A Day of Interior Details

Yesterday, I visited a project that was about three years in the making.  (I’m talking about from the blueprints to the finished home.)  We keep adding little layers as this home is like a special woman who enjoys having a little extra attention.  It makes for an extra glow!  It is also the type of place where the words “simple” and “minimal” just can’t be applied.  There is also a fine line to the process of layering.  Too much, too soon, can be overwhelming.  My philosophy always is, “It’s easier to add than subtract”, so with clients who can embrace that concept, we create not only magic but memories, as well.

 

Sometimes I have some pieces in my treasure trove, of which I’m not sure where they’ll eventually be placed, but I have a “feeling” they will certainly land in a lovely spot.  This Belgium tapestry was one such item.  It was a little small so I had the workroom add an aged velvet with cording.  I ordered custom iron rods from Helser Brothers.  They do beautiful work and made the brackets so that I could reverse the acanthus leaves, from top to bottom.  The tabs and rods allowed for the tapestry to be stretched out in order to prevent wrinkling in between.

Here’s a close-up of one of the brackets.  Beautiful!  (Since I’m only 5’1”, I was so happy my new Canon G-12 camera zoomed to capture that shot.  Just wanted you to know I didn’t climb a ladder to get the photo and risk ruining my career with a broken neck!)

The groin vaulted ceilings are a magnificent architectural detail.  If we had only allowed for a flat painted surface, the depth would have been lost.  Adding soft texturing, which compliments the marble floors, let the lines pop forth.  After standing back, just one more layer did the trick . . . the hand-painted leaves are a reference to the light fixtures. 

We’ve decided to build a couple of custom wall-mounted tables for the walnut paneled library.  My inspiration will come from the cast stone fireplace supports. 

The scroll pattern will be repeated in some corbels.  My fabulous craftsperson, Phillip Stapp, will make these pieces seem as if they have been in place, from the beginning.  He was so pleased he had just acquired some reclaimed walnut boards! We changed the original function of the room, from an office to a retreat.  It’s now home to a pool table and some comfy chairs. 

Here is the area we’re going to address.  I can’t wait to show you the finished results.  Stay-tuned, in late March, for some new photos!

It’s always so nice to step back into a project.  Not only am I able to enjoy seeing the work we’ve accomplished, I enjoy catching up with clients to share their latest events.  Even in a few months, those events can change the focus of their home and I’m happy to be there to make the tweaks.  I call it “planning with flexibility”. 

“Love the home you’re in and allow for the details to honor it well.” ~ Wanda S. Horton – Interior Design

All my best! ~ Wanda

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Christmas Countdown – Day 16

 Stained Glass – A Love Story

If you’ve been reading my posts, for awhile . . . and let me just pause to share my gratitude for that . . . it might be pretty obvious that I’m a bit traditional in my personal lifestyle.  As an interior designer, it doesn’t mean I’m limited to one style.  I’ve got several clients who prefer modern lines and feel I totally “get it”, when it comes to designing their interiors.  It simply means that I embrace the concept of relating to the past, while looking towards the future.  I prefer a concept of tradition, different from being overly conservative or stodgy.  To me, it means depth, warmth, and being wrapped in a sense of place.

That sense of place began in a smaller southern city, Durham, North Carolina.  My father was born and raised there, as was his family before him.  He attended Duke University, where he met his future wife, (my mother), who was a newly capped nurse at the time.  Their eyes caught one another while she was awkwardly trying to light a cigarette in order to appear a bit more intriguing - perhaps a little flirtation to have him offer her a light.  (I know, it’s a bad habit, but back in the day . . .)  Durham, after all, began as a tobacco town, and the name, ‘Duke’, was related to that industry.   

Fast forwarding, a couple of years later, my father was in the waiting room trying to finish studying for a final exam, while my mother was in the delivery room, giving birth to their eldest child.  (Again, it was a different time . . . )  Years later, that daughter, who had begun to appreciate things of beauty – music, architecture, and art – would go to the Duke University campus, so she could sit in a chapel, (which seemed to be from a world away), to listen to the organist practice on Saturday evenings, for the next day’s service.  Something about the raised, groined vaulted ceilings, the sounds of the massive pipe organ, and the stained glass windows made it a truly holy experience. 

As you have probably surmised, that daughter is the one who is penning this post.  Though quite a few years have passed since those Saturday nights at the chapel, I recall them vividly, and especially the richness of the stained glass windows.  It was love at first sight!

The interior of Duke Chapel.  It’s an architectural feat of over two hundred feet of ceiling height.  Not only were churches of this period, (Neo-Gothic), designed with soaring height so one would feel a sense of being lifted upward, they also emphasized the smallness of man, in the scope of the universe.  (Image:  Adam Gerik)

The Chapel holds up to sixteen hundred people.  Just imagine sitting in the front row, for your own private concert!  (Image:  Adam Gerik)

Behind the façade, pipes, and carved oak screens, the Kathleen Upton Byrns McClendon Organ is lodged in chambers on both sides of the chancel. It remains Duke Chapel’s original organ, built and installed in 1932 by the Aeolian Organ Company of New York.  The pipes visible from the nave only hint at the Aeolian’s size, for approximately 6,600 pipes are located in the large chambers.  (Cited from:  Duke University Chapel Website.)

The Chapel’s 77 stained-glass windows were designed and composed by G. Owen Bonawit, of New York, working with fifteen other artists and craftsmen. The Chapel’s windows depict every major scene in the Bible and contain an estimated 800 to 900 figures, including 301 larger-than-life-sized figures in the chancel and transept windows. The largest window measures 17-1/2 by 38 feet. All of the ruby, and most of the blue glass, was made in the United States, and the glass of other colors was imported from Europe. (Cited from:  Duke University Chapel Website ) (Image:  Adam Gerik)

 

Just recently, I visited Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens for an afternoon Christmas tea.  In the main entry, there was a stained glass dome, encircled with a series of crests.  While not quite the same as the chapel, it’s still a heavenly work of art!

If a cathedral, basilica or chapel is not within local driving distance, you could bake your own little slices of heaven!  They are edible, but I can’t imagine crunching into their divine beauty.  From:  Simple Recipes

To this day, I appreciate the beauty of stained glass.  I’ve used it in several design applications, especially in windows where the view needs to be more beautiful than what could be created in nature, or to create privacy while still allowing light to pass through.  Most of all, I appreciate the memories of past holidays and being able to share them with my parents.  I’m thankful they are still with me, to reminisce and laugh about the beginning of my story.

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”  Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

All my best! ~ Wanda

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Custom Design ~ The Icing On The Cake

Sometimes it takes a bit of imagination to see beyond the blueprints of a custom design project.  I love the process of working from the design phase to watching a project unfold before my eyes.  It’s like baking a cake from scratch.  You have to start somewhere . . . akin to leafing through the pages of a cookbook to find a tried and true recipe.  There are always some instructions to keep the cake from falling, keep it from crumbling, and to keep it delectable.  Sometimes; however, you just like tweaking the ingredients so that it’s a little different from all of the cakes which have been previously made.  Something to call your very own!

Custom building and remodeling can be a bit like baking from scratch.  There are always some of the necessary elements, for a successful outcome, and a bit of patience is needed before the icing can be put on top.  The cake has to be baked, cooled, and prepped.  And - as is always the case, sitting in front of the oven doesn’t make it cook any faster.  We all know what happens when one opens the oven door too soon!

This photo was taken in the early summer.  It’s a vacation home project I’m working on in Blowing Rock, NC.  At this stage of building, the possibilities abound!

We were able to pick out stone selections from a local quarry.  The stone mason was so kind as to set up an example of some options, in both the stone type and the design.

This was another option.  My client prefers straighter edges.  Even though this is a mountain home, since she has a more modern leaning, these felt a little too rustic for her.

From the road, the house appears to be a story-and-a-half cottage.  It actually consists of four levels.  Two are below grade.  (Did I tell you it’s on the side of the mountain?)

Now you have a better idea of the height of the house.

It’s a long way down!  The trees hide the drop from the edge.  I could only go so far before my toes began to tingle.  (A phenomenon which happens to me when I feel I’m a wee bit high off of the ground!)  By the way, in speaking of scary heights, the builder had us out on a stone-hunting escapade, where he wanted us to see some work he had done on another home.  The road was all gravel and when we turned around to come back up the slope, the back tires spun out and we could have met our demise down the side of the ledge.  We were finally able the to figure out how to make it out of there.  (Too long of a story to tell.)  After that narrow escape, we could hardly speak . . . for a few minutes.  We finally broke into hysterical laughter after we realized we were going to live to tell about it.  It was a bonding moment.  Near death experiences will do that to you!

Of course, during the process of construction, we did go ahead and source the permanent selections.  Since these were “attached” to the house, we needed to stay a step ahead of her builder in order to keep things on schedule.  The tile installer was working away on the master bath, at the time of this photo. 

We loved the deep charcoal tones and knew this would be a winner with her preference for a gray palette.

The floor is looking great!  (Please forgive the spots.  Photography during construction catches dust particles, too!)

The shower is coming along nicely! 

Now back to the exterior view.  It’s such a shame to have to put up doors and railing.  (Well, except for the "it’s a long way down, thing”.)

What a difference!  My client is beginning to get a clearer picture of the project’s progress.

The glass panel inserts allow for the vistas to be enjoyed, year-round.

And even though there is still a lot of work to be done, I would say she already has her icing on the cake!

All my best! ~ Wanda

Click on the image for a divine recipe!

PS - Contest Alert!  I’ll be giving away an autographed copy of Vicente Wolf’s “Lifting the Curtain On Design”!  All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment on any two of my posts, beginning with the 2010 High Point Furniture Finds – Post 1, and by November 30, 2010.

I’ll announce the winner the first week of December 2010.  I hope you’ll enjoy a festive month!

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“Slow” Home Shopping

Slow is not a four-letter word!  It’s not that I can’t count . . . (smile), it just seems to be, whenever we use this word in most everyday conversations, it can conjure up the following derogatory aspects:

• Slack; not busy. 
• Passing heavily or dragging, as time.
• Not progressive; behind the times.
• Not prompt, readily disposed, or in haste.

I prefer to think more in terms of the definition:  “Moving or proceeding with little or less than usual speed or velocity”.  I like the idea of slow referring towards being deliberate in action.  It’s a more positive position.  Taking your time can be wise in many aspects of life, and so it goes with your home.

Part of the enjoyment in creating a “Slow Home” can be the process of shopping.  I know I personally love perusing through various shops and tucked-away places, as I source for a client’s interiors!  By taking my time, I get to know the vendors or proprietors, on a first name and handshake, or even hug, basis.  We chat about my projects and what I have in my mind as the vision for each client.  If they don’t have the solution, they can make a note to find it or send me to another source.  Great vendors are open to sharing and collaborating.  They know, even if they miss my purchase this go round, I’ll be back on another day.

If you promise not to rush, I’ll take you with me, on my “Slow” Home Shopping Saturday.  Come stroll the aisles with me to see some of my latest finds:

I stood and looked at this zinc pediment fragment, for the longest time.  My mind went whirring with the possibilities.  A fabulous shelf for a stove hood.  A great corona for a bed canopy design.  A top treatment for a floor length closet mirror.  Slowing down allows for more creative possibilities.

These antique violet/amethyst bottles make such a color impact, by grouping them in mass.  Manganese creates this rich hue.  It has been used since ancient Egyptian times to color glass.  Slowing down allows you to become better educated.

This has found a home as an “objet d’art” in the Horton’s garden!  It’s a ceiling vent from an industrial building.  The dealer was happy to find someone who actually “got it”.  Slowing down allows for mutual appreciation.

To reproduce these doors would cost twice as much, or more, than their selling price.  While it might be easier to go to a catalog to order a set of doors, taking your time to search for something this unique gives you the satisfaction of renewing a find.  Slowing down can save you money.

Sometimes there is a weird and wonderful item which captures your attention.  This was big and heavy.  I know because my husband carefully carried it away.  Slowing down makes for more interesting finds.

Slow Home, to me, also means that the process of selecting and filling the home with items you love, shouldn’t be rushed.  I think the housing heyday created a lot of mass-produced dwellings with copycat interiors by well-meaning folks who thought their neighbor’s home and style was the one to emulate.  I’ve seen a lot of catalog/internet cloning, along with the attempt to take Colonial brick dwellings to an inappropriate level of European Manor House – and to do it F-A-S-T!  Taking your time means taking a good, long look at who you really are, what your needs might be, and if your home is an accurate reflection of it.

“The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.”  Moliere

Post Script:  I’m very excited to see more people in the design world speak of a process called, “Slow Home”.  You can even read about it in a trending topic on Twitter.  There is a website, by two Canadian architects, John Brown and Matthew North, who believe it’s best to approach anything to do with home design and building, in a slower manner.  Their website, Slow Home, is totally dedicated to this cause.

Update:  Please be sure to read another Slow Home post by my Twitter friend, Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo. A Smaller Life – Signs of a Slow Home Movement? Her comments are spot on!

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Gratitude, A New Blog Series, & Simple Solutions

Wow!  There must be something in the air as my May calendar has been packed with meetings and projects.  Thank you to all of my lovely clients!  I’m humbled and honored to be asked to be a part of the process of creating the place you call home.  One of you contacted me to help with your new home, after being away from our area for five years.  Welcome back!

For those who might be considering utilizing an interior designer’s services, (perhaps even mine), I’ll have some upcoming posts where I’ll share how this process can be a joyful experience, even through the bumps which can occur, when you are living in the world of custom design.  Expecting HGTV?  No offense, but it’s not on my radar when I create my posts.  However as they say in TV land, stay-tuned!  “A Room at a Time” will debut in June.

Meanwhile, just so I don’t loose your attention, while I’m working on my next series, here’s a quick and simple solution for taking a cubby space and making it magnificent:

By adding corbels, on either side of a built-in desk-top, the design goes from plain to “pow” and it allows for plenty of extra leg room, too.  Even the closet door benefits from some applied molding.  Trim details can take a box of a space and add a distinctive personality.  For those who do like fast results, this might be a great place to start!

Experience . . .  the best about design! ©  . . . Wanda

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A Mossy Mishmash

The prolific rains, from the El Niño effect, have provided much commentary about folks feeling as if they might be “growing moss”.  Well, for me, it’s partially true, as I’ve looked at the effects it has rendered on certain woodland-type areas in my yard.  The perfect degree of shade and moisture have created an abundance of the lovely, velvety textured growth. 

Forest flooring at its finest . . . moss carpets in low-lying, shaded areas.

While in the world of botanicals, they are classified as bryophytes, and there are about 12,000 species, for simplicity sake, I’ll just zero in on the type I’m seeing spreading and creating lovely surfaces in my gardens.  Most people are familiar with seeing this in a sheet variety, as it can be excavated and used in a multitude of ways.

  

If you love are a fan of green, an outdoor container can become it’s own little eco-system with the addition of a moss covering.

Not sure how to treat a wall?  Forget the paint and paper, a vertical garden can be created with a moss foundation and plantings . . . and a green thumb!

Taking it to a whole other level . . . or two, or three!

And here are the steps to get there . . .

I love this application for the Athenaeum Hotel in London. What a great high rise alternative if planting trees may be prohibitive.

I want this interior tablescape!  So interesting and yet so simple.  A glass top makes for no fuss, no muss.

A designer’s dream!  Architecture, combined with textural variances, sleek meets earthy - and the juxtaposition of a perfect pattern.

And to think it all began, here:

 

What are your favorite ways to use moss?  Please do share!

Cheers from the woodlands! – Wanda

(Architectural photos are courtesy of Trendhunter Magazine.)

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Great Beginnings, Part 4 – Architectural Details

Most people think about the “big picture”, when structuring a list for beginning a new construction or interior remodeling project.  There may be obvious architectural space issues, such as handling walls, ceilings and flooring – or the “big box”, a I refer to it – and it may seem simple to create a wish or needs’ list.  Most of the time, it’s the little things which can transport a space from everyday to fabulous.  For my female readers, it’s very similar to the difference between putting on the basic, black dress, with no accessories, or adding just the right accents to really make it dazzle!  All the while, keeping in mind, we do want that “cocktail dress” to be made as nicely as possible, as it allows for several different ensembles to be created.

Do you speak the same “language” with members of the trade?  If not, a picture is truly worth volumes in preventing errors in communication. 

Yesterday, while I was out and about, doing some sourcing for antiques, I ran into a dealer friend of mine, who is in the process of building a home in the NC mountains.  As we chatted about the possibility of working together on her project, I reviewed a few helpful hints to get her thinking about how important these little details can be, in all of the decisions she will make, and in how to tie it all together.  Not only does this impact the final aesthetic, it’s also good to explore these items, so as to be able to allow for them in the budget.  It saves for a lot of frustration and surprises.  At the end of the conversation, she expressed excitement about working together, as it will bring her a sense of calm in knowing a trained professional would be keeping her design aesthetic at heart, as well as to help her carefully plan and manage the project.

                

Something as simple as a door style can make a big impact.  Door height needs to be relevant to the room height.  10’ ceilings?  Don’t choose a standard 6’8” door.

     

What about the hardware?  Certain types of locks require onsite customization.  (An added expense if not pre-drilled by the manufacturer.)  There is also the consideration of the design element tying into the other room objects and finishes. 

Air returns?  Codes and other structural requirements may dictate placements we just don’t love.  There are some great manufacturers, of covers, which allow for softer and less obtrusive appearances.  (Also notice the great little detail of wrapping molding around the switch plate, on the opposite wall.)

While some might say, “The devil is in the details”, I really enjoy this part of design!  In fact, I might even say I wear the crown of a “Details Diva”, because I appreciate the difference between the mundane and magnificent.  I’m not as interested in glossing over a project, just for a passing grade.  As in anything worth achieving, it takes time and the accumulation of knowledge.  HGTV-style, twenty four-hour makeovers, only really appear on camera, because of the hours spent behind the scenes, making it all come together for film.  (And I do really like some of the HGTV shows – A favorite having been Joe Ruggerio’s, “Homes Across America”.)

I worked with this client, from the original blueprints, through the whole interior’s process. Investment?  Some focused consulting hours.  Long-term satisfaction?  Priceless!

If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, there is nothing like calling in a trusted interior design expert, to help you sort through and create a priority list.  In the long run, your investment in time and services will be so worth it, as it saves stress, keeps you focused, and will allow you to maintain control over the outcome. 

Inhale . . . exhale!  Don’t you feel better already?

Cheerful planning to you!  Wanda

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