Set Design: American Horror Story. Murder House.

One of our Halloween obsessions, American Horror Story: Murder House, is not only a killer show (pun intended), but it's a mastercraft in set design and killer furniture.  Murder House, if you haven't seen it, is aptly named for its reputation as a last resting place for many a Los Angeles suburbanite.  But it could just as easily be called Wicked Furniture House or House of the Awesome Wallpaper and we'd still be hooked.

To get the Murder House look, you're going to tend towards a lot of deep, brown leathers, some traditional, yet modern wallpaper choices, and a lot (and we mean a LOT) of wood details.  Think Restoration Hardware, think old-is-new-again, think what would Ryan Murphy's house look like (he's the EP of Murder House...and Glee if you can believe that!).  Lots of vintage pieces, deconstructed chairs, over-the-top crystal chandeliers, hides, taxidermy, TAXIDERMY, TAXIDERMY.  Dark, sexy, masculine...and maybe a little haunted?!?

Here are some great pieces that will get you in the Murder House direction:

Kensington Leather Sofa, Restoration Hardware.

 

Traditional Wing, Clutter Furnishings and Interiors.

 

Dotted Paisley Black with Gold Wallpaper by Candice Olson.

Vintage Dresser, Clutter Furnishings and Interiors. 

 

Grid-Tufted Headboard, West Elm.

 

Taxidermy Design Inspiration from Lynn's House,

as photographed by Cedric Smith of YWS!

Dream Home of the Day: 80 North Water Street #3, Poughkeepsie, NY

We're definitely in an (Upstate) New York state of mind when we check out this stunning penthouse on the Hudson in (Snooki's hometown) Poughkeepsie. The exposed brick is amazing and if you're going to live in a loft this is the way to do it. Love the finishes, and the choice of wallpaper against that brick in the den area. The brick and somewhat old-fashioned (in a good way!) wallpaper really speak to each other nicely. 

What do y'all think? This home is listed (a little out of our price range) at $2.8 million on Trulia. If money wasnt a factor, would you buy or walk away?

Obsessions of the Week: 27OCT13 to 02NOV13

Mask Series No. 6, Zeng Fanzhi, 1996

Some (Halloween-inspired) things we're obsessed with this week:

• You're Welcome Savannah teaches us how to make Spiced Pumpkin Pie Coffee Creamer just in time for the scariest day of the year (and we do mean the day after Halloween when that hangover sets in!!!).
• Kate Arends' Halloween Playlist for West Elm: Front + Main...every Halloween party needs these spooky, scary, awesome tracks!
• Zeng Fanzhi's work is now at the Musee d'Art Moderne in Paris! And while it is not intentionally Halloween themed...the masks are a little creepy! Fanzhi's retrospective collection is on display through February 2014 so get to Paris if you can!!
• This fun, little DIY from the geniuses over at Design*Sponge combines craft with The Craft (like the scary movie about witches...get it??). Scare up some great dishes to match these spooky decor ideas!
• AND American Horror Story: Murder House. Never saw the show when it was airing, and really never had a desire to see it until it popped up on our Netflix. I get scared of my own shadow as is, but I was forced encouraged to watch it by my husband and, while it is still terrifying, it's supremely well-written/acted/everything.  Just hoping that this never happens to us...we have a daughter named "Violet", too, but that's the only similarity we share with poor Connie Britton and the deranged and brilliant Jessica Lange. This show is a must-add to your Netflix list, just in time for Halloween!!

Clutter Book Club: The Catcher in the Rye

Clutter's Book Club took the summer off to vacation and generally just be lazy, but we're back with a vengeance, y'all, and kicking things off with the timeless, sometimes irreverent, The Catcher in the Rye. Salinger's classic Catcher has been a must-read in schools and out for generations. Read this book, or re-read it, and then let's dish below. 

And if you're in a documentary mood, check out the beautifully done, compelling doc of Catcher's reclusive author, aptly titled, Salinger.  The movie is available on Netflix and gives some insight into some future J.D. Salinger post-humous projects! 

The Story Behind: The French Teacher

"The French Teacher" by Joan Thomas McCrossen.



Before my husband's Great-Aunt Joan passed, she went blind.  Before that, she was a brilliant painter. And sometime in between, she wrote detailed stories of all of her paintings, typed out, signed, and attached to her work. 

Of "The French Teacher" above, Joan wrote:

This painting was completed in the early 1950's. It was inspired by Sr. St. Eleanor S.S.J. who taught French at Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls. She was a study of constant motion who moved across the front of the classroom, gesturing freely to elicit proper pronunciation from her struggling students. Sr. St. Eleanor was a very small woman who was also slim, neat and tidy so she seemed, to me, very, very French.

Naturally, because of her vocation, she would have been unable to draw attention to herself by posing for a portrait or so I thought. Truthfully, she was never actually invited to do so.

Years later, I needed a model to translate the memory of her into paint. My own mother was the only individual patient enough to pose in an awkward position long enough for me to render three dimensions into two. I am grateful to both teachers for their personal contributions to art.

- Joan Thomas McCrossen, 2006 

Every object in your home has a story and if it isn't something historical or tangible, it is something that means a great weight or value to you and yours. I love that Joan wrote about her work to pass on to generations what each piece meant to her. Very inspiring.

 

Dream Home of the Day: 15 Back River Circle, Savannah, GA

Holy cow, what a view! The pictures really speak for themselves on this beautiful home. And it can be yours for the low LOW cost of (ahem)....a lot of money. But it's worth it. Click on the photos to see even more (including the cost) of this spacious home for sale on Trulia.

PREVIOUS SAVANNAH DREAM HOMES:

• 328 East 44th Street
• 13 Longbridge Road
• 130 Habersham Street
• 504 East Bay Street
• 2909 Abercorn Street
• 424 Barnard Street
• 206 Battery Circle

Twitter Tidbits, vol. ten

There is a lot going on in the Twitter-verse. And in order to help you navigate, we pulled out the tippy-top Twitter Tidbits of the week from experts, comedians, and regular joes that will absolutely, positively make your lives better. Check 'em out:

Add a little flair this holiday season! Check out the latest line from @thenovogratz & CB2 here: http://t.co/5b8YuMAHCI

— Rue Magazine (@RueMagazine) October 23, 2013

I've taken over @onekingslane today & we're featuring both new/vintage jewelry that you'll LOVE—happy shopping! XoRZ http://t.co/6laQWZla7E

— Rachel Zoe (@RachelZoe) October 23, 2013

LOVED meeting @lenadunham at the CFDA Fashion fund in LA x vb pic.twitter.com/ImsNkCfuzI

— Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) October 25, 2013

RT @ClutterSavannah: loving this post on @katherinesandoz's blog. hoarders are AWESOME. http://t.co/h5uCa4KWDD

— katherine sandoz (@katherinesandoz) October 24, 2013

Savannah welcomes a new restaurant to Broughton Street! Dept. 7 East is now OPEN! Stop in today for lunch!... http://t.co/foR1kAhNCx

— You're Welcome (@YoureWelcomeSav) October 24, 2013

Business idea: Spin class where you eat ribs while you spin. "Push, push! Imagine you're going up a hill to eat ribs..."

— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) October 21, 2013

the power of the the powers that be is only ON when you power ON! you can always switch off a digital world, dont 4get!

— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) October 21, 2013

Get Right For The Weekend Playlist #5.

Get ready for Halloween with some of these funky funky songs! #HappyHalloweenY'all! (We couldn't find a long version of "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" from 30 Rock...but the Warren Zevon live fully makes up for it!!)

Let's Review: Mechanical Bull

Kings of Leon return with the triumphant, rambling, Southern rock of Mechanical Bull and have never sounded better.  From the first track, the charging, energetic "Supersoaker", KoL howl like they are back in that 2003 vibe, circa the game-changing album, Youth and Young Manhood. 

Caleb Followill has truly mastered his growl on Mech. Bull and you'll want to listen to the album in total over and over (and try to wail along, if you dare).  Songs sound familiar and new at the same time (especially "Don't Matter" which sounds like a KoL track of yore); and whether the Followill boys are riffing about nights spent half in the bottle or declarations of love and gunshot wounds to the head (the exquisite "Temple), you'll be hooked on the first listen. 

Best Tracks: "Temple", "Beautiful War", "Supersoaker"

Dream Home of the Day: 1822 Wilmington Island Road, Savannah, GA

What a beautiful home on Wilmington Island Road in Savannah! And those views!! This home could literally be a shack and that dock and those views would be worth well over a million dollars...but thank goodness it is not a shack! Brilliant details inside match the stunning exterior and we are just in love LOVE LOVE with this property.  What do y'all think?!

Click on the photos for even more info and photos on this home (for sale now) via Trulia!

PREVIOUS SAVANNAH DREAM HOMES:

• 328 East 44th Street
• 13 Longbridge Road
• 130 Habersham Street
• 504 East Bay Street
• 2909 Abercorn Street
• 424 Barnard Street
• 206 Battery Circle

Dream Home of the Day: 94 Hicks Street, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY

Loving this beautiful brownstone in tony Brooklyn Heights. Five floors of history...throw in an elevator and we're sold! Awesome floors and wood details, and plenty of space (indoor and out) to really live it up in the big city. Brooklyn Heights is a killer, family-friendly neighborhood, too!! This is the perfect home for one of those lesser known (or enjoyed) Real Housewives of New York.

Dream Home of the Day: 226 East Hall Street, Savannah, GA

226 Hall is a beautifully, grand home in Downtown Savannah. Huge rooms with incredibly high ceilings make this a home that you might say, "Let's retire to the sitting room," or, "Join me for a cup of tea in the Yellow Room." We'd modernize the interior/decor just a tad, but always maintain the historic, details in this awesomem space.  What do y'all think?

PREVIOUS SAVANNAH DREAM HOMES:

• 328 East 44th Street
• 13 Longbridge Road
• 130 Habersham Street
• 504 East Bay Street
• 2909 Abercorn Street
• 424 Barnard Street
• 206 Battery Circle

Obsessions of the Week: 13OCT13 to 19OCT13

Some things we're obsessed with this week:

• New Music. Fresh, hot, fun new albums from Drake, Miley Cyrus, and Kings of Leon are tearing up the charts and (conversely) tearing up our hearts. The third of me that loves Miley is in a battle royale with the thirds that fully enjoy the Drake and KoL albums, but we've compromised and listen to all three on shuffle for a funky megamix. Bangerz (Cyrus), Nothing Was the Same (Drake), and Mechanical Bull (Kings of Leon) are worth a listen, y'all!
• Meredith Pardue. She was one of our Artists of the Day this week, but we're still full on obsessed.  Her large pieces are a designers dream installations.  We'd throw them on every wall in every room (and we just might)!
• Kanye on Kimmel.  The KWest rants are getting to an all time high (or low, depending on your opinion of the "creative genius"). The man can certainly spit a great lyric and has sick beats for days...but his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel was definitely hard to watch. Did y'all see it? What do you think? Should we just expect this kind of stuff from Yeezy?!
• The Novogratz Holiday Collection for CB2. Team Novogratz is a phenomenal design team. If you haven't seen them on their hit Bravo reality show, or in practically every design magazine around, you're really missing out! Check out their awesome Holiday Collection for CB2 for some great little pieces that you'll treasure every holiday season!!

Dream Home of the Day: 233 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA

Officially in love with 233 Abercorn. Beautiful home with top-of-the-line features (That farmhouse sink!!! That clawfoot tub!!! That tile in the bathroom!!!). And talk about some great art on display in some of these rooms. Love the decor, love the layout, and love love love this home. Saving our pennies now so that by the time we're 103y.o. we can afford it!!

Click on the photos for even more on this beautiful space (for sale) on Trulia.

PREVIOUS SAVANNAH DREAM HOMES:

• 328 East 44th Street
• 13 Longbridge Road
• 130 Habersham Street
• 504 East Bay Street
• 2909 Abercorn Street
• 424 Barnard Street
• 206 Battery Circle

This Just In (003)

This Just In: Super sick pair of white leather swivel chairs.

Perfect Fits: We love it for just an awesome occasional chair, but think out of the box for these bad boys. How amazing would the pair look on either side of a long traditional table in a dining room! We're thinking a 8'-10' long Parsons table with these beauties and six (or so) lucite chairs on the sides. 

How Much: $125 (each). Only at Clutter!! Come see us or call (912.354.7556) for details!

Artist of the Day: Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt is awesome. And not just The Kiss...I mean, look at Death and Life (third picture above) and tell me you're not looking at something spectacular!

The NY Times just did a fascinating article on one of Klimt's most famous pieces (here) and we're just obsessed.

Click on the photos above to see ol' GKs complete works online...you'll spend HOURS over there!!

Dream Home of the Day: 4 Spring Marsh Lane, Savannah, GA

All this ultra-modern home needs is a little contrast and it would be the MOST beautiful space. Don't get bogged down in one style and don't feel that you always have to stay 100% true to the integrity of the home. Throw some traditional pieces in a modern home to warm up the space; throw in some lucite chairs or ultra-mod furniture in an older home for a little funk!

Click on the photos above to see even more of this home (on sale!!) via Trulia.

PREVIOUS SAVANNAH DREAM HOMES:

• 328 East 44th Street
• 13 Longbridge Road
• 130 Habersham Street
• 504 East Bay Street
• 2909 Abercorn Street
• 424 Barnard Street
• 206 Battery Circle

Artist of the Day: Meredith Pardue

SCAD alum Meredith Pardue plays with color and form in a way that is so unique and so beautiful. We are full-on loving her website and all the beautiful studies (especially her fossil portraits!!!). Click on the photos above to see even more of MPs art and to learn a little bit more about her.  

Dream Home of the Day: 326 Bull Street, Savannah, GA

Holy smokes! This home on Bull Street in beautiful downtown Savannah is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! We would be stuck in that foyer for days staring at the beautiful gallery wall and stunning details...then we'd stumble around the manor to find gorgeous room after gorgeous room. And THEN...that outdoor space is absolutely perfect. Let's buy it. Who's in? We can do a co-op situation!! #dreamhome

Click on the photos for even more of this home for sale now on Trulia. 

PREVIOUS SAVANNAH DREAM HOMES:

• 328 East 44th Street
• 13 Longbridge Road
• 130 Habersham Street
• 504 East Bay Street
• 2909 Abercorn Street
• 424 Barnard Street
• 206 Battery Circle

Dream Home of the Day: 815 Whitaker Street, Savannah, GA

Beautiful home on Savannah's Whitaker Street...stunning, updated features and a lot of great room to work with. Plus that rooftop space is brilliant! We'd like to see some hides in there and maybe a splash of emerald green (our current color obsession). What do y'all think??

Click on the photos for all of the info on this home via Trulia.

PREVIOUS SAVANNAH DREAM HOMES:

• 328 East 44th Street
• 13 Longbridge Road
• 130 Habersham Street
• 504 East Bay Street
• 2909 Abercorn Street
• 424 Barnard Street
• 206 Battery Circle

Dream Home of the Day: 45 East Bay Street B, Charleston, SC

LOVE this beautiful Charleston condo. If they need us to fill this beautiful home with a bunch of Clutter treasures...we are READY! Great bones, sophisticated/amazing details, and a stunner kitchen (plus the views!!!!). Love love love it!