RETHINKING MY SPACE: the foyer, 10 basics

I'll soon be going back to my big, empty house and I don't want to over do ti, so it's time to rethink my decorating/furnishing strategy!
I don't have much of a garden at the entrance of my home, so let's skip that and go directly to the FOYER (pronounced: fo-ye)...

eventhough these next examples are missing one or two of what I consider BASICS I still love the ambiance/feeling created...

THANKS http://www.apartmenttherapy.com for the wonderful images and ideas!

GIVING CREATIVITY A TRACEABLE HISTORY...'STEAL' like an Artist...

A few weeks ago I read a tweet from @brainpicker Maria Popova, recomending this post from her blog BRAINPICKINGS...

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/09/27/steal-like-an-artist-austin-kleon/

Please follow the link to watch a video where Austin Kleon explains COMBINATORIAL CREATIVITY, that is, a constructivist way of seeing ideas that doesn't lower their value, on the contrary, it enriches them because eventhough the result of that creative process might have an objective to fulfill, the beginnings of it goes way back...

CREATIVITY HAS A TRACEABLE HISTORY

3M Solar film now functions as a low capacity SOLAR PANEL

IMAGE: http://solutions.3m.com

3M, the company that makes those multitasking POST-IT notes also makes other stuff you've used around the house, office, car...the spray fabric protectors, for example; or the spray adhesive, scotch tape, etc...

Well now they've added a huge plus to their window sun blocking film. They turned them into a low capacity solar panel. How about that! For us who live in a very sunny part of the world where tinting is highly recommended not only for the aesthetic purpose of avoiding the discoloration (fading) of your furniture but also for saving energy  during those months when the AC is turned on 24/7. The added technology to these tints will help us generate electricity...


A square meter of the film can generate roughly enough electricity to charge an iPhone under peak sunlight, but still allows for high visibility.

The product currently generates only about 20 percent of the electricity that a traditional silicon solar panel does, and will cost about half as much, though the final price has not been decided. 

"An average person could go to the store, buy some of this, and then bring it home and install it themselves," said Yasuhiro Aoyagi, a senior manager in the company's construction markets division.

He said it is made from an organic photovoltaic material that is printed on in sheets, and will come down in price as production increases. The film blocks or absorbs about 80 percent of visible light and over 90 percent of infrared light, so it also acts as a sunshade.

NICE!

Good things can come in small packages

From Matroshka Furniture...living a full life in a compact space 

matroshkafurniture.com

Hey! Graham Hill and I are on the same page!

Remember my first post...
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT (less than 6 minutes) to watch this TED TALK!!!

http://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_less_stuff_more_happiness.html

LESS stuff IS MORE time, space, freedom, money AND IT ALL COMBINES TO GIVE YOU PEACE OF MIND!!

NOT SO SURE ABOUT THIS...

...of course, what do I know I'm not an architect...OH, I AM AN ARCHITECT!
And I live in México City and have remembered year after year the victims of a terrible earthquake (1985) that had it's epicenter far away from hear but nevertheless had terrible consequences DUE TO THE 'MUDDY' TERRAIN ON WHICH THIS CITY IS BUILT (specifically the ZÓCALO). Because let's remember that this city was built on a Lake, so even though the lake has long been drained by the population, the underground is still and probably will always be (due to filtrations) WET...The cost of a construction like that will be much debated and fought against when the time comes...

Anyway, IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS!! (believe me, I don't mean to come off as a NAY SAYER, but there are so many needs not being filled ON THE SURFACE, that to invest in something like this, well it doesn't make much sense...)

GOOD LUCK BNKR ARQUITECTURA!!

http://inhabitat.com/bnkr-arquitectura-reveals-plans-for-an-incredible-underground-skyscraper-in-mexico-city/

HALLOWEEN...mmm, no thanks! AUTUMN, YES!

Here, at home, we don't celebrate/decorate for Halloween...My little boy thinks it's just spooky and scary, he has declared he's not going into any supermarkets till Halloween has passed. And my daughter LOVES to make fun of him. So what better two reasons for making believe the date doesn't exist!?

Instead, we decorate to welcome the new season, maybe the shortest one but the most awaited back in my hometown. The arrival of Autumn brings a change in weather so needed in a place where approximately from May all the way through mid-October they have temperatures going up to +100F. 

Now that I'm living in a city with mild weather, you could say it's kind of mediterranean weather with a huge shot of pollution (there are good days and there are not so good days) the arrival of Autumn is not that noticeable but WE know, calls back home inform us that the weather is starting to change and WE REJOICE FOR THEM!!

So, LET'S CELEBRATE AND DECORATE!!

Any good ideas out there in cyberspace...???

http://thedailybasics.com/house-garden/housekeeping/2011-09-30/38543/the-best-fall-flower-arrangements-in-natural-vases-diy

http://www.bhg.com/thanksgiving/outdoor-decorations/holiday-wreaths/#page=19

THESE ARE SOOO TOTALLY DO-ABLE...

the basics (bet you can find everything at your local craft store)

-glue gun

-wire

-twig wreath 

-cord

the specifics (at local supermarket)

-corn + husks (hoja de elote)

-acorns or any other NUT (the edible kind! ja)

-basket

enjoy!!

EYE CANDY...se antoja, no?!

found this in one of the many stylish decorating blogs out there... Life.Style.etc

COLORFULLY DELICIOUS

THE Modern Family UNIT...

...has in many ways stayed the same, true to its essence, faithful to its objective through the years. The changes it has experienced have had to do with adaptation to social and environmental situations.

I can only speak for the family I have and am raising (a husband, two children-boy and girl-, and two pets- a dog and a fish), but not mentioning in length doesn't mean I don't acknowledge and respect all forms of FAMILY UNITS.

From where I see things, the most important change we've had to adapt to is the LIMITED SPACE we've got to live and enjoy a full life. This I've come to appreciate even more now that I'm living in an apartment on the 4th floor with no garden anywhere near.

It has become a very important part of our daily lives to make the most of the space we've got with functional, or better yet, multifunctional items.

So now, I'll search the web for ideas on living a modern/green/uncomplicated/uncluttered joyful life...

Contrary To Popular Belief.../Contrario a lo que se Piensa...

La lista de necesidades en casa crece semana tras semana, junto con los hijos. 

Anotamos en esa lista muchas cosas que tal vez no sean verdaderamente necesarias sino que mas bien las deseamos.

Hemos confundido querer con necesitar..

I WANT, I NEED, I HAVE TO HAVE...

Pero hay que marcarnos prioridades! PRIORITIZE and then go shopping!! 


I've go a house back home but right now I'm living in an apartment in a crazy city very far from my hometown (long story). 
When we were about to move my husband said,"Bring only the essentials!"
What are the ESSENTIALS when you've got a house that has everything you need under any situation.
So I sat down and asked myself, "How can I identify what my children's and my essentials are?"


I made a chronological list of my daily activities and everything neded to get us through the day. 

That really helped me decide what was important and what wasn't.


When I got here and started to unpack it was surprising to see that nothing was missing, I had everything I needed and it all fit into 6 cardboard boxes. From then till now (a year later) I haven't added anything to MY ESSENTIALS. I'll soon be heading back home, to my big house. My family and I have talked about keeping it simple like we have been doing. 


You know, clutter is a FENG SHUI no-no. 


Remember, the more you have, the less you are aware of what you have and the more you feel you need. 
DID THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?