Jun 03

Bring Elegant Functional Pottery into Your Daily Life

Powerfully, pretty, porcelain, pottery graces the urban storefront window this month, of the east gallery of PATRICIAN DESIGN, with elegant, functional inspiration.

The opening of this the second installation of the Resilience exhibit features a collection of porcelain pieces that is intended to be an entirely functional ensemble of art.

It’s been refreshing to have these well established artists paired with exciting emerging artists presenting their expressive talents, in the form of something that you can use and enjoy, to enhance the aesthetic connections in your daily life.

Resilience, conceived by Helen Atkins, an exciting emerging artist herself, is the manager of consignment art at PATRICIAN DESIGN.

Her concept was to “explore the experience of local female artists at various junctures if their careers.”

As a recipient of the Makeshift Grant Project, “Resilience” is funded by the downtown Albuquerque Arts & Cultural District and the Albuquerque Community Foundation. The name of this project suggests that the strength and flexibility of clay as it is formed is an analogy to similar characteristics in the course of a woman’s life. Strength and flexibility – resiliency and tenacious fortitude are the features the two share and which are celebrated with this show.

In addition to this relevant topic of women, the functionality of this collection is what is even more expansive. No gender specific appeal to this wonderful work, the idea that pulling in from the disposable practices of everyday life, strikes a universal chord.

To pull in and focus on what you have and use in your daily life is the beginning. Evaluating between pure function and added beauty being introduced as an enhancing element is the trick. Then discovering individual pieces that bring enjoyment while contributing to the function as well as the aesthetic of the scene, from an interior design standpoint, is wonderful.

Your “scene” should be exclusively personal to you and your life experiences. It is personal and wonderful to incorporate handmade artwork in all aspects of a design project. To appreciate the detail and have the opportunity of taking that artwork all the way to daily tableware is pure joy. These and other potters that we feature at PATRICIAN DESIGN offer just that – the opportunity to incorporate art into the simple functions of eating and drinking.

Artist Kathryne Cyman is a master of the 400 year-old Japanese process of Arita pottery. Please read more about Kathryne’s journey at http://art.unm.edu/kathryne-cyman/ Showing alongside her capable student Jordyn Bernicke, the two present simple, elegant, affordable pottery pieces for you to bring into your daily life.

Imagine the soft, delicate yet durable cup in your hand from which to sip and relax. Even to toss o.j. on the run – the basic action of drinking from a handmade vessel, in a color and finish that makes you smile, is an enhancement to the day.

Sensory perceptions ignited by the feel and the look of a beautiful piece of pottery is restorative.

We are privileged to have this exhibit and to meet these fine artists. We are privileged as a community to have this program at UNM. It appears that the natural beauty of New Mexico, life lived close to the earth and celebrated by Native Americans for generations is a parallel practice to the Arita process by the artisans in Japan.

This exhibit proves that to admire the techniques that produce beauty is to acknowledge the importance and value of including these elements in our daily lives.

May 27

Inspiration Aroused in a Fantasy Pleasure Ground

By pattisays In architectural gingerbread, architecture, artistic expression, beauty behold it, bronze sculpture, creativity, decorative arts, design, design tips, designs in nature, exterior - outdoor design, fanciful design, Garden, gazebos, hiring an interior designer, inspiration, inspiration from nature, joy, landscape design, lifestyle, natural designs, neurology, nostalgia and design, parks and recreation, patio, public design, public spaces, railing details, St. Louis, Subscribers, Tower Grove Park, travel and design, United States history, urban art, urban living, urban planning, value of good design, Victorian architecture / 1

Like gardens? Like ornate, ornamental, architectural fantasy structures? Do magical forms and colorful design elements arouse your creative juices?

Memorial Day and the holiday weekend offers festivities with family and friends, time to honor in memory those who have performed with honor to preserve and protect our freedom, reflective moments away from the rigors of the work-week, and in our case this weekend an extraordinary encounter with one of the country’s most magnificent “pleasure grounds!” Yes, an introduction to Tower Grove Park (thank you Ali-bali) and the awesome written description of its inception and extraordinary design in the 1860s was our sensational, design stimulating, multi-sensory, experience.

Perhaps these photos will provide ideas for your fence or railing detail or even a backyard gazebo!

If you would like to enjoy the language of the beautifully written original intent of this property in a manner and style that is not often experienced, please follow this link and be enchanted with great vision, joyful optimism and intimate appreciation.

https://www.towergrovepark.org/mcadams1

Art and nature intertwine in these magnificent verdant grounds of Tower Grove Park with its wonderful gardens, charming Victorian pavilions and significant statuesque monuments. Conceived and donated by the visionary, Henry Shaw, in 1866. The writings of David MacAdam (found in the above referenced link) reference taking “ramblings” in the park – originally designed for driving in and through but with emphasized encouragement to go afoot to observe closely, in one’s casual time, these wondrous fields and arbors, around ponds and through gardens.

He writes “A visitor who takes a summer ramble in the park starting from the east entrance and noting the objects of interest we have mentioned, must certainly admit it is a most interesting and agreeable place. Every few steps will open a different view, ornamental structure or some work of art.”

Peeking from pockets of this enchanted scene are fanciful pavilions each with a singular identity.

We hear that winter scenes in the park present a wonderland of snow frosted evergreen trees, quiet pavilions, sculptural dark trunks, statuesque bronze figures and serene blankets of white dotted with the dormant shrubbery that comes alive once again each spring.

MacAdam further notes, “The artist of the graceful and cultivated style pursues, then, a middle course between the picturesque and the formality of the purely artificial, aiming always to preserve the harmony of natural forms and scenes.”

While the landscaping is magnificent, the architectural detail is captivating – conjuring up fairy tale scenes of dancing and romance. MacAdam writes further, in thoughtful detail, about the concept of encouraging the public to experience this grand property with all of its engaging ornament and ultimate beneficial consequence. “To do this thoroughly they can hardly avoid walking a part of the distance, and the attractions of the place should induce them to do this contentedly, recollecting that one of the objects for which it exists is to invite persons of sedentary habits to healthful exercise. ”

I was so excited about the fretwork and fancy details – the sunlight dappled across the frames of these sturdy yet delicate structures.

Inspiration around every corner with design elements that are timelessly graceful. Grill-work and column lines present powerful progressions.

It was as though these structures were attempting to emulate giant confections of fondant and frosting, carving and detail just shy of excess.

Realizing these structures are over a century and a half old, preserved by the enjoyment and appreciation of their patrons – which are all the people of St. Louis.

“The worrying command, “keep off the grass,” writes MacAdam “when the feet are aching to tread the carpet of youth’s memories, does not harass the visitor by springing out on his eye as he turns each curve. Music too is thrown in free in summertime, and thus all elements of pleasure and beauty are woven together in lightness and brightness for the general good. It is on the fact of this freedom in the use of a public park, the hopefulness it indicates in human nature, an the equal consideration it shows for all classes, is based in faith of those who believe in its refining and elevating influence. Such a place does not sermonize dogmatically, nor does nature. She exhibits a truth instead of voicing a doctrine. It unfolds fair spectacles, without restraint or an air of patronage, for all who care to see, and it thus tends to refute the selfish theories of either extremes of society, to reconcile divergent elements, to encourage the gentler ideas and tastes, and to promote innocent recreations and purer manners. The poor are forced to see that wealth beyond their control, and without their asking, has created a resort free for the enjoyment of all, and the rich, by the equality in its use, are reminded of the artificial origin of class and the everlasting kinship of man.”

It was a glorious afternoon of optimism, inspiration and enjoyment. Happy Memorial Day weekend to all and may you find art and inspiration around every corner!

May 07

Picking PINK!

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, art and interior design, artistic expression, artists, beauty behold it, Bruce Piel, Color schemes, color trends, colors, creativity, decorative arts, design, design tips, design trends, Discovering Art, drama of color, dried flowers, element of surprise in design, etchings, fanciful design, Garden, Gerard Lehner, handmade, hiring an interior designer, Impressionist painters, inspiration, inspiration from nature, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design trends, interior enhancements, joy, lifestyle, Lilly Pulitzer, Lyndia Terre, Marilyn Yates, Mexico, Millenial, nostalgia and design, painters, Peggy Zuris, personal expression, pink, pinks and greens, selecting colors, Subscribers, timeless colors, trends, value of art, watercolors / 2 Comments

Prompted by pieces peppering a pastel presentation for an artist’s opening reception entitled Resilience we held here at PATRICIAN DESIGN last Friday evening, I was pondering this week’s topic when PINK peeked into my thoughts.

Pale pink is an unsung color – often considered to be insipid and lacking ooomph, it really is quite satisfactory. Pounced on by millennials, with their popular color trend “Millennial Pink” passion for all things in fashion and home style, pink has made a bit of a splash in recent years.

Last Friday, with the creation of the display window featuring pottery shards scattered along the floor, artist Helen Atkin’s peachy pastel pink and soft coral glazes melded together against the soft geometric woven textile resulting in a confection of comfortable color and texture.

Helen Atkins’ shards and little dishes sprinkled in the east gallery window at PATRICIAN DESIGN.

I awoke today with this color on my mind. Swirling thoughts, so often the case, as one thing leads to another and I thought – I wonder how much of that most satisfactory and pleasing color I have here in my immediate world. So, I set-forth to find out.

Gathered on the nightstand in the guest room, this cluster of dried flowers is a fragile collection of soft pink tones.

Walking around the house, I came upon so many examples that I really was quite pleased. The re-discovery of each made me feel content. I realize that although they are seemingly insignificant that they are really quite sentimental pieces gathered through the years and each so distinctly different from the next.

One of my first purchases when I moved across the country was this discarded, damaged Tamarind print of a large nearly psychedelic strawberry from the famed print-making institute where rejected failures spoke the language of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and it was mine to adorn my new, naked, New Mexican walls.

Generally referencing feminine imagery and romance, pink is delicate yet full of depth and variation – as with all colors – the range is limitless for value, tone, blending of shades…Contrasting warm yellows and cool blues frame pink so well.

Detail of one of several of my Gerhard Lehner lovlies, I Still Sail to the Virgin Islands. As the artists explains – “An original like-etching a la poupe arrived from drawn textural lines and painted effects which allows the poetic ink to transfer to the fine rag paper.”

Detail – Fine Craft and Dance by Gerard Lehner

Bold floral brush strokes sweep through the pinks and peach, coral and rose, accented with the contrasting vessel in a brilliant cobalt blue, Peggy Zuris was a master of color and style.

Memories of the warm glow of the pink roof-tiled, painted and plastered buildings along the Puerto Vallarta coastline absorb and reflect the rising and setting sun during all exposures of the day.

Detail – watercolor featuring iconic Our Lady of Guadalupe church by Victor Torres Tellas

Meandering from room to room I encounter so many pretty pink things. I obviously gravitate to this amidst my many other colors as a necessary element woven through my comfort zone.

Detail – Fantastically French floral oil on canvas by Anne Sandry

And I adore this finely detailed hand-colored etching showcasing a foreground field of pink lupines,bought decades ago in the artist’s studio at The Torpedo Factory.

Detail of etching by Lyndia Terre

Then I came upon these book bindings stacked unconsciously atop a mahogany dresser , resulting in a study in pinks presenting a pleasing palette.

I realize that I was exposed to the priority of pink at an early age as my mother’s interior design palette incorporated pinks and soft greens in the more formal areas as well as outside on our screened porch and patio beyond, to the gardens with magnificent mounds of screaming pink azaleas blooming and their explosions of color every spring. Surrounded by lush verdant foliage of the woods where we lived, pink contrasted well with the many shades of green into which we were intimately nestled. We were comfortably punctuated with pink. Therefore it was not a foreign color and complimented the transitions into other darker green tones and yellow accents throughout our house. The original scrolled wool wall-to-wall carpet was a medium pinky-clay color. Quite unusual, yet neutral, providing an earthy grounding. Mom also enjoyed the vibrant introduction of designer Lily Pulitzer onto the scene in the 60s and peppered her wardrobe with Pulitzer pinks from carnation to hot fuscia contrasting with chartreuse green. Today her classic iconic colors and patterns still make significant design statements. Mom has never been afraid of color! I inherited that fearless foray into colors of anything fun and fabulous

This handcrafted New Mexican church (birdhouse – having never been outside to host a bird) sports an eclectic array of enchanting elements using pinks to perk up the collection of colors. I realize as I tour these rooms of colorful artwork, that I love the combination of pinks with blues and yellows!!

and also the appreciation for the soft subtleties too. These two magnificent oil paintings depicting New Mexican scenes with the oh-so-pleasing pinks.

Detail – oil painting Church at Golden by Marilyn Yates

Detail – oil painting Moonrise by Bruce Piel

This has been a fun and illuminating exercise. I’ve determined that pink is essential to me.

Why not a pink cabbage plate on the guest room duvet cover dotted with woven clay-pink slubs?

It occurs in so many things that bring me joy.

A heavy, luminous hand-blown glass vase.

Speckled vintage vase – a touch of fun!

As my dear friend Corinne aptly named her shop, it is The Color of Joy. Pick a color – any color – and go around your interior spaces and see what you discover – perhaps you will find your essential grounding color. It just might be a surprise. Find what brings you joy.

Apr 29

Cats, Patterns and Participation

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 /

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.

Apr 22

Real Jeans are Wabi Sabi

By pattisays In 1970s, artistic expression, creativity, denim jeans, design, design solutions, design trends, Disruption in design, fabrics, fashion design, Fiber art, flower power, hiring an interior designer, history, joy, lifestyle, natural integrity of the materials, nostalgia and design, Subscribers, textiles, trends /

An aside today to address a different design statement – of fashion, not interiors, I’m speaking out about FAKE JEANS. In the design field we watch trends and acknowledge the importance and validity of new design ideas, combinations, forms and functions. When torn jeans made the scene a couple of years ago, it was amusing and seemed to be a cheap, cheesy, frivolous attempt at something overly shabby chic. The discount stores were stuffed with them and the mainstream stores too.

Perhaps a cat clawed this pair to shreds? And the bottom – up above the ankle? Puzzling…

But it continued to make me roll my eyes with disbelief and when I saw well-heeled women sporting them and paying serious money for them. I was truly amazed.

Fraying at the bottom suggests that they were comfortably too long and dragged to this result…but as a crop jean? HOW might one fray up the back of their upper ankle or calf? Hmmm…

Do you have a pair or two or three? All colors? All varying lengths and tapers? How long did you hold out before you caved and found the perfectly worn pair for you? Are they just broken through at the knee or are they riddled with torn, mangled shreds of fabric? Are they lacerated in mid-thigh? How might THAT have happened?

This is a skirt version of the story. But what IS the story? High thigh wear spots…

So does this make me sound like an oldster? Read more and see what you think. It’s NOT about the frayed tears, it’s about where they are, why they are, how they look and how many they are. I see jeans that look like they have been doused with acid! How might THAT happen? But boy when it did – whew, you saved them!! And wore them to tell the story!!!

I think this might have been a bear attack!!!!!

Others are worn in the oddest places of the structure having nothing to do with normal wear and tear – totally random splotches of abraded material – defying common sense.

This jacket looks like somebody got into a bit of trouble!! Including scratch marks!!!

These jeans were my favorite. I loved the fit and the feel, the texture and color of the denim and they got better with age. They were Levis and are now crowding 50 years old!!!

Yes, from the 70s, these jeans were the best. And I’ve saved them out of an inordinate sense of nostalgia. When you find jeans that have all these critical features you wear them to death. And that’s just what I did! These jeans were so perfect and had no stretch to fake the fit! The more I wore them and the more I washed them the softer they became and the more invaluable they became to my wardrobe and hence, my identity. They were my fabulous freaking fashion fundamentals.

After a few years of near daily wear, these jeans began to gradually fade and wear away the darker threads in favor of the lighter cross threads of the twill. The seams and edges were breaking down. They began to show signs of possibly breaking through at the knee. They were experiencing the metamorphosis of Wabi-Sabi and I was anxious about their dematerializing. While a part of me loved these indications that they were truly my favorite as proven by these lovingly worn signs, I was facing a fear of loss.

I have previously written about the intensely thoughtful book by Leonard Koren, Wabi Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers and as I write this I went into my desk and extracted it once again to find a passage that so speaks to this subject of “The Material Qualities of Wabi Sabi…The suggestion of natural process. Things wabi-sabi are expressions of time frozen. They are made of materials that are visibly vulnerable to the effects of weathering and human treatment.. They record the sun, wind, rain, heat, and cold in a language of discoloration, rust, tarnish, stain, warping, shrinking, shriveling, and cracking. Their nicks, chips, bruises, scars, dents, peeling, and other forms of attrition are a testament to histories of use and misuse. Though things wabi-sabi may be on the point of de-materialization (or materialization) – extremely faint, fragile, or desiccated – they still possess an undiminished poise and strength of character.”

“Irregular. Things wabi-sabi are indifferent to conventional good taste. since we already know what the correct” design solutions are, wabi-sabi thoughtfully offers the “wrong” solutions.” (A side note: Koren mentions regularity in mass production and designers looking for ways to express poetic artistry and sabotage perfection to intentionally create irregularity). I don’t think the endless racks and stacks of identically torn, abraded, ripped, and even mangled jeans was what he had in mind!!!

So these jeans of mine expressed unmatched strength of character impossible to replicate in my estimation and as time marched on and they gradually frayed and broke through I mourned the demise. The seams stopped the tears from severing the legs of these amazing jeans. I continued to wear them finding the badge of honest wear quite fashionably cool. But inasmuch as I loved the tears for what it represented in a life well lived and personified aging and the passage of time, I wanted to celebrate the priceless nature of these jeans and give them a revitalization without changing their character. With that I decided to add a little Flower Power, as I whipped out my brushes and paints and embellished them with hipppy dippy flowers to celebrate their age and honest wear.

Honest. I guess that’s what my gripe is about.

Night before last, I spied this common jean scene sitting at a wine bar. These actually look like they could have been naturally worn through in the knees, except you then see the mid- thigh rip – how would that have happened?

I doubt it is empathy that the celebrities sport the fake torn jeans off the rack. It is not empathy for those less fortunate who have torn jeans from wear and an inability to replace them due to cost. Impoverished people in torn jeans are not trying to make a fashion statement and the people who are enjoying the forced-casual novelty of looking like they loved their jeans until they ripped or to make a social statement about “I am really on your level of every man/woman” are not fooling anyone – really? Neither one flies. Neither one is honest.

And to be perfectly honest about these jeans – they don’t button today. I had not tried them on in decades. My skinny, lanky, lovely niece did a few years ago.

And as I held them up today to photo, I decided just to try. I pulled them on exactly as I remember trying not to further rip them unnecessarily, got them all the way up wriggling into the well-worn butt and they weren’t going to button together -not this week.

But I now have a new summer goal! Might I trim-up enough to button my old favs? That would be a feat! Stay tuned!

If your jeans didn’t wear out from love and appreciation, I say, “give it up!” Like the Emperor’s New Clothes, look at them for what they are and exclaim They are NOT Real! Eeeuwwwww!!!!! It’s a ridiculous, silly trend. It’s an affectation of numerous charades.

Good design. It’s in the eyes of the beholder. But I prefer to embrace the real effects of shabby chic and the ultimate wabi-sabi in fashion and interiors. Relaxed and un-constructed is one thing, but these ridiculous artificially torn jeans are beyond the pale!!! Ask me what I REALLY think!!!!!

Apr 08

“Wonder Time” & Creativity

By pattisays In artistic expression, beauty behold it, before and after, blue and white, Contrasting colors, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, creativity, decorative arts, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, DIY design, hiring an interior designer, inspiration, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design trends, joy, kitchen, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, patterns, personal expression, planning a remodel, practical design, Refresh, remodeling, stone, stone countertops, Subscribers, testimonials, tile, update design, updating, value of good design, Wonder / 1 Comment

I love the creative process. I love darting from idea to idea – the random electric jolt that results from spontaneous concepts that will create something wonderful, if not significant and the gratification of the final product!

That is interior design – creating something that enhances an interior – an interior (and exterior) space and all the elements within that serve people. Designing an interior which solves problems, increases enjoyment, and hopefully has staying power is the goal. Unless intentionally transient and intended to be impermanent, offering a design that has staying power transcends trends and creates without a framework of only the present.

If you are a client, potential client or an associate in this crazy, wonderful business don’t you ask yourself, “How does creativity happen?” An idea? A need?

So the idea occurred on-site as I sketched a pattern that I thought would be the perfect statement and backdrop for all else in the house.

The kitchen had some expensive elements that were not practical to change. Existing cabinets, natural stone counter-tops and ceramic tile flooring all had to stay.

The original sketch realized in an nearly black, charcoal and cream tile pattern with an added opportunity for the client to turn an error into artistic expression.

Well this client asked and made a creative discovery: “George (young-adult son) Juan (tile installer) and I had a lot of fun figuring out…the tile work behind the stove…That was supposed to be solid black..didn’t even get ordered…and George worked with the left over pieces and designed that (solution) himself!!!! I think it’s amazing and will always be so special bc of how it came to be!!”

“Basically, what happened was we ran out of the tan colored tile and only had some smaller-than-half pieces left from the cuts.” Resulting in George’s creative solution!!

Personal experience with years of working with a variety of people has shown the extraordinary difference in how each individual perceives and proceeds through the design process and related creativity. For some, the design process is an exciting adventure to be navigated with or without the aid of an exhibition leader (professional designer) to explore and travel the amazing paths of color, balance, detail, elements and combinations. For others it is not only not an exciting adventure, but one of frustration, anxiety and sheer obligation to complete a necessary task(s). Like a project with a deadline – finite and compulsory. Where’s the joy?

To design for others is the name of the game – the professional practice. In order to effectively design for others, one must have empathy. To extract a client’s wishes and create for the express purpose of making them look good, feel good, enjoy their environment, produce well and feel empowered all requires getting into their world. When you effectively do so with the genuine desire to make better, you empathize with their concerns, desires, sensitivities, and needs in order to design effective solutions.

How the brain perceives things and how sensitivities are realized, by different individuals, is remarkable. From our amazing, autistic grandson who finds wonder in very focused things from red cars to distinct shapes and colors, words and pictorial representations of them, to my dementia-challenged nonagenarian mother who clings to her very core appreciation for beauty and everything well designed; perceptions, sensitivities and levels of awareness continually astound.

Elsie de Wolfe a Renaissance woman of broad reaching creative ability said “I am going to make everything around me beautiful – that will be my life.” I wonder now if Mom knew of this amazing woman and heard this phrase that so reminds me of her, but sadly she would not be able to grasp or convey any possible recollection of that now.

I place an enormous emphasis on what I call, “Wonder Time.” Everyone needs time to “wonder.” We should all take more time to WONDER. It is in those moments that amazing things can happen. Realizations can be illuminated, ideas are formed and dreams materialize. It is a time for creativity. Do you take time to “wonder?”

For my once-toddler cousin, I remember the moment so clearly. We were on a mission to get something from the car. It offered an opportunity to have an mini adventure and explore the parking area of our beach house. We had descended many stairs to come out at ground level into the dark, shadowed carport of the massive exposed-concrete structure. It was spooky and mysterious in the twilight. As we made our way holding hands through the shadows, she all of sudden said “I wonder…” and was clearly deep in thought pondering something of our adventure that I wish I could remember. But her phrase, “I wonder” is clear as a bell, to this day, more than 30 years later. I looked at her and asked “You what?” Wonder was such an abstract word – a BIG word for such a little person – that it made me wonder what she knew about wondering!!!!! We dashed back upstairs and I announced to the gathered group – “She wonders!!” And began to explain our experiences in the depths of the concrete carport. The blooming result, of that toddler full of wonderment, is today a highly observant and creative young adult.

Being inquisitive is part of that creative process – the “what if” of it all. I use that often in my design practice…”what if”…and “if, then.” It is not finite, it is a process that presents itself and a variety of tangents continuously. Designer Todd Oldham observes that creative people are different and if you are not one, you will not understand the need to be creative. He knows that “as a creative person, you can actually survive off of your ideas.”

I agree. For some, creativity is a necessary aspect of being. It is a way of seeing. It is unavoidable and random. It is essential. It is life affirming and life giving. You either are one of the “creatives” or you are not. Yet creativity exists in each of us. It is not learned, but it can be honed.

The sensitivity that comes with this profoundly innate sense is sometimes an onerous burden. Being pleased by design details around you from nature to the built environment, from fashion to well-designed freeway overpasses, details matter and a great joy is the benefit. However, details can have the adverse affect, if not well executed. If they are not well placed or well designed details, they can grate and annoy, raise blood pressure and cause all manner of anxiety. It is an onus to be so sensitive to details. Poor lighting in a restaurant, imbalance of surface textures, ineffective or inappropriate colors – it is all about that phrase “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and if the sensitive person is presented with jarring elements that they behold or consider to be in error, it can be most unavoidably disturbing.

The placement of this fireplace an bar so grated on my sensitivities that it was amazingly uncomfortable being in this space. A challenge for correcting without structural modification for sure!

Like creative writers and their critics, who have often expressed their strength in the power of words…for designers and artists of many media, it is the power of color, lighting, pattern, and composition.

Good design is never out of style.

Mar 25

Quilting – An At-Home Workroom of Color!

By pattisays In Abstract Art, art and interior design, artistic expression, artists, beauty behold it, colors, Contemporary Art, creative process, creativity, decorative arts, design, design process, design tips, design trends, DIY design, drama of color, fabrics, Fiber art, folkart, graphic arts, graphic designs in interiors, handcraft, handmade, hiring an interior designer, inspiration, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design trends, lifestyle, Modern Art, nostalgia and design, patterns, personal expression, quilting, quilts, re-purpose, recycle, recycle design, retro, Subscribers, teaching, textiles, textures /

It’s not your grandmother’s quilting these days…computers have radically altered the landscape of this generations old art form. Two days ago I found myself in an in-home art-studio/workroom that blew me away!

Initially a craft born out of necessity, as creative survivors accustomed to “making something out of nothing” re-purposed scraps of material to patchwork new articles of clothing, homegoods and ultimately art for the walls. This clever, resourceful, utilization was celebrated in Dolly Parton’s song turned movie, about her true-life “Coat of Many Colors.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Parton%27s_Coat_of_Many_Colors

The intricate designs and refinement of pattern details was obviously all done by hand, but with the development of machines and now computers for this purpose, the possibilities are endless.

So as I turned the corner, to see a would-be remodel of combining two bedrooms and expanding to the north of the existing shell, I was astonished to see this remarkable, expansive workroom – all white – punctuated with colorful creativity. Colors, textures, patterns…this extraordinary, rather Renaissance, woman had carved out a generous space to explore this phenomenal art and craft.

As an artist, Sue Watrous’ paintings and sketches are quite photo-real. On a few of her pieces, she has deconstructed the elements in the painting cutting them from fabric of many grey-tones defying the fact that they are textile assemblages.

This original pencil drawing – yes, photo-realistic, is amazing.

Then to create the same image as a patchwork quilt is remarkable!!

Yes, look closely, you can see the patches of fabric that are assembled in the many grey tones to create this amazing piece.

Her joie de vivre is derived from this magical space and the creations that she imagines and brings to fruition.

Upon entering her amazing domain, I felt as though I was entering an operating room – everything in perfect order, clean and spare – like a clean-room at Intel – I should gown-out or suit-up!!!

I might be exaggerating because it was white and clean, but warm and welcoming with the rainbow spectrum of thread spools and quilts both finished and in progress displayed on the walls and on the other many surfaces.

Self-taught, she nonchalantly references the many computerized machines strategically placed around the room. There is an order to the layout and her approach is meticulous. Despite the fact that there is an active quilting community here – they are too busy quilting to teach – so Sue jumped into this after having seen a presentation at a show about five years ago. Years ago she quilted – but at this juncture, she knew at once that she wanted to enter this exciting and challenging realm, of computerized art assist!

Like the shoemaker who has no shoes, her quilts have yet to adorn the walls or bed dressings throughout the rest of her home. She doesn’t sell her work – but her family all has homes riddled with choice pieces.

Her paintings are placed amidst her interior, but not her quilts. Today I focused on a large wall to be the future home of a near-to-be- completed quilt.

She tells me that the fabrics are like paints – she is painting with fabric.

And although she is not yet dying her own pieces, she told me of meeting a textile artist who spun her own thread from her own llamas, dyed it, designed and fabricated her own work. Sue has created most if not all of her patterns and designs and I am confident that before this is over, she will be donning rubber gloves and dunking material in dye vats to find a new layer of creativity.

Mar 18

Ten Tips on Mixing Metals – Making Sense of It All

By pattisays In architecture, art and interior design, context of interior design, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, dining rooms, door hardware, existing materials, hiring an interior designer, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design trends, kitchen, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, master bathrooms, metal finishes, mixing metal finishes, personal expression, planning a remodel, re-purpose, Refresh, remodeling, Subscribers, trends, updating, value of good design /

How to mix and not mix metals….that is the question. Is it nobler to stick with one throughout or might I venture into a mix of metallic material? From switch plates to chandeliers, this question comes up all the time – and it’s fair. With all the options and the TRENDS saying one thing or another (probably to sell you something or to stand with a current trend fearful of venturing forth), it is a common dilemma. Here are a few tips to give you confidence in the metal mixing mêlée.

IF the door hinges are one thing – the handles should match. We often see pre-hung doors with brass hinges and a retro-fit of brush chrome or bronze – that is a no-no.
Is brass finish out – should I change all my hinges and door handles? In – out…no sooner does one hear that a finish is passé or they think they themselves are stuck with a less than new and trendy finish – be calm and carry on – to quote a couple of “trendy” phrases that drive me up a wall – it’s all good.
If you have brass – embrace it! Fear not – it is all about the manner in which you present it – in what context you design with it. Following trends can be costly, unnecessary and unimaginative. Gold/brass finishes have been making a come-back in recent years. Sometimes it takes time for it to trickle into your purview. But the point is – good design is good design. So it’s not so much about if it is perceived to be good enough or right or wrong…it is if you can design around it and make it great.
Should you mix a bright brass chandelier with brushed stainless door hardware? Probably not, but it is not so much about the mixing – it is that to make something like that REALLY work, the overall design would have to be so intentionally mixed that it in itself (the intentional mixing) is an art-form.
If a kitchen has brushed chrome detailing (appliance trim, faucet, etc…), may I use brass cabinet pulls? The answer is YES. In some contextual situations, the language of the materials speaks in vernaculars that separate certain groups from others as though allowed to be intentionally different – as they ARE different. The great thing about knowing when to make statements in contrast – not conflict, is just that – knowing.
The old world and contrasting contemporary look of Bronze, the stalwart wrought iron read of Black, the bling of Polished Chrome, the modern softening of the silver with Brushed Chrome or Stainless, the traditions and suggested opulence of Brass and Gold, the warm median balance of brushed nickel – guess what? They all have their place depending upon the context of design.
New finishes for appliances rule the kitchen. We thought we had it made when Sub Zero and others offered slots for panels for the fronts of appliances to enable matching of the flanking cabinets. But for those who wanted off-the-shelf units, beyond the merry-go-round colors from harvest gold to avocado green, burnt orange to basic white – the colors of the past were challenged by bold black and brushed stainless finishes – the new fab. But now we are seeing matte black – and oh is that hot! Complimenting the concrete finishes and raw steel – contrasting with the brushed stainless – punctuating the trend of the clean commercial kitchen style of design. It is a bold yet soft new option for the edgy everyday kitchen. http://www.foodandwine.com/cooking-techniques/look-these-beautiful-matte-black-major-appliances-refrigerator-ranges-ovens-and
Ceiling fans present the same conundrum. Do they match the ceiling and go away? Do they hang suspended like a giant menacing propeller threatening to decapitate anyone who comes near? A black fan against a white ceiling might. A bronze fan in the middle of everything might appear a bit top-heavy. Ceiling height makes a difference. Surrounding decor makes a huge difference. Whether it is to be noticed or quietly disrupt the air for refreshing breezes without screaming their source – those are compelling questions. I cannot even address whether it should match the door handles – it makes me crazy. Unless it is an intentional focal point – like palm-frond paddles in a tropical bar – or industrial mechanisms intended to further that contextual theme, I think nearly all of them should visually go away. Who wants the focal point of a room to be a fan centered and suspended from the ceiling to hover overhead and command the visual impact of a nose-diving airplane? Unless of course – that is the theme. The fan designers would argue.
Oh my – brass, chrome, bronze…where is the focal point? My eyes are darting everywhere!
Fireplace grills…often found in polished brass – they can stay or be painted out – with a flat black that makes them fade into the void of the opening or simulate a cast-iron grate. They can be painted with a faux-rust finish – there are many possibilities – maybe even fire-engine red. The point is, once again, it is the context that makes it successful or appropriate – there is really no right or wrong answer here.
Tip # 10 is to take each offered finish as it comes, evaluate the context, find your focal point(s), what is the most cost-effective to change? All the door handles and hinges or the light fixture over the dining table? I say it in so many blogs…do not let trends rule your life. Have confidence in your own likes and comfort and go with it – good design never goes out of style.
BONUS TIP!! Do all my picture frames have to be the same finish? Do I have to re-frame my gold frames or change my maple to chrome or go black on all of them? Have I ever mentioned context? Eclectic mixes can be quite fun and interesting. Groupings of identical moldings can be effective. Random pieces scattered throughout can each be singularly nice. So don’t rush out and re-frame all your art. See how you intend to use it, group it, where and with what else. Be sensible and creative – be brave and do what you like! That makes sense!!!!!

Mar 11

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

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 /

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.”

Mar 04

Diminishing Dining Rooms – How Do We Dine at Home?

By pattisays In breakfast rooms, creative process, custom design interior design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, dining and design, dining rooms, Disruption in design, entertaining, hiring an interior designer, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design trends, kitchen, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, patio, planning a remodel, practical design, remodeling, Subscribers, trends, value of good design / 1 Comment

Changes in social interactions, style of entertaining, cost of real estate and family dynamics all contribute to what we are seeing as the diminishing dining room. Yes, there are circles who still maintain and use formal dining rooms in their social repertoire.

Elegant entertaining, grand social gatherings and family traditions still support the validity of the formal dining room. However, the fact remains that the concept is changing.

It’s easy to digress from the focus on design and delve into the demise of the family dinner hour. that time when families truly gathered to share, enjoy, report, critique, discuss, plan…more and more fragmented we are losing what was a very galvanizing core of child development and character-building. But I digress…

Take the bachelor who would rather have his pool table than a dining table…moving it into the house first and making that statement clear.

Entertaining has become more casual, more spontaneous and geared to an open-plan of kitchen conversations, bars and movable group conversations. The act of gathering around a formal dining table after the customary cocktail hour is now more free-form.

Placed directly off the kitchen and connected to the family room – the open plan flows…

The cost of real estate certainly plays a part in the diminishing dining room. Space is limited and therefore consolidating the dining area to one rather than a separate breakfast space and formal dining room utilizes space to greater advantage. Having an unused dining room occupy so much square footage is wasteful.

Family dynamics dictate that with the busy schedules and conflicting schedules, the seeming luxury of a formal dinner-hour have changed. Whether in the breakfast dining space or formal (if there is one), the act of sitting together for a nightly ritual of dining is less being practiced.

Here, this dining area is in the den off the kitchen…a better use of the space by this family’s estimation.

As I was writing this, I stopped and thought of the dining room scene from Meet the Parents and I cracked up reliving the events and they unfolded one ridiculous thing after another…and then I Googled famous dining room scenes to find other examples – because I was amused and curious…I found several memorable examples like the Griswold’s Christmas, Eat, Drink, Man, Woman, Tortilla Soup – oh and Tom Jones with Albert Finney – a classic!!! So many other wonderful scenes – but one day will it all be history? Mere memories of days gone by?

So today the open plans expanding the interaction between kitchen and dining – family rooms melding from the kitchen bar…the concept and lifestyles that dictate the practicality and ultimately the design directions are becoming redefined. And we also see the expansion of outdoor living – additional dining opportunities are ever blossoming on patios…

The exhibition kitchen concept that has driven restaurants for years made it into homes for the same reason – communing with the action and participants, connecting with the preparation experience and even sharing the preparation experience – dinner guests as well as family members often share the food prep as a form of socializing and entertainment.

The limiting idea that encapsulated the kitchen away from the activities surrounding it was in many cases to be dismantled. The disruption of encircling and kitchen, unveiling it and even incorporating it with the dining experience has become more the norm.

Still playing with colors…this wonderful dining room begins to take shape as an adjunct to the kitchen.

The kitchen is the fulcrum of family life. The dining room is not separate from it anymore. The dining space is part of the preparation space or very close to it. A kitchen island with bar stools are often the most popular perch in a home – for family and guests alike.

So this provokes thought about new home design, remodeling and re-purposing space, re-thinking how to best claim family time and related activities and designing around those practical considerations and needs.