Open Face

Chicago, Illinois - Oct 2011

It's been a while since I've been on here. The past number of months have proven to be interesting to say the least, and at most, life changing. The world that surrounds me is still beautiful, though the summer days have passed and the leaves on the alder tree outside my loft have mostly given way to the bright yellow death of fall. The sun now sits in the southern sky, but the skies have been blue, and the hustle of life has continued forward.

I've found so many new friends and acquaintances to fill my life. One has to be grateful for friends and the hours of entertainment they provide. I'm thankful for them, and the fun that we have. It seems like there is no end to the dinner parties and outings that dot the evenings and weekends. It's exhausting at times, but I endure, while fancying a similitude to a time that once was.

My little neighborhood in the city becomes smaller each day that passes. It's a wonderful feeling to walk down the street and actually know people as you walk by. It's rewarding to go to local cafes and know everyone there, and sit for an hour just to visit. I need to get a camera to capture some of these moments, and I need to take a few minutes more often to record them here.
                                                                                      -Max

Great Room Preview

Great rooms are awesome for entertaining. Photo by Phil Goodwin

I love my great room! Living in an open concept loft means working to create separate and intimate spaces in a large room. There's a lot to cover in my great room, so I'm going to give an overall preview right now and then break it up into some separate posts.

Separation, while maintaining flow is key. Photo by Phil Goodwin

In my great room I tried to compile a funky mix of modern and vintage pieces to create a warm, lived-in feel that is often missed in a concrete-floored, urban-industrial loft. It's a great space for entertaining large or small groups with flow for a crowd, but intimacy for a dinner party. Further details about the specific projects and spaces to come!

                                                                                      -Max

On perfect days like today when I am sitting outside in front of a cafe or at a park, reading, writing or just relaxing, I can't help but ask myself if life could really get any better.

Max

The Orange Bathroom

Photo by Phil Goodwin

The first room I undertook was my bathroom, so it seems appropriate it be the first in the loft tour. From the beginning I knew I wanted it to be bright orange with poetry written in black. It's pretty loud, and I love that, because bathrooms are small and you don't spend too much time in them, so they are a great place to go a little crazy. I hear a lot of people say they want to have a very spa-like bathroom, but for me, I want one that will give me energy as I get ready for the day (not really a morning person) or prepare to go out at night.

Photo by Phil Goodwin

I chose Pablo Neruda poetry to adorn the walls, as it reminds me of my time living in Chile (he was Chilean) and I love his poems. The use of Spanish is a nod to presenting his work as he wrote it and it prevents most people from getting too caught up in the meaning of the words so much as the imagery.

Photo by Phil Goodwin

With the drama of the orange walls and black writing, I chose subdued-colored photos of vintage still life settings, glass vases, and accessories primarily in greys, whites and blacks. I hope you like my bathroom, I sure do!
                                                                                      -Max

Finally a Loft Tour

I've been wanting to open up my loft to a small internet tour for some time. And the time is now! Over several installments, I'm going to show you my apartment and highlight a few of the projects I undertook in setting it up.

To catch everyone up, I moved in to a store-front loft a little under a year ago. When I say store-front, I mean store-front (my next door neighbor in an Italian restaurant with basically my same floor plan) . It's on the street with large windows facing out to the sidewalk.

Sometimes people stare in my windows, and I think it's pretty fun. At first it was a little strange to be so open to the street, but now I'm totally used to it (even the homeless people who sleep on my stoop sometimes) Hope you enjoy to tour!

                                                                                      -Max

No Wheat? No Meat? No problem

Left-overs are always welcomed the day after dinner.

This weekend I hosted a vegetarian, gluten-free dinner party. I've recently been living a flexitarian diet, but in this case it was inspired by the guest list. For starter I made an heirloom tomato and fried caper salad; the main course was fried old bay seasoned tofu-cakes with summer vegetables, beet salad and a cashew cream horseradish sauce and for dessert I made black pepper shortbread with a basil-blackberry sauce, fresh blackberries and cinnamon cream. I'd say it was pretty good overall, and the fried tofu cakes were an incredibly seasoned main course I'd definitely serve again. Do you have any good vegetarian recommendations?
                                                                                      -Max

Ninth & Glisan

Come on down, the deals are hopping.

I love donating to my street corner. Without fail the clothes or food are gone by the next morning. It sure beats tossing them in to the trash, or putting them in a "to take to Goodwill" bag where they'll sit for a month or two before I toss them in to the trash. I hope the homeless of Portland are enjoying the goods!
                                                                                      -Max