HomeJustice League of Me; or, I Was a Thirtysomething Superhero (Wannabe)
19. Apr, 2009 
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You’re so vain; you probably think this post is about me. Oh hi there. SuperReed and Supermom Stephanie’s Open House was so popular that I’ve decided to ride the gravy train. Reed’s not the only superhero in town. If you’d like a musical selection to accompany this post, please direct your attention to the sidebar and simply press play on the YouTube player. And now, please enjoy this very special post about a very very special person (my favorite person) . . . me!
I have a love/hate relationship with letters. On one hand, they make writing possible. On the other hand using them in decor is obvious, ultra-trendy and smacks of narcissism . . . and that’s probably why they’re now sprinkled in vignettes all over my house. Don’t get me wrong, before I found the perfect letter T I mocked them endlessly (and still do). It embarrasses, no it mortifies me that I’m the kind of person to write a post about decorating my guest bedroom (with big red T’s no less), but c’est la vie, right?
Speaking of letters, when I was shooting Fine Diving in Chicago blogger Diana Durkes’ home, I spotted a D in her bedroom, turned to her and, I kid you not, asked, “what’s the D stand for?”
Anyway, it wasn’t until I completed the room last week that the light bulb(s) above my head appeared (literally thanks to a salvaged T I bought at Agent Gallery and which Ted Harris spiffed up and rewired), and I realized I’d dressed the space as if I were dressing a comic book action hero (complete with a big red blanket (cape?) for guests).
As an aside, the reason superheros wore colorful costumes was that during their golden age heyday back in the 1940′s, it wasn’t technologically feasible or cost-effective to print the full range of colors. In other words, World War 2-era technology limitations still impact the world today (and apparently shaped the destiny of my guest bedroom). If a butterfly flaps its wings in China . . . I know, it’s mind blowing, man!
If this were a comic book, my Freudian fluff would be the pivotal moment when I realize I’m trapped in some virtual reality hell by my arch nemesis. But this isn’t a virtual reality hell (there’s nothing virtual about it), and I’m no hero (but I clearly wannabe).
Since superheros don’t exist (except for Reed and he’s way out of my league), I guess I’m a league of one. Royally speaking, we like our new bedroom. While it clearly looks like it belongs to a fifteen year old, that’s my style: a little bit industrial, a little bit comic POP! with a liberal dash of vintage, a sprinkle of new and a splash of color. There’s no reason why you can’t combine objects elegant, fun and rustic (although I consider the western elements a bit of the moment).
So does it work? I like it and since I’m the one who lives here, it doesn’t really matter what anybody else thinks (but please like me – please, please, please!!!!).
So be a superhero when you decorate; absent that, just be yourself. After all, Kryptonite is just a state of mind and who really cares what Lex Luthor thinks?
Blanket? Or cape?
Every superhero needs a villain and every room needs a touch of Decoratus Absurdum
Superman's new enemy Magog
Beads from Michael Del Piero. Hurry over.
If I hear the word patina one more time to describe decay . . . but check it out
This photo was taken last summer. How did I not make the connection?
A big thanks to Reed and Stephanie for buying me the perfect gift, this vintage 1970's Superman doll. Is that cool or what? (And how about my Edgewater Antique Mall thermos find?)
I just ordered this phone (clearance sale - now $95) from Russell Johnson Imports. If Batman gets a direct line to the cops, then I deserve one too.
Resources:
My official T superhero crest: Ipso Facto
The T in lights: Agent Gallery
Chandelier: Ted Harris
Electrical work on T and chandelier: Ted Harris
You can see past stories about Ted here and here.
African beads: Michael Del Piero
The foot: George Lowell
Bed, end table: Room and Board
Accent pillow: Marshall Field’s circa 2003
Vintage tubular chair: Room Service
Red T-8 Phone: Russell Johnson Imports (Now on Clearance for $95)
Gumball machine: Me pappy
Hitchcock posters: Please don’t try to find these. It will not please me if they start popping up everywhere. I’ve had these since college and never tire of them. But if you like them, go ahead. You can google them, find them on Ebay, etc. These are reproductions, which is fine for my purposes.
Wow, you really like those little dolls, don’t you? But your place is very cool anyway—I love the cow skin rug & the letters!
OK – so at first glance your illuminated T reminded me of this: http://www.baldknobcross.com/
And while searching for that image, I found this:
http://www.collectiblestoday.com/ct/product/prdid-103279001.jsp?cm_ven=Search&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Broad&cm_ite=light%20of%20christ%20cross&External=Y&gclid=CNrWvdfR_5kCFQoMDQodYShJFg
Yikes.
I just got a cool rotary phone in Fireball Orange from Arthus Swirgon at the Modernist show – so cool!
What a Terrifically, Telling Tale by T8! The skull and horns over the door is a work of art…nicely done.
POW! We love the SUPER COOL SUPERTATE residence! Afterall, Reed does need a mentor doesn’t he? Hopefully Reed’s taste will be as refined and cool in his later years as yours. Off to another adventure….Stephanie and Reed
I approve of your narcissism. <3
Thanks for this peek into your inner sanctum, Tate — you know you are a Superhero to us all!
Are the walls in your room really gray or blue? In artificial light they look definitely gray, but in the sunlight they look like the heavens after a rainstorm – vividly blue. Wow – quelle difference!
People must like the geometry of the initial T: I see them in lots of places, but I can never find a “C” I would like to display. (Have you found an old Gothic style one yet?)
Can you show us your living room with the zigzag rug?? Please?? Please?? Many thanks in advance…
Carol, I’ll bet you say that to all the guys. Tasha, I was positive that you would approve of my narcissistic point-of-view (it’s the only view really).
Carol, that’s Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray in an eggshell finish. I really hated it before, but I think the red pops it out a bit. That’s all this blog is going to be about from now on, just my feelings about that blue-gray color, the red and its impact, comic book stuff . . .
And if you want to see that West Elm zig zag rug, keep buttering me up. Bribes work well.