Starr Miller Interior Design, Inc.

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 13 - Office Supplies

Well, I should have realized that it is day number 13.  My on-line cloud business software is not working and I cannot contact anyone until Monday.  Add to that I am out of staples and you may just put me in a corner and call me Useless.

So let's chat about office supplies.  I am an official office products junkie!  Before I went back to school for Interior Design I spent 6 years as a Merchant for all of the North American Office Depot stores, 1 year with Levenger's as a senior merchant and another 5 years working for one of the largest Office Supply manufacturers in the world.  You would think I would be past office supplies by now.  But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  I love 'em!

These are my top 5 most used favorites!

#1 The Swingline 2002 Limited Edition Red 747 stapler.  It is a workhorse.  Never let's me down!  I was given mine at a corporate meeting years ago as I was working for the company that makes them.  Sleek design.  This is mine... 

 

This stapler was immortalized in the 1999 movie "Office Space".  Milton's boss took his stapler and frankly that is the premiss of the whole film.  Funny or Die has remade the "Office Space trailer as a horror flick with the Stapler as the weapon of choice.

Office Space (Recut Trailer) - watch more funny videos

#2  The Post it Note - They are everywhere!  I cannot help myself!  2 years ago I was asked by a friend at 3M to help them pick the Back to School colors - such fun!  In turn they sent me a box of 3m products.....now see what has happened...

 
P.S.  Don't but the super sticky unless you really want it to stick for a good long while!  I have had them pull up type and paint and not release easily.  They are great for door notes and in the car!

#3 The Circa Pads and Notebooks....

I love these versatile books.  They are slim like a spiral notebook, but work like a binder.  You can customize the rings, the covers and insert and take out pages whenever you like!

 
#4  Blue Ink - Love to write in Blue!  No other color ink feels as good to me.  It has been this way since I learned how to write!

 
#5 Post it Flags - great for noting where to sign on a contract, noting pages in books and magazines, and reminding me where I need to spend more time in my work papers.  LOVE THEM!

 
# 6 Single page Cutters....Perfect for pulling pages for magazines for our files or clipping articles from the newspaper!

 

 Ooooo let's run out and find some more goodies!!!

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 14 - The Theater of Shopping

Retail was my life for many years.  My first job in High School was at the Holiday Marina on Lake Lanier stocking shelves and arranging ski and Topsiders at the Boatique. In college I worked at Worth's, Casual Corner and Hickory Farms.  When I graduated with my business degree I worked my way through the Macy's training program as a Men's department manager, as an assistant buyer in Home Accessories and as the senior merchant over the Home store, Kids and Shoes.  Next came merchant at Office Depot North America. 

Why to I bore you with all of this?  Simply put I have done my time in retail stores.  Shopping the competition.... putting together displays...planogramming the shelves and dressing the windows....designing a store format for downtown stores and frankly I have seen a lot of good windows!(Thank you NYC at Christmas!)

That being said - THERE IS NO ONE BETTER, DAY in and DAY out than ANTHROPOLOGIE!  They have taken the dream of a window display coupled it with the core of the company vision (found items) and made us celebrateagain.  Retail should be theater!  At Anthropologie they get that.  It is our escape.  We shop for entertainment.  All of those big department stores that we used to enjoy as children have become homogeneous clones of one another.  I go to Anthropologie for flight of fancy and a theatrical WOW!

 

Do not assume this store is just for the younger set.  Go in - it will make you rethink what retail should be and what creatively you should expect from a store that cares about thrilling you, its customer.

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 12 - Laughter

I think God got this one just right!  Laughter.....it helps us get through the tough times, celebrate the good times, heal the sick and bond in a way that cements a friendship. 

This week brought all of this to light as we cried over the beating Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee took from the tornadoes and cheered as the young Prince married his Princess. 
 
I watched a news report where one couple from Birmingham hugged each other and started to laugh (not an, I am at a comdy club sort of laugh, but a laugh that said "we are still here and what else are you gonna do").  God gave us this weapon to get us through and hold us.  And isn't someone laughing just one of the prettiest things you could ever see?

Flipping to the other side of the world we found ourselves celebrating a Royal wedding.  Every little girl remembers a fairytale princess and dreams of pretty dresses and castles.  The frivolity of it all is so much of a contrast to the tornado that it brings an ironic laugh.

So in keeping with the idea of frivolous laughter and castles.......Let's talk "CRIBS", the MTV show about stars and their homes.  In the 2006 movie “Marie Antoinette”, starring Kirsten Dunst, there was an extra scene on the DVD.  One of those scenes was of Louis XVI , King of France and Marie Antoinette's husband, showing the palace of Versailles as if he were on MTV Cribs. Watch as he shows us his "Crib"! "Let them eat cake" and remember, your home is beautiful as long as you have laughter to fill the open spaces.

If you would like to help those who need laughter now please give to the American Red Cross!

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 11 - Hip Hip Hooray!

What girl doesn't love a wedding?  The Wedding Dress shows on Style, Lifetime and TLC are endlessly entertaining as we all, young and old, dream of beautiful dresses.  Today we celebrate the wedding of Catherine Middleton to Prince William and like every other blogger in the universe I must stamp this day in history on my blog.

It was nice to see the return of the sleeve in bridal fashions.  In the European churches they dictate that the shoulders must be covered and I must say it is a nice departure form the strapless style that is everywhere these days.

 
Could Catherine have been any more beautiful?  And Pippa - wow!  It is a shame that Alexander McQueen could not see this moment.  Sarah Burton designed perfection! 

 

 
After the wedding I heard the chat on "The View" where the ever obnoxious Joy Behar went on and on about how awful it was that Pippa was in white.  Joy clearly does not know her history, as bridesmaids used to all dress in identical clothing to the bride so that the evil spirits would not know who was getting married. Even as late as 19th century England, there was a belief that ill-wishers could administer curses and taint a wedding. In Victorian wedding photographs the bride and groom are frequently dressed in the same fashion as other members of the bridal party. (Wikipedia)

The dress brought back storybook weddings of the past...real and imagined...

Princess Grace in lace.

 

 
Maria's slim figure.

As a trendsetter, Princess Catherine brings us what I love most in design -  simple elegance and clean lines.

Hip, Hip Hooray!

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 10 - Mackintosh

Yes, I know it has been a month and I am behind, but when it comes down to meeting the reader's expectations or my client's I must chose the client!  We are so fortunate to be so busy and I am thankful for you both!  Now back to the business of blogging!

Now about Mackintosh..

 
No, not that Macintosh..

 
And no, not this one either - although it is not lost on this blogger the importance of this apple in the world of Design.

I am going to go way back to the turn of the 19^th century to a designer known as Mackintosh.  He was very important in the time of the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau styling. Mackintosh was seen as a modernist designer. One of the first to discard the very ornate Victorian styles and designed for people.  He did not look at is as designing for the masses. He treated all of his designs as pieces of art. What set him apart from other modern designers of the time is his blend of the geometric and structural designs of Arts and Crafts and the fluid natural feel of Art Nouveau. Here are some of Mackintosh's greatest works, some you may recognize, as for the others, let them inspire you.

 

The Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow Scotland

 

 
 

Two famous chairs by Mackintosh. Probably not the most comfortable to sit in, but definitely pieces of art.

 

Gaudi Apartments by Mackintosh and Antonio Gaudi. Now this is architecture at its most creative and scary.

Now that I think about it an apple sounds good about now!

 

 

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 9 - White Space

In simple terms, it is space unmarked.  In print media is can be extremely impactful and causes you to LOOK at and for the image that is almost hidden in the unmarked space.

 
 
White Space allows the eye to rest and focus.

I wrote an article last year titled, White Out.  It was about the use of paint and color and was meant to be encouraging to those scared of adding color to their walls.  But in this post I am detailing my favorite designs and therefore I must admit that I am a BIG FAN of white!

This year we changed the trim on my home from khahi to a crisp white.

 

I even love white shirts!  Growing up I always had a school uniform and I must admit today I find myself with a uniform as well....a crisp white shirt or a well made white tee can always be found in my wardrobe!

John Kuntz Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As in all things, white can be done wrong.  See Jerry Seinfeld in his Poofy White Shirt.
Doesn't this room remind you of the poofy shirt?



White is impactful in advertising, my closet and in interiors. Here are some of my favorite interiors!

   
 

 

 

 
 
Can you imagine this space without the calm, restful moments of white?

  

No white out today!  I DO NOT miss this stuff!

 

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 8 - Temple of Love

Ah, if only an emperor would build me a Temple of Love with an amazing garden!  And so goes the story of my favorite Perfume, Shalimar.  (Shalimar means Temple of Love in Sanskrit)  When Guerlain launched this wonderful fragrance in 1925 it came with a wonderful story full of romance and possibilities.

 

Once upon a time......In Northern India, four centuries ago, Shah Jahan, so dazzled by the beauty of Mumtaz Mahal, was determined to make her life a perpetual garden of delights. And so sprang from the earth the Gardens of Shalimar.

Meet the Shah and his Beloved...

 

 

 

 

Shalimar was created by Jacques Guerlain at a time when fascination with the Orient was sweeping Europe.

The Shalimar Garden does indeed exist!  And the structures have been the inspiration of the bottles created by Baccarat .  

 
 

Jacqueline Kennedy with President Mohammad Ayub Khan of Pakistan at the Shalimar Gardens, Lahore, Pakistan, March 22, 1962 - John F. Kennedy Library and Museum 

 

Even the spray bottle evokes the railing here where we find the lovely Jacqueline Kennedy on her visit to the gardens in 1962.  These spray bottles have evolved over the years picking up details found throughout the gardens.

 

 

In this series I am highlighting great designs, but design is not just a bottle or a beautiful garden with amazing structures.  Design is pure delight when you can imagine that Jacques Guerlain could develop a scent that is feminine, oriental and frankly smells more and more like Crème Brule as the day goes on and the skin warms.

 

The fragrance can be described as vanilla, powdery, and sweet. It contains Bergamot, Lemon, Jasmine, Rose, Iris, Incense, Opopanax, Tonka Bean, and Vanilla.^[4] It is considered to be an Oriental perfume which was popular during its conception. The top note of the fragrance is Bergamot. The middle notes are Iris and Opopanax. The base note is vanilla.^[2]

It sounds like a great recipe to some - to me is smells like great design!

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 7 - Suspender Anyone?

So follow my train of thought....News - Charlie Sheen - Wall Street - Gordon Gekko - Suspenders - Pendant Lighting...  This scares my husband, but is indeed how my mind works.

Gordon Gekko was Bud Fox's (Charlie Sheen) mentor in the movie Wall Street.  Michael Douglas made suspenders roll back into fashion for a blip of a second in 1987. 

 

However, the suspender that I want to highlight today is that item otherwise referred to as the Pendant Light.  In its contemporary form it is simple but has incredible impact.  They don't really make me think of Charlie Sheen or Michael Douglas directly, but as all women know, it is a short leap from the gossip columns to just about anywhere.  (My husband frequently suggests I give the gerbels running the wheels in my brain a rest.  Yea, that's going to happen!)

Here are a few of my recent favorites in Pendant Lighting:

 1)  Also from Currey and Company.  We used 3 of these in 2 sizes recently in a client's foyer.

 
 

2)  They call this the Margarita!  I love Margaritas and the Margarita Pizza; this looks fun too!

 

3)  This is the Currey and Company Suez Pendant - Exotic don't you think?

4)  I found this on Judi Sadan's web page.  *Judi's Lamp Shades, Inc. It screams Urban Chic.

 

5)  This is called the Hampstead Poc - I don't know about the name, but it mesmerizes me!

 

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 6 - A Place to Plop and Read

As the storms rolled in this afternoon I wanted to run from my office and plop into the warm embrace of a comfy chair and read.  As I have been searching for the perfect wingback chair for a client, I thought I would share my 5 favorites:

1)  The Century Wingback - It's like a wide warm hug!

 

 2)   The Laine Tulip - Just a plain happy shape!

3)  The Robert Allen Fenway - I love the waves of this frame. 

4)  The Baker Wingback- Makes the wingback cool!

 

5)  The Granite Wingback - Horchow - Smooth, sexy, perfect!

 
Which one do you like?

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 5 - Cheers!

Now for the 5 crystal patterns that I would add to my party warehouse...

1) Waterford Clarendon Cobalt - Perfect for the white china and cobalt table I want to set.  It could include white shells, or colorful flowers or red roses for the elegant Forth of July party.  Add to list - FIREWORKS!!!

(For blue also see:  Orrefors Intermezzo Blue)

 
2)  Fil a Fil White by Nasonmeretti - Just plain haunting.

 
3)  Couldn't choose so must have all three.  Baccarat Messena, Saint Remy and Nancy

 
 

We used the Baccarat Nancy mixed with Ralph Lauren's Glen Plaid for this nautical table.

 
4) Newport by Theresienthal - I am smitten.  Such an unusual shape.  Will make a fabulous table!

 
5)  Color - need more color! These Nasonmoretti Glasses will help me set those exotic tables I am craving.

 

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 4 - Fine China with IMPACT

Yesterday I started to build my perfect warehouse for party planning.  Imaginary of course, but fun none the less.  Today I am going to stock it with colorful, impactful fine china. 
Here are my top 5 choices:

1)  An all time favorite china pattern - Mottaheda - Tobacco Leaf - How pretty is this oldie (circa 1780) but oh so goodie? Can you imagine the tabe you would set?

The design shows the leaves of the flowering Nicotiana (Tobacco) plant upon which a small phoenix perches bearing a flowering twig in its beak. This exact reproduction requires twenty-eight colors including 22K gold and five firings to manufacture. The joyous exuberance of the Tobacco Leaf pattern is undiminished by time. Tobacco Leaf is an authorized reproduction for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (dinnerwareetc.com)

 

2)  Royal Crown Derby's Imari Gold.  This would make such a regal table or (stay with me here) a great formal dinner party before a an elegant night of gambling in Monte Carlo!  Don't you see a roulette wheel and cards in this classic from the 1800's?

The colors of cobalt blue, iron red and burnished gold make a fabulous, timeless table.  This pattern of geometric shapes has been in production off and on since the early 1800's.  It appears to be modern, while clearly not!

 

3)  Anna Weartherley's Ivy Garland - Don't you just want to go to this garden party? Note to self:  Go buy hat immediately!

"Anna Weatherley started her career in designing and manufacturing couture fashion and jewelry. Today her reportiore also includes home furnishings, fine china, and printed textiles. In the early 1990's she established a studio in Budapest, Hungary where she trained a group of highly talented painters to create her collection of handpainted porcelain." (Neiman Marcus)

 

 4)  J.L. Coquet Toundra and Paris Metal -  I couldn't decide - I need both!  They are both soft AND impactful!  I would love to have a party of several tables every other table set with one of these patterns.

 

5)  Rosenthal meets Versace's Dedalo - Metropolitan, sexy, shiny - Think New Year's Eve!

 The Greek meander band motif is a distinctive element that finds repeated application on many Versace products. The motif is interpreted here in a modern form under the motto: “past meets present”.  “Rosenthal meets Versace.” (Rosenthalusa.com)

  

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 3 - Flatware

Entertaining is part of celebrating and if I had my way I would have an entire warehouse of china, crystal and silver to mix and match and set beautiful tables......

In this dreamland warehouse I would make sure to have these 5 flatware patterns:

1)  Christofle Malmaison - sleek, beautiful, timeless

2)  Wallace Grande Baroque - Perfect for a bit of frill and lace or when the Queen drops by for tea

 

3)  Target Bamboo - for $31.99 for a 20 set I could be stylin' and afford to have a large dinner party!

 
4)  Nambe Paddle -  Sexy, fun and makes the table light and airy

 
 
5)  Nambe Mikko - Heavy, modern, sleek makes a statement

 What would you have in your warehouse?

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 2 - Alexis Bittar Lucite

I fell in love with Alexis Bittar's lucite jewelry in 2000 when I found his delicate earrings and had to buy them like they were candy.  I have many colors, but my favorites tend to be the white drops I wear probably more often than I should....

  

Two years later I was in New York for Christmas and shopping in Saks.  I found myself at the jewelry counter and was looking for more of my favorite Alexis Bittar designs when the sales person asked if I would like to meet him. Imagine my surprise  - up until that moment I had visions of Alexis as in Carrington or sexy young hip designer girl with smoky eyes.....not this good looking guy...(Yes, I always picture the designer whether I know what they look like or not.  Boy did I miss this one!)

Patricia Field of "Sex and the City" fame had recently placed his jewelry in the show and it was his time.  He was nice, helpful and working the stock to make sure that when the lighting struck he would capture it.  I like smart and hard working people.  He earned his good fortune!

 

Years later I am still smitten with his jewelry.  As you can see the lucite and embellishments have become more sophisticated and and I remain a fan!

 

Fifty Favorite Designs - Day 1 - The Cartier Tank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since this series is a toast to my first 50 years I thought it appropriate that we start with a timepiece.  I have been in love with the Cartier Tank watch since my mother first bought one in the 1970's.  The sleek, clean line styling has remained a favorite for my entire life.  Little did I know at the time that this watch, originally released in 1919, was such an important design icon. 

HISTORY

"Technically, the Tank wasn’t the first documented wristwatch (that honor goes, in uncertain order, to the Swiss companies Patek Philippe and Girard-Perregaux). And it wasn’t even Cartier’s first wristwatch. That would be the Santos. Created in 1904 for Alberto Santos-Dumont, a wealthy flier and dandy, this watch was powerful, masculine, with screws spaced like rivets around the bezel. The Tank, however, was the first wristwatch to solve the problem that consumed Cartier: how to attach a face to a band with complete conceptual integrity. In fact, Cartier was alone in thinking that this was a problem." (excerpt from:  Ben Clymer is the Executive Editor of Hodinkee, a daily blog of the most interesting and unique watches in the world.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The inspiration of the watch band came from the Renault Tanks during WWI.

Tanks (usually) have blue, sword-shaped hands with silvered opaline guilloché dials. The winding crowns on Tanks, like those of most Cartier watches, have sapphire cabochons on them.

 
 
Many famous people have worn the Cartier tank:  Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Warren Beatty, Harry Truman, Jackie Kennedy, Michelle Obama....

My favorite was Jane Cousar. She was a leap year baby so she would remain 21 this year.  As she is now old enough to drink we raise a glass to Jane and her style!  I still love clean lines and white shirts due to her!

Years ago when my mother passed away, she willed her Cartier Tank to a dear friend.  That Christmas my husband found it's twin and gave it to me for Christmas.  Everytime I look at it I think of my Mom who had great style and my sweet husband.  (Okay - so this outfit doesn't scream style - but I like the picture!)

Fifty Favorite Designs.....

To celebrate my 50th birthday, this Saturday I will begin a daily series to share with you 50 designs that I adore........

An Insiders Guide to Granite: How to Choose What's Best For You, Part 2, Quality and Choosing a Fabricator

Hey again! It's Sam and I see that your back for more granite! Read on to find out how to get the Best Quality and best Fabrication!

After you've narrowed down your selections and have your quotes and number of slabs you need, its time to reserve your slabs! A helpful slab yard will be able to move your slabs to make selections on specific slabs. If the lighting is not good, see if they can move it to better light to help with the selection. Here is what to look for when selecting:

You want good quality!!

-Run your hand across the slab to feel for any rough pitting and/or cracks and fissures. You don't want pits because it effects the look and work surface. Cracks and fissures also don't look good and can be dangerous in the fabrication process causing it to break (trust me, you want to prevent this at all costs!).

-Be sure to turn your head to look at the slab at all angles, some flaws can hide in bad lighting.

-One thing to keep in mind is that some species of granite have “natural fissures”. These usually aren't harmful during the fabrication process and you can't feel them. They usually look to be apart of the pattern and over all look.

*Once you've put your names on the slabs, contact your fabricator so that he can get the ordering on the ball; The granite yard usually only reserves the slabs for one to two weeks.

granite slab

Choosing the Fabricator for You!

Once you have made the best decision and selected your slabs, its in the hands of the fabricator. They may have you come to their shop to approve the slabs and schedule the install. Here are some things to consider when selecting the best fabricator.

Do your research!

-Go to their showroom to view their work firsthand. If they are a small company, ask to see a portfolio of their work. Make sure their quality and craftsmanship is suitable to your standards.

•  
  • Don't be afraid to ask for references!
  • Make sure they are licensed and insured.
  • See if they guarantee their work.

  • Feel comfortable, if they seem shady, then they probably are.

  • A good fabricator will come to your home to template

  • A good fabricator will be willing to help you shop for your granite and let you approve your slab and have some kind of say in what will be showing on your counters.

  • Get more than one quote, you may be able to find better quality and reasonable pricing.

 

An Insider's Guide to Granite: How to Choose What's Best For You, Part 1, Budget and Look

 
 

Granite is one of the hottest countertop trends today. Because of its increasing affordability and natural -never the same look - we know its here to stay. There are upwards of 800 colors on the market today. This overwhelming amount of selections can really make the decision a tough one. Heres a good place to start:

Budget:

We all know that costs is a huge factor in most of our purchases. Usually a granite fabricator will send their client to a granite yard (or warehouse)to make a few selections. In these granite yards, nine times out of ten, they aren't allowed to give any price indication. This is because they are solely open as a courtesy to the fabricator to let you make selections. You don't buy from these guys, the fabricator does, so pricing can become somewhat of a mystery. So how can you avoid this hassle? Become knowledgeable on what drives cost in granite.

• Price is based on rarity, some granites are not as readily available as others. And when it's gone, IT'S GONE!

• Most granites that have “tight” patterns and are combinations of earth tones (brown, rust, gold, blacks) are typically less expensive. Ex. New Venetian Gold, St. Cecilia, Giallo Ornamental and Uba Tuba.

 New Venetian Gold

Uba Tuba

Granite that has veins and flowing patterns should be indicators of a more exotic stone and is probably more expensive. Ex: delicatus, magma, sienna bordeaux and succuri.

 

  Delicatus

Sienna Bordeaux

 

Colors are also very important to price: If you see electric blues, vibrant greens and striking reds, these are almost sure-fire indicators of a very very pricey stone! Ex: blue bahia, aphrodite and red fire.

 Blue Bahia

Aphrodite

 

 

The Look:

How to choose:

• More than likely, you will find yourself gravitating toward certain styles of granite, you need to evaluate the colors and pattern. This is where your cabinet door will help. You obviously make sure the two work well together, whether it is creating the right contrast or blend (colorwise). Next, look at the pattern. If you have a small kitchen you should go for a tighter pattern. You want this so that it is proportionate and not overwhelming. If you were to use one with lots of movement, you will more than likely lose the look you loved in the whole slab. When looking at any slab you must invision it in 2ft horizontal sections, this will give you a better idea as to how it will look as an actual counter top.

 

• If you have a large kitchen and large island, a slab with lots of movement would work perfectly, if thats your style. The island could fit most of the movement you loved while being complimented by all of the perimeter counters. However, there are stones with the right movement and interest that could work just fine in your small kitchen, you just have to visualize it in your space and make the best judgment.

I hope this helped! -Sam

An Insiders Guide To Granite: A quick history and were it comes from!

Hello, Sam here! I thought I'd add this little tidbit in about where this stuff comes from! I always found that most customers found it very interesting to know how we get these beautiful stones. Enjoy!

A little Granite History and Info:

Natural stone and granite has been around since the dawn of time, duh, it's only rocks. But we see that it has been used in design for a long time before we started creating counters!

 

We see that the Egyptians built the pyramids from sandstone and granite. The Greeks also created some of their most iconic structures and sculptures from marble and granite (ex: Parthenon, statue of Michaelangelo, columns, etc.)' a lot of which are still standing today.

 

We are now in the time of where using granite for counters is very fashionable and now affordable. How do we get granite? Well, like we said before, this stuff has been stewing up for millions of years now, what you see is what you get and it can't be changed. Granite is found all over the world. The most exotic and popular come from countries such as Brazil, India, Italy, China and all over the continent of Africa. Granite is pulled from the ground using either dynamite or diamond coated wires that sort of slice it out of the ground/mountain/ocean floor. When they pull it out, it's in blocks. These blocks are made into smaller blocks and then labeled as “lots”. The lots are then sliced into slabs and then individually polished, honed or a series of other finishes. These slabs are kept together in the order they were cut. This is because they are book matched or “mirrored” images of one another. This is important to understand because when picking slabs you want to be sure they are the same lot and preferably consecutive slabs (if possible). This way you will have an accurate color and pattern match.

The slabs are then packaged in a container, put on a boat and shipped to a granite yard. This can take weeks and/ or months to reach its final destination. Thats why you'll find it's not that quick to “just get some more in”.

*Check out this awesome video on granite..

 

Mirrored bathroom picture really struck reader's curiosity - CharlotteObserver.com

Interior shots caught the eye of a reader.

Mirrored bathroom picture really struck reader's curiosity - CharlotteObserver.com.

An Insiders Guide To Granite Counters: Is it for you?

We have a great team here at StarrMiller Interior Design!  This week our Design Assistant Sam is going to teach us all about granite!

 

Hey there Guys! My name is Sam Monds, and I'm a Design Assistant for StarrMiller and also this week's guest writer. I used to work on the wholesale side of the granite industry for a couple of years and left with tons of knowledge on the topic. I've compiled some of the most important things that you should know when selecting granite for your counters. Please give us your feedback and questions and we're here to help!

 

Weigh out these options when deciding if granite is the best choice for your counters.

Benefits of Choosing Granite:

-Extremely Durable, will last a lifetime.

-Can with stand extreme heat, so you can set hot pots on it! If your house burns down, your counters are more than likely to still be intact.

-Won't scratch if you cut directly on it, but it will probably dull your knives!

-When properly sealed, it will not stain, you must still clean spills when they happen.

-Will boost the value of your home.

-Easy cleaning

-It's natural beauty, plain and simple, granite can transform any kitchen or bathroom.

 When Granite isn't for you:

• If you want flawlessness or perfection (it ain't gonna happen!)

• If you constantly cook with acidic things such as lemon juice or red wine and olive oil. This can potentially be harmful to the polish of your counter tops and penetrate the counters possibly causing stains or accumulation of germs.

• If your budget is super tight, even though the price of granite has certainly come down over the past few years, it still isn't "cheap".

• 

Caring For Granite:

Most people will say that they aren't going to chose granite because you have to seal it frequently and it sounds like a hassle. Well lets please throw that mentality right out of the window. When a slab of granite goes through its finishing process at the quarry, they apply a super strong seal at that time. Then when your fabricator installs your granite, they more than likely will seal your granite or at least offer it. Experts recommend that you seal your counters at least once or twice a year. Sealing your counter tops is as easy as spraying Windex on a window and wiping it down... seriously, its that easy (I don't know what people have been complaining about!). Another bonus to that is that most daily cleaners made specifically made for granite counters have sealers in them, so you are getting your protection every time you clean. Other than that just be sure to clean any spills right away, just as you would any other big investment. As far as preventing scratches and breakage, the only way this is going to happen is if you do some serious damage. So this means, try not hitting it with your sledge hammer or scraping bricks or rocks across it. I think you'll be pleased with how easy it really is to take care of your granite. Oh yea, one cool thing about granite is that most patterns in granite allow you to have crumbs on your counters and no one even notices it because it camouflages so well!

 

 

Cotton is HOT!

I was chatting with the owner of one of Charlotte's Trade Showrooms today and she warned me about fabric availability, specifically cotton.

 

The price of cotton has risen from under $80 to over $150 (I believe we are referring to bales) in the past six months. Click to enlarge graph.

 
Due to Floods and other world events the supply is tight. Note the beginning stocks in Dec and Jan.  Click to enlarge graph.

 
This information is found with complete articles here:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/246727-cotton-in-2011-increased-volatility-ahead-for-traders-and-manufacturers

The charts are from....Michael Ferrari

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=26405&Cat=3

What does this mean to us as designers.  More backorders and higher prices.  I am told that the scarcity and pricing are hitting the manufacturers now with the trade fabrics coming next.  If your client is mulling something over - move it along!  Otherwise it could cost more very soon.  Or move to silk and take your time.  Beauty is always worth the wait!

 
Duralee

The Globes Go Green....

  If I might say so, this years Golden Globes were a hit! My favorite musical pleasure, Glee, took home 3 awards. The Social Network seemed to sweep the show and Natalie Portman took home the well deserved Best Actress for her role in The Black Swan. But more importantly, the fashion was amazing! I admit, my favorite part of any awards show is the typical three hour fashion coverage. Thank you DVR for letting me skip the boring parts!) There were so many that were well dressed it was a challenge to narrow them down, as for the fashion offenders there were a couple that certainly stood out.

 

 

Glee's Leah Michelle was a hit in my book. I think this blush colored gown is very flirty, fun and age appropriate.

 

Some thought glitter explosion prom dress. But she was having fun and I think Olivia Wilde decided to kick up her heels and try out for the next Disney movie. Seemed to work for Amy Adams!

 

Big fail. Julianne Moore just didn't do it for me in this messy one sleeved frock.  She needs to move away from Lanvin!

But the Big Story of the night was GREEN!!!!

 

This emerald green gown is certainly following the trend of sparkle glam, with a little 80's flair (check out the shoulder pads). It was refreshing to see Angelina Jolie in such a rich and vibrant color, a nice change from the Morticia Adams rut she's been stuck in for a while (all the black!).

 

And for my absolute favorite of evening, Catherine Zeta Jones. Although her arm candy (Michael Douglas) was a show stopper all on his own.

Miss Peggy, Elizabeth Moss did not carry it off well at all.

After seeing trend of emerald green on the red carpet this year, it immediately brought back to the 2010 Fall Furniture Market and my emerald spottings.

  

As we all know Fashion and Interior Design go hand in hand and we have evidence of that. I had an inkling that emerald was going to sneak onto the scene this year once I saw these stand out combos of black and emerald green.

 

Last year Colour Lovers also predicted this trend. This mood board says it best, this strong hue of green is best done in accents.

 

Tobi Fairley has certainly done Emerald justice in this elegant living room. It seems this tone works well being complemented by neutrals.

I have always been a fan of malachite.  The rich depth and shimmer entrance me.

 

 
  I even chose Christian Dior Gaudron Malachite for my wedding china 21 years ago.

Avalanche in North Carolina

 
When last we chatted it was September and the Labor Day weekend was upon us.  Well, after that we just had an avalanche of an Autumn....

In September Tom and I had a great time going to watch our beloved Alabama Football team win at Duke.  And may I say the Duke folks were delightful, kind and gracious hosts!  While I enjoyed the football - I LOVED the architecture.  What a beautiful campus!

Tom and I spent the first week of October enjoying the beauty of Sea Island, the McGladry Classic and a wonderful evening at Davis Love III's home.  Tom had a great time playing in the ProAm and I enjoyed The Lodge!

 

October brought us High Point Market (that I missed due to a 3 week virus) and work, work, work!  Thank you team for going and scouting out the new trends!

November hustled in with a fun afternoon at the Metrolina Antique Market with Eddie Ross and his partner Jaithan.  Delightful guys with great insights into a modern take on market finds.  I ran out the door with these marvelous table bases....

 

Do you notice anything in this photo from Coco Chanel's sitting room???

 
 Just a bit of whimsy!

The following week the StarrMiller team won People's Choice Award for our work in the North Mecklenburg Woman's Club Holiday Over the Tabletop Event.

 
One week later we won:

2010 NARI of Charlotte - Contractor of the Year Award, CotY, Team Award for Residential Interior Under $100,000
2010 Lake Norman Home Builder's - BEST of the LAKE Design Competition - 1st Place- Bath Revovation
2010 Lake Norman Home Builder's - BEST of the LAKE Design Competition - 1st Place - Home Additions (Rooms and Suites)
2010 Lake Norman Home Builder's - BEST of the LAKE Design Competition - Honorable Mention - Kitchen Renovation
 
It is an embarrassment of riches. 

Additionally, we reconstructed our back of the house operations and worked hard to delight our clients!

I am forever greatful to the Team!  I am truly blessed to work with smart, creative and fun people!!

 
(Mary, Warren, me and Sam - photograph by Chanda) 

Coming up......

February's Favorite Fifty........... 

I Hate Monday's - What an Interior Designer does on Labor Day

Well I will admit it - I typically hate Monday's.  But when I find one that is meant to be free I get excited.  What should I do - old movie? "Yes!" ( Today it was "All About Eve")  Shopping?  "Yes!"  Go to mall? "No!"  Computer shopping?  "Yes, Yes - Double yes!"

As the seasons change I find myself hungry for my next bauble.  No, not the Elizabeth Tayor kind, the I can freshen up a tired outfit that I love with fresh costume jewelry kind.  It is like freshening up the pillows on your sofa.  Makes everything feel new without costing a fortune.

So here is my wish list of beautiful, sometime architectural finds from today.  You will need to scroll to the bottom to see the reason I am back to hating Mondays!

Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta and Stephen Dweck were my first crushes...

   
  

 

 

Can you tell I am into the subtle elegance of gray this year?

John Hardy and Konstantino caught my eye with their beautiful rings - they remind me of beautiful windows in a gothic church.

 

While we are looking at Rings I was intrigued by these rings... are they weapons or are they really cool?

The first one is by Elizabeth and James & the second is from Kara Ross.

  

I like that they feel special.  I wonder what they feel like on the hand...

Jose and Maria Barrera, Private Label Nested Horn Earrings and Oscar de la Renta know how to dress an ear.  I know they have corresponding necklaces, but isn't a fabulous earring enough?

 

 

This is the Page Novick Cobweb....Halloween is coming - this is how to do it with style!
 

No fun shopping experience in jewelry is complete without my beloved Alexis Bittar.  He always dazzles me with his take on lucite.  I know you have seen me wear his lucite earrings for the past 10 years, but aren't these bangles fun?

Now for the reason I am back to hating Mondays....

Good design whether it be in clothing or interior design is meant to express one's sense of taste and to show off an individual at their best.  I hate too much branding that shows of the designer and NOT the client.  Our true worth in custom design is bringing out the client's unique qualities and beauty with clothing or surroundings.  The following items are simply branding a client and not enhancing the client:

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is not necessary to brand your client.  If someone is reading the logo they are not looking at the entire picture.  This type of design makes me sad....

 Grrrrrrr

Thank you Alexander McQueen for giving us a way to express anger with sparkle!
  

What makes you laugh?

Those who know me know I laugh loud and often.  I am an embarrassment at the movies, because I just can't laugh quietly and meekly.

 

My current go to spot for hilarity is James Swan's 101 Things I Hate About Your House on Facebook.  He can post some of the most outlandish home design photos imaginable, but that is not where the fun ends.  The comments from others about these designs just makes me laugh out loud!

 

Thank you James Swan - I needed that!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Swan-and-101-Things-I-Hate-About-Your-House/374081828267

I Hate Mondays - A Peek at an Interior Designer's Day.....

Those who know me well know that Monday is the day of the week that I do not see clients, I do not answer the phone and I do not go out.  Today my team dared me to give you a glimpse into my sacred Monday........

For 20+ years every Monday I had to get up early, and get all wide eyed and made up for the world to see......this is a good reason to hate Mondays

 Now I can look like this on a Monday...

Yep, I made it smaller because it just isn't pretty.  (And it is my blog and I can do what I want!)

Mondays tend to be no makeup, wet hair and a whale of a long staff meeting.   The team laughs because they know not to arrive one minute early because I could have curlers or a towel on my head.  No excuses - it just seems more efficient to me to skip the beauty routine one day a week and get the work done. And as you can see it needs to be done!  This is the joy of running your own company. 

Now what they didn't count on was that I would turn the table on them!

Good lookin' group don't you think?  I am thankful for them every day!  
  

Lake Norman Woman Article - August 2010 - Think NOW if You Want Your Redo by the Holidays!

It's later than you think!  I am all about the holidays at this time of year!  Read why....(Click on article to see larger version...)

Lake Norman Woman Article - June 2010 - HGTV's Two Day Makeover: Fact or Fiction?

The #1 complaint practicing interior designers have about HGTV is the theater of a home makeover in 1 or 2 days.  #2 Complaint would be that the costs seem so low and #3 would be that everything arrives on time and everything is so easy anyone could do it........(click on article for larger version)

Lake Norman Woman Article - April 2010 - The Scoop on Home Makeovers!

Running behind on my blogs...so it is time to catch up!  Here was my article from April 2010.  HGTV the inside scoop. (Click on article for larger version...)

 

Can you believe it? I was named one of the Top 12 Interior Design Gurus you should follow on twitter!

I am humbled.  Frankly I love these other designers and you will too!
http://blog.builddirect.com/interior-design-gurus/comment-page-1/#comment-6345

How fun is that?  Thank you Build Direct!

Lake Norman Woman Article - February 2010 "White Out"

Paint those walls people!!!   Only have white walls when it is a conscience design choice.  Don't let color intimidate you! 

 (You may click on the article to enlarge for easier reading)

 

 

Navy Blue

This month is all about color.  So I thought I would start with something personal.

Many of you know that my logo and all of my marketing materials are Navy Blue. 
What you may not know is why.  As a designer you would expect me to show the latest and greatest trend in color on my materials, but as with most trends they come and go and I didn't want to change my materials to match the fancy of the Color Marketing Group (CMG).  While I greatly admire their work and often look to them to understand color trends I thought that since my design philosophy is, "Trend is not Style...Trend is something that will soon be of the Past", I should probably go with a color that reflects me, not a trend.

 Okay, okay...now to Navy Blue.

• When I was a kid my favorite color in my 64 ct. Crayola crayon box was Midnight Blue. Loved it! Years later when I was a buyer and my job took me to inspect the Crayola Factory (can you imagine my glee?) I tried to act mature, however I was so happy when I finally found the Midnight Blue crayons in the mass of color flying around my head. A kid living the dream!
• Well the obvious is that my name is Starr. I have heard 'Night Starr all my life, so I thought that a deep midnight blue would certainly fit.
• I grew up living the summers at the beach or on a boat. My first job was working at a marina. From 1993-2007 we lived on the beach and today we I live in the beautiful Lake Norman Area of North Carolina......see a theme?  Nautical anything makes me happy.

It seems Navy blue is just kind of in my roots.

Navy blue

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Navy blue is a very dark shade of the color blue which almost appears as black. Navy blue got its name from the dark blue (contrasted with white) worn by officers in the British Royal Navy since 1748 and subsequently adopted by other navies around the world.

When this color, taken from the usual color of the uniforms of sailors, originally came into use in the early 1800s, it was initially called marine blue, but the name of the color soon changed to navy blue.^[2]

The first recorded use of Navy blue as a color name in English was in 1840.^[3]

 

  

Lake Norman Currents - Wow! Thanks for the lovely article!

What a way to kick off the New Year!  Sharon Simpson and her gang at Lake Norman Currents featured one of my projects in their beautiful January 2010 magazine!  Sam Boykin was the fabulous writer who interviewed my client, Deanna Lindquist.  Deborah Young was the photographer. 

Here is a small excerpt...

According to Deanna, the three month renovation, which they finished in August came off without a hitch, thanks in large part to Miller's cooperative style. "I've used designers in the past that, when they finished, it ended up reflecting their style and not mine," Deanna says.  "With Starr, it was great to have someone take my ideas and create a unique vision and look that matched exactly what I wanted."

Can you see me beaming from here in Lake Norman?

Read more below by clicking on the pages of the article.  Thanks to everyone involved, especially the Lindquist family for opening up their home!

Also, included in the article are my 5 Things to Consider When Renovating!

 

 

 

 
 
 

Chandeliers by a maestro! Shards and holograms....

Since wandering into his studio in SOHO a few years ago I have been a huge fan of Ingo Maurer!  He has truly shattered what we think of when it comes to lighting.  His work below: Porca Miseria (1994) is in MOMA and is a true delight to sit under and wonder, "what was the inspiration?" 

My dream would be to have a breakfast room that fit this perfectly as I think it would start each day with a smile and help kick me in the butt each day to think, create and find humor all things - solid or broken.

 
This next piece became the inpiration for a bar project that I was working on at the time.  The pure joy of thinking you know what you are seeing vs. the reality that it is just an illusion is a perfect conversation piece and metaphor for a bar...  You see the bulb is a hologram, it doesn't really exist.

And since it is Christmas and my name is Starr I must show you how Ingo worked with Swarovski to interpret the season. 

  
  Thank you Ingo for today's look at the wonders of chandeliers, holograms and crystal!

Expand it! Modern and Fun

Now this is just plain clever!

 
  Where would you use this light?
 
 
 

Come Sail Away with Me!

The area where we now call home is the lake Norman area of North Carolina.  Boats are the thing. This is a chandelier that promises many wonderful adventurers.  Where would you sail to?

I am in mad love with this chandelier!

Can you stand it?  It is fluid, organic, sexy and just makes me dream....  This is an iconic fixture for the Hudson Company.  What do you think?

I am a girlie girl and I love sparkle!

I saw this and knew it had to go in my dining room!  We shot this from below to show the sparkle and unusual upside down design.  It is perfectly me.  (Design is subjective, my college roommate explained to me that is wasn't what she wanted for her home, lol!)

Lake Norman Woman Article - December 2009 "Looking Up"

So happy to have another article in Lake Norman Woman magazine.  This month I encourage you to look up and examine your chandeliers!  As this wonderful month progresses I will include some of my favorite chandeliers for you to enjoy!  Now go exercise your neck muscles and look up!

You may click on the article for larger view!

 

The WhirlWind that was October!

Dear Blog Readers,

My deepest and sincerest apologies for abandoning you in October.  This past month proved to be the busiest on record!

We went for a weekend to our favorite getaway, St. Simons Island, GA so Tom could take some golf lessons at Sea Island and I could see my Father.

Then we had the Member Guest Golf Event at our club where our sweet friends John and Kathy Arnold joined us for 4 fabulous days!

The following weekend brought all that is High Point market!  I will go on and on about that in another post, but it is important to acknowledge that it is an entire city of furniture showrooms and I had a wonderful time looking for the new and unusual!

The week of High Point I was also chairing a fabulous fashion show, Dangerous Curves Ahead for the North Mecklenburg Woman's Club, where we entertained 200 and raised money to send women back to school! 

Our sponsors were the best! Dillards, Standpoint Technologies, Do A Little Floral, Jockey International, MJ's Sugar Shack, LKNSavings.com,Fifth Third Bank, The Style Merchant and the Grill Doctor are just a few!

 
We had fabulous auction items, over 80 in total!

 
 
Amazing fashions and models..

 
 
Below is Gina Story, our MC and one of our Fashion Show Captains, Denise Linerode, another of our Fashion Show Captains and Denise Carter, our President and another Fashion Show Captain.

 
Here is Deborah Maher, our Auction Captain, Brian and Tony of Do A Little Floral and Dianne Kolenski, our Fashion Captain. 

 

Fun was had by all!  In the end we raised a glass and cheered a job well done.

When this picture was taken they sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" - can you stand it?

The next morning Tom and I were off to Alabama for the Alabama-Tennessee football game.

It was the 30th anniversary of our first date and the 20th anniversary of our wedding.  We won the game, whew - in the last second!  This is one tired girl you see below, but if we are going to chronicle this crazy month we might as well show the truth!

 
And since this is a design blog that I scatter with my personal musings...here is a DON"T!

Thank you to all of my clients for indulging this crazy month!  Many of you were along for some of the ride, others were the focus of High Point.  We are back in the office full time and can't wait to catch up on installations!!  Woo Hoo!

Asian Influence in Tablesettings

As we head towards the Holidays I am going to post some of my favorite table settings from either my readings or searches on the internet and some of my favorite china patterns. 

I love an Asian inspired table that isn't just square plates!  The Asian culture attaches symbolism to color.

Red: Happiness, marriage, prosperity
Pink: Marriage
Yellow: Against evil, for the dead, geomantic blessings
Green: Eternity, family, harmony, health, peace, posterity
Blue: Self-cultivation, wealth
Purple: Wealth
White: Children, helpful people, marriage, mourning, peace, purity, travel
Gold: Strength, wealth
Gray: Helpful people, travel
Black: Career, evil influences, knowledge, mourning, penance, self-cultivation
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/color2.htm

An all time favorite china pattern - Mottaheda - Tobacco Leaf - How pretty is this oldie (circa 1780) but oh so goodie? The design shows the leaves of the flowering Nicotiana (Tobacco) plant upon which a small phoenix perches bearing a flowering twig in its beak. This exact reproduction requires twenty-eight colors including 22K gold and five firings to manufacture. The joyous exuberance of the Tobacco Leaf pattern is undiminished by time. Tobacco Leaf is an authorized reproduction for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (dinnerwareetc.com)
 
 Here is Jasper Coran's Wedgwood Chinoiserie pattern; ayummy layered pattern!

From Oprah Home we find the colors of influence. (Winter 2005)

 
Next we have Royal Crown Derby's Imari Gold.  The colors of cobalt blue, iron red and burnished gold make a fabulous, timeless table.  This pattern of geometric shapes has been in production off and on since the early 1800's.  It appears to be modern, while clearly not! 

Now notice how the Oprah team put it together in a layout during the winter of 2005.

Lake Norman Woman Article - October 2009 "Table Settings"

I love table settings!  Here are some tips as we get closer to the holidays from my article in Lake Norman Woman!

You may click on the photo below for full size version of the article!

 

 

Artwork for North Mecklenburg Woman's Club Fashion Show

I just completed the artwork for the North Mecklenburg Woman's Club Fashion Show that will be held on October 22nd, at River Run Country Club in the Lake Norman area of NC.  Fashions will be by Dillard's Department Store at Northlake Mall.

The theme this year plays off of our proximity to everything NASCAR.  I told a client recently that I had never lived anywhere where I found so many people who have race cars in their garages, some more than one.  And one I know that has an entire fleet!

Theme is "Dangerous Curves Ahead". 

The experts at Dillard's tell us that the colors for fall are gray (think pavement), silver (I like to call it chrome), gold (think caution signs and flags) and violets (here is the feminine touch).  Now there are others, but these are the ones we will focus on for the show decor and media pieces.

When looking at the runway shows the other thing we picked up on was that the peplum jacket is back.  This certainly helps emphasize the feminine curve!

So here is our curvy girl ready to caution that there are Dangerous Curves Ahead!

 

I don't like quotes, but.....

I read something in USA Weekend Magazine that I really thought was profound...

Tim Gunn, fashion guru, former Chair of Parsons Fashion Design School (and you all know that I am an alumni and fan of Parsons!) and current Chief Creative Officer at LIZ said,

"Part of what was so unshackling was the whole aspect that when you are studying art or design, the answer isn't in the back of the book.  The answer's in you, somewhere.  It's a matter of tapping into the resources you have and being creatively untethered."

  Brillliant!

BeWare Psychedelic Splash of Tile

This blog is not just about things I love.  Sometimes it is about a subject, such as tile, and what I have seen that may stretch the imagination.  It may not be my taste, but in the end I can walk away and say I learned something.  So here it is - the home of designer Apryl Miller. 

 

Now I love color as much if not more than most, but when I walked into this space at first my mouth dropped open, then I looked at my husband to see his horrified reaction, then I laughed and then I enjoyed one person’s love of chaos.  Again – not me, but in the end if you slow down and note how she uses materials in a different way you will learn something.  Whether you choose to use it in your own life or file it away as a wild adventure will be a decision made best with a cocktail (or 2) in hand. Now sunglasses on this ride is leaving the station!

 

 

 

 

And while I have mainly devoted this month to tile, it is also interesting to see what other things she has done with her design.  (Don't try this at home, this is done under extreme conditions and could cause blindness!)

 

And at last a spot for the eye to rest. I often tell clients that it is important to have space to rest the eyes, a relief if you will - white space between the art.

And here I leave you with one last thought.  Embrace color, learn from art, and remember that each person's home means something different to them.  You may take your sunglasses off now!

http://www.aprylmillerstudios.com/

My Favorite Tile Project

In the last post I wrote about connections.  This time I want to show you one project that I found a few years back that made me fall in love with the beautiful way tile can make a bathroom feel current and timeless at the same time.  I found the project in a magazine, but researched further and realized that it was from the television series "This Old House".  It is called the Cambridge Project and I encourage you to look at the connections once again as they are magnificent! 

 

First, I want to show you what I love the most....  Look at how the architecture of the home and the interior design of the bath compliment one another! 

 

The organic nature of the house plan are beautifully paid tribute by the planes of tile, stone and wood in this master bath. I love the connection between the shower and bath tub shown here.

 

 

The other baths are just as lovely on a smaller scale.

This one is quiet and serene.

 

This powder room is anything but frills.   Love the simplicity!

 

 

 

 

Dive on in.....

Since we have been talking about tile this month I started reminiscing about NYC and my studies at Parsons.  In one of my classes on materials the professor kept stressing the need to look at connections.  How one material meets the next truly determines the success of a design.  That was a light bulb moment.  When we see things that seem awkward or have gaps we focus on the gaps not on the beauty.  That’s why a good presenter doesn’t have stains on their blouse or spinach in their teeth.  They want us to focus on their face, inflection and the information not the gaps!

When working with tile we need to focus on the connection it has with other materials.Look at this wall from the restaurant Rosa Mexicana, designed by The Rockwell Group.  It is majestic. 

 

Now look at the connection of the tile to the wavy surface that has the water fall and divers.  It is a very clean line. 

If it was wavy and uneven it would draw your eye away from the attraction of the divers and the theater of the room and force you to the distraction of a poorly connected or finished material.

 

Remember, just as in life, the connections we make and how we handle them defines us.

Julia Child, Me and a Hotdog

I know, I know this is supposed to be a design blog.  But when it comes down to it how we interpret beauty is simply based on a combination of the people we meet, the things we see, the experiences we have and how we were brought up.  Our interpretation of these things brings us to our own unique perspective.

My Mom was the quintessential 50’s/60’s homemaker. 

 

She believed that a woman’s place was in the home looking after her husband and children.  To that end she set about becoming THE BEST COOK in THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!  She studied the Galloping Gourmet, Julia Child and took 8 years of cooking classes from a rock star teacher in Atanta named Ursula.  When Mom passed away we could not take all of the fabulous handwritten cooking class notes as we truly had no room to house all of it!  We ate well in our family!

When I decided to go out into the working world and not do the homemaker thing I know I broke her heart.  And still today I can cook, but it is a complete mess and my husband runs for cover in fear of flames and spills.  But my working life did afford me some wonderful experiences. 

In 1991 I was a Group Manager at Macy’s Lenox Square in Atlanta.  My role was as the manager over The Cellar, The Home Store, Electronics, Children’s and Shoes.  Because we had the premier store in Atlantawe often had special events in our store. We hosted everyone from Brooke Shields to Joe Namath. In the Home Store we ran through a ton of chefs demonstrating their recipes from their cookbooks.  Most notably, Paul Prudhomme, Kevin Graham, Justin Wilson and THE JULIA CHILD!

They each had their own flair….

 Paul Prudhomme enjoyed his food more than anyone and thusly used a little electric chair to move around and cook. 

 Kevin Graham was all British and refined.  (photo from book jacket)

 Justin Wilson had asked that we have Merlot on hand for cooking.  We had to send one of our people out at the last minute to go get several more bottles as he drank the ones we had marked out of stock for him before the set up was complete.

But Julia Child, in all of her celebrity and tallness (goodness she was tall), was my very favorite!  In our cellar we had a café, deli, wine shop, candy shop and small gourmet store.  It took several fine men to make it all work. 

One of them was William, fun, happy and one of my most innovative managers.  He came to me one day and said that he thought we should have a hot dog stand so that people who were on the run could grab something even quicker than the deli.  I agreed and off he went.  Weeks later when the store manager and I were walking Julia Child around the store (she requested a look see) she was delighted to see the hotdog stand and asked if it would be alright if she had one of William’s hot dogs rather than the fancy deli tray we put together for visiting dignitaries.  So there we stood, Randy (the store manager), William, me and Julia Child having hotdogs. Julia Child, icon, regular gal and hotdog lover.

Can’t wait to see the movie!  Cheers Julia!

I Can't Get Enough of These Tile Vendors....

Remember when tile was simply a ceramic square?  And then remember when everyone got excited about subway tiles?  Well tile ain't what it used to be!  Here are two of my favorite tile vendors...

Ann Sacks - Always cutting edge and makes me dream of exciting new spaces. 

 

 

 

Walker Zanger - Can you stand it?  Mix it up and make it special!

 

Yummy!

Jump Off The Grid!

I love tile – I was working with it today in a kitchen we are currently renovating. The possibilities are endless!  As a designer, I relish the opportunity to show clients the versatility of any material and tile is no exception.  Tile-be it ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone-is not as rigid as one might think. Jump off the grid, pattern that is, and take a look at the many moods of a not so flat substance….

 

Designer Sarah Richardson uses tile to create an area rug pattern in a Powder Room

 

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These Walker Zanger tiles become ceramic mouldings that do the same job as their wood counterparts but hold up to the damp environments of our kitchens and baths.

 

Speaking of wood, another Walker Zanger product shows it can hold its own with any Parisian herringbone patterned salon floor.

 

 

Opposites do attract-mixing wood flooring and tile seems to just bring out the best in both.

  

 

Mother Nature is always the best teacher in design and tile can become an excellent student with a deft use of pattern or substance.

 

 

Remember, I said we were jumping off the grid so I thought we would circle back around and finish with both the elegance and the whimsy of this many faceted material.