Debbie Palao . Blog

TURNING SEASONS
» 2009 September •

CHANGE. While a recurring phenomenon that heralds progress and evolution, it has not quite been put into pure focus as much as it has been this year, as evidenced in the successful campaigns that have wrought so much fervour, influenced so much of the bold movements in different industries. The triumph of Obama and his optimistic slogan is not the least of them; neither are the drastic, often daring strategies taken by all sorts of businesses in the wake of the recession.

It's all over the news. But while 'change' is synonymous with 'evolution', timing it to suit the occasion is crucial, as one puts many things at risk. The reason why the DNA helix is shaped like stairs (of course one can argue the inverse, especially where the iconic works of Ross Lovegrove [»] are concerned) is because change that begets a proper and long-term result, needs to be a progressive effort: one step at a time. Suddenly switching to a completely vegan diet [»] for instance, may have good intentions behind it, but certainly isn't advisable!

(Neither is cutting off all sources of sweets. I still prefer the occasional doughnut with my morning coffee.)

(via Tom Howard Design [»])

There are many things to consider when employing this keyword to major endeavours. It is strong enough to signal the end and the beginning of many ideas and plans, all of which in turn will affect other people. A word of caution then, in these changing times: know where you are going.

And always be sure to pack lip balm.

• • • • • • • • • •

There's a cold front pressing against the borders of the tropical island humidity these days, and there are mornings when I wake up with a sense of vertigo as I turn my head to the window: Surely this isn't -----? I ask myself, filling the blank with one of the many beautiful places I have been privileged enough to experience.

There are the rainy mornings of Milano, always ready in the seasonal grey-and-monochrome hue characteristic of springs in Northern Italy...about the same time we go for the Milano Fair. There are the even colder, muted sunrises of Cologne, of Frankfurt, that challenge the thickness of the most insulating overcoat. There is Paris, in the grey hour, where T.S. Eliot remarks how the weather is "like a patient etherised upon a table."

So when the sky dims over (even at high noon) and a chill breeze slips under the doors of a room, we lighten up and warm the the place.

• • • • • • • • • •

All this nostalgia for traveling!

The illustrious St. Augustine (for whom my husband is named after), intellectual and theologian once remarked that the world is a big book and that those who do not travel it read only one page, and I thoroughly agree. As a lover of books myself (while not as voracious as my niece and some of my friends, I do have a regular literary diet), I make it a point to pick up at least one magazine on design or interiors wherever I find myself in.

What a joy then, to find that friends from all over encourage the practice, by sending in samples of THEIR publications! An even greater honour and surprise to find that there's someone VEERY familiar in that Lifestyle section, and then suddenly I wish I hadn't eaten that evil little doughnut the month before, in a fit of guilty binging. One doughnut, or two?

from InsideOutside India [»] (click link to view PDF)

from Good Homes India [»]

And many more to come! These will be updated also on our Press page [»] as well, so do pass by and view other features.

Photos by K, Gus

Labels: effervescent-effusions, press-related

PLEASANT SURPRISES
» 2009 January

The world we live in now is a funny thing sometimes, and drastically different from before. That's not to date a comment or something like that, but take for instance, the internet; one day someone uploads/ blogs about something, the next day even the remotest area in the world has news of it (provided they don't have governmental blocks!).

The following are screencaps of some of my items in Brasil, forwarded to me by my friends, and one of Elle Decór India [»], from last year's visit to Mumbai.

Please click on the text link if the images do not show.