How Do They Make That? The HomeSnark™ Investigates

View the Eames slide show

Blame elementary school field trips and Picture Picture on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, but I've always been a sucker for a factory tour. Cookies, bread, crayons, air conditioners, sunrooms: Whatever the item, the must-know gal in me will, at the drop of a hard hat, don safety goggles and ear protectors and venture to the far ends of the earth just to see how something is put together. When I'm not on the road, I satisfy my curiosity by visiting the “Cool Stuff Being Made” podcasts on the National Association of Manufacturers' website (http://blog.nam.org/archives/coolstuffbeingmadecom_weekend_video/index.php). Here, snackers can dig into tutorials on Krispy Kreme doughnuts, candy, beer, etc.—though I prefer learning about bricks, duct tape, and hand tools. The site also features a two-minute 1950s film about the Charles and Ray Eames lounge chair by Herman Miller. This podcast is timely because the comfy molded wood-and-leather seat is winding up its year-long, 50th Anniversary exhibition tour with a final stop at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan (thehenryford.org), from February 3 to April 29.

Is Mariel Hemingway Antidecor?

See inside Mariel's book in our slide show

I was all set to do a phone interview with Mariel Hemingway to discuss her new book, Mariel Hemingway's Healthy Living From the Inside Out (Harper San Francisco). But when I called her hotel, I had an incredibly difficult time getting through to this granddaughter of America's literary titan: The operator couldn't spell “Hemingway,” which probably had Ernest rolling over in his grave. But it was a fitting introduction to my conversation with the actress-writer, who personifies contradiction.

Like the character she played in Woody Allen's Manhattan—an apparent innocent who was, in fact, far from it—Mariel is not what you'd imagine. Despite her family's dark and murky legacy (the suicide of her grandfather; alleged suicide of her sister, Margaux; and the death of her father following a surgical mishap), Mariel radiates lightness, clarity, and strength. And though she derived early fame and fortune as a model and actress, struggling to live up to unrealistic standards of outer perfection, she has spent much of her adult life directing herself inward to discover dietary, physical, and spiritual practices, including yoga, to vanquish demons that threaten emotional and physical well-being. Now, as a writer, she presents her four-prong (food, exercise, home, and silence) roadmap for achieving wholeness and balance.

Of course, I was most interested in her theories and strategies concerning the home, which could be regarded as antidecor—if decor means adopting trendy styles that have nothing to do with one's deepest inclinations, or dressing rooms in a look determined by a designer who never gets to know you. “We don't spend enough time at home, but when we are there, it should fill us up,” says Mariel. “But we get caught up in the model home syndrome, which is like being on someone else's diet or wearing someone else's dress—it doesn't fit. I believe that you can have fabulous design, but it should come from your heart. We need to figure out who we really are and go from there.” Mariel's book is filled with practical advice. Here are some suggestions she shared in our conversation:

Turning Japanese

This edition of our computer wallpaper download was inspired by an Asian-themed paper that appears in our April issue (on sale March 23), as well as my own interest in Japanese printmaking. The digital design imitates several styles of this traditional art form, including the precisely outlined pattern of woodblock technique and the washed background of a watercolor. Delicate chains of translucent white circles add another dimension to the print.

Cranes, flowers, bamboo leaves, and a wheel motif form a net over a sunrise-colored background. The symbol of the crane is commonly found on Japanese heraldic objects and in many works of art. This bird, which mates for life, represents loyalty, strength, and grace. It is a tradition in Japanese culture for the groom to make 1,000 origami cranes before the wedding as a sign of his loyalty to his partner.

The New Look of Vanities

Gone are the days of boring bath furnishings. Give your powder room some character and style with these four combination wash basin and base cabinets. We promise they'll make you look good. —Nicole Sforza, Deputy Articles Editor

	Kohler Mersing This Malaysian-inspired model will add flavor to your bathroom. Bamboo and Burmese Mahogany are hand-scored to achieve the piece's rich, textured finish, while the soft-close hinges ensure that the two doors won't slam. Matching mirror included. $1,850. kohler.com.
	Vanity Flair Artistry Collection Splurge on this curvy Art Deco–look unit made from walnut and maple; it's available in more than 40 finishes. As shown, $13,265; without wood top, $11,675. 770-479-4108, vanityflair.net
	Walker Zanger Zen A meld of Arts and Crafts and Asian influences, this teak vanity features a hammered-copper basin, a limestone top, and two doors with reed inserts. $3,560. 877-611-0199, walkerzanger.com.
	Bristol and Bath Double Open Teak Vanity Put this teak baby in your bathroom or out on the porch—it can withstand the elements. The unit is available with an open bottom section, shown, or with one of five door styles. $1,840. 610-962-9329, bristolbath.com.

 

An Exhibit About Drawers, Memories, and New Orleans

Floodwall is an exhibit of drawers found in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Part art exhibit and part memorial, Floodwall comprises 350 furniture drawers that New Orleans native Jana Napoli salvaged from the debris of Hurricane Katrina. Over 225 feet in length, the wall currently stretches along the Liberty Street Bridge in New York City, which overlooks the scene of another tragedy—the World Trade Center site. Among the pieces, scrolling LED signs display some of the memories and messages of the drawers' owners, who were interviewed by Napoli after they identified their property. (When collecting the drawers, the artist assigned a location or a zip code to each, with the hope that one day they would be claimed.)

The artist says she chose the drawers to represent the residents' loss because “they were a symbol everyone could understand.” For months, she drove around the devastated city collecting them, ending up with more than 600. “All the physical evidence [of the people who lived in the city], including photographs, paintings, and letters, was gone,” she says, “so all the things we found in these drawers were sacred.”

IKEA Sofa Makeovers

A Mysig cover in Toronto Ticking in teal blue.

Wish your IKEA couch wasn’t white? Then visit Bemz (bemz.com), which makes removable, washable slipcovers for eighteen of the Swedish retailer’s sofa and armchair models. Bemz’s new line, the Arts and Crafts-inspired Mysig, includes solids, patterns, and graphic stripes offered in warm hues like aubergine, chestnut, and light olive green. The sheaths, which are made of cotton and cotton/linen, “let people personalize an otherwise impersonal piece of furniture,” says Bemz founder Lesley Pennington. Armchair covers start at $40, sofa covers at $90. —Amy Keith

Hot, or Not?

Ever since televisions made their way into American homes more than 50 years ago, they’ve battled—and, in most cases, overtaken—the fireplace as the focal point in the living/family room. Now, thanks to Classic Flame’s portable Paramount plug-in combo unit (classicflame.com), there may be peace in our time. The espresso-stained wood console has an electric fireplace insert with an ember bed, glowing ceramic log, and a flame effect (TV not included). It’s available after February 12 for $2,499. Is this the best of both worlds? Cast your vote—and send us your feedback—in the comments box below. —Carolyn Weber, Senior Building Editor

Mealtime Makeover: HomeSnark™ Skewers Ugly Salads

New Year's Resolution: Day 9

Dear Food Diary, If I have to look at another bowl of messy salad fixin's, I'm going to starting throwing things...

See the step-by-step instructions for this salad

Although I vowed to return to healthy eating habits this year (more veggies, less starch and sugar), the current fad for having a behind-the-counter “mixin' master” tong and toss greens and toppings in a large bowl leaves me cold. For starters, the people ahead of me in line need to have their mixin'-pickin' privileges revoked. Water chestnuts and corn drenched in Thousand Island dressing? Are you kidding me? You—yes, you! Step away from the counter. Move directly to the cooler of prepared foods.

Adding to my crankiness, no matter how creative and varied my order, the blend always looks and tastes the same: somewhat like pond scum. To rid my life of shaken-salad syndrome, I've resolved to upgrade my quick-lunch options to establishments such as Pret A Manger (pret.com), where the salads may be pre-made but are hours-fresh, organic, and appear mostly unmolested (bed of greens, artfully arranged toppings, dressing on the side).

Displaying Collectibles

Objects, like people, have lives of their own and tales to tell. Things you acquired because they speak to you start to talk to each other when grouped into a display. Play around, have fun, and listen! Here are some stories on view in my home studio.

As a graphic designer, I love typefaces, so I’m naturally attracted to unusual examples. (What kind of a game would be called Flinch? I’m still afraid to open the box. But the type is gorgeous.) The Venus Unique pencils, with their beautiful labels, came from a cavernous stationer’s in Providence, Rhode Island, where unsold items from the 1940s lurked on dusty shelves. It was all very mysterious, a great place to escape on a rainy afternoon. At the rear of the cabinet is a set of perfectly made-to-scale toy Chinese weapons, dangerous-looking but adorably harmless at the same time. The collection’s rhythmic arrangement and the elegant shapes of the weapons are very pleasing to the eye.