How many folks can we pack into the new HDD studio?  About ten times more than the last one, that’s for sure.  On November 18th, we celebrated our studio grand opening with good food, wine and music.  We joined forces with the Holt Community Arts Council for the event with a silent auction to raise funds for local art initiatives such as Music in the Garden, Harvest of the Arts, and public art installations.

The Barons of Brass were kind to play for our event and provide musical entertainment as the guests pondered the items up for bid.  I worried for a moment that there would be  fisticuffs over the Steven L. Marvin salon gift certificate (luckily, no hair pulling ensued) and the deer painting by a Michigan artist (hunting season just began….), but civility and generostiy won out.  Whew.

HDD was thrilled to receive thousands of dollars worth of awesome donations of products and services from local businesses and individuals for the silent auction, which raised a generous amount for the Arts Council.  We tremendously appreciate the generosity of both the donators and the bidders, and hope that everyone enjoyed the evening.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank Sara Ramsey, my handler and business manager, for pulling this together so beautifully.  You don’t just rock, kitten–you boulder.  Many thanks as well to my amazing interns who continue to blow my mind with their dedication and talents (insert hopping and my signature clapclapclap here).

I dig it here in the new studio.  Maybe we can stay here more than 11 months before we outgrow it.  :)

Buying specialized plates is similar to buying a vividly-colored designer shoe:  you only use them on special occasions (or with one outfit).  How do you feel when you do break them out, though?  FANTASTIC.  As the owner of the shoe above told me, “They make me feel GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR when I wear them”.  I feel the same way when I serve seafood delicacies on my bubble glass fish plates.

I’m a dish whore as a side effect of being a huge foodie.  I collect the funky plates because I respect the food enough to give it a good vehicle as my guests and I consume it.  That being said, I must admit that I’m terrified by a new trend I’ve found in the dish arena:  busy plates.  Pretty, intricate, patterned, obnoxious, bold plates that shout for attention.  Sure, they look fantastic in the photo shoot with the great table linens and the eye-catching colors, but you know what?  Those plates are EMPTY.  What happens when you put a slab of lasagna on a 1970’s wallpaper design?  How about a colorful Caprese salad on an artistic plate?  Goodness, how crazy would it be to serve beef and noodles on a giant yellow sunflower?  The food and the plate compete for your attention so much that you could end up losing your appetite.

My advice is to save the busy plates for display and break out the serious plates for serious food.  If you would like to accessorize to give the presentation a bit more kick and punch, then feel free to add color with a charger beneath the plate or with colorful table linens or centerpieces.  Bon appetit, and happy shopping!

The part of the Talk of the Nation interview I heard centers on John Winthrop’s sermon City on a Hill. As founding governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, Winthrop voiced the conviction that God had summoned the people of the New World - or at least those settling in New England - to serve as role models for all humankind.  Here’s an excerpt that Violet Sarah Vowell discussed:

We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body.

Vowell’s interpretation of Winthrop’s sermon focused not on the glory of our country, but instead on the glory of community.  At HDD, we recently learned the true meaning of the “labor and suffer together” portion of the famed speech when we participated in the Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition build in Holt, Michigan for the Nickless family.  We were asked by the design producers of EM:HE to create window treatments, bedding and pillows for the new home within the insane 48-hour time frame.

I was absolutely humbled by the experience and wanted to take an opportunity to thank my staff, the remarkably talented interns (several of whom worked alongside Ty Pennington for several hours Friday), and many community members who arrived at the studio and said “I want to help“.  We were overjoyed when more than 20 seamstresses arrived, sewing machine in hand, ready to tackle any project and call their friends for backup.   HDD would not have been able to complete the monumental task had it not been for the support of the Holt community and our many friends.  As I look back on the experience and think good thoughts about Arlene Nickless and her family as they settle into their beautiful new home, I have to wonder:  how many other Nickless families are there in our community?

The Extreme Makeover television crew rolled into town, and one magic week later, a new home appeared.  I’ll quickly point out that it was not the tv crew that built the house.  Instead, it was the mass of local tradespeople and volunteers that made that magic.  Now that the cameras are gone, I challenge you to continue the outpouring of love and support by striving, as Winthrop advises, to “make others’ conditions our own”.  If you’re interested in more housing-related community involvement, then Habitat for Humanity is always looking for willing volunteers at their build sites as well as the ReStore.  How about feeding people?  The Lansing Food Bank is a great place to donate food as well as give time for collections and food drives.  Don’t forget the kids:  the Reading People group has programs for book donations as well as literacy tutoring.  Finally, you can always bleed:  the Red Cross is in need of blood on a constant basis.

I could spend pages and pages listing worthwhile organizations that benefit the community, but I’ll let you interpret Winthrop in your own way.  Trust me, it doesn’t take a tv crew to make magic.

Patpatpat n. inability to feel comfortable with a design decision to save one’s life, often resulting in constant opinion-seeking from friends, family and neighbors. intj. A comment on one’s inability to be convinced of a decision’s effectiveness.
related forms: v. patpatpatter, patpatpatting adj. patpatpatty, patpatpattier, patpatpattiest

I’ll pop on my therapist hat and give a quick explanation of PPP theory. The core of patpatpattiness seems to be a willingness to change, but a reluctance to fully accept it. Sound familiar? It’s the opposite of ish theory! Recognizing PPP is easy if you ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you feel that you are never satisfied with any of the home improvement projects you’ve completed?
• Has your project been in the final phase for more than 6 months?
• Do friends and family run screaming from you at home after you corner them for opinions on the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” of your project?

Patpatpatting is worse in some ways than ishing: it comes at the end of a project when it’s difficult to undo the already done. At the very least, it’s a more costly condition than ishing because of the potential redo costs after installation. Interestingly, the cure for PPP is the same as for ishing: limit your choices, always trust your gut, and when in doubt, hire a professional. It’s relatively easy to overcome if you just believe in your ability to, as one client states, “pick stuff real good”.

In this time of political saturation, I’m reminded of a famous quote that Ronald Regan used often: “Trust, but verify”. Of course, the former President’s usage carried far more heft; we’re dealing with drywall and lighting, not nuclear ballistics. The same principle applies, though: before you make a decision, use the tips above to make sure it’s the right one. Otherwise, you’ll spend all your time in your new space fretting instead of happy.

Ish n. inability to make a design decision to save one’s life. intj. non-committal reaction to a question when presented a choice.
related forms: v. isher adj. ishy, ishier, ishiest

Ish is most likely to infect homeowners at the onset of a project during the idea-hunting phase. Unaware of the potential damage, folks will sit for hours watching design shows, soaking up an overload of ideas. Hazardous Ish particles stream from the television to the viewer through the eye socket, depositing themselves in the brain. Ish particles can build up to toxic levels when the homeowner is engaged in other idea-hunting activities such as shopping at home improvement centers, visiting model homes, and reading magazines. Once toxic levels have been reached, indecision becomes the primary reaction to every option during the project. To determine whether you have been afflicted with Ish, ask yourself the following questions:
• Do you feel that you are never satisfied with any of the design selections found or presented to you?
• Has your project been in the preliminary phase for more than 6 months?
• Do salespeople run screaming from you in home improvement stores after helping you (or worse, when they see you coming?)

But seriously…..why are there so many indecisive folks out there? While the surplus of ideas on design shows can make the most stoic decision-maker hesitate, the biggest reasons I’ve found for homeowner Ishiness are:
• They’re scared to death to make the wrong choice Wrong choices are expensive and time-consuming, and the fear of having to start over can paralyze the do-it-yourselfer.
• They like too many things Determining what you don’t like first is a better way to thin the decorative herd and start from a happy place.
• They suffer from sticker shock Thanks again to the design shows, folks actually think that you can pull off a total remodel for a thousand bucks. When DIYers see actual pricing, some hold off projects hoping that products will go on sale or that they can get a better labor deal elsewhere.

So what’s a poor Isher to do? The first thing is to limit your choices. Don’t spend the weekend going to 6 different stores for ideas- try only one or two to start. Only bring samples home that are front-runners, and make sure to collect all the relevant statistics and functional info on each product. The next thing you can do is trust your gut. With most of the clients I end up assisting on a DIY project, I end up confirming their initial choice. If it feels right, you can safely stop looking. Finally, if you’re still ishing, then hire a professional. A designer will give unbiased advice on your selections and steer you in the right direction. In many cases, it’s great to have an unemotionally attached set of eyes to look over your project before you begin.

As my first month of being a project manager for HDD comes to an end, I realized that the learning did not stop when I was handed my diploma. Oh no!! It has only begun! For students all over it is a common misconception that when we are given that oversized piece of paper, that we instantly become masters of our field. Quite the opposite is true. This week has been a reality check to say the least.

Let me begin by saying, this month has been quite the transition from my protective bubble many refer to as college, especially since I aggressively dove into the real world in the matter of a weekend. It all began on my first day when I was struck with the realization that I was now an employee of a company that relied on me as much as I relied on it. The difference is astronomical. A month ago my only responsibly was passing my classes. Now, however, I am a vital part of a growing Interior Design Firm and I am determined to make a significant impact on it. I will be the first to admit that the transition has had its hiccups, and the process is still continuing. However, I can promise that I have treated this month as an ongoing learning experience and have made several notes for self improvement. Here are a few examples of what I have learned thus far and advice I would like to pass on to my fellow graduates of 2008.
”

• Preparation is key. It is impossible to be overprepared when you are getting ready to present a project to a client. It is important to check all your work over and over again for accuracy. Also, having another set of eyes look over the project guarantees accuracy.
• Never Assume!!!! Assume is an UGLY UGLY word especially in the world of design! “Did that client hate the color green, or did she love it?” “Will she trust me to select a faucet for her, or should I consult her first?”. Talking with your clients thoroughly will prevent any bad assumptions.
• Anticipate the client’s needs. This skill develops with experience and being a good listener. Hearing the message behind the actual words is important as well.
• No mental naps. A project manager must be on top of their game 150% of the time. Being proactive is much more satisfying than “firefighting” by reacting.
• Love what you do!! When you enjoy your work, the clients can read your passion and the love you put into the process. As a result they fall in love with what you created. After all, isn’t that why we chose to be designers??!!

Each day the transition is becoming easier and the amount of hiccups are decreasing. I am very excited to see what the summer has in store for all of us here at HDD and how I can be a part of that. Check out my next post to learn more about the new additions to the HDD family, and my continued exploration of this uncharted territory known as life post graduation.

In fact, when I listened to one client complain about having to drive the kids much farther to school and sports activities in the newer home, I was astonished that the idea hadn’t crossed their minds to stay put and remodel. “Just do the math“, I offered.  If you remodel your current home, you can use a low-interest home equity line of credit to finance it, and you’ll get exactly what you want in a house that’s already in the school district and community you love. Your monthly payment will be lower than if you buy new, and you’ll get a better quality product as a result. Will you consider adapting your current home instead of buying a McMansion?  I waited for their response …and waited …and the clients finally looked at each other and laughed. Startled back to reality by the sad look on my face, they said “Oh, isn’t that sweet? She was being serious!”

While these particular McMansion groupies were unfaltering in their desire for the shiny and new (and by shiny and new I mean obscene square footage with a crappy floor plan and miles of flat white paint but-oh-yeah-it-has-granite, many clients adapted their expectations and decided to stay put after the great decline. For some homeowners, it was the only feasible alternative once real estate agents delivered the news that their current home could take 18+ months to sell, and that the profit wouldn’t be enough to finance the jump in payment for the new home. Enter: remodeling.

I’m working on a few of those stay-put-for-now homes currently, so I’ll keep everyone updated on the progress of the remodeling and the relative happiness of the clients in their decisions.

When we left, I was pleased to recollect all of the collaborative discussions our team had with the MDC folks. My mind returned to the discussions with Dylan, however, so I wanted to make a post in honor of his appreciation for my design humor. Below are a few quick quips from design life that everyone can appreciate.

That’s hideous
I had put together a beautiful bedding presentation for a client with a selection of 7 fabrics, all within the color range of the inspiration fabric. The client’s eyes seemed to grow larger and larger with each new fabric I introduced, until she burst out with “Oh my GOODNESS! That’s so UGLY! The colors are horrible, and I can’t believe that you would even show me anything that hideous!!”. Once I picked my jaw up off the table, I asked what it was that bothered her so much about the design. “Your colors!!!”, she shrieked. Her husband, silent until this point, leaned over and whispered to me “oh, yeah, did we mention she’s colorblind?”