Where in the helicopter have I been...?!?!?

Guuurrrl, I don't even know! Ha!!! LOLOLOL!!! The last few weeks have been a psychedelic blur of all sorts of activities, happenings and so on and so forth (well, minus the charm of any trip-educing party favors- I think I'm missing out... blugh!). From wrapping up my spring semester classes (thank baby Jesus and Mary and all the saints, etc) to Birthday weekends to last minute rush-rush clients, I've been a big'ol crazy mess- YES, much more than usual (and yes, that IS so possible- rude!)! But no, I have not forgotten about you. In fact, right now, I should be dealing with other, supposedly more pressing matters, but I likes to think of myself as a free spirit- you know, bills shmills, I need to chat with my peeps right now! Aaaanywho, I thought you might enjoy a teensy weensy peek into one of my recent/current projects. Now before you skip over me and plow through to the pics, WAIT! Allow me to prepare you for what you are going to be looking at. Uh hem. This is Mrs. C's house. It's a lovely house. It has a very sweet yet still quietly sophisticated quality about it. But Mrs. C wanted to give it a twist. She wanted to infuse religious (I know! Can you imagine?!?! Who would EVER want to include various religious elements into their home?!?! CUH-ray-Zeee!) iconography and other found objects into her current space, and create a more time-gathered, layered effect. Now, these pics show you ONLY PHASE ONE of the project. Next phase will include a different dining table and chairs, and then we'll change out the light fixture over the dining space as well as the sconces over the mantle, and then we'll add a second sofa in place of the arm chairs, and then we'll address finishing touches (ie: small tables, custom pillows, and any other accessories). The reason I wanted to show this to you is two fold. First this project wonderfully illustrates how MOST people (in our area at least) are tackling the challenges of (re)designing their homes. The fact is that MOST of us want to revamp. Yet most of us are not comfortable handing a blank check over to a designer and saying 'call me when your done'. So, MOST people (again, now-a-days and in our area) are doing more gradual work. And really, this is a very smart and very easy option. You move at your own pace but still achieve your ultimate goal. In the case of Mrs. C and her goal of a collected and varied mix of goodies, it works nicely because she is allowed the opportunity to see the mix rise, layer by layer and appreciate each piece as it is installed. Secondly, this particular project is a good opportunity to discuss good vs best! In a nut shell, Mrs. C's place was good... but with a pinch of filthy and a dash of gorgeous, it will be BEST!


This is Mrs. C's living room after it was sprinkled with the glamorousness of FG- duh. Prior to FG, there was a HUGE (and when I say HUGE, I mean, GINORMOUS!) square, ebony-finished wood coffee table between the sofa and chairs with a few chotskies scattered about on top; the side table, between the arm chairs, was empty and the mantle was bare save for a fresco-esque painting hanging on the wall above it. So we added an exquisite mossy-green rug to ground the space and built the rest of the concept from there. Because we are introducing a second sofa (to replace the 2 arm chairs) the coffee table needed to be scaled back and less bulky feeling. By incorporating a mirror topped table, we also added much needed light. The previous, almost Old Hollywood or Regency Glam feel of the space/furnishings was tough to make work with her new direction, BUT not impossible. Anyway, like I said, clearly this is NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT, but it is well on its way.

Yes, the sconces flanking the mirror need to be changed, thank you, I know. And yes, the detail on the mantle itself would be better if it just weren't. And yes, the dog is SOOOO CUTE- her name is Tibey!

Remember, she wanted a very dense, layered look- which can rapidly become cluttered feeling. The key is to be neat where you can (ie: piles/stacks) and to create strict and definitive places for everything. Moving it a millimeter to the right or left? No no no, that just won't do! Once you establish an item's particular home in its landscape- there it must remain.

Antique books with splitting spines and newer, hardcover coffee table books make great textured foundations to build on. Plus they warm up the cool mirror, vintage stone Buddha head and small silver flower cup. Lots to see, but it all reads cooperatively, not chaotically.

Again, I know that the detail work on the mantle itself is how do you say.... wrong, but one step at a time! Just look at the accessories woujah?!?! Though you SO cant tell from these pics, the walls are actually a beigey-cream color, so the crisp white coral pops off of them nicely and helped to brighten the potential heaviness of the time stained icons. Also, notice the stratification of stuff! Sea fan behind coral behind icon beside candle or coral behind mirror, behind candle and chalice beside crusifix... its like a visual buffet!

So, as I mentioned, Mrs. C already had lots of her own stuff and wanted to keep much of it (no problem because not too much of it was very bad, no, we can not all say that about most of our things- who are you kidding?) But by adding bits of nature, or old found objects, pieces that might otherwise feel doughty now feel interested and actually work towards the aesthetic goal of the space (although this small painted cabinet is next on my list of "needs to go away's").






Like many of us have, this room is a shared space. The dining table designated the formal eating area. Right now, the current table is wrong. Its too heavy (visually) and too dark. It just brings down the space on every level. Ideally, Id like to see an old (I know, who'd have guessed Id pick something old), lighter wood table. The rusticness of something old will contrast all of the pristine polished surfaces AND help to warm up the space while keeping things light. The chairs should be smaller, simpler and more uniform. And the light fixture, well that's an issue. But for now, the addition of the mirror (which she already had in another room) and the Quan Yin statue, help to break up the darkness and pull up (visually) that side of the room.

None of the pieces are bad. But they don't evoke the feeling that Mrs. C wants her space to. They don't contribute to the aesthetic direction, so they are not best and therefore need to be changed. And, step by step, they will be.

Mrs. C purchased this amazing Portuguese antique cage Santos statue from the Shop months ago and finally was able to see it placed and dressed in her space. The items grouped about her base make this corner very shrine-like which is a feeling Mrs. C loves!

So, yes, I promise to share the pics with you as each new phase is implemented. I will keep you updated and we'll watch the transformation happen together. Yay. xox

-J