Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. A lot of the bloggers I read recognized it by posting pictures of their honeys. Food or Flowers shaped up into hearts were also popular this year– not sure why.
Never one to succumb, I spent time thinking about an HGTV show I watched many years ago called Designing for the Sexes. At that time, I would have never guessed that in a few short years I would be LIVING that show.
Just an hour ago, I was on the phone with a client who is reluctantly going to purchase a double recliner. Her husband really wants it. It is, after all, a souped up Man Chair. And I have had a few cases where the husband said some version of, “Dear, I don’t care what you do to the house, just give me my comfortable chair.” My client feels she owes it to him, and who am I to judge?
When I’m conducting an initial phone interview with a new client, I ask about the living arrangements. If a significant other lives in the home, I request he/she be present for my first visit. I have learned long ago not to make the assumption that the wife makes the decorating decisions. It’s just not true. Nearly half the time, a male makes the call because he is the one that has more established opinions. And not just about the chair he will crash in front of the TV in.
Some couples have similar taste. I am lucky in that regard. You would think being married to a professional would be enough for my husband. But no, he always has to argue with me about our decorating decisions, even if our preferences are the same. Thankfully, I always win. But more times than not, we have a Plate Incident on our hands. In these situations, Michael, from the aforementioned show, makes it look so hazardous. But really, my job becomes maintaining the balance on the score card.
We are snowed in. And may be for days. Another 4 to 6 inches is coming on Tuesday!! What in the world did people do before they had the world in front of them on their computer screens? The internet is the reason I am (semi) sane right now. There is so much to learn out there in cyberspace. Today, for instance, I found out that Aubergine is the British phrase for Eggplant.
So in honor of my newly found knowledge, here is a room I designed for a client that is crazy about purple.
Sofa Chair Rug Ottoman Endtable Drapery Panels Lamp Pillow Pillows
Cinde and I have worked together for many years. She originally hired me immediately upon our meeting at a Chamber of Commerce function. Only a few days prior, she had closed on a beach house still under construction and she had some pressing decisions to make regarding the cabinets and counters. So our meeting was fortuitous. Since then, we have done many projects together.
Her family room is the latest. We chose the paint colors at least a year ago. A deep sage covers three walls, and the far, fireplace wall is a russet.
I gave her these two options.
Option 1: Sofa Chair Rug Drapery Panel Media Stand Coffee Table Console Pillow Vases
Option 2: Sectional Chair Rug Ottoman Side Table Media Center Pillow Pillows Vases
I met again with JoDee and Jonathan a few weeks ago, and they have been finishing projects faster than I can assign them. This is our second home together, and this time the vision is RANCH. JoDee wants the house to look modern, yet timeless. Cozy but Clean-like a vacation property out west, without the requisite kitsch.
Working beyond the usual triumvirate of furniture, wall color and window treatments, we are adding some unique touches to the structure of their new home. Texture is a key element in creating a warm and cozy space, especially in homes with larger square footage. Their home has upgraded elements such as picture frame molding in the Second Floor Hall and in the Dining Room, and while these are beautiful on their own, we decided to kick it up a notch.
The upper section of the Hall, above the chair rail, was painted Tavern Taupe from Sherwin Williams. Normally I am a fan of leaving the entire lower area, moldings and all, high gloss white, and we did this in the more formal Dining Room. But the Upstairs Hall needed that all important texture. Unconventionally, I chose a lighter shade, Stone Lion, for the bottom beneath the chair rail. And here comes the fun part: JoDee, at my suggestion, upholstered the framed area with batting wrapped in burlap.
Although I have yet to see it, here is what she said as she sent these photos from her iPhone. “Perfect!” “AMAZING!!!” “You have GOT to see this!” Yea, I think she likes it.
My appointment for this evening was rescheduled. The owner of the restaurant I am designing, the soon-to-be manager, and I were supposed to meet in Dupont Circle to bar hop. Yea, you read that right. I’m getting paid to order fancy drinks in cool, DC night clubs.
Okay, if I haven’t yet clicked away from my obnoxious bragging, I have to confess that it really isn’t THAT glamorous. My task isn’t to have fun. I’m along to catalogue the reactions of the others with me. And here comes the work: I have to take those reactions and apply them to our establishment.
Likes
Technology– Anything that gets plugged in, flashes, buzzes and pops.
Textures
Stripes and geometric shapes
Metal
Brown, gold and black
Focused lighting
Leather
Varying wood tones
Dislikes
High contrasts
Heavy fabrics
Curves and curlycues
Useless tchotchkes
Ambient light
Brass
Team pennants
Bottom line: It is apparent without any more gallivanting that a clean, masculine aesthetic will prevail. But we still need to check the competition.
Don’t blame me if I tap my toes and sip a trendy cocktail. It’s RESEARCH.
I am sitting in the cool air on my balcony, staring at a blank sheet of paper. Well, actually a digital representation of a black sheet of paper, but you get the idea. It has been a long time since I felt the urge to write. And it isn’t just lack of sheer drive that has kept me silent. I haven’t HAD anything to write about.
This recession sucks. Business this summer was S L O W. My life was very busy, but that was about the all consuming activities of my children. This blog is a journal of my professional life. A REALISTIC one. I am not in an MLM. I don’t pretend to be successful when I am not. I write the truth, and when it’s ugly, I guess I just don’t write.
But this entry is not about doom and gloom, so don’t go clicking away to find a decorator with a sunnier disposition. There is news! I have something to write about!
Wednesday I met with clients I have had from day one of Decorate Your Space. They came to me by way of referral from clients from my former job. I have worked with them over the years on two houses and a minor commercial renovation. We have had an excellent working relationship, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to hear about their latest business endeavor because I foresaw that it just might include me as well.
After 6 months through the county permitting process, construction has begun on a three level rooftop bar and grill. And guess who will be creating the high tech sports bar atmosphere?
* giggles of glee* Stay tuned!
More Facebook cell phone photos from my client, JoDee. (Man, do I need a new camera.)
JoDee found someone to paint my design. If you have ever seen my handwriting you will understand why.
Bamboo is a medium not often seen on Kitchen Cabinets. After viewing only a few photos, I am surprised that using this ecologically correct material in the Kitchen isn’t more popular.
Here are just a few stunning examples:
It is important to consider more than just size when determining how functional a space will be.
This weekend I met with a client who wanted to take me to see two properties she and her three children were considering. One was much larger and because of this crazy market riddled with foreclosures, cheaper. The other, to all of the family members but one, just felt better. My job was to affirm their gut reaction and to convince them that they were not crazy for going for a smaller, more expensive home.
The reason is simple. Though smaller, the home had a layout that was in tune to the needs of this close family. The social spaces were clustered in a group and away from the private spaces. The home had a yard directly off the main living areas, making even the dog seem always nearby. A smaller family room, but bigger bedrooms better meet the needs of three teenagers who spend less time with toys and more time studying and using electronics.
Together we wrote down the features of each as we toured them. Though the length of both lists was the same, looking at the features in black and white made it obvious to everyone what was the better choice.
I am glad we are moving away from the trend of huge McMansions, and houses full of rooms without a stick of furniture. Sadly though, the reasons for the shift seem to be more the force of the economy than a concerted effort to create functional, rational living spaces.
*tap tap* Hello? Anyone out there?
I know, it ’s been me that has vanished. Sorry for the unexplained absence. I got so tied up with the musical production that I couldn’t even lift my fingers to type. When it all finally ended, aside from sinking into a mini depression, I realized that I had been writing quite religiously for an entire year. A blog vacation was in order.
So today I will begin with baby steps. I don’t want my fingers to cramp from lack of use.
Here are some fuzzy pictures my client put on my Facebook. (Obviously taken with a phone…sorry.) Somehow we were inspired by the vast collection of pictures stacked from the move in her basement and we determined that a collection of empty frames would fill a blank wall space without closing it in.
These frames were purchased on a family trip in South Carolina. JoDee texted me during the process, so the transcript is gone, but I believe they came from a flea market. Looks wonderful, doesn’t it?
