Welcome Indian Summer

Summertime winding down is always a sad but exciting time.  I hate to see every season come to a close, but it's so much fun getting your home ready for the next season!  Summer comes to a close, kids start back to school, football season begins, and you know those holidays are just around the corner!

My design colleagues and I seem to have our homes ready for each season and holiday a little before it actually occurs.  And it is a good thing we do - because when our clients get ready to make the seasonal change, we have to start hoppin' & poppin'! 

Fortunately for us this is the busiest time of year - right up until Christmas, but UNFORTUNATELY, I only made it to two USC ballgames last year.  Oh well, you can't win 'em all!

At my home each season is more beautiful than the last.  I really love to watch the foliage on the river year round - it's true artwork! My mother only cares for the river in the summer time.  She and my sister are still avid sunbathers, and they both really enjoy coming down and laying out.  

Now you would think that when the leaves begin to fall and there is a chill in the air that my company would also fade away until the warmer weather reapproaches.  Hardly so.  I don't think my humble "hotel" has a quiet season.  Buckingham Cottage is open year round.  It might get too cold to get on the river, but it's never to cold to shag on the dock...no matter the month of the year! Besides..my chickens are happy little greeters, and Sheldon provides great entertainment!

So it is essential for me to prepare for the upcoming season early, so that I don't interfere with my clients' plans or arriving/departing houseguests.

Needless to say I've started packing up my Spring & Summer wardrobes, leaving just enough glimpses of my seersuckers, plaids, linens, and whites to get through Labor Day.  Oh I know people say you can wear whatever anytime and that these "funny old rules don't apply anymore," but if I sported some white slacks after labor day, my Grandma would snatch me up bald-headed!

Brian, another designer in our studio, will sport white 365 days of the year.  I think he dons his "winter white" just to get a reaction from me.  And yes, I realize it's 2012 and there is such a thing as "winter white!"  But this color is definetely a little off from a true white.  "Winter white" is not wearing your summer slacks in November and calling them a different name.  There is a difference.

I think people just have to go with what they are comfortable with, and for me, I'm most comfortable following the rules I was brought-up with....and of course in my personal opinion: "The Right Way!"

Homes are just as subject to the seasonal changes as personal wardrobes.  Next week it will be time to roll up the light, woven Summer rugs, and pull the oriental carpets from the attic.  The brightly colored, seasonal accessories will be replaced with more subtle, Indian Summer tones and colors.  Vibrant beddings is switched for something more subtle and in Earth-tones.  Just the words "Indian Summer" or "Harvest Season" paint an illustration of warmer and more rustic colors.

I am not as in-a-hurry to change over my home for the season as I am my wardrobe.  I usually take the month of September to make the home transition, trying to hold-on to Summer as long as possible.  However, when it comes to my clothes, I'm very "old school" and will not be caught dead in white after Labor Day.

When it's all said and done, I think you have to go with what you're most comfortable with doing.  For me I welcome the seasons and the changes...I just don't know what Sheldon and the chickens think about all this excitement though...oh well!

A Random Little Monday

The economy has to be improving...because my phone has not stopped ringing.  Surely things are picking up in the world if the demand for interior design is increasing.  My percentage of business from July 2011-July 2012 was up 166%....now I would like to think it is just a demand for me, but that is highly unlikely!

Techincally I'm "off" today, but I've been in two different homes working this afternoon.  Don't get me wrong, I will gladly sacrifice any "time off" in order to make some money...you know, it's like HoneyBooBoo says "A dolla makes me holla!"  God please forgive me for quoting HoneyBooBoo!

Anyway, I'm very blessed to have small projects to work on along the side to keep me busy.  Otherwise I get in too much trouble at home.  There's only so much time in a day I can dote on my pet chickens.  Luckily, tomorrow, I have two more appointments...because today I cleaned out my pantry and fridge, feeding the chickens three times before lunch today!

So later this afternoon I caught up with a old friend, while helping her with the floor plan of her new home.  We went through room by room deciding what pieces to keep, to trash, to paint, and to recover.  The good thing about buying a new home is beginning with a blank canvas....you can do whatever you'd like.  And she really is going to have a lovely place when it is all said and done....well we were having wine while we were working, so I hope it turns out close to lovely at least!

I've also been drawing up some plans for my aunt to remodel her kitchen these past few weeks.  Even though I work in the design industry, I'm still simply amazed at all of the possibilites, options, and upgrades you can do with a kitchen.  We've really worked hard at maximizing her storage and creating a decorative but functional kitchen.  After all of the rushing to complete my sketches, I'm not waiting for a contractor.....hurrying up to wait.  I think that's the story with most contractors though.

All in all both appointments were elated with my work when I left their homes today.  And in the grand scheme of things, isn't that what it's all about?

And now that the chickens are in their roost, Sheldon & I are going to catch up on some tv, maybe even a good book, and of course a little wine.  We all know how much my little dog enjoys his wine.

Laughter thru Tears is My Favorite Emotion

My best friend Madison is taking off for the west coast tomorrow afternoon...I can only imagine how excited she is getting.  I have to admit though - I'm not looking forward to her leaving.  It has been so nice having her back in town this week.  We single handily cleaned the Piggly Wiggly out of Pinot Grigio, and yes we made our pilgrimage to Wal-Mart too!

When I moved down to the river it did not take Maddie and me long to become best friends.  Not only has she been a wonderful pal, but she and her parents have really welcomed me into their family.  It's nothing for Maddie to call and for me to be having dinner at the shop with Papa Wheeler & Niecy.  And buddy if she comes down to the beach, well you can just bet I'm sitting there with bells on at Niecy Oceanside Villa...eagerly awaiting with my wine cork in hand!

As sad as I am for her to be on the complete other side of the country, I'm so excited for her as well.  She and Alex have found a beautiful home in Washington...right on the golf course.  For me to say the home is attractive is a great thing, but this home is truly beautiful...full of upgrades and nice features.  And what more could I ask for they a nice view when I travel over to visit with some wine!  A golf course means wine-time cruising on a golf cart.  Maybe Alex will invest in one by the time I go out that way!  I haven't been on the west coast since 2007...it's probably recovered from my last visit!

Of course when she was showing me the pictures last week, I was giving her my unsolicited advice as to colors to use, how to arrange to the room, and where to place accessories.  The designer in me never truly rests. I personally think the picture of us and Meg is mantel worthy...just a thought.  And Maddie, with those high ceilings and wall space, you could order one much larger....a true portrait size would be lovely! 

As you can see, Madison is use to me just chiming in at the drop of a hat though.  She's the Clairee to my Weezer.  Oh Maddie, "you know I love ya more than my luggage."



I'm going to miss my partner-in-crime, but I am so looking forward to traveling to the West coast to visit her and Alex!  I got to thinking about it on the way to work this morning, "Lean on Me" came across Big Mama's radio, and I just about lost it!  Boy Meg is gonna have her hands full with me now that Madison is gone. Maybe I'll venture down to Murrells Inlet this week and slumber on Meg and Katy's Jouch (Jean-Couch), up in their loft apartment.  I'm telling you my friends are going places.  First Meg's moved up into an in-sky apartment like Weeze Jefferson, and now Maddie is heading to the west coast.  I guess I'll stay in the Lowcountry, and hold down the fort!  And besides they can keep me updated via twitter! haha! Oh @madwhee, you know that's right!

Bon Voyage Clairee...get out there and find a good place to "get your roots done!"

Revamp & Refresh

What a great thrill I get when I take an old favorite and give it a new spin.  It's the best of both worlds for a designer to take a piece he or she loves and revamping it into a new style.

Don't get me wrong...usually there's nothing wrong with the piece in it's original form, or it may be that it was once great but is becoming a little tattered.  Either way if it is a sentimental piece, family heirloom, or just an old favorite, never be afraid to revamp and refresh it. 

I remember when I first moved into my home at the river.  Like any young twenty-something I was full of champagne taste on a beer budget, so I had to get creative.  For weeks I searched thrift shops, EBay, Craigslist, and online auctions. 

Finally I found this pair of caned barrel-back chairs.  I looked past the chipped cream paint and the dirty mauve fabric on the seats, and loaded them up in my car.  When I got the chairs home and began cleaning them up, I realized not only was all the caning intact, but the legs had great carvings and details. 

I stripped the old paint off the chairs and repainted them in a shiny, black lacquer.  I also replaced the dated, stained mauve fabric with a fun, vintage botanical print.  For less than $100, I've got a great pair of matching chairs...full of character and detail.  They're truly my creation - which I love because I'm not going to see them in someone else's home!

I love pieces like these.  In fact, the majority of my favorite pieces were someone else's junk and now my treasure.  Don't get me wrong, I have invested in some nice, new bookcases, a dining table, and custom sofas, but it is the vintage pieces where my creativity and design talents have truly had the chance to soar.

It is just like last week when I went over to my friend Jackie's after work...We started talking and decided to rearrange and redecorate her den at 8pm.  A little before midnight we finally finished, and I do have to admit: her room looked awesome. 

The more the wine flowed, the more we got done. I really think they should think about offering me wine at work....I could really get creative with some wine juice! We totally rearranged the entire floor plan and layout, making her room look twice as large and open. 

With Jackie's permission I took one overpowering piece out of the room, and yet we brought 5 more pieces into the room!  The result was a very happy friend....the only problem is trying to get her to leave the house and hangout now. 

I can empathize though...after 8 years in my home, I can honestly say I'm quite content will my little cottage on the river as well.  After all, out of my entire portfolio...it's the best reflection of my true self!