Random Kitchen-ness!
I'm sorry I haven't been around! My head has been moving in other directions...moving from one client to another plus a bunch of other work related stuff.
So much to say, I'll never say it all! One thing I can say very enthusiastically... I find this to be the best time in a very, very long time, that, really, all the kitchens I am working on are interesting, aesthetically challenging, and all kinds of other good stuff. I'm loving my work. I'm enjoying my clients. I'm really revved about all of what I'm working on!
Let's take Grace. As I said, we installed most of the kitchen and Grace decided, after some time, that she just didn't love one section of the kitchen. And, she wanted to design an entirely new and different wall (in the upper section, the base cabinets would stay). Luckily, what she decided NOT to use was not a large financial loss. So, I came up with another plan, which Grace loves. The left side of the elevation is opposite the dining area, the right side, opposite the main kitchen area.
What's the message here? I think it is, that if you can't live with something, and you're willing to change it....change it. Don't freak out. Go with the flow and see where it takes you. The answer is different for everyone. This will be ordered shortly. 
Here's something else I'm working on for another client. It's just one small wall of a BIG kitchen, a Kosher kitchen. I think it's cool. 
And, one more random note, not really about kitchens, that's why it's random! Run over the Surroundings where a contest is about to begin for a very cool lamp. Free is good, contests are fun, and you really should check out Surroundings in any event! The lamp is from the Jonathon Adler collection.
Be back real soon, I've missed blogging and think of it every day, it's just been hectic!
Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 08:17PM
Reader Comments (2)
Thanks Susan for posting about my contest. We're having a lot of fun reading the entries. And I have pics to post as well next week. Hey Susan - what's YOUR favorite room. Don't you want the chance to win the prize! (hee hee - small laugh)
OK, Linda, that does it!! Read this, dear readers, with humor morphing into annoyance, then outrage, then back to who knows what...!
I posted my thoughts on him and removed them. I didn't want to be negative, but I can't exorcise this negativity within me!!
Jonathon Adler has (I'll give you wholly, not entirely) made his empire on outright copying, with the smallest of differences, classic, truly classic, Scandinavian ceramics by renowned artists from the extremely notable period of the mid 20th century, from the 40s to the 60s or 70s. Every Scandinavian knows many individual pieces and styles as well as the names of some of the artists, as they were and still are so popular, although the artists have passed on.
I am a collector of pottery from this period and have been for many years. I buy my pieces at auction, usually, online, or in person when I go to Copenhagen. In fact, at 16, I bought a beautiful bowl from a famous, small, pottery manufacturer, when my grandmother gave me a little bit of spending money. I still have that bowl!
Even today, on his website, it is shocking to me, the forms that are classic Scandinavian forms, with uninspired finishes (he could never duplicate the incredibly nuanced glazes of the originals-too much profit would be lost) but the thing is, no one can looking at JA's website can identify them outside of collectors, and how many people collect Scandinavian pottery in the U.S. from the mid century period?? Not many! From the first time I walked into his East Hampton store, which has since closed, I immediately spotted this strong link to specific, classic, Scandinavian pottery pieces.
But, the thing is...it's never been acknowledged! Sure, there is talk of Roman inspiration on his website at this moment, but Scandinavian inspiration? No, and that is because there is no need to...no one in the U.S. knows of this period, these styles. Now, it's too late, he got big! These styles I speak of were made by some artists who worked for the major ceramics manufacturers of the day, and oftentimes, an artist would then go out on his own, as his/her notariety grew.
There is inspiration and there is one hair short of copying. As a real collector, and a Danish American, to see this empire founded, really, on these pottery rip offs, is more than disheartening, it makes me angry!
So, yes, please do enter the contest, everyone...it is a rare opportunity to get a JA object for free!