Interior Design Ideas

Interior Design Ideas to Set The Dining Table

September 26, 2009

I’ve been AWOL for the last several weeks, with house guests and dinner parties trumping my time.  These were not paper plate dinner parties, but rather, they  required me to roll out a dozen place settings and all the accompanying bar ware, glass ware and silverware too.  Not to mention tables and chairs.  With the indoor entertaining season approaching I thought it would be a fine time for a look at table settings.

Ralph Lauren Home

One table or two?  My dining table seats 8 comfortably, 10 if we’re cozy and for 12 people I have to add a drop leaf table, which by fortunate coincidence is the same width and height as my main dining table.  Sometimes I have set these tables separately, but cannot shake the belief that whoever fills out the smaller table, feels that he is relegated to the “kid’s table”.  So instead, I think it is better to have the tables pieced together,  even when one tablecloth won’t cover both.  Hence, matched sets of table cloths….and I need more of these….where one covers the longer table and the other the smaller drop leaf table.

 Then there is the issue of glasses.   I am old enough to have broken dozens of glasses over the years, and have learned two things on the way.  1.  Buy 2 more that you think you’ll need in any set.  I have 11 favorite, inexpensive citron colored water glasses, (yes, I did have 12)  and couldn’t use them last week.  Especially when they are $6. a piece from a place like World Imports where you may never find them again.  and 2.  I’ve found that my guests are more comfortable with  inexpensive glasses, and they go into the dishwasher which is a bonus for me.

wine glasses from Crate and Barrel

Silverware is different in that I appreciate a weighty piece in my hand.   I was fortunate to inherit  2 sets of the same pattern from two different relatives. (it was smart of them, because they could combine sets for special occasions back when they were entertaining)   I use and hand wash my silver place settings whenever I need a large number of matching pieces. 

 I love dishes and if I had the space would have many more sets.  We all have our own taste in color and pattern, but a large number of white dinner plates will always be handy.  In fact I have several patterns of white glazed pottery, picked up along the way.   When stacked for a buffet, they work happily together, and I can accommodate different sized appetites with various sized plates. 

White Porcelain Dinnerware, Sur La Table

Martha Stewart's white dishes, Martha Stewart. com

 Our modern dishes have grown in diameter so that now they look like chargers!  If you check out antique sets of China you will see how plate diameter has gradually increased over the years.  Have you ever wondered why china frequently has a gold or silver rim?  Back in the days before electricity, the metal rims caught the smallest bit of candlelight to reveal the edge of the plate, for diners eating in near darkness. 

Saphire sophisticate dinnerware, Lennox

 Having disposed of sets of china on E Bay and through dealers, I will say that careful searching on the auction sites can turn up some wonderful buys right now.  Replacements Ltd. is an expensive but convenient source for replacing those broken pieces.   In the long run it is far cheaper and greener to maintain complete sets.

 So with all these pieces I love to mix them up.  I change around the napkins and tablecloths and flower arrangements.  I have a growing collection of small pairs of pots or vases in which I can craft several smaller arrangements for the table.  This is especially necessary when the table is long and laden with serving platters, and when guests want to be able to see one another over the  flower arrangement.  And smaller compositions are faster and simpler for the inexperienced flower designer.

So without more comment, here are some great pics to give you some ideas.  The holidays will be here before you know it.

Dining in the Kitchen with Tory Burch, House Beautiful

Martha Stewart's summer house in Maine

interior designer Charlotte Moss designs tableware too, House Beautiful

Ina Garten sets a simple table, House Beautiful

interior designer Douglas Wittels, Architectural Digest

incorporating a Majolica collection, House Beautiful

a beachside table, designer Judi Roaman in house Beautiful

Thanksgiving Table, Martha Stewart . Com

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Getting “A” Quality Service from the SubContractor

September 9, 2009

…when you’re their B quality customer.   I know my place on the hierarchy of interior construction returned calls.  I’m after the general contractors and before the homeowners.  Actually  Realtors are above the homeowners but below the designers.    You may feel smug thinking you are higher on this list, but the recession has favored anyone who calls with a specific job, a short turn around and cash being paid at least weekly.

Flickr electrician

When building construction picks up again,  it will roar to life, and the great electricians, plumbers and painting contractors will be back picking and choosing whom they will call back for work.  Actually the great ones have stayed busy enough to still schedule in some hunting and fishing trips by working with their “A” list customers whenever possible.  My reputation over the years has depended on these relationships, some of which have lasted 20 years.  When I need to call in a favor because a real estate settlement is imminent or a client’s family from overseas is arriving for a long visit, well, those deadlines are real.

Flickr wood floor installer

So how do I get subcontractors to take my business seriously?   Here is a list of ideas to keep these workers happy and committed to your project.

1.  Pay them on time.  This is especially important now with banks imposing holds on your checks, and so many of their workers living in a hand to mouth situation.  When they finish a job, I try my best to visit the site, to walk through the project, confirm that it was done to my satisfaction, and pay them on the spot.  Many bill me from their office, and I pay the invoices right away.

Flickr check writing

2.  Give the most accurate description possible of the scope of your project. Vacillating about a tile selection or a paint color can create havoc with their schedule.  Trying to get the subs to do unexpected extra work while they are on the job drives them nuts.  Many homeowners like to vet the the subs before committing to what is their real project.  They then use the line, “Well while you’re here could you also…” and try to spring it on them, erroneously believing that additional work is worthy of a volume discount.   The contractor is left trying to make the customer happy while sticking to his schedule.   It is less expensive to sort these things out on your time not theirs.

3.  Be absolutely specific about who is buying which product, and about any supporting equipment needed to complete the job.  Are you, the homeowner, buying that light fixture from Home Depot?  If so, make sure that the parts are all there when the electrician shows up.  Or, as a fallback, be available to assist in getting a replacement when something you bought is defective.  It goes without saying that I  open the boxes of blinds, faucets or anything I’m responsible for, before the installers arrive.  I have saved many needless trips this way.  And they are so grateful.

4.  Whenever possible I stay available to make the on site decisions for field conditions which aren’t what we expect.  Extra furring around the fireplace right where we wanted a wall washer?  Without delay I decide where to place it instead.  In fact, usually I go over the optimal installation instructions, and have a back up scenario planned before I leave the project.  Are three coats needed to cover the yellow paint instead of two?  It is cheaper to prepare for that than have this news become apparent at 2:30 on a Friday afternoon, thus insuring that the painter has to return another day, or another week to finish.  I also take product out of boxes, sweep floors, hand them materials while they are up on the ladder, whenever possible.  If the project isn’t going to take long,  it is easier for me to speed them up in this way and they see that I’m willing to get my hands dirty in the process.  I’d have to go back to check the job anyway and these courtesies are invaluable when I need favors from them.

5.  If you know the subs well, and you know their pricing policies, go along with letting them charge you on a time plus materials basis.  When you hold them to a fixed amount they usually have to overshoot the price and take the time to prepare the estimate too.  Your call, but when you know these guys it saves you money.  Which leads in to item #6

6.  I use my favorite subs whenever possible and do not second guess their estimates unless I suspect an inordinate amount of price creep in their proposals.  Then I talk to them about the price if  I have concerns.  It costs  time and gas to be a customers “spoiler bid.”   You know, the contractor you’re not going to hire but feel compelled to call out to your project for the third estimate.  They know that I respect their time as being valuable, and this ultimately saves time and money for my clients.

7.  I don’t give them fake deadlines or emergencies just to get the work finished faster.   Crying wolf wears thin and I want them to pull out all stops when the emergency is a real one.

Flickr, "Thank you for a job well done"

So there it is.  I value and respect my subcontractors and they me.  I give them enough repeat business that they can count on me.   I try my absolute best to nail down decisions before they show up to work, and I pay them ASAP.     And over the years these coworkers been an unexpected source of new design & real estate clients.

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Posted in: General, Tradesmen and Sources | 1 Comment »

Interior Design Ideas for The Beach House

September 5, 2009

The kids are back at school and Labor Day is late, so I’m still trying to squeeze more summer out of the calendar.  Here are my favorite beach house photos to close out the season.  Happy and safe holiday…

easy dining, Coastal Living

Malibu beach house, Architectural Digest

Southern Living 2009 Idea House

attic bedroom, Coastal Living

Guest House Kitchen in S. Carolina, Veranda

Sunburst Mirror, All Driftwood Furniture

Thrift Store Finds, Flickr

bunking in under the eaves, Coastal Living

cork covered chairs, designer Cisco Pineto, Sunset Magazine

colorful in Coronado, Flickr

Bathroom redo, Flickr

clam shells and some glue, Flickr

And who doesn’t love an outdoor shower after a day in the sun.

outdoor shower, Coastal Living

and outdoor bathtub, Coastal Living

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The Woodworker’s Art

August 28, 2009

The more mass produced our homes, furnishings, electronics and wardrobes become, the greater the appeal of hand crafted products as a tie to our natural world.  Just as the Art Nouveau movement followed the Industrial Revolution, we need that man made or nature made touch to humanize our environment today.   I’ve been collecting these images as inspiration  to add a one of a kind piece into your interior designs.  And if you are inclined to pursue woodworking as your avocation, then these pieces may become the wellspring of  ideas for future designs.

wood divider by Jerome Abel Seguin, available through Ralph Pucci

designer Takeshi Miyakawa, BKLYN Design Show

Woodworker's Art, Architectural Digest

maple stool by Akiko Yokoyma, Architectural Digest

The two pieces shown above were created by students at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship,  Rockport, Maine.   The Center appears to be like “woodworking camp”  for those who want to take their craft to the highest level.

The following pieces are produced by artisans who are members of the American Crafts Council, and who exhibited at their 2009  Baltimore show in February.  This juried show attracts the best representatives of various crafts and runs every year for several days, first open to wholesale buyers and then to the general public.

American Crafts Council

American Crafts Council

American Crafts Council

American Crafts Council

Working in reclaimed, or at least readily renewable wood is a common theme….

artist Carl Woodland, All Driftwood Furniture

BKLYN Design Show, Inhabits site

You have to wade through a lot of items on Etsy but occasionally there is an unusual idea there…

Michaelarras offers a do it yourself table kit, Etsy

a little, paint and elbow grease and Voila

Hangilier lampshade by Organelle, Etsy

And if there is such a thing as mass produced, one of a kind wooden tables, well Pottery Barn sells them too.

Rustic Wood Accent Tables, Pottery Barn

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Posted in: Furniture, General | Comments Off

Ideas for Incorporating a Roof Window in Interior Design

August 25, 2009

One of the coolest features of my California house is a skylight positioned over my shower.    Abundant sunlight fills the shower stall all day, and it could only have been possibly improved  with some hidden cove lighting to offset the black night sky.  It truly is the designer’s, builder’s, architect’s job to imagine the implication of their built out concept in all seasons and hours.  But perhaps I’m making this too complex.    Here are some installations to give you an idea of what might be possible…..

perhaps this is better described as a "sky ceiling", Architectural Digest

I hope some structural engineers are out there somewhere, thinking up ways to build solar collectors into roof trusses such as these, so that the ceiling can generate power to run the  air conditioning and offset the heat gain.

Designer Marmol Radziner, Metropolitan Home

One a smaller scale, as a retrofit idea…

Interior Designer Shamir Shah, Metropolitan Home

Before installation, Solatube

Solatube installed in the same hallway

a kitchen renovation, Flickr

and maybe you can squeeze some space from your attic…

Balcony Roof Windows, Velux

and even your porch can benefit from the extra light.

snow on the skylights, Flickr

I know  you’re thinking that all of these contemporary rooms look great but you have a traditional home.  One of my clients centered a  square skylight over the dining table in her rambler.  She surface mounted two half round windows with shirred sheer fabric, to cover the shaft.  A chandelier was mounted in the center of them for an evening light source.  It was  sort of like this window mounted on the ceiling as a medallion.

Duette Shades in a Circle Window, Hunter Douglas

So get out your sketch book because even Thomas Jefferson had a roof window in his bedroom.

Jefferson's Bed Chamber had one of the 13 sky lights he installed in Monticello, Monticello.org

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Posted in: Design Trends, General | 3 Comments »