inspiration. my father

Dad,

You are an amazing man.

You are the man I go to when I need help... because you can fix everything.

You are the man I go to when I need an answer... because you know everything.

You are the man I go to when I have really messed-up and need to know that someone has “my back”... because you can make it better.

You inspire me
You inspire your children

and you are a great "Chapers" to your grandkids!

I love you... Always!

Your Son

love. doing everything.

Life itself is not enough
Fred Eerdekens, 1999

"I don't want to get to the end of my life 

and find that I just lived the length of it. 

I want to have lived the width of it as well."

Diane Ackerman

inspiration. my mother

Mom,


You are an inspiration to me.
You are an inspiration to your children.
and, most importantly...
You are a Nana to your spoiled grandchildren.


I love you... Always!
Your Son

memories: my mother

Tomorrow is Mother's Day in the United States, I think it is appropriate to share the words of a book that my Mom would read to me as a child. The words are still very dear to me...

Love You Forever
by Robert Munsch

A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang: 

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be. 

The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!" 

But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang: 

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be. 

The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo! 

But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang: 

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be. 

The boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo! 

But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang: 

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be. 

That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town. But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town.  If all the lights in her son's house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang: 

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be. 

Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, "You'd better come see me because I'm very old and sick." So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song. She sang: 

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish because she was too old and sick. The son went to his mother. He picked her up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be. 

When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Then he went into the room where his very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while he rocked her he sang: 

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

*tear* ... Love you Mom

funny. ostrich story

THE OSTRICH

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him.

The waitress asks them for their orders.

The man says, "A hamburger, fries and a coke," and turns to the ostrich, "What's yours?"

"I'll have the same," says the ostrich.

A short time later the waitress returns with the order. "That will be $9.40 please."

The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment.

The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, "A hamburger, fries and a coke.”

The ostrich says, "I'll have the same."

Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.

This becomes routine until the two enter again.

"The usual?"asks the waitress.

"No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and a salad," says the man.

"Same," says the ostrich.

Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, "That will be $32.62."

Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.

The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer."Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change in your pocket every time?"

"Well," says the man, "several years ago I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there."

"That's brilliant!" says the waitress. "Most people would ask for a million dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!"

"That's right..Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there," says the man.

The waitress asks, "What's with the ostrich?"

The man sighs, pauses and answers, "My second wish was for a tall chick with a big ass and long legs who agrees with everything I say.."

art. Fred Eerdekens

Fred Eerdekens is an artist that I found and I just love. His art plays with light and shadow using a variety of materials — plants, wire, clothes, or cereal boxes — to spell out words. What looks like a squiggle of wire, a table full of groceries, or a pile of clothes on a table takes on a whole new meaning once light hits it in just the right spot.

.... and I think it is a great alternative to the vinyl wall adhesives that can be found at Target.

 

Read more at Design Milk

architecture. Balemore

The Balemore is my ultimate home. I really do think I could live a super sleek and modern home, but I fight with the "coldness" that can sometimes be associated with modern design.

The estate has a real history (it was a wedding gift!) and then has been updated for the needs of the new owner. The Balemore is one of my "Top 10."

The property is described on Luxist.com as:

"The Balemor Estate, built in 1929, was originally constructed for Elizabeth Paine as a gift for her marriage to Thomas Metcalf but has had major renovations since those days. The six-bedroom home is on over two acres. Terraces and formal gardens connect indoor and outdoor living. The home's classic brick exterior reveals a space that has been considerably lightened up. French doors and abundance of windows contribute to a bright and modern space including a simple and contemporary living room. The modern kitchen has a Wolf 6 burner induction gas cook top, Wolf range oven and microwave, Thermador refrigerator, and two Fisher and Paykal dual drawer dishwashers. The custom built pantry includes an additional refrigerator and an abundance of storage and a spacious seating area with a gas fireplace overlooks the terrace. The outdoor kitchen has a grilling deck and wood burning pizza oven and the formal dining room with dual fireplace is located between the living room and kitchen.

The east wing of the house has a great room with Crestron projector screen, electronic black out shades, gas marble fireplace and four sets of French doors. The library is a cosy space with custom oak paneled walls and original cast iron fireplace and a nook for a home office.Located off of the kitchen is a guest suite with private entrance and full bath. The second floor master bedroom suite has a vaulted ceiling and two master baths. There are three additional bedroom suites on this level. The top floor is open space that could be used for bedrooms, offices, or full time live-in help. The lower level has a spa with an adjacent treatment room. The renovations are magnificent and flawlessly done but it's hard not to pine a bit for the more classic lines that this home must have had in its previous incarnation."

  

This home is listed with Sotheby's. 

The Balemore

1014 Boylston St,
Brookline, Ma 02467 

love. new things.

inspiration. just be.

 

Turning disappointment into Joy. 

...just to remind myself to stop focusing on what I want so badly to "be"
and focus on who I am.

AND I love dogs... I shed a tear.

 “When I let go of who I wanted her to be and just let her “be” ... she completely flourished” - 4:06 minutes

love. ordinary.

"Normal day, let me be aware 
of the treasure you are.
Let me learn from you, love you,
bless you before you depart.
Let me not pass you by in the
quest of some rare and
perfect tomorrow."
- Mary Jean Irion

What is "ordinary" anyway? What is "normal"? 

These are philosophical questions for the ages... for now, for today, just love your ordinary.

Breakfast with a giraffe? That could be normal if you live here.

inspiration. fight.

"Fight for yourself using every drop of blood from your body. Muster every effort within you and fight: sure you will win."

LOVE this video!

architecture. Villa Volpi

The Villa Volpi. A Classic formal design, but somehow furnished in a modern casual casual style. The Countess had an innate sense of style. Its seems like a fitting beach house for a Countess... I love it! I think it would be a wonderful home to entertain many wonderful friends. Maybe it will be purchased and turned into a resort. So many options! All we need is someone willing to purchase this "beach cottage." (reference to "Throughly Modern Milly" If you haven't seen it, its worth seeing)

This view is what sold me. Done... I'm in LOVE!

  "Villa Volpi, a neo-classical palazzo overlooking the Mediterranean that's featured in Italian luxury labelTod's new ad campaign, has been listed for sale at $33 million. 

The amazing property, luxe lifestyle setting of attractive people and classic Ferrari's in the alluring ads, sits on 26 acres including a private beach. The estate is the creation of Countess Nathalie Volpi di Misurata, an aristocrat with a reputation for impeccable taste and refined elegance who enlisted celebrated Milanese architect Tomaso Buzzi to build the palazzo in 1960. 

Villa Volpi's seven lavish bedrooms and entertaining spaces have played host to many notable guests over the years, from celebrities to royalty, society and international dignitaries. Additional buildings on the estate include a three-bedroom guest house, a two-bedroom cottage and stables. 

"This home fosters an incredibly peaceful and glamorous way of life," notes Clarice Pecori Giraldi of Christie's International Real Estate, "bringing together a unique location in Italy - where waterfront properties of this scale are extremely rare - with the incredible sophistication of classical architecture."

  

"This home fosters an incredibly peaceful and glamorous way of life"

love. yourself

“The greatest gift you will ever receive is the gift 

of loving and believing on yourself.

Guard this gift with your life. 

It is the only thing that will ever truly be yours.” 

–Tiffany Loren Rowe

This goes perfectly with a previous post: perfection.

inspiration. priorities.

A reminder that time is so valuable... sometimes I forget.

Spend it wisely.

art. my brother

I've gotta give some props to my younger brother Nike Chapman.

He's a great designer and illustrator... AND has worked really hard to get there. I have seen it first hand. Nike is currently very involved in all that is happening in Hollywood (he will say he's not and its no big deal :p).  Most of the projects he is working on he can't even talk about or put on his website, because they are such a big deal.

So what can I talk about? In about two years I will be able to post a list of very recognizable projects, but until then Nike has been getting some recognition from NOTCOT and Protfo.li for "The Secret Lives of Monsters."

It really is fantastic and I myself will have to get some for gifts or even - who knows - If I have my own child I think it would be fantastic in a nursery.

"The Secret Life of Monsters" - Nike Chapman

P.S. I have known him longer than any of you! :)

want. bowl.

I saw this on Uncrate.com and I think it is super smart... the Obol.

I can see the practicality of the cereal part, but I was sold with the Oreo cookies! They are by far my favorite guilty pleasure.

They aren't too expensive and I'm sure I could find 100 more uses!

Oreos... sigh.

design. bachelor pad.

I am a bachelor, thus I love this home.


I think the location and modern design are what appeal to me most. I really enjoy a good Italian Villa or French Maison, but right now I'm really liking the modern and sleek.


Its for sale and my birthday is coming-up...*cough*... It was featured on Luxist.com and can be found at Hilton & Highland.

"It takes one to know one. Josh Altman, arguably one of Los Angeles' sexiest and most successful bachelors, has listed a home at $6,250,000 that he describes as "the sexiest bachelor pad I've ever sold." 

The property, a sleek high-end toy box that screams "let's party" is a state-of-the-art Architectural home designed for entertaining. It has large open rooms, high ceilings for art collections, and explosive city-to-ocean views in a gated enclave. The living and dining rooms have full-wall sliding glass doors that open to the infinity pool and spa. The 1,200-square-foot master suite has a fireplace, sitting area and walls of glass. There's a bells-and-whistles kitchen with every amenity a chef could dream about, set in Macassar ebony cabinetry. 

For entertainment, there is a THX theater, bar and spa-like baths throughout. The home has a limo length garage and underground power lines. 

The Altman brothers work out of the Hilton & Hyland Real Estate office in Beverly Hills."

Enjoy.

*cough*... birthday. ;)