It’s going to take some effort and maybe a new pair of shoes. I parked the car got out and opened the back door. I only wanted to make one trip but it was quite a stack of carpet samples I considered carrying across the street. I can do it. I threw my bag over my shoulder and then bent down and picked up the carpet samples piled on the back seat. Like carrying a tall cake, I moved both my arms to the side so I could see my feet in front of me and where I was going. Note to se

Welcome, come this way As the interior designer on a project building three spec homes, I was asked to meet at one of the houses with the builder and developer. As we walked over mounds of dirt to get to the pool and surrounding area, the builder started describing the patio surrounding the pool. There was no talk of a staircase to connect the front of this 6,000 square foot home to the back. That made no sense to me so I interrupted their discussion of the patio. I said tha

The intersection of Function and Beauty and how our driveway saved our marriage. The Driveway With bags on both shoulders like a pack-mule I squeezed through the front door lugging fabric, stone & rug samples. I was running late for an important client meeting. And there it was again, my husband’s car parked behind mine blocking me in! I wanted to cry. I didn’t have the extra five minutes needed to move his car, yet, there I was, doing it. Now I’m really late. BUT, as a

THE WAY to Clean Rugs and Carpet I can still see myself down on my hands and knees spot cleaning a client’s carpet years ago. A bar of Ivory soap in one hand, a damp cloth in the other, a bowl of water nearby. I learned it was THE WAY to clean a spot out of a wool rug or carpet. I learned that from our sales person at Stark Carpet back in 1985 when I worked for David Laurence Roth, Interior Designer and former Costume Designer for the Metropolitan Opera. The client showed

4 important things to consider when creating a bedroom that brings a sense of Peace and Calm. Think COLOR TEXTURE, STYLE, ‘SIISTINA’ and how to shield your windows from the noise of the world. This was the view from a gazebo in Antigua. The breeze was gentle, it was peaceful, 85 degrees and sunny. The sail boat was gliding along and that sheer curtain danced in the air. Just seeing it again completely relaxes me. I believe we all need a space that provides us with that sense

When I was 8 years old I remember my mother telling us (my brothers & me) that she was going to have a baby. All I understood really was that there was going to be another kid in the house. I thought to myself, I am outnumbered here two to one. If she has another boy, that’s it, I’m outta here. I’m going to Florida to live with Grandma! I built a fort. I took my desk chair and placed it about 3’ from the end of my bed. Then I put a blanket on my bed and pulled it down

This house is special. We worked on many homes together, but this time, renovating not just a beach house, but the very house the client would be retiring in. There was much to talk about and ponder. The client had come back from Italy having cooked a number of meals. She was so excited to think about cooking with family and friends in her new Kitchen. #1 HAVE A PLAN Describe it in words. Even before you generate floor plans you can make a list of what you need and what

How your Kitchen functions as a gathering place for friends and family, not to mention all the other things a kitchen needs to do. Our Kitchens store food, cookware and dishes. Provide space for us to make our meals and maybe even eat them there too. They are spaces for kids to do homework and families to gather. When designing a kitchen for a developer’s spec house we’re thinking about every family but when designing your home, we’re thinking about you, your family, what

Your HOME provides shelter, but how does it support your lifestyle, your routines, your habits, your STYLE!? Think about these things for a minute, when you enter your home, where do you put your keys? Where do you put your coats, your shoes, your mail? Do you have a place to put groceries down? Is there a place you can leave your cell phone for charging? We’re thinking about designing a space that satisfies your needs and expresses your style. Like a well organized d

Your surroundings affect how you feel. Think about walking into a five star hotel. The music plays at just the right volume, the aroma is...