Happy Weekend

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Have a great weekend

Firoozeh Khorrami

DesignSchematic

Home Office

As I sit here behind my computer working I'm reminded of one of my goals for the second quarter of 2010, to fix up my office at home. So I started to flip through some pictures for inspiration.

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I like the zebra rug and Lucite chair....to be continued

Firoozeh Khorrami

DesignSchematic

Nowrooz

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Today is Nowrooz marking the beginning of the Persian New Year 1389. Nowrooz always begins on the first day of spring at the exact time of the vernal equinox, this year it was at 10:32 am PST. Nowrooz means "new day" in Farsi symbolizing a new beginning and the celebration lasts for 13 days. The history of Nowrooz dates back to the great Persian Empire. It is a holiday celebrated not just by Iranians but by many different countries in the middle east. Nowrooz is a very exciting time in our house, the weeks prior are spent cleaning and preparing for the festivities. There are many parties to celebrate the "new year" and the kids are especially excited since they receive "eidy" or gifts.
I wish you all a wonderful spring season, may your "new day" be blessed with prosperity, hope and peace.

Firoozeh Khorrami

DesignSchematic

Depression Glass

Depression glass is clear or colored glassware manufactured from the late 1920s to the early 40s. During the Great Depression this colorful glassware, a cheerful and inexpensive antidote to the dark days of that era, could be purchased at the dime store for about a nickel. Companies like Quaker Foods would place one in the box as an incentive for purchase, theaters would hand them out if you purchased a ticket. Very inexpensive to manufacture, from cheap material and free power in the mid west, by more than 100 companies depression-era glassware was massed produced from molded glass in many bright colors. Pink, cobalt and green are colors most in demand today, depression glass also came in amber, yellow, opaque white known as Monax, and iridescent. Some patterns buyers seek today are Cameo, Mayfair, American Sweetheart, Princess and Royal Lace.

Depression glass with other vintage finds from the antique market.

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These green cake stands would look beautiful at the dessert table filled with cupcakes.

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Finding and using amber Depression Glass to set a beautiful table.
The amber centerpiece bowl below makes a beautiful container for flowers

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Depression glass was also manufactured in yellow, it is hard to find and one of my favorite colors
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Next time you go antique shopping keep your eye open for this beautiful glass and start a collection, mix it in with the tableware you have and use it everyday or display fresh cut flowers from your garden.

Firoozeh Khorrami

DesignSchematic

Oscar weekend

Which one would you wear on the red carpet?

images {Mario Sierra photography}

Have a glamorous weekend

Firoozeh Khorrami

DesignSchematic

Green

image{Veranda}

In the past few years the color green has been associated with the environment. Green building, sustainability, and our carbon foot print. In the building industry environmental awareness is very important, from demolition, to building with sustainable products, to reusing and recycling materials, and finishing with products that have little or no off gassing. But there use to be a time when "Green" was a color. A color that came from nature, the backdrop to all the other beautiful colors inspired by nature. Sage, celadon, moss, chartreuse, hunter all different shades of green, by adding or subtracting gray, yellow, or brown, green can take on a new identity.
Sage gets its softness and neutral quality because of the gray undertones, while celadon is rich due to the subtle browns that make it a neutral color. Moss, has been around for centuries, a timeless shade of green, often used in period interiors and historic preservation, and a favorite color of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Here are some inspirations in green...

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I love the chinoiserie hand painted wall covering, especially in this bright green color, it can be very refreshing in the dining room.

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The Beige walls and cream colors in this room, designed by Tobi Fairley, help bring down the intensity of the green on the drapery and the lounge chair covered with the toile, while the bright green fabric covering the wing back chairs make the room bright and adding a punch of color, at the same time making a traditional piece of furniture modern and fun.

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Tory Burch's New York apartment, used as the site for the photo shoot of her spring collection.
This is the living room, all the walls have been upholstered in moss green velvet, including the sofa with green leather chairs.

image {Met Home June '08}

The green of the Murano glass brings the outdoors in to this beach inspired living room. Other accent colors include turquoise blue, and brown, all complimenting the mossy green of the chandelier.

image {Chris Barrett}

The only way to bring any space into life is with the use of plants and flowers. It doesn't matter what style or colors you have used greenery, and elements from our natural surrounding, add character, charm, and beauty. I guess that's what makes green such a timeless color.

Firoozeh Khorrami

DesignSchematic

Spring is in the air

In less than three weeks it will be spring, and already the sky is bluer, the sun shines brighter, and I'm getting started on spring cleaning. Every year around this time I get the urge to de-cluttered, reorganize, and refresh everything in my life. I start with my closet, and move on to all the closets and cupboards in the house. I also spend much time sole searching and letting go of grudges, and making amends with old friends, I slow down a little to call and catch up with friends and family that I haven't had a chance to recently, because of my hectic schedule and life. Usually by the time spring arrives my home is clean, and organized, with room in the closet for new stuff. My office is also reorganized, goals I had set in January revisited, and plans for the next season under way.

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I love spring, it's when nature is reborn, and a time to make a fresh start.

Firoozeh Khorrami

DesignSchematic