Posts Tagged ‘books’
Books + Shelves
As I have mentioned on Take Sunset in the past, a key feature of my dream house are built-in bookshelves. I love books and having an attractive place to store them. The bookshelves we have currently are handmade in Oak by my father. They’re beautiful, but I struggle with how best to arrange them. Most of the bookshelf examples I see are painted in stark white, which I like, but it seems like a shame to paint the wood… Above, I like how the books are arranged by color. It gives it a nice sense of order. And I like how the aqua blue and red are picked up in the books and in the painting.
A contrasting color painted on the back wall of a built-in bookshelf adds a nice dimension. I am realizing that to make a good bookshelf arrangement, you need to keep some sort of color story in mind. Like here, the aqua blue of the vase pops with the aqua books, along with the red of the little boy’s jacket and the red books, the off-white of the pear and apple… (Also, this person and I have similar taste in books!)
I love the use of bright color against the white here and how the magazines are stacked with a large pictures in front of them–that’s a good, simple idea. Read more…
The Huntington Botanical Gardens
At the top of my list of places I still need to go in Los Angeles: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. This 207 acre hilltop estate was home to Henry E. Huntington (1850-1927). The library contains his collection of rare books and art collection with changing art exhibits. But what I’m really dying to check out are the Botanical Gardens. It began in 1903 and now features more than a dozen gardens, including a 100-year-old Rose Garden, a Chinese Garden with traditional open-air houses, an Amazon water lily pond, and a Japanese Garden with a koi-filled stream.
Right now there is something extra exciting going on at the Huntington Botanical Gardens–the gigantic Amorphophallus titanum or Titan Arum (a.k.a. the Corpse Flower) is about to bloom. A Titan in bloom is extremely rare and the bloom can reach more than 6 feet in height, opening to a diameter of 3–4 feet. The plant is most famous–or infamous–for its exceptionally bad odor. Hence the nickname, Corpse Flower. When it bloomed at Huntington back in 1999, it created international headlines and nearly 76,000 people lined up to get a whiff.
The exact date of the current bloom is unknown, but it’s projected to open sometime between June 5-10. Huntington is keeping track of its progress on the corpse flower page. When it does open, the bloom will not last long–just a few days, so you’ll have to hurry if you want to see (and smell it) in all its glory. If you’re planning a tip, reservations are not necessary and tickets can be purchased at the time of your visit. Check Huntington’s website for more details and hours.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100
Taschen’s New York
My heart always and forever belongs to Los Angeles. But if I were a tougher sort, I would love to live in New York for a year. Or maybe six months. What can I say, I need sunshine, beach access, palm trees… I just can’t quit you, LA! But still, New York is a fantastic place for a getaway. And who better to direct you to the best spots in New York than Taschen?
Angelika Taschen knows New York through and through and in the new book, Taschen’s New York, she shares her secret access to the best neighborhood delis, hidden clubs, uptown and downtown hotels, boutiques, and more. It’s neatly arranged with dictionary-style cutout tabs to make it easy to flip through. After studying up, you’ll know how to land the best table at the Waverly Inn, where to rest your head in Chelsea, how to find subMercer in Soho, where to find the best burger near Madison Square Park, and so much more…
Taschen’s New York is available in hardcover at Taschen.com for $39.99.
Photos by Poul Ober
TASCHEN Case Study Houses
If you’re in the market for a new coffee table book, or if you just love TASCHEN books, one that cannot be missed is the Case Study Houses: The Complete CSH Program, 1945-1966. This book is a retrospective of the 36 postwar prototype homes built in the Los Angeles area by architecture greats, like Richard Neutra, Charles & Ray Eames, and Eero Saarinen.
It contains beautiful photos from by Julius Shulman, detailed floor plans, and comprehensive documentation of all the homes built during this important event in the history of American architecture. It’s available at Taschen.com for $69.99.
Stories In Echo Park
I had a bookstore in Chicago that was my spot. Myopic Books in Wicker Park was high on my list of reasons I didn’t want to leave Chicago (it was a short list). But I was certain I’d never find an independent bookstore I loved as much as I loved Myopic. I spent countless hours there–browsing the narrow, twisty aisles, looking for one book and finding armfuls of others to lug home. I don’t think I ever left Myopic empty handed. With its sleeping cats and secret passages, it was a magically untouched place in my ever-changing neighborhood.
Every other independent bookstore will always be compared to Myopic, but Stories in Echo Park is slowly sneaking its way into my icy heart. At first I wasn’t sure about Stories. It has super clean bathrooms. I mean, that’s a good thing–a very good thing, but it was new to me. Stories also has a spacious patio and a cafe that serves fresh food and organic drip coffee. With real plates and metal utensils! (I’m officially in L.A.) There’s also lots of comfy seating where you can relax and check out the books, plus free Wi-Fi without any of those annoying log-in codes.
Stories also has lots of readings and events, which include free food and alcohol. There’s also frequently live music and DJs. So, basically Stories is doing everything right, and once I got over the shock of the clean bathroom, super organized bookshelves, and organic coffee, I was in love.
A great time to check out Stories will be on October 24th from 7 pm to 10 pm for Stories/826 OpenHouseHaunt and Halloween Party. There’ll be pumpkins to carve, free candy, magic, and a special performance from Grammy-nominated Madame Pamita. She’s going to be on hand to tell you what the future holds and then sing you an old timey song on her ukulele! Sounds like something that can’t be missed. Come and support independent bookstores!
Parking meters are available on Sunset, side streets and in back, so bring your quarters.
Stories:
1716 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 413-3733
Store Hours:
Mon – Thur 10:30 am – 9 pm
Fri & Sat 10:30 am – 10 pm
Sunday 11 am – 7 pm
Café Hours:
8:30 am Mon – Fri
(Enter through the back alley)
(Photo Credit: Apartment Therapy)
Bohemian Modern: Living In Silver Lake
I picked up a great book this weekend – Bohemian Modern: Living in Silver Lake by Barbara Bestor. It’s a beautifully designed and packaged book that looks at the unique architecture throughout Silver Lake. Definitely a must-have for any current or prospective Silver Lake home owner:
Through striking illustrations and stunning photographs, Bohemian Modern explores the unique structural and interior designs that have put California’s ultra-chic Silver Lake neighborhood at the forefront of a new style phenomenon.
One of the country’s most renowned modernist architects, Barbara Bestor has fully embraced and perfected Silver Lake’s “bohemian modern” style: a practical philosophy that is Californian in origin but achievable anywhere. It is a look that favors raw, authentic materials, brilliant colors, creative space planning, and a natural flow between indoors and outdoors.
The results, as Bohemian Modern presents, are striking: a flawlessly restored Neutra house decorated with both whimsy and restraint, a rooftop constructed for viewing the stars, a lavish outdoor garden delicately integrated into the surrounding architecture, a double-sided bookcase that soars three stories and serves as a functional art installation…there is no limit to the creativity and beauty of Silver Lake style.
Both modern and classic, refreshing and inviting, Bohemian Modern will delight readers with its breathtaking, vividly photographed tour of Silver Lake.
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Copyright 2009 Take Sunset. Designed by Curt Ziegler.
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