Cats, Patterns and Participation

During the course of this day’s consultation this precious and perky bob-tailed cat, Kachina, inserted herself into the entire process. She greeted me upon arrival, walked all manner of adjacent furniture as we discussed the scope of work. She tip-toed across tables, sofa and chair backs, and ultimately the hides we were considering for upholstery.

Initially we viewed the room and its present arrangement and realized that the l-shaped right angle position of the sofa, loveseat and recliner conflicted with the angles in the room. the sofa was perpendicular to the TV/display. The fireplace was at an angle in the corner. Neither one had the central focus – the attention was split from all angles. So the question was…Is it necessary to have the recliner as the primary TV viewing piece? Seemed like all the pieces were crammed together and the room was not being utilized to its full potential.

Kachina even has her eye on that bulky sofa as though to say – MOVE IT!

Kachina leaped onto the sofa to make her point- agreeing to the subject of our conversation!

It was determined that the recliner need not be positioned to directly view the TV. Once we turned the sofa to be parallel to the fireplace, it also opened the angle to the entire room and framed both the TV/display unit and fireplace. The recliner tucked into the far corner -not facing the TV – created a cozy nook for reading and next to the patio doors allowed a view of the backyard.

Needless to say, this fireplace crowned by this magnificent buffalo was an incredible focal point. Formerly from Wyoming, this couple knew this buffalo. They knew his name and knew that he became too aggressive and gored at least one female to death – who had to also be put down and who’s pelt was on the floor in another area of the home. The hunt and subsequent shoot has been preciously preserved and revered. These were not mere trophies.

This is the most extraordinary collection of very fine Native American Art I have ever seen in a private residence. From to carved stone, amazing weavings to paintings and pottery, the presentation is stunning.

To soften all the hard and cold materials of the floor tile, leather and iron detailing, we are now on the hunt for the perfect area rug. Probably a shag to carry the balance of the contrasting finishes. Design is all about contrast, balance and harmony. Unless the intent is to intentionally disrupt, in which case, the contrast takes center stage!!!!

These gorgeous brindle cow hides were so exotic and beautiful. The patterns and colors were wonderful and the couple who owned them had a great respect for the animals, and the celebration of their beautiful pelts.

Kachina was nearly camouflaged with her pretty pelt against theirs.

It’s fun when pets participate.

We will be making a pair of ottomans with these two hides. Great for pull-up at parties to gather around the cocktail table in the center of the room. Watch for the additional photos once the work is finished.

Posted On April 29, 2018 By pattisays In art and interior design, artistic expression, artists, Buffalo, cats, Color schemes, contrasts for balance in design, cowhides, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, decorative arts, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, fireplaces, graphic designs in interiors, handcraft, handmade, hiring an interior designer, illusions of space, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior enhancements, lifestyle, metal and wood furniture design, Native American Art, patterns, personal expression, pottery, practical design, Regional design, room arrangement, Subscribers, Taxidermy as ART, timeless colors, upholstery, value of art, wall sculpture, weavings, weavings /

For the LOVE of Fine China – USE IT – Inspired Table Settings

From the Diminishing Dining Room of last week’s observations, https://patriciandesign.com/category/dining-rooms/, I decided to further the conversation to encourage a new-found appreciation for having fun setting dinner tables! I found fodder from Kentucky Fried Chicken served on formal silver platters to wipe-clean placements of dazzling designs to dress your tables. A collection of tireless designers defend the use of fine china – own it, buy it, find it, inherit it, enjoy it, keep it and use it – don’t send it to the thrift shop!!!

Yes, the art of fine dining seems to be set aside in favor of ease and expediency, but this article from The Washington Post’s HOME section (thank you Feath – my clipping service) brings it all home to use and enjoy. It is a celebration of art, design and playful creativity.

Not everyone loves to entertain, to create the “tablescape,” to even bother to put together an outfit to wear. Not everyone loves to get dressed in the morning – it is a chore, an obligation, a mere necessity. That’s unfortunate in my estimation. For those of us who do – love it – it is all about having fun with fashion or interior design is just that – FUN!

Last spring I began a series of emails that I blasted to our mailing list called COOK + PARTY. It was (and will continue this next season) a collection of weekly recipes paired with table-top art pieces. In our gift boutique, we represent an incredible collection of artists who create fabulous tableware. I paired a piece with a recipe each week to inspire and encourage everyone to use “functional” art in their daily lives and specifically for entertaining and even the family dining table.

https://patriciandesign.com/category/art-and-food/

Recent fodder revealed a great source for fabulous wipe-clean placemats from Caspari. For decades a fine source for the best paper cocktail napkins, Caspari offers these bold patterns and colors, prints of fine china and fabulous fabrics – re-use and easy to clean – why not?

https://www.casparionline.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=placemat

A previous fall blog that I wrote illustrates the open-mindedness of looking around to find inspiration for seasonal table dressings. The decision for your table-top inspiration can be spontaneous – just go outside and look around!

Among the refreshingly optimistic designers that were quoted in the Washington Post article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/that-old-fussy-china-can-fit-your-casual-lifestyle-designers-talk-about-how/2018/02/21/46761538-0084-11e8-8acf-ad2991367d9d_story.html?utm_term=.3a6fde2e5124

Barry Dixon, from the verdant rolling hills of Warrenton, Virginia, specifically points out that this process of setting your table should be fun! Don’t pull-out the same things each time – mix it up! Change it up by adding color and pattern differently with every new opportunity.

Seasonal flowers, yellow woven cotton place-mats, embroidered folk-art table runner, basket chargers beneath classic Limoges topped with ceramic napkin rings – it looks like spring!

Designer Timothy Corrigan tells us that many people find it too difficult to entertain with their best things because the onus of proper cleaning and put-away is too much! But Mr. Corrrigan points out the joy of using your best things every day – everyday is a celebration and what you enjoy should be used.

In another springtime setting…organic, rustic things with finery – black stones nestle fresh purple Campatula flowers antique Limoges and basket chargers – makes an eclectic table settings – it’snot all or nothing…it’s the combinations and scene that is being set.

Hutton Wilkinson – way out in L.A. where casual chic is the practice of distilling what migrated from the more formal sister coast to the east – noted that he believes presentation is the key to success. It isn’t so much about what is served (don’t tell the chefs that), but rather on what it is served and how it is presented. Imagine buckets of Kentucky Fried chicken served on elegant Georgian silver platters. That simple fast-food chicken becomes magnificently irresistible. You can’t say you’re too busy to cook with that creative solution! Wilkinson believes that presentation helps food taste better in addition to looking beautiful! He advocates buying china because it’s beautiful – not merely serviceable. I agree…it’s not all about the mundane purpose of eating off of it – but rather the joy of eating off of it!!

Making your guests feel appreciated and treating them to a unique, pleasing experience is a gift to them. A special treat to show that you care – going that extra distance of detail and design.

Color combinations, textures,patterns – wonderfully pleasing tablescapes are a treat for the eye. (So special Marsha!)

So don’t say it’s too difficult…keep it simple with Real Simple – the source for easy, ingenious ideas and simple truths……the following link for proper place-settings will get you started.

https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/entertaining/how-to-set-a-table

Patti says – “make it special every day.”

Posted On March 11, 2018 By pattisays In art and food, artistic expression, beauty behold it, Centerpieces, Color schemes, creative process, creativity, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, dining and design, dining rooms, DIY design, entertaining, fashion and design, fine china, floral arrangement, floral arrangements, floral designs, folkart, Food and art, food and interior design, handmade tableware, hiring an interior designer, inspiration from nature, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design trends, joy, lifestyle, natural designs, natural integrity of the materials, natural stone, organic design, party themes, personal expression, practical design, seasonal interior design, Spring, Subscribers, table dressings, table top, tableware, textures, trends, value of good design, weavings /

Friends Don’t Let Friends Pick Paint Colors

WHY? It’s never as easy as it seems! You can track the trends. See what is relevant to today’s popular design concepts. But how do you really pick a paint color? Warm versus cool, safe versus bold…there are seemingly limitless choices and so many things affect the decision. HELP!!!!!!

Does it help to swipe a swath on a wall?

Not usually. The surrounding often white paint isolates the color in a small concentration and it cannot begin to give the full effect of an entire wall or more. The most telling is to paint an entire section of wall that you can frame in your field of vision without seeing anything else. That or painting an entire wall, for the best test.

Here a frustrated color connoisseur tried several test patches before calling for HELP!!! But we LOVE the novelty of the effect! What a conversation piece – a work of art in its own right!!

When is the ceiling painted other than white and why?

Some colors stand-out and are more imposing while others meld with their associates. It depends upon your personal comfort level. For example a room painted a sunny yellow might be too bold or imposing if the ceiling were to be painted that same color – white would be customary and give relief and contrast to the yellow vertical surfaces. A more mellow color (like a taupe) might work well on all surfaces creating a soft, unifying encapsulation. Shades of the same color – lighter or darker – can also prove to be an effective treatment. Light reflectance – artificial versus natural, depth, the hue and value all play a part in determining what works in a given situation. Not to mention any existing furnishings that might direct a color direction/selection.

Should different walls be different colors?

Why not? Variety is the spice of fabulous interiors – but that doesn’t negate the beauty of an all white interior . Knowing when you want color, how much and from what source is part of the balance of design.

Remodeling this room was comprised of removing walls, adding a serpentine banco and hearth, stone wall surface, painting stained cabinets…We started this project with a new white on white texture and contrast of 3 different stone materials adjacent white walls and white wood trim.

We ultimately added coral punctuation in the recesses of the niches.

What is color layering with paint?

Planes of color seen over-lapping can provide a fantastic effect of colors literally layering over each other. Looking through an interior and reading a wall of one color and another wall behind it peeking out with a different color can add interest and contrast.

How do you stop colors from wall to wall?

I prefer stopping on an inside corner – always. But that’s me. I prefer to “read” the element (wall, monolith, enclosure, etc) as a structural unit. As though the wall were build of that material – the finish suggests the material rather than illustrating a surface application that quits. And I feel the same way about any surface application – tile, wall-covering – preferring to stop on an inside corner to define the element from beginning to end.

EXCEPTION: I have had several instances where we have a little fun with transitions between colors – a zig-zag motif, for example, can provide a surface graphic and change colors on one surface!!

Wrapping a corner from a full wall of yellow to another – but not wanting the yellow on the entire following wall – intentional graphics are fun and allow for the change of color.

Semi-gloss versus flat?

Glossy finishes show more defects in the surface material. So a wall with imperfections such as texture flaws, repairs, any uneven detail will be enhanced. So to minimize defects, a flat paint is preferable. It also depends upon what you are trying to convey – a smooth plaster finish – might be better expressed with a semi-gloss but an earthen softness is better with a flat paint. Clean ability and durability might play into this decision – but not at the expense of the desired visual effect as there are many grades of paint to accomplish various levels of ease of maintenance – consult your paint products professional.

Contrasting a gloss against a flat on different adjacent elements is a nice contrast such as wood trim in a gloss against flat on the adjacent wall. Is the trim the same color as the wall or is it a contrasting color?

Do dark colors make small spaces smaller?

It is a deceptive misconception that this is the case. Dark colors recede and therefore can actually expand the illusion of space. A dark ceiling seems to recede into the void and creates the feeling that the surface is far much higher than it really is. Dark colors behind light colors does the same – recede as a back-drop. Do not fear dark colors – they contribute depth and drama.

Picking paint colors is like selecting the backdrop for your world. All your things are set against this plane. Applying paint is having control of transformation. Like controlling when and how the sun washes the dawn or the night envelopes in darkness and all the amazing colors that occur in-between. Visualizing the end result, creating the transformation that takes place beneath the brush, roller or spray gun as it alters the scene are magical powers.

Posted On February 25, 2018 By pattisays In color and temperature re: interior design, color forecasting, color of light, Color schemes, color trends, colors, context of interior design, Contrasting colors, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, creativity, dark colors, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, drama of color, graphic designs in interiors, hiring an interior designer, illusions of space, interior design, interior design trends, lifestyle, paint colors, painters, planning a remodel, timeless colors, trends, update design, updating / 1

TRENDS DIE – What’s New for 2018?

I was surfing for fodder about the new color trends to kick-off this first mindful missive for the New Year and the color trends were all over the place – no consistency at all. From Ben Moore selecting Caliente AF290,

“Caliente is the signature color of a modern architectural masterpiece; a lush carpet rolled out for a grand arrival; the assured backdrop for a book-lined library; a powerful first impression on a glossy front door. The eye can’t help but follow its bold strokes. Harness the vitality.”

—Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore & Co.

to Sherwin Williams in a totally opposite direction proclaiming Oceanside SW 6496 their color of the year.

“A collision of rich blue with jewel-toned green, a color that is both accessible and elusive… A complex, deep color that offers a sense of the familiar with a hint of the unknown, Oceanside, bridges together a harmonious balance of blues and greens that can be found in what’s old and new.”

What? Are we straddling now? Do we have one foot in one color trend while the other stretches across the color wheel and causes us to nearly do the splits trying desperately to hang on?

The walls of my east gallery space were a spicy version of Caliente for nearly 20 years! Bold at the time and unheard-of for gallery walls – it was not to be changed for nearly 2 decades!!!

Whew – that was a run. I even named the retail space “Caliente.” And the color-band between the crown and picture molding at the back was a version of Oceanside – a lighter value of the blue-green hue.

The Grand Re-Opening July 2016 presented a dramatic transformation to a pale aqua resulting in a diametrically opposed feeling – a cleansing from what was crowded and hot to spare and cool.

But I digress…

Annoyed by the seeming authority, but weak contrasting rationale that I encountered with the wide range of picks and opinions, I left the paint companies and clicked over to the Pantone site. There I encountered their authoritative, ethereal color forecast of the year – Ultra Violet!!!!!

Yikes – they were coming at me from every conceivable direction!!! How on earth is any eager apartment dwelling or home-owning individual supposed to know how to go forward in sprucing up their space without fear?

Then I came upon a piece by Mehgan Nesmith Ugh, What’s With These Generational Color “Trends”? From observing the broad reaching trend surrounding millennial pink to snippets from other sources, I scanned the paragraphs amused, but still not satisfied. Until I arrived at paragraph 6 and there it was – the true fact that keeps the world moving forward – for better or worse – TRENDS DIE.

Yes they do and for good reason. I’ve said it before, take care in making costly selections that will stay with you past their prime. Trends are there for a reason. Designers dabble in creativity every day of the year to come up with things to tantalize, inspire, evoke, and entertain – and most importantly, SELL. Some of these trends stick. Then they are no longer trends, they transition and become classics. But to transcend the fleeting status of trend, “it” must have something very solid about its being.

And when it comes to interior design, with all the style trends for furniture, fabrics, architectural elements, finishes and decorative accessories – colors race through history like no other design element has or will. Colors rule and when they are good, they are very very good, but when they are bad, they are horrid!!!!! Thank you Mr. Longfellow!!

Take the massively graceful modern art piece suspended from the ceiling of the East Wing of the National Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. – classic – both in form and color. Red and black. Strong and simple. Bold and brilliant. Imagine if it were this year’s Pantone pick Ultra Violet Aghhhh!!!!!!!

Actually, methinks I protest too much. The shade of purple picked, by Pantone, is heavy on the blue rather than the red. The blue cast gives it a calm. Not whacky like Barney screaming purple – but, rather a royal shade. Nonetheless, it is better served as an accent – don’t buy wallpaper in it. Go ahead and paint the walls and have your fun – but know that you can change it without peeling off hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of wall-covering or re-upholstering your sofa like Meghan was tempted to do!!

It’s a color that stands alone – plays better by itself than with friends – like the child’s report card where the box that says “plays well with others” is not checked. In my estimation, it will read well with clean, crisp white. However, like Ms. Nesmith aptly says in her piece “if you are still curious about that Gen Z yellow, buy a vase!”

That’s how we play with colors and create a bit of collision, unexpected off-key harmony, intrigue and suspense. But it is not for the faint of heart and the chance of tiring of it is paramount. Trends die and colors are tricky.

So Happy New Year and Happy New Colors in your world to refresh and renew!! Thank you Meghan, for your lively contribution to today’s story.

Posted On December 31, 2017 By pattisays In Abstract Art, apartments, architecture, art and interior design, artistic expression, Benjamin Moore Paint, color and temperature re: interior design, color forecasting, Color schemes, color trends, color wheel, colors, context of interior design, Contrasting colors, contrasts for balance in design, dark colors, design solutions, design tips, design trends, drama of color, element of surprise in design, hiring an interior designer, inspiration, interior design, interior design trends, lifestyle, mobiles, Modern Art, Museums, National Gallery of Art, Pantone, personal expression, practical design, red, Refresh, selecting colors, Sherwin Williams, timeless colors, trends, value of good design, Washington, D.C. / 2 Comments

Adding Personality & Panache – Before & Afters

Everyone loves befores and afters. Last week we featured a project that received a dramatic transformation. The trick is, you have to think thoroughly about taking “befores” before you tear into it!!! Hindsight is so often 20/20 when delving into a remodel.

I dashed over to Phoenix last month to celebrate the Grand Opening of an exciting new clinic that we have recently completed. While there I visited great friends and re-visited a wonderful residential project that has stood the test of time.

Here we have two restrooms in that same project. Rich colors of warm coral, brick and golden tones with natural materials from stone floors to counter-tops and wall treatments. It is a Spanish theme – albeit eclectic with art and decorative accessories, of this well-traveled couple.

What was plain 80s’ vanilla receives a new-found richness and warmth, depth and interest. Do not be afraid of dark colors in small rooms – I’ve said that many times in the past. I’ll bet that you have seen spaces exactly like these “before” shots. Clean slates, but so uninteresting it is remarkable to think owners are content to live without personality in their anemic interior spaces. We added powerful personality and panache throughout this residence.

The master bath had dated surfaces and uninteresting configuration. We transformed the area by connecting, with a glass panel, the tub and shower areas. However, we elected to use a shower curtain instead of glass door. I often suggest this alternative. It is softening, less expensive, easy, minimal maintenance – less wiping!!! Watch for another new master bath with a shower curtain and glass combo.

Full wall treatments of stone or ceramic are wonderful, substantive ways to suggest architecture over mere decorative appliqué. The material suggests structural forms. It never should stop on an outside corner, lest it defeat the purpose. It is to be a mass.

So take those “befores” and enjoy the “afters.” Don’t be afraid of dark colors in small rooms, and use stone and ceramics generously without fear.

P.S. Last week and this today are of a fabulously enjoyable and successful remodel transformation done 12 years ago!!! Yes, revisiting a couple of weeks ago, I took these afters of exactly the interior that we designed that long ago. It has been a virtually timeless project. The owners have enjoyed the spaces so well that they have maintained them without any modification. So we thought that you as readers would get a kick out of the long-term success of these design decisions.

Posted On November 5, 2017 By pattisays In bathroom remodel, before and after, color and temperature re: interior design, Color schemes, custom design interior design, dark colors, design, design tips, drama of color, hiring an interior designer, interior design, interior design trends, lifestyle, master bathrooms, mosaic tile, natural integrity of the materials, natural stone, personal expression, powder rooms, remodeling, residential restrooms, selecting colors, stone, tile, timeless colors, trends, updating /

SPANISH STYLE BRINGS INTERIOR SPICE

Fabulous clients – turned great friends – bought a good-sized townhome in Phoenix. It was plain vanilla inside with wall-to-wall broadloom and everything painted the same creamy neutral. They stood in the center of this bland slate and called me saying we think we want to clean this up and go with a mission-style simplicity.

They saw the ornate cream-painted wrought iron ascending the curved staircase and wanted it gone!

I flew over and saw for myself this dated interior with very good bones. Layout had great flow, nice lines, handsome coffered ceiling and other interesting features. I pondered the elements and the context of the exterior architecture. It was stucco with red clay tile roof, and iron railing details. Sure, we could slick it up, remove the embellishments…but should we?

The desert heat can be oppressive. Some choose to embrace the glories of the sunshine and design bright airy interiors with plenty of refrigerated air to compensate for nature’s blistering temperatures. This approach we were about to take was to be quite different, in that it offered a shady reprieve from the elements.

Therefore, despite the initial suggestion, for the style of the remodel, by my clients I offered another design direction . Why not spice it up with Spanish? Here we are in Phoenix, with architecture suggesting this genre. Knowing their bent for traditional interiors, from two past residences that we had designed together, and with a detailed discussion of the possibilities and evaluation of the elements, we agreed on the Spanish theme and began the transformation.

This is a perfect example of isolating the existing features and determining what to salvage and what to remove. Of the things to be salvaged, how can they be revitalized? So, with that in mind, the staircase was stripped of its carpeting and solid wood treads were added with custom-designed glazed ceramic tile, for the risers. A Moorish influence was the basis for the geometric motif. The staircase’s semi-ornate railing was painted a dark, nearly black, charcoal. The result was startling.

Throughout the home, colors changed, stone columns and fireplace details were added, a wet bar was abandoned in favor of opening into the kitchen. Travertine stone floors were installed throughout the lower level with hardwood upstairs.

An open loft area was compartmentalized into a narrow gallery-bookcase with isolated and fully closed office beyond. Bold colors over-lap and contrast on layers of interior planes.

The result is a cozy retreat from the desert heat incorporating design elements suggestive of Spanish Colonial, transitioning to other modern elements complementing the overall design. To begin a remodel, look at the existing elements, the style of the architecture, the context of the structure and see if you can find a story.

This house now tells a story of intentional decisions, cohesive finishes, a directional theme and a finished product that represents the owners’ giving personal identity to their home.

Posted On October 30, 2017 By pattisays In architecture, before and after, Color schemes, context of interior design, creative process, custom design interior design, design, design process, design tips, design trends, drama of color, hiring an interior designer, interior design, interior design trends, lifestyle, personal expression, remodeling, Spanish Colonial, Staircases, stone, tile /

The Importance of Color in Design – How to Begin

This last week I was inspired by a rainbow that appeared over our great Sandia Mountain and within 3 minutes I nearly tripped over a bed of flowers presenting the same rainbow of colors. With this pairing of color coincidence, I felt compelled to write this week’s blog about color.

Color can be difficult. It is so critical to effective design decisions whether graphic design, fashion design, interior design or architecture. It might be used for a logo to brand a business , a room scheme or the exterior of a monumental building…how do you begin to select a color or a color scheme?

Well first you have to consider your client. What are their needs and desires? Once narrowed, the search for the perfect colors to convey their project’s personality begins.

Computers aid designers in finding fine nuances between colors. Exploring the range of values in a hue – the range of light to dark of a specific color and the adjacent colors that meld from one to the next has become easier.

It all comes down to the color wheel. It’s a circle illustrating the colors of the spectrum. The relationship of these colors are the building blocks of all the colors. Sir Isaac Newton – the same of the apple and gravity fame – devised this understanding of the rainbow of colors back in the 1600s using a prism to identify the components.

As children we are taught about the rainbow of colors comprising ROY G BIV – the easy to remember name that represents the colors RED ORANGE YELLLOW GREEN BLUE INDIGO VIOLET

Decisions regarding the selection of colors and the resulting schemes are identified by the following relationships:

Complimentary – two opposite colors on the color wheel

Monochromatic – three different values of the same color

Analogous – three adjacent colors on the color wheel

Split Complements – one color and the two adjacent tertiary colors of its complement

Triadic – three evenly spaced colors on the color wheel

Tetradic – two complimentary pairs of colors

As I pursued this topic today, I encountered an interesting site by a guy Jason Cohen. If you are curious to know more on the subject, check out https://blog.asmartbear.com/color-wheels.html

This last week, over the course of 2 days, I encountered several examples of these colors all around me. From the rainbow to the flowers and myriad balloons. It didn’t hurt that it was during the International Balloon Fiesta http://www.balloonfiesta.com/ which is one of the most colorful events in the world.

Unless we have a limitless budget affording custom design materials, it is best to begin with the materials that offer the fewest colors. I have mentioned this in the past, there are more paint colors than there are carpet colors, fabric colors, or solid surface materials. Therefore, selecting your color scheme based upon the selection of a material with fewer color options is the best start…you build from there…paint being the easiest component to finish the scheme.

Color affects mood, perceived temperature, individual’s reaction to seasonal cues, and all manner of context. Pastels in springtime and warm tones in the fall – color makes powerful suggestions and should be used as a tool with that power in mind. The power of suggestion. What are you suggesting? What are you trying to convey?

With your best intentions, colors will change with light sources, time of day, adjacent colors and people’s own perceptions. It is not a perfect science when you consider all those variables. Take caution to select colors based upon the conditions that will occur in the final location/presentation. Without fear, pick your color schemes and beware, but don’t be afraid!

Posted On October 15, 2017 By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, architecture, artistic expression, color and temperature re: interior design, Color schemes, color wheel, colors, Contrasting colors, design, design process, design tips, designs in nature, drama of color, hiring an interior designer, inspiration from nature, interior design, International Balloon Fiesta, Jason Cohen, red, seasonal interior design, selecting colors, timeless colors /

Designing with the Brand in Mind

The grand opening of a project is always fun. Months of planning and construction resulting in a finished scene.

It’s not an easy path nor is it always as planned, but this project, conducted mostly long-distance, with only two field visits, is a great success.

Great clients make great projects. It’s a team effort and it helps that everyone is on the same page. The designer is a navigator, lighting the way to get to the end result. It can be a circuitous path. Like all projects, there are decisions and modifications, priorities and compromises.

Arizona Facial Plastics, having created a brand and provided a concept with which they wanted present their practice, sought an interior which instilled confidence, with the refreshing, pampering atmosphere of a spa, but with the aura of a conscientious, progressive medical environment.

In the fast-paced ever-expanding world of aesthetics, it is important to emphasize the quality and experience of service offered. In this clinic the services range from complex surgical procedures (performed off-site) to all of the cutting edge procedures and treatments desired by today’s discriminating clients. World-class products and state-of-the-art equipment and procedures are provided here, in the clinic, with quiet confidence and confidentiality.

To achieve their goals, we first focused on the brand and its style and colors. A crisp, serif-style A underscored with an elegant scroll, warm, soft charcoal compliments the bold cool gradated turquoise set against a fresh white ground.

Selecting finish materials began with the flooring and cabinetry. As is true with all interior projects, it is best to begin with the items that have the least options. There are fewer carpets and cabinet finishes than there are paint colors, for example.

We found the perfect carpet with a broadloom that provided a forgiving pattern, multiple textures and yarn colors. The complex product had an organic pattern of plush cut turquoise pile set in relief from a loop comprised of a grayed lavender and pale green citrine. Having made this selection, we then extracted individual colors of vinyl tile to compliment the carpeting in adjacent exam and procedure rooms. Gradated white porcelain tiles were used at the point of entry set against the contour of the carpeting in the waiting area creating a fluid, curvaceous transition and guiding, directional flow to the interior of the suite.

Once the flooring was selected, the cabinet and counter-top materials were next. A translucent yellow-green citrine engineered solid surface material was selected for the transaction counters at the reception desk and medical assistants’ work area. Dark charcoal plastic laminate was used for casework and select counters while exam room cabinets had a pencil-sketched floral patterned soft green laminate playing across the counter-tops.

An accent of sparkling glass and stone mosaic tile face the reception counter at the point of arrival.

Behind the receptionist, an elevated planter of succulent “sansevieria trifasciata”, regarded for it’s exceptional oxygen-producing properties, is a refreshing organic backdrop. Above, custom drapes filter light from the sloped ceiling atrium windows.

Non-representational expressions of color were selected for the wall art throughout the space.

For the waiting room, we commissioned photographer, Katie Barry Councilor, of Smoketree Photography, to create a custom collection of abstracted body forms in grey scale. We then enhanced each image with their brand’s cool turquoise color, in the negative spaces, creating a series of artful stretched canvas images flanking their logo.

The take-away for clients is a serene, yet reverential experience which instills confidence and promotes relaxation and rejuvenation. The subtle reiteration of the AZFP brand’s turquoise color throughout insures that the clients will be refreshed and reminded of their pleasing experience when they encounter that color even after leaving the clinic.

Hope you enjoy these before and after shots!!

Posted On October 1, 2017 By pattisays In aesthetic medical, before and after, branding in interior design, Color schemes, commercial interior design, commercial remodel, context of interior design, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, custom design interior design, design process, Design Team, design tips, flooring, graphic arts, hiring an interior designer, interior design, interior design trends, medical offices, mosaic tile, photography, remodeling, tile, timeless colors, trends, window dressings, workplace design / 2 Comments

Color Schemes and the Complex Simplicity of It All

Color schemes are many. Color schemes evoke a mood or convey an atmosphere. They certainly can and often are responsible for imagined temperatures and/or seasonal sensations. What constitutes a pleasing color scheme? What constitutes pleasing? It all comes down to balance, layering and subsequent interest. It takes a enlightened eye and usually cannot be achieved by accident.

We are nearing completion of a living room that incorporates many design elements. Family heirloom antiques add a vintage touch along with the architectural style of the bungalow home. Contrasting these pieces is a sleek-lined, modern, sofa that we found and reupholstered. And while not driven or influenced by current color trends, we selected a scheme derived from the existing Persian rugs. By extracting the blue and white from the patterns to refresh the interior – a classic, timeless color combination – we blended a wonderful scheme. Finding the common denominator(s) blue and white, we sought to anchor all with this consistent theme. Differing patterns provided additional layering and interest.

Then, just last week while dashing through the DCA terminal for SWA, my eye caught the attention of several magazine covers all featuring blue and white schemes! Always in vogue, but not always featured as the cover story, this coincidental (or not) collection of blue and white photo images was a riot! I was forced to snap a few shots to send to my happy blue and white client.

If I described a new master bath remodel project as all white, I wonder what might come to mind. All whites are not created equal and the variation is startling when you see them in context, adjacent to one another. So here is the easiest example. A fan-deck from Sherwin Williams shows a collection of whites. They “read” very differently from one to the next. Yet taken one at a time – isolated from the rest – each would seem to be just plain white. Notice too how they differ from the white paper upon which they are printed – it is the spacing between the color chips – and even the white fabric upon which they were placed for the photo!

But there is really no such thing as “just plain white.” Once seen next to another, their unique qualities of hue come into play. A yellow white is creamy, while a cool white reads blue. It’s the context that makes the color more legible. Without that they could be assumed and accepted to be merely “white.”

So, in this recent color scheme nearing completion, whites in context show their many colors. At first glance and if asked, one would say “the room is all white.”

Upon closer inspection (photos taken from a different angle seconds apart), that simplicity is replaced by a more complex, heightened level of awareness. This complexity is what adds interest and results in a better finished product than a true monochrome. What was a collection of white materials, in this master bath, is truly revealed as shades of white varying from ever so soft celadon to cream and grey to what might be read as actual “white” white.

Don’t trust your eye when it comes to color. Discover how paint on walls changes all through the day. Artificial light-sources alter the way a color appears. Context with other colors alters the way one perceives color. Color is fun! Colors are fun! When designing interiors, enjoy the process of layering and the varying effects colors have on each other. Simplicity is usually not really simple. That term can be deceptive. Making it look that way is an art. Encourage the enjoyment of discovery.

Posted On August 20, 2017 By pattisays In blue and white, color and temperature re: interior design, color forecasting, color of light, Color schemes, color trends, colors, Contrasting colors, creative process, design, design process, design tips, design trends, drama of color, hiring an interior designer, interior design, interior design trends, lighting, patterns, re-purpose, re-upholstery, recycle, recycle design, Refresh, remodeling, Sherwin Williams, temperature of light, tile, timeless colors, upholstery / 1

Color schemes