Defining Design for Generations

I recently had the opportunity to read a portion of The Home Within Us, architect Bobby McAlpine's second book. "McAlpine speaks poignantly from his head and heart about everyone’s personal search for home. Armed with the perspective of a southerner and an arsenal of architectural experience, he reveals his thoughts on grace, the human condition, tenderness of place and what we know to be true in our lives," As I read his words, I thought about how important home is. He speaks of the home within us, and continually reaching into this home within to help us create our physical homes. I have a son recently graduated from college who will soon be venturing out to create his own home...a new generation. I wonder what he will take with him from our home, what he will consider when designing, furnishing and creating his own home. What will be his "personal search for home"? Has our home he has occupied for 22 years affected his "home within?" My generation, and my mother's before me, considered so much when furnishing and designing our homes. My mother always considered us, her family, first. Our comfort, our tastes, and our "entertaining styles" even as kids. Of course there were "grown up spaces" (I'll never forget my mother coming into the LIVING ROOM -definitely a grown up space- to find my 5 or 6 year old self and my two girlfriends propped up on the sofa eating our popsicles!! I was "entertaining"! Of course we were promptly escorted to a more popsicle appropriate space). I, in turn, designed and decorated my home for my family. Kid friendly for years, now a little more sophisticated as they have grown. I have pieces from my mother, my grandmother, and my mother-in-law and I infuse these with the new things we continue to collect and acquire. My home within is comfortable...it is not trendy or pretentious. It is full of beauty, as it is my love of home and my chosen career to create beautiful, yet livable, interiors. But it seems, with this new generation, my children's generation, that things are changing. This instant era, created with the onslaught of fast food, immediate information via the internet, and disposable everything intrigues me. With everything changing so instantly, will they value "grace, the human condition, and tenderness of place" that Mr. McAlpine speaks so eloquently about? Will my son take with him any of his family treasures, or will he create the instant home from catalogs and box stores? Will home be a haven, a place true to his life, a comfort and shelter from the outside world? My hope is that it will be...that he, and others of his generation will continue to create homes that reflect their personalities, their needs, and that they will care about these things as they relate to home. Times change, styles change, needs change, generations change, but the need of the shelter of home stays the same. To me it is a need for family, a place to be myself, to be comfortable, sometimes to cocoon myself and my family from the outside world, and at other times to welcome friends and strangers alike, sharing a little of what my home means to me with others. I know to some it is to share beauty, design, and the landscape of their lives. To others it is simply a place to rest and re-energize in order to face the world refreshed each day. For those of us who plan, design, arrange, and understand the affect home has on our daily lives, we continue to hope that each generation that follows us will continue to plan, design and arrange...to utilize architects, designers and their own "home within", to respect the generations before and embrace the generations to come, to love tradition while welcoming change, and not to fall into the "easy" or the "instant" or the "fast". Take the time to explore your home within. Consult with an architect or an interior designer, they can imagine right along with you and turn your wants, needs and dreams of your "home within" into a physical reality to share and enjoy for years to come.

Chic and Timeless

Hi Everyone -

Last month I discussed using mirror as something you can do at low cost that really makes a difference in a space. This week I want to discuss the value of wallpaper.

Wallpaper has come a long way from the old styles of flowers and bows. Now, the styles are chic and timeless. Wallpaper can do so much for a room. It can add color, pattern and texture.

Yes, some old paper can be pricey, but you don't need to go wallpaper crazy. Select one or two rooms that you would want to impact you and your guests and focus on those rooms.

If done correctly, you can wallpaper on a budget. Come into the store and I can select one that would fit your tastes. Check out a few of my favorites below.

A chic new look

Hi Everyone!

Last month I discussed using mirrors as something you can do at low cost that really can make a difference in a space.  This week I want to discuss the value of wallpaper.

Wallpaper has come a long way from the old styles of flowers and bows.  Now, the styles are chic and timeless.  Wallpaper can do so much for a space.  It can add color, pattern, and texture.  

Yes, some wallpaper can be pricey, but you do not need to go wallpaper crazy.  Select one or two rooms in your home that you would like to have an impact on you and your guests.  I personally would select a dining room.  It is a room I would focus more on because I value a good meal and sharing it with family and friends and so I would dress it up a bit.  

If done correctly, wallpapering a room can be done at a reasonable price and would have a great impact on a room.  Come in and check out our great lines and I can select one that will fit your taste!  Check out some of my favs below!

Designing your home around the things you love part III

We all enjoy being surrounded by beautiful things, displaying our favorite keepsakes and that feeling of comfort that being "home" creates. We also want our guests to feel this warmth and welcoming comfort, to know that they can curl up on the sofa or get cozy in any chair. To us, that is the true meaning of style. Designers will be the first to say that it is much more difficult to start a design project from scratch. Our best work is a combination of finding what you love and using what we know to create your perfect room. A treasured piece of art, a piece of furniture or a rug are more obvious starting points when beginning a decorating project. But don't overlook your fabulous collection of glassware or china, or even a sample of fabric or wallcovering. The important thing here is identifying what it is about this project or collection that pleases you. Is it the color? The shape? Or is it the era or style that it reflects? Once identified you can begin to build on those characteristics in your interiors.

Second Petal of Design: Light

Ten years ago I traveled to Haiti. The day began in the airport in Norfolk, Virginia around 4:00 a.m. By 5:00 p.m. I landed in Port-au-Prince. By 6:00 I had my bags and was making my way through customs. By 7:00 I boarded a bus as the sun began to set and slowly began to make my way to the other side of the island to Les Cayes. By 8:00 I found myself in complete darkness. I traveled through towns and villages of thousands and did not realize it. A trip that distance-wise should have taken several hours took 7 due to the limited visibility and road conditions. The absence of light began to unnerve me. I never realized how addicted to light I was. Upon my arrival in Les Cayes, I was met with more darkness. I was not prepared for the despair caused by the lack of light. Even Motel 6 leaves the light on for you! I had traveled for close to 24 hours and there was no beacon to welcome me. My 2 weeks spent in Haiti were filled with wonderful people, unrivaled experiences, beautiful scenery, wonderful food, more than generous hospitality (which was rather humbling), mosquitoes, 100% deet, and very dark nights.

I share this story because my experience in Haiti forever changed my perspective on light.

Ecclesiastes 11:7 says, "Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun."

Light is sweet. Our bodies embrace it. Bringing light into a room is so much more than making sure a lamp is next to your favorite chair for the purpose of reading. Light not only illuminates (i.e. reveals color) in a room, it sets the mood. When designing a room for light, I tend to be a purist. Haiti gave me such an appreciation for natural light. Thomas Jefferson (who architecturally I hold as quite brilliant), at Monticello, maximizes the function of natural light by strategically orienting rooms and windows based on activities to take place in each given room. Now you may not be able to re-orient your space but I do believe that you can add or maximize the natural light the room receives and only add artificial light as a continuation where the natural light ends.

Natural lighting techniques would include: windows; skylights; glass partition walls; doors; fire (I think a real one is always best) and candles.

Artificial light would include: chandeliers; lamps; spots (especially on fabulous art or something else you love that you would want to dramatically highlight to make a statement); recess lights and sconces.

With artificial light it is necessary to use dimmers whenever possible so that the mood of the room can be easily adjusted for different tasks.

And finally, as Haiti taught me, don't forget that light is also a beacon. Design and use your outside lighting (every time) to welcome friends and family into the beautiful home you are creating. As always, I am here to assist you with any design needs you may have.

Elizabeth Kennis, LEED AP

Designer