We spent many weekends in Westport, CT where Martha Stewart’s former home, Turkey Hill, is located.  She started her empire from this home, first renovating, then adding gardens, then starting a catering business.  She knew that hospitality blossoms when interior design is inviting, the space has good flow, attention is given to detail and people make a special effort to please. Danny Meyer writes about the transforming power of hospitality in his book Setting the Table.  

Combine hospitality in a dining setting with locally grown and organic foods, fresh meats or seafood, fresh milk from a local dairy and farm fresh eggs, prepared with care and attention to detail, and it is a delightful, truly memorable experience.   

When we moved from the east coast to Kansas City, I thought our memorable dining experiences were over.  Thankfully, I was wrong.  Through Facebook, I have connected with a dedicated and talented group of “foodies” who support “locally grown” foods and are deeply committed to making sure their recipes, meals, and entertaining are just right.  

After spending last Saturday at Casa Somerset, enjoying a delightful cooking class and luncheon with Bubba John, Chef Michael Hursey, and Meadowlark Acres, I am passing their websites along:

Casa Somerset, http://www.casasomerset.com, is a private destination in Somerset, Kansas where you can spend an afternoon or evening, enjoying a gourmet cooking class with a meal or checking out the grape vines.  The casa is new and the interior is Tuscany inspired, and hopefully you will get a private tour with owner and Chef Michael Hursey.

Meadowlark Acres at http://www.meadowlark-acres.com, is a wonderful source for homemade breads, jellies, mustards, and herb based soaps.  

Bubba John’s Seafood at http://www.bubbajohnseafood.com brings delicious, fresh shrimp and seafood direct from the Gulf of Mexico.

Bon appétit from Kansas.

Design for Today with Gustie

Interior design and social media have a dynamic relationship.  Recently, when a colleague sent this YouTube video on the social media revolution, I was thrilled, as it quickly summarizes the tremendous impact of social media.

This impact is greatly felt in the design of interior spaces.  When interior design works best, it is because all necessary parts have been planned for and the space and its parts all work together, like a puzzle fitting perfectly, or, to stay on point, the necessary cable tv stations, video on demand, sirius/xm radio, wireless telephone and laptop computer access or live video conferencing connections appear before you.

The social media revolution is people driven.

People drive the direction of interior design.

Enjoy the video and share your comments here.

Design for Today With Gustie

Time is money for interior designers and virtual wandering burns up lots of billable hours.  To keep your sourcing time low, use these sites at the beginning of each project to pull finish ideas together:

www.pantone.com – offers color trends and inspiration, join my PANTONE to create online color palettes

www.designyourwall.com – has the latest wallpapers, wall murals and window films and excellent stock on all types of wall covering

www.armstrong.com – for commercial and residential hard surface flooring, cabinets and ceilings

www.shawfloors.com – for all flooring choices

The key is to eliminate virtual wandering and spend time on design.  And, if you have a favorite design site, share it here.

Design for Today with Gustie

The rapid advance of the world-wide-web has utterly and completely “changed the game” for interior designers and how we conduct business and find clients.

The client and consumer are now in control and will look to work with designers who have a professional web presence and are transparent in how they conduct business.  They will do a lot of research and hire the interior designer they feel is the most qualified at the service they need and available at the price they want. 

Attention is a currency and to gain attention, interior designers must embrace the web. It is very important to have a professional web presence that offers best in class services that are “unbundled”.  Determine the key specifics that you can offer a client and use them as your tags.  

Social media is red hot and spending will grow from $716 million in 2009 to over $3.1 billion by 2014, according to Yahoo Finance.  Exactly what does social media do for an interior designer?  It creates awareness of who you are and what you do, builds relationships and markets your services, at no or a very low cost.   The goal is to build virtual word of mouth so friends of clients, friends of vendors, friends of friends, all know who you are and what you do. 

My favorite social media sites are:

Facebook - www.facebook.com

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com

TED - www.ted.com

twitter - www.twitter.com

 Visit one of these today and get started!

Design for Today with Gustie

The world-wide-web has been in existence for 5000 days and Adam Herman and the people at Barkley Advertising here in Kansas City are way ahead in understanding it and what it means for their clients.  Adam’s webcast last night reminded me of Kevin Kelly’s TED talk on what he thinks the next 5000 days of the world-wide-web will bring.  Kevin Kelly talks about how, in the next 5000 days, our world will continue to forever be changed by the web through:

Embodiment – we will all use hand held devices as portals to the web

Restructuring – we will adapt to the web

Co-dependency – we will be co-dependent on the web

Now while you are still trying to process how your life and world are changing so rapidly, guess what?  Adam and Barkley not only already know it; they are deeply into the details of best practices in dealing with it.  Here are some of Adam’s comments on Kevin’s key points:

Embodiment – “Not everyone can afford a computer but most people can buy a phone and people will use phones for searches.  Local and mobile search will explode in the next few years and search branding will be important” and “hand held applications will have widespread impact”.

Restructuring – “If I want to engage at 2 am or 2 pm I can on the internet, this is very important and brands need to monetize this” and “a cool technology is augmented reality, it will replace direct mail, it brings people into a website through a barcode and instantly transforms 2D into a 3D web experience, and it is inexpensive, and a cool factor seeing something come to life in your hand held device”.

Co-dependency – “Facebook just passed Yahoo as the second most popular destination on the web” and “Facebook is so engaging, such a destination, that you are happy to be there, the user has no need to engage ads, so it is not a standard dialogue with consumers, and consumers are starting a dialogue and control your brand”.

Adam’s comments about Google are extremely interesting and yes, Google is the #1 destination on the web.

Come back next Monday, March 1st to learn how all of this changes the game for corporate, commercial and residential interior design, how we conduct our business and most important, find and retain clients.

Design for Today with Gustie

"Gamechanging".  The buzz word for any business that wants to be relevant in the present and grow in the future.  Why?  Because social media and the new ways of exchanging ideas and marketing have impacted every industry. 

Join Adam Herman as he is interviewed in a live webcast for an in-depth discussion about emerging technologies and how they are changing the media playing field.  Click blogtalkradio widget above tonight, Monday, February 22, 2010 at 8 pm eastern.  Adam welcomes your questions by calling in to (646) 652-4150 or tweeting with the hashtag #gamechanging. 

Come back on Tuesday, February 23rd, as I recap key points on how the media playing field is changing due to emerging technologies.

And, be sure to come back on Wednesday, February 24th, for my insight on how changes in media and emerging technologies are impacting design in the workplace.

Game changing.  Plan for it!

When a client asks me to create a new interior space, whether it is a new project to be built or an existing space to be renovated, my senses immediately start to collect information.  I consider function, focal points, fabrics, finishes and furnishings, and visualize the entire interior space and the satisfaction it will bring.  The design aesthetic will depend on information collected and may be elegant, dynamic, eco-friendly or just cozy.  The most important thing is that it pleases my client.

I have a mantra for good design, fu – fa – fi – f0 – furn.  It is a simple and direct way to consider all the factors involved in creating a home or office that is pleasing to, you!

One of the most vital attributes to a space you occupy is function. Your work space should function well so you can go in, do your job, and get home to enjoy your life.  It naturally follows that your home space should function smoothly, too. At home, create task specific areas where you can store all necessary tools, such as a school project center or gift wrap corner.  Create cozy places for reading or conversation.  Define a laptop area in an alcove or under an open stairway. Locate big screen televisions in their own rooms, so they don’t drown out opportunities for conversation.  Place a flat screen television in an armoire or entertainment center with doors, so it can be closed for talking with the family or entertaining.

Next, fabrics!  Do your upholstery and pillow fabrics have interplay of color, pattern and texture?  How about window treatments and decorative throws, do they engage your senses in a positive way?  Why not!  These give lots of visual interest and great comfort at very little cost.  And, pay attention to finishes.  Do your floors, wall, trim and ceiling all work together seamlessly and make you feel peaceful?  Does one finish make you go “argh”?  Maybe you moved in a few years ago and have never liked a wallpaper or paint color.  Change it.  It will make a huge difference.

I love focal points.  There should be one, at the most two, per room.  Walk through and notice what captures your eye in each room.  A bar with a mirrored back is a great focal point.  So are a fireplace, wooden sleigh bed, oversized mirror or artwork.  If too many focal points catch your eye in one room, edit down to two.  Finally, make sure furniture is comfortable and looks inviting.  If a pet has nibbled or scratched a piece, repair it.  Have you always wanted a leather lounge chair or chaise to read the Sunday paper in?  Buy it!  Pick a rich, supple leather in a color that compliments your room and enjoy reading your Sunday paper! 

Remember, good design is about using space in the way it pleases you the most.

I love the fleur-de-lis.  The fact that it is iconic and has been venerated from the beginning of time by most every culture for reasons ranging from purity to domination to religion is truly fascinating.  But why is the fleur-de-lis still so relevant?  Did you know it was made the official symbol of the state of Louisiana on July 9, 2008 and has come to be the ubiquitous symbol for the people of New Orleans who are rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, with many even getting fleur-de-lis tattoos?  A fleur-de-lis tattoo?  Well, why not!  Since the early ages, the fleur-de-lis has symbolized many different things, most commonly decoration, honor, battle and religion.  The ancient Egyptians were highly decorative and believed the symbol represented truth, wisdom and valor.  Those pharaohs made sure their funeral temples were decorated with more than a few fleurs-de-lis!

In terms of decorative use, the fleur-de-lis is the de facto decorative symbol.  It spans civilizations and cultures firmly blazoned on architecture, sculpture, family crests, flags, banners, textiles, jewelry, pottery, paintings, tapestries, illuminated manuscripts, shields, armor, badges, everything from Assyrian bas reliefs in the third millennium B.C. to New Orleans, LA today and those defiant fleur-de-lis tattoos.  

Among ancient civilizations, the fleur-de-lis was often used to signify importance and the French have long been recognized as taking the fleur-de-lis as a royal symbol.  It became a religious symbol on Christmas Day in 800 A.D., when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne the new Emperor.  His gift?  A blazing blue banner covered with golden fleur-de-lis.  One can only guess that Charlemagne liked the fleur-de-lis and as he is believed to have started a shared European identity, it appears that his friends and foes liked it, too.  It is no surprise that the fleur-de-lis marks many flags and coat of arms throughout Europe and is seen on the crown jewels of England and Scotland.

 French settlers brought the fleur-de-lis to North America and the flags of Detroit and New Orleans proudly display the symbol.  It is commonly seen on military badges, sports teams, university crests, corporate logos, insignia’s of fraternities and sororities, and a plethora of decorative items in boutiques and stores that cater to every income bracket. Oh, and did I mention that the fleur-de-lis rests proudly on the badge of the Boy Scouts of America? 

 As a professional designer, I revere the fleur-de-lis and its historic significance.  This is one powerful icon that continues to be reinvented in new and innovative ways, as on the uniforms of the victorious New Orleans Saints and as a unifying symbol for the New Orleans locals.  It is powerful to them, and rightly so.

 For more detailed reading, go to www.neworleanssaints.com, www.heraldica.org and www.answers.com.