abode

Serving up Style in Portland Oregon

2011-11-17T20:43:00.001-08:00

I had the pleasure of being part of Serving up Style in Portland Oregon. Twelve designers exhibited at the Portland Fall Home and Garden Show as part of a benefit for Molly's Fund. What an extraordinary opportunity it was. I partnered with Rejuvenation (where I am lucky enough to work part time) and used a combination of reproduction and salvage lighting, gorgeous retro furniture + accessories, and one very glamorous wool and silk carpet from Kush Carpets. I went with a deco theme, a monochromatic palette and bubbles, LOTS of bubbles. The whole event was a blast and what a tremendous cause!

To cap it off I was interviewed by Michael Payne, from HGTV's Designing for the Sexes. Now I have admired his program because it is one of the few that offers real-time projects with realistic budgets. And he is SO very elegant. Bespoke and charming. Oh my.

Burlap - fabric of the people!

2011-08-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

Texture is probably my favorite element of design. In Asian cooking - it is always important to incorporate something soft, crunchy, chewy and firm in every dish. When I came across a bolt of burlap at Joann's the other day when I was searching for fabric for some bedroom curtains I was thrilled. Not only is it extremely affordable - this was on sale for $1.99 a yard - it would bring some much needed texture to my space.

Burlap is a plain-woven, coarse fabric of jute, hemp, or the like - also called gunny. Remember Gunne Sax dresses in the late 70's? They were named that because some of the early dresses that were trimmed in burlap. It comes in several natural shades from pale linen to brown.

I added some detail to my curtains with a brown ball fringe. I used a oil rubbed bronze curtain rod that tied it to the trim. The filtered light is lovely. It was a simple affordable solution for $35!

You can also find lots of accessories in burlap. Here is a lampshade. I love the way the light amplifies the texture:

I think rough 'homespun' fabrics like burlap are a reflection of our poor economy. And I am all for it. I wouldn't go to the expense or effort to use the 'fabric of the people' on a chair or even on a pillow - it is just too rough on the bum. These French style chairs, seen on Apartment Therapy, were reportedly on sale for $1,400 for the pair at the Paris Boutique. Tres folle! But used judiciously - it is a great way to bring texture and light to a room.

And for heaven's sake - this is just plain silly! Ouch.

Collaborate: col·lab·o·rate verb \kə-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt\

2011-02-21T19:37:00.000-08:00

Definition: to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor.

Collaboration is the foundation of all great projects. The conjoining of minds is vital to a well.conceived program and one of the joys of being an interior designer. I was part of a wonderful project that allowed me to work with one of my best friends, Erin Ray, who is a landscape designer.

The project in Lake Oswego, a Portland suburb, was commercial. I was retained by a pair of lawyers, also best friends, who founded Gilroy & Napoli - Attorneys at Law. It was a whole house remodel that encompassed a kitchen, two bathrooms, four offices, a conference room and required a warm, professional + welcoming waiting room. Furthermore, the rather large yard needed a dramatic landscape makeover as it was overgrown and didn't have a strong entry.

It was a fairly monumental project that took several months to complete as not a wall - interior and exterior - was left untouched as well as every inch of the grounds. Ultimately, through the wonderful teamwork between the lawyers, and Erin and me as design team, the collaboration was complete. The fruits of our labors were oh so satisfying because it was crafted by friends as well as colleagues.

Here is the exterior of the house as we started the project.

AFTER we thinned the trees, reusing as many shrubs as possible, and created a wide welcoming path to the door using softer curves. We move the entrance and made the door wider, with sidelights. A gurgling fountain added a relaxed element. Fresh paint on the body, trim and windows and doors offered a sophisticated palette.

The waiting room needed to take advantage of the homey fireplace without feeling like a living room. Before it was a long bland wall.

AFTER it was a focal point.

An entry desk should supply room for the receptionist to work comfortably as well as offer some privacy in an open room. I designed this desk with channels backed by stainless steel, an element later repeated in the conference room cabinetry.

John and Jeff needed a conference room that doubled as a 'man room', a place to entertain friends. A gorgeous Knoll table and chairs from Environments added hipness and gravitas to the conference room as well as unbelievable comfort for kicking back and watching the game. What was originally the garage had been badly bifurcated to make small offices. We restored it to its original size and increased the window glazing to make the room feel like it was part of the exterior.

A wide screen television and refrigerator drawers are vital. Of course.

Outside of the conference room is the kitchen. Before it was stuffed away in the mechanical room.

AFTER it is sleek and masculine. It includes a dishwasher, micro and below counter fridge.

It was a wonderfully fun project and I am so proud of the results. Thanks to John, Jeff and Erin!

How kitchens were designed to free women (source: NPR)

2010-09-19T18:42:00.001-07:00

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129935115

THE DISH: Chipotle Chili Burger

2010-08-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

It's no secret - I am food obsessed. I plan my next meal while eating. I cruise food blogs like a freshly chummed shark. I love this blog as it affords me the opportunity to talk about kitchen design, projects and inspiration and a lot of what inspires me comes from how people and cultures cook. I am blessed to be able to help people enjoy their kitchens more, hopefully encouraging them to cook more with their families. The loving preparation and sharing of food is universal.

So here is my first blog post on cooking. It will be the first of many. I want to talk about not just food, but all the accoutrements as well. I have my favorite cooking pots, pans, utensils and of course I am a tabletop (dishes, cutlery, linens) fanatic.

One of my favorite pantry staples is chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. The chipotles in adobo are jalapeño chiles that have been ripened to a deep red, dried, smoked and pickled in a combination of vinegar, spices and tomato puree.

They are everything I crave in one - hot, smoky + piquant. You can add honey and sweeten them or salt to intensify their flavor. Their only shortcoming is that they come in a 7 oz. can. Seven ounces of searingly hot goodness. You can't use them in one sitting. I understand that people divide them into small quantities and they freeze wonderfully. I cannot do this. I am absolutely compelled to come up with creative ways to use them.

Last week I made chicken thighs that had bathed overnight in chopped chipotle chiles, honey, red wine, cinnamon, garlic and sliced oranges. It was accompanied by sangria with similar notes. It was fantastic.

Today I had thawed some ground beef and given the lovely summer evening, thought I would make myself a nice messy burger. This will not be accompanied by a recipe. This is just about inspiration and improvisation. Like good jazz, you mix the ingredients like notes and come up with your own tune, or in this case a delicious meal.

I mixed about 6 oz. of ground beef (not super lean - no flavor there!) carefully with a whole chipotle, a little of the sauce, a tablespoons of sauteed onions and sea salt. I didn't overhandle the meat, just gently pressed it all together. I buttered an onion bun and crumbled some cotija cheese I had in the cheese bag (more on that later). I took this bounty to the grill.

I quickly grilled the burger and toasted the bun on the grill, sprinkling the cheese on the burger after the flip. It softens, not melts. It smelled divine. I like burgers simple - I want to taste the meat - that is the point. So I simply took some pre-made Thousand Island dressing (I am not a snob about dressing - how can you muck up Thousand Island?) and mixed it with a little more of the abobo sauce from the can.

Slathered on the bun, it added one more dimension - a little tang from the tomato in the dressing, a little richness form the mayo and more smoky goodness. It was a lovely juicy delight. The chiles and onions enhanced the flavor of the medium rare beef - not covering it. It was a two-napkin affair. Yum.

Well wish my luck - after my feast I only have five more ounces of chipotle chiles to go!

Lighting Design 101

2010-07-27T18:01:00.000-07:00

I love lighting. Or as Brick (Steve Carrell) says in Anchorman the Legend of Ron Burgundy, 'I love lamp'.

Lighting changes EVERYTHING. The color, the temperature, the mood. Think about the George Nelson bubble lamp of the mid-century, the classic ginger jar or a stained glass Tiffany lamp. They define style.

Lighting goes way beyond table + ceiling fixtures though. A well illuminated room looks larger, or a judiciously lighted room can hide flaws. We in Oregon understand the need for good lighting with as many gray days as we have every year.

There are three kinds of lighting to consider:

General Lighting provides overall illumination. Also known as ambient lighting, it radiates a comfortable level of brightness, enabling one to see and walk about safely. Chandeliers, ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures, recessed or track lights are all ambient light forms. It is fundamental and vital to a balanced lighting plan.

Task lighting helps you perform specific tasks such as reading, cooking, applying makeup, doing homework or hobbies. It can be provided by under cabinet lighting, pendants, well placed recessed lighting and table lamps.

Accent Lighting is the finishing touch. It can be elegant, playful, bling-y as long it creates visual interest. I use it to highlight artwork, illuminate houseplants, sculpture or if it rakes a wall it can emphasize texture. Accent lighting outdoors literally changes the landscape. This usually is provided by pendants - both track + monopoints, recessed, or wall-mounted fixtures.

Creating a lighting plan is the final step in the process of designing a well-executed bathroom or kitchen plan. It is also a simple and affordable way to completely re-define an existing space. Often overlooked, it can be a gratifying facelift for a tired room.

COLOR CONSULTATION: What IS the color of the year?

2010-07-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Well who knew there would be such controversy? The dueling parties are The Color Marketing Group (the premier international non-profit organization of color design professionals) + Pantone.

Pantone bravely puts forth that TURQUOISE is the color of the year. I love turquoise - always have. I've been wearing it for years since my grandma made her first trip from Watertown, NY to Arizona and brought me back a fine strand of simple beads. I use it judiciously throughout my own house in accessories and for tabletop.

Pantone says:

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy."

As for the opposition - The Color Marketing Group proposes that 'Barefootin' is the 2010 Color of the Year.

"Think of the last time you slipped off your shoes….ahhh”. This is how James Martin, President of CMG, describes Barefootin’. “It is just that feeling.” The need to ease up on stress and strain brought this new “color infused” neutral to the forefront.

I say it's time for a mash up! Put them together and you'll get a 'relaxing escape'.

How to work with a kitchen designer

2010-05-07T17:50:00.001-07:00

My job is to take the uncertainty and stress out of the planning and construction of your new kitchen. I am your partner and collaborator. I help you realize your vision. I explain the process step by step so you understand all of the elements - from the design to selections to the actual building schedule. I am responsible for the technical details. Often a client will start with tile or fixtures – if you think that is overwhelming, imagine how the load increases when you add measurements, planning, specifying and installation! When I take on that responsibility we all avoid spendy mistakes, and you are free to dream, while I handle the details.
The Process:
We will schedule an appointment and I will gauge what the project entails; your style, budget & the scope of the work. The first meeting is a consultation – I offer my perspective and potential solutions which can include sketches.
It is a little like dating! You and I must be a good fit. If you don’t feel I share your vision I would encourage you to find another designer. In addition, not every project is a good fit for me. If you're just looking for a counter top or flooring, for example, I would probably refer you to a showroom.
Our interview will include the following questions:

Have you designed/built/remodeled before?
What do you like/dislike about your kitchen?
What space and amenities do you need/want that you don't currently have?
What is your general style—contemporary, traditional, or eclectic? What is the style of your home?
What are some of the styles and products that you like, either in the showroom or that you’ve seen on the Internet, in publications, or elsewhere? Pictures are the greatest shortcut there is!
Do you have an idea of how much you want to spend?
When do you want the new space to be ready?

If you want to proceed I will draw up a scope of work as part of a Letter of Agreement. My fees will be included in a range and I will collect a retainer to get started. Next I will:

Visit your home to take measurements.
Create design plans that contain both a "plan view" (looking from the ceiling down) & "elevations" (looking straight on). Plans will include locations of doors & windows. You can't get prices for the work without a complete plan.
Plumbing, electrical & lighting plans.
Help with the selection of appliances, fixtures & finishes such as counter tops, tile & flooring.
Create a detailed set of specifications.
Order products & materials (optional)
Coordinate bids.
Suggest contractors.
Oversee the installation & placement of the cabinets and other design elements.

I am trained to execute the technical aspects as well as offer practical experience that may be outside your sphere. For instance, knowing that the walls in vintage homes are lathe & plaster and the electrical may be knob & tube – vital information that affects the costs of the contractor. Or you might think an island is not feasible, for example, but you can’t quite figure out how it can fit so you decide to go without it. Because of my experience with similar kitchens and my training, I might be able to reconfigure the space to accommodate it.

Some things to think about:

Be prepared to change your mind! You will learn things you didn’t know especially about cost – and realistic time-frames.
Be prepared to change your tastes. My job is to bring you a fresh perspective and my knowledge – play with ideas.
Take your time. Nothing about this process is fast, from design to completion. The more legwork and study you do, the better (and less expensive) it will be in the end.
Put function over form. If the kitchen doesn't work well for you, you won't care how pretty it is when you have to walk 20 feet to put your dishes away.
Expect to get several drafts of a plan. This process is to get to the best – not fastest – solution!
Once you have a plan, don’t second-guess it. Every change - even a minor one - is an expense and a delay.
Trust me and the process! When your project is being built – remember that we designed it and questions should come to us about details and execution. That way our vision is intact and executed to perfection!