Pressed for time

I'm a sucker for antique botanical prints.  They look great on their own, paired, as a trio, and so on.  But lately, I'm feeling a little more organic, and I'm beginning to use the real deal instead of the print.  Pressed flora can add another layer of interest to your space and literally bring the outside in.  

Personally, I love the grasses and leaves.  We have some dune grass that grows in our yard, and by this time of year, their plumes stand six feet tall.  It's as if I catch a little glimpse of St. Andrews every time I look out back.  And now that I've found Becky Davis (http://www.bdbotanicals.com/), I can capture that feeling all year round.


Becky Davis Botanicals

The last hoorah

On Tuesday I will finally be joining the "Over The Hill" club.  Just as I was about to go down in flames, my husband surprised me with a weekend getaway to my favorite place on Cape Cod with my favorite childhood gal pal.  She rang my doorbell on Friday evening and said "Pack a bag, we're off to Chatham!"  And as if the surprise wasn't enough, Mother Nature chipped in with 80 degree weather.   Turns out, a swimsuit and my camera were all that I really needed to make sure that I had a little bit of sunshine with me as I approach the summit of an already incredible journey.  It's all about capturing those moments...




 

 

 

 
 

 

 

  

Life with imagination

How come you can't be old and naive at the same time?  Sometimes I wish that the world was just as interesting to me as it is to my children and that I could view it in that new, bright light that shines upon their version of it instead of seeing it in the latest collections that we all see together. 

Today, as I was flipping through the most recent issue of one of my design mags, I came across an idea that I implemented into a client's house last year.  Knowing that this was probably installed at the same time as mine and photographed soon after, I didn't think that I was that ahead of the trend, but rather that I was keeping up with the trend.  We recycle ideas in this industry, and we all seem to influence each other in one way or another.  It's a visual world, and sometimes those images that you flipped through years ago can be recalled years later without even knowing where the idea came from...

To a degree, I can understand this.  I often tell my clients to keep a folder of images that they like; to rip things out of magazines that appeal to them.  I tell them that eventually the images will form a pattern and you'll realize exactly what it is you're looking for.  Not that I want to repeat anyone's design, but I am hoping that my clients will realize their style before I decide their style for them.  And once that style is found, my goal is to mix and match the trends with the personalities, and the inspirations with the collections.  Hopefully these combinations will make it new and fresh and exactly what they were hoping for all along - their imagined version of home.

Faux or faux pas?

Given these economic times, I'm finding it harder and harder to buy things that don't last a lifetime.  One of my favorite splurges in the past has been to treat myself to an orchid from Winston Flowers.  If you live in the Boston area, Winston's is the premier florist (http://www.winstonflowers.com/).  Not only are their flowers incredibly fresh, but their varieties are often more unique than other florists, they last much longer than the average arrangement, and they have interesting cachepots to highlight them.

However, if you have a brown thumb like me, the purchase lasts only as long as it's meant to.  I used to replace my orchids every 3-4 months, but replacing orchids every 3-4 months can get expensive.  A few years ago, I discovered a small shop called Blossoms in Newton Highlands (http://www.blossomsnewton.com/).  They specialize in faux flowers and custom faux arrangments.  They also carry a great selection of containers, and the owners, Tom and Jan, can make a faux arrangement look as beautiful as a real one.

So rather than replacing all of my dead orchids on a quarterly basis, I started using Blossoms' orchids in secondary spaces, such as upstairs hallways, bathrooms and bedrooms.  And to stretch the investment, I typically give Tom and Jan my old Winston's cachepots to put the faux orchids in.

Can you tell the difference??

The heart of the home

If I were to take a poll, I think that we would all agree that kitchens are the most personal room in the house.  Yesterday, I spent 6 hours in mine (I really calculculated this).  For those of you with young families, and trying to get them up and at it the morning, the day can start early and be primarily focused in the kitchen.  For me, I have particularly slow eaters, who like to finish up their homework over a bowl of Cheerios, and this typically accounts for my first hour-and-a-half in the heart of my home.  After dropoff, you'll find me standing back in the kitchen in front of my laptop getting caught up on emails and plotting out the rest of my day.  Then between the hours of 3-8, it's after-school snack, homework at the kitchen table, getting dinner ready, finishing up end of day work on my laptop and cleaning up after a day in the kitchen....

So, after spending up to (but not less than) 42 hours per week in the kitchen (a typical work week on top of a typical work week), it's no wonder that I'm dreaming of a new one.  And, it's no wonder that it is the renovation project that is at the TOP of most of our lists.  And, it's no wonder that it's the hardest one to budget for since there are so many wants and needs that go on the wish list for the space.  Here are my top 10:

1.   Antique Buffet (I love a little personality in the kitchen)
2.   In-wall Miele coffee system (everyone has a fixe)
3.   2 dishwashers (1 standard, 1 Fisher Paykal dishwasher drawer)
4.   2 sinks (including 1 Shaw's Original farmhouse sink)
5.   Winebar/wet bar (again, everyone has a fixe)
6.   2 islands - one for prep, one for eating (must have 30" cold stone top for baking)
7.   Gynormous refrigerator (reminder, 4 kids)
8.   Separate ice maker, preferably near the winebar/wet bar (to accessorize the fixe)
9.   Lots of storage (4 kids = lots of stuff)
10. A workstation (I'm addicted to my laptop)

Oh, and a commercial grade range...
            

                  

  

Swimming anyone?

I love wallpaper in a bathroom.  It's such a great way to turn such a utilitarian space into a little jewel box of interest.  It also can make a small space seem bigger, as the pattern on the paper can add dimension to an otherwise simple white box.  Just a few ideas for you to think about the next time you're dropping the kids off at the pool...

Everyone makes mistakes

Yesterday I got a bad haircut.  It's beyond bad.  It's too dark, it's too short, and it makes me look as if I am really turning 40 in a few weeks.  It's my fault - I went to the salon and left my fate in their hands - something you shouldn't do just weeks before you're turning 40.  You know how the conversation goes, they ask, "What do you want to do with your hair today", and I respond "Oh, just do what you think it needs.  I could use a style."  Big mistake.  I've already washed it 6 times hoping it will make a difference...

Unfortunately this haircut is not just a bad haircut, it's a reminder of another error I made awhile back.  A couple of years ago I ordered a Stark carpet two feet too short for the space; rather then ordering a 12x22, I ordered a 12x20 (even though my notes clearly showed that the measurement was 12x22).  It was my fault, a dumb mistake that I'm still kicking myself for.  Yes, designers somtimes make dumb mistakes.  When the carpet was installed, it was so obvious that it was too small, it looked like a someone cut their bangs too short.  Without even trying cover up the blooper, I took ownership of it.  I ordered a new one in the correct size, ate the bill, and have been storing the 12x20 ever since (not to mention, took out a great E&O insurance policy the next week).

I may be shooting myself in the foot by letting you all know that sometimes things do go wrong during an installation, but I'm actually telling you this to start a conversation about making sure that you know what you're getting into when you sign on with a designer.  Relationships between designers and clients are multifaceted.  They are professional.  They are personal.  And, they are completely individual.  Make sure that you find a designer who you can trust, someone who you actually get along with.  Afterall, you are hiring them to make some of your toughest decisions with regard to how your space looks and how you will ultimately live in that space.  But also make sure that whoever you're hiring is a professional, someone who is not only recognized in the industry, but gives you a contract to sign, and has insurance. 

Now getting back to my dilemma of too short to look good, and how I plan to handle the problem - I have a few headbands to tie me over while my hair grows back, but I don't have a fix for my carpet.  You see, part of my predicament lies with a personal promise that keeps me from repeating designs that were custom to past client projects.  I think that this ties in with building trust between the designer and the client, and knowing that a designer is hired to create a truly custom concept for the client, an individual product.  So, if anyone wants to take a just-barely-used Stark Chesamar 100% wool carpet off my hands, drop me a line.