phaedrus's Profile

This would be a great finishing touch in my new home office. Even the color is a perfect match!

Beige, taupe, off-white, basically anything people describe as 'neutral' (cblls: Love the 'caucasian' label!)

White walls can works, as long as it is a bold/pure white (i.e. no muddy tints), and is touched of by other strong colors

Frankly, it is those people who paint their homes boring beighe or taupe for 'resale' that are being disrespectful. A house is meant for living and should be an expression of those who live there. Paining it boring colors either means you are a boring individual, or have no respect for your community (and are only their for the 'investment'). Either way, I wouldn't want to be friends with you. On the other hand, I'd be inviting the owners of this house over for bbqs on a regular basis!

Why do people confise character with clutter? and substance with stuff? To me a cluttered home show a distinct LACK of character and substance. It is far too easy to replace real thought with another doodad.

This is a perfect case in point. Tom's place shows a certainty of and thoughtfulness, and looks like someplace that he actually lives (albeit staged for the cameras) OTOH, with Karl's, I see no personality here other than the one he's manufactured for the public. It is obvious that he doesn't really 'live' here, but rather has decorated it for the media and public voyeurs.

Looks marginally better.

Get a ceiling fan from modern fan company -- far better looking than these, and while they cost a bit more, you don't have to shell out for a separate light and fan, not to mention deal with the additional wall clutter or wiring challenges.

Would you really want to sit on a cactus? Really?

If people are so concerned about protecting their books, storing them on the side is a bad idea altogether. If however, their main concern is with showing off how many books they own, or how 'au courant' they are, then it really doesn't matter if a book or two are sacrificed in the process as it really isn't about the books to begin with.

Clean it with glue/mastic remover and/or a grinder, seal it and and leave it alone. Don't touch the railing, except perhaps to 'oil the iron to refresh the metal. It is not 'dated,' rather a classic design feature that should be highlighted.

Whoever added the carpet in the first place should be arrested. Don't compound the crime by painting or further mangling such a classic architectural icon.

if the steps are too damaged, and you absolutely must 'update' the floor, use something like pebbletec on the treads. (or at the least make sure that any thing else you do is easily reversed).

Love it. Why can't more hotels be like this, instead of the overwrought decorations that are found even in so-called 'contemporary' hotels?