Media- the perfect storm

Ok, so I want you to know I am not trying to make you vomit by patting myself on the back (you say: yada yada yada here it comes- eyes rolling).  My life is usually fairly (correction: completely) boring and I am just so shocked at whatever this freak Twilight-like stuff that's happening in my life- I wanted to share my thoughts and thanks.
The past year and a half has been nothing short of amazing (no really- freakishly amazing)!  I put up my website, I started writing my blog (something I never thought I could do or had the time for), I started tweeting (ditto, and I suck at it), I got photographed for Country Home magazine, I (my house) appeared in Kitchen and Bath Makeover magazine, I was hired to be the Interior designer for This Old House TV show, My work was in This Old House Magazine a couple times, An article about me was published on the front page of the Newton Tab newspaper (Thanksgiving week no less), I have been quoted in Better Home and Gardens magazine, I was in New England Home Magazine, I did a piece for HGTV Blog and website, This month my house is in a four page spread in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine and I am guest Blogging for New England Home Magazine.  All of this after 12 years of obscurity, keeping my head down, working hard for clients and living on word-of-mouth referrals.
Holy shmoly!!!!!!

Last night at my book group someone asked me why all this is happening now?  Was it the TV show, was it the blog?  What was it and how did it start?  My answer???? I have no flipping idea! (I am surprisingly eloquent at times).  My grandfather used to say “luck is when hard work meets opportunity”.  Is that it?  is this just good luck or hard work meeting opportunity (notice I put luck first)???  Over the last 12 years of working in this industry I must say I always try to do my absolute best.  I am honest to a fault, straight forward, happy and friendly.  I believe in making my client’s feel good about their taste and choices and hopefully they love the design process.  I am by no means perfect, I am a small company and if one of my kids, husband or I get sick, the world stops.  I try to return phone calls and emails within 48 hours (I get hundreds of emails everyday)  Could I be speedier- yep, absolutely, but there is only one me and I do my best.  I am 15 min late for everything and the hip outfits for the first few appointments degrade into just shy of my gym clothes as time goes on (you think I’m kidding- you’re lucky I shower most of the time). Of all the amazing designers out there, I am as good as others at some stuff, and I am far worse at some stuff than many, but I do try hard and I really care.  I just can’t believe that after 12 years of designing people’s homes- I am finally getting noticed.  Ya freaking hoooooo!!!!!!!

For all this I want to thank all of my wonderful, incredible clients who have made my job so amazing- I adore every one of you!  I also want to thank all of my vendors, you are the backbone of my success.  In an industry that Designers work alone or with a very small staff, it is the wonderful relationships with my vendors and clients that make my job so amazing and supremely satisfying.  I love that my kids see that mommy loves what she does for a living- I wake up and can’t wait to start working.  I hope they find the same passion for their careers in life. 

It’s all Greek key to me!

The Greek key pattern (sometimes called meander) made up of repeated vertical and horizontal lines is recognized as a Greek symbol representing infinity and unity.  It is seen as ornamental relief on architecture all over the world.  As a decorative element, you see it used on furniture, accessories, trims, clothing, fabric and endless other items.

As much as I thought the roots of this symbol were Greek- as the name implies - I dug into researching its origin and found roots in many different countries.  I found examples in ancient Egyptian civilization, all over the Mediterranean and in China symbolizing good luck.  In fact, the Greek key pattern has been found by archeologists as a decorative element with dates preceding ancient Greece by thousands of years.  One such find in the Ukraine dates from 18,000- 15,000 BC.  It seems most cultures it adorns have a unique version of its meaning and its origin.  Some believe the pattern derives from the twisting, shifting path of the meandering river of Phrygia in the Mediterranean region of present day Turkey.  Thus my confusion, the deeper my research dug the more opinions I came up with on its origin and meaning.  Suffice to say “I love it” and think the geometric formality of the pattern is amazing in interior design. 

This is what happens to me writing blog posts, I sit down to write a quick post on an idea and hours later I emerge as a haggard research obsessed lunatic who still couldn't find that one last photo (not that I am usually short on photos).  Then I am so (self) abused that I simply cannot sit and write another post for a least a week.  Thus my inability to post frequently enough to keep up with my over achieving blogging group.  I am not worthy!

Here are those big gorgeous Greek key photos you’ve been dying for me to shut up and show you (like where’s waldo- find the Greek key variations in each picture):

The house we live in has an interesting past, we are the third owners.  It was built in 1890 by a wood carver, he would carve houses in the area then go travel.  When he ran out of money he would come home and carve parts of this house until his next gig.  My house reads like a bit of a travel log, Ireland here , England there, a little India, and a lot of Greece.  Below please find some photos of molding in my living room, third floor office and play room- my love of Greek key continues!

Above: (hopefully not too hard to see) is the Greek flower corner block to a doorway and the Greek key ceiling molding in our living room.

Above: Another Greek flower/sun corner block for a doorway and the Greek key relief running around the room.  This room has vaulted 14ft ceilings and an original Victorian skylight that's 8ft tall x 6ft wide (so much for keeping in the heat).  This skylight has a different Greek key (similar to the living room) running around the glass panels- see below.

The third floor playroom has the feeling of a church rectory.  It’s the top of the turret and the ceiling is an octagon, the Greek key Below- runs around the room at about 7ft with interesting corner blocks like my office.  I was able to find drapes from Pottery Barn (shush quiet- don’t tell my work room I bought off the shelf drapes) with a Greek key.

Porch drapes

Of course as the weather improves here in New England my mind dreams of outside.  I am obsessing over porch drapes and trellises with climbing roses.  Truth be told I have not given much thought to porch drapes until now.  Sunbrella makes some absolutely fabulous outdoor fabrics that really hold up to color bleaching by the sun and mold.  In years past when the sun was too intense on my front porch I just repositioned.  But I just bought 18 yards of black and white awning stripe sunbrella fabric for a great price on eBay.  I have always loved how fabric softened interior architecture.  Now I am going to try exterior drapes, no longer will I have to move when the sun is too bright.  And honestly, the exterior of my house can use all the decoration it can get- we are talking ugly ugly ugly!!!

I think drapes do such a great job of softening and lending an elegance to the outdoor spaces.

When the weather cooperates the porch can be like a seasonal addition to your house.  We literally live on ours.  I am out there reading even when it’s slightly chilly- that's what throws are for.  I have to admit, I'm out there even in my pajamas (they are kinda cute- matching at least)

I would show you before and after of my porch decoration but as I’ve said in the past I don’t want to stain your brain with the current house ugliness, so these pictures can be place holders in your mind of what it will look like someday.

The Big Reveal!

So here it is, my daughter Tyber is 10 years old – wow, the big double digit!  I think you all may remember (from Monday) the picture of Tyber’s old room.  Here it is below:

So girlie!!!  Well my girlie girl got a new room redo for her 10th birthday.  She asked for tonal cream and white with accents of silver.  She wanted traditional mixed with contemporary and a little ethnic for good measure.  This is what she got today:

Charli and Bella have a new hang out place!

It’s so much better then our room my husband Kevin is threatening to move in - maybe this will be the new punishment to pull out when bad behavior is looming.

Can grown ups live with pink?

Well - Yes!!!  First of all I love to see men wearing pink- it evokes a nice confidence about them and flatters almost all complexions in such a healthy way.

This is taking it farther then I expect for most men but how Fab are these guys?

(Carlton Varney and friends)

Pink in decoration of our houses usually starts with a girl’s room - until they outgrow pink and want the space to reflect the grown-up they are in their own mind.  But at what age can we accept pink again.  Some just never get back to it and dislike the color but then their are some - like me - who really love the color.  How can it fit into our current houses with husbands and boys running around who may not gravitate to pink?

Maybe it’s just an irreverent splash of color in a masculine setting (above - Ned Marshall) or as accents (below - Brad Ford).

This (immediately below) is a picture of my Dining room and another picture (below that) of my Foyer with splashes of pink (thank goodness my husband is secure - if not daring!)

 

So, if you liked pink once – maybe it’s time to revisit pink again.