AbbeyK — On Interior Design

What a Client Wants. What a Client picks.

A client sent me some images of things she saw online that she liked for upholstery and rugs. Reds mostly. She sent the image of this rug. It's a nice rug. I like the rug. I know the rug. But with fabrics, it's hard to tell what the fabric actually looks like from the internet if you haven't seen it in real life.  I dutifully pulled those fabrics for her. It's a direction in any case and even if it doesn't end up being the decision, it informs the decision. I pulled some more reds to fill in the story AND I pulled what I thought would look good in the room, a color story based on a soft green. She, gave me permission to do so.

Sometimes I just have a hunch. The longer I am in business, the more I have learned to listen not only to the client, but also to the hunch. And since I have been working with this client for so long, I also knew her taste and lifestyle well.

Here is the green rug she ended up getting, along with the fabrics for the room. Start with red, end with green. Trust the process. Why not?

And it did the trick.

By All Means, Come into my Office to Insult Me!

It's a beautiful fall day. The door is open. The sun is shining. A woman in her 70s pops her head into the door and asks, "Are you bored."

I think to myself: this is an odd way to start a conversation.

I look up from a desk full of paperwork, "Why do I look bored?"

Her response, "Well it's just the colors in here. They are -- I dont know how to say it -- boring. I like a little more jaz."

What I wanted to say was one of my grandmother's favorite come backs, "Who asked you?!"

What I said instead was, "I wanted it to be a neutral backdrop so that it doesn't compete with the work I do for my clients. A lot of my clients like a lot of color. Some like neutrals, but if I work around too much color, I cannot concentrate on my client work. It interferes."

She tells me wouldn't have picked the flooring I picked (cork). I tell her the benefits of cork, and and why I picked it. But that it's not for everyone. She tells me the space needs an oriental rug. She tells me she'd be very hard to work for.

Really? I love people who insult my taste.

I thank her for stopping by. I ask her name, wish her a nice day. The least I could do is be nice.

Things like this never happen when you work out of your home.

AbbeyK's Summer of 2012

This summer was hot and dry with plenty of work. Like any summer, a few breaks here and there. Family visits, a few weekends away. Lots of gardening. Summer evening walks, my favorite.

Perhaps the most important part: I got engaged, how delightful!

And then Labor Day comes and it's like bam: Fall. So we're looking forward to the coming season with new projects in Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville, and Needham, and finishing up some projects underway.

We continue to settle into our office in Belmont. It's almost done. Just a few finishing touches, that's all. If you want to stop by, please call for a visit. Best donuts in town are next door. (Or we can offer you a "healthy snack."). We'd love to see you.

I hope you have a good Fall too!

Hardware and Lighting: the Jewelery of a Home?

Hardware and lighting can really make a difference in a home's decor.

Mostly, I see hardware and lighting as the elegant supporting actor. Otherwise your house looks like: "hi I am a light," everywhere you look. Of course there are times when calling attention to hardware and lighting are called for. Go crazy with the dining room chandelier. Spend money on your front door pull. Ultimately there are no rules....but the last thing you want is a jumpy home with too many elements fighting for attention.

Working with clients, we usually start with the big items and work down to make a whole out of cohesive parts. Typically the hardware is selected after everything else.

For this project, we started from scratch and did a 3 BR condo in Boston. Although it was a luxury high rise, the builder put in big box type hinges and hardware on the doors. If you don't look, you don't really notice. But over time, it started to bother the home owners. They gave it some time to see if they could get used to it but decided in the end to change.

We wanted something with grace and elegance. On the modern side, like the decor. With some sparkle.

Here were our choices:

 

We chose the one in the middle. In real life, the finish and the detailings were just divine. But you really couldn't go wrong with any of the client's selections! They have good taste.

 

Interior Design: How I Learn New Things All the Time, This Time about Slip Covers

One thing I love about the business of design is learning. Always new products, always mistakes to learn from (mine, client's, contractors). More efficient ways to do things, new technology, new tricks of the trade. It's forever changing.

Slip covers seem to be back in vogue. This year I have had 2 clients request them. When you slip in cotton, the great thing about it is that you can throw the slip covers in the washer. Perfect for people with pets, children, or guests or renters

The bad thing about cotton is that it can shrink. So you either have to pre-wash and shrink, adding time and money to the order, or you have to make the slip covers "shabby chic" with enough extra room that it doesn't matter. My clients typically prefer a more tailored look.

Currently, I have a client with a time constraint and some special circumstances, which in my business is the norm. Special needs? Special circumstances? Bring it on.

Typically, you have the slipcovers cut at the client's home, but this home is in a beach area in NJ and my client was not able to find a local source who could make them with zippers, so we needed a solution. I tried to convince the factory to let someone make slip covers and ship with the upholstery. That was not an option. So I am having them done at the local delivery warehouse.

The furniture has all arrived so it's time to move forward on the slip covers. I was going to send the fabric out to be pre-shrunk and ironed, which adds about 2 weeks to the project. But my workroom shared what she called an "unsolicited tip" to tell if the fabric will shrink.

1) Take a Sharpie.

2) Trace a black line the size of an index card. (I used a large Post-it.)

3) Wash and dry on high heat in the dryer.

4) Test if the index card still matches the size of the index card.

If it matches, the fabric did not shrink.

So simple, so obvious, never though of it.

Just saved a whole bunch of time! Fabric will be released today and we can start cutting those slip covers soon! Victory!

 

Vornado sells Boston Design Center

Just read about this. The Boston Design Center changes hands. Changes in how business is done already happening in NY and LA. Wonder what this means for Boston? Rumors have been flying for some time now. Time will tell!

Vornado sells Boston Design Center

By Casey Ross, Globe Staff

"Vornado Realty Trust of New York has sold the Boston Design Center as part of a portfolio of similar properties across the country, the company reported Monday. The transaction has not been finalized, and Vornado has not disclosed the buyer or the purchase price for the design center. But the company said Monday that it sold the eight-story building in the Seaport District and other properties for a total of $228 million.

Vornado purchased the design center in 2005 for about $96 million.

The building houses 87 showrooms and is known as New England’s largest facility focused on home design. Also changing hands in the deal were the Washington Design Center, the LA Mart, and the Canadian Trade Shows.

Vornado remains co-owner of the former Filene’s property in Downtown Crossing, where it has teamed up with Millennium Partners to propose a 600-foot tower with residences, stores, and offices."

AbbeyK, You Should Know Better Than to Leave the House Looking Like That!

The line at Pete's in Lexington stretched all the way to the back of the store. This is not usual for an early Sunday morning. Nor is it typical for me to be out of the house in my gardening finest: rolled-up jean shorts, sandals, a big, white over shirt and a large rimmed hat. It's a look that channels my inner camp counselor. Cute? Well, for gardening, maybe. Professional and neat? No.

But I am, after all, getting coffee and then heading to the garden shop to be followed by some serious yard work.

When I leave the house, I figure, it's OK. I won't see anyone. So I am in Pete's, waitng in line and one after the other, patrons walk in with the same befuddled look about the line. I say: I've never seen it like this. Others agree. The mood has a light summer vibe to it. Cheerful, I'd say.

Then a voice from the line says: do you write a blog?

Yes, I say.

Is your name, Abbey?

Yes.

She tells me she reads my blog and that I should write more! She's so correct.

I have once been recognized right after This Old House aired. But I have never been recognized from my blog. I guess my little face in the corner and the videos make me recognizable even with a wide brimmed, silly hat on.

What a joy to meet a reader. We had a very nice conversation, and then we went our separate ways.

Part of me thinks I should never leave the house looking like that again. Consider your image, my inner decorator says. But it's summer and the 11 summers spent at Camp Chateaugay just makes me want to yell: Chateaugay 2012, yay!

This Renovation Is Not an Optical Illusion

The basement remodel is nearly complete. This is for my client whose house was featured on This Old House (R) a few years ago. Floors are in and cabinets installed. Before and current are attached. I promise you: it's the same space with similar camera angles!

 

 

Bet you couldn't tell it was the space. Amazing what a team of structural engineers, crew to rip up the floor and put in a new water line from the street, great contractors, wonderful finish guys and cabinet makers, my clients and I can do when everyone cares and works together!

Now onto finalizing decor! I am happy with this project.

A True Decorating Nightmare, in my Sleep, that Is

I woke up this morning shaking.I had a nightmare and it was all about decorating. It's kind of funny now that I think of it.

A new client has me come in to redo a good portion of her home. A good project with a very nice budget. Seem like nice people. While we were discussing dimensions and what they wanted to do, another woman comes in to the room and starts talking decorator speak: seat heights, ottoman height, crown of the seat, technical stuff about fabrics. I am not introduced, rather ignored by both client and this woman. She's clearly a designer. I am thinking: what is she doing here? Have they hired 2 decorators?

To ease the uncomfortable situation, I put my hand out and say, "Hi. I am Abbey Koplovitz, I don't think we've met."

Then the wife starts yelling at me, "Don't talk to her. You may not speak. Stop talking."

I turn to the husband with horror, "No one gets to talk to me like that." Then to the wife, "I don't think the communication between us is positive. I don't think I can work together. I will send you back your balance for the remainder of your deposit and retainer along with an invoice for the work done to date."

The other decorator says nothing. It's crazy uncomfortable.

Now I am trying to leave but the husband is convincing me to stay, blocking me with his body. He really wants to work with me. I say that I am sorry. I cannot work with them. I am desperately trying to leave, but I cannot find my shoes. I am searching through their very large house for my clogs. They are no where to be found. I can also not find my rain coat and it's pouring out. I am stuck. Tons of contractors are in the house milling around like aunts. A pre-school class is going on in the kitchen. (This is a dream, after all, weird things happen.)

My friend, Paul appears, and he's making the gesture of hand below the neck. Cut it off, he's telling me. Finally, I find my shoes and my jacket.

As I am leaving, the wife says, "Her rates are better than yours, anyway."

I say, "You get what you pay for."

And then I wake up.

What's Been Going on at AbbeyK

Oh I've been a bad, bad blogger. So much going on -- all good. But change has a way of slowing you down as you bring in the new. I have made a commitment today to be more active blogging. I miss it actually.

Here's what we are up to:

1) Our whole house project in Needham is through Stage 1. The main living areas have all been ordered. Clients are moving in next week. Blinds will get installed just in time for the first night's sleep over. I am so glad the blinds are ready. That's a relief. Next up: secondary spaces, art, and accessories. In due time.

2) Reno in Newton is through rough inspection. Last week, we reviewed dimensions for the dining room table, and altered them slightly to give the room more breathing space. This dining room is going to be not just a little fab, but incredible. Below the room shot, you can see a picture of the rug, the finish for the table, blue grass cloth for the walls, and the fabric for the A. Rudin dining room chairs. The patterned fabric will go on the host and hostess chairs and the side chairs will be upholstered in the textured fabric. Not shown are a Keith Fritz custom table (oh joy) and the ivory and camel wool fabric for the window treatments which drape like buttah. Full-on heart palps for this room. We have to pick a chandelier and it's done. Most of the rest of the house is also ordered and we are very excited.

3) This Old House basement has had undergone quite a transformation. Below you can see the same vantage point framed up and with plastered walls. We're waiting for flooring, cabinets, and lighting be installed. Getting rid of all the poles holding up the house and putting in steel beams in their place for support allowed us to reclaim a very large room which was mostly unusable before. We're making decisions on furniture now.I must say that Tommy's Silva's crew keep the cleanest job site I have ever seen. Impressive.

Other smaller projects, clients doing finishing touches, a new client here and there and the phone ringing off the hook.

New and exciting things are sure to come in. And it's always fun to see what unfolds.