Diamond Eyes

Racing to get to the beach before the sunset last night I snapped the birds on the dock before I noticed the flash was on. What should have been a photo for the discard pile turned out to be a not only a good representation of the variety of gulls on Long Island Sound but an atmospheric, almost arsty shot of blinged-out beady-eyed birds in the dying light. Click to embiggen for the full effect.

Backyard Color

Someone else's beautiful


bird-adorned backyard


on super relaxing, laid back, do nothing, summery Cape Cod.

Long Island Sound

Sailing at sunset, into the thunderstorm.

Big Pink Sun

Setting sun over Lloyd Harbor with Huntington Lighthouse in the foreground

A Night at the Beach

Wednesday evening: race round the bay. From Lloyd Harbor


to the Long Island Sound


to Eaton's Neck


and back to Huntington harbor

Cool off

The obligatory pool shot: inviting and so irresistible, especially as we're into a streak of hot summer days.


Time to don the Oliver Peoples sunglasses and dive right into the pool

Soft Geometrics

Warp and Weft, the luxury custom rug manufacturer, has launched a new collection of silk and merino wool hand-tufted designs. The Organica Collection features bold geometric prints with a soft color palette like the Arch Marscapone pictured above and these beauties selected below:


Mum Gilt


Echelon Gilt


Ophidian Orbit Smoke


Yumi Slate
The rugs carry the Goodweave seal certifying they were manufactured free of child-labor. These sumptuous Warp and Weft rugs can be fully customized for color, size or texture and are available to the trade only.

On the bay

Finally, the rain stopped


The sun came out-and so did the bunny


the sun set


and set again


and again.
Sunsets on the bay. It never gets old.

Guaranteed washout

Severe thunderstorms, scattered thunderstorms and isolated thunderstorms until Sunday. After that it'll probably just rain until Labor Day.


Bonus: it's pouring so hard I can't even see the pool!

Of course...

Photos from first day of summer 2011, the longest day, the solstice. We never know what kind of weather we'll have here on June 21. This year it's warm, humid and buggy. And what's that I hear this morning? Thunder? More than likely because the pool is finally open.


Which means it will storm for at least the next four days. Guaranteed.

Valuing our Heritage

The Andrew Geller Architectural Archive Preservation and Film project gives us a unique opportunity to document and preserve the catalog of a significant contributor to America's architectural heritage. The value of this undertaking as a future resource for research into architecture, social history and design should not be underestimated. Although it reached its kickstarter goal a few days ago the cost of cataloging the archive and making a documentary about Andrew Geller's work will be much higher than the $3000 raised so far. There is still time to pledge a donation and receive a corresponding award, so click on over to Kickstarter to see how you can be part of this exciting initiative.

The Andrew Geller Architectural Archive Preservation and Film

A new video from Jake Gorst for The Andrew Geller Architectural Archive Preservation and Film that will document the legacy of the mid-century architect. This Kickstarter project has just two weeks left to run. That means it's time for an extra push to get those pledges rolling in and meet the target by June 2nd.

Andrew Geller, The Cool House, 2007

Geller is becoming increasingly well known and new finds come to light all the time. Cataloging them all is a huge undertaking - Andrew Geller has kept every blueprint, sketch and photo he worked on. To fund what will become an invaluable resource for students of architecture and design your help is needed.

What YOU can do:

WATCH the video (keep an eye out for this house)!

VISIT Andrew Geller.net for more information on the life and works of the architect and artist.

SPREAD THE WORD, tell everyone you know about this Kickstart project.

PLEDGE, remember all pledges are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

In the yard: Saturday Morning in Spring

Dark green Hinoki cypress against a summer blue sky


Blood red buds on a Norwaay Spruce laden with new cones


White Dogwood flowers behind the dark spruce

Shirley Geller & The Rockstar Framer

Last month we hung most of the art that had been casually leaning on various credenzas and consoles throughout The Cool House. One piece, however, was deemed by Rockstar Framer, Cherie Via, to have a frame unworthy of its composition, line and color.


This was the Shirley Geller '92 painting I successfully bid on at the Andrew Geller Archive Preservation Fundraiser at DWR last year. I was drawn to it because the bold orange and blue colors and the composition echoed the black beams and new color scheme of the great room. Cherie took it back to Ripe Art Gallery and picked out this fabulously simple mid-brown wood and metal frame for it. We agreed the painting needed to sit in a heavy linear mat to emphasis the dark vertical lines, especially as I envisaged it hanging on this previously blank strip of wall in the kitchen. Three weeks later the piece was ready for collection and yesterday we hung it in place. It is absolutely the finishing touch to the kitchen.


Sadly Shirley Geller passed away last year but memories of her are strong in this house. Here she is, photographed by her grandson Jake with her husband, architect Andrew Geller centre, and The Guy in the yard September 2007. Now we have a great piece of art to look at every day and remember her by. Shirley Geller painted different styles throughout her lifetime and her Whimseys, reproductions of her pen and ink designs, are available here. You can see by her decorated cane what a unique and artistic individual she was and I'm sure she the one and only Rockstar Framer would have got along famously. Thanks to both for making great art fit in our house from The Guy and modernemama.

Village Walk

Just a morning stroll-turn right at the purple magnolia


spot the bluejay in the conifer


snap the honking goose on the pond


straight on to the beach


and spy this guy in the yard back home

Spring: the western elevation

Normally by this time in the season the house is hidden behind foliage, this season it's been so cold we are way behind. That, and I think the star landscaper trimmed every shrub hard last year. He assures me they will grow back stronger. I hope so, meantime we get to enjoy the architecture.

The den: A study in black and brown

I've posted nothing about this room since the sneak peek of the rug last year. I'm still on the fence about that, it's warm and soft which makes it a kind of kitty heaven but that leads to clawing and fur balls so we may end up putting it in Verity's room but for now it stays.


It isn't a completely finished room yet, we'll replace the last huge single glazed window at some point, add some bookshelves or corner cabinets. maybe a game table under the chandelier and give the walls a coat of paint but for now it's a liveable, cosy space.


This is how it used to look before I suffered a renovation breakdown and got rid of the raised dais and built in cabinets.


The northwest side: I ended up placing the Probber cube in the corner behind the Eames Lounge chair, mainly so we had enough light to read in the evenings without waiting for the time-delay spots to come on. I have fantasies about a cowhide rug under the chair...


Before: The same angle with original stained carpet.

Hanging the Art: Laundry Room edition

House Art in the laundry. I took Nadine's advice and hung her Purple House in the laundry where it makes me smile while I'm washing clothes and feeding cats. I can also wave cheerfully to it as I make my way to the back door to let the dog out ...again...

Olivia's Birds Event

A big crowd turned out at The Book Revue for the presentation of Olivia's Birds Saving the Gulf.


After her talk Olivia took questions and drew a Chickadee


Then she signed every copy in the store. SOLD OUT! That's my copy (I pre-ordered!)


We left with instructions to build a bird feeder and plant more trees to Save the Birds in our own backyard. Thanks Olivia!

Hanging the Art: Olivia's Birds edition

Just in time for her Huntington, Long Island book signing at The Book Revue on Sunday April 10th, young artist Olivia Bouler's the Great Tern has found his permanent home in the foyer at The Cool House. This drawing was part of Olivia's first venture to help Save the Gulf wildlife from the BP oil spill a year ago.


Olivia's Birds Saving the Gulf is a beautifully drawn, passionate and informative book-part guide book, part environmental resource-detailing her story and illustrated with her paintings of the birds that inspired her to start a campaign to save them. If you can't get to the Book Revue on Sunday at 3 PM you can and should seek out the book at your local store or online, I'm certain you'll be delighted too.