SLM AT HOME | Secretary of the Interior

Flames Flickering Up the Wall

For most, the excitement of Thanksgiving ends with the last piece of pumpkin pie and the last touchdown scored on TV.

We've never been like most people.

After consuming the bird and the sides, our family (with my sister and brother-in-law, her daughter and husband and grandchild), we nestled in the den to watch the (oh-so-adorable) movie, "UP." We were at the scene where the land is being cleared all around Carl Fredrickson's house. The beeping of the construction trucks played on the television—and then actually continued after the scene had ended. Someone mentioned how the beeps sounded a lot like a smoke alarm. My brother-in-law, Jim, the quiet but always the most observant one among us, said something about smelling smoke. Jason, the newest member of the clan, walked into the dining room and then ordered everyone out of the house.

A wall in the dining room was in flames.

I glanced at the disaster as I headed out the door. My husband, Jason, and Jim assumed the roles of firemen, tossing water on the wall (and turkey on the buffet below) and smothering the flames with a dish towel. (That didn't work; I never thought it would.)

We called 911, summoning the Kirkwood Fire Department to come check. When they didn't (the dispatcher thought we had the situation more under control than we did), a second call was placed. Suddenly the world was filled with sirens and trucks. The street was blocked off. The men in the yellow raincoats and big rubber boots came; they put out the fire; they axed a hole in the ceiling; the fire chief tried to calm down my distressed daughter; an investigator studied the scene. 

The clue? The candle in the candlestick on the buffet in the dining room.

No mystery here.

The buffet my mother and father purchased when they were young was burnt, as was the mirror above it. The wall so beautifully upholstered in pleated linen was, of course, toast. But everyone was fine; the house was still standing; the insurance company was called.

And that's when the excitement began anew. The next morning, the wonderful people from a company called Catco arrived and left these huge machines called air scrubbers. They sounded like planes taking off on the runway but they really did the trick. Soon, the smoke in the air was pretty much gone. Then on Saturday, a crew of seven people came and cleaned our house from top to bottom. They stayed for hours. They returned on Monday to clean all the vents and furnaces, take up the rugs, scrub the carpeting and upholstered furniture and haul the draperies off to be cleaned. 

Now all that remains is a chandelier that needs to be cleaned, a room that needs to be redecorated and a mirror and buffet in need of some serious repair.

And of course, we still need to finish watching UP.

Maybe next year.

After we've finished our Thanksgiving dinner. Lit by the overhead light.

No candles allowed.

EarthDance Farm: Now Accepting "Freshman Farmies" for 2010

The crew at EarthDance Farms

Molly Rockamann was the subject of At Home's July-August End Note (she shared her 10 favorite local eco goods with us, including Irie Star's perfumes and Kakao chocolate). She was also profiled in St. Louis Magazine's 2009 green issue. What merited all this coverage? For the most part, it was EarthDance Farms, a working organic farm up in North County that's about more than just the produce. Molly likes to say they "put the culture back in agriculture," by "bringing the synergy of local activists, artists, business owners,  dancers, educators, event planners, farm apprentices, local residents, organization leaders, musicians, and youth together to create a fully sustaining community farm."

If you are curious about gardening and farming, and think you might want to apprentice to become a small-scale grower, you should check out EarthDance's "Freshman Farmie," program, which is now gearing up for the 2010 season. Here's the info, straight from Ms. Rockamann herself:

"In 2009 EarthDance inaugurated the part-time training program for 12 beginner farmers, and we're excited to announce that we'll be expanding the program for the 2010 growing season with 25 apprentices and almost double the acreage - to grow more local, organic food AND farmers for the St. Louis region. We've also hired experienced organic grower Vicki Lander to serve as the EarthDance farm manager!

The foundation of the program will remain the same:
1. Field work on the historic Mueller Farm in Ferguson
2. Selling produce at farmers markets
3. Enrichment sessions / workshops on various farming topics in-depth (from farm-scale composting to planning a farm business)
4. Field trips to local farms

An additional benefit for 2010 apprentices is that they'll become the initial members/shareholders of our pilot CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program - receiving a hearty share of the produce we grow together each week of the harvest season.

Several of our 2009 'Freshman Farmies' will become 'Sophomore Farmies' in the program, building upon the knowledge they gained this year on the farm! (Others are going on to grow on their own, or with farming partners.)

At this year's Pesto Festo we were fortunate to raise enough scholarship funds to offer 3 scholarships to low-income individuals who could not otherwise afford to do the program. We are seeking current food pantry users to apply for the scholarships.

Applications can be found on our website, and are due December 15th, 2009. www.earthdancefarms.org."

So if you've read The Omnivore's Dilemma or seen Food, Inc., and literally want to get your hands dirty, here is your chance. Check out footage of the first crop of Freshman Farmies here, and if you are interested, EarthDance is encouraging folks to attend one of the two "So You Want to be a Farmer?" info sessions they've set up, the first at the Ferguson Library auditorium (35 N. Florissant) on December 8 at 7pm, and at the Schlafly Bottleworks Crown Room (7260 Southwest in Maplewood) at 7pm on December 9. --Stefene Russelll

Holiday Table Setting – Return of the Taper Candle!

By Kimberly Reuther

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays are almost upon us. While the weather is a bit behind the atmosphere in our stores, there’s no denying it. We are rapidly on our way to dreaming of sugar plums and hearing reindeer’s footsteps overhead.

Some of you may have noticed in recent years that the skinny taper candle had lost its place as the centerpiece of more modern tables in favor of its fatter cousin, the pillar candle. While the pillar served up long hours of burning time and an ambient inner glow, nothing rivals the scale and drama of long sleek taper candles.

I am glad to celebrate their return in two beautiful settings I captured at Niche & Pottery Barn. First, I happened to stop by Niche while they were setting up for a photo shoot and was able to get a sneak peak at a decorating event they are hosting 11.18.09 & 12.9.09.  (Call 314-621-8131 for more details).

I was drawn to the juxtaposition of the modern glass orbs and the elegantly traditional mercury candle holders. Most people think modern design has to be very clean and structured but this tablescape shows how whimsical elements play nicely with modern furniture.

Here’s a beautiful shot of the entire setting with abstract art as an unexpected backdrop element. I also love the little craft-paper wrapped boxes. Wonder what’s inside!

Now off to Pottery Barn at Plaza Frontenac for more holiday inspiration. Lo and behold, they have revived the taper candles as well!  I fell in love with this organic tabletop display that is perfect for displaying all your favorite elements in between dinner parties.

Love the idea of mixing in potted poinsettias and moss covered objects to balance with the shiny silver candleholders and mercury ornaments!

Of course it wouldn’t be Pottery Barn if there wasn’t some unusual element added to the mix. Their new concept for this season is hanging ladders decorated with ornaments over dining tables. The catalog has lots of photos of this as well. You can definitely achieve a similar look without the ladder and possibly a lot less headache!

Here’s to happy decorating for your friends and family this holiday season and I’ll be sending more tips and trends your way soon!

Note: This is the second blog post from DesignSpeak, St. Louis' new design community.

What's So Special About Hickory Chair?

By Victoria Dreste with introduction by Kimberly Reuther

What’s so special about Hickory Chair?  They are a furniture manufacturer that has churned out timeless pieces for generations. I’ve long been a fan, especially when the Thomas O’Brien Collection debuted a few years ago. I’ve asked a fellow colleague to give recommendations on some of her favorites to stir the hearts of future admirers!

Vicki: As a designer I am drawn to various styles and periods. I appreciate the strong, clean lines of a modern look as well as the layers and mixing of a more traditional design. This is why I love furnishings from Hickory Chair. The design elements used cover a wide area of styles; which works seamlessly with my own design aesthetics.

The Duchamp is a classic French demilune sideboard. The clean lines
and simple tapered legs make it usable in various settings. Aged
pewter oval ring pulls and grill overlays add a touch of antique
decoration. The Louis XVI side chairs in a silver finish add elegance
to the setting.

The Frederika is a beautifully proportioned reproduction of an antique
bench. The broad stripe fabric updates the look. The Antoinette side
table was reproduced from a find at the Paris Flea Market.

This beautiful setting is anchored by the Argonne sofa in deep rich brown leather. Along with the contrast of the white frame it makes a stunning statement. The tuxedo armoire was inspired by a 1940's cabinet. It is sleek, modern and elegant.

Note: This is the first of several forthcoming blog posts from DesignSpeak, St. Louis' new design community

How the Internet Saves My Marriage

It started in the corner of my eye, a slight curling at the edge of our gorgeous linen-ish wallpaper. I blinked it away. The next morning, I was quite literally powdering my nose when I glanced below the mirror and saw the wallpaper seam for the first time. Coming unglued, it was suddenly visible, like a meek housewife who turns into a banshee.

The stages of admitting a household maintenance problem run a trivial parallel to the stages of grief. I started by denying the very possibility of curl: We do not shower in this bathroom. There is no steam. The wallpaper only went up a year ago.

You can only say these things out loud to a wall for so long. You wear yourself out, and you are forced to admit that regardless of probability, its cover is, indeed, buckling.

The second stage is rage: That nice painter must have put it up wrong.

So what? It's buckling.

The third stage is panic. My husband won't even find this a problem worth solving. He will squint at the wall, nod knowledgeably, and proceed to ignore it for the next five years. I, on the other hand, will see the gap widen every time I disturb the air by walking into the room.

But what am I supposed to do? I know nothing about wallpaper. I'm certainly not about to start over with different wallpaper.

And so I do what I've learned to do in any moment of helplessness: I consult the Internet. And the first entry I find rescues me as gently as one of those handy husbands women fantasize about when they're over 40 and could care less about more obvious attributes.

I print out the instructions and read them a second time.

In the basement, I find a tiny plastic thing that looks like a picnic trowel. I use it to jam wallpaper paste under the seams. I obediently sponge off the excess and press down the edge. I make sure it's dry, and then I cover it with blue painters' tape.

I wait a week instead of a day, mainly because I'm afraid to pull it off and find my work ineffectual.

Gingerly, I unpeel the tape.

The edges are flat, the seam has vanished, the wallpaper is perfect again. In all four problem spots.

I don't have to nag my husband. I don't have to pay anybody. I don't have to fall all over myself thanking the digital handyman.

I don't even have to admit I had help.  

--Jeannette Cooperman, staff writer

All I Want for Christmas

Outdoor Christmas decorations have always confounded me. Every year, I nudge my husband and point wistfully to all the icicles and glowing bulbs on our neighbors' houses, and he just shrugs, not the least bit interested in the ladders and tedium implied.

A few years ago, I decided to take matters into my own hands. On walks, I stared, trying to figure out how people actually rigged them. I can comprehend the process if you have a nice handy outdoor outlet on the front of your house. But failing that, you either leave a window cracked and risk home invasion and pneumonia, Or you string the cord through your mailbox, as I once did, feeling like Wallace and Gromit as the dog watched in bemusement.

Then we moved, and I couldn't even string my Target topiary trees through the mailbox. So this year I resolved to hire an electrician, pay him the cost of universal health care, and insist he drill right through three layers of brick and concrete. I wanted a festive house, dammit!

I was about to call when I saw the walkway trees. Brookstone has swags, wreaths and walkway trees in its catalog, and they are battery operated! Brilliant on so many levels...

Of course, they only come in warm white or multicolored, and as my husband and I have a lifelong war going over white or multi, I had hoped for a compromise. Amber! Amber would be perfect. It would look golden, it would match the trim on the house... I could use the forlorn topiary trees and restring them...

Excited, I started searching the Internet for amber + outdoor + LED + battery operated + Christmas (retailers are not p.c.). I searched compulsively, using various recombinations and fragments of these search terms, for four nights in a row. I emailed sellers. I wrote Brookstone. No dice.

Every string of battery-operated LED lights that comes in amber or gold is rated "Indoor."

And every string of "Outdoor" battery-operated lights is either white or multicolored.

Either I'm doomed to continue the marital wars, or I blow the house up by putting indoor lights outdoors.

"The hell with it," I told Andrew. "I'm buying an inflatable Santa."

He grinned. "I think you have to plug them in."

--Jeannette Cooperman, staff writer

Re-Use Has to Be Creative

I don’t care what the electronic revolutionaries say, getting a coffee-table-sized review copy of a beautifully printed art, design, or craft book in the mail is still a lot closer to Christmas than downloading a pdf. I carried home Wary Meyers’ Tossed and Found: Unconventional Design from Cast-offs (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, September 2009) like a kid with a new toy. It’s packed with creative re-use projects, and not the silly ones you did with old tin cans and spray-painted macaroni in third-grade art class, either. Linda and John Meyers are the designing minds of Wary Meyers Decorative Arts, in Maine, and they do things I never would have thought of—like personalizing a house key by cutting the shape of a monogram out of the top.

That’s one of the trickier projects—you need a jeweler’s saw and a good drill—but painting an old radiator in a gradient of color takes nothing but paint and a careful eye. I thought it might look a little ’70s rainbow-child, but done with the right colors and enough subtlety, it’s absolutely beautiful, as though the radiator’s coming alight.

They clearly have a sense of humor—they frost old highball glasses with smudges that suggest sexy lipstick and make pillows out of Astroturf. (I’m not wild about Astroturf even on the ground, but they said they wanted to feel like they were lounging on the grass when they hung out on the side porch, and I’m willing to grant them the make-believe.)

Anyway, I got so inspired, I started steering the dog to the local thrift shop on our morning walks. Surely one of the cast-offs sitting bedraggled in the rain would spark similar genius?

I stared at the gold metal headboard. Nothing. The inevitable, lumpy old sofa. Nothing. The oddments of plastic and veneered furniture—surely there was something creative I could do with all those entertainment centers and cubbyholed desks? Nothing.

I went back to the book and realized the secret. Sure, they said they went to flea markets and yard sales—but what they brought back to paint their blue-willow chair was an old Eames chair. And the engraved stool was an Alvar Aalto stool!

Hmmph. Maybe they have that stuff at Maine flea markets, but it’s not lined up at the old train depot in Waterloo.

I felt better about myself. I could be creative too, if I had the right materials. Anybody can be an artist, when they have the best tools and supplies.

Then I turned the page and saw their utterly cool wingback chair, made from an old vinyl chair, a bit of plywood, and a steel auditorium chair. It could be further designed, they noted, to carve the back into a Chippendale homage.

So much for rationalization. I went back to the depot to try again.

--Jeannette Cooperman, staff writer

 

Living Above the Shop: Part Two

Written and Photographed by Vickie Dreste

Just a few generations ago, business owners lived extremely close to their enterprises—as in they lived above the store, restaurant or bar. Interior designer Vickie Dreste tracked down two current examples of that historic practice. Part One discussed The Map Room.

And now: Part Two: Café Mochi.

Victor Pham, owner of Café Mochi, has worked in the South Grand area since 1992. He owns and runs the hair salon, Victor’s, on South Grand. But three years ago he began planning a new business, a new building and a new home for himself.

His decision to construct a new building and start a new business adjacent to his current location was motivated by a desire to create a family business. Since Mr. Pham’s brother, Duncan, has over 20 years of restaurant experience and another brother and sister also work in the business, a restaurant seemed an easy choice.

So the adventure began. Mr. Pham knew it was a risk—but it was one he was willing to take.  “I am young,” he says. “I can work hard to pay for it. Everything is risky.”

The style and detail of the new building (Café Mochi is on the first floor and Mr. Pham’s’s residence on the second) is a perfect match to the existing structure.

The living space is a two-story loft. The kitchen, living room and dining room is all open. The color palette of taupe, gray, cream and deep brown is soft and masculine.

The paint colors, finishes, light fixtures, fabrics and furniture for both spaces, the living space and the restaurant was created with the talent and guidance of designer Tricia Heliker. 

The décor of Café Mochi (3221 S. Grand, 314-773-5000) is decidedly French, with a forest of chandeliers and pink damask fabrics. The color palette is a vibrant mix of fuchsia, pink, gray and purple.

The menu includes Japanese fare such as katsu, teriyaki and sushi. Sweet endings such as coconut dream cheese cake and Mochi ice cream are also available.

Living Above the Shop: Part One

Written and Photographed by Vickie Dreste

Just a few generations ago, shop- or café-owners would wake up and go to work—downstairs. They lived above their business. Today, a new generation is revisiting that past.

Last Valentine’s Day, Michele Floyd opened The Map Room, a coffee and wine bar (1901 Withnell, 314-776-3515, www.themaproomstl.com). She bought the property in 2005; for the next 3½ years, she worked on the renovation and furnishings. She had harbored the idea and idea and concept for the bar since she was a teenager—and too young to actually go in and order. 

The route to reach her goal was circuitous. Her first major in college was art; she loved it but did not pursue it. A second was botany.  Then came chemistry. BINGO. She became a scientist, worked in the corporate world, traveled and lived abroad. But the idea of owning an international coffee and wine bar lingered.  She settled in St Louis and finally, it was time. She began researching neighborhoods to find the right location.

Ms. Floyd wanted a building for her home and business in a neighborhood of mixed cultures, ages and incomes. The location at Lemp and Withnell in the Benton Park Neighborhood filled the bill.

UPSTAIRS: HER HOME

With an easy commute home (up the stairs), the second floor apartment is charming and cozy.  The living room/dining room color palette consists of yellow, green, burgundy, cream and brown.  The comfortable leather and fabric covered sofa makes staying in the perfect choice.

The dining room is enhanced by a row of velvet covered theater seats from as opera house in Ohio.

With its iron canopy bed, the bedroom is feminine.

DOWNSTAIRS: THE MAP ROOM

The Map Room is designed to have the look and feel of a traditional European café. It has comfortable Bohemian elegance.

The furnishings are all reused, re-purposed—and renewed.

With the help of friends, Ms. Floyd scoured flea markets, vintage shops and her personal favorite, dumpsters, to find the furniture for the café.

One of her favorite dumpster finds was a table that was beaten up but had great potential. After some tender loving care and careful painting, it is now the checkerboard table that is used by many for "game night."

The Blogosphere

In my idle moments (which are far, far too rare), one of my favorite pasttimes is surfing blogs on home interiors. There are a zillion of ’em. And like playing a game of dominos, one leads to another to another… to another… to, well, it’s obvious. The list is neverending.

In the name of research, I frequently start my day with a peek at “Peak of Chic” http://thepeakofchic.blogspot.com/ and then later “Décor8” http://decor8blog.com/ pops up in my mailbox. I check others as the need—or relevant story—arises.

There are so, so many. Here is just a sampling of my favorites. And when you go to one (or ten), there will be lists of their favorites for you to peruse so the number of blogs multiplies exponentially from one site to the next. But I warn you now: minutes can be whiled away into hours if you aren’t careful.

* Absolutely Beautiful Things http://absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/

* A Life’s Design http://www.alifesdesign.blogspot.com

* All The Best http://www.allthebestblog.com/

* An Aesthete’s Lament http://aestheteslament.blogspot.com

* Antique Therapy http://antiquetherapy.com/

* Architect Design http://www.architectdesign.blogspot.com

* Atticmag http://www.atticmag.com/

* Beach Bungalow 8 http://beachbungalow8.blogspot.com/

* Brilliant Asylum http://brilliantasylum.blogspot.com/

* Charm Hill  http://charmhillinteriors.blogspot.com/

* Chinoiserie Chic http://chinoiseriechic.blogspot.com/

* Design Revolution http://vertigodesignevolution.blogspot.com/

* Eclectic Etcetera http://eclecticentertaining.blogspot.com/

* Eddie Ross http://www.eddieross.com/

* Girl Meets Glamour http://girlmeetsglamour.blogspot.com/

* Habitually Chic http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/

* Innumerable Goods http://innumerablegoods.typepad.com

* Jenny Bova Associates http://www.jennybova.blogspot.com/

* Katiedid http://katie-d-i-d.blogspot.com/

* Life Abundant http://thegoodlifebyerin.blogspot.com/

* Lotta Jansdotter http.jansdotter.com

* Made By Girl http://madebygirl.blogspot.com/

* Maison Lunatique http://maisonlunatique.blogspot.com/

* Modern Design Blog http://www.moderndesignblog.com

* More Ways to Waste Time http://morewaystowastetime.blogspot.com/

* Mrs. Blandings http://mrsblandings.blogspot.com/

* PointClickHome Blogs http://www.pointclickhome.com/blogs/all_blogs

* Shak In Style http://shakinstyle.com/

* Studio Annetta http://www.studioannetta.com/

* Style Beat http://stylebeat.blogspot.com/

* Style Court http://stylecourt.blogspot.com/

* Surroundings http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/

* Tchochkes http://www.tchochkes.com/wordpress/

* The Inspired Room http://theinspiredroom.net/

* The Kitchen Designer http://www.thekitchendesigner.org/

* The Bubb Report http://thebubbreport.blogspot.com/

* The Mogg Blog http://www.moggit.com/

* Things That Inspire http://freshpalette.blogspot.com/

* Toast and Tables http://toastandtables.blogspot.com/

* Tonic Home http://tonichome.blogspot.com/

* Topsy Turvy http://www.topsyturvystyle.com/

* Velvet & Linen http://brookegiannetti.typepad.com/velvet_and_linen/

* Willow Décor http://willowdecor.blogspot.com/