Indian Summer

The effect of an Indian Summer on my mood can really change the outcome of a winter project. I find I do my best basement planning from November into March.  This is when I can truly embrace the idea of a lower level hideaway filled with comfy cozy fabrics and warm colors tempting you to make a roaring fire and cuddle up with your favorite afghan. The idea of limited natural light has no effect on a room like this because the days have become shorter and the weather is such that you desire to be inside, bathed in the warmth of your own home.  It’s these last few warm days in the late fall that throw these inspired projects for a loop and cause me to rethink my design. 

I realize the false sense of summer is short lived and will be over in flash, but I find myself longing for linen and outdoor cocktails all the same.  It’s the 14^th of November, Sunny, and 75 degrees today.  I have two basements on my worktable ready to be finished, yet I’m afraid to touch them for fear of compromising the design.  What to do? 

Executive Decision:  I’ll revisit these basements another day when the weather is colder and I feel the need to cozy up into a warm chenille or soft wool, but right now I think maybe I’ll make that summer cocktail and head outside to enjoy these last few moments of amazing southern weather.  Bye Y’all!!       

Small Treasures

I believe that everyone has their favorite accessory.  That piece of art, weather it be expensive or not, that you value and puts a smile to your face every time you look at it.  When I was growing up, my mother had just that.  It was this hand blown green glass orb that was held up by three brass dragons.  I remember she would drive by the antique shop that held the orb in its window and stalk her treasure. Every time she saw it sitting there she would breathe a sigh of relief that someone else hadn’t snatched it up.   
I don't recall if she acquired it as a gift or if she just broke down and bought it herself.  I do remember, however, how much she loved it.  I took great care when dusting it on our Saturday morning cleaning sprees, and she would take it down off the shelf every so often to carefully shine the dragons. 

I don’t believe that we should place too much emphasis on the “things” in our home, but I do believe in making the things we have count.  That green glass orb stayed on my mothers mind for months before she actually placed it in our home.  It wasn’t an impulse buy.  It wasn’t something she wanted just because it matched the rest of our home décor.  This was something she wanted because it made her smile. 

Inspire the Day

I often wonder how or why we chose to do what we do everyday.  Do you LOVE your career?  Do you have days that fly by with a quickness because you were so absorbed in your work that it never occurred to you to look at a clock.  I feel like I have that in what I do and I'm very fortunate to be part of making the world a more beautiful place.  I love the thought of waking up each morning and rolling into my showroom with a purpose.  That….and I love to be surrounded by shiny things such as my amazing collection of chandeliers.  I decided to start this blog with the purpose of recording my thoughts and inspirations for others to use in their own lives.  Beauty is subjective, and by extention so is design.  I like to think I specialize in finding the "wow" moment in any given situation. 

Just to give you and example, I started the day today with netting in mind. All I could think of was “What could I do to decorate for the holidays with fish netting”?   My recent trip to Salter Path with my Husband and son really inspired me to “Go Coastal” in my design in a new and unexpected way.  Most people think of changing leaves and pumpkins in the fall of the year, but not a girl who grew up on an island with a commercial fisherman as a father.  When I think of fall, I think of deserted beaches and men in waders pulling nets in from the ocean.  So the question remains……how will I use netting my design this year?  I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.