June 2, 2016

I will really miss this house!

As professional designers, we often work very closely with our clients in building or renovating their homes.  We agonize over every  decision for wiring, plumbing, wood trim, flooring, and tile as well as the “pretty” ones with fabric, wallpaper, furniture, and paint,  as if they were our own. These houses become a part of us, and it is hard to tell them goodbye.

I recently had a beloved project in downtown Charleston be put on the market and sold. We had worked on the renovation for over a year. I knew every intimate detail of this house and was involved in almost all of the decisions for it. I frequently got to stay there and enjoy our work. So, the owners and I began the sad process of saying goodbye to the house. One last visit in April, and then my wonderful installers arrived to start the dismantling process.

We’ve packed it all up ready to go to the next house in another city. It will be a year or two as we start another renovation. We will find a place for all of the beloved furniture, artwork and fabrics. Some will change form or move to another place. Some won’t fit in the new house. Maybe it will go to a son or daughter’s house. Life does constantly change.

But I will really miss this house!

April 14, 2016

Books, Built-Ins and Banana Bark

How do you go about giving a room depth, detail, and architectural interest when it’s just a sheet rock box?

Having recently added a keeping room off my kitchen, I had to tackle that dilemma for myself. With the fireplace in my outdoor room  just a small courtyard away, I did not want another one inside. Something needed to be done to anchor the furniture and give the room character.

March 10, 2016

Something Old, Something New

It’s not often something new comes along that solves a problem that’s a recurring issue with many clients. But like most “new” ideas, it’s really just a twist on something that’s been around a long time. The problem? What should I put at my kitchen sink to save my floors and my back?