Inspiration

The purpose of this post is a reminder to approach our homes from a place of feeling inspired rather than competitive. Recently I’ve noticed how many talented professionals are in our industry: from architects, builders, & interior designers, to artisans, product designers, & photographers. What a great community of creatives to lean on! And so many ideas for you to tap into. Dive into your home adventure with joy rather than peer pressure as the driving force.

Take a moment to appreciate and learn from the talent around us and tap into that energy stream. If you’re a professional in the building industry - enjoy the ideas & don’t let the talent of others bring out feelings of insignificance. If you’re a homeowner - soak in the knowledge and let it influence your next venture. Every project I work on involves a team of unique individuals coming together with their own ideas and skills. I’m committed to enjoy the process and not let it become routine.

It’s a busy time. Sometimes we have to step back and allow ideas to flow, because we’re all moving fast and trying to get things done. In our firm we’ve discovered awareness around moments when we are churning out information and checking off from a list, versus allowing space to be creative. We realize that our clients count on us for our ideas, so we must be disciplined about protecting that creative energy. I think about how special each project is to that homeowner. I hope to treat each one in the way that the client would, rather than like a list of to-dos.

And when I spend time on social media, I try to come from an inspired perspective. If I start to hyper-ventilate because I don’t have good photos to post - it’s time to put my phone down. That’s an unhealthy place. I once read a book that introduced me to the concept of being in a ‘Creative versus Competitive mindset’, and that was a powerful realization for me. Now when those feelings bubble up of not being good enough, I take a deep breath and try to remember that concept. It’s a great reset for all of us, no matter what our professional or daily life entails.

This week I encountered many brilliant ideas, so I wanted to encourage you to stop, notice, and be inspired!

Taking the Leap with Finery

Our Finery Launch Party, at Austin’s luxury Alexander Marchant showroom, was a special milestone.

QUIRKS & OBSESSIONS

As someone who cares about design and its effect on our lives, I admittedly have some quirky obsessions and pet peeves surrounding style and functionality. At a high level I love simplicity and elegance (in particular, designs that are anchored in raw function, but with a subtle twist), and I react with deep emotion to things that seem functionally stupid or fake. My husband can attest to the number of pictures he receives via text from my walks, with captions like “See? Isn’t that WEIRD!?”.

AHA MOMENT

This brings me to how Finery, my hardware line, was born. There are specific dynamics around cabinet hardware that have long annoyed me. A few in particular are: 1) knobs that catch on cords from a blow-dryer or curling iron, 2) open ended pulls that hook clothing or scratch your thigh as you pass by, 3) geometric shapes that become cock-eyed as they loosen (square or diamond shaped knobs, etc.). I discuss these types of considerations with clients as we make selections, and one day I learned that a client had similar pet-peeves. When our search for the perfect cabinet pulls for her fell short, I decided to design some. Hence, Finery was born. 

THE JOURNEY

Since then, the discovery process has been fascinating. After finding a local machinist who was willing to venture on the path with me (thank you Tim Jurgenson! I am forever grateful!), I learned about working with various metals; which ones are hard to work with, why brass is a good fit, the best way to achieve certain finishes, etc. I also learned about the legalities of patenting and the challenges of supply chain logistics. I initially created my own website and logo, and they have recently been upgraded by the work of a professional branding company (thank you Points North!). What an eye-opening experience! I spoke with various manufacturers and received samples from several factories, including a few overseas. For the first time I inspected quality nuances from high-end U.S. factories versus economical overseas solutions. It was fun to have family members hold the pieces of hardware from each factory to see if they could identify the differences before I explained them. Through the process I decided that certain things are important to me; Finery is committed to the highest level of quality, and to manufacturing in the United States. 

MOVING FORWARD

I am loving this adventure and learning something new every day. I also love designing things (you should see my notebook of ideas! I can’t get them to market fast enough). In addition to hardware, I have a mirror design and shelving system that will be in production this year, and many clients are benefitting from our desire for custom exploration. Thank you for your support and interest. I look forward to bringing many fabulous new things to the world in days to come!

Achieving Authentic Design

Photo by An Indoor Lady

THE BEGINNING

I think my passion for authentic design began in architecture school. Students & teachers of the built environment eschewed anything unnecessary or ‘faux’, pointing out ‘columns that supported nothing’ and ‘shutters that weren’t functional’, leading us young academics to laugh about the ridiculousness of such things. The desire and awareness in me for true purpose of form was born.

WHAT IS AUTHENTIC DESIGN?

So what does it mean to pursue authentic design? For me it has 3 facets:

1)    Authenticity of Form - Materials represent themselves (i.e. If it looks like stone, it IS stone!)

2)    Authenticity of Function - Elements have a purpose (example: You wouldn’t add a corbel to something unless support is truly needed.)

3)    Authenticity of Personality - The home represents what the homeowners love. They haven’t made decisions to impress the neighbors or because Pinterest told them to; they were true to themselves in their decision making.

WHERE DO I START?

Delving  deeper into these concepts, here are some tips on how to achieve authentic design:

Authenticity of Form

1.    Think about what materials you gravitate toward: Polished marble? Rough limestone? Aging brass? Find a way to incorporate them appropriately rather than using copy-cat materials. I’ve had clients who love marble, and since it is considered too porous for a kitchen counter, I suggest they find other ways to use it in its natural form, such as a backsplash or a bathroom surface. I always prefer to go natural rather than use a look-alike, no matter what the budget, even if it means we have to use it in smaller doses.

2.    Another element to this is the aspect of quality. Quality materials are usually more expensive, but also more elevated and timeless. I am a firm believer in “you get what you pay for”, so I am rarely tempted by a “look-alike” product. I always want the REAL thing, and I will wait for that rather than settle.

Authenticity of Function

1.    Examine your environment and identify anything that’s unnecessary: are there elements you don’t use? Too many pillows that require re-arranging in order to sit or lie down? (apparently couples have arguments over such things), or a lamp that never gets turned on? A candle that looks nice but hasn’t been burned? Consider taking those things away and pairing down to only items that serve a purpose.

2.    If you are building or remodeling, think about how your family lives. Do you have kids with busy extra-curricular activities and need a place to store soccer gear or musical instruments? Do you entertain frequently and need quality appliances, surfaces for serving, and plenty of seating? Now is the time to address these issues and design with your family’s lifestyle in mind.

Authenticity of Personality:

1.    When you make a purchase, think about why you like it. Does it truly speak to you, or has social media been telling you to like it? I have had clients say to me “Suddenly, I think I like gray”. In contrast I have had client’s say “I’ve always loved green, and I don’t care if it is in or out of style – I just like it”. Get in tune with your likes and dislikes.

2.    To help gain an awareness of these preferences, collect clippings from magazines, or pictures from a hotel you visited and loved. It gives a broader representation of what speaks to you than a collection of images trending on social media. Also – take your time. I have found that images gathered over time tend to best represent a client’s preferences.

SUMMARY

The bottom line is – your home is your haven, and it should represent you for years to come. If you are building or remodeling, take time to understand what’s important to you. Be patient and steadfast and aim to achieve it no matter how the timeline and budget evolve. In our current industry, availability of materials is limited and lead times are at an all time high. Don’t settle for something just because the item you want will take a few extra weeks to arrive. You’ll be so much happier with the end result if you stick to your guns and stay true to yourself.