The life of a model is ever changing. Don't be who you want to be- be who the photgrapher, designer, or magazine wants you to be. A model's physical appearance is as varied as the runways the walk on. Sometimes it's hard to believe that the girl walking gracefully at Chanel is the same one skipping youthfully at Betsey Johnson.

The NY Times ran an article called Model Morphosis charting a day in the life of a few models going through Fashion Week. If I didn't know it was just one girl, I almost wouldn't believe it.

A model goes through a lot of makeup (and makeup remover) in one Fashion Week, but imagine how much a supermodel goes through in a career. Let's run with that...

For this little experiment, I picked Isabeli Fontana. She models for Victoria's Secret, so I think that makes her pretty super. She's also doing ads for Valentino, Versace,and Roberto Cavalli this season. The photos run from 2001 to 2008. I think her makeup removal for Viktor & Rolf (row 5, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th pictures) alone could keep the baby oil industry afloat.

I'd have to say that my new obsession would be the process of prefabrication and modular design. It's definately becoming a new trend that people are beginning to realize is more important than it sounds. Pre-fabricated and modular homes are the "new" up-and-coming thing in home building which is surprising since they've been around a little over a century. A little history lesson is in order here...

Harper's Bazaar ran an article recently entitled "Gucci or Gas?". They discussed the effect our economy is having on consumers' ability to purchase big-ticket items or "investment pieces". Accompanying the article, they showed how you could purchase an entire outfit for the cost of one pair of Louboutins. So I decided to do a little experiment.


Take a look at the sofa above. Cool? Modern? Minimalist? Yes, yes, and yes. It's also $21, 170. Now, let's see what else you could get with that much money...


Lemme break it down for you.
21,170 dollars will buy you one sofa from Moss or...
The Dexter Sectional $4599
An Antiqued Gold Mirror $316
Two Arden End Tables $718
An 8'x10' Clyde Rug $1479
The Dylan Entertainment Console $3299
Two Exposition Leather Chairs $2658
The Hector Cocktail Table $2069
An LG 52" LCD TV from Best Buy $2600
A Mercury Glass Lamp $309
A Meurice Pendant Lamp $339
The Ventana Vista Bookshelf $1349
Three Polar Cream Pillows $129
A Wool Trenchcoat from BR Monogram $500
A pair of Ebony Boots by Via Spiga $375
A Madelena handbag from Hobo International $388
And a one-hour massage at Massage Envy for all of your hard work $39.
And you'd still have enough left for a Starbucks.


You do the math.


All items are from High Fashion Home unless otherwise noted.

Next up on the Met Home/Showtime house tour, Dexter! There is a lot of white/off-white backgrounds with a strong punch of color. It gives off a fine arts museum vibe.

...And there are SINKS. This is the latter. It is created with tiny stainless steel tiles which are laid by hand for a beautiful mosaic sink. Truly original. Find it at LinkaSink.

The New York Times did a little article last month about Kelly Wearstler's passion for out of print art and design books. They serve as inspiration for her uncanny ability to decorate with unusual themes and colors. Check out some of the books below to see some of Kelly's muses:

If it's getting cooler in Houston, that must mean that summer is officially winding down. But there is still enough time to sit outside for a couple bowls of Blue Bell (or "ice cream" if you haven't had the pleasure of eating Blue Bell.

Ice cream bowls are a fun thing to shop for because 1. There is a good possibility you will be eating ice cream soon if you buy one, and 2. Because there is no reason for them to match the rest of your dishware, let alone each other. So go nuts! Go bananas! Go any kind of topping you can think of to put on a sundae! You're waistline may not thank you, but your taste buds will!

Pull the drapes aside and let light filter in through stained glass panes. Always chic and makes you unique! Here are some of my favorites:

As a continuation of Metropolitan Home's tour of Showtime's biggest shows, we have moved on to The Tudors. The half of episode that I've seen was pretty intense, and the set design is no different.

Autumn is my favorite time of year. We get a much needed respite from the harsh Houston heat, the fashion is crisper and more ladylike than the lazy clothes of summer, and I'm getting married! Okay, so that's only this Fall, but I still get to celebrate it every year! There is a reason why people flock to the East Coast to watch leaves change color and everyone starts to wander outdoors- Fall is beautiful. And I've found so pretty things for myself and my home for the Fall...


From top left: Cashmere lined lambskin gloves from Coach, $98. Leather pillow covers from Pottery Barn, $99 each. Colorful Foliage scarf from Echo Design, $36. Cotton silk voile ombre blouse from Charles and Victoria, $298. Irish Coast Carved Chair from Ralph Lauren Home, $4245. Fiona Jacket from J. Crew, $198. Pumpkin Pie candle from Yankee Candle, $22. Kink Boot from Geox at Piperlime, $230. Lutz & Patmos Cable Throw from West Elm, $89 each.

Metropolitan Home has the insider scoop with a home tour of Showtime's biggest shows. I've never seen Californication, but the home decor alone might be enough to make me a loyal viewer. The interior design just oozes a laid back, yet hip vibe. Check out the photos below:

How many of you homeowners out there have an unused space underneath your stairs? I love what this designer did with hers- wine storage. I adore the minimalist shelving that holds, what looks like, a healthy dose of vino, and almost invisible glass doors keep the wine at the right temp. It's stylish, it's practical, it's a wine-lover's dream.

I love watching trends just explode. Case in point: Black and white stripes are everywhere. Open any decorating or fashion magazine and you're bound the see prison stripes covering the pages. Yes, it can easily get busy and dizzy, but sometimes the result is hypnotizing...