Lamp lust

My latest all-consuming obsession is fixing up the new house. Marlon and I spend hours talking about it. Our creative taps have been turned, and now we are gushing ideas, plans and budgets. The sheer number of options available in this incredible art- and design-mad city simply feeds the obsession.

What really helped me get started is the Dutch shelter magazine VTWonen. I'd heard of it even before I moved here, from Europe-based design blogs like Emma's, Design Shimmer and Vosges Paris. When I was in the hospital and bored out of my mind, I hobbled to the hospital bookshop and got a copy. Even if it was entirely in Dutch, I was enchanted. Everything was beautifully styled and photographed, and it was really easy to match the prices and shops to the photos. 

One of the resources was a canvas printing service which also does lamps. Perfect for our living room! Pictureprint's nifty site lets you try photos out on a sample lamp, an activity which is as addictive as virtual makeovers (remember those?). After a sleepless night, I came up with a few lead options, but still can't decide. 

Now picture dove-gray walls, light wood furniture, huge windows and and let me know which is your fave!

1) A painting from Fernando Zobel from the Ateneo Art Gallery. This holds sentimental significance, as I have fond memories of my Philo 101 teacher introducing us to these paintings. Zobel has an entire series where he used syringes to apply paint.

2) A painting by Jose Joya, also from the Ateneo Art Gallery. The entire collection traveled to Singapore last year, which is where I took these photos.

3) One of my recent favorite photos of Amsterdam, sun flares somewhere in the Old Centre.

4) An odd choice that works surprisingly well: closeup of the penny tiles in the hot tub on top of Marina Bay Sands. I love the colors but not sure how I feel about polka dots.

5) The classic Boracay sunset. This was taken during our third anniversary getaway.

6) A sunset that actually works ten times better, but it's from Pulau Tioman in Malaysia. I would have preferred to have a Philippine sunset.

7) Detail shot of amethysts from the Hall of Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

8) My favorite painting from the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco: Strut by Marilyn Minter, a huge enamel-on-metal still life of diamond-studded, lilac Dior stilettos. I'm wild about this, but it was immediately and vehemently vetoed by Marlon: "Marry a girl kung gusto mo talaga."

Decisions, decisions! Which would you pick?