Obsession Du Jour: Matthew Heller

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAuzXhszZFlU1B5dkAyxnUfMUm9dK0O159_2zzhgFCVI5BK-OU1fdvRcm6QRNuuo_A8Q78M5g9Np-vCjR-HhNkNQxfj0FSBTIdTov275EHqTGcsr4rcbdf7z4bWL5z0Y5VMBVRAm7Qb4/s1600/3_c_liv_sofa_0163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAuzXhszZFlU1B5dkAyxnUfMUm9dK0O159_2zzhgFCVI5BK-OU1fdvRcm6QRNuuo_A8Q78M5g9Np-vCjR-HhNkNQxfj0FSBTIdTov275EHqTGcsr4rcbdf7z4bWL5z0Y5VMBVRAm7Qb4/s1600/3_c_liv_sofa_0163.jpg" /></a></div>I've been meaning to write about artist<a href="http://www.matthewheller.com/" target="_blank"> Matthew Heller</a>, for quite some time. After the amount of emails inquiring about the artwork seen here in our living room in the <a href="http://thezhush.blogspot.com/2012/06/our-house-featured-in-hgtv-magazine.html" target="_blank">HGTV Magazine feature,</a> I thought now seemed liked the right time.  Roughly three years ago, I was looking everywhere for the perfect piece of art to hang over our living room couch and had also recently started this blog.  At the time, I was doing a little series called "lyrical lovelies," matching song lyrics with interior images.  Music and design are two passions of mine, and it was a fun little creative excersise. So, when I stumbled across <a href="http://www.matthewheller.com/" target="_blank">Matthew's work</a> in a magazine article on Molly Sim's apartment, (<a href="http://www.matthewheller.com/" target="_blank">the image below</a>) it gave me full on goosebumps!  Minutes later I was on<a href="http://www.matthewheller.com/" target="_blank"> Matthew's site</a> and by that evening emailing him some song requests.  Initially, I had hoped to have Guns and Roses "Sweet Child O' Mine" but the size of the piece and the cost were prohibitive... Paul McCartney's "Black Bird" immediately came to mind next, as it's a classic song that my husband and I both really love.  Three years later, the lyrics and the art still speak to me. This post should really read: <i>obsession la vie...</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTYVz9bNyEiNwMBqd4E724A3d6CX4E-JxXkN7jf1Iw7XnfEzMlI0lpVzBcV8dl_9qYEU9L_vx7-rRJWVlBAzP1iaXZtVGO4sRIVFHrBQpkDRQpV7Xg0Ww_wNBzdEuqf1ctSi7X_IaTrw/s1600/Molly+Sims+Lyric+Art+%2528D-+Kishani+Perera%252C+A-Matthew+Heller%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTYVz9bNyEiNwMBqd4E724A3d6CX4E-JxXkN7jf1Iw7XnfEzMlI0lpVzBcV8dl_9qYEU9L_vx7-rRJWVlBAzP1iaXZtVGO4sRIVFHrBQpkDRQpV7Xg0Ww_wNBzdEuqf1ctSi7X_IaTrw/s1600/Molly+Sims+Lyric+Art+%2528D-+Kishani+Perera%252C+A-Matthew+Heller%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WdgBGut_fEo21m6R53qyhz9WKnDmSMlfjrEeHpQw27fSo0eO0P1-BFA7ih-jJKJcdZ0Q2Yp6mfic8Dnsju4lesf_0WenKGtSwrjMyFBscD4C5SZOe5VYEJNIynLkdemg1FCPpm0XywU/s1600/RX-HGMAG003_Not-Just-Another-Pretty-Place-072-a_s4x3_lg-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WdgBGut_fEo21m6R53qyhz9WKnDmSMlfjrEeHpQw27fSo0eO0P1-BFA7ih-jJKJcdZ0Q2Yp6mfic8Dnsju4lesf_0WenKGtSwrjMyFBscD4C5SZOe5VYEJNIynLkdemg1FCPpm0XywU/s1600/RX-HGMAG003_Not-Just-Another-Pretty-Place-072-a_s4x3_lg-3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxSLsd_83Xg2adPj9Ru7AXvc19EX5FmHfzZQ2MSMgRAky_sD-c9YjNjQxUzoOt_SJfyzX_mQOBBOYXCEuZKt91PUCkIVCaj7dx_g7d8Zyzi3Bf9AlgeDQKXC-J12INVLyYBcEwD62104/s1600/Lyric+Art+%2528Jeff+Andrews%252C+Th%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxSLsd_83Xg2adPj9Ru7AXvc19EX5FmHfzZQ2MSMgRAky_sD-c9YjNjQxUzoOt_SJfyzX_mQOBBOYXCEuZKt91PUCkIVCaj7dx_g7d8Zyzi3Bf9AlgeDQKXC-J12INVLyYBcEwD62104/s1600/Lyric+Art+%2528Jeff+Andrews%252C+Th%2529.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1x8A3rHiveiZ2-6l7tKoIjaNzGCdIHBsnuBDiZ3ZPUjLCK9QTf_3MwIYdMfhO65XtsbCWOb0aErT04yKsD-7L5JkDyjHSijWQv6Q3cAUfSJsi565jOL9a3F8zqzGA546iD_vWveio_s/s1600/Picture+11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1x8A3rHiveiZ2-6l7tKoIjaNzGCdIHBsnuBDiZ3ZPUjLCK9QTf_3MwIYdMfhO65XtsbCWOb0aErT04yKsD-7L5JkDyjHSijWQv6Q3cAUfSJsi565jOL9a3F8zqzGA546iD_vWveio_s/s1600/Picture+11.png" /></a></div></div>

Obsession Du Jour: Matthew Heller

I've been meaning to write about artist Matthew Heller , for quite some time. After the amount of emails inquiring about the artwork se...

Read more »

Brand New Musings

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrx3nEozrejCH4Y3OE_5xbZHezmd9onus6683xKD2_SrwvEiFQMhDSO6SP_ZDeKQod1_AHNYAliqYyDhMI_VR8LSr1NU0e0hHN8uMaTILAIWhptdhtQUE6ARTVydLxaRncGUUyR3skqJ5/s1600/4_h_chest_0414_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrx3nEozrejCH4Y3OE_5xbZHezmd9onus6683xKD2_SrwvEiFQMhDSO6SP_ZDeKQod1_AHNYAliqYyDhMI_VR8LSr1NU0e0hHN8uMaTILAIWhptdhtQUE6ARTVydLxaRncGUUyR3skqJ5/s1600/4_h_chest_0414_1.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.museinteriors.net/about-muse-interiors/" target="_blank">Lauren Muse,</a> the designer that helped me with <a href="http://thezhush.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-housefeatured-in-cottages-gardens.html" target="_blank">my own house here in New York</a>, just updated her <a href="http://www.museinteriors.net/about-muse-interiors/" target="_blank">portfolio</a> with these lovely images.  Lauren and I still keep in touch even though my home is<i> for the most part</i> "done".  Not only do I adore Lauren's aesthetic, but she's very easy to get along with and didn't let any of the stressful bits of our renovation visibly freak her out...and, trust me, there were some moments.  Having Lauren's calm presence on board made the process a whole lot less frustrating.  Something to think about if your looking for a professional to help you out.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxE5Rus4uq6qvxgV3f74U8_fZKVPq2l9mseDmw2aL0hAhCZRMd6nGTtQdXbd_uFMcdYV5YXyB5P6h-MgdTxmoDiy6w8xWz0a2G98D880GwYGchDeN80JZD7NwmuQdtYQrp-gGIDQKC_XDh/s1600/7_k_bedroom_0521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxE5Rus4uq6qvxgV3f74U8_fZKVPq2l9mseDmw2aL0hAhCZRMd6nGTtQdXbd_uFMcdYV5YXyB5P6h-MgdTxmoDiy6w8xWz0a2G98D880GwYGchDeN80JZD7NwmuQdtYQrp-gGIDQKC_XDh/s1600/7_k_bedroom_0521.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQBc9MRQfmU8WX6LjTw88dWwR8JZ0Vj3GY0Jgut6uWEr2rUehqH58j6cyipDtV4pJJmAWal_s0lUhoaJra39ys0uR2AiNpvV3onAMBexpubErmgc19boCbJVWs12ROsUicC9-kjJdw8x3/s1600/1a_mm_familyoverall_0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQBc9MRQfmU8WX6LjTw88dWwR8JZ0Vj3GY0Jgut6uWEr2rUehqH58j6cyipDtV4pJJmAWal_s0lUhoaJra39ys0uR2AiNpvV3onAMBexpubErmgc19boCbJVWs12ROsUicC9-kjJdw8x3/s1600/1a_mm_familyoverall_0080.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8bnd2oFQaQLBpAXyf_q1YrE0MOt3j8NRSzmia25LRU3cBcfHgT7SfRsBq7cdRo_jrrbHVwkMjgK04RnvydVo-EInEB0Zt5zTeKa9mJalgLvOBTUuTVVOuWisS_2p9RE9YPweKaKpeTiS/s1600/2b_mm_sofavignette_0116r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8bnd2oFQaQLBpAXyf_q1YrE0MOt3j8NRSzmia25LRU3cBcfHgT7SfRsBq7cdRo_jrrbHVwkMjgK04RnvydVo-EInEB0Zt5zTeKa9mJalgLvOBTUuTVVOuWisS_2p9RE9YPweKaKpeTiS/s1600/2b_mm_sofavignette_0116r.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCvlf69yECuGFFN_qvkx0pRU6JiTiusmo_uee8F1D9fBwGj4wbFY7xGuJ5VnmfgmCbVSVZudMe-qlnxLQh7Gj3d4t3a8t6IL1cAgA-RqZ7wIVJI9tLiKTMlvU7JbqB57AxyGJ7_iA3Aqw/s1600/3_f_livingroom_0290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCvlf69yECuGFFN_qvkx0pRU6JiTiusmo_uee8F1D9fBwGj4wbFY7xGuJ5VnmfgmCbVSVZudMe-qlnxLQh7Gj3d4t3a8t6IL1cAgA-RqZ7wIVJI9tLiKTMlvU7JbqB57AxyGJ7_iA3Aqw/s1600/3_f_livingroom_0290.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>

Brand New Musings

Lauren Muse, the designer that helped me with my own house here in New York , just updated her portfolio with these lovely images.  Lauren...

Read more »

Houzz Tour

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKTdjrb2fz2WBvnfINPXLN37NUzVuudaSK-3GwiwxGNobEtLpQMNkxWeKyNyol2B6Sq6tOXQ3TmzlCWZaFrO-5-lrxMkr4oclR5ySt7qrU23h0EsIMqFYOr4AOHGCin1LwONedsDB3iA/s1600/Picture+206.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKTdjrb2fz2WBvnfINPXLN37NUzVuudaSK-3GwiwxGNobEtLpQMNkxWeKyNyol2B6Sq6tOXQ3TmzlCWZaFrO-5-lrxMkr4oclR5ySt7qrU23h0EsIMqFYOr4AOHGCin1LwONedsDB3iA/s1600/Picture+206.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the confusion yesterday...my house tour on<a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/801945/list/Houzz-Tour--Playful-and-Elegant-in-New-York"> Houzz</a> is finally live!  </div></div>

Houzz Tour

Sorry for the confusion yesterday...my house tour on Houzz is finally live! 

Read more »

Back Stairs Reveal

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AjwMtJGq2NMSsv4KtLWr-Racx7salne1_F_7nqi4KAjbnNC8AAXLfSaG3ewfBASzxWPU0uO_viQ2DQsr9nqxUt5ZVvy0qMuk_S177E5susR4Oa9q3aP2v8cl_GJNRe51XLdfCcy4Irc/s1600/DSCF3265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AjwMtJGq2NMSsv4KtLWr-Racx7salne1_F_7nqi4KAjbnNC8AAXLfSaG3ewfBASzxWPU0uO_viQ2DQsr9nqxUt5ZVvy0qMuk_S177E5susR4Oa9q3aP2v8cl_GJNRe51XLdfCcy4Irc/s640/DSCF3265.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>This is our back staircase. Way back in March, 2010, I did <a href="http://thezhush.blogspot.com/2010/03/please-help-with-next-step.html">a post about the "before"</a> stairs.  Since these steps only lead to the home gym over our garage, I thought it would be fun to do something a little out of the ordinary.  I looked at a lot of different inspirational images, and eventually chose a hybrid.  It took me forever to get this project accomplished, and it's still technically not done.  <a href="http://www.museinteriors.net/">Lauren</a> helped me to narrow down my ideas, pick some paint colors and find a skilled painter.  I sourced the bannister by using window hardware from <a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/">Restoration Hardware</a> and the rope is from my local hardware store.  However, now that I've seen the finished project, I know I need to get some sturdier rope, probably from a marine supply store.  Does anyone know of a good source?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPadJLUewEY0jhPgR1XrI95dseTRP_izldvKVOD6BcB1EBIFYwBrJCjxkafQ-VMfn5I-VMBKSo-YrvkQv0wgqzg1YTT-gUYvAu4bClCljGSVA39uJx6jYsvISgWzqLjmdbNqsOl7ZJdw/s1600/DSCF3267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPadJLUewEY0jhPgR1XrI95dseTRP_izldvKVOD6BcB1EBIFYwBrJCjxkafQ-VMfn5I-VMBKSo-YrvkQv0wgqzg1YTT-gUYvAu4bClCljGSVA39uJx6jYsvISgWzqLjmdbNqsOl7ZJdw/s640/DSCF3267.JPG" width="469" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoSKkzXwuYaXltoXSeI1ysUVaeivKEEFNV_4uyHns30iMHjs2-vexCMk5i7Pqa0XA7iLJvqt6iCDPlSmJrawel55he1pavZb0xD55QTMNvz7YnU7bw9_PV08-W7U1J3VluClGRnxOaJE/s1600/DSCF2298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoSKkzXwuYaXltoXSeI1ysUVaeivKEEFNV_4uyHns30iMHjs2-vexCMk5i7Pqa0XA7iLJvqt6iCDPlSmJrawel55he1pavZb0xD55QTMNvz7YnU7bw9_PV08-W7U1J3VluClGRnxOaJE/s640/DSCF2298.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the "before" shot</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtwwoRqjlY3jTTVzNvEL_grDn2aTmK8HdDncQP0RftUJc6N34zXBbAE6CMFM6pRfgmgoUSiMWS4FSO3fBFV-IS_m8LXBrzf0LFTx7PEzNCQWsQNUM-l5u6rOzOAy7SPKmIb-21FjUPMU/s1600/6526303e1c1a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtwwoRqjlY3jTTVzNvEL_grDn2aTmK8HdDncQP0RftUJc6N34zXBbAE6CMFM6pRfgmgoUSiMWS4FSO3fBFV-IS_m8LXBrzf0LFTx7PEzNCQWsQNUM-l5u6rOzOAy7SPKmIb-21FjUPMU/s1600/6526303e1c1a.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the inspiration</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>

Back Stairs Reveal

This is our back staircase. Way back in March, 2010, I did a post about the "before" stairs.  Since these steps only lead to the ...

Read more »