A client asked that Stanley come over and edit her bookcases.
It's not as simple as removing items, books, etc. Placement and overall
concept play a part. Remember to keep the weight at the bottom and
don't be afraid to remove a shelf or hang a small piece of art on the
bookcase.
TTG
The designers at The Teich Group show you how to use your furnishings, personal mementos and flea market finds to create a showcase home
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
The Passing Scene
This past week marked the end of an era. The children of Elmore Leonard held an estate sale to dispose of the furniture, lamps, accessories, etc. of their father's home. I had the personal pleasure of helping his ex-wife, Christine, put their home together during the early, happy days of their marriage. It was a bit sad to see the house being broken up and carried away. As I walked around the house I recalled all the fun we had creating a warm and comfortable environment that supported Elmore working at home. Warmth and comfort were as important as style.I like to remember Elmore's gentle and friendly manner. He definitely enjoyed his success but he was completely devoid of pretense. More times than not, when I would call the house, he would answer the phone. When I came to the house for an appointment he often answered the door. I especially remember the extra care we took in creating his working environment. He took over the back half of the living room where things were shaded and quiet and had a view of the sweeping back yard.
Architecturally, the house had the look of "Hollywood Regency" which is experiencing a resurgence of popularity with west coast designers. We respected the architecture of the house in both scale and style. Colors were warm but subdued. The furniture was selected with comfort in mind, inviting the user to sit back, relax and spend time in soft conversation, reading or contemplation. He always displayed an active interest in current affairs and was curious as to others' viewpoints.
I feel very fortunate to have met and known this great guy. He was generous with his time and attention. I carry with my wonderful memories of our brief times together. Thanks, Elmore!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
This posting came up on my facebook page from one of my friends. It states in a nutshell what I've been saying for years! It comes from "Thrive Mag." Check it out.
I encourage all of you to read more about the differences between decorators, architects, and interior designers. The NCIDQ website offers a great introduction to the definitions. Aside from this, Google it sometime. You may be surprised to see just how many designers out there are trying to clear the air of this misunderstanding along with me.
I’ll Tell You One More Time: Decorators Aren’t Designers
“Interior design is the art and science of
understanding people’s behavior to create functional spaces within a
building. Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with
fashionable or beautiful things. In short, interior designers may
decorate, but decorators do not design.
Interior designers apply creative and technical
solutions within a structure that are functional, attractive and
beneficial to the occupants’ quality of life and culture. Designs
respond to and coordinate with the building shell and acknowledge the
physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere
to code and regulatory requirements and encourage the principles of
environmental sustainability.
The interior design process follows a systematic
and coordinated methodology—including research, analysis and integration
of knowledge into the creative process—to satisfy the needs and
resources of the client.”
-NCIDQ
I suppose that since my few previous articles have
been a bit more lighthearted and consumer-centric, it’s about time for
an angsty, honest discussion about something that has become, quite
possibly, the singly most annoying misunderstanding of all time.
Since the time that my undergraduate education
started back in 2005, I have been learning and seeing and hearing all
about the common and blatant social misunderstandings surrounding
Interior Designers and their respective field of work. In school, there
was this silent (or perhaps not silent) understanding that architecture
students and interior design students just didn’t get along. Sure we
would cross paths at house parties or have nearly touching desks
encroaching on the invisible division lines in design studio; but aside
from these, it was a nightmare to imagine working with one or the other
on a collaborative project. Why? Because to most architecture students,
interior designers just didn’t know enough. Plain and simple. There was
nothing that an interior design student could present that an architect
couldn’t handle herself. In fact, there was a pretty obvious and
generalized assumption that interior designers were crowding in on
architectural work; touching things that shouldn’t be touched by
non-architect hands and thinking about things that were too…architecty.
We were considered the female-dominant degree that moved walls that
couldn’t be moved without the building falling down and then continued
to make things look pretty.
Not the case. Not at all.
I was always an interior design student who pushed
boundaries and moved far into the realm of architecture by exploring
structural systems and developing these on my own time to coordinate
with my projects. However, I couldn’t help but be annoyed by all of the
studio-trash talking in undergrad and the continuation of said problems
post-graduation. There was just an overall air toward interior designers
that was distasteful, and as I emerged in the working world I realized
just how many people in the public tend to think we are as worthless as
the architects tried to make us feel. In fact, it is common that we are
referred to as decorators. By clients, professionals, and vendors alike.
It’s insane. It’s not that clients don’t need us, but when they don’t
understand what we do, we miss out an entire market and a whole plethora
of opportunity that others get to tap into.
Having completed a BS in Interior Design as well as a
M.Arch, I feel I have a right to take a verbal dump on both sides. I’ve
been through both studio environments, both types of critiques, and
worked with people in both concentrations. My opinion? Interior design
and architecture should always be nothing short of collaborative fields
that respect each others’ principles and goals as professions. They are
too segregated and shouldn’t be as such. As for me, I chose to continue
my life in interior design for a reason. Being an interior designer
involves more personal interaction and deep psychological understanding
than any field that I have ever explored. Architecture tends to involve
more arrogance and less objectivism while interior design can be deeply
introspective and personalized to a client’s every need. Don’t get me
wrong: I love architecture. I love many architects. However, it’s hard
not to be bitter when insanely intelligent and hard-working designers
everywhere are being downgraded to decorator status, and much of this
title-slinging comes from architects as much as it does clients and
peers.
Let me cover my bases. I am in no way disrespecting
decorators, either. However, I have over $100,000 in student loan debt,
only half of the upper part of my right index finger, and several
lasting health conditions to show for my efforts in interior design
school. Schooling to be a designer is rigorous, expensive, and entirely
demanding. Decorators are not required to obtain any degree to practice,
and have not in fact been educated in the technicalities of buildings
and their systems as interior designers have been. As an interior
designer, I am constantly drawing electrical plans and configuring
switching patterns; I am relocating plumbing and shopping for rough-in
valves. As an interior designer, I am selecting beautiful finishes and
then managing their manufacturing. I am designing kitchens and
developing every inch of their construction detail. I know the typical
spacing of floor joists as well as I know the Pantone color of the year.
In fact, I do everything in a project with the exception of
load-bearing adjustments. I leave that to the architects and the
engineers.
If you’re a member of the general public reading this, familiarize
yourself with the differences between decorators and designers. Don’t
use the term unless you understand what you are saying, and pay these
fields the adequate respect they deserve by properly identifying them.
Architects: don’t call yourself an architect unless you’re licensed. No
for real, it’s illegal. Also, don’t shy away from working with
designers. They are specialized in the psychology of space…who doesn’t
want to work with that? Interior designers: don’t be elitist. You need
to know when to open your arms to architects and other professionals
because you can’t control every part of a project. Also, it’s your duty
to educate! If someone calls you a decorator, or pays disrespect to the
field of design by not recognizing its vast sea of qualities, correct
them. You have to make a point to ensure that the differences are
understood so that designers are receiving the accreditation that they
deserve in the professional world.I encourage all of you to read more about the differences between decorators, architects, and interior designers. The NCIDQ website offers a great introduction to the definitions. Aside from this, Google it sometime. You may be surprised to see just how many designers out there are trying to clear the air of this misunderstanding along with me.
Summer or Winter....Always inviting.
Here's a project TTG completed for a client in the resort town of
Saugatuck, MI. Although this home is considered the client's summer
residence, she has found it just as comfortable in the winter months.
This winter has been a test of survival for all of us. A home that is
this snug and welcoming can help anyone make it to spring!
Monday, January 27, 2014
Before and After
Here's the same room today after The Teich Group transformed it into a working office. A dramatic floor to ceiling shelving wall was built to house part of the owners' library as well as a collection of antique large-gauge toy railroad cars. Now this room sets the tone for the rest of the house.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
For years I've heard the phrase "the devil is in the details." I don't know about the "devil" but I do know that the "details" can make or break a project. For a designer, it might be a molding detail, or a door location, or a window treatment, or a paint color. For the client, it may be something much different.
I was reminded of this yesterday. I met with a client who was looking for a new counter top material to be used in her laundry room. She was determined to select a natural stone. She felt that granite would have the depth and richness she was looking for. In her previous home she had installed a polished limestone. As many of you know, limestone is very porous and even with a professional sealer applied, it is so absorbent that it stains almost immediately. She definitely wanted to avoid that. Unfortunately, the one stone she was attracted to was another polished limestone. I suggested she look at one of the new man-made quartz products as an alternative. To say the least, she was some what skeptical. I made arrangements to meet her at a local tile and stone showroom, Ciot. This chic designer showroom displays incredible products including porcelain, ceramic, glass and stone tile. They also have a large warehouse featuring slabs of onyx, marble, granite, and man-made quartz.
While the client and I were discussing counter top alternatives I mentioned to her that the surface we had just set our coffee cups on was a quartz product. It was approximately the color she was looking for and it had a lot of the "depth" that she thought she could only get with granite. After looking at all the alternatives, her final decision was for the Caesarstone's "Shitake."
The time spent looking for a counter top that met the visual and functional needs of the client was well worth it. She came away from the meeting satisfied that one of her "detail" concerns had been addressed.
I was reminded of this yesterday. I met with a client who was looking for a new counter top material to be used in her laundry room. She was determined to select a natural stone. She felt that granite would have the depth and richness she was looking for. In her previous home she had installed a polished limestone. As many of you know, limestone is very porous and even with a professional sealer applied, it is so absorbent that it stains almost immediately. She definitely wanted to avoid that. Unfortunately, the one stone she was attracted to was another polished limestone. I suggested she look at one of the new man-made quartz products as an alternative. To say the least, she was some what skeptical. I made arrangements to meet her at a local tile and stone showroom, Ciot. This chic designer showroom displays incredible products including porcelain, ceramic, glass and stone tile. They also have a large warehouse featuring slabs of onyx, marble, granite, and man-made quartz.
While the client and I were discussing counter top alternatives I mentioned to her that the surface we had just set our coffee cups on was a quartz product. It was approximately the color she was looking for and it had a lot of the "depth" that she thought she could only get with granite. After looking at all the alternatives, her final decision was for the Caesarstone's "Shitake."
The time spent looking for a counter top that met the visual and functional needs of the client was well worth it. She came away from the meeting satisfied that one of her "detail" concerns had been addressed.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
This is going to be a hard act to follow!
Yesterday we met with our client who is moving from a suburban home on 2.5 acres to a townhouse in the neighboring city of Birmingham, MI. The above photograph of their current living room illustrates their appreciation of art, antiques and fine detail. We are taking many of these furnishings, objects and are and moving them to the new house.
This is the new living room. It has completely different proportions (floor layout, ceiling heights, window openings, etc.) which would usually require furnishing, lamp and accessory selections that reflected this more expansive space. Over the next couple of months we'll be sharing pictures of the transformation.
What we really want to share with you is the process a designer goes through when tackling a job like this.
Initially, we make an inventory of the clients' existing furniture, rugs, lamps, accessories, art and various other objects that make up their home. We document all of them with photographs along with meticulous measurements.. We take that documentation and develop an initial furniture layout with rug and lamp locations. This "map" illustrates where there are empty spaces requiring additional pieces. Over a series of meetings with the clients the proposed layout is reviewed and approved by them.
At this stage we keep things pretty loose and sketchy. Nothing is hard lined onto the drawing. We don't want to intimidate the client into thinking that the decisions are final and carved in stone. Continuing discussions lead to modifications. This drawing was developed for final review at which time the sofa facing the fireplace was switched with the two chairs and the sofa table was eliminated. Also, by request of the clients, the secretary and two chairs in the gallery hall are being moved into the great room and will be placed on the wall to the left of the fireplace. (I'm not sure that will work but we'll see at the time of installation.)
This is the new living room. It has completely different proportions (floor layout, ceiling heights, window openings, etc.) which would usually require furnishing, lamp and accessory selections that reflected this more expansive space. Over the next couple of months we'll be sharing pictures of the transformation.
What we really want to share with you is the process a designer goes through when tackling a job like this.
Initially, we make an inventory of the clients' existing furniture, rugs, lamps, accessories, art and various other objects that make up their home. We document all of them with photographs along with meticulous measurements.. We take that documentation and develop an initial furniture layout with rug and lamp locations. This "map" illustrates where there are empty spaces requiring additional pieces. Over a series of meetings with the clients the proposed layout is reviewed and approved by them.
At this stage we keep things pretty loose and sketchy. Nothing is hard lined onto the drawing. We don't want to intimidate the client into thinking that the decisions are final and carved in stone. Continuing discussions lead to modifications. This drawing was developed for final review at which time the sofa facing the fireplace was switched with the two chairs and the sofa table was eliminated. Also, by request of the clients, the secretary and two chairs in the gallery hall are being moved into the great room and will be placed on the wall to the left of the fireplace. (I'm not sure that will work but we'll see at the time of installation.)
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