Simple things

Primroses! They are only available for a limited time but their timing is impeccable. Just when the clouds of winter seem as if they have taken up permanent residence, these little bursts of color and green leaves make their way into the local garden centers, ready to offer a pick-me-up, and for a minimal investment. (Our local Lowes had these for $1.98 each.) My empty cache pot was happy to have some "company". They were welcomed with a wrap of moss and are sitting pretty on my French parquet top table.

Oooh, la, la! Spring is just around the corner!

Yellow, Yellow on The Wall!

Yellow . . . what do you envision, with the mention of this color? The range is vast, from soft buttery hues to a color so vivid it could "burn out your retinas!" (I want to thank Tarianne Babicz for that fond memory.)

In looking at the color forecasts, yellow is definitely on the horizon in design. Just look at some of the latest fashions. Yellow is not a color everyone can carry off, in apparel, but there are many ways to utilize it in a room, full force or sparingly. I once worked with an interior designer who thought every room should have a touch of yellow, even if it was a bowl of lemons. She had a knack for knowing how to add a touch of sunshine, in just the right place.

If you have a room with a northern exposure, crisp, yellow walls can chase away the drearies. In rooms with southern exposures, it is still a good idea to use the right shade of yellow to tone down the sharp,blue light, which can be emitted from the sun. Just be careful not to go too bright or too primary or it will seem jarring. Too often, new parents will paint the nursery with a vivid yellow, only to learn this color makes babies fussy and it prevents peaceful slumber. In the family room I designed, above, I wrapped the windows in fabric with the same tone of the walls, in order to allow the continual feeling of being wrapped in the sun.

Yellow represents optimism and promotes memory. Ever wonder why your Post-It notes or legal pads originated in yellow? Anything that gets your attention is bound to help retain information and to allow for sharper concentration. It is said people who prefer yellow, tend to be more intellectual. Yellow also helps with eliminating lethargy. Good if you want to stay active, but can be bad if you want to rest. Yellow generally makes people happy. Remember the smiley face button from the 1960's? (Okay, I heard it was created then - when I was a mere chick.) Upcoming color combinations? Yellow and . . . . soft gray, pumpkin, citrus green, berry red, and even purple!

No matter how you choose to color your world, a dash of yellow just might add an extra dose of happy!

My New Logo Design

It is so exciting to be able to unveil the new logo design on my blog! You can see it in the new header at the top.

I had been reading a lot about "branding" ones business and creating a logo to best reflect the company, as well as to allow for an immediate identification about what you do or the services you provide. Whew! No pressure there! I mean, don't most consumers, when they are looking at interior design sites, books, blogs or any other visual, look for something attractive? Honestly, years ago, when I put together my business cards, I just sat down and reviewed design elements, which I thought would be appealing to potential clients . . . but I had to like it, too. Little did I know there would be so much to consider.

Did you know there have been studies about different fonts and the particular ones people most prefer or even dislike? Some fonts indicate if people think you are BORING while others determine, in the reader's eyes, if you are CREATIVE. (Now if only I could get some extra fonts onto the blogspot to better illustrate my point.) Fonts can further impressions of: being polite, dull, traditional, elegant, modern, etc. In attempting to attract all different types of clients, with different styles, the fonts could get a little more than "eclectic" - kind of like trying to put too many different styles in one room! :)

Then, if that's not enough to scramble the thought process, incorporating some sort of symbol or artwork proved to almost take me over the edge! Well, not exactly that bad . . . you know we designers can have a little flare for the dramatic . . . yes, even me. As it turned out, having a bit of flare factor was important to me.

I looked back at my now previous border. I have always loved the acorns and leaves. There is just something calming and rather organic about those leaves. The reason I needed to revisit what I loved was created by the advent of websites, blogs and the need to make a logo become user friendly in the graphics world. (Oh my goodness, I am even yawning, now!)

So, here it is in a nutshell - and sorry for the pun with the use of an acorn, and all:

I made my name more important and made "Interior Concepts by" smaller so it still tells what my business is about. I added a script "S" because, believe it or not, there are several Wanda Hortons on the web. (Who knew there was a romance novelist, a real estate agent, a finance director - and a support specialist in Homeland Security - all Wanda Hortons!) Finally, I wanted to keep the acorn and leaf elements. I loved the idea of the acorn symbolizing huge potential lying in small things. (And not just because I am short!) I also liked the leaves representing strength and longevity.

This was a great experience as I was on the receiving end of collaborating with another type of design professional. I had to participate in the creative planning process, much in the same manner as many of my design clients. I also was able to experience the excitement of seeing the completed product. I also realized, while I did this new logo in order to promote a public image, I also did this for my own enjoyment.

Okay, now that you need a little caffeine to get you up and going, I'll sign off. I'm going to get a cup of hot tea, sit back, and admire Aimee's talents. (Creative Montage link - upper right hand side.)

Space Planning - It's All in the Details!

Interior designers often receive inquiries as to how they determine where to begin the process of designing a project. I always relate it to the process of building a home. You can't begin unless you have a good foundation. In the case of a room, that foundation is in the space allocation and planning.

Take a look at the library plan, above. It is in a home, I am designing, which happens to be currently under construction. Without having the benefit of laying out the room, based on the client's functional needs, I wouldn't have been able to properly plan for electrical outlets, hanging light fixtures, area rug sizes, and furniture scale. While the blueprints were being addressed, I worked with the client, the architect and the builder, to be certain the space would meet long term needs. It's also always easier to go back to the drawing board, before the footings are poured!

This concept also applies to an existing home. If the client is thinking of upfitting or remodeling a space, we can determine if a remodel is really necessary or if it's just due to a bad room plan. We can work through many issues of balance and use the space plan for color design. If there is a need to "tweak" the space, we can see what the challenges are and offer suggestions to be presented to the contractor.

Allowing your interior designer the proper time to gather all of the information, at the first or second home visit, is a good investment. It will save time and mistakes,on the back end of the project, and you will be more pleased with the results. It's all in the details!

A "fine" dining experience!

One of my 2009 commitments is to get more photographs of my work to the website. A couple of years ago, my dear photographer, Pat Shanklin, passed away and so it has unintentionally been a "back burner" item - which is silly because the only way you know what a designer can do is by examples of their published work. While I am in the midst of website updates, I can at least post some more recent shots. Thanks to my decorative artist and friend, Whitney Bayer, I can share some pretty decent examples of my work - and hers.
As usual, I digress . . . .

In this dining room, which was influenced by the client's desire for a mountain style retreat, we allowed the coffered ceiling to become the "fifth wall" in the room. The sections were treated with a faux, metallic product and the beams were stencilled with oak leaves and acorns. (I'll try to squeeze in a close-up.)

The silky drapery panels also have subtly embroidered vines. The chair seats are a weathered leather with nailhead detail and the back fabric is a perfect compliment to an area rug under the table. The curved upper back softens a room with many rectangles. Most important, they are c-o-m-f-o-r-t-a-b-l-e!

The dining table accomodates twelve guests, which happen to mostly be family members of different generations. They use this room beyond the realm of special holidays or occasions. It was such a nice compliment when the client shared how long everyone tends to linger, after a meal, because this is one of the favorite spots in the house. How often do you hear about people actually using their dining rooms on a regular basis?! I love it when we create beautiful spaces, but I love it even more when they can be enjoyed by everyone.

I think this is what we should really refer to as a "fine" dining experience!