Garbo's Closet

"Mauritz Stiller who brought then-19-year-old Greta Gustafson to the United States in 1925. A three-time Oscar nominee, Garbo was given a special 1954 Academy Award for her “unforgettable screen performances.”

*Of her legendary desire for privacy, she remarked in a 1928 interview—one of the few she ever granted—“I wanted to be alone, even as a child. I used to go to a corner and think... Thinking means so much, even to small children.”

I have never seen this picture (above) of Miss Garbo. I was thinking that this could be a model or movie star from a recent film or a fashion mag.

Sometimes my mother will tell me about how she loves this 'movie star' or that 'starlet', I take one look at them and say to myself; "when was ugly pretty?"

In the 1950's, the 40's, 30's ....what was up with physical beauty's standards back then??

Physical beauty does go 'in and out' of fashion .

Greta Garbo is the exception to all the rules.

Classic Beauty.

Then and Now.

I lived in Manhattan from 1974 - 1984 on East 58th. Street.

I walked to and from work on East 58th Street every day. I also walked my Shit-Zu up and down E. 57th, and then down on 1st Ave.

Guess who I saw all the time?

Guess who stopped and talked to me and my little dog when ever she saw me?

That is right! Greta Garbo.

And this is Miss Garbo's Closet

The “closet room.”

*The “closet room,” which Garbo created from a small library, is highlighted by one of the carpets she designed for her 1962 series, Birds in Flight. Over the closet is part of her collection of hats; others are stacked on a carved and painted Russian provincial tea table from circa 1880. Garbo chose the upholstery and drapery fabric, which features African tribal motifs.

Isn't this magnificent ?

*A living room wall adorned with artwork.

For Garbo, color was essential in art and décor, and she surrounded herself with vibrant hues. “I love color,” she once said. “With me it’s inborn. I just know. I didn’t have to learn it.” 

I really can't believe how much I love this place.

I love her artwork, her interior color scheme, and the placement of her art and objects.

To me, it is perfection.

What do you think of Garbo' place ?
Do you likie??

*From Architectural Digest


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Innocent Again

Yom Kippur 

known as the Day of Atonement 

and it is the holiest day of the year for Jews

So, I am thinking WHITE.

*White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. It is considered to be the color of perfection.
White means safety, purity, and cleanliness. As opposed to black, white usually has a positive connotation. White can represent a successful beginning. In heraldry, white depicts faith and purity.
In advertising, white is associated with coolness and cleanliness because it's the color of snow. You can use white to suggest simplicity in high-tech products. White is an appropriate color for charitable organizations; angels are usually imagined wearing white clothes.

I really love winter white. To me it is incredibly rich elegant.

Especially when accented with touches of gold as shown above.

This tiny chandelier is so pretty....but it would go best in my closet.

Thank you very much!

This pic is so old. It is from my files, and I do not know where it is from. But I am drawn to industrial touches too. Like the table. I love almost anything on wheels.

This kitchen shot has been all over the blogosphere, and I don't know where I grabbed it from. But the chairs are 'forever.' Right ?

Okay, Today I asked G-d for forgiveness for all my sins from this past year.

It was a brief conversation.

Because I am such an angel....LOL.

This last image speaks to me.....it is saying;

"If you are a virgin (again), and an angel (again), come take a bubble bath in me.

I love this bathroom. The little gold chair makes it.

*http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html

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Satisfaction

The best way to poison (your enemy) of all is living well. Doing better than you did yesterday. Killing with kindness. But, genuine kindness.

Yesterday I wrote the biggest sale of the day, $19,000,00 in window treatments and bedding.

This is a tiny amount compared to what I used to sell in my own design practice.

This Is My Specialty.

Selling DESIGN - something that exist only in my head, And will never exist until an order is placed and a deposit paid.

Today I struggled....my manager was short, curt, and it seemed like plain old angry with me. I try so very hard to please....as I have discussed in previous posts.

I finally said to her ., "Sandra, I am sending you all good thoughts, pink puffs of love all day, and every day. And yet you are angry and short with me.

 Of course, she looked at me like I was weird, and cocked her head. She was puzzled.

But you see, I am quirky.This is a big part of  'my charm'. Or so I have been told by those who love and LIKE me.

And yes, me who is ridiculously sensitive was crying a bit. But when I cry (even a little) my eyes and the surrounding skin turn really red and super blotchy. [No hiding that from the coworkers]

Later I was in her office .....Sandra said to me, " Why are you so overwhelmed ?"

"Maybe you should go home. You can't sell.."

I told her,"I am not overwhelmed, my feelings are hurt." And "I will be fine after a cigarette and a coffee."

I also said; "And just to spite you, I am going to make a big sale and get another house-call lined up !!"

She finally smiled

*photos from playbill

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I MEAN IT !!

The Lunatic is.

When I got to work the other day the Lunatic was all weird and nasty towards me. If I came in the room, you would think I had 'COODYS' , he would leave it. Then he proceeded to huff & puff, pout, stomping around the showroom, and giving me dirty looks.

Tomorrow is Saturday. Retail 'Hell Day' for most of us in the business. I still have not seen Medusa since the situation. (stated in my previous post) My days off are Thursday & Friday.

So.....tomorrow has yet to unfold.

Why, why, why does this crap go on on sales floors.

I just must repeat over and over to myself;

"I will not be intimidated" "I will not be intimidated" "I will not be intimidated"

I am too sensitive for this stuff. 

If only the economy would kick back into gear, I could finally work for myself once again.

Big Group Hug Please!!! 

I need one. I am feeling some anxiety about tomorrow. Maybe I can be a 'Scaredy Cat' for Halloween.

XXXX's

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No Floor Fights For Me

I have shared on my blog that working in design is my life,

but have I shared that doing design in the world of retail is hell ?

I am working for a huge design & furniture company in Florida. The company is great, though their technology (computers etc) is like working for The Flintstones. I am not kidding.

The rules in retail are as follows in most showrooms;

When a person walks into a showroom, who ever is in line to greet at the door, that is their 'UP'. An 'UP' is also considered your 'opportunity', and sometimes that is considered a 'joke'.

By A 'Joke' I mean: someone with nothing to do and no intention of buying anything, and stays for hours walks in the door, and if you are unlucky enough, that is your 'up'.

The entire time that person is in the building, the designer or salesperson is not permitted to take another customer or client. ( unless you have a 'be back')

*The goal is to create relationships with potential buyers. If you have been wonderful and knowledgeable, when they (customer-client) return they ask for you. This is considered a 'BE BACK'. And this is a very good thing. This is considered to be your 'following', or your' book.'

Well 2 nights ago I had a big sale. And we have a certifiable male lunatic on our showroom floor.

I am really serious. He alone could have his own sitcom. Do you remember 'JACK' from Will & Grace? There were a few times when Jack was hateful and a bore. That is my lunatic !!

And no, this man is not gay. He acts 'straight'.....but I know somewhere inside himself he is deeply confused about something....or all things.

Anyway,he has a woman friend who has appointed herself his protector. But her motives for doing so are entirely to long to discuss now. Let's just say it is about money. LIKE EVERYTHING in retail.

Back to the lunatic, as soon as he sees I am selling and it is a good 'UP' he starts flipping out and telling his female friend (who we shall refer to as Medusa because she is horribly mean to everyone) that he had spent 1.5 hours with (my client) 2 days ago.

This pic is not an exaggeration of the situation. Wierd huh???

*Remember, we are in a beautiful showroom.....

She is a controlling witch, and he is a wimpy, yet evil aggressive jerk at the same time.

So what does he do ?? He sicks the showroom bully, Medusa on me.

Well, not only did my client-customer not ask for the Lunatic by name, but she had stated that the last man (who she did not know his name) was absolutely horrible and too pushy. She did not want to deal with who ever this man was.

The Lunatic is ranting in the office that he had spent time with the customer, and how dare the customer not ask for him - He is saying all this to Medusa.

This is where Medusa comes in......she starts bugging me to split the sale with the Lunatic.

He gets himself so crazy with his usual histrionics, that he goes home early, only to continually call in to see how much my sale was. HUH? %%#%^&()_@#@!%

Pretty weird if you ask me. I never care what other people are doing.

Until the end of the evening Medusa nastily harassed me.

You would really have to work with her to get my meaning. She becomes really nasty and mean when she is not writing business.

But here is where MY GROWTH comes in.......

I normally would split my sale with the Lunatic to shut her up and keep the peace.

I know some of you can relate....I am a people pleaser.

I hate confrontations.

That is why I spend so much time alone,

if I am alone I am not affected by other people's DRAMA. I hate drama too.

Unless it is on 'Dexter' the TV show

Some of you may know that I am the new at this job, and these two characters (or these two lack of characters) are testing me. Right? Right!

Guess what I did?

I did not give in, I stood my ground. I knew that my side of the street was clean.

I have an extremely loud conscious, I never steal a sale.

I worked very hard for the sale, 4 hours long hard.

And through the harassment I kept my composure.

(that was another accomplishment - I didn't tear up)

And when the process and the sale was finally finished, I knew I had made a long time client.

Someone to add to my 'BOOK'.

What do you think about this ??

AHHH....venting is a beutiful thing.

I feel better already.

first image from:(home-biba.blogspot.com)

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And A Good Time Was Had For All

That is, for anyone who ever has been to Tavern On The Green.

Any time of day or night. It was beautiful and special.

Especially if you were young when you went there.

It was a shiny, glittering fairyland.

Taking a small child (or just about anyone else) there during the Christmas season is sure to get some eye popping giant smiles!!

And a lot of 'OOOHS and AHHHS'.

(www.nycgovparks.org)

I always thought the food was very, very mediocre.

But, it still was always a romantic gesture when a young man asked you to

brunch at Tavern On The Green. :)

(nyclovesnyc.blogspot.com)

(www.tylerhill.net)

Do you remember the Tavern ?

Have you been ?

What was your impression of the place?

(webshots-NYC #2 2004 052)

It seems that the Taverns days are numbered.

This is sooooooo depressing.

The Russian Tea Room Closed.

The Horse Stables on the west side of Central Park closed.

I am feeling really sad and old.

When you start saying things like ' In the old days you could go on horse-back to Tavern On The Green for Champagne and caviar.'

ugh.......I am feeling so old!

Mr. Costa said Sotheby’s appraised the restaurant’s furnishings ranging from deer statues to Tiffany-style windows.

A Queens warehouse and its contents — artifacts from Tavern and Mr. LeRoy’s other restaurants — is to be sold next month, he added.

To read the article in the N.Y.T. click here.

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
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Happy Rosh Hashanah

Happy (Jewish) New Year !!

According to the Jewish calendar, the year is 5769.

According to the Chinese calendar, the year is 4706.

This means that the Jews

went without Chinese food for 1,063 years!!!

This period was known as the Dark Ages. HA Ha HA!!!

It is tradition to eat sweets on Rosh Hashanah so that the coming year may be sweet as well.

I am Jewish, but I am 'Jewish Lite.'

(mcbooks.com)

So it is difficult for me to truly stick to tradition, rules, and or any regulations.

(that weeds me right out of the ' keeping Kosher' crowd)

I will be eating the sorts of sweets I really love. I will do this to ensure very,very good luck in my new year, along with chubbier thighs.

I have rated my sweets in this post.

#1 is the warm chocolate cookie and milk above.
#2 is warm Peach Cobbler
#3 is Fudge Cake, ice cream and warm chocolate fudge.
#4 is Bananas Foster . Flaming, and the most delicious of all the 'flamers. '
#5 is Banana Split
#6 is Crepe Suzette. Anything that comes to the table in a ball of fire......is for me.
# 7 is Cherries Jubilee. Another flaming desert.

Culturally speaking, my crowd is all about food.

Which is your favorite ?

Happy New Year !!

Rosh Hashanah

(it begins at sundown today)

If you wish to know more click here.

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Design Sources, Window Treatments, Custom Design, Paint, Color Coordination, Online Interior Design, Floor Plans, All Custom,Happy Rosh Hashanah