What’s working for me now....

Wallingford kitchen happiness

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:26:25 -0700

The slab went into my Wallingford kitchen project today. We used the new man made granite - black on the perimeter, and white on our robin’s egg blue island.

The client is not as tall as I am (I’m 5’10” and she is 5’0”) so we made the island 2” lower than the typical 36” height. It’s important for her to be comfortable when she works and if it’s a custom kitchen - hey, why not make it fit your body. If she ever sells the house - the new owner can put legs on the thing - win/win.

Keep watching for the really fun tile backsplash and custom banquette cushions.

leather chevron back-splash

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:11:36 -0700

Sometimes you just can’t find what you want, and you have to make it yourself.

These iridescent silver leather panels were made by the carpenter and myself - he cut the plywood based on my CAD of the pattern, and I covered them with the leather.

The client is thrilled and so am I!

Parts are only a part

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 13:03:08 -0700

I was discussing with a possible new client today how to approach selecting furnishings. They have just purchased a new home and they are recently married, so they really are starting from scratch.

It is tempting to just go shopping and start picking out things you like. Need a couch? Pick out one you like. Need a dining room table? Pick out your favorite. Shopping is fun and people get in a hurry to see something in an empty house. This is the shopping model of design, and while you may get a few things you like out of this approach, you will not be creating a collection of objects that creates a concept and a vision larger than the individual parts when you do it that way.

I (and I believe most designers) see each piece a client needs (or already has) as a component in a larger composition. While my clients generally like each piece I select, that is not the primary criteria I use to make selections. I’m trying to create a composition that gives a feeling and completes a design concept - creating an environment that satisfies the goals of the project, esthetically and functionally. There are a great many beautiful things out there - but they don’t necessarily play well with other things to create what my clients want.

Starting out any project by defining the feeling and vision of the project means that each subsequent selection is primarily about filling in what is necessary to achieve the vision we’ve all agreed upon - which is different than finding a chair (or whatever) I, and my clients like.

Almost there!

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:56:06 -0700

This View Ridge game room is really coming together. The whole room has been covered in paneling, with one wall in oak. There is a standing bar near where the pool table will live and a wet bar with display shelves for the clients’ scotch collection.

The guys at Costigan Construction did an amazing job with all the detailed finish carpentry work and I can’t wait to see it after we install the leather backsplash......more to come.

Design within context

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:08:59 -0700

Good design can't happen in theory or in a vacuum - good design only happens within the human context - and I believe within the specific human context. What is right for one is not right for another. My job is to help my clients find their own style, refine it, and implement it in a way that is in context with their house, their budget and their lives.