Everyone likes first hand knowledge.  So we were thinking... What do you do when your house floods or you incur other disasters like earthquakes, tornados or windstorms? So based on our own experiences when we lived thru Florida hurricanes, those of clients who have had damage from major storms ... plus the general advice we have read recently,... We offer this list of things to consider when disaster strikes.  
1. First and Always... Ensure physical safety - everything else can be replaced - you can’t so don't put you nor anyone else in any type of jeopardy. 
2. Take a deep breath.  You are in a marathon now, not a sprint - everything will take much, much longer than you want it to. You will be dealing with the federal government (national flood) and they move at their own pace.
3. Take pictures - lots of pictures. Establish how high the water was inside and outside of your house.  Take pictures of structural damage that is critical to the "building envelope" such as doors and windows.  If a flood, you need to prove how deep the water was as part of your flood claim. Use a yardstick or ruler on the outside of your house to establish the high water mark.  Make a written list of the main items that have occurred damage and with a date and time stamp. 
4. Remember.... File your claim as quickly as you possibly can.  You will need to get in line to meet with your insurance agent, adjustors and contractors. 
5. Flood insurance will not reimburse you for loss of use, so any hotel or lodging expenses will be out of pocket.  But you may be able to use the receipts from lodging against your taxes. 
6. Save all receipts - all of them.  One way is to to take pictures of all your receipts. 
7. Order a POD or storage container to be delivered to the residence FAST as they will sell out fast since everyone one will need one that have to empty out rooms or entire homes. 
8. As soon as the water recedes, start mitigating the damage. Shopvac out what water you can, remove the wet carpets, remove the baseboards and start removing wet sheetrock. Cut a line about 2 feet up the wall. The straighter you cut, the easier the rebuild will be. Bag debris/insulation etc and take it outside. Save a square of ruined carpet and ruined carpet pad for the insurance to verify replacement value - if you have multiple carpets, save multiple samples. - Your goal is to get anything wet out of your house so it can begin to dry. Don’t worry about removing glue down hardwoods, let the contractor handle that during the rebuild
9. Take pictures of any damage you see such as wet sheetrock, wet carpet, wet furniture, anything you want to claim - document. For contents, document individual items - each shirt, book, etc needs to be enumerated and documented for the claim - if you say 20 books on your claim, you need a photograph where 20 books can be individually accounted for - be exact and over detailed.
10. Be very careful about hiring “the experts” ...those companies that will bring in fans, etc and eat up a lot of your claim check by “drying” your house - once the walls are open, the studs will dry in time. Every dime you spend renting expensive blowers is money you can’t use towards granite countertops or tile upgrades when you rebuild. Fans, your air conditioner a dehumidifier from Home Depot will do the job. You can spray the studs with bleach as they dry out. 
11. Be careful hiring contractors - ask for multiple references, ensure they use sub-contractors they know - they will be busy and be prepared to wait.  We saw a huge influx of so-called contractors flooding in Florida after the hurricanes in 2006.  And some were not licensed to perform any time of contracting work... just a tool box and a pickup truck. 
12. Plastic storage tubs work better than cardboard boxes for storage of your undamaged stuff.
13. Wear a mask when you begin to dig around as mold and mildew will likely be an issue.  Look for the tell tale signs of wood, sheetrock or other materials becoming black, grey or dark green.  Those are sure signs of things growing. 
14. Have a LOT of patience.  Be very nice to the adjustor - he or she will be valuing your loss and establishing the rebuild - every dollar counts, so be a pleasant memory for the adjustor, rather than “that” person.
15. No matter who your insurance company is, all flood claims go through the federal government, all money comes through FEMA, so the time between the adjustor visiting your house and you getting money takes weeks/months - be patient - it is challenging and horrible waiting, but you are dealing with the government and all the other claims that are in flight as well.
16. Your first estimate will likely be less than you expect, so work with your contractor to file a supplement for things that were missed. Be wary of working with 3rd party arbitrators as they will take a percentage of your total claim, not just any extra they get you in the supplement.
17. Accept help when offered and be specific - if someone asks “what can I do?” tell them something specific - I need candles, contractor bags, sandwiches - be grateful of those that reach out and be honest with what you need.
18. You will get through this.  It will not be easy.  It is a struggle, but you will get through it. Lean on your faith, your friends and family.  Call in favors and trust that karma will provide much needed blessings.
19.  Don't blame yourself for such natural disasters such as the one that Houston is experiencing,... nor for not preparing in advance. Things like this happen and many of us that have experienced such challenging times may still not be prepared as we should.  We have started a small "earthquake survival kit" that surely will not fulfill all the personal needs such the "big one" hit... but it is better than nothing at all.  And we continue to add to it over a period of time.
20.  Eat well.  Get sleep.  Rest when at all possible as you will need all the energy that such events require to manage.  

Help Hurricane Harvey survivors!  We used to live in Houston and we are amazed at the depth of destruction and devastation that is occurring in South East Texas.  Those people will need help... your help.  This is NOT a time to sit back and reflect that other people will be stepping up. This is YOUR TURN to do something... no matter how small... but collectively offer resources for these organizations. 
• Please see the following organizations for donations to those affected by Hurricane Harvey:
https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey
https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=27651&mfc_pref=T&27651.donation=form1 
https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/
​
Also check out this excerpt from article by NPR’s Pam Fessler:

“… Bob Ottenhoff, president and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, has some words of caution for those who want to help.  "This is not the time to be donating products or even services," he says. "That's frequently the urge, and most often that is the wrong thing to do. ...With the floods blocking off streets, when warehouses are not available, there's no place for these products — there's no place to store anything, there's no place to distribute anything. And that's going to be the case for some time."
Instead, he says, people should give money to groups they trust, and that have the ability to provide aid where it's needed most.”

It has been a long while since our blog was updated and the website spiffed up but you see,...we've been busy.  Since we opened on El Paseo in Palm Desert in the fall of 2016, we've been happily working on a good number of interesting projects, designing golf club facilities, meeting rooms and their dining spaces, assisting with a full remodel of a client's single family home, two kitchen updates, master plan for a estate residence and of course, ....getting acclimated in our new studio. 

We were blessed to find such a good location and so happy to have great business neighbors along El Paseo.  And while there are things we miss about the Palm Springs downtown experience, this location is much more centered to the valley and to our growing family of clients.

We have expanded our product offerings in several areas,... from flooring to window coverings to upholstered goods and developed partnerships with several main line furniture manufacturers.  And we are still passionate about something. We remain  advocates for sustainable and barrier-free design in all interiors, from condos to castles, from second homes to weekend getaways.  We love creating spaces that support independency, no matter age or ability, while making it both function and look great.       

By Michael A. Thomas, FASID, CAPS

When a potential client called to discuss how we design kitchens (and bathrooms, and provide the cabinets thru DuraSupreme) I was amazed by their desire for a new kitchen to be in their words "the size of a football field."  Don't get me wrong. Large family style kitchens where everyone is around can be both a culinary and a social space. But setting aside acres of floorspace for a kitchen that may be frequently used to make "reservations" at a favorite bistro instead of making mom's baked apple pie would seem to be a waste of space and dollars too. 

The longer we spoke it became apparent that what they really wanted was an efficient kitchen space and they had determined that by making the kitchen larger, they would achieve their goal.  

As a designer of many such spaces and as the primary cook in my household, I am certainly qualified to give them advice about how best to make a kitchen that works efficiently as well as effectively. And while additional space is always a luxury, it does not necessarily make a kitchen work any better. So after being the chef of the house for some 30 years, here are three brief suggestions for designing a fabulous kitchen that works just as hard as the cook does.

(1) Be Realistic.  
Pare down to the basics. The old saying "Keep It Simple" applies here.  Do you really need a waffle iron, an electric skillet, a food processor and a George Forman's Burger Grill up on the counter at the same time?  And what about those 7 packets of taco seasoning that somehow get pushed deep into the pantry closet?  

Establish your kitchen's "design core" around only the most frequently used appliances and food stuff. And if you are given the latest and greatest kitchen gadget but only use it on special occasions, find a location so they don't get in the way of what you need to use on a regular and daily basis. And get rid of all the outdated taco seasoning packets and use fresh salsa instead. Spices should NOT be purchased in bulk unless you are a restaurant because they loose their potency in as little as 30 days. 

(2) Think Zones:
​As you contemplate a new layout, think about the main activities that occur or what can be called “zones.”   Cooking,  • Baking and  • Cleaning.  (Some would also suggest  "eating" should be considered as a kitchen activity but perhaps it should be someplace other than over the kitchen sink.)

--COOKING: When it comes to cooking, arrange all the required tools around the cooktop.  Pans, pots and utensils should be stored so that they can be pulled out easily during the cooking process.  Organize all the drawer and door cabinets with as many dividers, rollouts and racks as possible.  This helps keep the storage efficient and provides a somewhat defined location for each pot and pan, spatula and spoon after they are washed up. And besides, you will spend less time in the kitchen if you can find the items you need as quickly as you need them. 

--BAKING: The process of creating something hot from the oven is for many a lost art in the era of microwaves.  Some would say they just don't have the time.  But with even a small space devoted to baking with all the necessary tools and supplies at hand, one can quickly appreciate the fine art of baking. Think warm bread or cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. YUM.  Plan on devoting even a small amount of counterspace that can be used just for baking such as stirring together food and rolling out pie crusts. Another tip is to keep everything else cleared away from the landing pads nearest the oven so there is a space to sit a hot dish down when it has been in the oven at 375 degrees for one hour.  Keep mixers, ladles, containers, cake and pie pans separate from all other items since you wouldn't necessarily use them in the cooking zone. 

--CLEANING: Whether in a small or large kitchen, clean up should occur as an ongoing process. When finished with the vessels, pans and utensils, place them near or in the sink to free up other zones.  I am a proponent of a large single compartment sink as it provides a singular space to accumulate all the things that will eventually be washed or placed in the dishwasher. And include a hefty, well built garbage disposer to that sink.  Also I am not fond of those very tiny veggie sinks. But if you do, add a garbage disposer to it as well to add to the functionality. You might choose drawer style dishwashers that provide certain benefits like quick loading times, shorter wash cycles plus generally use less water and energy.

(3) Go Tech.  
​These days technology has changed the way we do many of the routine tasks. As an example, cookbooks that can clutter counters and shelves can be replaced by an access to the Internet. Set aside a small clean, clear space for the laptop, tablet or even cell phone to browse and discover the best apple pie recipes.  And all those favorite recipes that have been collected over time can be scanned, saved to a computer and referred to in a matter of minutes. In my household, a fully wireless tiny flat panel TV sits on one counter and provides access to the news, checking my emails and the latest recipes on the Net.  Because it connects without a wire (other than the electrical cord when charging the battery) it can easily move out of the way when I need the space.  

So there you have it.  Three quick concepts for making a kitchen a place to come back to, not just for making reservations, but a truly home cooked meal with all the trimmings.   

It has taken a bit of time, energy and fortitude but our new place is just about ready to rock and roll.  After nearly four months of renovation and remodeling, our new offices and studio will officially open November 4th.  Check out this press release that says it all. 

Interior Design Studio Celebrates Grand Opening On Famed El Paseo Drive
 
The Design Collective Group, Inc. celebrates the grand opening of their new interior design studio and offices at 73290 El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert, CA on Friday, November 4, 2016. The business relocated to Palm Desert from downtown Palm Springs this summer to be more regionally located to their client base. Grand opening festivities begin at 4:30 on Friday and continue thru the weekend.
 
The design firm was founded by nationally known interior designer, speaker and author, Michael A. Thomas, in 1996. The firm’s expansive design portfolio includes residential projects from La Quinta, CA to Las Vegas and from Palm Beach, FL, to New York.  Commercial projects include the historic restoration of the Welwood Murray Memorial Library in Palm Springs, CA., and the redesign of the three clubhouses for Sun City Palm Desert Country Club in Palm Desert, CA.
 
In 2014 and 2016, Houzz.com awarded the firm with “Best Of Houzz for Client Satisfaction” based on client reviews submitted.  And Thumbtack.com awarded the firm The Best Of 2015 and the Best of 2016 for the high level of customer service and satisfaction.
 
Thomas is a Fellow of the American Society of Interior Designers (FASID) and a Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS) and has been published in national media including Palm Springs Life, Time Magazine, Dwell Magazine, The Desert Sun, Florida Home + Garden, Christian Science Monitor and the Miami Herald. He has also been featured on a HG-TV and the Travel Channel with a video story about one of his award winning ocean front projects. He is the co-author of Residential Design For Aging In Place, the first book to address the accessible design of homes for some 76 million baby boomers.
 
In continuing his service to the design community and expanding his volunteer activities, Thomas is one of the founders of the Design Alliance for Accessible, Sustainable Environments (DAASE) and is currently serving as the National President of the 501(c) 3 non-profit educational organization.

After four years in a showroom in beautiful downtown Palm Springs, CA, it was time for a change.  As we grew our business, we began to feel just a bit overcrowded.  And though we had maxxxed our the storage space a couple of years back, our lease was not over until July of this year... so we stuck it out making the best of the space that we could.  

But as we begin to think about the future of the business and the type of space we wanted, we also began to realize that a new location and yes... a new city and zip code might be the right thing.  

​So in late January, we began the search for a place that would be more central to our clients, a location that would be closely matched to our client demographics and a space that would provide more space and more square feet.  After all,... samples take up more square feet that you might think they would.  And having a robust library with all the design tools we need to create amazing spaces isn't just a luxury.... it is a necessity. 

As we begin the process and search to identify a new place, location and space, it became obvious that Palm Desert would be the place, El Paseo would be the location and a storefront in the middle of well known businesses would be the space. 

In late June, we signed the lease for the new space, created a plan for the interior layout, did a little demo on the interior, painted, carpeted and then, whew... moved the offices and showroom from Palm Springs to Palm Desert, CA in late July.  Since then we have been busy unpacking, assembling, setting up, moving around, installing and... unpacking over 100 decent sized boxes.  Did I say unpacking?

We are still not open yet and that's OK.  We are still tweaking the space.  Plus... we still don't have an Internet connection ( Thank you Time-Warner for the 4-6 week delay ) plus we have an ongoing body of work with existing clients that need attention. 

But soon.... by mid-September we think... we will be officially opening the doors. And in the fall, we will have our grand re-opening,.. hopefully with an Internet connection.  

Thanks for all the emails and phone calls to wish us the best.  We will be in touch as soon as the unpacking is over and we can send emails directly from our new office.   And if you have any influence with Time-Warner, let us know.    

The right interior design can transform a drab, dated and dilapidated interior into a stylish, cozy and welcoming place to enjoy. The problem for some is that even when they want a professional looking space, many don’t often consider hiring a designer.   

Why? 

It may be because of the myths and misconceptions that have latched onto interior design services over the years. While some may have a small grain of truth, most highly exaggerated. Let’s displace non-truths with some discourse on the subject.  

Myth #1.” I can’t afford to hire an interior designer. “

An interior design firm is like any professional business. They will scale their work to fit the needs of the client. We have clients who just need help in establishing a general direction, while some others want to have us take their vision and create a master design plan. Design professionals are particularly cost effective when there are complex issues to address such as the remodel of a kitchen or an addition to an existing residence. Plus we are often called up to help select the team of contractors to ensure that the design is implemented correctly and the work is done appropriately.  

The real value of an interior designer is how much they can save in  on costly mistakes or by offering alternatives that you may not have considered for the interior while keeping to a desired budget.

Myth #2. “My place isn’t good enough to hire a design professional.”

An experienced interior designer has the vision to see the potential of your surroundings. That is one of the most important components of design we bring to the table every time we start working with a client.  We also know how important it is to not “over-design” the real estate.  Everyone wants an interior to look great but you also want to get back a return on the investment you make in the design should you decide to sell.  

It is often an accepted norm in our society that what’s good for one must be good for all. And it would certainly seem to apply to the concepts and design philosophies of aging in place.  

But the “one size fits all” philosophy may just not be the case since people age differently based on health, socio-economics or the region of the country they live in. Their needs may be different if they have to deal with a genetic disability at an early age or have an accident that is crippling. And our homes may not easily accommodate short visits by an elder guest or longer stays by an ailing family member. 

So a “curated design approach” may be the right solution to better address one’s individual needs. Here are some examples. 

--Aging in place conventions often indicate that taller toilet seats are the best choice, those approximately 2 inches taller than traditional toilets, and make sitting down and standing up easier.  But are they are not right for everyone, especially if one is shorter than 5’4”? 

• Solution?  Consider the height of the individuals before choosing to swap out a toilet for a taller one. 

--Keeping a bathroom or a kitchen clean and sanitary is a necessity to avoid the build up of bacteria, a serious problem for those who may have an immune deficiency or compromised systems. 

• Solution?   Sealing all floors, tiles and counters with a penetrating sealer and installing a humidistat switch that turns an exhaust fan on and off in response to changing humidity levels, can reduce and may eliminate the build-up of mold and mildew.

--At first glance, walk-in tubs seem like such a great idea over a conventional tub. But it’s complicated. While water can be quite therapeutic, these tubs may not be for everyone. To use one of these tubs, there is a step up thru then a rather small watertight door that requires a bit of negotiation to get up the step and into the interior.
Then one must move about to be able to close the door to be seated.  Once seated, there is wait for several minutes the water to fill and once the bathing is complete, another wait for the water to drain before the door can be unlocked to exit.  

• Solution? With prices that can be upwards of $15,000 installed, a better investment may very well be a size appropriate shower with a bench, a balance bar, floor drain and no curb at the entry. 

--Building in a bench in a shower is a great idea.  But is it for everyone?  Often benches are placed away from the controls and shower head, sometimes designed near the entry to the space.  As a result, they often become a place to prop up a leg or a place for the shampoo bottle. 

• Solution? A moveable bench or a portable stool may be a better concept since one can adjust the placement or take it out of the shower altogether to maximize the space for maneuvering around.  

--Scalding of overly sensitive or thin skin by overly hot water can be devastating.  And the concern isn’t just in a shower.  Overly hot water can be a danger in the kitchen, utility and laundry.  

• Solution? A simple preventive action can be taken thru the installation of a whole house anti-scald valve at the outlet line side of the hot water tank and set at no more than 120 degrees.

--Small houses and small bathrooms can be an issue when it becomes necessary to create an accessible space.  But adding on to a home may not be practical nor cost effective.  

• Solution? Consider a “cantilevered bump-out” on an exterior wall to add a much needed 15 to 20 square feet to the footprint of the bathroom.  Even just that additional small amount of square feet can permit greater accessibility.

--Technological advances can provide support for one who desires to remain independent in their home.  As an example WI-FI cameras might permit a caregiver to check in on a loved one from time to time.  But they can be perceived as intrusive to some.  

Solution?  Evermind (https://evermind.us) helps families to keep an eye on an older loved one by monitoring the usage of something such as a light by the bed or appliance like a coffee pot. Families or caregivers can spot breaks in routines that might indicate there may be a problem. The Wi-Fi modules plug into standard outlets and messages are sent to caregivers about usage patterns.

--Personal security is a worry and concern with everyone these days, but for those with a mobility disability or living alone, it can be very disconcerting.

• Solution?  Wi-Fi connected dead bolts and door cams provide extra security and convenience especially for those who may be bed ridden.  Connected to a cell phone or an iPad, an individual maintains control over who can enter the residence. 

--Many aging boomers express a desire to remain in their homes living an independent life they determine for themselves.  But isolation, lack of support services and social interaction can and do present their own issues.

• Solution? More than a neighborhood, a “virtual village” gives elders a better chance to stay in their own home longer by creating communal support services that provide a variety of volunteer services in an area or region — including grocery delivery, lawn mowing and transportation — and also connect members with paid service providers who understand the challenges of the aging process. 

And by bringing together a group of individuals with similar needs, the benefits provide a unique social connection, build an extended family network and eliminate the isolation that can come as friends and neighbors pass or move away.  

--And finally, the words age and aging have a negative connotation in our society.  No one wants to admit they are getting older and may not have all the functional abilities or faculties they once had. Nor do they want  to give up their home, a place where families were raised, memories made, and mortgages were paid. 

• Solution? –Take the “age” out of aging in place and replace it with “stay” because these accessible concepts and universal design ideas are greater than just a desire to remain in place. The ability to “stay” and remain in a place of our own choosing provides us with unique benefits: the comfort, the security and independence we seek no matter the age and no matter the ability.

For more information, visit www.stayinplace.org, an organization dedicated to educating everyone on the benefits of remaining in one's home.  

​I have a unique passion for creating spaces that are safe and secure and that allow for anyone of any age or ability to remain in their home should they choose.  And it seems that many of the 76 million baby boomers are choosing to do just that.  But many are in denial about their age or ability and resistant to making changes to their residence that would help them "age in place"... or as I prefer to say it these days... Stay In Place.

So it wasn’t too long ago when I got a call from a prospective client who was asking if I could come to her house and make some recommendations for creating an accessible bath…. You know… the kind of bath that makes it safer and easy to get in and out of.  
 
When I climbed the steps to the door, I was greeted thru a small window next to the entry door by a very large, well coiffed white standard-sized poodle. The bark was loud but it was easy to tell, she was a friendly beast.
 
The small door was edged opened by an equally small elder woman also with well-coiffed white hair. I introduced myself while she held this monumental dog from jumping all over me.   Stepping in, I came thru the doorway noting the rather high threshold should be level or at least made smaller and the door should be wider if at all possible.
 
We exchanged pleasant greetings while I reached out to pat the dog, this sizeable animal excitably slipping and sliding on the tile floors to greet this new visitor. ( I got this visual in my brain of both this diminutive individual and a jumbo dog skating across the floor everyday to meet the mailman or Fed-ex driver or whomever climbed the steps to ring the doorbell.)

The lady led me thru the well-kept residence to a small bedroom and into the bathroom, a bath very typical of the mid-century homes in the neighborhood.  (This one was caught in a time capsule, perfectly preserved in dove gray bath fixtures and petal pink ceramic tiles.)   
 
“Here is my problem,” she said.  “I can no longer lift Norma Desmond into the bathtub to give her a bath and I want one of those barrier free showers that I read about in my AARP magazine.”   ( Another visual… this very sweet white-haired lady, who is not much bigger than her dog, trying to get Norma into the existing tub. )  “Of course,” I said grinning. “A curb-less shower entry would also make it easier when you need to shower on your own.”
 
And with a very straight face, she aptly replied, “I never thought of it that way.  I usually just climb in next to Norma and take my bath along with her.  After all, we are in a drought here in California.”  ( Then another brain visual… these two entities, one very large and one very small, each with white hair, each soaking wet in a bathtub that was clearly made for one standard sized person, bathing together yet saving water. )
 
After discussing some of the details of how a new accessible shower would be designed, I explained that it would be good to have bench, a textured tile on the floor and plywood installed behind the tile walls so that a balance bar could be securely installed on it.  Of course, I had to explain what a balance bar was… a much better name for a well-designed version of the typical gas-station grab bar.  After a bit of thought, she clearly indicated that having a “grab” bar in the shower would make it ugly.  “I doubt that Norma would like it either.”  
 
(Hmm… didn’t know Norma had a vote but I was still visualizing she and Norma in that tub together and all that wet white stringy hair. )
 
We concluded our initial meeting and promised that I would get her a proposal for the design services we would provide.  After putting some time in on the project, I called and let her know how we’d work and the time frame to get plans pulled together.  
 
She provided her immediate blessing to move on with the design of her new accessible shower including the bench and the textured tile for the flooring but without any balance bar.  When I asked, she said Norma doesn’t need it.  When I asked her about would happen if she should suddenly fall.  Without breaking for a breath, she said, “It won’t be a problem.  Should something like that happen, I can always grab onto Norma if I go down..” 
 
( Again another visual…. But I’d rather not go there right now. )

Sometimes people can be in denial even when they have a balance dog like Norma. 

​I’ve been thinking a lot recently about trends in Interior Design. 
 
A trend, by definition, whether it is apparel design, product styling or even the “colour d’jour” is a reflection of what seems to be happening at any given time. Trends are what people are talking about in our interactions with one another and a part of our changing behavior in a dynamic society. And they can be an indicator of our social and cultural values.  
For those in the interiors profession, we often see design trends emerge in trade magazines but in reality, they are frequently editorialized, thinly-veiled promotions of products, heralded by a faux-celebrity as the best thing since sliced brocade.  Some trends will have a short shelf life if they don’t quickly gain acceptance by the design community even before the public can be exposed to the product. Such is the roller-coaster nature of trendy design. 

​So why do people follow design trends?
 
Trends are embedded in our culture. I think it is fair to say that all of us are drawn to something that is new or novel, things that provide a feeling of wellbeing. We all feel the need to be a part of a bigger something. For some, we can be influenced by a bit of peer pressure. For others, myself included, we may think of ourselves as early trend adopters and as such, we want to be ahead of the pack.
 
But as our homes are the largest single investment we make and to enhance that investment, one’s interior shouldn’t be subject to the whims of what is most popular at any particular moment.
 
Case in point is the current trend to “stage” an interior that appears to be ripped out of a page of the May, 1961 issue of Life Magazine. Perhaps this retro Mid-Century mania, encouraged by TV shows like Mad Men combined with a touch of good, old-fashioned nostalgia, could be one of the factors driving this au courant trend.
 
Mid-century design, for what it was at the time, was very innovative and quite progressive. The style grew in popularity in residential and commercial design by bringing a cost-effective, modernist approach to America's post-war suburbs, certainly influenced by the International Style and Bauhaus movements of the early 20th Century.  Fussy, hand-carved design gave way to simplified mass-produced furnishings and built-in storage became a must-have in every interior.
 
Many great and significant design lessons came out of that baby boomer era that we still live with today: simple, uncomplicated lines, spaces that blended indoors with the out and introduction of new technology that boggled the mind like micro-wave cooking. And it taught many folk how to live with without excess clutter.
 
But avocado green appliances, electric orange pole lamps, and form-fitting chairs covered in aqua “bullet-proof” Herculon fabric were simply not good design then nor now. Yet amazing to me, there are individuals today who relish in staging such interiors with a vengeance, cruising consignment stores every weekend and endless shopping the Internet for inferior Made-In-China knockoffs, resulting in a space that is a cross between George Jetson and George Nelson, uncluttered to be sure but sparse to a point of dysfunctional cartoon-like minimalism.
 
Staged design, be it Mid-Century, Ranch or Spanish Revival, is just not for homes.  It is for movies, TV and theatre,… or perhaps an Air BNB vacation rental for someone to indulge in for a few days, a time-capsule, glamorized fantasy of what it might have been like to live in Mad-May, 1961. 

√ NEW TREND FOR 2016

​So with the coming new year, I propose a new approach, a fresh design trend, a classic modern theme for this century.
 
And I call it “Authentic Design” …or AD for short and there are three components of AD.
 
•First and foremost, an AD interior is the careful assembly of a space that is an honest reflection of ourselves as individuals, defining our preferences, expressing our personalities, and mirroring our experiences. And it doesn’t look like anyone else’s home environment.  
 
•Second,... AD interiors are a collected look, bringing together pieces from many design themes and eras into an integrated whole.  This is the backbone of timeless interiors. Scale and shapes are complimentary to one another while creating a highly visual concept.  
 
•Lastly, ...AD is successful as it permits the space to function as intended, one that supports our human endeavors within the built environment providing both safety and security while enhancing one’s comfort.
 
So in my humble opinion, Authentic Design is THE classic power statement of interiors. Enough with living – and designing - seven decades in the past. And trust me. The only authentic glam thing in May of ‘61 was when Alan Shepard became the first American in space.  Now that was Mid-Century Modern.