Celebrating Decoration!

Mini lighted trees added to a buffet server bring holiday sparkle!

Tiny arrangements made in vintage unpolished sterling warm things up without being too fussy.

The more the merrier with these flanking small trees and topiaries adorning the mantel.  Go over the top by adding sprigs of greens, candles and battery operated mini lights.  Here the artwork needs to be hung higher to leave more breathing room for the holiday decor.

White birch wrapped planter with year long life-like greens make this a statement piece and pull color  into the space.

White birch ribbon and exaggerated pine needles make this sweet wreath an organic looking treasure.

Some are allergic to pine and must opt for the life-like alternative.  The beauty of it is you can always make it fit the room!

The Foundation of Design - Sound Advice

It may seem obvious to some that the foundation of a design is the artchitectural elements that form the space.  The foundation of designing a great men's custom shirt is based on the measurement of the body: arms, neck, chest, shoulder, waist and hip.  The off the rack shirt may fit okay but to fit optimally those measurements are key to designing at the highest level.  For the room it is not only the length, width, height.  In order to produce a great design for the room all the elements that are structural need to be included in the plan.  Taking into consideration, beams, columns, doors, windows, angled walls etc.  These elements are deal breakers when you are designing a space.  Not including just one can throw off the whole design.

Measurements and architectural elements are the truth of the space and are what some may consider the limitation or the challenge.  This is what separates a good eye from good design.  Professionals know this to be an exacting science and the more the professional designer understands this principle, the more the professional knows they are constantly challenged.

As a client, it is important to know that all good design begins with proper measurement of existing space or an accurate and updated version of a blue print.  The more accurate the measurement or the plan, the better the design can be executed.  Very often clients would like to take this out of the equation and want to simply opine on the subject of what would be best for a space.  Not a good idea.  Always put to paper what is intended for a space.  It does not have to be fancy just include the truth of the space.

Would you walk around in size 9 shoes if you wear an 8?  Short cuts are the way to a sloppy design.  http://www.interiorconceptsbyamy.com/

BARN SALE BY AMY!

GREAT PICKIN'~~GOING FAST~~PRICED TO SELL

~~BY APPOINTMENT: AMY 203.913.1638~~

Time's Up, Show's Over and Everybody's Going Home!!

A spectacular event for sure!  Everything top notch in terms of the weather, the venue, the volunteers, the catering, the exquisite vendors - truly one of the best events I have seen and priviledged to be a part of.  A special thank you to Reed Collyer of Collyer Catering in Westport.  She was kind enough to provide lovely tasties in the kitchen at the barn!  Another thanks to my friend Karen Nash, who tirelessly took to needle and thread creating beautiful window treatments and pillows!  Yardstick Decor for creating a beautiful cover for the billiard table.  To Elizabeth Kohler for assisting in floral designs and helping man the station!  Kaoud Rugs of Wilton for lending the wonderful Tufenkian rugs that absolutely pulled the room scheme together.  Thanks to my peops for their support....thanks for showing up with a kind smile...means a lot!
Look for the after sale - stay in touch!!

Designing The Barn

The installation is complete and the Vines and Vignettes Event nearing its start!  So many fine details to finese this project.  What does every New Year celebration have in common?  Champagne of course!  So it is my final task to find some beautiful bottles for display.  Flutes next.  Sparkling glasses to sparkle along with the crystal tree adorned table.  Details, details.  The making of a completed design.  So pleased I invited Collyer Catering to epitomize the very last detail of The Barn experience.

So as with every project there comes passing ideas but when the final product is about exactly as I pictured it in my mind upon conception, it is pretty darn gratifying.  The beauty of the showcase is it is an unadulterated work product.  With a client project there are always limitations based on budget and existing materials.  In this case the budget was limited yes, but the materials not really.  Other than the wall color not being my first choice for the look, everything about the barn bones were amazing and better than a blank canvas.

The gorgeous weather will truly enhance the experience of all the Vines and Vignettes guests, designers and vendors.  I recommend it highly.

http://vinesandvignettes.com/

Vines and Vignettes Sneak Peek!!

The count down begins, please come see the finished space on October 8th and 9th!  The room is decorated as it should be for those who live in the home and their house guests plus it is decorated for the New Year and still incorporates the Vines and Vignettes look!  Pulling all three design strategies together is challenging and that is what I love, a challenge.

Vines & Vignettes Project

It is always rewarding to participate in charitable design projects and I am well underway in the latest, http://vinesandvignettes.com/.  In its second year this event is a well oiled machine and I was asked to design the interior of the guest area in the barn!  A fabulous space adorned with hand hewned beams, stucco walls and delightful light that penetrates through a floor to rafter ten foot center window.  Light abounds in contrast with the dark gray slate floors mingled with plum and jade tones.   Walls are rough sawn panel around the fireplace area lending greater warmth to the deep french gold wall color.

I like that the committe for this wonderful fundraiser included a theme for this year.  Harvest to New Year will be depicted in each vignette.  The barn room design will celebrate the New Year.  Moods of the old and new abound in this design.  Modern furnishings juxtaposed with accessories, and accent pieces that harken from an older time while the art speaks to the old and new!  Of course the room itself is old but that incredible window added later nods to a newer age.  The room scheme to play off old and new, light and dark, bringing the outdoors inside!  The transitions of a new year are symbolized in the design and reflected in the space.

You must come and see the final product!  October 8 & 9th...  Go to website link and look for when tickets go on sale!!

Why Custom Menswear Brand J. Hilburn Waited 3 Years To Add Ecommerce

Why Custom Menswear Brand J. Hilburn Waited 3 Years To Add Ecommerce

Today's Notion: Is hiring a Designer is expensive?

Designers are talents, whether you relate to a particular style of work or not.  Talent is valuable.  Look at actors, athletes, artists, many of whom receive shockingly high pay.

Once the project is done, interior design produces an atmosphere.  The atmosphere should reflect an environment in which the client associates great aesthetic pleasure and as a result, the client wants to spend time in it.  Items or materials that go into a space obviously have a value but it is the way in which those items are placed with respect to function, scale, balance, color, texture and form that becomes difficult to put a price on.  We have all entered spaces filled with valuable items that fall short of a pleasing atmosphere.  Good design does not necessarly require expensive items to offer cohesive, functional and aesthetic appeal.

The hourly fee is commonly used for consultation purposes and for research time.  This is a fixed way to budget a project.  Once the concept for the space has been determined and agreed upon, those fees end or decline.  A concept fee is the value the designer places on the the final outcome of the atmosphere and is quantified by a percentage of the project cost.  Furnishings that go into the design are usually brought in on a cost-plus basis so the client receives a discount off of retail pricing.  It is also important to note, designers don't always get great deals on all furnishings.  It depends on their relationship with the particular vendor.  What it comes down to is that to get the best result from using an interior designer, the client must develop a trust relationship.  A foundation of trust produces a wonderful outcome and a very appealing space.