tbbcwd's blog

Scale and Proportion

tbbcwd — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 23:42:06 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of participating in an interview and photo shoot for Newsday’s LI Home cover page “How Big How High How Bright…Rule of Thumb for Room Décor” January 16, 2015 with my professional Design Cartel Colleague, Adrienne Kessel. (Adrienne Kessel Interiors, Port Jerfferson, NY)

We had a blast.

Why? Well, we got to spend the day together. That’s always a treat. I’m not quite sure how Adrienne pulls it off, but every time I arrive at her home (which is where this photo shoot took place), there is home-made baked bread fresh out of the oven waiting to be devoured. It’s to die for.

So here are a few simple tricks from the Trade when it comes to Designing that we’re happy to share with you.

2/3 to 1/3
Meaning: Consider your proportions. Parts of the whole should be spatially 1/3 to 2/3rds.

Examples:

A coffee table should be about 2/3 the length of the sofa in front of which it’s placed
An area rug that is in front of that sofa, can follow rule too
Drapery panels along the sides of the window should be 1/3 width of window

The overall footprint of furnishings in a room should account for 2/3 floor space; leaving 1/3 open for negative space (curb your desire to clutter)

My favorite: Your vase should be about 1/3 the height of the flower arrangement

Rule of Three

It takes a minimum of 3 of anything to see the benefits

So create rhythm and pleasing flow around a room by partnering up Trios of 3s

This can be with accessories or artwork or color

Odd numbers in arrangements

Take queues from Mother Nature. Tie Color, Shape and Form together and do so in ODD numbers in a space

Legs and Lines

Be aware of the legs of your furniture. Make sure they are similar in tone, texture and shape and don’t fight with one another. Nothing worse than a hodge-podge of leggings. This is not the 1980s!

Shape Up

Do you have a favorite piece of Artwork in your Space? If so, look carefully. Is there a simple theme represented in the Art that you would like to expand on? If so, pay homage to that theme by incorporating that form in perhaps your lighting elements or accessories…be consistent with theme and repeat it. I did this in my living room with Circles.

Height

This is key. Your eye wants to “travel” around the room in one fluid motion. So be mindful of the height which you hang Art as it relates to window treatments, doorways and other structural elements in space

Mirrors
Use to reflect light – brighten up room
Use to reflect beautiful view: whether inside or outside of the space
Play with concept and consider incorporating backlit mirrors which serve dual purpose of light and drama

…and if you are still with me: My personal favorite:

“Less is More”

De-Clutter
By systematically “cleansing” your space, you not only free your home of clutter, you free your spirit from confusion.

…In case you’re wondering, yes, Adrienne and I totally consumed the whole loaf of freshly baked bread. But this is why it is especially fun hanging out with creative Souls: Adrienne had an upside down marble butter keeper displayed prominently on her tablescape which she purchased while in Rome. I had a blast playing with it. Who knew butter would taste so much better when stored upside down?

Once Upon a Time

tbbcwd — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 21:27:33 +0000

Once Upon a Time there was a house. It had great bones. Strong architectural detail. But it was tired. Old. Outdated.
It yearned to be so much more. It wanted to be a Home.

Once Upon A Time there were Children. Teenagers who needed direction, love, guidance, and understanding.
They had bones. Now they needed Wings. They Searched for acceptance. They searched for a Home.
They found Nassau Haven.

Nassau Haven is a 12 bed co-ed emergency shelter providing short-term housing, case management and respite services to runaway and homeless youth ages 10 to 20 in Nassau County, LI, NY. Since 1982, Nassau Haven has provided shelter to over 450 runaway children.

So what Lesson was Learned in the Land of Design? IF you come together for a pure purpose, you really can make a difference. You can take four walls and transform a house into a Home.

So what defines a Home?

I learned first hand at Nassau Haven with the Talent that stood by my side. It's simple. Be there for one another and give freely of yourself. You'll actually find the better part of yourself in what you achieve for others.

Home is found in the innocence of children's laughter. After all, they are our Hope. our Future. our Home.

PRIVACY

tbbcwd — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:57:15 +0000

Today’s Client is PRIVACY

Jack and Jill are Teachers. They live and work in my neighborhood. They are also my Design Clients.

People, by their very nature, are voyeuristic . They love to glimpse inside the private lives of others. Sneak a peek beyond the drawn window shades, so to speak. This becomes even more pronounced when your Clients are considered ‘high profile’. So when Jack and Jill invited me into their home for our design consult I was taken aback. How is it that such a happy go lucky, ‘popular’ couple are, in reality, so guarded ?

It’s simple.

They don’t want to be exposed.
They don’t want to be judged.
They don’t want to be critiqued.
They want the right to choose who they invite into their Home.
They relish their sancutary where they can retreat from the insanity of the outside world.
They want to be protected.
Then again, don’t we all?

As sincere, genuine and truly soulful Jack and Jill are; unfortunately, some of the neighbors are not.

As Designers, it is paramount that our Client’s privacy is protected…and should be safeguarded at all costs.

I have been approached at social functions and asked, “So who are you Designing for?” “Do I know them?” “What are they like?” “How do they live?” “I’ve heard they have no money” “I’ve heard their house is a hot mess.” “I heard their marriage is on the rocks…”

It goes on and on.

Looking stupid and acting mute generally does not halt this rude behavior. In fact, it incites more. Go figure.

So I have learned to respond to such rude remarks by simply stating, “My Design Clients are private – we don’t divulge who we are working for nor what we are doing inside their four walls.”

Makes for very small cocktail talk – but I can live with that. Happily, so can Jack and Jill.

REPURPOSE

tbbcwd — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:41:23 +0000

To me, that meant ditching the old to make way for the new. I had no clue.

As an Interior Designer, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Client M on her Guest Bedroom renovation. M taught me the true meaning of Repurpose. It’s more than recycling. It’s about finding another purpose for an object of true worth. I suppose you could liken it to Reincarnation.

M loves cutlery and over the course of time has accumulated quite a complete collection of knives, forks and spoons.

God Bless M. She can’t dismiss an object with true worth. So what to do with all this silverware? M Repurposed.

When walking through M’s Garden, I was moved by the sound of wind chimes fashioned from repurposed spoons.

Then there was the delightful gurgling of the watering can fountain… …and the baby’s bed transformed to an herb garden… Genius

Repurposing is so much more – It takes a creative spirit to find the true essence of an object’s worth

So, when M asked me to redecorate her guest bedroom, My eye immediately went to the vintage Quilt on her iron bed which I knew was a sentimental favorite of hers. We had some of the original material left… So let’s Repurpose!

Custom made quilted cornices.

Cornices not only complement the bedspread, they make the room appear larger as they are mounted to ceiling. Plus they make M smile every time she walks into the room!

I challenge you in these challenging times. There is no need to spend lavishly on items you can’t afford in order to achieve the ‘Designer Look’.

Visit your second hand consignment stores
Visit your local thrift shops
Visit your own Home!
Find quality items and reimagine a new life for them
Every new beginning is only one imaginative Repurposing away...