A few readers and friends have asked me why I haven't posted any client project updates lately. Since I just spent the day at the bachelorette pad, I thought it would be the perfect time to address them. Interior designers don't just snap their fingers and make a pretty completed projects appear. A lot of hard work and time go into them and I chose to share with my blog readers all aspects of my projects and some of the "during" photos aren't always styled to perfection. Of course, the projects you see in magazines are perfect because there is an army of workers who are paid to create them and professional photographers to shoot them. I have real clients with real budgets who need real solutions to their design needs. It's very easy to create beautiful interiors with an unlimited budget but I think it's actually more rewarding to try to work with what a client already owns and to try not to spend all their money if possible. Unless a designer steals a client from their old firm or knows someone willing to take a chance on them, most designers start with smaller projects.
The reason I mention this is because an anonymous nasty blog took photos of my work out of context and made disparaging remarks about them so for a while I decided not to give them any more ammunition. But then I realized that I don't care what one petty clearly miserable person who hides behind a cloak of anonymity and doesn't share any photos of their home or projects says about me. My clients like my work and that's all that matters so here's your update.
I just spent the day working on some projects so we can get the place wrapped up in a few weeks. Matthew Haley of
The Furniture Joint picked up the plaid arm chair that we are having reupholstered and I ordered the fabric for new pillows, all of which should be ready in about 4 weeks and will really finish off the living room. I also hung more art including the new pieces that were bought at the
Trowbridge Gallery for the living room and bedroom. We decided to hang the embroidered piece above the television and two other works above the bed. They really look great pull the bedroom together.
I also hung some other works in the bedroom which I can't wait to share with you after the bachelorette gets back from her vacation. I don't want to ruin the surprise! I also picked out some great family photos for a gallery style composition on the entry wall. I think it might need one more frame to complete it so after it's finished, I'll take more photos to show you next week. I also hung the entry mirror and need to go back on Friday to hang some plates on the kitchen wall. We did end up painting the kitchen a very dark blue. Since it is open and right off the entry, it needed something to make it more special and the color is perfect. She's also having a lovely Asian work of art reframed for the entry.
All that's really left is to finish off the apartment with a few accessories. I would love to have two topiaries on the entry table. There is no outlet on that side of the room for lamps and it still needs something. The bachelorette happens to be in Italy right now so I suggested she stop by
Il Papiro for some desk accessories and I can't wait to see what she bought. The apartment is really starting to come together and I'm happy that we were able to use much of what she already owned. It's also a testament to the fact that you don't have to spend a ton of money to create a lovely and inviting home. I'll have more updates from this project and my other client's baby room next week. Oh, and I have a really fun trip to tell you about soon! Take that nasty anonymous blogger!
Photo by moi that wasn't staged or styled!
I'm off to North Carolina today to visit the Hickory Chair factory and showrooms! After hearing Suzanne Kasler talk about how she designed her new furniture line, I can't wait to see how it's made. Cassandra of Coco + Kelly and Franki of Life in a Venti Cup took the tour last time and I was sad that I couldn't join them on that trip! I am looking forward to getting out of town and will definitely take lots photos and report back next week but right now I'm off to finish packing. See ya'll later!
If you need something to do Saturday, May 30th, then I suggest you head over to Governors Island for some champagne and divot stomping at the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic. Usually polo is played in more bucolic settings like Bridgehampton or Argentina so a match in Manhattan seems a bit out of place but not completely without precedent. Apparently, they used to play polo on the island in the 1930's and 40's. Who knew?! Britian's spare heir, Prince Harry will be playing, as will the only man capable of upstaging royalty, the muy caliente Nachos Figueras. Better start brushing up on your Spanish now ladies because where there is one handsome Argentine polo player, there are many! Adios Amigos!
I was leafing through the March 2008 issue of House Beautiful when I saw a photo of chairs on a stair landing that reminded me of the new Williams-Sonoma Home store in New York. When I looked closer, one of the names of the designers, David DeMattei, sounded familiar. Then I realized that he is the group president for Williams-Sonoma and I actually met him at the opening party last fall. The home has a Williams-Sonoma feeling but is not a literal translation of the store. I'm swamped with work so for more information, you can check out the details at House Beautiful online. Bon Weekend! 
I'm a sunny day kind of girl. There is nothing I love more than one of those top 10 weather days that are 75 degrees and without a cloud in the sky but I have a confession to make. I secretly enjoy gray days like the one we had in New York today. It has to be the right kind of gray day though. Cool but not humid. Cloudy but not rainy. One that feels Parisian and allows me to wear my favorite Gryphon trench. The one with the collar that can be turned up and has three quarter length sleeves. It makes me feel chic and so it's no surprise that the Gryphon showroom is also chic. The founder and designer behind the company, Aimee Cho, was a fashion writer at Vogue so that might have something to do with it or it could have something to do with her very chic parents who you can see on her blog. Aimee also designs a clothing line perfect for the sunny days so rain or shine, she's got you covered!
A few readers and friends have asked me why I haven't posted any client project updates lately. Since I just spent the day at the bachelorette pad, I thought it would be the perfect time to address them. Interior designers don't just snap their fingers and make a pretty completed projects appear. A lot of hard work and time go into them and I chose to share with my blog readers all aspects of my projects and some of the "during" photos aren't always styled to perfection. Of course, the projects you see in magazines are perfect because there is an army of workers who are paid to create them and professional photographers to shoot them. I have real clients with real budgets who need real solutions to their design needs. It's very easy to create beautiful interiors with an unlimited budget but I think it's actually more rewarding to try to work with what a client already owns and to try not to spend all their money if possible. Unless a designer steals a client from their old firm or knows someone willing to take a chance on them, most designers start with smaller projects. 
