More Modern Palm Springs: Galleria

My bank account does not allow for big splurges on design but a girl can dream, can't I? I did quite a bit of dreaming and drooling over New Years vacation in Palm Springs. Our best find on our outing was the Palm Springs Galleria. The tienditas are on the main drag North Palm Canyon Road. A nice feature of the Galleria is the layout. It's like an antique mart but for MCM hounds. With about 10 different little shops, each housing a different dealer, all sharing a similar aesthetic. T'was a gorgeous sunny 74 degree January day and the dealers had a small sandwich and cookie buffet out - a nice touch for a holiday weekend. The Galleria is a great shopping environment - a few items seemed overpriced because your in MCM Mecca but for the most part the prices seemed spot on for what you're getting. There were so many fun objects I could have spent hours. So instead of mush and gush about each item I'm just going to let you feast your eyes on a few pictures - each one a miniature menagerie of all the great goodies the Galleria had to offer. My fave pieces are below, including the gigantic wrench. After seeing a large cork screw and can opener in a friend's house I just can't get enough of oversized everyday items.

I really really thought about buying this "e" - for Eugene - for the first letter of my name - for it's funky shape. But it's $675 price tag was outside of my league. We just got back from spending money on a southern hemispheric vacation after all. It was not a time for splurging on super cool decor items. I still dream of it though . . .

Love love love this metal lamp! I love everything about it except for its price tag!

Mid-Century Modern Palm Springs

On our way home from the southern hemisphere we stopped over in Palm Springs to ride the new year wave with our chosen family. We're a queer bunch we decided - scientific yet artsy (depending on who you ask), rigid sometimes in our demand for creativity (ironic, I know), free expression, plus a bit nudity just to keep it real. Each new years we demand supreme conversation, sublime cocktails, supine seating preferably by a source of warmth - usually in the form of water or fire, let's see what else . . . scrumptious mouth feels, raucous games, singing, and as much laughing as needed - the kind that will make you puke if possible - there was lots of that - laughing and puking - but not at the same time (a slight stomach flu crashed the retreat). Every year our new years is an absolute recharging of the soul (but usually without the stomach flu - blech). This year we decided on Palm Springs to satiate all of our needs - including my need for all things mid-century modern. We rented this sweet honeypot of a place and we camped out for 4 nights along side the pool and spa. Damn that felt good. Well the house was a cool little mid-century modern house - so while we forgot to venture out for the architectural tour of P.S. our neighborhood had some nice examples including our own digs. Our Palm Springs Vacation Rental was the perfect example of mid-century modern architecture updated without losing it's wonderful MCMness. We made full use of the MCM ideals of living outside and making use of the outdoor space as an extension of the interior. One day we did make it into town for some design inspiration that will be another post before the end of the month. For now, please accept these pictures of our vacation home as a bit of inspiration. Note the monochrome mosaic tile in the bathroom, a subtle feature but one of my favorites. It rained all day today here in Eugene and it's helpful to remember warmer MCM moments. Cheers!

Modern Days in Northern Patagonia

Happy New Year! Mr. Monkey and I went on a winter adventure down to the southern hemisphere. We caught some sun rays and a bit of a tan that continues to linger and remind us that despite being in the gray of a Eugene winter we have seen the sun recently. Our destination in December was Chile. We stayed in Santiago and in Northern PAtagonia. We kayaked for 5 days in NoPat with the owner/operator JuanFe of Yak Expediciones (it was incredible!!!). But before and after our outdoor excursions we hung out in the volcano and lakeside town of Puerto Varas. Very cute, quaint, and aware of the money to be made from tourist interested in the outdoors as well as good food and beverages. The even have their own brewery!!! This was surprising in a country where Heineken is generally the highest quality beer to be found in the supermarket. This town has very noticeable German influences but also some glaring U.S. influences most notable the North Face store across from the town plaza as well as artisanal beer that even used "Wilemette Valley Hops" as noted from the beer menu. We loved seeing a misspelled reference to home. Yay for hops!! While in Puerto Varas we stayed in a great hotel call Hotel Patagònico. The outside of the hotel is not so great from the front street side. The inside however is a perfect Patagonia and modern design frappe. I found a great rate on Orbitz and when we decided to add a night the front desk honored my Orbitz rate even though our price should have been at least double. The customer service was amazing if not a bit over the top. One day I asked for coffee to go but I had to go to the business center first. Not only did they bring me coffee to go in the business center but they also brought another cup in case Mr. Monkey wanted some and they also brought a simple ham and cheese sandwich just in case I was hungry - all at no extra charge. It was very sweet. You can see from the pictures they choose a simple neutral beige palate. Really it was all about texture - layers and layers of it. From burlap bench covers, to leather, to suede, to wool woven and raw it was all lovely to touch. They had a huge area next the lobby that was a like a large living room complete with coffee table books and a priceless view of the lake and volcanoes on a clear day. The splash of color was provided by whatever the weather was doing out the floor to ceiling windows. It's a Sunday afternoon in Eugene I should be working but instead I'm still day dreaming of a cup of NesCafe and a good book on one of the Chez Lounge seats in the Hotel Patagònico. If you're headed south - way south - you must stay there. I've got more pictures of our hotel room to show later. Ciao for now!