Mood Boards: A Thesis Statement For Design

As I meet with a client for the first time and have them walk me through their space, we discuss what they love and hate about everything that is existing in their current home. We talk about their style and aesthetic and their design "dreams"... and then we talk about the best way to achieve those dreams while considering all that is practical and functional in their every day life.

I always encourage clients to gather photos of things they love, whether that be a fabulous pair of shoes, a photograph of the ocean, or a magazine interior that they've had saved for years. Being the visual person that I am, I'm always surprised and a little impressed with myself when the things they show me illustrate the style that I was already picturing for them in my head. To me this means that I'm becoming more in tune with people and understanding my clients better, and in turn, becoming a better designer.

To put my understanding to the test I create a mood board for my clients before I shop for any fabric, draft any floor plans, or specify any furniture. It's something that I haven't always done, but have found it to be an important part of the design process and the perfect first step before embarking on the sometimes long journey that is designing a home.

A mood board is meant to create a feeling and set the tone for the project as a whole. It can be added to or taken away from as the process goes along, but I have found it to be an important step in the beginning for a few reasons; it let's the client know that I understand them and the direction that they want to go, and it also provides a visual guide for the overall design concept.

I love mixing and matching, but that can also leave room to get off track and lose site of our aesthetic. The mood board acts as a thesis statement and as long as everything going in to the space references a color, pattern, texture, style, or feeling of the thesis statement, the home will have purpose and cohesion without being too contrived.

photos from Peter Dunham, Schylar Sampterton, Tabarak Studio 

Did ya hear?

I'm so excited to announce my 2nd One Kings Lane Tastemaker Tag Sale! I've spent the last 7 months, curating this collection; gathering one-of-a kind vintage finds to try and make this sale even better than the last. I'll have a lot more product this time around and a wider variety of things for sale; ranging from upholstery, to case goods, to unique table top items and wall decor. 

A lot goes in to prepping for the sale and last Thursday and Friday were full days of photographing each individual item including many extra detail shots. It takes a team of about 4 people to shoot, record, measure, and weigh 100 items per day. Above are some of my Instagram photos from the shoot. We had a blast and it got me even more excited for the sale. 

Be sure to mark your calendar for June 1, 2012 at 8:00 am PST to have first dibs on discounted items at my One Kings Lane Tastemaker tag sale. Registering is quick and easy, just visit onekingslane.com here.

Finished Project: Newport Beach Kitchen

If I have any faithful readers they may remember a few posts about a kitchen in the East Bluff neighborhood of Newport Beach that we completely gutted and redesigned (see first post here). We actually completed construction about a year ago, so sharing the finished product has been a long time coming.

Kitchen remodels are quickly climbing the charts as one of my favorite types of projects. There is something about designing one of the most necessary and used rooms in a home that really interests me. It's somewhat like a puzzle and I enjoy the challenge of fitting all of the pieces together to create the most efficient and functional space possible for my client.

After a kitchen is complete and my client tells me that they have a renewed love of cooking, or that their mornings now aren't ever long enough to sit and enjoy their morning cup of tea at the breakfast table, that is when I know that the design was truly successful.

The Scoop:

counter: CaesarStone

backsplash: beveled edge brick, calacatta gold marble

stools: Ballard Designs

dining table and banquet: custom

pillows and drapery: custom

art: antique egg prints via my trip to London and eBay

framing: hand-painted in a silver metallic with a touch of bronze by yours truly

cabinetry: custom built and installed by Artisan Builders, adobe style doors

hardware: Restoration Hardware

pendant lights: Restoration Hardware

drum shaded chandelier: Visual Comfort

photography: Stacey Sutherland

The Design Process

Even though I've been in the interior design industry for 8 years, I'm still incredibly interested in other designers' processes; how they begin a room design and how to they put a presentation together for a client. Because it interests me so much, I thought maybe it would interest some of you as well.

I am working with a few really great clients right now, one of which is furnishing an entire home in Newport Beach with some minor construction throughout. We had our first presentation this week, so I thought it would be fun to share those images along with a step by step of how my design process works.

Initial Meeting
The process always begins with a phone call or email where we discuss the general parameters of the project and set up our initial meeting that will take place at the job site. The first meeting is where the client and I have a chance to meet in person and essentially decide if we like each other enough to embark on the intimate journey that is designing someone's home. Some clients will hire me solely based off my portfolio, others are looking for a friendship type connection, and every client is different.

At this initial meeting I encourage the potential client to pull photos of things that inspire them or that they are drawn to. This could be anything from interiors, art, fashion, etc. We also walk through the space as they tell me how they live and what their functional needs are as a family. This is really where I begin my assessment of how my potential client uses their home. We talk about everything from their work schedule, to how they like to entertain, to when they anticipate having children, to how many nights a week they eat in or out. Are they casual or formal? Are they introverted or extroverted? Are they big TV people or are they more interested in a cozy reading corner with great lighting?

The Agreement
After our first meeting, I type up a design agreement to be signed by the client and myself. It states the scope of work and my design fee. (A note about my design fee: Small consulting jobs are generally billed at an hourly rate and we work off of a retainer. Complete room or house design is billed at a flat rate based off of the square footage of the project.) If the client decides that they want to work with me, they sign the agreement, submit the deposit, and we're off and running.

Client/Designer Meet up #2
A second meet up with the client is usually required where we set the schedule for the job and I can take photos, collect existing floor plans, or take my own measurements to work from. We decide what areas we will address first and we discuss any additional information that we didn't address at the first meeting.

Achieving a Design Direction
Now it's time to design! After taking what the client has told and shown to me, I look for that one thing that will act as the guide for the design. That one thing can be a photo of a room, a piece of art, or a swatch of fabric. Usually that one thing leads to a whole bunch of other things that begin to make up the design of the room. It's a process that evolves over the course of the next couple of weeks. I carry these pieces of fabric, wood samples, and photos around with  me everywhere, frequently staring at them for long periods of time to make sure I feel good about the design direction.

Furniture Space Plan
During this preliminary design phase, I also start working on the space plan (furniture layout). I usually do this in one sitting and create 2 or 3 options for each space. The space plan is crucial to determine what size of furniture pieces and how many are needed for the room. At this point I have a general idea of the style of furniture I want to incorporate, but I can't select the exact pieces until I know what size I'm looking for. You would be surprised at the difference 2" can make when I protrudes into a walk-way.

**Things that make a successful space plan**
-creates great conversation areas
-there is a focal point
-there is ease of access from one side of the room to the other
-the size of furniture is appropriate for the purpose of the room (deeper sofa in the TV      
        viewing room, daintier furniture frames in more formal spaces)
-the amount of furniture and its spacing fits the personality of the client and their lifestyle
        (minimalists = more open space with less accent furniture; collectors = cozier
        furniture layouts and more accent chairs, tables, and shelving)


Paring Down
To select furniture I do a combination of online shopping and showroom visits, while fabric shopping is done solely at the fabric showrooms. I have to see and feel the fabric in person to know if it will work. When all is said and done, I generally have way too many furniture, lighting, and fabric options. All of it goes well together, there is just too much of it. Clients are looking to me to give them the best design selections, not overwhelm them with 100 different options. The week before our first presentation is the time to pare down the options and start putting together the presentation board.

Presentation Board
I always put my presentations together on a cork board with push pins. If a client hates a red print that I have selected, the last thing I want is for it to be glued permanently in place. I need the ability to pin new options up, take existing options down, and swap the sofa and ottoman fabric. The items that I start with on the board are my top choices; the design that I 100% endorse and love. We start with that and then review additional options from my bag of tricks depending on how the client responds. For every selection; furniture,  fabric, and lighting, I will have at least 2 additional options to show my client.

Renderings
A colored rendering of the space plan is an absolute must when presenting a room design for the first time. Clients need to see how everything is laid out, how it flows, and get an idea of where color and pattern will be in the room. I will also include quick sketches with color (above) of certain areas of the room or wall elevations if I feel like it will help the client visualize the space better.

Feel free to check out my Pinterest board that I discussed in a previous post here, where you can see my design  journey and all of the additional selections that didn't quite make the final cut for the presentation.

Getting There

After finally getting over my sofa fabric debacle, my living room is starting to take shape, although we have a long way to go yet. When redoing vintage pieces, I always end up making my own modifications to make them more modern. I think with classic or designer vintage pieces, it's better just to leave as is, but if it's just a middle of the road sofa from 1970, why not do a few extra nips and tucks while it's already under the knife for re-upholstery?

My modifications to the sofa were: 

*New wood finish. The previous color was very orangy (not shown), typical of 70's furnishings.

*No more tufting. It could have stayed, but I just didn't like it for my vision of the room.

*You can't really see from the photo above, but there were wood pieces lining the top edges of the sides. It was about as weird as it sounds, so I had them shaved down and covered with fabric. 

*The sofa originally had 3 seat cushions and I made the decision to make a brand new bench cushion that was feather wrapped for extra comfort. It was a little extra money to scrap the foam in the old cushions and have a new cushion made, but it was worth it. Now the seat cushion is more uniform with the solid back, and it has that rumpled cozy look that you only get from a down-fill bench seat. I love that. 

We're getting there! At least we have seating and a couple pieces of art on the wall, and it's amazing what a bundle of blossoms will do for an unfinished room.

So far...

1. Jute rugs are more comfortable than sisal and work in just about any room. I randomly found this one for $89. Finding super deals like that frees up some of my budget to spend on more expensive upholstery fabric.

2. Santa Monica has the best farmer's market. Room changing blossoms for $6.

3. Covering my existing pillow fills with some fun patterns will really help bring the room to life. That is on my "to do" list right after drapery.

4. That mirror might be my best and most favorite thrift store find to date - it's big, made out of the perfect cream color rattan, and only cost me $8.

5. My coffee table is the first real piece furniture (that wasn't from Ikea) that I ever bought as an adult. I've had it for years, waiting for the appropriate time to put it to good use.

A Quick Little Teen Makeover

I've been working with the cutest family in Newport Beach on a quick little makeover project for the teenage girls' bedrooms. It was a quick face-lift and my client didn't want to spend a lot of money. The goal was to pick new paint, use what the girls already had, and pull the room together with accessories.

These before and afters aren't earth shattering by any means. Especially since my iPhone was recently stolen and all of the photos taken before rearranging furniture and painting the walls are lost (apparently I wasn't using "the cloud" correctly). But I still wanted to share the process to demonstrate what a few inexpensive accessories and fresh flowers can do to pull a room together.

This particular daughter is an artist, and a very good one at that! Her artwork that we hung beside the bed guided the color palette for selecting accent pillows, a side chair, and a fun little ottoman.

Lamps, mirrors, and pillows can be found and your local Target or HomeGoods and they're really all you need to spruce up a stale space on a tight budget.

Bulletin boards are great wall art for teen rooms. They're inexpensive and take up a lot of space and are a great place for them to hang photos and notes from friends. The cork also also adds a warmer neutral that balances out all of the white furniture. 

This particular bed has a trundle underneath; a must-have for a proper slumber party (shout out to my best friend Kelli Bravo for always having a comfy trundle for me to sleep on in elementary school). Originally there wasn't anything to the left of the bed because it would block the path of the trundle bed. It didn't make sense to me to have an off balance bed 99% of the time to accommodate the 1% of time when the trundle would be used. My solution was an inexpensive light weight pedestal table that: 1. creates balance 2. adds a little color and 3. is easy to move when necessary.

Two lamps aren't necessary to frame a twin bed, and a lamp would have been cumbersome on the small table anyway. However, fresh flowers are always necessary.

A note about the navy blue lobster and seahorse art to the left: Selecting appropriate teen artwork is to walk a very fine line. I love the youthfulness of her bedding and it's bright floral motif, but going that same direction for artwork would have been too much. Design, even for a quick teen makeover on a budget, is about balance, compromise, and harmony. The lobster and seahorse brought out the small amount of Navy in the bedding, which was a nice contrast to the all of the happier greens and pinks in the room. Also, the subject matter was perfect for a Newport Beach bedroom and at $16.99 each, I really couldn't say no.

This vanity was originally in the other daughter's room, but we brought it in here so that she could have a place to do her make up and so the other bedroom could accommodate a lounge chair. Sometimes it's just about moving around what you already have and putting it in another room or maybe just on a different wall.

The mirror connected to the vanity just wasn't doing it for me. I think the proportion of it wasn't right for the wall or the vanity itself. We detached it and used this as an opportunity to bring in more contrast and texture with a grass reed mirror. 

In the before photo you can see the corner of a white chest at the end of the bed. Again, it was too much white and very boring. I found this small rattan chest in the bathroom section of a HomeGoods. I looked in the furniture section and didn't see anything but leather type ottomans, which was a little too sophisticated for this space. Note: If you need small and interesting storage or shelving for bedrooms or small living spaces...check the bathroom section!

Influencial Designer: Mona Hajj

On the night of February 28th I was cruising around a few different websites to see what was going on in the design scene to mark my calendar for upcoming events that I wanted to attend. My heart sank when I realized that Mona Hajj had been in Los Angeles at Rose Tarlow's showroom that very night and I had missed it. She was speaking about the last decade of her work and discussing before and after photos. I'm sure it was amazing and I can't believe I missed it.

I first took note of Mona's work when she was featured in the June 2006 issue of House Beautiful (shown below), the "Giants of Design" issue. That issue of House Beautiful was really significant for me in that it changed the way that I looked at interiors and what kind of designer I wanted to become. It really opened my eyes to the kind of amazing rooms that designers were creating. I hadn't started my own business yet, but it's quite possible that that single issue was the start of it all.

Mona Hajj has a traditional aesthetic, but you'll notice that all of her interiors still have a contemporary feel to them, which I love. I think walking that fine line between traditional and current is a really difficult thing to accomplish, but she does it with such grace and perfection. She creates warm, timeless interiors, that are free from the latest trends and ubiquitous geometric fabric patterns.

Mona, next time you come to town to speak, I'll be there in the front row.

On every monthly calendar I make room for the Venice Beach flea market. I love its small size and convenience. I've scored some fun treasures there in the past and Saturday was no exception. I have this growing love for hand-made, imperfect ceramics, so those two little pots ($2 each) were a perfect addition to my growing collection. 

I was torn about the lamp, it's kind of rusty and looks super granny, but the more I look at it, in all it's shadeless glory sitting on my desk, the more I like it. I need to do a little research on a remedy for rusty brass though.

You can never go wrong with a simple drawing. They fit such a wide variety of interiors. I'm going to have this one re-matted in an off-white, it will give the piece a much cleaner, more contemporary look. I was drawn to the red ink that the artist used and the frame is also really pretty and in great shape.

(side note: The proper color matting makes such an impact on a piece of artwork. To re-mat this particular piece it will be about $10 at a mom and pop frame shop. So worth it.)

Giant brass shells. Enough said. 

I'm gearing up for my second One Kings Lane tastemaker tag sale! It will take place on June 1, 2012. I've been accumulating so much great stuff to sell; this is just a little snipit and I'll continue to share little glimpses up until the time of the sale. However, the line between collecting for One Kings Lane and collecting for my new aparment has become very blurred. Now that I'm accessorizing with some of my One Kings Lane inventory, I'm going to have a harder time parting with it. It's a problem.

Me? Indecisive?

I seem to have run into a little problem while attempting to make design decisions for my new apartment. When I design for clients they give me a jumping off point, whether it's a specific style they like, or certain colors that they can and can't live with. When designing for myself, my jumping off point is...anything I've ever seen and loved, and that is not a short list. I've purposely exposed myself and opened my heart and mind to all types of styles and all color palettes so that I can be the best designer possible for my clients. But when it comes to designing for myself that just means one thing, I can't make up my mind. 

So when it came time to select a sofa fabric, I scowered the fabric district in downtown LA and all of the fabric outlets I know of in Orange County and finally settled on a lovely brown linen. It was a pretty, mocha/gray/brown, but it was still brown. When I came to my senses I called up my best design friend Nathan and asked him why, why out of all the amazing colors out there, when I could finally pick anything I want, I chose brown? We came up with one main reason: I love too many colors, so brown was an escape from having to choose among them and commit to just one. (This sounds like a metaphor for my love life, and let me tell ya...that aint a pretty situation). 

Every time I see a pink sofa in a room my heart skips a beat. (Yes, I realize it's just a piece of furniture.) And pink is probably my favorite color if I absolutely had to choose. So when I abandoned the brown linen, I kept trying to visualize my home with a pink sofa. I love the photo above from Lonny Magazine. It uses pink but in a setting that's not too frilly or girly and feels very "me". The problem I ran in to when I thought about having a pink sofa, was that my coffee table (that I purchased long ago) is white and I have a lot of vintage blue/green bottles and jars that I'll be using to accessorize, and the thought of pink, white, and bluish green felt too feminine for what I wanted my home to be. 

images left, right

Windsor Smith (interiors shown above), a designer who I admire so much, uses this color palate often. I love her interiors, but yes, the ones with this color combo do have a very feminine feel. I love to look at these interiors and it would be so fun to design something like this for a client, but in the end it didn't entirely feel like it fit my personality.

So what did I finally decide on?

...brown's hipper, more sophisticated cousin, gray. I know, super exciting right? In the end, it just made the most sense with the other pieces of furniture that I already own. If I was starting completely from scratch, things might be a little different, but my poor friend Carly has been looking at this for two weeks...

So it was time to make a decision so that we have a place to sit. I'll probably still infuse pink in to the room with pillows and flowers, but it won't be so obvious. And I'm going to continue with the blue/green and use that for drapery. Here's a little break down of what I have so far...

As I was doing this on my own, I started to realize that this is one of the reasons why people with a good design sense still sometimes hire a designer. Sometimes it's helpful to have someone to bounce ideas off of and give a second opinion, and in the end help you pull the trigger on a sofa fabric. 

A Rock Collection

Sometimes I collect things, and sometimes I just buy a collection of things. Yesterday, I bought a collection of rocks (see photo above). It wasn't planned and I'm not sure what came over me to make me purchase 50 rocks, but I did. I think part of it might have to do with the fact that I need more than just photos of pretty interiors as inspiration. The Internet has a way of making something so accessible and everywhere that it's not special anymore, such as photos of beautiful and interesting interiors. Back in the day (5 or so years ago?) I would get so excited to find a new, cool site featuring interiors of all different styles. Now I go days without looking at photos online because if I do it too often they all start to look the same, and the novelty of the experience wore off long ago.

I still get incredibly giddy when my design magazines come in the mail. It was the first thing I remembered to change my address for when I moved. The features in Veranda, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, etc., and their every 6 weeks delivery date are still special to me, and I still pick apart those rooms and analyze every detail and read every word, while photos on the Internet have become something that I scroll through at warped speeds just to try and get through it all.

Back to the rocks. I think when I got bored of looking at interior photos I started to seek inspiration elsewhere. I feel that is such an important thing for a designer, so I really have the fire-hose that is the Internet to thank. I started visiting more museums and my interest in all kinds of art increased. I started traveling more and taking inspiration from the architecture, fashion, and lifestyle of each place I visit. And I've started to find inspiration in the smallest forms and look at everything with a new and more scrutinizing eye.

So when I saw a giant table at the Goldenwest Swap meet yesterday, full of rocks, I had to stop. Color, shape, texture, form...these little guys had it all and I was instantly inspired. I spent a a good chunk of time curating my collection from the massive pile, and just like that...I became a rock collector.

I like the idea of putting the rocks on display. They need to be seen from all sides to be fully appreciated. I might actually frame a few groupings, but I also want to use a brass leaded glass box to display them on my bookcase or coffee table. These vintage models are so much less expensive than modern day versions. These were in the $20 range found here and here on Etsy.

Dining Room Chairs

I had seen these chairs around and always loved the eiffel base. While I like to keep my interiors, especially my own personal space, interesting and unique, I decided I didn't care if the "Danish modern table with the white plastic modern chairs" was completely overdone - it's a great look that I love, so I did it anyway. Not to mention that those chairs are a steal. I purchased them from this eBay seller.

We now have a place to eat, which, let's be honest, is the most important thing. My little dining room still needs artwork and window treatments, and possibly a rug, so there will be more posts to follow. On that wall behind my table that is shown in the photo at top, I've decided that I want to do an oversized custom bulletin board like my good friend Thomas O'Brien. He did a complete post about it here, (photos shown directly above). I love collecting and displaying ideas, which is why I keep this blog, and I've mentioned before that I have always kept bulletin boards around. But I think putting a giant one in the dining area for all to see will really make it a piece of interesting art that I can and will add to over time.

Refinishing a Dining Table

A few months ago I purchased a set of mid-century dining chairs from the flea market that had really great style, but needed some major TLC. The chairs came with a table and when I first saw it the legs were detached and it was in super shabby condition, not to mention that there were a bunch of what looked like old dental tools scattered on top of it, which sort of grossed me out. I didn't really want the table, I was really only in it for the chairs, but I begrudgingly hauled it to my car anyway.

I need a lot of furniture for my new apartment and naturally I'm on a budget. The dining chairs that I thought would work in my new space ended up being too big and I didn't want to over crowd the dining area because it is the only pathway to the kitchen. Then I got to thinking about that crusty old legless table and I thought....this is so crazy, it just might work.

Crazy for a couple of reasons. 1. The table needed a major overhaul (I apologize for not taking a before picture, apparently I was just super anxious to give it a make over that I forgot.) and 2. I am sort of anti DIY. I think in theory DIY projects are great, and if you have the time, talent, and patience to pull it off...more power to you. But I am not one of those people. I want things done right, especially when it comes to furniture, and I know my limitations. Nothing I do would ever come close to the beauty and precision I get when I take something to my upholstery shop to my wood finisher.

But with this ratty old table, I decided to give it a go just to see if I could do it. Of course I would need the help of my father, who is basically good at everything and also a licensed general contractor (although he had only refinished one other table before), and a step by step tutorial that I found online here. I skipped the first few steps and went straight to the sanding because our original surface was already pretty weathered and stripped. Then we stained and added 3 coats of clear finish. I let it dry for a day or 2 and then moved her in to my new place!

I was pleasantly surprised with how well it turned out. It's not perfect and the stain is a little splotchy in areas, but I think it's the kind of thing that only I would notice. My new, smaller scaled chairs should be arriving this week. And with that, my dining area is one step closer to accommodating dinner guests.

Today on Craigslist

People have told me that I have an eye for seeing diamonds in the ruff when it comes to home furnishings. I don't think that I've always had that knack, it's definitely something that I've developed over the years of observing good design. I shop on Craigslist, eBay, thrift stores, and flea markets regularly, but my treasure hunting has sort of been on overdrive now that I'm trying to furnish my new place.

I'm entertaining the thought of getting a new vanity to give me a little more storage and counter space in my little bathroom. I came across this beauty in my search. It's a little too big to fit into my space so one of you should snatch it up. Straight out of Whittier California, it is made of an antique side board and fitted with a carerra marble top and Kohler sink. At $1200 (and it's Craigslist so you can most definitely haggle for a little better price) you can't go wrong. I can't tell you how much more character this will add to your bathroom than something like this that is more expensive. And check out the same look from Restoration Hardware for double the price.

Snag it here.

Unpacking

I've decided that unpacking is significantly more fun than packing. Something about a clean slate and a fresh start and the chance to purge excess stuff that has been weighing you down for, in my case, 8 years. I only took things with me to my new apartment that I really love and need. Everything else was given away to friends and neighbors or hauled away to Goodwill in one of my 5 different drop offs. 

I spent a good 2 hours putting my dishes into their proper place in my cupboards, mostly because I kept stopping to stare in amazement at how neat and organized everything was. (I'd show you a photo of the cupboards at my last home, but you would most definitely think less of me.)

My sister asked me to text her photos of my unpacking progress so these are 2 of the photos I took with my phone, all featuring things that I love and most definitely can't live without: vintage goblets and glasses, everyday glasses, cute serving bowls, industrial mixing bowls, my moccasins, and about 1/4 of my design magazine collection. 

Influencial Designer / Tim Clarke

If I was giving advice to someone trying to find their way in the interior design profession (not that I'm an expert), one thing I would suggest, that I didn't do and sort of regret, is to work for a designer that you really admire. There are so many designers out there that create such beautiful interiors, each with their own unique take on design. I got a little over-anxious to start my own business shortly after graduating from design school and didn't take the opportunity to intern or assist for one of my favorite designers. To make up for it I devour design magazines, books, and designers' online portfolios and analyze every detail. I note everything from the color palette to textures and finishes, to furniture styles and layout, to the overall feel of the space.

I can honestly learn something new from every designer, even if I don't relate to their personal style, but there are a few who stand out that I constantly go back to for inspiration. I want to highlight those who have been the most influential for me here on my blog.

Today I wanted to share a few interiors by Tim Clarke, a Santa Monica based designer. His interiors are so pretty - I just don't know how else to describe them. They are put together so well and his palettes are always so soothing, but his spaces are never boring. His rooms seem to always have a comfortable beachy feel, which is so applicable to me since so many of my clients' homes are along the coasts of Southern California.

interiors by Tim Clarke

I'm moving to a new apartment and couldn't be more excited at the thought of decorating my new home. My last place had fairly bold painted walls in both the main living area and in my bedroom. It was fun while it lasted but I'm ready for something completely different. My new abode was freshly painted white right before I moved in, and instead of busting out the paint deck... I'm embracing my bright and clean canvas.

I have BIG plans for these white walls. BIG I'm telling you. I almost can't sleep at night because I'm thinking about all of the wonderful things that I'm going to do with them. I've always been more of a product rather than a process kind of person. Don't get me wrong, I love the design process, but absolutely nothing beats an installation day when I get to see a room all come together. 

So yes, I am very anxious to have my apartment fully decorated, down to the vase of flowers on the coffee table (seriously, I can't sleep over this stuff), but I'm not going to make any hasty design decisions just because I can't wait to see the finished product. A lot of thought and time is going to go into what frame to put on what piece of artwork and where to hang it. Do I hang my oil seascape that I snagged at the flea market for $20, solo above my vintage sofa? Or do I hang it in a grouping? And is that grouping an organized grid? Or a mis-mash pattern that makes it look like I didn't think about the placement at all (when really, once again, I stayed up many a sleepless night thinking about it)? 

My blog is having an identity crisis, hence the lack of posting as of late. After attending the Alt blogger conference for designers in mid-January (won a free ticket!), I learned a ton about blogging, but perhaps the most important thing that I learned is that I'm not a blogger. I'm a designer. I like to write, and I like to collect and share my thoughts about design in a blogging format, and I especially love when that leads to an increase in design business, but I'm not a blogger; I'm a designer who blogs. I thought for a second that I was a blogger, or that I wanted to be, but I don't. I am, however, really really excited to have a place to share with you my design projects and my latest obsession of my new white walls. 

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Master Bedroom

The highlight of my week was completing this master bedroom install for one of my clients in Orange County. They aren't really the type to pick out that Navajo print used for their bed cover on their own, but that's what they have me for! They love neutrals and soothing tones, but I encouraged them to add in this one punch of color and pattern to give the room a little personality.

I love love love accessories. These small details can make or break a room. When I do an install and my client sees the room before it is properly accessorized, they are often underwhelmed. No matter how beautiful and expensive the upholstery is, or how exotic the wood on the coffee table may be...without interesting artwork and thoughtful accessories, the space feels sterile and unfinished. My number one favorite accessory if you couldn't tell from the photos above...books. My motto has become, "When in doubt, stack up some books."

I suppose my love of bookcases is probably a result of my love of books. They are such amazing avenues to display collections of anything. Built-in, leaning, open, wood, metal, you name it, I'm all about bookcases. 

I have the best clients. I love collaborating with them on their homes and designing rooms that neither of us would have come up with on our own.

Let's Build a Room / 01

2012 is (hopefully) going to be full of getting back to basics. There's something about putting a room together that puts a huge smile on my face. And as it is my profession, as well as my passion, I'm going to stay more focused on developing myself as a designer and sharing this growth with you throughout the year.

Soon I will be sharing with you some of my favorite projects that I completed in 2011, but I'm also going to start putting virtual rooms together specifically for my design journal. Here is the first installment: a room inspired by the artwork of Greek artist Konstantin Kakanias found here.

Lately I've been interested in single rooms that serve mutliple purposes, such as: a family room with a craft corner or game table, an office with a space for client meetings, or in this case a living room with a small work area. Learning how to find pieces that work together to create these multi-functional spaces is especially important for those of us living in smaller spaces, such as studio apartments, or a home with only one living space.

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My Definition of Classic

There are certain things that were never in style, contrary to popular belief (Lay-Z-Boy recliners, carpeted living rooms, those miniature backpacks circa 1995).  Then there are other things that are super cool one minute, and then so out of date the next (gray stained wood flooring, glass back splash tile, perms, anything from Z Gallerie). And lastly, there are things that were fabulous 50 plus years ago that are still just as fabulous today (marble, Mid-Century design, exposed cabinet hinges, chesterfield sofas, painted and non-painted brick) . As an interior designer, I feel like it is my responsibility to know the difference when specifying furnishings for my clients. While it's okay to add a little bit of trendy here and there, I like to keep it to things that can easily and inexpensively be swapped out if that fad fades in the next year or so (e.g. pillows, table top accessories, accent tables and chairs). I try to specify classic elements for the main pieces in a space to keep the look sophisticated and just a little bit timeless.

Every time I see a photo of Hans Wegner's wishbone chair (designed in 1944) I always think about how classic it looks. Definitely a chair that will never go out of style; it fits perfectly into any modern setting, or throw it in to a traditional space to mix things up.

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Holiday Style / No. 2

felt ornaments / stocking / cards / outfit / door / ornaments / nativity