once the Houston Municipal Airport Terminal.

The museum is being returned to its former elegance. The interior walls have been plastered to perfection and the white paint chosen for the interior and exterior is ethereal.

While I shot the interior, Tall Husband spoke with a young couple at the museum who were making arrangements to have their wedding reception there...I know the wedding guests will feel as if they are on top of the wedding cake!

White Wednesday is hosted by Faded Charm.

Note: Come back later to see some of the vintage items that give character to this magical museum.

Moonstruck

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin signs books at Louis Vuitton, Houston. (Photo: Tall Husband)

Two history teachers pose with Buzz Aldrin, as Tall Husband snaps their photo with their phone camera and I focus on their momentous occasion with my trusty Nikon.

Fans wait in long lines to meet one of the most famous humans on the planet.

Flying saucers? Moon Pies? No...just some French macarons that Louis Vuitton had flown in from Paris.

Last night, Anne Breux, a French Designer working in Houston, told us about Buzz Aldrin's scheduled appearance at Louis Vuitton here in the city. So off we went today to buy his book, Magnificent Desolation, and to meet the legend himself. We were totally charmed.

All of Houston has gone wild, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing. Some of us are old enough to remember where we were when Apollo 11 landed on the moon...I was living on a U.S. Air Force Base just outside Lincoln, Nebraska.

Thank you, Buzz, for the beautiful ride.

Interesting coincidence: at one of Anne and Jean-Louis Breux's parties, we met French Astronaut Michel Tognini and his charming wife.

Also, see Louis Vuitton's new campaign with Sally Ride, Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell.

Update: Classy Chassis 2009 Best in Show

This Morning, I just learned that this 1948 Delahaye 135 MS Faget Varnet Cabriolet, was awarded the 2009 Best in Show at the 2009 Classy Chassis Show here in Houston. This chic little French cabriolet is owned by Cathy & Jerry Gauche, Houston, Texas.

Tall Husband and I had attended the 2009 Classy Chassis Show early in the day, during the judging and left before the winners were announced. So this morning, the Best of Show was finally posted on the Classy Chassis website. Congratulations to Cathy & Jerry and thanks for letting us photograph your wonderful car.

The 2009 Classy Chassis Concours: Part 2

Here's one last look at the 2009 Classy Chassis Concours d'Elegance at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas. The featured marques were Ferrari and Packard. Part 1 and Part 2 of this posting feature only a few of the 120+ cars in the show.

A big Thank you to the event organizers, sponsors and car owners for a wonderful show.

Click on photos to enlarge.

1951 Ferrari 340 America Coupe


1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corsa Spyder

1954 Ford Victoria Coupe

1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z11 Convertible

1902 Packard Model F Rear Entry Tonneau.

1904 Autocar VIII

1965 Porsche 356SC Coupe

Urban Bungalows

Early morning view of urban bungalows on Center Street, Houston, Texas. These two homes designed by Brett Zamore are for sale.

Their three gables stood out like white sails against the distant sky. I had never noticed them before, yet these strange visages seemed vaguely familiar. I made a mental note to check them out the next day, as Tall Husband and I were on our way to an appointment and did not have time for exploration.

The next morning after breakfast we drove down Washington Avenue in search of the three soaring gables. "Slow down; take the next right; double back!" There they were, two wonderful urban bungalows, strutting their stuff. Up close and personal the quality of their construction was impressive, as was their wonderful less-is-more design. I fell in love with the soaring roof line and the lofty ceilings that were visible from the outdoor decks. Searching through my memory bank, I recalled having seen something like them years earlier in a magazine, then more recently in a posting on Carolina Eclectic's blog.

It turns out my memory was right on. These designs, by Brett Zamore of Zamore Homes in Houston, have been featured widely in the media and I had seen his Kaplan house in Dwell Magazine, 2005. Then these new houses are on Carolina's blog. These Center Street homes are a joint venture of Zamore Homes and Area 16, which has its office next door in a remodeled bungalow.

As we drove away, I was totally smitten and ready to sell My Ranchburger and move into one of these bungalows or "shot-trots" as their designer calls them. Our Le Corbusier furniture would look perfect there and the area is not far from The Bunny Bungalow. Tall Husband was listing reasons not to, reminding me that I fall in love with a new house at least once a month.

We were blocks away when I suddenly remembered that there had been three gables. Where was the third one? So we double back and find that the third gable is behind the Area 16 bungalow/office. Later we learn from their website that this third gable belongs to a small (400 square-foot) house also designed by Zamore and it is for rent.

Outside Links to These Urban Bungalows:

Carolina Eclectic's Posting
www.zamorehomes.com: "Ready-to-assemble kit-homes built with off-the-shelf components that provide high-design, affordability, customization, and energy efficiency in an easy, hassle-free solution."
www.area16.com
www.greenwoodking.com for 4309 Center Street, Houston, TX 77007
www.greenwoodking.com for 4307 Center Street, Houston, TX 77007

The Strip in Season

Here we are at River Oaks Shopping Center, Houston, Texas. I love the thousands of tiny white lights that decorate the palm trees in this historic shopping strip this time of year.

The River Oaks Shopping Center, originally the River Oaks Community Center, was completed in 1937. The architects were Nunn & McGinty with Oliver C. Winston of Washington, D.C. This Art Deco shopping center, one of the oldest in the country, is a City of Houston Landmark. Shopping here is all the more wonderful, given the chic architecture.

Wow Weekend

Lavender arrangement by floral designer Felix Hernandez of Behind the Garden Gate, Houston
Felix knows all about the wow factor.

My twelve-going-on-twenty-one twin granddaughters searched for things with that wow factor this weekend. It's so invigorating and interesting seeing the world through the eyes of youth.

Things You Miss After Ike

Hot coffee made from fresh-ground coffee beans

Ice and safe water

Fresh, chilled Strawberries

And air conditioning!

All of us would like for things we miss to be limited to simple creature comforts. Some of us lost loved ones and homes. Our hearts go out to each other.

Styling by Saara

Danger Will Robinson!

TxDOT signs along the Austin Freeways warn about the danger of traveling to Houston and Beaumont in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Heights Theater for Sale

Photos by Annie of The Bunny Bungalow

Heights Theater in the Historic Houston Heights

On our early morning walk yesterday, Tall Husband and I lamented that the old 1920's Heights Theater is still vacant. It's such a great piece of Houston History and until earlier this year it was a retail space selling antiques. We found our first pieces of furniture for The Bunny Bungalow there, an oak mission library table and an English Arts & Crafts dining table.

The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance has a cool link about the history of this theater. According to them, Heights Theater began life as a Mission style space before being given a 1935 modernistic update.

Now, the old theater is for sale. Our hope is that someone will purchase the space to refurbish, turning it into a really cool retail spot.

Any takers out there? With deep pocket? By the way, for any of you out-of-state investment types: contrary to recent media hysteria, Houston has not been hit by the mortgage crisis or the "R" word.