What’s working for me now....

Please find me and follow me on Facebook

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:35:13 -0800

It’s not that I haven’t had anything to say lately, it’s just that I’ve been saying it on Facebook instead of here - so I’m making it official, please visit me at Renate Ruby Design on our beloved social media site. It’s just much easier there to upload recent photos, link to cool things I find and stay connected to anyone who might be interested in hearing what I might have to say.

“Like me” (which feels like such a Sally Fields thing to ask for), and send me a note or something. I’d love to connect.

I can also be found on Biznik or Linkedin if you prefer.

Ciao from here for now.

Why not have a custom light made

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 09:03:12 -0700

Lighting is one of the most difficult aspects of any remodeling or decorating project, especially when you need to light something like a pool table.

This is one of the benefits of working with an Interior Designer - we have access to craftspeople who can make all kinds of things that you might need to add just the right touch to your project.

This light is a custom shade made with a sheer fabric with paper strips woven in. It is attached to a pulley system hidden inside the ceiling and the wall so it can be raised up when the family wants to play ping pong - there is an acrylic diffuser on the bottom that will protect the light bulbs from the ping pong balls.

More photos once the pool table in installed.....

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.