Now I do realize that while the company I work for is an interior design firm, some people still view Ethan Allen as a regular furniture store.  This absolutely drives me up the wall.....imagine someone scraping their fingers across a chalkboard!

Now 90% of the time, we are like any normal hairdresser or lawyer, which means we work by APPOINTMENT!  And to be perfectly honest, today is one of those days that if you do not have an appointment to work with me, I really don't want to be bothered - not by passer-by onlookers, not by ill prepared co-workers, not be the constant ringing of the telephone.

Instead of losing my head over the wonderful antics of the public, I'm desperately trying to find humor in their wit or lack there of! Ha ha!

Here are some of my favorite/not-so-favorite questions and comments from the "looky-loos" as we call them:

1)  Country Man - "Y'all sale recliners?" Me: "We certainly do, but since we our a design firm, ours are geared to look more like occasional or accent chairs, so why don't I point them out for you."  When really I want to say, "Well Jim Bob, if you would get the toothpick from out of your front tooth, your twang might not be so severe.....and to be perfectly honest I'm not going to have anything comfortable enough for you to lounge back in with your six pack of PBR, greasy fried food, and 2.5 barefoot children in your mobile home!"

2)  Yankee Doodle Woman - "I'm just looking....wanting to see what you have."  Me: "Certainly make yourself at home.  I will be glad to set-up an appointment to work on your design project if you see anything you are interested in today."  Again, I'd prefer to say, "Well just what in the Hell is it you are looking for?!? Natalie Holloway?!?  I might could direct you in the right way.....like back of North!"

3)  INSERT THE NONSTOP TELEPHONE RINGING - Disgruntled and Confused Elderly Client of Another Designer's - "So and So said my order would be in by now, and I want to know when it is coming?" Me: "Mam, your designer is not in today, but I will be glad to transfer you to his voicemail, where he can check on that and get back to you."  Client: "Well can't you do it?"  Me: "Certainly, just one moment please." INSERT THERAPY SCREAM AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Now this is the point where I would like to crawl through the phone.  If you're not my client, I could care less if your order is headed on a slow boat to China or off somewhere doing 40 going North.

Now I know this sounds like a lot of complaining, but honestly I do love my job.   I just enjoy working alone and only with my own clients.  And I do take care of my clients well.  I let them know when we offer sales and promotions.  I caudal them through their design, noting every process and carefully monitoring every move of each and every piece of fabric, trim accessories, and furniture.  I also tweak and place every item in their home with what they refer to as "the touch!"

Interior design is somewhat like any other job I suppose.  I love my career, love my clients, and my daily routines.  The keyword in all of this being "MY!"

With this Ring

The forecast for 2011 is that it is truly the year of the weddings!  So many friends and acquaintances are getting married, especially this spring.  My schedule has been so wild since the New Year. Aside from being a full-time interior designer for Ethan Allen,  I'm well into my 11th month of planning and coordinating for a wedding in April. 

On April 9th, 2011 my good friends Brian Payne and Christina Cook will wed.  I have had the pleasure of being their wedding planner for almost a year now, and I have really enjoyed becoming so close with them.

http://www.projectwedding.com/ourwedding/cookpayne/

Brian and Christina, better know to me as Briance & Tink, have been a true gem to work with this past year.  People hear horror stories of Bridezillas that have the "my way or highway" syndrome, or even worse are those brides that cannot even manage to muster a simple yes/no answer, much less a simple declarative sentence; however, Christina has been so on top of things....some days even more than me. 

I hosted Christina an engagement party back in December 2010.  Even the party was a treat to work with her on because she's so organized, knows exactly what she likes and does not like, and follows the propriety down to the letter.  The guest list was great - the invitations were as cute as ever - the food was delicious -the gifts were beautiful, but most of all everyone enjoyed the company of friends and family!

Now we're coming into the last stretch of the final touches of preparations.  This weekend both Brian and Christina have their bachelor/bachelorette parties, so tonight we're meeting to finalize on the centerpiece vases.

The excitement I have for this wedding would make an observer perceive it as my own, but I believe in doing designs and planning this way.   If I'm going to put my name on it, then it is going to be perfect!



Cheers to Briance & Tink!

New Beginnings

Today's world is always changing...constantly.  Day by day new technological advances, trendy products, and new styles emerge, and if one doesn't want to get "passed-by" one must keep evolving as well, in order to keep up with the current times.  Thus, my maiden voyage into the blogging universe.

A new home or project can be much like beginning this blog.  Mindlessly staring at a blank computer screen, wondering how to convey your thoughts, feelings, and taste....while the mind derails off the track wondering, "What will we be doing for lunch today?" 

Many of my clients experience this same cycle of a run-a-way train mindset when beginning to decorate a new home or even when remodeling a current space.  Standing in front of a blank, stark white, wall contemplating various styles of artwork and subject matters?  Trying to envision recovering a worn and weary settee' in an endless variety of fabrics?  Moving and moving furniture over and over again in your mind and in the room in an attempt to create a better floor plan? All of these create extreme frustration and exhaustion of every creative bone in the body, without the proper know-how and expertise.....and sometimes even with these traits.

Even a seasoned design can be stumped every so often.  Just yesterday I was visiting my friend Whitney's townhouse in Mt. Pleasant, SC, and of course, she wanted my opinons/likes/dislikes, which I'm always happy to give whether asked for them or not.

Overall Whitney has a great set-up.  Beautifully upholstered furniture in shades of seafoams and browns, well-mixed textures of linens, leather, wicker, and wood finishes, and four stunning Low Country botanical prints.  She also has all of the natural elements of design within her living area: iron, wood, glass, natural fibers. 

Really all I could offer were ways to make the great pieces she has "pop" more.  Angling her side chairs ever so slightly; re-hanging the four prints in a large, stacked, square grouping formation for maximum impact; and moving some of her larger pieces just an inch or two - all of which combined to showcase and compliment each other better and more dramatically. 

We were in a rush to do some shopping and other errands, so I didn't get to the one problem which is still stumping me: What on Earth to do with her flat screen television?!?

As I said earlier, technology is always ever-evolving, and the birth of the flat screen televisions have often caused interior designers to become puzzled, (or faklempt/"pha-klempt" as a fellow designer, Brian, says!)

I even had this same saga in my home.  With limited spacing in smaller living rooms such as hers and mine the placing of these black holed, squared monsters is frightening! 

For over a week, I squabbled with myself over the mixed feelings I had placing my 50'' Sony over my beautifully carved, antique cherry fireplace, but there was no other central focal point for company and myself to be able to view the TV.

For a week I would come home after designing clients' homes all day, and I would desperately try to make the television above my mantle appear as beautiful as a giclee' or oil painting.  I would arrange and endless array of accessories, picture frames, books, statues, greenery, vases, and candles along the mantle ledge in an attempt to disguise the hideous beast! And do not even get me start on his sidekick - the silver colored Tin Man of a cable box.

Of course my family thinks from time to time that I have completely and utterly lost my mind, but this was a definite scenario where I was waving my crazy banner.

Finally, I ended up "walking away," another term my co-workers and fellow designers Brian and Wendy have coined.  I lightly (which for me is still over the top compared to most people's taste) arranged a few of my favorite accents pieces on the mantle and called it a day. 

While my TV/wall dilemma is temporarily solved, I am ready to throw myself full force into Whitney's.  I can see it now: me camping out a week at her place carefully arranging decor on the wall behind the TV stand.........I certainly hope this "New Beginning" doesn't end our friendship or her faith in me as a designer!

Stayed tuned!