Monday, January 25, 2010

Introducing e-decorating from URBANvernacular



Introducing e-decorating from URBANvernacular


here is the idea...  


You want to update your existing space and could really use the help of a designer to get you started by coming up with ideas, pulling together a color scheme, and selecting furniture, art, and accessories.  However, you are willing to do a lot of the actual work yourself.  With e-decorating you can now have access to professional design service at a reasonable flat rate... and the best part is it can all be done online.  


how it works...


You email us photos of your space and any existing pieces you want to reuse, the dimensions of the rooms to be re-designed, and any concept pictures you have collected for the new space (don’t worry if you don’t have any... that’s what we’re here for!)  We’ll also send you a questionaire to complete regarding your likes and dislikes, style and color preferences, how you want the finished room to function and feel, and of course your budget!  


what you get and when you get it...


You will recieve your customized design packet, via email, about 2 weeks after we receive your completed questionaire, room photos, and payment. 


Design packet includes:

  • Concept board showing paint colors, furniture selections, art, accessories, lighting, and window treatment ideas
  • Scaled floorplan showing customized furniture layout 
  • Detailed shopping list of the items you will need in order to complete your space.  All selections will be made from familiar online sites or retail stores that are within your specified budget.  However, we may also include some alternatives that can be purchased through URBANvernacular, or another designer, to give you more of a custom look... or sometimes even a bettter price.  
  • Instructions on how to pull it all together, including hints and tips on how to hang art, place your accessories, etc.

As for how long it takes you to complete the rest of the work?  It is up to you.  You handle the purchasing, oversee the painting, arrange the furniture, and hang the artwork on your own. Rush out and purchase everything the very next day or take your time and do it in stages... you are in control.    


how much it costs... 


living room or family room $ 450
dining room, bedroom, home office, or kitchen $ 400
entry, hallway, patio, or bathroom $ 250


Please contact me for special pricing if you are interested in having multiple rooms designed at once or if your rooms are attached.  For example,  a living room with an attached dining area or a kitchen that opens onto the family room.


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Looking through the viewfinder




On my most recent trip to the Long Beach flea market I picked up several vintage cameras.  My current favorite is this Kodak Duaflex twin lens.  Kodak produced this model from 1947-1950, the original US selling price was $17.50. It has a f/15 Kodet lens and takes 620 film. I'm not sure if everything is still in working order, as I haven't yet tried it out with film, but this super cool camera is perfect for ttv (through the viewfinder) photography or for display. 






The Kodak duaflex is the most popular camera used for ttv (through the viewfinder) photography. This style of photography, which is gaining popularity with professional and amateur photographers alike, uses one camera to take a picture through another camera's viewfinder, most commonly a twin lens reflex. Twin lens cameras have two lenses of the same focal length. One lens is used for taking the picture while the other is used at waist-level to give a close approximation through the viewfinder of what will appear on film. The Kodak Duaflex is a favorite of ttv photographers due to the large bubble glass on the top of the camera and a phenomenon called ghosting, a faint, transparent, and slightly offset repeat of the image, which is specific to the camera. The pictures have a great vintage quality to them owing to the above mentioned, as well as the dust and grime that has collected on the mirror and lens of the vintage cameras used. Might be something fun to play with in your extra time.... 



more images courtesy of Analogist's flickr photostream


If you are looking for more information check out these links:


A great tutorial from Russ Morris on how to get started taking your own ttv photos:


Some of my favorite flickr photostreams of ttv:


Too busy to take your own photos?  There are several photographers featuring fun ttv prints on etsy.com: