People often ask me where the inspiration for my designs come from.  In my previous life, when I worked for a design house, they would send us out “trend shopping” the goal of which was to be inspired by what we saw at stores…. often high-end boutiques.  Trend shopping was my least favorite part of my job.  I know many people (primarily women) would love to be given a company credit card and told to “get inspired” but I always found this task to be rather soul-less.  What’s the joy in creating your own version of what has already been done?

Now that I am my own art director, I make it a habit to go “trend hiking” on a weekly basis.  I always bring along my camera instead of a VISA and look for new inspiration in the natural world around me.  Designs such as Fields of Honey are a direct result of such adventures.

However, sometimes, an idea comes from people in my life.  Such is the case with 40 Ginkgos.  I vividly remember having lunch with Rachel Hulan upon our first in-person meeting and having her tell me about her attraction to the ancient Ginkgo tree.  I think I was talking about my personal connection to the Redwood tree…

I told her then that perhaps I will do a Ginkgo print one day.  A couple of years went by.  Then one day I was visiting my friend Theresa in San Francisco.  Growing out of the sidewalk in front of her house on Divisadero Street is a Ginkgo tree.  I decided to take a few leaves off the ground home with me and those leaves transformed into the pattern 40 Ginkgos.  The color pallet for the design was inspired by my mother-in-law who LOVES the combination of red, green and white.  It reminds her of the red Geraniums that abound at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

I have had a few customers request “holiday” colored fabrics I thought this design in this colorway would be the perfect holiday print that could be used year round.

So, to break down the process of how I work:
1. Idea – thanks to Rachel
2. Reference – thanks to the tree

3. Sketch – almost all of my designs start with a Sharpie pen and white paper.

4. Color, scale and layout are then created in the computer using a vector based program.
5. Colors are chipped, and artwork is sent to the engraver and screens are made.

6. Initial strike off is received to test the color and screens… adjustments are made as necessary.
7. Approval is given and production begins.

8. The wait begins…. as the fabric is printed, rolled, packaged, palletized, and in this case put on a boat for its travel to the USA from India.
9. Fabric makes it through customs and is inventoried at our warehouse in South Carolina.
10. Orders are filled and fabric becomes part of our “in full bloom” collection.

I am happy to announce as of today, 40 Ginkgos has made its way through the long process and is now available for purchase!  Of course, this fabric has been printed on 100% organic cotton and is certified to GOTS standards for the processing.  Now that I “call the shots” I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Thank you for following along with me this week.  I’ve enjoyed the change in blog scenery and I hope that you’ve gotten some benefit, or a least a laugh, out of the deal.  Before I go, I wanted to leave you with some inspiring images of antique furniture on the high market.

Several months ago my husband and I decided to open a store.  Between the two of us we have years of design, construction, and professional buying experience (and we like to think we also have pretty good taste) and it’s been a dream of ours to make that into a business.  So here we are, in the midst of making that happen, and we couldn’t be more excited.  But it’s not as simple as that.  You see, both of us have that pesky need to feel good about what we are doing.  Yes, that’s right.  We like to go to sleep with a clean conscience.  So in creating a business based on consumerism, we had a couple hurdles to jump.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s a heck of a lot easier nowadays.  Numerous organizations, driven by people like us (even better than us, I would say) have created a mass exodus of consumers and companies who care.  When you go online these days, a simple google search will produce results for a ‘green’ version of almost anything you can think of.  This too has its drawbacks, but you get what I’m saying.

So our goal as people and as a company is to add good to the world wherever we can.  As people that idea is a little bit more clear, but what does that mean for a company?  Glad you asked.  Here are some basic principles for building a ‘green’ business.

photo credit: kikonja

1. Think of the butterfly effect: everything you do impacts the world in some way.  Don’t let that scare you, there is no perfect answer and you are not a bad person if you make a ‘wrong’ decision.  But let that thought be a guiding factor in decision making.  What impact could your decision have, positive or negative, on the world and its inhabitants?  What steps could you take to make that impact more positive than negative?

2. Look for simple solutions to cut costs.  Reduce your overhead with energy and water efficient equipment.  Cut back on material costs in the office by re-using and re-purposing items.  One of my favorite things is making notepads out of scrap computer paper.  I collect paper that has been printed on only one side, cut it into quarters and assemble it as a notepad.  I’m a list maker and can’t get rid of my need for paper, so this is a great solution for me.  If you’d like to see how I make them click here.

3. Do the obvious: waste less.  Turn off lights and equipment when you leave.  Cut back on single use items.  Don’t buy things you don’t need.  But you’ve heard all that before…

4. Support the cause.  Purchase what you need, whenever possible, from companies that focus their efforts on sustainability.  Get involved in organizations where you learn new things and can keep up with a constantly shifting awareness.  This is a great opportunity to network and build your business as well as create community – a founding principle of sustainable business.

5.  Take opportunities to educate: your networking group, your employees, your customers.  When you started learning about this stuff it was fascinating right?  Well, other people think so too.  By educating, you not only broaden the impact but you also earn credibility, and that is essential to the new-age of consumers.  Just be sure that you don’t become preachy.  Work from a place of passion and excitement, not judgment or greed.

There are many other things that can be done to help you create or grow a sustainable business.  If you want more information, check out the Sustainable Business Leadership Council.  This organization is a great resource for helping companies go or grow green.

We spend a lot of time scouring flea markets for objets d’art to put in our store.  When we first started going it was a bit confusing.  Everything we saw either seemed to have endless potential or was just a bunch of old crap.  We really had no idea what we were looking for.  But then we began to ‘hone our craft’ and suddenly things were a lot clearer.  I honestly don’t know how that happened.  It was like we showed up one day and just knew…

But for the sake of having something relevant to say, I’m going to focus on the part after we just knew.  Here are some pointers for finding great deals at a flea market:

1. Give a moment to anything that grabs your attention.  After a while things start to blur and you feel like you’ve seen it before (if you frequent the markets you probably have seen it before) but if it makes you turn your head, go take a look.  It may be a shiny gem hidden in the rubble. 

table supposedly from Bob Hope's estate

2. Inspect carefully.  I’m a fan of old stuff and I like a little bit of character.  In general, antiques and things produced before the 50s were constructed by hand and used higher quality materials.  After that, products were produced quickly and cheaply using molds, plastics and wood veneers.  If that’s what you’re into then great.  If not, then just be sure to take a closer look at items you are interested in.  Look at seams, edges and just general wear and tear.  And ask the seller about information they may have on the item.

3. When buying furniture: keep in mind that if you’re bringing someone else’s furniture into your home it’s gonna need a bit of work.  Even if that simply means a good cleaning (fabric and cushion foam holds germs and dust mites) you’ve got your work cut out for you.  Wipe everything down before you bring it into the house.  Soak any removeable cushions, pillows, etc. and plan on reupholstering anything over 10 years old.  This can get expensive, anywhere from $200-800, so budget that into the value of the item.  Even so, if you get a great new couch for $800-900 it’s still a pretty good deal, but just bear that in mind.

4. Have an idea of what something is worth before you start bartering.  Of course you can’t really know unless you’ve researched it.  If you want to do some research, the antiques roadshow website is a great resource.  Otherwise, get a sense of what something is worth to you.  If you want it, what are you willing to pay for it?  If you feel like you’re being swindled, walk away.  There are some great vendors out there and some not-so-great ones.  You aren’t obligated to buy anything you don’t feel is worth the price.

5. Enjoy the experience.  Being outside on a nice day is great for the spirit.  Be inspired by things, a bit conservative with your cash, but overall just have a relaxing day!

To preface tomorrow’s post on finding cool things at flea markets I thought I would share my reasons for spending so much time shopping for “old stuff”‘.

Really, they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.  The quality of things made by hand is almost always greater than mass-production.  And while we can get artisan made goods these days, the comparative price is vastly different.  Today handcrafted products are at a premium – you have to pay to make up for the fact that they could have used a machine and made 10 times as many in the same amount of time.  In days past, people were paid a lot less for their work because they required a lot less to live comfortably.  These days it basically comes down to price vs quality.  A balance is good, but I usually vote quality.

I’m also a big fan of objects with character.  Don’t get me wrong, I love clean lines and simple layouts, but I like my home to feel lived in and show signs of age.  I like to mix old and new, to cultivate (there’s that word again) a style that’s inviting and comfortable.  A little rust or a couple scratches shows that something has a story, and I like stories.

Yes, I love old stuff.  Maybe it’s because I’m getting older..maybe I just like being around things that are older than me – like my husband (hopefully he thinks that’s funny too).  Who knows.

photo credit: http://melindapatrick.com/

As an Interior Designer it’s pretty much my job to help clients define what home means to them.  When you put aside the finishes, colors and budget, what a residential designer really does is create a living space where clients are happy to spend their time.  But what exactly does that mean?  Well, it’s personal.  This is part of what I love about meeting clients.  So many lives are touched as a designer, so many relationships built.  And when a project goes well it leaves us designers with a happy feeling in our gut (likewise, if it doesn’t go well…you get the idea).  We are very attached to our projects and to our clients.  But I digress…

Defining a home, to me, has always meant surrounding yourself with things that make you happy and function well.  My values include creating homes that are safe (for the people, the environment and our culture as human beings) and give the impression of its inhabitants from the moment you walk in the door.  After all, we are most comfortable in places that resemble our personality.  The more people in the house, the more difficult it can get.  That’s when you give each person their due respect and follow this motto: If you need it, it stays. If you love it, it stays.  If not, it’s up for discussion.

When you pair down the items that are important it leaves room to grow.  I often use the word cultivate instead of decorate.  This is because I believe that design is a process similar to life, where you grow and learn and shift from time to time.  Of course, a kitchen remodel can’t follow that path (or it would last 10 years and drive your designer mad), but the theory still applies: go for the finishes that really speak to to you, select materials that can grow with your changing tastes, create a space that is both solid and fluid.  Work with your designer to define what that means for you – we are quite skilled in interpretation.

They say home is where the heart is, and that makes a lot of sense to me.  When you love your home it becomes a sanctuary: a place to rejuvenate your spirit, strengthen relationships and plan your next move in life.  This is why I love helping people build a home.

I endorse the concept of reuse so very much that I want to provide more ideas on the topic of designing a kitchen with a reuse philosophy. Let’s go through some creative uses for items which might be cast off otherwise.

Furniture – I’ve used a sofa in two of my kitchens for seating at the dining table, both of which had been recently put out of use elsewhere in the home. The sofa must be elevated to be at the correct dining height. A new use for a sofa which may not fit elsewhere due to a recent move can add great comfort in the kitchen. I will never not have a sofa in my dining area; comfort in the kitchen is a requirement for me. And, of course, it does not have to be a sofa. Oftentimes, there is room for an upholstered chair of some sort in a lovely nook. Refinishing family heirloom dining furniture and chairs is a great way to keep green. I used my mother’s mid century Danish modern dining table in my breakfast room for some years and felt warm and fuzzy every time I looked at it, also admiring its authenticity.

Lighting – ANY type of lighting can be used in kitchens and I love using sconces in a kitchen. Sconces placed at each side of a window adds a charm that is just unexpected in a kitchen. Too many sconces? Consider reusing a pair in the kitchen! Again, seeking out light fixtures in antique or thrift stores adds an authentic feeling to the kitchen and a sustainable design element.

Countertops – Sometimes we are faced with odd pieces of furniture. Before donating or sending a piece to the green trash pickup, take a look at the countertop. Can it be reused as a desk top in the kitchen? Likewise, for small sections of countertop, look at the salvage areas of marble fabricators. Another great idea is to find a piece of stone with an aged patina, probably way back in an antique store where it is just waiting to be reused, giving it new life!

Antiques – Speaking of antiques, a freestanding armoire can serve as a wonderful kitchen pantry. At the flea market in my area, I actually look at the bedroom dressers and armoires for inspiration as kitchen storage. Be open to the reuse of a piece which is commonly used for other rooms but which just might be perfect for the kitchen.

Authentic Decoration - No need to purchase vinyl wall decals or decorative items in big box stores made in far away places, instead, enjoy the hunt in thrift, flea markets and antique stores for wonderful items, often at a great price. Another green idea is to walk outside and borrow from nature – behold the diversity of the sculptural beauty surrounding you, an indoor reminder of the treasures of our planet.

Appliances – To save money and to procure an appliance which is already “out there” a smart idea is to rescue scratch and dent appliances. Often having just lite cosmetic issues, buying scratch and dents is a logical substitution to “consuming new”.

What about your ideas? Can you add to these? I’d love to add to the list.

I am honored to be a guest blogger for The Interior Revolution, and the area of design that I specialize in is kitchen design. I am especially excited to talk about greening one’s kitchen because there are just so many interesting and innovative ways to create a green kitchen. Today, I’d like to focus on the philosophy of reuse.

I have personal experience designing an entirely new kitchen with a (mostly) reuse philosophy. Reuse, to me, by definition, means thinking creatively, first and foremost. You tap into a part of your brain that may be programmed by default to “buy new”. That IS how most of us are programmed! You change that preprogrammed channel to “reuse”, you open yourself bit by bit to finding useful AND creative solutions for your kitchen design, and miraculously, the solutions appear!

Here is one of several interesting stories about reuse for my kitchen renovation. I purchased tiles for a room in our home, and unfortunately purchased too little square footage. The tiles sat in our garage for eight years! Suddenly, I realized that these tiles would become our countertop and part of our hood design! The tiles were heavily (but not rigidly) textured, and being an adventurous sort, I felt confident that a countertop does not ALWAYS need to be a smooth surface. I can report that (now having moved from that home last year) I LOVED the look of that countertop, and cleaning it, truly, was a non issue. Textured flooring tiles on the kitchen countertop? Why not? We also reused our cabinets and reconfigured most of the cabinetry into a new plan. We reused a sofa which was stored in an attic space over the garage and used it for seating in the breakfast area. THAT was the prized seating area for the family!

Reuse can be defined in so many ways. It can mean taking a fresh look at an object and redefining its use. This kitchen was a laboratory for me to experiment with new ideas and to give new life to older items. It was one of the most fun experiences that I have had designing a kitchen, as I took stock of my existing possessions and materials and visualized new, creative, purposes for them. Reuse does also not mean all or nothing! The cabinets that could not be designed into our new plan were used as storage elsewhere in the home or were donated. Too much or too little of something, whether fabric, salvaged tile or wood, lighting, etc. is not a negative…it’s the path to your own distinctive look, to new design opportunities. And, the kitchen was published!

I’m just fascinated by woven chair seats.  Years ago I got this book, The Caner’s Handbook, and started working my way through all of the patterns.  To make a long story short, I eventually worked for the author of that book, Jim Widess, at his shop in Berkeley, The Caning Shop.  I helped them with repairing chair frames and they taught me new weaving patterns.

Now a big part of my business is repairing chairs with woven seats and I sometimes struggle with communicating with clients about their chairs because the terms used for weaving patterns and materials are obscure.  Most people refer to any woven seat as caned and this often leads to confusion so I’m here to clear the air on some of the more common weaving patterns and materials.

Cane is the outer bark of rattan.  It is cut into strips in different widths that have confusing names like carriage, common, fine fine, etc.  The most common weave is a seven-step pattern that creates octagon shapes across the seat.  Seats that have been hand woven have holes around the perimeter and if you look under the seat you can see how the cane is looped and tied on. If the seat has a groove around the edge instead of holes the seat is of prewoven cane webbing which is a much easier repair to do.  It’s a subtle difference but I think the hand woven seats look better.  A hand caned seat is one of my favorite patterns and I have plans to incorporate it into some of my new work soon.

Rush seats have cord that runs parallel to the side rails of the chair with the intersection of the weave going from the leg to the middle of the seat.  I know that sounds confusing, look at the picture of the Hans Wegner chair I did a couple of weeks ago.  Originally rush seats were woven with twisted cattail leaves, which is slow and hard work and the seats aren’t long lasting.  Now most chairs are woven with paper fiber rush that is incredibly strong but still has an authentic rustic look.

Danish cord, another favorite of mine, is also made of paper fiber but is wound tightly and then three of these strands are wound together to make the cord.  Obviously, it’s found on Danish Modern furniture (and my own) and woven in a simple under over pattern to make a very strong seat with a clean modern look.  If you have cats beware!  They love to sharpen their claws on it!

I fix a lot of chairs and I really enjoy bringing life back to a broken and unused piece.  After all, vintage furniture is the greenest way to decorate a home.  My specialty is repairing chairs with woven seats and I hope that after reading this you will no longer refer to any woven seat as caned!

A green finish that meets today’s standards set by petroleum-based finishes can be a bit of a conundrum.  Mainstream furniture and cabinets are normally sprayed with nitrocellulose lacquers, varnishes, and the like.  Icky and stinky as they are they really protect the wood by basically coating it with a layer of plastic.

A few years back, water based polyurethane finished came out as a green alternative but, like anything new, they were slow to be accepted.  There were complaints that they were hard to work with and the color was off but the manufacturers listened and solved these problems while at the same time making these water based finishes even more safe for the environment.  A finish that I’ve wanted to try is Vermont Coatings Poly Whey, available locally in Southern California at Livingreen.  Polyurethane finishes do require some work to apply nicely so they add some cost to a project

That being said, my favorite finishes are natural plant based oil finishes, which in my opinion, are the greenest finishes one can have next to no finish at all and are really easy to use.  Usually tung or linseed oils are the base, sometimes both.  These oils naturally dry and seal without nasty chemicals.  Spray finishes leave a film over the wood while oil finishes treat the outer layer keeping the texture of the wood intact.  Add a little bees wax and you have a silky soft finish with a great natural wooden feel.

There are a lot of environmentally safe oil finishes available now.  To keep things simple I wanted to choose one and make it my go to finish.  When I lived in San Francisco the folks at Eco Home let me sample every can of green finish that they had open by wiping some on strips of wood that I had brought in.  I took them home and did everything I could to mess up the finish by spilling wine, scratching, keeping glasses of iced water on them overnight, and so on.  None were impervious to my abuse but one stood out as very durable and also had the best color, AFM Safecoat Naturals Oil Wax Finish.  It has a warm amber tone, soft feel, workability, and dries fairly fast.  I also like matte finishes. Too much shine and you can’t see the grain of the wood.

Oil finishes can be vulnerable to moisture damage from spills and such but fortunately an oil finish is easy to repair.  Just lightly sand the problem area, apply some oil, and wipe off the excess.  Easy.

So, in conclusion, I think the best finish for kitchen cabinets or furniture that will be exposed to food and drinks is a water based polyurethane.  For everything else I recommend saving money and use a plant based oil.  They are easy to repair and look the best.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about eco friendly finishes for your furniture.