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.