Oscar's Green

It was the biggest night of the year for Hollywood. Heck, its a big night across the country! Oscar commentary lit up the facebook and twitter threads all night long. The comments on Nichole Kidmans wowza sequenced dress, Seth MacFarlane's (eh em) hosting skills and of course poor Jennifer Lawrence and her graceful entrance to receive best actress.

While the gowns are to die for and the hair and makeup are breath taking, there's a little gem that the general public never really gets to appreciate.

The Green Room 

Architectural Digest Oscar Green Room 2013

This years Green Room was designed by one of Architectal Digests AD100 designers, the lovely and oh so talented Madeline Stuart!  Madeline has her share of Hollywood glitz and glamor running through her veins!  Her dad was famous director Mel Stuart and Madeline herself had a little big screen moment as an extra in her dads 1971  Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory .

Madeline Stuart created a throw back environment reminiscent of the 1930's.  Completed with fine furnishings from Baker Furniture, fabrics from Schumacher, rugs from Feizy, and lighting from Urban Electric she has created a master piece!

Here are some highlights of some of the pieces used to dress the awesome space 

Lafayette Double Wall Sconce Urban Electric Co.

Josephine Chair Baker Furniture 

Rill Bunching Tables Baker

It was a spectacular night, made even more spectacular when the guests where gathering in a space that was glamorous but not to stuffy, classic, yet  cutting edge, and most of all inviting.  

Madeline sewed it all up in an amazing package for the guests! 

May The Force Be With You

I have yet to meet a mans man that doesn't have some attachment to Star Wars.  I personally haven't wrapped my head around the mystique it all, except of course Yoda.  Even I love Yoda. His backwards sentences, filled with profound wisdom, make sense of the senseless. 

"Try not. Do or do not, there is no try." 

Oh Yoda, your insight is now available in creative, retro style posters by Pete Ware. 

Everyone loves a villain....

R2D2 & CP3O ..... Companions forever

Pete Wares talents expand well beyond the Star Wars Saga, some of his other works include Goodfellas, Rocky I'VE, Terminator 2 and many more. 

"17th and Oak is the creative work of Pete Ware. A freelance designer specialising in personalised one-of-a-kind prints.

With the world moving into a digital age it's easy to believe that printed material is on its way out. I personally don't believe that and I think that everyone has space in their heart for a nicely designed print. That's where I come in.

If you're stuck for a gift idea, whether it's someones birthday, anniversary or you just want a nice print to hang on your wall, I'm here to create for you a completely personalised print.

My main creative focus is on typographic and illustrative prints. I can create a print personalised completely for you. The print you'll receive will be a one-of-a-kind, 17th and Oak designed print. "

These classic styled posters can dress more than the man cave, many would make great focal points in great rooms, family rooms even bathrooms. 

I leave you with this one of my favorite Yoda quotes.......

"Already know you that which you need." 

Have a great weekend....until next time   

The Ultimate TV

Let's face it, I may be a woman but even I think this is epic!

C SEED TV by Porsche Design Studio

201" LED Screen

Waterproof 

15 integrated speakers including 

Daylight Compatible 

Ground Retractable with underground storage 

Rotatable 270 degrees

Height adjustable to 15'

Fully expanded, unfolded and ready to roar in 25 seconds.

Wowza! 
This can be all yours for a mere ... $700,000*!!

I don't mean to take the wind out of your sails but that is one very pricey television!!

Happy Friday Guys.... Until Next Week 

*Porsche, Smokin' Hot Babe and Cold Champagne not included .......

Cupcake Love

Will Work For Cupcakes.... Who Wouldn't?

OMG Fat Elvis!

As the granddaughter of a fine baker, I think that cupcake batter runs through my blood. As a result,  I'm continually on the search for amazing bakeries.  Move over Magnolia Bakery, Carrie of Nora Cupcake Company in the North End of Middletown is truly one of the best in the business.

Carrie creates not only delicious, but extrodinary works of art with her cupcakes! Her combination of textures and flavors are really what makes her cupcakes so spectacular!

Check out some of Carries great Valentine Cupcakes....

Today's Cupcake Display at Nora Cupcake!

Bursting with Love!
Funfetti Cake, Marshmallow Fluff, Tie-dyed Buttercream

Addiction!
Black Raspberry Cake with White & Chocolate Chips, Chocolate Buttercream finished with a Raspberry!

Obessesd! (Perfect for My Prince!)
Oreo Cookie Crusted Buttercake, Peanut Butter Ganache, Chocolate Buttercream Crushed Oreos drisseld with Peanut Butter Ganache!

Red Hot Mama!! (personal fav)
Red Velvet Cake made with Red Zinffandel Cream Cheese Frosting Coconut & Pecans.



In addition to whipping up these exceptional masterpieces, Nora's Cupcakes has a Party Room for rent!  This party room is full of memoriablal, art, fun arifacts and more. I promise you'll be entertained for hours! Oh LOVE! Imagine hosting your next shindig in a cupcake bakery?

Make your way to the North End soon .... I promise you won't be disappointed!

Got Snow? How about an Ice Castle?

Here at the Davenport's we thought we'd have a little fun... I think it's safe to say we brought a few smiles to passerby's!

We're still digging out from a historic Blizzard here in Connecticut, and as luck would have it, in Durham we were in the thick of it. Snow totals for our little cow town topped out at 36" with snow drifts of 6 feet and more.  In celebration of the Blizzard of 2013 and the predictions that more snow in on its way for Wednesday and Sunday.  I thought I would resurrect a blog from 2011, for fun I updated the countdown calendar to spring! Enjoy!!

January 31st, 2011
Since January 1st I have shoveled, swept, brushed, thrown and scooped over five feet of snow. As I finished digging out from yet another 19″ this morning I began brainstorm about ways I could become inspired, not discouraged, by Mother Natures latest gift.

As I jammed the snow shovel into my seven foot pile of snow, I turned and saw my inspiration.  Life through the eyes of a child, there was my son digging out the snow fort he and my husband (aka my oldest child) had built in the last snow storm.  ”Wow Mom! Isn’t this great? I could like… live in here!” My imagination began to run: how would one design the interior of a snow fort?

Truthfully, this isn’t a unique idea.  The IceHotel in  Jukkasjärvi, Sweeden, just north of the Arctic Circle is a design masterpiece!  Artisans from all over the world built this 5500 square foot work of art with ice from the Torne River.  Each year this magnificent treasure can only be appreciated in person until March, at which time the warm spring sun slowly converts the hotel from crystals back to running water returning to the Torne River.

photography credit to Xavier Dachez

Ice is a unique material to sculpt, and even with all of my years as an art student, I can’t think of any substance or product with the same delicacy and strength that ice offers.  The artist use chain saws, water picks, files and hot water to create.  The ice can be finished  to appear frosty, for a strong and solid appearance, or polished to a clear, high gloss surface giving a fine, fragile facade.

photography credit to Paulina Holmgren

Blocks of ice become everyday items needed to adorn the hotel, chairs, beds, tables and more.  It’s hard to imagine being cozy comfortable in a ice bed, although they might be a touch more appealing with a warm fur throw.  Lighting is a challenge in these ice castles, ice chandeliers give a completely new meaning to ‘crystal’  These works of art have wire bases and fiber optics running through them and the sparkle gives Swarovski Crystal some serious competition.  The architectural wonders that include arches, ice columns, and  barrel vaulted ceilings are created all out of ice,  leaving visitors in awe, forgetting their frigid zero degree surroundings.  Imagine, something so fascinating that you would actually forget the cold? Maybe we need an ice castle here in Connecticut!

I’ve started turning on my computer each morning, and visiting the countdown calendar to spring.  You can bet your snow shovels I’ll be dancin’ in the streets at the sight of that first crocus!

I won’t be designing a Ice Castle any time soon, although with 5 feet of snow, maybe Joey and I will build a ‘grand’ entrance at the end of  the sidewalk today…..its gotta look better than the  9 foot piles of snow currently there!

Happy Blizzard Day

This had us rolling around laughing in the studio! 

..........And you guys think WOMEN are the hysterical ones!! 

http://izismile.com/2012/01/27/snow_storm_in_romania_9_pics.html

Happy Blizzard Day! 

Stay safe out there!

Keep Back 200 Feet

The last three feet of a 1964 Maxim Pumper has been sitting in my garage for at least 5 years now.  I had it chopped off the back of a truck ready to be scrapped on a cold winter day.  Chuck the welder thought I was out of my mind, until he heard about the 'fire cave' I was going to create for my man! Joe and I planned it out on napkins one night in a restaurant and started collecting pieces for his space.  The back side of this Pumper was to be the entertainment center complete with working lights and a back up alarm.  Well, as we all know life happens.  This amazing design that I expected to be completed by now is still in the infant stages.  It's almost like someone literally told me to 'Keep Back 200 Feet'.

We all have life moments of clarity. This week was one of them for me. 

Wednesday the Wallingford Fire Department laid to rest their brother, 26 year veteran Firefighter/Paramedic Rick Garrison, in an touching, impressive, and tasteful ceremony.  Rick's laugh was infectious, his smile was contagious and his amazing character was something many men strive to be.  His life was the Job, only second to his beautiful wife and family.  Rick knew how to live life to the fullest, always beaming, always caring and always believing the cup is 'half full'.

I can almost feel Ricks strong hand on my shoulder saying,
'Life's short finish that 'fire cave' for Joe, will ya?!'
Then with his soft tender eyes, he'd continue....
'First, I don't know someone more deserving'
and as his eyes grew wide, and a gentle deep laugh grows in his chest, he'd finish with....
'Second? Can you imagine how jealous the guys will be?!'

It's true, life is too short, we lost Rick much too early.  

Joe would love his own room.....so it's time to get started!  

Here's a sneak peak of what one wall in Joe's 'fire cave' will look like ... 

I'm putting it out there I need some serious strong backs to get this monster into the basement! 

Who's ready to help?! 

This weeks 'Friday for the Guys' is dedicated Wallingfords Bravest. 

 Thank you for all you do and Stay Safe out there!