CFYG's Profile

I think there's a bit of a respect issue going on here. But then again, it's Apartment Therapy, somehow, it's not surprising. This is the only home decor site that I personally frequent that has such 'pissy' and snide comments.

To the people offended by the image... I have to admit, it made me realllly uncomfortable. It still does. But it also made me laugh a bit. That little poof of strategically placed fur? It reminded me to schedule my next waxing appointment. And that's when I laughed. But more so, it did make me squirm.

To the folks calling those made uncomfortable by this image 'pissy' or 'uptight', that is beyond uncalled for and downright rude. Everyone has a different comfort level with nudity, sexuality, and the like, and you should respect that. No one was screaming 'hellfire reign down upon you for featuring a sexy times picture!' or 'your lady pictures make the baby jesus cry' so I think we can try to respect what was said and agree to disagree. This type of name calling is childish and really baffling. While I wouldn't request to have the image removed, I was very surprised to see it on a home decor website, and indeed - bothered.

To me the main issue is not that it's softcore porn, or devaluing women; and from an artistic perspective it's a decent shot. I just personally don't like to see this stuff on my home decor blogs. And I'm not a 'prude' - I appreciate erotic photography, and feel that there is both a time and a place, for porn and erotica. This isn't it, in my personal opinion.

If I was caught looking at this picture by my boss (on my break, when I'm authorized to be surfing, incase people want to throw that 'don't surf at work' thing out there) I'd be spoken to, just because it could look questionable and could offend those in the office not as 'cool' with sexuality. I don't think people should have to worry about this when going to a site largely focused on home decor.

I also think the art director(s)/man/woman behind the curtain knew this would stir up controversy (seriously... unless they keep their heads in the sand) and this is something they're trying to do keep things interesting, up page views or something.....

Overall, I'm disappointed in AT's decision to run this image (and the entire 'we've done more riske stuff before' excuse is really insulting to those really bothered by this. 'We're sorry that it offended anyone, it wasn't the intention' would have been more respectable. The response here was downright rude and clearly shows that you do not care about alienating some of your readership.) and I'm disappointed in the people that are name calling because they don't share the same opinions on what is offensive/objectifying, and so on.

Can't we all just get along? :( I'd offer up a group hug, but I think some of you might bite.

While I wouldn't do this for drinking glasses, personally, I applaud those that might... as long as they properly sand.

My favourite use for this method is to make vases. I have a bunch of gin bottles.. forget the brand, but they come in these beautiful pastel blue glass bottles that are squared with interesting design details. My friends give them to me when they've emptied their reserves, and me and the fiance plan on using them at our wedding whenever we can afford it. slice em in half, frost the bottom half, candles in, voila - cheap centerpieces... picture a million of them lined down long tables, with small bud vases thrown in here and there... you get the idea.

I've seen people turn wine bottles into vases, and those are very gorgeous. But yeah.... not digging the drinking glass thing. To each their own, I suppose.

As for what's so great about san pelligrino, ehh. Not much. I think some people like the concept of drinking it, more than the drink itself. I will say that when I was in Europe in October, it was more common than still water... I had to specifically request still water everywhere... so it is also probably one of those things you grow up with.

I occasionally buy the lime flavoured perrier, but not to drink on it's own - I like it in mojitos. But I always feel shamefully guilty for buying such a ridiculous product... I (not so) jokingly refer to it at as frou-frou water.

JasmineIsDomestic,

I completely, but respectfully disagree with your statement. I think a party like this is a great way for people to get to know a culture that they may not have necessarily known a ton about. Especially when people inevitably have to do research regarding what to wear, beforehand.

My mom runs a family daycare, with a very diverse crowd of little folks. She makes sure to 'celebrate' or honor all of the various holidays, and teach all of the kids about each of the differing cultures. The kids enjoy coming dressed up in a style different to their own, learning about their friends, and it promotes tolerance and acceptance. It's much the same with adults.

As for the 'gross appropriation' and 'the west's commodification' of cultures, people have been borrowing from other cultures around the world for centuries, whether it was folks in the UK embracing various styles of dress or lifestyle from the British Commonwealth countries, The Chinese adapting traditions from merchants coming to trade for goods, and so on. It's not necessarily a bad thing, in fact I think it makes our world that much more colourful and interesting.

Something is only devalued by such an act of enjoyment, if you perceive it to be devalued, and let it be devalued. I for one like the idea of people enjoying and celebrating my culture in such a way, and don't feel that it cheapens it, or devalues it at all. When someone else discovers my culture, and enjoys it, I look on with pride.

I don't think that naima225 was necessarily saying that Slumdog was a Bollywood movie, but that it certainly helped to heighten the interest level in such movies in people that may not have otherwise even been exposed to the idea of them at all. But even after this new awareness, a lot of people have not even seen a true Bollywood film.

Do you mean Haiku? As in the type of poetry? Hiku essentially means to drag or to pull from what I've read.

puttinbuttin, I experience the same thing. Thanks for sharing these rooms though, they are absolutely gorgeous. I especially love that ribbon-striped comforter, and it's upholstered headboard.

There is something similar to this in a suburb of Vancouver. The entire house itself is painted a sky blue, except for part of the horizontal wooden siding that is very carefully painted ROYGBIV. Directly above this horizontal rainbow, in laser-cut black wooden lettering, is the word 'Somewhere'. It's very well executed, and makes me smile every time I pass the house. I keep meaning to take a picture of it!

Modern on long island - I like your husband's thought process! How hilarious would it be, to have a very glamorous bathroom, and somewhere near the toilet, in a very cursive, fancy font, have the word 'poop'? I would quite possibly die laughing if I ever encountered such a thing. It would even be better if it was under a towel rack, hidden by the hanging towel so that most would not see it. But then... I have a strange sense of humor.

Nope. Our living room is 'Cotton Fluff' and our entrance hallway is 'Bicycle Yellow', both by Behr. I always manage to pinpoint exactly what paint colour I want, without resorting to such things. But I do greatly enjoy the names - when we were painting our hallway, we were listening to Queen. But of course, what should come on, but the bicycle song? I forget the actual name, but every time I walk through the hallway, I get "bicycle! bicycle! bicycle! I want to ride my bicycle..." stuck in my head, and often end up humming it.

Amused by simple things, I realize... but at least it always makes me smile! I quite like the Mustache paint name, it's cute. Dangerous Robot sounds awesome, but to me it should be a darker, more dramatic gray.

Wait, what? I thought *everyone* was trying to decorate their homes in accordance with the furniture styling from Beauty and the Beast? Did someone not get the memo? Tsk.

All kidding aside, Beauty and the Beast is my favourite Disney movie, so my heart kind of skipped a beat a tad when I saw these. I like the top two pieces, but I've not had a great experience with Ikea dressers thus far.

We purchased one a year ago because I really liked the shape of it (it has a large oval mirror attached to it, in dark wood, and has a glass top if that helps) but the drawers are horrible. They need to be reinforced, because clothes always fall through the bottom of them - cheap chipboard held in place with 'grooves' is not strong enough to even hold half a drawers worth of clothes.

I think we'll be replacing it soon, which is sad because I quite liked the look. Ah well, with Ikea, you win some, you lose some.

ciddyguy - most of the pieces you're referring to aren't part of the Stockholm collection. But I agree with most of your comments.

We own the rug pictured, and while visually, I love it, we have two cats and it sucks in EVERYTHING almost like static cling, and looks dirty quite easily. It's a tightly woven wool, so things get trapped in the fibers. We're going to be investing in a Dyson Animal soon, so I'm hoping the problem will be resolved with that. This is after owning it for three days, and you can already see some of the crud:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3291715199_327f214848.jpg

(it's not lying flat in the pic, either, but you get the point.. messy so quickly!)

Regarding the Stockholm line itself, I'm generally disappointed with most of it. To me, it doesn't look any nicer, or any more 'high end' than ikea's other lines, and the price point is much too high for what it is, on most items. Our rug was reasonably priced, though.

I don't know about in the US, but in Canada, they tried to market this stuff as 'higher end', 'better quality' and so on... but at the end of the day, a lot of this stuff is still particle board and veneer.

I'm not against Ikea at all, in fact we own several of their pieces, but I think that hey ask too much for what the Stockholm items are made out of. Some of the newer glass decorative pieces in this line are crazy expensive for what they are!

I think these are gorgeous. To all of the people commenting on destroying the delicate and living and so on, if you've never bought a bouquet of cut flowers, never picked a wildflower, or cut your lawn then go ahead and by all means voice your dismay. If you have done these things, the term hypocrite comes to mind and it seems odd to get so up in arms about something.

Cut flowers and what are most likely dollar store or thrifted vases? This artwork lasts longer than a bunch of cut flowers, and beautifies vases that may have otherwise been knocked off of a sally ann shelf or thrown out once they don't sell.

These images are wonderful and interesting in my opinion, I love the juxtaposition between the gorgeous, simplistic and elegant flowers, and the extreme sharp angles and 'edginess' of the exploding vases. They're quite eye-catching and thought provoking to me.

I would also like to know how to purchase prints of these without going through a gallery, as I'd love to have two.

As for how, I had at first thought perhaps someone was shooting the vases, but now I think that it is more likely that there were small firecrackers in the vases or something - would have to be positioned just so, so that they don't fix out in the water, but so far I can't think of anything else. If the vases were shot, there would be more movement from one side to the other in terms of debris but these explosions all seem to originate within the vase somehow, as a center point.

AT, some help with sources for this work would be much appreciated! Thanks :)