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Artist Anne Garney
Sunlight and plants … two elements are essential to the creativity of artist Anne Garney
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Category Archives: Buzz
Steppin’ Out in Shades of Spring!
Beauty Editor:
Sharon Snowden-Hake
It’s that time of year to let your tootsies out! If you’re like me, I don’t pay much attention to my feet during the winter months unless it’s a requirement for a modeling job. A pedicure is a must for Spring. I like to have a professional pedi to get me started and then I can maintain with my pedi egg, great moisturizer and metallic polish. This Spring the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction from an excess of neon, shocking color to the opposite spectrum. The emphasis at least for fingernails is on pretty, wearable colors with nude leading the pack and shades of cream, beige, pale pink and a few metallic accents in the running. This bodes well for me as I must always wear nude or a French manicure for modeling jobs. For toes you can still make a bright statement, but you may want to stick with classic reds, chic corals or muted yellows. On my toes, I like to mix in a little metallic with a hint of gold, bronze or silver. I find it to be flattering and still a contrast with this season’s bright printed clothing and accessories.
Now let’s move on to a rebirth of color for your makeup. I’ve noticed that eye color is emerging toward a gray/blue shade for any occasion, and by adding a shimmery version you can dress it up. Pastel eye color from the 1980s is making a comeback showing up in the way of blending blue, purple, and a hint of teal. The freshest looks are double edged, because the bold colors and strong dramatic eye shadow and liner are popular. However, at the other end of the spectrum we see more of a nude look with less liner and a choice of gold or bronze eye shadow and an overall glowing Midas touch including bronzers for radiant skin.
On a recent photo shoot, I learned that the trend for eyes and lips is to play off one another. For instance, if you have a brighter eye then you should wear a nude lip. With an earthy eye you could wear a classic red or vibrant lip. I don’t always follow the “rules” of the season, because a lot of it depends on your skin color, hair color and what looks best on you! It is fun to try the new trends, and then adjust to the fad to make it your own.
Don’t forget about your other body parts that are being exposed in the warmer months. Let’s get prepared for sleeveless tops, dresses, and shorter skirts. Now is the time to start a new workout regimen, especially if you have let it go during the winter months. You’ll not only look better, but more importantly you’ll feel better and more refreshed for Spring!
For more modeling and beauty tips go to n2modeling.com.
Posted in Buzz, Fashion, Sharon Snowden
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Home is Where the Art is … Artist Anne Garney
Sunlight and plants … these two elements are essential to the creativity of artist Anne Garney in her studio space to her bright, white living room and bedroom.
Imagine emerald palm tree fronds as they form a tropical curtain against the backdrop of crisp blue skies in Isla du Mujeres, Mexico. Sparkling ultramarine waves gently wash onto a sun-kissed beach of gold. Beach umbrellas dot the scene like fanciful yellow mushroom caps. Garney visited this beach, started painting the picturesque scene on-site, and returned to her home where she completed the artwork.
The full-time professional artist has lived in Briarcliff since January 2008. She regularly visits exotic settings in Mexico, Italy, St. John’s, Monaco, Costa Rica, or wherever her heart desires to reside in sunny climes from a few days to several weeks.
Garney’s Northland home in Kansas City serves as her base, where she takes advantage of brilliant pools of sunlight from the north and east streaming through expansive windows into her luxury condo. Her studio, tucked into a corner where oil paints, brushes, and canvases are stored, is perfectly positioned in full natural light.
“When I get up, I go straight to my easel and paint. I avoid the computer,” says Garney. “I do the same after lunch.”
Each sitting runs 2-4 hours. A single painting takes several days of work.
While at home, roughly half her day is spent painting to finish work started overseas or other canvases of Midwestern scenes. “I love to paint on site and have a direct connection with my environment,” Garney says. She photographs each scene for reference in order to complete paintings at home, but prefers working on location. “I can see details much better with my eyes. I try to capture the light in the sky and water.”
The condo’s spacious floor plan in the main room creates an effortless transition from studio to a nearby desk where she conducts business »»
on her computer. She allots part of her work day to marketing, sales, correspondence, and teaching. Garney teaches a plein air class and figure painting class at the Kansas City Art Institute.
A lush wall of tropical plants and trees establishes a natural border from the office to the main room. A tray on an ottoman holds white coral, seashells, stones, and pieces of driftwood. White furniture, beige carpets, and light hardwood floors in the dining and greatroom are a tonal counterpoint to her brightly-colored art.
The compact kitchen is adjacent to the main room, office, and studio. The interior layout is smartly designed and constructed for comfortable living and entertaining. Ten-foot ceilings with crown moldings reinforce a sense of openness. Uplifting reggae music underscores the relaxed feel of the home.
Garney, who sports a lightly bronzed tan from her equatorial adventures, keeps the heat in the condo set at a balmy temperature. She loves the heat, the light, the relaxed spirit of warmer climates. Stepping onto the covered outdoor balcony, a gentle but brisk spring breeze and view of rolling hills is a reminder of the distance from sunny seaside vistas. Indoors, painted scenes from around the world conjure memories of slow-paced life in Costa Rica and verdant hills overlooking Maho Bay beach in St. John. Better than postcards, for sure. Her oil paintings, each tagged with a description and price, line the hallway and every room in the house. In effect, she has a ready-made gallery to host an open house once or twice a year. Fans, friends, and neighbors visit to see new work and snap up a colorful painting.
Garney began oil painting in the 1990s. Her representational style as a landscape painter draws from contemporary Fauve Expressionism.
“The Fauves, a group of French artists in the early 1900s, painted with brilliant, luminous colors expressing a joyful passion for life,” says Garney. One of her favorite artists from the Fauve movement is Henri Matisse. “Of the Impressionists, I admire Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, each having a unique use of color and expressive style.”
Garney majored in art while studying at the University of Kansas, but her immediate career veered in another direction. After college, she trained with a contractor and eventually launched her own company as a home builder and designer.
She designed homes to fit the needs of a particular site and family. »»
Meanwhile, she never stopped painting. In June 1999, she pursued painting full-time. Garney accepted an offer for a free place to stay in Monaco for 10 weeks, sold her house, lived abroad, and painted for a summer.
Garney held her first art show the following spring in Kansas City. She sold 50 prints and several paintings that night and validated her career choice as an artist. Garney recalls thinking, “This is what I wanted to do.”
Tropical plants in every room of the condo are like visual props from distant lands. Blooming fuschia, white, and purple orchids in her main bedroom echo the floral painting above her headboard. Walk-in closets and a spacious bathroom with a grand walk-in shower feel as luxurious as a stay at a W Hotel. A Rand McNally world map posted on a side wall is pierced with two dozen pins marking Garney’s global exploits.
Arched doorways to each room are an architectural nod to The Ravello’s namesake. Ravello is a town situated above the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy. The condo’s amenities include a laundry washer/dryer, parking spaces in a heating garage, and custom cabinetry. Garney’s home is also situated near Briarcliff’s shops and restaurants, downtown KC, and the airport.
That last feature comes in handy when you’re an artist on the go, jetting to the islands for creative inspiration and oil painting. Once Garney’s frequent flier miles are logged, it’s a comfort to return to The Ravello and work further on her canvases. After all, home is where the art is.
Gallery:
Posted in Brad Austin, Buzz, Design, Pete Dulin
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What’s New Underfoot for 2012!
Story By: Diane Lowenberg
Interior Design Park University
Belmont Floor Covering
Sources:
Shaw Flooring
Mannington Flooring
The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA)
Photos coutesy of Shaw Floors
As an interior designer for more than 20 years, I like to start building my rooms from the floor up. Once again in 2012, hard surfaces -
hardwood floors, ceramic tiles, laminate, luxury vinyl planks, tiles, cork, bamboo- and the list goes on, are dominating the residential flooring options according to the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA). Flooring is the most used surface, second only to walls or ceiling in size. There are a plethora of floor coverings available in the marketplace with carpet trends continuing to move toward softer, textured and more luxurious looks. The new trend in bold design and color in area rugs not only add warmth and comfort to a room, but are creating dynamic focal points.
The success of any design lies in the planning, details and professional installation. Have you ever had a situation where you spent good money on something and it did not perform as expected or was installed wrong? Me too! How do you decide what is best for you? Here are some questions I use to help clients navigate through the choices.
Questions to ask
What style or feel do you want? Would you prefer an eye-catching design or a more neutral quiet backdrop? How much wear and tear will the floor get? Dump trucks or house slippers?
Develop your budget including the cost of the product, floor preparation, furniture removal, replacement and professional installation
Does it need to have special qualities, such as being waterproof or pet proof? See Spot go!
Now grab your pad and pencil, a picture of the room(s) a quick sketch with dimensions and lets go shopping!
Pre-finished vs. On-site Finish
Pre-finished hardwoods are treated with state-of-the-art factory finish. Clear urethane finishes are sprinkled with aluminum oxide—microscopic metal crystals—to increase durability. Several coats are sprayed on and dried under ultraviolet lighting. The finish is about 10 times harder than is possible with a site-finished floor. With prefinished, you’ll also avoid the odorous off-gassing, labor and the time required for finishing a floor in place. The moment after prefinished flooring is installed, it can be walked on. Instant gratification.
Not sure yet; let’s keep digging!
Engineered Wood
Most engineered flooring comes pre-finished and goes down with relative ease. Engineered floors are constructed of three or more thin sheets or “plies” of wood cross laminated together to form a single stable plank. Each plank is made like a sandwich, with stable, low-cost woods providing the foundation and the prettiest, more costly showpiece woods as the top surface. Most engineered flooring comes pre-finished and goes down with relative ease. Engineered wood flooring can be used virtually anywhere, even over concrete or below grade.
Sounds great for the lower level Guest Room!
Laminate floor can be installed on, above or below grade, making it a great choice for bedrooms, basement rooms, attic rooms or playrooms. Laminates selling features: creative design , but add to that durability, ease of installation and maintenance, and the unbeatable combination of value, aesthetics and performance. I recently used the hand hewn look in an installation with an incredibly authentic looking result.
The “Wood Look” porcelain tile provides style and durability with tile. Porcelain and ceramic tiles that mimic plank wood, parquet, and other looks are available. This is a fabulous choice for a front entry, kitchen, mud room, rich, woody tiles create a luxurious feeling while handling messes that you track in, water, mud, snow or in our house a wide variety of fishing hunting and manly messes! Porcelain or vinyl may be the perfect choice for Spot!
With the sophisticated technologies of today, the realistic patterns in Ceramic-Look Vinyl to beautiful stone and wood looks are strikingly real. There is great variety in finish colors, and seamless sheet goods put up a strong defense against moisture. Kitchens and bathrooms are safe with this flooring. Fiberglass-backed vinyl may even allow you to become the expert in putting the floor down as a weekend project.
Going Green
Concern for forests and the environment are making an impact on how wood flooring is produced. Governments, environmental groups and industry leaders are adopting certification programs and tracking systems to validate the sustainability of wood supplies.
Cork
You want different? You get different with cork. Not new but not like any of the other wood products either. It comes in wonderful textured looks and colors.
It is important to understand that though cork flooring originates from cork trees, it comes from the bark of the tree rather than the actual wood. This is a great advantage as the tree does not have to be uprooted for obtaining cork. A single tree can last for as long as 200 years and the bark from this same tree can be used again and again for purposes of cork flooring. The best part about cork flooring is that it is elastic in nature which makes walking on it a pleasure. Its waterproof qualities also work well in blocking sound; want some peace and quiet, then this cork flooring is the one for you.
Bamboo
Bamboo grows as strands because it is a grass, not a wood. This also allows frequent harvest. While it takes decades to grow hardwood trees that can only be harvested once, bamboo can be harvested every three years without need for replanting. The roots are still in the ground, so the plant just grows again.
I have not had a lot of call for bamboo here in the Northland. I called one of our major suppliers and was told they had dropped it (translation it isn‘t selling well enough for them to invest in sampling it).
The design effect is similar to Scandinavian style but with an Asian influence, it is appealing in a contemporary setting. I personally LOVE IT and am looking forward to the opportunity to use it more.
Hopefully these 2012 will get you inspired for your creations-remember the sky is the limit, create a space that is reflective of you and your family and if it works incorporate some of these remembering, your flooring can last for years.
Posted in Buzz, Design, Diane Lowenberg
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Ventana Gourmet Grill
A Crowd Pleaser in the community
A Warm, Historic Ambiance adds to the Gourmet Taste of Excelsior Springs
Story By: Pete Dulin
Photography By: Brad Austin
A row of local shops line each side of the main strip in old downtown Excelsior Springs. Guests tour the Hall of Waters and Cultural Museum. Afterward, they pop into stores selling antiques, curios, spa services, and arts and crafts. When hunger arises, a good bet is Ventana Gourmet Grill where tourists will find locals proud and pleased to patronize the bistro.
Before Ventana existed, downtown had Ray’s Lunch and Diner (opened in 1932) and some specialty shops. Fast food and chain restaurants encroached on the commercial outskirts of the growing city. Sisters Jill Rickart and Wendy Baldwin decided that their restaurant could fill a need for an “upscale casual dinning experience” sorely lacking in the community.
Circa 2002, Rickart’s kids had started school. She wanted work that would allow her to have some family time. She and Baldwin, who had years of restaurant experience, committed to opening their first establishment together. This past February marked the tenth anniversary of Ventana Gourmet Grill, quite an achievement for any restaurant to survive through the upheavals of the economy over the past decade.
Baldwin knew this vocation was the right choice. She says, “Part of my gift is that I love people. I love creating and serving others. It’s something I really enjoy.”
Ventana, which means window in Spanish, is housed in a building that dates back to the 1890s. The building has seen its share of change. Former residents range from the Boston Mercantile to dime stores to a Ben Franklin retail shop in the Seventies.
Ventana’s aesthetic warmth draws from classic details. Original tin on the ceiling, red brick walls, and polished but weathered dark wood floors evoke a timeless presence. Wooden cafe-style tables and chairs suggest an European bistro’s ambiance. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly as sunshine paints a glowing mural of light in late afternoon.
Touches of yesteryear give Ventana a familiar coziness. A candy display holds bins of gargantuan jawbreakers, malt balls, Pixie Stix, Slow Poke, and other treats. In the corner, a Steinway piano with yellowed keys looks like it might hail from the era of Jesse James when a shifty-eyed musician banged away a tune in a saloon. Ventana does feature live piano music on Friday and Saturday nights, adding to the bistro flair. »»
People in the community come here to meet as much as to eat. Ladies lunch, business men and women entertain clients, couples celebrate with a romantic night out, and families mark special occasions such as wedding rehearsals and anniversaries with a trip to Ventana. The community’s pride and appreciation for having a nice place to gather is evident. “Customers get excited to come in, bring their friends, and introduce them to the staff,” says Rickart.
Ventana hires students from local and area schools for their serving staff. Cooks Josh Gall, Ambrose Alberts, and Jason Hallmark have worked in the kitchen for many years. Rickart adds, “We instruct our staff to learn customer names and their dining preferences so they can order ‘the usual.’ It makes customers feel important.”
Not surprisingly, the bistro’s regulars enthusiastically support this local business. “We have regulars come in on certain nights,” says Baldwin. “They call us if they can’t make it or go on vacation because they don’t want us to worry if we don’t see them. It’s amazing.”
This embrace of a local business goes beyond the adoration of hometown boosters. The food is a sure draw. Before Ventana opened, the city lacked a place to eat quality steak, pasta, and seafood. Not any longer. Ventana Gourmet Grill was also featured on KCPT’s food program Check, Please! Kansas City two years ago with favorable reviews.
The kitchen prepares its dishes from scratch including pasta and cheesecakes. The food is so popular that the sisters have not been able to change the menu in any substantial way.
“Everything is ordered so much,” says Baldwin. She cites a cheesy baked potato soup served on Fridays that has been on the menu since the second week of the restaurant’s
opening ten years ago. “People like to have their favorites.”
Baldwin favors the shrimp scampi and Burgundy steak on the menu. Rickart likes to eat the 16-ounce rib-eye and gourmet veggie sandwich. The restaurant serves food to suit vegetarian, low-carb, and gluten-free diets.
Steaks are cut fresh from the local grocer are a popular entree as well as the Tuscan pasta, »»
a colorful dish loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, mushrooms, and spinach tossed with spinach fettuccine and feta cheese. The Sugar Burger is a six-ounce serving of ground Black Angus beef cooked to order, brushed with a smoky brown sugar glaze, and topped with sauteed onions, cheddar cheese, and bacon.
The menu offers an extensive array of appetizers, salads, and daily soups that could double as a weekly calendar for customers. Lobster bisque is the soup? It must be Thursday. The bounty of burgers, sandwiches, sides, and hearty entrees of pasta, steak, and seafood means never getting bored with the options. Homemade cheesecakes and bread pudding are worth loosening the belt and unsnapping the button on the waistband to indulge.
Ventana stocks a full bar, specialty beers, teas, and an array of wines from around the world to complement meals.
After a visit or two, don’t be surprised by the friendly smiles as the folks at Ventana Gourmet Grill make you feel at home. Whether it’s a short jaunt or a longer venture, it’s worth the drive to downtown Excelsior Springs to experience this crowd-pleasing local place of pride.
Mon.-Sat. Lunch & Dinner
11am-8:30pm
Historic Downtown
117 W. Broadway
Excelsior Springs, Mo 64024
816.630.8600
www.tasteofmissouri.com/ventana
Gallery:
Posted in Brad Austin, Buzz, Dining, Entertainment, Pete Dulin
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Disney COMES TO HAWAII
Story By: Liane Lance
Cruise Holidays of Kansas City
When you think of a lush, tropical paradise surrounded by pristine, blue waters, it is usually Hawaii that comes first to mind. And why not? You don’t need a passport to visit, and yet it feels like traveling to an entirely different country. In fact, it is our only state not geographically located in North America. It is also the only state to not have a single straight line in its state boundary.
Hawaii also proudly embraces a different native language, different native dress, and a decidedly different outlook on life in general. True, this island paradise is also cosmopolitan and “American” in many ways, but it has not lost its’ core culture. It is a culture of hospitality and you will certainly feel welcome as you de-plane and have a lei placed around your neck! The language can seem fairly intimidating at first, but once you learn that the entire Hawaiian alphabet is made up of the 5 vowels (a,e, i, o, u) and just 7 consonants (h,k,l.m,n,p,w), it gets easier to break down those long words! Also, their vowels are always pronounced the same unless you see a kahako symbol (^) above it, indicating it is an unstressed vowel. Whenever you see a backwards apostrophe-like symbol called an okina, you simply insert a quick pause in the word. For example, most people pronounce the capital of Hawaii as “oh-wha-hoo,” which is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is “oh-ah-hoo.”
Hawaii is a fascinating and amazingly diverse location to visit – you can find white sand, black sand, volcanoes, wet areas, dry areas, stunning waterfalls and spectacular surf. There is a cornucopia of activities to do – or you can do nothing at all. Hawaii is the most recent addition to our flag (1959), and is the only state made up entirely of islands. This is an important factor when planning a visit. People ask me “when is the best time to visit Hawaii?”, and my answer is first another question, “where in Hawaii do you want to visit?” The official rainy season is the winter season, from November to March – but that can mean absolutely nothing based upon where you are in Hawaii. It’s going to rain somewhere, on every island, each day and it may only be a sprinkle versus a downpour. Their weather is a micro system within each island, based on the prevalent tradewinds that blow from east to west. Leeward sides of all the islands (western and southern sides), are typically warmer and more dry. The windward (northern and eastern sides) are usually cooler and wetter.
WHAT’S NEW IN HAWAII? The DISNEY Aulani Resort!
So, you already know that Hawaii is a great destination, but you might not be aware that DISNEY has also come to Hawaii with a terrific new resort offering – The Aulani (which means “king’s messenger” in Hawaiian). This new beachfront resort is located on the capital island of O’ahu, in Ko Olina on the leeward side of the island. It’s Kapolei address is a more tranquil and less congested area than Waikiki, but still close enough to enjoy the popular sites on O’ahu.
Disney has pulled out all the stops to create a unique and magnificent resort that couples and families will both enjoy. Walt Disney Imagineers worked hand-in-hand with locals to create a place that celebrates Hawaiian culture, history and traditions. The Aulani was designed with the intention to immerse guests in the legends of the islands – to give them an experience that would bring out the enchantment of Hawaii.
The resort boasts a variety of accommodations to choose from – standard rooms and suites to villas (ranging from studios to 2 bedrooms, and even a Grand Villa that can accommodate 12 guests!) To make your stay more “all inclusive,” Disney offers a variety of meal plans that can be added to your booking to make your dining experience more predictable for your budget.
In addition to a spectacular beach, the resort boasts a myriad of pools, each designed for different purposes. There is a tubing “stream” which twists through caverns while its lazy river glides along the Hawaiian landscape. There is a huge 8200-square-foot, zero-entry pool that also includes a spectacular plunge down the “Volcanic Vertical,” the tunnel body slide. There is a snorkeling lagoon, Rainbow Reef, which offers an up-close look at life underwater. There is a marine conservation pool with stingrays and marine biologists on hand to teach young and old all about the wonders of our oceans and the wildlife that lives there. There are adult pools and whirlpool spas, special play areas for the kiddos,
and poolside cabanas that can be reserved to create a more private, waterside experience. »»
Disney designs their resorts to be highly accessible to those with disabilities – and they have water and sand wheelchairs available in addition to handicapped rooms and ramps.
Want more fun?
Adventures by Disney Excursions offers a variety of excursions off-property as well, such as golf, surfing, horseback riding, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba, and much more! There’s even “shopping excursions” for those who want to pick up local treasures to take back home!
Hawaii is an amazing destination, no matter how you plan it. The addition of Disney only makes it more amazing. I hope you consider visiting the islands soon! Mahalo!
Posted in Buzz, Liane Lance, Travel
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