I live in Chocolate City, Work for NPR, am currently working on an MA in Interior Design, Love my roommate, friends and Kitteh, "Bits." Day to day I find more and more beauty lurking in the oddest spots. Rouge My Knees is an accumulation of notes on what I find whets my curiosity for all things toxic and pretty.
I love sharing my view of the world through the photos and links posted here. 
totally obsessed with these industrial lights. I’m working them into a project.
Also dying to have the flowered chairs circa 1971. They just scream WASPY golf club powder room to me. I could design a whole world around them.
The PISTACHIO AGA Six Series cast iron stove did make its way into my house project.
How awesome is the Heather (lavender)? and they have dark blue and aubergine!
Cindy Gallop is the reigning queen of reinvention. She did it with Tom Ford at Gucci and YSL. She’s a powerhouse, spreading her thoughts on human sexuality and has taken it upon herself to change the way young generations of men think about sex and the myths tied to pornography, etc…
Check her sass out here by watching her 4-minute “one of the most talked about TED presentations” ever. Cindy regularly contributes to TED. Check out her bio.
I have myself become obsessed and proudly a Gallop Groupie ever since I peeked inside her “Black Box” apartment in what was formerly the NYC YMCA. Her space oooooozes sexuality and is so very “Cindy.” I think it’s a great example of how ones self and interests can become the art that surrounds. As it should! And it’s everywhere – even in the phone on her nightstand and the free standing black tile bathtub. Seeing pix of her nightstand has reignited my obsession for owning the gold kiki de montparnasse handcuffs.
images from womensright.change.org & the selby.
Take a video tour of the Black Apartment with Cindy (her opener statement is just classic).
Quotes I love from her website:
“My personal and professional interests embrace the interface between creativity and technology, and all the future possibilities thereof.”
“As one of my favorite poets, Robert Browning put it, A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”
Filed under: My Interior Design School FUN
I was in NYC last week for the Architectural Digest Design Show at Pier 94. There were so many lovely things to see and touch…One of my favorite discoveries: Shanon Campanero’s whimsical bespoke wallpapers. The wallpaper is made from digitally manipulated sections of Shanon’s paintings. She came up with the process when decorating her own apartment in 2008. What a way to self discovery! Shanon studied art at St. Martin’s in London and now is based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Fore more info, check out Eskayel.com
Talk about a great way to take up some wall space. I love wallpaper & I hope to cover lots of walls with Shanon’s vision. Some of my faves from Shanon’s collection:
Crown Jewels
Festival Feast
Bear In Mind
Culebra Cubic
Stag Hunt
Moroccan Sun
Tigers Eye
you know sometimes you think, I’m so tired of winter and the hum drum of life in February DC…and then all of the sudden things align…and you find yourself at happy hour…then a walk home with Chimay and a new beer, Three Philosophers…and then magically the Mast Brothers Chocolate you ordered just less than 24 hours before…
Then you do some drafting…and the universe is aligned because you know how that awesome studded leather sofa and fireplace fit…so OK…let’s get crazy and do some shopping…I don’t normally go to malls anymore and Bonadrag is one of my fave sites that I can afford and admire…
and then on top, some NIN. Pretty Hate Machine. Closer. F<3ck Y<3a. I hadn’t pulled out the Nine Inch Nails catalog in much much too long.
Tonight…my best purchase: burgundy lace pants!!!
Filed under: My Interior Design School FUN
I’m in the infant stage of my main project for my interior design class: two level house, 2nd level loft. Some things I think I’m set on so far are 1. Lucite rails for my dark wood floor stairs and 2. as part of my ode to Alexander McQueen, The Egg Chair. I think two or three of these guys will go in the bar. Fun planning my dream home without a budget!
The only images of Lucite stair rails I can find.
I am into the retro feel to these homes…sort of like ’70s mafia.
Filed under: cupcakes, flowers and unicorns, Etsy, My Interior Design School FUN
I’m really into mixing florals and prints in a way that is so over-the-top it works. Also, a big fan of matching bedding to wall paper.
It must be done with a very skillful hand, otherwise the charm is lost.
With my upcoming project for school, I’m looking to these images for some great guidance and inspiration. It’s trickling into other areas, like my wardrobe.
I just bought a vintage flowery men’s Brook’s Brothers tie off Etsy, to wear with an obnoxiously floral fitted button up.
It’s scary, I remember a pants jumper I had when I was about 8 or 9, in this exact print. It had pink bows down the front. Man…some things just re-emerge don’t they?
My bedroom is my sanctuary…I’m a true Cancerian in the sense that I love my den and want my living space comfortable and in harmony with my interests.
Over the last 12 months or so my room went through a major transformation. I had a case of the nesting virus and decided that once and for all I should paint my bedroom PINK.
Daunting as it was…it turned out how I imagined it would. The paint job paved the way for several other projects. When it was all done I realized that I enjoy the process of transforming a space and found an outlet for my creative urge.
Here are some photos of my bedroom…and actually my bathroom. Some things have moved around…some of these photos are a bit blurry…and the colors vary…I’m having fun trying to capture the true feeling of the room with a digital cam.
The paint I used is Ben Moore’s Gypsy Pink. I heart it.
I’ve been slowed down this past week, thus the lack of posts and enthusiasm…
…slowed down and tied up by a nasty villain called HEAD COLD!
After a weekend of non-stop bed and meds…tea and well, not to really complain about it, lots of movies and reading…I’m feeling a bit more like myself. I actually mustered up the energy to paint on some Essie Chinchilly to match my awesome new Every Little Counts Henry and Anais tank. I love love love it. I only wish I had ordered a size down…but the medium fits like a swingy dress over jeans and a thermal.
Just a bit groggy here:
Also making me feel a bit more like myself, my studded Dolce Vita Wesley Booties. Add to the mix a John Coltrane station on Pandora…and well, I’m finally a happy camper.
Funny… painted nails and high booties can make a huge difference. Reminds me of Tom Ford and his suit of armor.
Peak of the shoes that make me feel like myself:
I’ve also started my Masters program at the Corcoran College of Art + Design. I’ll be sharing more on that as I get into it. I can report that my first trip to the art store was a success…I am the proud owner of a drafting board and an architectural scale. Just gotta learn how to use ‘em.
So once this cold is gone for good…I’m full on ready to jump into school with enthusiasm Max Fischer stylee.
I hope you all manage to steer clear of said Villain and send you healthy vibes….
