Here’s some Spring cleaning and redecorating going on in casa de Izzy Mo. Or Bayt Izdihar, chez Izzy Mo or whatever. 
I made this little flickr mosaic for Aaminah (and for anyone who’s interested) to the new look that I’m giving to my apartment. It all started quite innocently. I just wanted to change my bed sheets. But then I realized that I had been living in pink, Pepto Bismol bliss since 2005. Aaminah’s theory for my pink obsession, a color I hadn’t thought about since I was six, was due to my need to see something cheerful and pretty after Hurricane Katrina. So now that I’m over my pink love affair, the whole look had to change. Right now in my office/studio, there’s a box filled with all my pinky, purple-ly stuff. I’ve gone over to the opposite side of the color spectrum. I’ve fallen in love with green, my second favorite color.
That thing off to the side is my swatchorama or samples of things that are a part of my transition to a calm, soothing decor. If you click the picture, you’ll see what each pic is. A vase. A pattern from a pillow or curtain panel. Freshly painted glass waiting for their finishing touches.
I’ve also started this fixer-upper project. Here’s the slideshow. http://www.flickr.com/photos/98756806@N00/sets/72157605045152326/ You can see how this small, white vanity table will become (within a few days, insha’Allah) a sleek black table with a lacquer finish. I’ll put a new classy knob on the drawer and I may use sandpaper to “rough up” the edges so that the finish looks more natural and refined. And I’m debating on putting…wait for it, zebra print fabric onto the bottom part of the drawer. I KNOW that sounds dingy but I like surprises like that. Plus, no one will see it unless they open the drawer so if it looks crazy, they can just shut the drawer and pretend like they didn’t see it. If it looks like it could be remotely tacky, I won’t do it…but we’ll see.
I’m taking a lot about color here but there’s so much more to interior design than that. It’s about patterns, natural light, the feel and durability of fabrics, symmetry and the overall sensory response from the one(s) who live within the environment. It’s also about scents. Every person or family seems to have their own special scent. When you open the door of a home, you can discover a million things about this occupant(s) lifestyle upon smelling the interior. You know what I mean. Do you smell potpourri or scented candles? Do you smell pasta or roast beef? And we’ve all heard the stereotype about how single men are incapable of creating nice homes/apartments. You’ve also probably heard that single men (or straight men in general) are messy and their living quarters smell like corn chips, feet and sweat.
Anywho, I’m still waiting on the day when some crazy imam or mosque will allow me to design the inside of a masjid. I believe it will come, insha’Allah. Anyone who’s willing to trust me (and pay me :::snicker:::), let me know.
Aaminah said,
May 14, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Asalaamu alaikum.
I like the direction you are going, very much. Very zen.
musulmana said,
May 14, 2008 at 6:04 pm
assalamu aleikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuhu,
I also love interior decorating. The problem is that I am very indecisive, I know what I don’t like, but I like different things, and it’s hard for me to put it all together.
After 5 months of looking for a paint color to paint my foyer (I kid you not) I finally decided on one today, actually on 2 colors. One will be an accent wall.
Of course, I had to spend big because when I finally liked something it was in the Ralph Lauren brand. I don’t even like the yuppie look, but this was beautiful. Argh! So I had to get special rollers and all.
So I know when I like something, but it has to find me, not the other way around.
For me, I don’t even care if it all matches- call it a bit eclectic (although I absolutely love the British Colonial style and traditional styles, I am sooo not hip and modern).
I wish you could have been with me at Home Depot, you could have offered me your expertise in colors and textures!
I love your choices. So modern yet a bit retro and very feminine and elegant. That’s what I see. But again, what do I know.
pseudonymblog said,
May 14, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Hi! Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your blog!! I’m getting ready to start renovating our den…so, I’m searching for ideas…that’s how I came upon your blog.
Izzy Mo said,
May 15, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Walaikum salaam folks
Aaminah: Thanks, hon.
Musulmana: I totally understand that. Paint color is so important. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on paint and then it winds up being the wrong shade or tone. And I like Ralph Lauren paint but I like it from a distance, you know, because he’s way too expensive. As for my color choices, yeah, I wanted to do something calm and soothing. Plus, like you pointed out, I wanted something modern but not too modern. I would consider interior design as a career but once again, that’s more school and I don’t have the money.
Pseudonymblog: Thanks for stopping by. I hope your den turns out the way you want it to!
dawud said,
May 16, 2008 at 3:44 am
salaam Izzy;
hah, we’re (straight single men) not all the same, my apartment doesn’t smell of corn chips – I won’t say anything about socks and disorganization tho, I plead the 5th.
I echo the approval of your artistic direction. Have you done anything about learning calligraphy, either in America or abroad? You still have time to learn, and I’m sure that it’d help your design as well to learn traditional methods of structure and design – perhaps you\ve heard of Prince Charles’ school for Traditional Arts in London, or at least contacted sister Ayesha Holland?
izzymo said,
May 17, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Salaamz Dawud
Hah, it’s cool. I know some very clean organized guys along with some—”well, it looks like hurricane hit their house” kind of guys.
I contacted M. Zakariya and he no longer does calligraphy classes by correspondence. In order for me to learn with him (that is, if he could make the time out of his very busy schedule) I would probably have to move to VA. Plus, like the other projects, I don’t have the money. I contacted Sister Ayesha but she lives in NY, and of course, that’s time, money and moving to NY. And I can imagine the school in London would be very expensive. So, I have no idea when and how I would ever learn calligraphy.