Yardley Designer Provides A Style Recap on the Maison & Objet Show in Paris Sept 2010

Bonjour mon 'peeps.' Ah...to have attended THE design "IT" show of the year that just happened in Paris just a few weeks ago. The Maison and Objet show happens twice annually in the backyard of all of the Louis'. But it's the September Maison & Object show that many designers love to frequent. (Could it be September in Paris that is the greatest lure, perhaps?)

I'm certainly hoping to get there in 2011...but for now - let me share with you the trends spotted in home design at the recent show - both the good, the bad and the 'what are you kidding?" by way of information shared by trusted industry guru and trend watcher- Hermine Mariaux.

The Trends at Maison & Object September 2011 Show:

Traditionalists you may now utter ....Let them eat Cake!
Minimalists...take a breath. It appears that not only is Traditional Back...but it is back with a nice dose of opulence. Hey - this is France after all...so let's make that OP-U-LENCE.
*Think "Baroque" - carvings on mirrors, lamp bases and wall scones.
*Decorative Objects are in distressed woods, striped woods or finished in matte black...instead of the usual gold.
*Look for touches of tortoise finishes, sponged paint, lacquer, eggshell crackle.
* More is better, less is ...well...less.
*And in that vein...

Chatcka Alert
OK Minimalists...now you may need an aspirin. Forget just the 'accessory collections' of days gone by. The trend setters at this show didn't just do accessory collections. No. Au contraire. Instead, there were an array of "display walls" built into interiors and labeled "Cabinets de Curiosity" - built-ins specifically designed to hold, organize and showcase our what-nots and baubles. Yes, these are the elements that give our interiors their character, their spin, their fragrance. But this trend shows the art of the accessory now pumped up with a steroidal shot to become not just a collection - but rather "The Showcase Of The Accessory." (My Aunt Lillian would have loved this one!)

Asian Influence Continues.
Everything from primitive facial masks to newly interpreted Chinese porcelain vases with incredibly bold floral decoration.

If I Could Talk With the Animals...
Animal themes in design were everywhere present.
*Equestrian themes
*Leopard
*Zebra
*Cobra (Love it all! As an aside, may I share that my once 2-year-old daughter looked me in the eye and said the great conviction "I no like animal prints." I could only think, "Whose offspring is this?")
ALSO
*Butterflies
*Ladybugs
*Dragonflies
*Owls
*Peacocks

So - birds and flying creatures are on the scene for some extra fancy by way of wall decor, decorative pillows, ornamental objects and... regrettably...taxidermy! (They lost me at taxidermy) :) Thankfully, there is not a big call for taxidermy elements for this Bucks County interior designer...

Well mon chers - that is a brief summation of what you and I missed live in Paris a few weeks ago. Land of beautiful shoes, bon-bons, luscious fragrance, & women in high heels riding mopeds while looking quite comfortable doing so. Do you love the French,, or what?

Meet me in Paris next year???
Source URL: https://interiordesignq.blogspot.com/2010/09/
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Elegant Wooden Chair

Elegant Wooden Chair

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Elegant Wooden Furniture

Elegant Wooden Furniture

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Very Elegant Modern Furniture

Very Elegant Modern Furniture

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Elegant Modern Minimalis Furniture

Elegant Modern Minimalis Furniture

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Minimalis Modern Furniture Design

Minimalis Modern Furniture Design

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Stylishly Allowing Nature Indoors : Walnut Caster Table

This charming walnut table comes from realwoodworks1 and is available for purchasing on Etsy. This is a classical case of redesigning a common nature element (such as a tree branch or stem in this particular situation) and transforming it into a glamorous, outstanding furniture piece. The walnut caster table in the photos below has an emotional story behind. The designers rescued it from fire, probably realizing there is more to it than meets the eye. After cleaning it and polishing it, the piece completely changed its appearance and was added functionality. The sophisticated designed can be used as a coffee table and it even has wheels for easy maneuvering. We think it would go great in a living room decorated with more similar nature elements or in a small home office. Where would you place it?Source URL: https://interiordesignq.blogspot.com/2010/09/
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Vintage Finds - Some Great Mid Century Modern at 63

Well my dear peeps - you may know by now that I love combing Lambertville for treasures....and chicken salad... :) Hey...a girl's gotta eat.












(And for the record...I did mis-state the name of the best-chicken-salad-in-the Universe found at a Lambertville resource in an earlier post...it's found at Ennis Cafe...sorry Sneedons.)












Anyway - on a recent Lambertville hunt....look at these marvelous finds to be found at "63" - a great little shop right on Union Street, Lambertville, NJ for great vintage, art, antiques and accessories.





63 is a neat resource. They have a larger NYC arm - and things regularly make their way down here...from way up there....and usually they find better pricing once they land in little ol' Lambertville. I understand there is a frequent rotation of goods too.





You'll find not only wonderful mid-century modern pieces...but just some unusual little finds...all the way to include great vintage handbags.




Did somebody say Hand Bags??





Well - since you couldn't join me in person...to include feasting on a succulent scoop of walnut and grape chicken salad with me for lunch (jealous yet?) here are a few photos for you. Wish my camera had cooperated for a few more that I took. And trust me...there was MORE!







"Scroll" on down....













Pictured here: Some great mid century modern upholstery and lighting.

















Seen here...not exactly new and exciting on this lemon print, but certainly a great little work-horse piece. And for about $50 if you're open to Vintage. (Aka...not necessarily something of great value....but in some cases, just pre-owned....)...what a great find...and it lacks the sterilty of the prints one often finds in Home Goods (yes...I do find things at Home Goods...but you need a good eye to succeed there...). Great condition on this print...and I couldn't frame this for a client at this price. Perfect for a little slip of wall in a kitchen.
















And check out this super little wood carved barrel chair. For under a couple of hundred dollars, can you picture it in a luxurious spa bath as a great teak flavored accent? Try finding something like that at Ethan Allen....I think not.





































Ah...the vintage bags. Where are the smelling salts...I'm swooning.





Again I say to you Traditional Retail Store Shoppers...open those beautiful eyes and your fabulous thinking. It is the accents and objects in a room that give it its shape and flavor. (The bags...well...they're just there for yours truly to enjoy!)




So when next you're in town...head on over to 63.




10 North Union Street. Lambertville, NJ 609-397-2121Source URL: https://interiordesignq.blogspot.com/2010/09/
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Design Do-It-Yourselfers: Is it Really Possible?

Sometimes in design...as in Life...you have to know when to say: Uncle!



I'm sorry my peeps. I think I am about to become the lone salmon swimming up stream as I publicly flout the 21st century cultural song we all want to march to, namely: "I Can Do It All Myself. And I Can Do It Well." After my years in this business, I finally have to respectfully ask..."Really? Can we?"



A Parable:


Many years ago, I decided I could write my own contract. I did some research and I had at it. I was really pleased with myself. And oh - the dollars I saved - I thought. A few years later, I hired a talented, ethical, really likable attorney to take a look at it and my business contract needs in total. He called me to discuss everything after he'd reviewed things. "What's your background?," he asked politely? "Fine Arts. Design," I answered cautiously, not sure where he was going. "Well," he said as he drew in a breath, "it's certainly an artistic & creative contract that you wrote. Beyond that though - I have to say this contract is not just bad...("Here it comes" I thought...hold on!") "Donna, this contract is actually "textbook lousy," he said, with emphasis, no less. (ouch). "It will never do for you what you really need a contract to do for you," he added, then offering in a conciliatory manner - and because he was a really nice guy, "But it was fun to read." (kerplunk) (I had it coming.)


Hey - if you're going to go down - I say go down in flames! I didn't just score 'lousy," I ranked into the high "textbook- lousy"- with-word-stress range! :)


Lesson: Sometimes you have to know when to say"Uncle" and call in a pro who actually studied the thing you think is so easy. Ever hear the expression..."He doesn't even know what he doesn't know." This phrase is usually uttered by on-lookers who watch a brazen soul blatantly charge down the path...off a cliff.




The longer I live and breath and work in design, the more I have come to bristle when new clients tell me on the phone, "Oh, I'm addicted to HGTV." That's usually trouble. As they say this, I think of my contract debacle (and others like it). For the logical reality is - if we put our egos aside - no matter how many hours of THE LAW CHANNEL I watch, I will never be able to write a contract as well as an attorney. Watching "Martha" doesn't give me her skill or talent and my layer cake will never, ever look like hers. No amount of "THE DENTAL CHANNEL" watching will enable to fill my own cavity or correctly remove my own plaque. Nor will being glued to the "ACCOUNTING CHANNEL" fill me with enough tax law knowledge or accounting finesse to be able to do my tax return as well as my accountant. No amount of THE GARDEN CHANNEL" will give me the skill, understanding or talent to enable to be plant a garden that looks like the ones that make me sigh with pleasure when I visit them on my travels. And let us forget the 'end results' for a moment. Let's also consider the wasted dollars, the liability issues, the wasted time and the plain old angst-relief hiring a 'pro' saves us from when we hire them. Why? Because a pro is trained, practiced, talented and skilled at doing the thing that they do.



The Rub: Design Looks Easy. (Like Ice Skating)



Last evening, I enjoyed a wonderful fun dinner in someones home. One of their other guests, knowing I was an interior designer, couldn't wait to show me photos she brought with her of her former home that she 'decorated all by herself.' I dreaded the experience to come, as she raced to retrieve the photos she had brought to show me. My heart sank because I knew I was about to be put into a bad social and ethical position. Lie? Be Honest? Be diplomatic? I chose to be as honest as possible while being completely and kindly diplomatic - yet without lying. As she proudly showed me about 10 different rooms, my heart raced. What do I say? I really like this woman. I was put into a consummately awful position. I smiled, I 'hmmd" with each photo and I said as I could:




1) What a fun shade of green on that wall.
2) Interesting choice on those tiles.
3) I can see you really really loved doing this.
4) And I can see you really loved living in this home.



All of this- I felt was true. My lovely photo-shower looked still happy and pleased by the end of our exchange - just as I'd hoped. And I was relieved when we were done.




What woud you have said and done? As an analagous aside, this individual is a medical professional and has trained and worked in her field for years. How would she react if I told her I had self prescribed my own blood pressure medication and started taking my husbands to control things. Same thing with cholesterol. No doubt - she would have had a strong 'reaction' of sorts - and rightly so. (And thank heavens, I never did any such thing. But what if I had?? I would have been a dilettante. Hubris.)




Sometimes you have to know when it's time to call in a pro.




Not Everyone Should Work With Professional.
Who said that? I did! I agree with this. In the end, I have never believed everyone should work with a designer. The person who wants the lowest possible price, always, should stay away from a designer because this individual will never value the insight, result or service a designer brings. Usually for these individuals, good enough is good enough. This is likely the same person who would not see the value in hiring an accountant or attorney. The other person who should never work with a design pro is "The do-it-yourselfer" who either believes, good-enough-is-good enough," or "The do-it-yourselfer" like my lovely dinner companion thatt evening who believes she can paint like Renoir, sing like Sinatra and...well you get my point. This is the individual who should stay in the comfort zone of "she doesn't even know what she doesn't know."




I know what you're thinking - I can hear you through the blogosphere. I sound elitist. Far from it. Rather, I am taking the mature and logical view. I am talking about craft. And what about the cost of hiring a designer ...what about that??!! I hear you. Interior designers are a luxury item. Interior design guidance - like that of any other 'intelligence worker' does come at some cost. But I maintain that if you are honest with your attorney, your accountant, your designer, your dentist, your landscaper about what you need and what you can and can't do, you may be able to get more assistance than you think.
Be honest. Be respectful. Share your goals. Don't ask someone to work for less - just ask them to do less work. Tell them honestly that "I don't know how to get there exactly, but here is my budget." Find a fair, honest and ethical designer who can say to you - "OK - let's not do the whole project together, but lets commit to let's say - 7 hours (or some other realistic base number). Let's commit these hours to your project together to knock out the big decisions upon which all else rests: The key furnishings, the color, the fabrics, the agreement between adjoining rooms and so forth. Make these foundational decisions with a design pro - and 'Do It Yourselfer' - watch your end results improve exponentially! And...learn a few things from your pro while your at it too! I'd welcome a client like this: one I could teach about the larger early decisions and then cut loose and point in the right direction on items she could more easily handle successfully with some pointers.




For the record, I don't believe every home can be, should be - or needs to be - fodder for the pages of House Beautiful. I still maintain that 'home' is about the individuals living there and must always please the owner first. But it's when I see hard earned dollars thrown away on poor design decisions, lack of planning, lack of understanding, and just plain lack of know how... my heart breaks. It's when I get called in by these same people to help correct things that I see these wasted dollars that my heart goes out. Spend a little more upfront to save big dollars and errors - dollars and errors with ramifications both now and down the road. Trust me, when I do get called in to help 'fix things' done by a do-it-yourselfer- what an uphill climb for all. And often not inexpensive.




So my do-it-yourselfers - ask yourself this. Do I want to do it myself at all costs - or do I want to protect ever dollar I spend in design so it is spent in support of long term and short term excellent decision making. Do you want an active hand in your design process? You can have one. You can have all this with the right designer. Go find her.




Design is a slippery slope - She is an expensive pursuit. No matter where you shop for your furnishings and accouterments, it all starts to add up. Don't I know. Certainly in design, the cheapest thing to do will always be: do nothing. As soon as you decide to do "something" - it will cost you. But move wisely. Spend wisely. Call in a pro who can tell you how best to achieve what you're looking for on your budget: where you can hit the mark; what to purchase that will have 10-12+ year staying power; what to avoid; where you can make some trade offs that won't sting to much; and where you simply are going to have to either increase your budget, or break your project up into phases....just like normal people of all socio-econimic realms do all the time. (Hey...even Rockefeller had a budget.)






SO: Is "do-it-yourself" really possible in design? Can you really create for yourself a spectacular looking and feeling interior that will go the distance for you? Yes and no. I will say yes - but only if you wear a life jacket. Like a toddler learning to swim, you need 'floaties." You do need the guidance of a pro who will be able to tell it like it is, tell you when it's time to anty up - when it's time to cut you loose and let you go. Do-it-yourself design is best done with training wheels and a great teacher by your side.
Source URL: https://interiordesignq.blogspot.com/2010/09/
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The $250,000 Mistake: (When Doing a Home Addition)

Peeps, this will be brief because I'm in the middle of client appointments, but great things come in small packages...like this brief post. Had to jot down these words....it's all just too serendipitous!

True Story: Just met a couple who made a $3,500 mistake - which will amount to more like an $90,000 mistake. They placed the sliding glass door in their sun room addition in the worst possible location for the way they wanted to use this room. The result - they now have to now compromise their furniture placement and thus the room will not function as they had initially 'dreamed.'

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

True Story: Met with a family not too long ago who were finishing up an extensive 2 story renovation...and they were EX-CI-TED! "They wanted more space! They were so excited to have more space! Couldn't wait to host their Superbowl parties now!" Yes. They sure got more space. They were excited, yes. That is, until we began our design work together and it became apparent that given the new family room's footprint and window location - there was forced an unnaturally long and uncomfortable viewing distance to their TV. Furniture placement in total was actually a little challenging. This addition had to have cost at least $250,000. I thought this nice man was going to cry. His dream room...his dream addition....not as he'd dreamed.

True Story: I just met with a family that decided to 'add extra windows all over the place' in their newly constructed home. They do not yet know the kinds of difficultly they created for themselves when it comes time to do window treatments to controll all of this sun and create some privacy. If only they had been set just a little differently...small changes can bring great rewards.

How much time have you got there sweet reader? I have more stories....all with the same ending.

The bottom line is this: Wise Design makes for lasting interiors: Excellent choices yield excellent results - and all of this makes for wise dollar expenditure. Therefore, if you know anybody even THINKING about doing a home renovation or an addition....tell them to run...do not walk...to my upcoming teleseminar on September 15th called: HOW TO DO A ADDITION: GET IT RIGHT & AVOID THE OVERWHELM. Head to the seminars page on my web site to follow the easy registration instructions.

Can't make it that night? Sign up anyway and receive a recording of this info-packed-wished-they-knew-what-I-knew hour long program. From how to avoid the mistakes to what things will cost to how to control the process so it doesn't control you.... I wish these clients had attended! "See you" on the call.Source URL: https://interiordesignq.blogspot.com/2010/09/
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