Sticker Shock

You can file today's observation from The Yogi under "Rants". One of my pet peeves is the UL sticker that seems to pop up in the most conspicuous places. I know it sounds like a small thing, but I think these photos make my case.


At first glance, it appears that someone forgot to remove the price tags.


Are those what I think they are?


UL strikes again!

Here some simple backlit signage is destroyed by the ubiquitous sticker. I understand the regulatory needs that must be fulfilled, but do we always have to sacrifice aesthetics to be compliant? Could they not have been placed elsewhere — like the top of the letter, unseen to anyone except the inspector who is looking for them (or better yet, on the inside where the light source is housed)? I'm just saying.

If you hear about a crazy person being arrested at the Atlanta Botanical Garden with a bottle of GooGone, you'll know who the perp is.

Incredible Edibles

This week's Designers' Day Out was a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden to experience the much anticipated Canopy Walk. I have to admit I was more excited about the design of the structure and it's details than the experience itself, which was much too brief for me (as so many are). I guess that's an occupational hazard.

Also new is the Edible Garden. The Yogi got much more excited about this recent addition — perhaps due to my love of food. I was absolutely bowled over by the decorative use of garden vegetables and herbs, as well as, the fruit espaliers. I love a good espalier. The herb wall was also a knock-out. It's an incredibly creative and beautiful way to cultivate. I particularly like the grid of textures and shades of green that it creates.

But don't take my word for it. Go check it out, and tell them the Yogi sent you. On second thought, you better not. They might charge you extra.


The approach to the walk. I was very amused by the number of elderly people who got scared and turned around at this point.


I love the view from the ground as the walk "disappears" into the trees.


This is my favorite part of the walk. The structure is a beautiful thing of engineering and geometry.


I'm a sucker for espaliers... and anything else French for that matter.




The herb wall — my new favorite thing.

What's In A Name?

Happy Cinco de Mayo, friends. I was going to talk about design inspirations from South of the Border, but was afraid that I would be asked for my papers. So, I'll feature some appropriately European designs that I literally tripped over while at ADAC this morning. They are both new introductions from Formations. The first is a translation of the traditional wing chair in weathered oak with a seat cushion and kidney pillow. It's called the Wooden Barrel Chair (who comes up with these?) and is surprisingly comfortable, even for those of us like the Yogi who are posteriorly challenged. I just pray that I don't see it knocked-off in an upcoming Restoration Hardware catalogue.



The second (also from Formations) is the Sabot Ottoman. Not knowing what a sabot (pronounced SAY-boh) was, I googled it and was informed that it is either:

1 : a wooden shoe worn in various European countries (1) : a strap across the instep in a shoe especially of the sandal type (2) : a shoe having a sabot strap

or

2 : a thrust-transmitting carrier that positions a missile in a gun barrel or launching tube and that prevents the escape of gas ahead of the missile

Hmmmmm... I'm still pondering what either of these has to do with what I took to be an abstraction of animal horns. Did I miss something? At any rate, I love the thorny, horny legs on this critter. FUN!