The Artful Dwelling

Catalog of Options

It's very satisfying for a potential client to say that they have talked with several designers/decorators and they want to work with me. I don't pretend to know how other designers work, all I know is how I work and approach projects.

I have a new client that said, "I don't know what I want, I can't picture anything, so you bring me choice A, B, or C, like on HGTV." I think some other people she interviewed were overwhelmed by that statement, but I was thrilled. First, I have to listen really well to what the client wants, and read between the lines as to what personalities are in the family. By the time I left her house after an hour, I knew where I was headed for the style and design.

For someone that cannot envision where a design is going, I usually prepare a design board. The client can then see colors, textures, furniture tones, etc. all at one time. It becomes a road map so later on when that client runs across an accessory in "that green tone that was on the design board", they can buy it and know that it will work somewhere.

I actually like presenting a catalog of options to the client. Others may say that's way too much work, but honestly you need a place to start and it's easy for me and FUN. I love taking someone through the design process of, if A then B then C. As you flip through options you can narrow down someones style. I think this process for me is a combination of Candace Olson and Secrets of a Stylist on HGTV. I love doing this and I get paid for it!

please check out my dear friend and artist, Stacey Nickle.

http://www.drawablankart.com/www.drawablankart.com/Home..html

I really love remodeling so much I am itching to do a contemporary one.

Quick Breakfast Treat

Since going to Rome this summer, I have developed a few bad food habits that I have to save for a special occasion. We were on a company trip so every day we had an enormous buffet breakfast. Every single day that marscapone cheese was staring me in the face, tantalizing my taste buds. It is expensive to buy it here, but now I crave this little sweet breakfast combination.

Take a few tablespoons of marscapone cheese, mix with your favorite jam or spreadable fruit, and spread it all over a croissant! It is heavenly. I also mix in a lot of berries and fruit to make it more healthy. Marscapone cheese mixed with lemon curd is also a great topping for a lot of desserts or muffins.

Try it and you'll be hooked!

New Countertop Options

For years, granite has been the gold standard for countertops. Over the last few years, that has been changing due to all the demands for green and post-recyclable solutions. I am pretty excited about using some new materials. In researching products for a client's needs, I usually show them a few options that they can consider. Here are a few that I really like a lot.

Revelle http://www.revelle.us/about.php made from rock, sand, and resin

Richlite http://www.richlite.com/countertop/ paper-based product. Here's a really neat article: http://inhabitat.com/paperboard/

Vetrazzo http://www.vetrazzo.com/eng/products/color_palette

Vetrazzo is my favorite for a real funky, colorful space. I can imagine this for a child's vanity.