Interior design is part experience, part vision and part implementation. The last, implementation, is probably the most difficult since you can't plan for every situation. But when everything goes so well that clients are overjoyed, thrilled and amazed, it certainly is rewarding for the design team. Take for instance one set of clients. We were asked to design the remodel of a rather ordinary home, initially as a second home but one day they would make their Palm Springs retreat their permanent residence. Because of the extensive travel schedules of both clients, much of the project would be designed "virtually"... meaning that most of the face-to face client meetings would be over the Internet using Skype. During the virtual meetings, we helped the client establish the project objectives, created a time frame ~ just over two months - and helped them determine what to spend. We toured the home with their Realtor, took pictures and measures, created "as-built" drawings and started the process to guide the renovation. Soon after, the clients put their primary home in Chicago on the market and in just a few days, the house was unexpectedly sold. The clients called to say we have good news and bad. • Good news? "The house is sold." • Bad news? "We'll need to be in the Palm Springs house as quickly as possible as we have just shipped you all the furnishings and art." OK. When the initial shock was over, we started rethinking how we would design the space considering that in ten days, we'd have a semi-load arriving at the house with sofas, chairs, tables, cabinets and art. While everyone has seen total renovations done on HG-TV in a matter of hours, the reality is that good design projects don't happen overnight. But could we take clues from those TV shows and "light speed" the work? The first step was to alter the design to eliminate any of the work that required long lead times and labor-intensive labors. With new drawings in hand, we organized a big breakfast at the job site for all our best contractors to explain that there was a new time frame and would they be up for a challenge. Amazingly, all but one stepped forward to say they'd "kick it into first gear" and work 24/7 to get the job done. We all organized, planned, plotted and schemed and yes... made certain sacrifices in a few of the details while keeping the core of the design in tack. On day one, the demolition that was planned for a week took place in less than 10 hours. Good job. The electrical and plumbing came next and in just three days, the place was ready for inspection. Sheetrock was next followed by trim. By day four, the wood and tile floors were being installed by a dedicated crew that worked in three 12-hour shifts while we ran for food, drinks and supplies. ( It helped to discover that Home Depot opens at 6:00 am. ) By the evening of day 7, we were on target but it was going to be a push to get it all done. Painting, installing the door hardware, putting up the light fixtures and cleaning up the interior took place in the wee hours of the night before the moving van was to arrive on day 10. On the morning of day 10, as expected, the 40 foot semi truck pulled up to the house and like a nest of bees, the hardworking team unloaded piece after piece while we directed the placement of furnishings to their respective places. By 4pm, the truck was unloaded, the beds made, the art hung and we took a long pause to take in all that had been accomplished. A certain measure of satisfaction was shared by everyone. But there was work yet to do. We had to run to get flowers, stock the refrigerator and buy the champagne. By 7pm, everything was set. The only thing left to do was run to the airport to pick up the clients. And that's, as they say, when the problems began. The weather in Chicago turned O'Hare Airport into a winter wonderland. The clients' flights were delayed, sitting on the tarmac for some 3 hours then cancelled. The next day, all flights were cancelled followed by another day of delays. By day 12, the weather had cleared just enough for the couple to scurry for the next available flight and be in Palm Springs by days end. When we picked them up, you could see how exhausted they were. But we knew the work we had implemented in just ten days would make them forget about the last few days. And it did. When we picked them up, you could see how exhausted they were. But we also knew the work we had implemented in just ten days would make them forget about the last few days. And it did. When they walked into their new Palm Springs home, both were in awe. So much had been accomplished on their behalf that they both burst into an emotion that was somewhere between laughter and amazement. And of course, a sense of relief to be in their new home in beautiful Palm Springs. As we look back on this project, the secret to the success of the job wasn't in the design nor the long hours. It was the implementation. It was the strategy plus the planning, plotting and scheming that made it all work in a timely manner. And of course, the dedication of a lot of creative people who made the up team.
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Combine ergonomic seating, a flexible work surface, task lighting, a limited amount of storage and privacy screens and you are ready to do some serious computer time. They do offer a unique solution to the problems of finding a quiet place to get away from the distractions that come with working in collaborative, open concept offices. Other office design trends spotted included taller desk and conference tables that get staff off traditional chairs and in a vertical position to help prevent worker bees from zoning out. Standing desks are not new and can be traced back to the era of Thomas Jefferson but adjustable height conference tables are something new. The thinking is that standing meetings tend to be shorter in length and therefore more productive. Casualness as a trend iis being embraced at work from a relaxed dress code to furniture design that evokes the comforts of home. This year, big-box store West Elm jumped into the business of providing home-like office furniture to augment their revenues. A growing category in office furniture is lounge furniture, meant to encourage informal meetings and an alternative to sitting or standing at a desk. Finally… small yet flexible executive suites that can double as mini-conference rooms were noted in the offerings of some manufacturers, taking note that many executives are very mobile and office space is at a premium. This is a continuing trend of designing work spaces that have several different uses and remains popular with many colleagues of ours. And that is our wrap up of the adventures at the 2015 NeoCon. We wanted to share a little great advice about how to keep safe and secure during this busy holiday season. Here are some tips from our local Palm Springs Police Department and we thank Sargent Erick Larson for these helpful hints. " As we rapidly approach the holidays, we would like to offer some safety tips to help you, your neighbors, family and friends reduce the chances of being victimized by others during this season. Thieves and con men often prey upon the generous spirit and hectic agendas of people during this time of year. Please take the time to secure the safety of your family and residence by adhering to the following tips for home and personal safety: #1 Burglars view the holiday season as a time of opportunity to burglarize homes for cash, credit cards, and gifts. #2 Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave your house or apartment, even if just for a few minutes. #3 If you display a Christmas tree, do not exhibit it or any gifts in the front window so they are easily visible from the street. #4 Do not advertise the fact that you are not home - burglars look for occupancy cues like outdoor lights burning 24 hours a day, piled up newspapers, mail, or advertising fliers hanging on door knobs. Use an inexpensive light timer when you are away, and ask a neighbor to pick up your mail and newspapers. #5 Burglars know to look for the hidden door key near the front entrance. DO NOT hide spare keys under rocks, in flowerpots, under door mats, or above door ledges. Instead, give the spare key to a trusted neighbor or other person who could quickly respond to the location in the event of an emergency. #6 Do not post your family name on your mailbox or on your house. A burglar can call directory assistance to get your telephone number and call your home while in front of your home to confirm that you are away. Invest in a P.O. Box or a locking mailbox to further hinder a burglars' ability to obtain personal information about you. #7 Do not leave descriptive messages on your telephone answering machine such as: "You have reached the Smiths; we are away skiing for the Holidays." Burglars like to hear that they have plenty of time to access your home and take the items within. #8 Do not pile up empty gift boxes such as, from your new computer, television, or Blue-Ray player on the street for the garbage collectors the day after Christmas or shortly thereafter. Break the boxes down or cut them up for disposal. #9 Everyone will be busy shopping and running errands in preparation for the season. Though you may be rushed and have many things on your mind, stay alert to your surroundings. If possible, coordinate shopping trips with a friend. #10 Do not park your vehicle in an unlit lot or area no matter how convenient it is. Make sure your valuables are not in plain view in your vehicle and keep your vehicle's doors locked and windows closed. #11 Have your keys readily available in your hand before you go to your car and remain aware of your surroundings at all times as you make your way to your vehicle. When you return to your car, scan the interior to ensure no one is hiding inside. #12 Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. During this time of year, con men may work alone or in conjunction with others in an attempt to distract you with the intention of taking your money and/or belongings." Thanks to our local Police Department and for they work they do every day to keep us safe. Have Happy Holidays -- From Michael Thomas and Michael Baker. The Design Collective Group Inc. The original Palm Springs Library started off quite informally in the emerging desert colony at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. It was just a modest collection of books gathered in an adobe structure at the rear of the Palm Springs Hotel. But as the colony grew, so did the need for a more formal library and building. From the late 1880s to the early 1930s, the library had no less than five locations up and down the trail that was to become Palm Canyon Drive. At one point, when the library and the building were forced to move again to a new location, mules were tied to the structure and the entire building then located in the 300 block of North Palm Canyon Drive was “sledded” down the street to a vacant lot. By the mid 1930s, there was talk in the village about a more permanent solution. That solution was made possible in 1938 by a bequest of land to the city by the son of Dr. Welwood Murray, one of Palm Springs first permanent Anglo residents, the founder of the Palm Springs Hotel and a well-read, opinionated and passionate Scotsman with a heavy accent. The design and construction of the library building and courtyard at the intersection of Tahquitz Canyon and Palm Canyon was made possible by generous donations from the local community, the Murray family and a single $10,000 gift from local philanthropist Thomas O’Donnell. The library would now have a permanent place to call home with the opening of the Welwood Murray Memorial Library in February, 1941. Moving The Welwood Forward To Today This year, a major renovation of the interior of the Welwood has taken place and the work is moving along quite well thanks to funding from Measure "J." New mechanical, electrical, plumbing and air conditioning systems have been installed. The interior framing is complete. Sheetrock has been taped and floated. And this past week the painting began. Soon the original concrete floor will get a facelift. Following that, special LED lighting fixtures will be installed. Custom cabinetry will be delivered, installed and the furnishings will be set in place. Included will be a semi-circular reception desk not unlike the one that greeted many library patrons thru the years. Many have made this construction project a success and all have worked as a great design team to get the building ready for an opening this coming February, seven plus decades after the double doors swung open for the first time. So as I said to the architect, William Kleindienst during a site review of the interior recently, it looks like we are over the hill. He grinned a bit knowing that there are still a couple of humps to get over before we are done. One hump that is of major concern to many is how to address the use of the courtyard that sits directly adjacent to the south side of the library building, an integral part of the deeded Welwood library property. A plan that is being floated around takes this island oasis out of the control of the library and the library board of trustees and turns the space into a patio bar for the exclusive use of a single restaurateur, complicating the access to the entry required by the Americans With Disabilities Act ( ADA ). When I was hired as the interior designer for the renovation, the feedback expressed was clear as I made my presentations to all the stakeholders: Make the Welwood a special location once again for the public to enjoy and ensure the historical nature of the property so that the original intent of those villagers in the 1930s will not be forgotten. It seems to me that making this public area a location for a bar and eating establishment is inconsistent with the directive that was made quite explicit to the design team over the last few months. But one thing does remains clear. The Welwood will be ready to reopen once again in about 100 days but without a definitive plan for the courtyard, no agreed upon design for the patio landscape, and no consensus for its ultimate use. The Welwood might be over the hill but there still remains a hump. And one that needs to be overcome to ensure a complete success for the rehabilitation of this important and historic property. The recently released Ken Burn’s documentary and PBS series about the Roosevelt family showcases the public life and private times of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor, their commitment to those less fortunate and the value of public service. The series stitches together old photos and videos, all brought to life with voiceovers including actress Meryl Streep providing the voice of Eleanor. In viewing this series, memories returned of my visit to Roosevelt’s Hyde Park residence, Roosevelt’s Presidential Library and near by, FDR’s Top Cottage. The trip to upstate New York was a part of my research for a book my co-author, Drue Lawlor, FASID and I were writing at the time, Residential Design For Aging In Place. However, for me, this trip north of New York City was the opportunity to see Top Cottage in person and one that I was so looking forward to. For you see, there is something special that makes this Dutch Colonial–style residence quite unique: President Roosevelt personally designed this place to accommodate his disability and is one of the earliest such examples of accessible design, if not the very first. Most people know today FDR had contracted a type of polio and was careful to keep his condition under wraps fearing he would lose respect of the Democratic party, his voters and supporters and the public in general. Out of respect to the office of President, radio and newspaper coverage was kind and never made a big story of his physical condition. As a result, very few people in this country or in the world realized he had the crippling disease and required the use of canes, leg braces and later a wheelchair. Around 1938, Roosevelt, in thinking about his retirement at the end of his second Presidential term, longed for a residence far from the spotlight of the White House where he could, in his words,.... “become the independent person he longed to be”. First sketching out a floor plan on the back of a large postal envelope, FDR created plans for a personal, accessible retreat he named Top Cottage near the top of a hill and overlooking the Hudson River. Located near his family’s estate in Hyde Park, NY, the small building would permit him to move easily and independently from space to space while remaining outside of the public eye. In his plans, he designed the interior to accommodate the wheelchair with one flat floor and with everything he could want or need located within easy reach of someone in a sitting position. Many features made this home easy to live in such as level thresholds, large sliding doorways, electrical outlets high on walls and windows at lowered levels that afforded him the ability to enjoy the view outdoors from his wheelchair. Once the house was completed, FDR joyfully played host at Top Cottage at a very personal level and welcomed many world leaders including Britain’s King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Winston Churchill. Stories include the President "fixing toast to serve his friends and guests without the help of staff." " ....On my trips to Hyde Park from Washington, it was almost impossible to have any time to myself in the big house. Therefore, I began talking about building a small place to go to escape the mob." If there was one memory of that trip that I will always cherish, it was the opportunity to work with the staff at the Roosevelt Presidential Library. They were most accommodating in helping find materials, photos and drawings about Top Cottage for our book. At one point during one late afternoon research meeting, a curator brought out a very special brown archival box, asked me to put on white gloves to handle the aging documents and then suggested that what was inside was exactly what I was looking for. Hmmm. Very interesting.
Inside the box was the original sketch of Top Cottage by the President, the architectural drawings and his hand-written notes about making the interior accessible and accommodating to his needs on various pieces of papers. What a treasured find and what an awesome experience. I still get goosebumps thinking about that particular moment. FDR is remembered for many things during his career,... perhaps best for his development of the New Deal programs that helped America out of the Great Depression. And while he might not be identified as having first developed the concepts behind "aging in place,".... he was certainly among the first to apply the principles of barrier-free, universal and accessible design. Top Cottage is open only to those with reservations. Although the original furnishings were lost, the Park Service has now furnished the main area with reproductions and antiques which match the original contents. It is a wonderful case study and would recommend a trip to see this house overlooking the forest and Hudson River from the accessible deck. Every day, we incorporate universal design practices and aging in place principles in our work with clients permitting them to "stay in place." And in doing, our design enhances their quality of life in much the way Top Cottage provided FDR with comfort, security and safety. Airline travel is not one of my favorite things to do any longer. I used to do a lot of traveling as the national president of my professional society, ASID. And there are many reasons for this displeasure: juggling the luggage, long waits in security lines, fighting to get the last few inches of overhead space, the attitudes of some of the overly worked airline staff and generally the lack of proper cleanliness in airplane interiors. And when you are on the TSA's Watch List... as I am, travel to and from gets really complicated. Sigh. But in the news recently has been the fight over seat space with people actually doing battle at 30,000 feet over a few very precious inches of space. • Talk about your turbulence !! Seems that reclining one's seat has been more than the passengers in the rows behind can tolerate. However there are other reasons why airline travel is just so uncomfortable. One important factor is the shape and form of the seats, frames and cushions themselves. Not only is the problem just the distance between the seats - and recently the lack of peanuts - but anthropometric factors are contributing to the disagreeable travel experience. In a survey and study authored by a colleague, Dr. Kathy Robinette, professor and head of the department of design, housing and merchandising at Oklahoma State University, the design of the chairs themselves contribute to the discord - just as much as the limited knee room, the lack of peanuts, and the smelly guy sitting in the window seat beside you who had to get up and visit the facilities four times on the one hour flight to Palm Springs. Dr. Robinette states that most airline seats are simply not designed to fully accommodate the human body in its various shapes and sizes. And she would know. Dr. Robinette's survey, called the Civilian American and European Surface Anthropometry Resource project, measured the bodies of 4,431 people in North America, the Netherlands and Italy. The survey collected a voluminous amount of data about its subjects, ranging from height and weight to shoe and bra size. and guess what? The chair design itself is abysmal. And in case you didn't know... the design issue goes beyond just passenger comfort. Dr. Robinette notes that travelers who are squeezed together and continually touching that smelly guy in the window seat are more likely to spread cold viruses or other illnesses to a fellow passenger. ( Oh joy ! ) People who are confined to tight seats and who can’t move comfortably are at risk for painful “hot spots” — precursors to the bed sores that occur in nursing home patients who aren’t moved frequently. (Well sign me up for that.) So I was pontificating a few days ago about the design of things and how it can affect one's well being. You may not realize it but design impacts the human experience in so many ways, often in such a totally transparent manner that we often never think twice about design itself or even think about how some thing might function. It just does. Good design is just there... in the background.... doing its job.... making our lives more comfortable, secure and safe. ... and some would say attractive. For what its worth since I have said this repeatedly...design is much more about function than good looks. Perhaps Steve Jobs said it better than I have been able to,.... "Design Is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works" Think about the design that surrounds you now. Look at the way things are put together. Chances are the design of a lamp, a pillow, an accessory just didn't happen by accident but with a determined purpose. Design is like that. It requires design professionals like me to make it work, to function as needed and then of course to make it look as if you spent a lot of money when we all know you started out shopping at Ikea. ( It is OK if you do. I shop there, too. ) So contemplate this: How does the design, shape and form of things that surround you make life better? • In our homes, offices and stores? • In our cars and in cafes? • In the things we buy and use like an iPhone or a iPad? Maybe some day... even at 30,000 feet way above the planet, design will make planes more comfortable and flying a little less stressful with more leg room and better designed seats. ---> By the way... where is my little bag of peanuts? Time has really flown this summer in Palm Springs. It is hard to believe but it has been just 90 days since the work to remodel and rehab the Welwood Murray Memorial Library began in earnest. In that time much of the real heavy duty work has been completed by the contractors. In just another 90 days or so, barring any unforeseen challenges, new cabinets, furnishings + fixtures will once again be filling the space. And the Welwood will reopen much to the delight of the many long time locals. There has been a lot of complexity in accomplishing the renovation. First everything associated with the old mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems had to be carefully dismantled and removed to make way for the new and energy efficient ones. The old floor, which had been originally stained in a dark color, then at one point covered over with linoleum, and in later years even carpeted with a gold and red tweed, was saw cut open to permit the installation of underground systems for air conditioning plus electrical, phone and data conduits. When that task was completed, new concrete filled up the "swimming pool" sized canyon.
Stud walls have framed in areas that will hold the Palm Springs Historical Society's archives along with a dedicated archive viewing room, something long over due for that group. In the east wing, now to be a community meeting room, new walls already define a mini-proscenium for future presentations and lectures, complete with seating for up to forty people, overhead projector and large flat panel display. After the Labor Day holiday, electricians will be on site pulling their wires, positioning the outlets for lighting and adding a sophisticated network of connections for phone, Internet connections and state of the art security. Next drywall will be put up and trim moldings installed that will mimic the original and ready for painting. For those interested in the historical nature of the Welwood, we've designed the interior to leave much of the original "poured-in-place" concrete walls exposed just as it was when the Welwood first opened in February 1941. The final drawings and finish specifications for the custom cabinetry, tables and seating have been completed and final tweaks to their concepts have been approved by the three stakeholders, the PS Library, the Bureau of Tourism and the Historical Society, who will each share the space and maintain the building's operations. In the weeks to come, the old (and new) concrete floor will once again return to a stained concrete finish in a grey green color. Special pendant lighting fixtures and wall sconces are being fabricated especially for the interior and will feature LED illumination. And a few extra special surprises to the interior will surely delight the locals when those details are revealed. What some have noticed is the Welwood has a fresh coat of paint on the exterior walls, a desert-ivory tan color, with window and door frames repainted to their original dark chili pepper color. Every resident in Palm Springs should be very proud of the work that is going on in this historical location. And the determined efforts of many are making this building into the a focal point it once was. When complete, the Welwood will be a place to meet up with friends and family and a place to catch up on the latest news. For tourists, it will provide resources on hotels, restaurants and places to do and see when in town. For researchers and historians, there will be a special place to learn even more about the century of progress in Palm Springs and in the Coachella Valley. Check back soon for updates as the rehab work continues on the Welwood Murray Memorial Library Building Renovation in the weeks to come.
By Michael A. Thomas, FASID, CAPS For more than twenty years, I have been "secretly" encouraging my clients to accept certain design elements that increase safety and security so that they might choose to remain in their home for as long as they desire. After all no one ever wants to think about the unexpected occurrence but things do happen in life. And after all,...know one wants a "gas station-style grab bar" hanging around in a bathroom. ohh...yuck. As such, I specialize in keeping client secrets.... creating design plans that provide client spaces with a handsome design and all the while supporting their personal independence. Such is the case with one Palm Desert, CA client that had a bathroom that needed help. Cabinets were drab. Lighting was abysmal. And one of the smallest phone booth-type showers I can recall seeing for a master bath. ( Seriously !! ) As we discussed the options, it did not take long for her to grasp the idea that by incorporating certain features in the bathroom, she could certainly have it all.... a "wow" kind of space, one that would be more effectively arranged and one that would allow her to "age in place." While this project required the interior be gutted, it also provided the opportunity to move the shower to a new location, make it much larger and add several great features : a European entry, a teak bench, off-set water controls making it easier to turn the water on before stepping inside, dramatic lighting, a featured divider of glass blocks and a quite handsome "balance bar" on a stacked-slate accent wall. Other features include a lowered make-up counter area with a teak bench next to a soak-style tub; a medicine cabinet that sits right on the counter making it much easier to reach; an abundance of lighting from a variety of sources; and an open area for the toilet-bidet combo unit surrounded by awesome color and great art - and a balance bar. Now that the space is all done, one would never know about our little secret: a bathroom designed to be more than just pretty. While it features high style cabinetry and floor and counter finishes that are easy to maintain, this interior was designed to support the needs of the client, no matter age or ability. (Psst.... and I bet you'd never know it.) That is the key to successful "aging in place" design.... a design that is transparent, functional, safe and secure. Of course, it must be great looking. But just don't tell anyone. They might want one, too. By: Michael A. Thomas, FASID, CAPS For the last several months, I've been working on the interior design of an existing residence in South Palm Springs with two quite special clients. It has been an interesting journey so far and as the project is coming to a conclusion, I started to reflect on the relationships created between client, designer and the design of the house. While the high-end residence built just five years ago had good bone structure, the interior clearly was showing its age. The interior had been finished poorly and filled with one too many faux-modern and fake-classic pieces by the previous owner. The result was a feeble attempt at design that made the interior look more "staged" than a real home designed to be lived in by real people. • Funny or maybe not so funny.... I see a lot of interiors just like that,... images published in shelter magazines that try to suggest that a house actually has real people living in real spaces, that it functions as required and that it has an individual personality, not one that mimics interiors from days gone by. Often they come off looking like they are furnished by Ikea over a long weekend. Initially, we all seemed to struggle with finding a key direction for the project and design. But one thing was clear: the clients expressed a desire to have a visually stimulating yet timeless space and one that would work with their collection of unique art. A multitude of ideas were floated. Raw concepts were sketched. Detailed drawings made. And eventually after a couple of critical meetings, a vision was created and plans began to take shape, one that would transform the old interior into a warm, inviting and sophisticated contemporary environment. But there was much work ahead for the clients who moved to the desert valley from Los Angeles last year. First, a neutral color scheme was determined and approved that ranged from black to white and all grays in between, one that would not compete with the art yet form a solid background. The peachy beige stacked stone walls that extend from the exterior into the interior thru large expanses of glass walls were stained a multi-toned grey. In the bedrooms, the commercial carpeting was ripped up and replaced with hand-selected, hand finished 24" square slate in a tone that can only be described as as a "raw steely" color. The quite awkwardly scaled original fireplace wall in the living room now features angular panels of brushed stainless steel and a hearth and mantel of highly polished absolute black granite. Existing kitchen cabinets previously stained in a washed out chocolate are now refreshed in a deep charcoal color. Furnishings were carefully selected based on their style but also on their scale as the angled ceilings rise above the floors some 16 feet in the entry, living, dining and kitchen areas. For instance, the dining room chairs are nearly five feet tall and provide a bit of visual whimsey to the space in their bold grey, silver and white vertical stripe covering, much to the delight of the clients. An overtly large white glass apple on the 66" glass dining table repeats the use of items that seem to be larger than life.... like something from the Wizard Of Oz. New built-in wall shelves of black granite are a repeating theme in the interior, defining areas of interest and highlighting places for art and accessories. They pierce the walls at acute angles while echoing the same multiple angular design seen in the home's architecture and to a degree, making connections to the angles of the mountains and desert just outside the windows. Diverse three-dimensional wood, metal and stone sculptures along with stimulating wall art like the one (above on the left above ) of a gang of "upside down people" crafted on sheets of lucite beckon guests to begin their exploration of the residence. Halls also provide exceptional spaces for installing art by creating strong focal points and incorporating lighting from a combination of sources: natural daylight thru windows, LED can lighting and tubular-style skylights from above. The extensive patio deck, one with a front loaded curved pool, now has a face of fine Italian porcelain tile in a dove "greige" accented with a companion steel gray tile at the water line providing a low maintenance finish and nearly seamless appearance. The landscaping follows the same philosophy as the interior with a minimum of desert plantings and furnishings. While there are a few remaining pieces to be installed and a select number of fine art yet to hung, the clients are most pleased with the results and glad to be living once again without the construction debris and team of workers.
"Thank you so much for helping us with this house. When people ask, we always tell them that you were always right in the all the important decisions." - JS + CQ Actually the success of this interiors project was about the team work that occurred among the clients, contractors, me and, of course, the house, each with their own personality and contributions; a team built thru constructive conversations about what how it would function, how it might look, and what it would take to make both happen. What is it that makes planning for the future so challenging? Is it that we fail to take the time to plot and scheme? Is it that we are afraid that we might get it wrong? And why is it that some people make planning out their lives, their careers, their vacations in vivid detail like it was second nature? Recently I learned news from a client that got me to thinking about the real benefits and value of planning ahead before one is forced into making plans, occasionally due to unexpected happenstance and very often, plans that are made with haste. Take this client for instance. A fall from a short ladder in their home was certainly unexpected but as she remarked during a call with me this week, she stated in her very Southern drawl to me,… “not to worry.” Thankfully, there were no broken bones, just a facture, a concussion and a lot of bruises and a few days in the hospital but she was able to skip out on the traditional rehab process. One reason for the very short stay in the hospital and quickly home was that her residence had been designed to increase her personal safety and security. And by having such “universal design” features built in, she didn’t have to go into a rehab facility, heading instead back to the comfort of her own home to recuperate. And the prescribed physical therapy she would need would be provided in the comfort of her bed and bedroom. I will gladly take part of the credit for helping her to make this short trip from hospital to home because ten years back, I educated her on the value of planning and plotting for the future and by making plans for the unexpected such as the way the interior was designed. And during the interior remodeling process, I ensured that certain design elements would be incorporated into the spaces just in case something might occur in the future. Wider doors and halls, a European entry to her master bathroom shower, textured tile flooring, balance bars securely installed in appropriate locations and a nearly flat and level entry path all the way from the car to the front door all added up to a home design that accommodated her short-term disability. Best thing about the home perhaps is that you’d never realize that all those design elements were expected to perform when the unexpected occurred, each quietly in the background all these years, as transparent to the eye as clear glass is to a window. While it is not something many like to consider, things like this can and do happen. After all, making quick decisions is not something one should be doing just after an accident or responding to a critical health issue such as a stroke. Planning one’s home for the future is just as important a task as having health insurance or executing a financial plan to support retirement. It just makes common sense. Towards the end of the call with my client, she told me the accident had forced her to cancel her much anticipated trip to Australia this fall, one that she had been planning for at least a year. “ah,…That’s a bummer.” I replied. She quickly retorted with a great quote by Allen Saunders, an author and cartoonist, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” I smiled knowing that she was absolutely right and that she was probably already planning and plotting for Australia for next spring. And I was glad that my interior designs provided comfort when she needed it most. But that is what interior design does. Interior design is much less about how a space looks or the colors we choose. It is more about the connection it makes to the clients and their lives. |
Michael is an award winning interior designer based in Palm Desert, CA. He is a Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers and a member of the ASID College of Fellows.
As a Certified Aging In Place Specialist, he creates smart looking spaces that are safe and secure and create homes for a lifetime. And with thirty plus years in the profession, he has honed his humor, elevated his passion for design and sharpened his wit to not take anything too seriously except his design work. Archives
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