Space Lifting

I painted my hallway this past weekend and have just finished hanging the artwork.  My husband and I love art and have collected many pieces over the 23 years of our marriage, some having investment value, some not, but all selected for the subject matter and joy it brings into our home.  Art should never be selected for its "decoration" value for it will eventually end up in the basement, the consignment store, or your next garage sale.  This is a poor waste of $$$ as the framing alone is pricey when done properly and often times is more expensive than the art when buying a print of an original. 

Artwork is meant to be seen.  Being viewed is it's only real purpose.  My upstairs hallway is long with ample light at the  landing from the open two story foyer, but when you turn right instead of left, you enter 15 feet of windowless space.  The hallway terminates at the Master bedroom and Study.  Turning left puts you into the bedroom, where turning right offers a small hallway with a french door that opens into Scott's study.  The small hallway also offers a color opportunity to strike a new mood and draw the distant wall closer by making the hallway not appear to be long and narrow.  When my daughter's bedroom door is open it does allow some natural to enter the center of the hallway, but the light is marginal even on the sunniest of days.  The prior owners had painted the hallway a pleasant green/gray color.  Many pictures had been hung in the 10 feet of wall space so the primary wall was full of nail holes.  Rather than add to the golf course of holes she had already created or try to fill and paint over the holes in a color I did not intend to keep, I utilized the existing holes and simply lived with the odd arrangement of artwork until the plan of change had been determined.

"Necessity is the mother of invention."  Complacency set in and the unintended consequence was not painting the hallway until an event was to take place in our home that would open it to the public for many to see.  As a known interior designer and

educator of young minds to the profession, I simply could not allow untold numbers of people to see my home and not have it at its best.  A commonly asked question by friends and clients is how do you know when it is okay to change from one color to another with so many of us living in open plans and not wanting all our walls to be the same color.  Inside and outside corners is the usual answer to that question.  Color transitions help to define a space.  It is important to note that strong and numerous colors may not be recommended for those individuals planning to sell and move within a couple of years, but long term residents can transcend a room for a small amount of money and effort providing joy and comfort where there previously was none.  A home's color palette is a response to one of the Principles of Design, harmony.  Harmony exists when through

a master plan one has achieved both variety and unity.

Within my home are a variety of furniture styles within an open floor plan.  The common "cheerful" color that I determined would bring a sunny fresh feeling to my hallway was a subdued shade of yellow similar to light rattan.  My inspiration (remember the kitchen at the Jersey Shore having an inspiration) was an Asian folding silk screen on a high shelf in my foyer opposite the upper landing.  During the daytime the creamy yellow color gives the impression of sunlight where there is none and widens the narrowness.  The small hallway leading to the study still retains the original color of green at this time, but my final finish will be to bring the warmer green in my dining room (also open to the foyer) to the back hallway giving warmth and interest while showing off the more masculine wildlife artwork leading to the study.

Finally, the artwork needed to be hung.  I took all the artwork I had removed, plus all the artwork I had stored and laid the pieces out to decide what is re-hung and what goes away or finds a new home.  In the end I decided to also walk through my house and see what artwork I should move to new locations. 

It has become my habit to buy a piece of street art when I travel.  Often it is original art that portrays a scene distinctive to the city or country I am visiting.  My current collection includes the famed harbor in Copenhagen lined with colorful 4 story buildings, Stockholm's "Old City", The Ballastone Inn in Savannah, and Capitola by the Sea in my beloved Santa Cruz county and former home, just to name a few. 

When the artwork was laid out, I discovered that somehow I had acquired numerous pieces of art that held large amounts of pink, a color I currently had nowhere in my home, so I boxed up most of the pink artwork for safe storage.  The hallway now boasts my travel artwork where I can see it each day as I pass through the hall giving me pause to consider what view I may want to add when I travel to Paris in December.  Hmmm......snow drifts on the Seine?

Separation Anxiety

Tonight as I write this post, my baby sister is placing the last piece of furniture on a truck and setting out in the morning for her journey to Florida.  Yesterday she officially retired.  She is 55, healthy, pretty, and looking forward to spending the next few months or years seeing the USA with her husband of 3 years, "one blade of grass at a time" and then even making an occasional jaunt across the pond to play in Sweden visiting family and friends who live there. 

Since leaving our childhood home a few decades back, this house is one of only two homes she has lived in that truly had her life blood in each and every room. She tended the beautiful gardens and embraced the "vacation-like" village she has called home the past 8 years.   After the unexpected loss of our father 18 years ago, she decided to make some changes in her own life and left her home in Kansas City landing in the Philadelphia area.  A new position, a career ascending to higher and higher levels and a house at the beach were part of her unfolding plan.  She discovered the Jersey Shore and chose to have a commute to work when she wasn't being sent to South America, Europe, or Asia. She never minded the drive because each time she came home it was like being on  vacation.  One Friday night in February she met the man who would become the love of her life.  In the middle of major construction to her beach house, she was now balancing work, the remodel, and her new love.

She and I had worked on many design projects for her various homes over the years.  Her Kansas City rancher was her first "owned" home.  She began to acquire quality furnishings, custom window treatments, and even experienced a small kitchen remodel after an appliance failure.   The townhome in Chesterbrook touted a gorgeous innovative fireplace she designed, but neither home came close to the comfort and beauty of the Jersey Shore house.  The initial conceptual plans for the remodel were put to paper the winter after she moved.  I had flown in from California to brainstorm, measure, and start the programming process of design.  The second day I was there, our mother called to tell us that she had 4th stage breast cancer and had been secretly ill for over 10 years.  I mourned her death for the rest of the visit though she actually lived another 4 years.  Her illness inserted an additional difficulty in the design and construction process making it hard to focus and extending the length of time to complete the project by 2.  My sister's plans had been to improve the home for the ease of selling someday and to get to enjoy the home in the meantime.  She planned to work until she was eligible to retire, and then decide whether to move close to my family and start a fun business or to continue to consult with her company and enjoy the house for a few more years.

Cooking is her hobby and her collection of cookbooks is to be envied.  Many wonderful meals and treats have come out of the beautiful room we created.  As an educator, we teach our students to find things to inspire them when designing their projects.  I had saved a periodical with an amazing kitchen design in it.  One of the advantages of knowing someone their whole life, is knowing what they like even before they do.  I took the magazine to her and she embraced the concept like I knew she would.  Living 4 hours apart (I had moved to Maryland) makes it impossible to be present for all decisions.  Having the inspiration pictures from the magazine was the ideal reference when I could not be present

Her future husband arrived  in mid remodel.  His love of restoring sail boats and his knowledge of construction helped her to keep her sanity and stress levels low, plus he liked to clean house; what luck!  Six months after the home was completed, they were married in the livingroom with me at her side.  With both our parents gone and a new husband to share her life with, it was time to accept that all things change, and at the end of the day, it is only a house, but honestly, it was a really great house and I will miss it. In a poor economy she got her full asking price.  The buyer's daughter was an interior designer and recognized what we had acconplished and the quality of workmanship she had demanded. 

 She claims we will see each other more, though I no longer can drive to where she will live.  Time will tell if that is true.  Thanks for the memories you made little house at the Jersey Shore.  When she arrived some doors started to close, but now she has a new life ahead and I for one am looking forward to the next chapter.

Scratch and Dent

What should we tolerate as consumers from the workers who come into our homes and perform installation services?  How do we know when we have a legitimate complaint and what our leverage is to resolve the problems at hand? 

Seven years ago my family moved from one coast to the other.  I may lose my clients each and every time a move occurs, but I don't lose my experience and knowledge, which by this time is extensive.  When people are constructing a new home there are so many variables to deal with and decisions to make, it is nearly impossible for them to stay on top of every aspect of the construction.

 First, it is important to remember that no two circumstances are ever exactly the same.  What should be consistent from one situation to the next is how we maneuver through to a favorable end.  The home my family chose to purchase had many ideal features already in place in a price range we could afford.  Construction of a new home with the same features would offer less square footage at a higher price, so the choice of home we made has proven to be the right choice for us.  All that being said, despite the pre-existing crown mouldings, granite countertops and cherry hardwood floors, there was also the minimally painted walls, cheap door knobs, and weak aluminum hand railing.  The most annoying area of my home though has proven to be the master bathroom.  The size is pleasant, the light from the large window ample, and the basic layout very agreeable.  The problem becomes apparent when one is using the toilet.  The View from the "john" is focused directly on the tile the previous owner selected.  While the tile is neutral and non offensive, the installation is anything but acceptable. The problem is centered around the layout decisions that were made.  The person installing the tile was either ignorant or indifferent to the final result.  What follows is an accounting of the problems.

Wall tile was used on the threshold to the shower.  Refer to the picture of the threshold.  Visually it looked fine until someone needed to stand on the threshold to reach a high object, and "clink", the first crack appeared.  Today there are more than a dozen cracks on multiple tiles. N E V E R use wall tile on a floor.  There is a difference on how the tile responds to normal use.  The tile is typically made of a softer clay and is thinner in its depth.  It is suppose to be used on the walls where no one walks! 

The second issue is the decision of how to deal with the transition of the the listellos on the face of the tub decking where they meet the the shower.  The decision the installer made could not have been more unattractive.  The installer chose to cut the decorative vertical tiles on both ends of the  tub decking, leaving partial pieces on both ends and what appears to be a mosaic of "piecing together" tile parts to transition to the finished edge tile pieces of the shower wall. (note the picture)  I can only assume that the installer started on the left side of the tub facing and by the time he/she arrived at the shower, nearly all the tile had been set and it was too late for them to make the change.  The homeowner should have refused to accept the installation and the installer should have replaced the tile on the tub facing.  Additionally, a severely chipped listello is in the inside corner of the shower, and since I have many leftover pieces from the previous owner, I know that piece could have also been replaced. before grouting occurred.

Someday in the not too distant future, I will have these errors corrected.  Bathroom remodel can be expensive however, even for someone in the business, and then one must also factor in how long we plan to live in the house.  The threshold is the more serious problem as water and dry rot can occur and any inspector worth his weight will require that repair to be made when selling, so we may as well fix it and enjoy the visual and functional benefit we will gain by addressing it now.  Scratch and dents may work on an appliance or new TV to save a dollar, but should never be tolerated in new construction.

Never Stop Learning

When my mother turned 55 she said "I am done learning, I don't want to learn anything new".  I am almost 4 years older than she was then, and I can't imagine having to settle for only the things I have learned up until now for the rest of my life.  She lived another 24 years.  That is a long time to be stuck by the side of the road.  I recently audited a course on learning new digital techniques to apply to a portfolio of my body of work.  I have a large body of work, most completed during a less digital/ technological time.  I may not use this new found information in the same way the younger students will certainly need it, but I see my time spent as an opportunity to apply and further develop those skills to assist in my workplace, to help others on their journey in interior design , or maybe to simply document for my children what their mother has been doing the past 37 years. 

Never stop learning.  Evolve, improve, teach others.

A View From a Room

I just returned from a trip to New Orleans.  Of course the uniqueness of French architecture in the Quarter is the hallmark of this very old city.  Selecting a Historic Inn for accommodations has its advantages and drawbacks.  I found myself in a constant state of wanting to redefine the decisions made by the Innkeepers.  The convenient location had unfortunately made the owners lazy in having a pristine inn one would want to return to in the future.  All this being said, I could not help but look more closely at how the structure must have been in its more glorified days.  When one mentally stripped away the black fencing that surrounded the small oval swimming pool, ignored the mismatched drapery and the bargain bath fixtures, the 200 year old shutters, crystal chandeliers, and stucco walls emerged.

Laying down for a nap one afternoon, I found myself instead of napping, sketching the view from our room, being certain to include the over-painted hinges and window trim.  Vines sprawled over the exposed timber and stucco exterior.  Details of small antique glass window panes in the 10 foot tall french doors and sunburst transom established the feminine grace of the Hotel St. Pierre.  Once I stopped looking at the inside, I could then see the parts of the building that were not altered, and could not be altered,...and it was beautiful.  She was like a aging beauty that could no longer afford the finer things, but was so classic in her lines, the frayed edges of her dressings couldn't deny who she really was.

Someday there will be a new innkeeper.  We can only hope that the new owners will see what I saw those few sultry days in July, a building that is simply holding its breath and waiting for love to return.

The 5th Wall

The most ignored plane in rooms today is the ceiling, known in the design community as the "5th Wall".  Historically it was critical to the room.  There was no HVAC, no plumbing, no mechanical engineering to consider.  Sometimes the ceiling design was the primary focus of the space.  Where ceilings are certainly considered, often times we wish to have them disappear and not intrude into the design of the room.  This is an opportunity that has been missed.  Wouldn't it be nice to go to the dentist office, and look up seeing something pleasant to distract from the job at hand.  Bed canopies used to be for warmth, but today they create a romantic statement giving shape and texture where there otherwise would be none.  I find it almost comical as the folks on TV go house hunting and then oooh and ahhh over a simple tray ceiling when one trip through nearly any historical building will render a result much more complex.

Having the good fortune to visit Westminster Abbey in London, I will never stop regretting not looking up at the proper moment to witness the majesty of their fan vaults.  Now I teach the History of Interior Design to students at a local college where ceiling design is discussed in every chapter until the 20th century when mechanical engineering and the modern age stepped in.  Ceiling design had to happen around the comforts we have all come to enjoy and expect.

Consider how to enhance the space above you as part of your next design plan.  Layer moldings, tape off graphics, engage a faux artist to design around your ceiling fan or register, or simply run a paper border at the vertical crown and on the horizontal perimeter of the ceiling, defining the wall that encompasses your room.  There are no rules in art...think and then just do it.

ASIAN Calm

Why do Asian inspired rooms instill a sense of calm and peace that other stylings do not?  Why is it that an Asian accessory appears to be appropriate in nearly any setting where it is found?  Of course I am assuming that we are not discussing paper umbrellas left over from the last Tiki inspired party, but rather beautiful ginger jars, block prints, silks, chests with brass work or scenery adorning its panels and so on.  A college professor told me many years ago that westerners became comfortable with the mix of Asian decoration from the many gifts that were sent by heads of state, and then put out for display showing respect toward the giver.  We visually adopted the unique art forms from seeing its presence in our daily lives repeatedly.  Blue and white porcelain is very comfortable in a French country dining room.  A silk kimono fills the always difficult space of an open stairwell; each one unique unto itself.  Korean chests, intricate window screens, or a tansu are a natural in either a modern or traditional setting. 

I think the sense of calm comes from the simplicity of design often found in Asian furnishings.  Though extreme detail can also be found, especially in Chinese ornamentation, a simple parsons leg from a table or chair, shoji screens, and low profile chow tables portray minimalism, and minimalism inspires the concept of "less is more" thus suggesting peace.  I rest my case.....peacefully.

I Have a Dream

I have always wanted to see more of my work published.  To date, most of my published work has gone without direct attribution to myself.  A California regional architecture magazine dedicated their entire issue to one of my largest client's home, one I am currently working with again to redesign some of the spaces after 14 years of living in them.  Another published work was an organic contemporary kitchen for a Pakistani family in Saratoga, California.  The contractor was using my kitchen for a full page ad hoping to secure new clients.  Beyond that the half dozen show houses propelled my name and business to others, but images were difficult to include.  I think this wish to see more publications is really a form of parental approval; validation of sorts of a job well done.

If someone were to ask me what my personal plan for my design career is for the next 5-10 years, at 58, what do you think one should say?  I remember an episode from the now deceased television program "Northern Exposure".  The local tavern keeper was having personal issues because he was going through his mid-life crisis.  He played the role of a 63 year old man married to a 19 year old girl named Shelley.  He was only in mid life because his family members typically lived to the age of 126.  I have no plans to "retire" which would seem natural to one in their mid to late 60s.  The current economy has nothing to do with this.  I have never planned on retiring in the classical sense that other folks think of when considering retirement.  I fear I would wither and die.  I want to "cherry pick" my clientele in those next 5-10 years.  I intend to design as long as I am asked and if I get too busy, I will just have to turn some folks away. That would be a happy problem.

TEXTURE, Having the Right Touch

What a magnificent sense to have, the ability to feel "Texture".  Texture plays so very many roles in our lives and can determine whether or not we love an object, fabric, wallcovering, carpet...........or not.  In interior design it plays a strong visual role as well, for when a space lacks all forms of pattern, texture steps in and creates the interest, providing mood, balance, and depth.  One of the most interesting designer showrooms I visited many years ago as a design intern was in San Francisco in a building called the Ice House.  It was the grand opening of this new/old building showcasing the furnishings of many different manufacturers.  One showroom upholstered all their seating in off white solid fabric.  The only difference between the pieces was the overall shape and the varied textures of the different neutral fabric selections from their offerings.  After 37 years of working full time in the design industry, and living and designing for twenty of those years in the Bay area, it is the only showroom that specifically stays in my memory. 

Engage your client to touch and feel their way through the design process.  It is part of experiencing their room before seeing it complete.  It may encourage them to select the $70 fabric over the $28 fabric knowing their body will be touching it for several years to come.

The Right Direction

It is always good to not lose your way.  Often things occur that were not in our original path.  In the words of John Lennon, "Life is what happens while we're busy making other plans".  At 58, I ask myself, why would I need a portfolio now?  What purpose would it serve?  Sometimes all we need to do is look around us and the answers are right there.  I am a designer, it is and has been my life long passion since I was 12 years old. Now I also teach.  Maybe what I can do is create a portfolio with a body of work experiences I have had personally (both good and bad), and how I have used what others taught me along the this journey called "Designing".  The changes have been huge.  I mean the changes have been really HUGE!  In 1974 there were no computers in classrooms, but the first one found it's way to where I held my first job.  It was the size of a small refrigerator.  There were no ramps for the wheelchair bound citizens.  Mini blinds had not yet been invented.  My, it does sound like I must be really old, but I am still in the prime of my career, and with the economy as challenging as it is, I may be at the midpoint of my career.  So as you can see, much may have changed, but I have changed too.  My portfolio to you will be to communicate how that has actually been an advantage to me, and not a handicap.  Stay close, and come along.

The Art of Art Nouveau

I have a passion for the Art Nouveau styling of furnishings, decorative accessories, fonts, iron works; literally anything Art Nouveau.  For those of you who may not know what that is, it is a French oriented movement in the late 1800's through the early 20th century in design that incorporated strong organic (plant-based) curvilinear elements.  Though most of the architecture is found in France, Spain, Belgium and neighboring countries, the romantic and sometimes fantastical visual displays were embraced by all of the western world.  One of the elements that make Art Nouveau design so unique is how it so easily can incorporate Asian ornamentation, often linear in the same setting.  

Whether looking at the Metro entrances designed by Hector Guimard, a lamp by Tiffany, or a Maxfield Parrish work painting, the Art Nouveau era survives and thrives today proven by the popularity of pieces that come up for auction and the prices they bring. 

Alice Watters of Chez Panisse, a top rated 5 star restaurant located in Berkeley, California, world renowned chef and the real Alice of "Alice's Restaurant", uses Art Nouveau fonts for her published cookbooks, ornamental details at her Berkeley restaurant in the lighting fixtures inside her bungalow style building, menu design, furnishings and overall ambiance.  Art Nouveau is often adopted in some manner by people in the design, architectural, and creative fields; creative chefs being no different.  I for one will hope that "Art Nouveau" will always be on the menu.

EYE LOVE COLOR

What would the world be like without color?  Growing up in the 50's in a Pleasantville environment, the dawn of the age of color television was huge.  Interior designers were depicted by actresses like Doris Day throwing swatches about in her movies with Rock Hudson.  The average American did not hire a designer to guide them in their home furnishing selections.  My mother's home was "wall to wall" rose beige.  I mean it was everywhere, the carpet, drapery, sectional seating, paint,....everywhere.  Her color philosophy was to have the freedom to add color anywhere by not being committed to a specific color scheme, but she never did add color.  This was the single driving force of my decision to become an interior designer, color starvation! 

I love hard surface flooring.  I loved it before it was fashionable to love it.  With the natural earthtones hardsurface flooring provides, color can be shifted, changed, or added without a strong consideration to other rooms in the home.  Color sets the mood, and when children are present they will thrive in a room that is colored to their liking.  I choose to place my color in locations where change is not difficult to achieve should I seek it.  Paint, accessories, even upholstery may exude color as paint is easy to alter, accessories can be trendy, and upholstery wears out.  I avoid putting strong color into counter tops, tile, and any other more permanent fixture like a major appliance.  We Westerners are fickle and a bit spoiled.  If color is located in the wrong material selection, the item will "ugly out" before it "wears out".

When in doubt "Color outside the Lines"!

Design Philosophy; A Lifetime in the Making

What is my design philosophy?  How many times has someone asked me that question?  After 37 years of following my passion to beautify the world one room at a time, I have come to this conclusion "Function Follows Form".  I know, I know you may think I have it backwards, but this is about MY design philosophy.  If it isn't great looking, I don't care how comfortable it is.  Don't misunderstand me, I want things to last and work well; I just won't give the item an opportunity if it isn't visually smashing first.

While attending a conference the keynote speaker defined "Good Design" in a most effective way.  His definition mirrors my own.  Good Design has to make sense, or to reference my blog "cents".  While affordability is always nice, sometimes the best solutions cost the most.  That being said, it is always cost effective to make the right choice first, than it is to settle for the wrong choice, discard, and then get what should have been selected originally.  No matter how beautiful an item is, if it doesn't meet the needs of the client, it is bad design.  A beautiful sofa that no one can sit on comfortably is as big a mistake as an ugly sofa that fits like a glove.  Know what matters to you and your client and your results will never dissappoint you.

Elementally Principled

Design is art; art is design.  Art is suppose to have no rules, but is that really so?  Sometimes you walk into a room , a yard, a structure or space of any kind and something is wrong.  When this happens somewhere a rule of design has been violated.

In the effort to construct buildings more efficiently, simplicity rules.  A view may not be deemed important and architectural detailing may have been scrapped to save the bottom line.  What is missing may be something to give the space a presence.  This is known in more simple terms as a "Focal Point".  When a focal point is absent, creating one will give the space the personality it lacks.  Drapery treatments, wall color, or a terrific piece of furniture are all possible solutions.  Now the gloves come off and the rules are set aside to make your room come alive.

THE BIG AND THE SMALL OF IT.....

Do you let your spouse, parent or friend help you hang your art when you acquire it?  Are you around to Mark The Spot for the chandelier as it is being installed?  Have you ever moved into a home and found the light switches are exactly where your china should sit, or in the best location for an entry mirror?  Proper proportioning for ideal locations is the key.  Understanding when a picture is hung too high or out of balance to the space is critical to a visually appealing room.  Chandeliers should not dominate the table nor be hung too high above it.  54' to 60" centered over the table, but not necessarily centered in the room are ideal.  The room opening will dictate how to make the best visual decision. 

3 PART HARMONY...

Is your room a random act or does it flow in "Three Part Harmony"?  Variety in design is sometimes referred to as eclecticism.  That is a very abused term.  Being eclectic does not mean that any leftovers from your relatives and garage sales put into the same space will result in showing your individuality. Well actually it may show it, but not have the intended effect. Carefully selected furnishings that are usually classic in their lines create the most successful eclectic rooms.  This requires careful planning, known in the design world as a Master Plan.  When one accomplishes the marriage of bringing favorite things together in a unified finish,  "Harmony" has been achieved.  My favorite part?...It is different every time.

Portfolios

After 37 years as an interior designer, what does one expect to see in my portfolio?  The interesting dilemma is when my career began.  It began before computers, before digital cameras, during a time when a Kodak's Instamatic camera was king.  How does one retrieve a body of work showing not only the evolution of my personal projects over the past 4 decades, but also how technology has revolutionized the entire design process from information retrieval to methods of presentation and archival documentation. 

Fortunately what still remains from the deep past can be scanned and made interesting through our current options of powerpoint and publisher.  Now, who is interested in a seasoned designer?  EVERYONE.  I told my niece once that the hardest thing I do everyday is get up in the morning and try to walk out of the house not looking like I am stuck in a decade somewhere.  When that occurs my audience will be defined, something I have fought hard to avoid throughout my career.

The most commonly asked question is "What is your style?"  My style...my style is hardsurface flooring that flows through the space so furnishings from different venues can occur without shocking the system.  There was a time when builders were required to install hardwood floors.  In the 60's wall to wall carpet was promoted as the luxury flooring and the hardwood was covered up.  A campaign suggesting it was too much work to maintain was put out there, possibly by the oil companies since the primary composition of carpet was based on petro chemicals.  People bought into the marketing and hardwood floors were in a "cover up".

With the popularity of hardwood, tile, decorative concrete and stone, once again design could expand easily in the average residence allowing a variety of styles to live happily together.  That is my style; personal spaces that endure.

It's All About Me

Design is a series of transitions.  In the beginning we seek approval, fear criticism, and seek new opportunities.  We hope that we will be seen as creative creatures making the world more beautiful one room at a time.  Often those close to us take what we do for granted on so many levels that they do not realize the impact we have on their lives through their environments until left to their own devices.  Take my mother for example, after finishing 4 years of college and spending 5 figures on my education, (even back in the 70's) she still wanted to do her own home and then have me come in and fix all the mistakes.  My father just shook his head in disbelief, followed by a couple of expletives.

Much has changed in design since those early days.  Technology, new building requirements, sensitivities to all groups of people, and growth.  The Interior Design industry grew so rapidly that specializing became a new focus for individuals entering the field.  That brings me to the name of my Blog, "Design Cents".  I pride myself in being able to specialize in the art of recreating cost prohibitive rooms affordably.  Come spend a little,...or a lot with me.