Feb 21

DOWNSIZING: Part Two of Three

By pattisays In architecture, Arizona, art and interior design, art custom commissions, artistic expression, blue and white, built-in bookcases, ceiling lighting, Color schemes, colors, commissioning an artist, context of interior design, creative process, creativity, custom art in interior design, custom cabinets, custom design interior design, custom furniture, decorative accessories, decorative arts, design, design challenges, design details, design in retirement, design process, design tips, designer fabrics, designing a new home, designing small spaces, designing with a purpose, downsize, downsizing, existing materials, fabrics, family rooms, flooring, floral paintings, flowers in design, furniture finds, good design, good taste, hardwood floors, hiring an interior designer, home, home decor, home improvements, home office, inspiration, interior accents, interior design, interior design trends, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen lighting, kitchen remodel, lifestyle, lighting a new home, multi-generational design, new home design, nostalgia and design, office furniture, ottomans, personal expression, personal spaces, personal taste, planning a new home, practical design, railing details, re-purpose, recycle design, Refresh, room arrangement, sofas, Staircases, style, styling, Subscribers, table dressings, tenant improvements, throw pillows, timeless colors, tips for new home design, trending design, trends, Uncategorized, update design, updating, value of art, value of good design, Vinyl wood flooring, white kitchens, workplace design /   1 Comment

This is the second in a series of three about recent downsizing projects for which we have been designing. The couple, long-time, wonderful clients/friends with whom I have designed interiors over 3 decades and 4 states, was ready for what they believe might be their final move.

The stairs of their home were making life in their 3,500+ square foot home taxing. Note to all, having the master bedroom upstairs looks like privacy, possible views and good step exercise in the beginning, but doesn’t offer the flexibility to adjust to aging or even accommodate temporary rehab due to injuries over time.

In 2004, I was invited to Phoenix to transform this newly purchased home into something more reflective of the architecture and the couple about to take occupancy. The interior took on a much more Spanish Colonial feel, which spoke to the clay tile roof and iron detailing on the exterior of the home. The transformation was delightful, but after 20 years, the time had come to move to a more accessible floorplan.

Aging eyes also begin to require better light for the aesthetic read of the space and the practical function of being able to see!!

Moving from a private residence into a condo offers maintenance services and relieves much of the responsibilities of home ownership. It is also easier to lock up and get away for travel and other excursions.

After investigating several properties in their extended neighborhood so as to keep within their familiar area of shopping and services, they decided upon a three-bedroom unit, with plenty of windows/daylight and a spectacular view.

The new walls were a near white neutral with easy-to-maintain vinyl wood plank flooring (that was offered in grey and we changed to a warmer, medium-brown). The grey was cold and didn’t compliment their furniture. The decision to make the change (even though the grey had not yet been installed) was met with a bit of push-back, but ultimately my clients won their little battle and had their preferred flooring color installed.

Certain things were “standard” as was the grey vinyl plank flooring. As the contract for the flooring was set in stone, my clients were required to stay with the same product and select from a limited range of colors. This medium-brown was a far better choice than the building-standard grey for their interior furnishings. We kept much of the standard selections, but made a few other changes to personalize the space both aesthetically and functionally. Knowing what the best selections/decisions are and how to negotiate and advocate for them is important.

We had a closet removed from one of the bedrooms. This room was to serve as the home office for the husband of the pair. The room was already built with an acute angle that ate up valuable space. With the closet carved out of it, it reduced the footprint even more. Had it been designed with parallel lines it would have offered a much easier space to furnish. Therefore, we discussed eliminating the closet to add a significant amount of valuable square footage. This was done without intent, but in talking with the superintendent of the construction crew, mention was made to make this adjustment. I was not present when the conversation ensued, however, the walls were already built and being painted. The superintendent instructed the change to be made. AFTER the work was finished, the project manager walked through the space and noticed the missing closet and exclaimed that it wasn’t allowed and hadn’t been approved, but since it was their team who did the work, and it was completely finished, it was a done deal. A minor miscommunication resulted in a great gain for my clients!

The cabinet on the far right side of the room is where the closet had been built and it tapered into the acutely angled wall on the right. It occupied a valuable portion of the room that was ultimately made available for furniture and artwork.

We contracted with an outside custom cabinetry shop to build custom casework in both the bedrooms. This was for maximum storage and space utilization, aesthetic appeal and very practical function for each of them. One, for the husband’s office (still working full-time) and the other, for the wife’s office/study (also still consulting and volunteering) which was also to double as a guest room with sleeper sofa. When challenged with acute space utilization parameters, designing to maximize a small space is like designing a “tiny house,” or a motor coach or a boat – every inch matters!

I guess the point of these two modifications, regarding the flooring selection and the space gained by removing the closet, is that details are important and when confronted with standardized plans, capturing any opportunity for modifications that can make the space more personal is invaluable. Custom built-ins maximize the footprint taking it vertical for storage and display space.

We then had a very light space with very specifically designed custom cabinets in the offices, warm-colored flooring and we added more lighting in the ceiling for spots and a more ambient spread of light – all with dimmers. Table lamps contributed to the ambient light in each room.

At this point we began to fill in with finishes and furniture to make the space their new home. From carefully selecting pieces from the previous residence and placing them on the floorplan for arrangement and scale, to culling the artwork for the best original pieces and specifically nostalgic objects which also each had an assigned place in the new home, we began layering their things in the new apartment.

The previous kitchen had stunning custom cabinets that we designed in 2004 in a knotty, medium-stained wood tone. About 5 years ago we replaced the original tile we had selected in that previous 2004 kitchen, with a “new” tile which was lighter and patterned. Therefore, for this brand new space, we selected a mottled glossy white glazed tile – super neutral and fresh with a traditional feel. The subtle variation in the glaze contributed to the handmade look of the material and resulted in a clean, neutral, monotone color scheme with the white cabinets and light granite slabs. To add a bit of detail and freshness, we tiled the island with a large format Talavera tile of a pale, organic, celery green pattern on creamy white field.

Due to space limitations, we elected not to place even a small dining table, in favor of a cantilevered overhang of the island countertop with counter stools. Weather permitting, there is a four-top table that we placed on the balcony for alfresco dining.

We had also re-done the master bedroom in the former residence from the warm gold and brick Spanish colonial theme, from 2004, to a refreshed navy and cream just a few years ago in 2021. We moved the key pieces from the master bedroom furniture and recreated the same feel in the new, smaller bedroom space.

The owners fell in love with a new, creamy upholstered bed which replaced the enormous, dark, albeit spectacular headboard panel from the previous room. This new, upholstered headboard was curvilinear – sort of a camel-back. We commissioned an Albuquerque artist, Alane Foug, to paint a series of miniature paintings to follow the contour of the headboard and splash a bit of pinks and greens into the blue and cream scene. We changed the bedside lamps and had them made from large jardinières that we found at a local treasure shop.

We “punched up” the living room by keeping very few key pieces while purchasing a few new, necessary, and accent items. A new, smaller, sleeper sofa, well-designed recliner, pair of small-scale curio cabinets and an area rug completed the scene. We found the curio cabinets in a consignment store which always adds to the fun of discovery and eclecticism.

We reupholstered a large, round ottoman and a carved Queen Anne reproduction side chair in a creamy neutral, but accented with a pop of a rich brick heavily woven fabric for the ottoman and lumbar pillow. We also kept the handsome cocktail table and massive sideboard.

By combining familiar treasured pieces and updating with necessary new pieces, the finished product was both familiar and refreshed.

As I previously mentioned at the start of this series, connecting with an interior design professional who can assist with the process of planning the move, placing the furnishings, selecting the finishes and colors of the new space, finding things to better fit the new rooms, while curating the things that mean the most or work the best is invaluable.

Helping to organize, make decisions, prioritizing, placing items on a floorplan to better understand size and scale – what to take with and what to leave behind. It can be exciting, but it can be emotionally stressful. Parting with things that have been collected over a lifetime is a huge chapter to turn.   

In contrast to the previous article about the single woman being displaced in a less than enthusiastic manner, this case was about a mutually decided new chapter – an adventure. It was completely voluntary and well planned. Downsizing can be emotionally draining at best, but when the decision is mutual, it can be exciting and fun! Making any downsizing situation positive is the key!

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Nov 05

DOWNSIZING: Part One of Three

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, apartments, apartments for the aging, art and interior design, artistic imagery, before and after, chairs, Color schemes, color trends, colors, consolidate, context of interior design, Contrasting colors, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, custom furniture, decorative accessories, design, design challenges, design details, design in retirement, design process, design scenes, design solutions, design theme, designer fabrics, designing a new home, designing small spaces, designing with a purpose, DIY design, downsize, downsizing, fabric design, fabrics, family rooms, favorite colors, good design, good taste, hiring an interior designer, home, home decor, home improvements, independent living, interior accents, interior design, interior design preferences, Interior design pro tips, interior design pro-tips, interior design trends, interior enhancements, lifestyle, living with color, Monet, nostalgia and design, painted furniture, patterns, peaceful places, personal expression, personal spaces, personal taste, planning a remodel, practical design, purple, re-upholstery, Refresh, retirement, retirement community, retro, reupholstery, room arrangement, seating arrangements, seating options, selecting colors, sofas, style, styling, Subscribers, tenant improvements, Thrift Shops, Thrifting, up-cycle, update design, upholstery, urban living, value of art, value of good design /   1 Comment

It’s a popular word in the recent vernacular. Increasingly pertinent whether it is your grandparents, parents or YOU, the trend to leave your large home, consolidate and either move to a smaller home or apartment/condo or to enter the realm of the organized social scene of a retirement community – downsizing is an increasingly popular move.

It might be a financial decision to better manage the money or a social move to connect with friends, cultivate new friends and activities, or make a physical move to facilitate independent or even assisted living. Whatever the reason, interior designers are finding this to be a very important niche.

Problem solving, creative lifestyle design, updating, or as my mother said “punching up” to refresh, designers find their challenges and satisfaction in helping make environments more accommodating, attractive, and appealing. Function in tandem with form – not necessarily preceding.

Helping to organize, make decisions, prioritizing, placing items on a floorplan to better understand size and scale – what to take with and what to leave behind. It can be exciting, but it can be emotionally stressful. Parting with things that have been collected over a lifetime is a huge chapter to turn.   

Connecting with a interior design professional who can assist with the process of planning the move, placing the furnishings, selecting the finishes and colors of the new space, finding things to better fit the new rooms, while curating the things that mean the most or work the best is an invaluable decision-making process.

This bright senior – about to enter her nonagenarian years and still working on courtroom Zoom sessions 3 states away as an expert witness – found herself through a series of circumstances, physically challenged and displaced to New Mexico to be closer to family. Her multi-level home of 50 years was so familiar and unique that the move, while being practical for many reasons, became onerous and depressing. The despair with which she found herself was painful. Once the move was made, house sold along with all of it’s contents (yes, she was persuaded by family to leave everything behind) the clock could not be turned back. Her family had retained a decorator to bring in and arrange some rental furniture – sadly, it deepened her depression.

She, being a tenacious, previously independent individual, got on her computer and Googled interior designers and found us. Without any reference other than our on-line presence – she retained our services and I went to work.

Her 5-decade home was professionally designed in the 70s and was a testimonial to the talents of that person or team. Although dated in some ways, the interior was classic and of excellent quality. It stood the test of time, but now it was time for a change. This feisty gal declared that she wanted this new space to be purple. Not lavender – purple. She wanted it done fairly quickly as every day she spent in this confined space (two bedrooms – one was her office and two baths with a small kitchen and adjacent living room), with the undesirable rental furniture, her despondency worsened.

Quite a task, but up to the challenge, I probed her interests and tastes, likes and dislikes, preferences and wishes. She had recently acquired a framed print of Monet’s Giverny bridge over the lily pad pond. It became the inspiration that drove her desired design direction.

Having heard the reference about being old and wearing purple: “When I am an old woman I shall wear purple,” evidently from the opening line of the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph, suggests a desire to celebrate one’s individuality and defy society’s expectations about old age by wearing intensely bright colors like purple, at the expense of them being seen as inappropriately loud, I embraced the concept and ran with her purple palette.

 In order to customize this special color scheme and transform this interior as soon as possible, I scouted thrift stores, antique shops, local retailers, Facebook Marketplace and Craig’s List. Exaggerating slightly regarding her not having brought any furnishings with her – she had a print of an 1890s dining/party scene in an ornate gold wood frame, a few music boxes that were irreparably damaged in shipment, and her little dog.

The existing flooring was a combination of new vinyl plank and a grey commercial grade direct-glue carpet. She elected and succeeded in having the management change the flooring to eliminate the carpet and continue the LVT. We found an area rug online that was thin and washable and worked well to anchor the living area.

She wanted a sleeper sofa for her visiting grandson, I found one on Facebook in near-new condition, albeit the fabric was all wrong. We reupholstered it in her choice from about 20 fabric samples I had gathered for her consideration. It was a bold, high performance purple textile that could have been garish had the other elements of the room not come together as they did. We piped it in a lighter more pink/purple detail for contrast and interest. The sleeper was a little too wide, so we reduced the dimension by modifying the arms. We also eliminated the center seam in the back and made the seat three cushions instead of two.

We also replaced the original mattress with a new memory foam in a bamboo envelope.

Another second-hand find was a handsome recliner with carved cabriole legs and wingchair style. It was in a badly worn leather, yet the mechanism was in perfect condition, and it was our next reupholstered piece using one of the 20 coordinating fabrics I had initially presented.

As there was no specific, much less a formal dining area, I found a small square table – like a card table also with cabriole legs. It had been painted with a black finish and gold accents.

With it, a coordinated, but mismatched pair of French chairs were also being sold. The chairs were provincial in white with light blue trim. I had them painted black and then placed them on top of my conference table and detailed them with gold accents. Both chairs had arms and upholstered seats.

One had a cane back and the other upholstered. One chair was short and the other tall. Yet they were a good quality, sturdy, Drexel duo from the 60s or 70s. Another fabric from our collected samples was selected for the two chairs. The three pieces made a clever, attractive and inviting little bistro dining setting. Her gold-framed print of the Victorian dining /party scene was hung above the vignette.

A purple runner adds a splash of color, and a sweet little white vintage ceramic lamp (another antique shop discovery) finishes the scene. It is at this table that she spends most of her time – sorting paperwork, reading, holding court with visitors. From this perch, she can look out to her patio and large grassy communal courtyard beyond, with a fireplace in the near corner for cozy winter nights.

A simple reproduction cabriole coffee table from a thrift store, a vintage drop leaf table from an antique shop, a couple of lamps and filler wall-art pieces to support the theme and color scheme – with a leafy live palm in the corner, resulted in an inviting space. The vertical blinds are building standard.

Her bedroom was mostly bed. But a Monet print to hang above in lieu of a headboard, piled with pillows that she had used on her rental sofa, with a couple of eclectic nightstand finds and a new lamp created a room for repose.

The result is a very happy client very pleased with her new interior. Neighbors on her floor and members of the staff have stopped by to compliment her on her transformation – which has gone a long way in getting her settled, comfortable and happier about her move. As soon as I presented her with this vintage find of a lovely hand-cut leaded crystal bowl, she promptly ordered purple candies to offer her guests.

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Apr 30

Designing, Styling and Why – Finding Personal Style

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, art and interior design, artistic expression, artistic imagery, branding in interior design, Color schemes, color trends, colors, commercial design, commercial interior design, commercial remodel, Contemporary Art, contemporary fabrics, contemporary interiors, context of interior design, Contrasting colors, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, creativity, custom art in interior design, decorative arts, design, design and marketing, design challenges, design details, design process, design scenes, design solutions, Design Team, design theme, design tips, design trends, designing a new home, designing with a purpose, DIY design, eclectic design, element of surprise in design, expressionism, family rooms, functional art, good design, good taste, home, home decor, inspiration, interior accents, interior atmosphere, interior design, Interior design pro tips, interior design pro-tips, interior design trends, lifestyle, new home design, paint colors, practical design, sofas, style, styling, Subscribers, tips for new home design, trending design, trends, Uncategorized, value of good design /  

Styling is a vague term used popularly now for many facets of artful design that come together to create a presentation (in this case) for interiors. Interior designers practice the artful tricks of “styling” while calling on their expertise with many other important professional elements regarding practical and functional design decisions, structural considerations, mechanical and electrical aspects, client collaboration, budgeting parameters, and more. Terminology can confuse the conversation because often the illusive thing that clients are seeking is finding their “style.”  This goes deeper than embracing a new trend or changing a style of furniture from Scandinavian to French. It goes deeper into the very personal places that are uniquely individual. It’s about lifestyle and personality, temperament, and taste.

Assembling elements in your home or workplace is about lifestyle and personality, temperament, and taste. This living room is taking shape for a single man wishing to update his furnishings and fixtures throughout his home.

I was told in school that there is no such thing as bad taste – just bad design. I love that. It takes an enormous percentage of the judgement out of it and leaves the important characteristics to be critiqued such as function, form, balance, color, texture, volume, lighting…

Styling and designing both require balance – designing being the more comprehensive of the two. Each consider many of the same elements, but designing digs deeper. I often converse with clients about the opposites in their spaces. Hard/soft, smooth/rough, light/dark, warm/cool, simple/complex…finding the effective, pleasing, balance in all the elements in a space is critical to the comfortable success of the design. I seek the positive, buoyant, uplifting effect that elicits good vibes.

The result should be more than satisfying, it should be joyful and personal. This chair and ottoman were vintage pieces handed down in this family and here we reupholstered them to give them new life in a new context.

As an interior designer my job is to extract and decipher the wishes of my clients – commercially or residentially. Not only what they want and need, but how to achieve it. It has to do with the art of design and the practicality or reality of executing the work. The result should be more than satisfying, it should be joyful and personal – designed for the specific needs and goals of the individual(s) with whom I am working.

Discovering your personal style might be like a lightbulb turning on – it’s been there all along but wasn’t recognizable. You have it but don’t realize it. Which begs the question, what is style? It is very representative.

From my experience, there is no such thing as no style. Not having style. The very concept of that is like a reverse condition of being without style (un-styled ) – like messing up a hairdo. Yet that disheveled do is a style unto itself – albeit not in the contrived sense of order and intent. That same hairdo in a fierce wind might become similarly disheveled – but without the intent – it might be considered an organic style.

Tidy to disheveled, style is limitless. The occupant of the space is surrounded by books that never quite get put away.
Fascinating to some – unnerving to others.

Interior design can be contrived with much intent, formalized with attention to detail or a more unselfconscious approach that always appears more casual, organic and lived-in. Of course, there are happy mediums too. However, the risk of the “unselfconscious” approach is that by the very nature of the approach to create that which does not LOOK contrived – can be very contrived!!! Hence the unfortunate, if not unintended, result!!

Tidy to disheveled, style is limitless – the permutations and opportunities are endless. But when styling a “scene”, do we keep books in the bookshelves with perhaps one on an end table or nightstand for practicality and interest or do we present piles of books as though the occupant of the space is surrounded by books that never quite get put away? Fascinating to some – unnerving to others.

Some categories of interior design allow a “stylist” to express themselves – rather than focusing on the specific design needs, desires, requirements, and ultimate joy of a client. Style for the sake of imagery. These categories include product representation and promotion/branding – ads and TV commercials, and vignettes that are not intended for real life but for effect. To create appeal and promote trending marketing efforts, assembling for model homes or staging for individual homes for sale and theatrical set design are also examples of the applicability of styling. This “styling” is a very marketable talent – different from designing for and about a client’s personal wants and needs – in a residential or commercial setting.

Commercial interiors combine the branding of the business as well as the personality of the occupants and the culture of the workplace. We completely redirected the focus of this insurance office by emphasizing their brand in color, imagery and graphics. Corporate marketing material was enlarged and used for artwork to further reinforce the brand and emphasize the mission for both employees and clients.

Style evolves. Styling can be an ongoing process – even daily. But that becomes a preoccupation that is not necessarily practical for everyone. Our tastes change with life experiences and with them new interests, accommodations and necessities all contribute to the evolution of personal style. But look at your own personal style and see what about it has remained constant even if your design direction has changed.

You have style. You need to try to articulate it, embrace it or change it. I often hear “I know what I like when I see it.” That’s true of all of us. But being a “creative,” a designer, we create and not merely discover, find, and assemble – through all parts of the process.  Helping clients distill the flood of inspiration, imagery and ideas presented, on the limitless platforms dedicated to interior design, new construction, remodeling, styling, and decorating, is the first stage of the job. With so many choices and directions from which to choose, navigating that circuitous path through the oh so many images and ideas is daunting, but essential to finding the right elements to combine and create the design – and set forth the style.

The stuff of life. This couple downsized and culled their belongings to their very favorite things. Their new interior, in their custom home, incorporated all of their treasures and added some new pieces for their next chapter.

Knowing what you like when you see it and collecting as you go is what results in what I fondly call the stuff of life. Your life is partially represented in the things you have discovered and saved – things that bring you joy that you want to see and have around you. They may change over time. Your fascination or appreciation for an object might wane…but the principle of having things collected over time and life experiences (or minimalist lack thereof) is a personal expression. Often the trick is to re-arrange what you have. The style is there, but the placement and orientation can make a significant difference. Arranging is very much a central part of effective styling and interior design. Styling is a fun way to play with options, trends, make statements, influence, and experiment. Have fun finding your style and incorporating all you love and enjoy into your interiors!

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