Add a little New York to your Christmas Decorations

My first trip to New York City was in December of 1971.  I remember standing on Park Avenue looking up at the skyscrapers and being enthralled by everything around me.  It was also the holiday season, and like anyone who has ever visited New York at this time, you might agree that no city does Christmas decorations better than New York.  One especially memorable event that weekend was the Christmas Spectacular show at Radio City.  The high-kicking Rockettes were dazzling.  But when the live camels walked on stage during the Nativity scene, my eyes about popped out of my head.   That did it!

I was in love with New York!!!  And the rest, as they say, is history.  Many years later I finally created a longed-for part-time life amongst those tall brightly lit buildings. 

During a recent visit, many decorations were already on view.  The energy of the city always gets my creative juices flowing.  Walking along the streets and gazing at some of my favorite Christmas traditions in New York, I tried to imagine how you might adapt them to your home this holiday season.

The gigantic tree at Rockefeller Center.  Despite its grandeur, it starts out with lots of bare spaces.  They camouflage them with tons of very large decorations.  There is always a spot on any tree that needs some filling.  Take your largest trimmings - or make some from clusters of ornaments or floral bouquets – and place them back amongst the branches, close to the trunk.

The Swarovski crystal snowflake over the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 57^th Street.

To create the same lustrous effect, dangle lots of small crystals and glittery beaded snowflakes from your dining room or foyer chandelier.  With the light of candles from below, or a small spotlight from the top of a nearby cabinet, you will have your own sparkling display.

The big red bow and ribbon that wraps Cartier’s store front.  Try using large bows to accent your windows, doors and shutters outside.  Inside, place a large red bow at the top of your tree and let streamers cascade down the sides to the bottom.

The first floor at Sak’s Fifth Avenue.  It is a winter wonderland  - an arbor of frosted greenery, white branches and white lights.  Decorate your mantels, mirrors and stairway with clusters of white spray-painted branches, twined with greenery and battery-operated miniature lights.

The table settings at Tiffany’s, Bergdorf’s and Sak’s.  The overwhelming trend everywhere was white, crystal, silver and gold.  Pull out all your candlesticks, bowls and cake plates.  The more sizes, shapes and heights are all the better to create interest.  Use white linens and placemats of varying shapes, layering them on the diagonal.  Intersperse metallic gold and silver ornaments in the containers.

The store windows.    From the time I was a little girl, when my Mother would take my sisters and I downtown to look at the holiday displays, pressing my nose to the glass has always been a highlight of the Christmas season.   Nothing has changed and I am awestruck every year by the windows at Bergdorf Goodman.  The 13-foot high glass cases are a fantasyland.  I had a chance to meet David Hoey, their head designer, and thanked him for his ever-spectacular, over-the-top creations.  Working a year in advance, with a seemingly limitless budget and ability to comb the world for baubles, it would be impossible to recreate these on a home basis.  An example from last year:  A mannequin stood before an assortment of spiral staircases, ranging in scale from dollhouse to penthouse, winding in and out of tiny dioramas.   Mr. Hoey admitted, “It was the most complex window in the history of window display.”  But what inspires me – and we should all try to emulate - is their vibrant style, scale and a definite fearless, “right to the edge” personality.  From the sublime to the ridiculous, walk a few blocks over to Barneys, where the theme is usually a humorous, satirical or even caustic take on celebrities, politics or pop culture.  Last year’s windows featured the 35 years of  “Saturday Night Live.”   Lord and Taylor’s sequence of windows showcase a story line set in historical times.  The animated dolls are costumed in period dress and the interiors are beautifully decorated miniature recreations of historical homes and buildings.

The Waterford Crystal Ball in Times Square.  Although it was fun to experience watching the ball drop in this world famous crossroads one New Year’s Eve, I prefer spending the evening with close friends and family, watching the mayhem on television.   But to add a little sparkle to the evening, indulge in a bottle of great champagne, served in crystal flutes.  Light lots of candles and enjoy the last moments of the holidays.

My toast is for a very blessed Christmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year for you and all your loved ones!

Interior Renovation and Preservation – Part 2

To continue last month’s article, here is the other half of the Top Ten things to remember when renovating your home’s interior.

Sixth, always buy the best you can afford.  If you are truly making an investment in your home, buy good quality.   I don’t believe in many “rules” of design, but there is one that is my mantra “Do it right, do it once and never have to do it again.”  This rule has held many satisfied clients and me in good stead.  This applies to not only the products you buy but who does the work.   I am not totally against do-it-yourself but most projects are best left to the professionals.  A good floor refinisher is worth it.  Certainly the mechanics – electricians, plumbers, and roofers, heating and cooling contractors – are worth every penny.  But get referrals and interview them to make sure they are on the same wavelength when it comes to preserving older homes.   Here’s a personal story as an example.  When a plumber came to install the “new, old fixtures” in our bathroom, he suggested removing the original pedestal sink and replacing it “with a much more convenient vanity cabinet” and oh, by the way, he would be happy to get rid of the old sink.  Needless to say he was out the door and never stepped foot in my home again.

Seventh, be diligent in following what your contractors are doing.  If you don’t have the time to be around when the work is being done, hire someone with some experience in project management.   Mistakes and change orders are costly.  The investment in the service of a professional makes good sense.  More of my time as a designer is spent handling the project than in the original design – making sure the correct products are ordered and received, getting bids from contractors, checking their contracts, overseeing the installation, checking paint colors, and the list goes on.  Be prepared to stand your ground with contractors.  As I stand there with my arms crossed, I often hear an array of excuses from contractors not wanting to follow directions – “That’s not how it’s done.”  “You won’t like it that way.”  And if those don’t work, “It’s going to cost more.”   I think I’ve heard all their excuses.  It’s your home so standup for your decisions.

Eighth, be prepared to live with a mess.   Most of us have to live through our renovation projects.  Draped plastic is only fun for a short time. It is amazing how far a little plaster dust can travel.  My advice is to pack small items away from harm, cover every piece of furniture and seal-off every area that you can.   Then just grit your teeth and bear it.  But do have firm commitments on beginning and end dates, with the exceptions of additional work that becomes necessary during the project.

Ninth, be fair and loyal to your contractors.   Your product suppliers and contractors will be your best allies.  They deserve to be treated with respect, not “nickel and dimed,” and to have their time used wisely.   Make sure you have all the decisions made, necessary work permits on hand and be ready to go.  The golden rule always applies.  If you treat them well they will bend over backwards to help you.   I am still using the same contractors – and usually only those contractors - for 35 years.

Tenth, celebrate your accomplishment.    On my website I have paraphrased an expression that was attributed to Abraham Lincoln.  It says, “A person should be proud of their home and it should be proud of them.”  If you have the heart of a historic preservationist, you always feel like you want to give old homes and buildings lots of TLC.  It takes patience and a lot of blood, sweat and tears.  But all of it is worth it when you and your guests say “WOW” when the project is completed.  Have lots of fun events and parties in your home to celebrate your hard work and accomplishment.

Interior Renovation and Preservation – Part 1

I recently made this presentation during the Historic Preservation Weekend sponsored by the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh.  I volunteer with this organization, advising homeowners as they renovate older homes.

I am not sure how I began my love affair with old homes and buildings.  Perhaps one is born with a “historic preservation gene” or maybe it was some of my relatives’ older homes that intrigued me.  Whatever it was, my late husband, Joe and I agreed we wanted an older home.  It was love at first sight and we moved into our home here in Rosslyn Farms on October 1, 1977.

That began a now 33-year restoration effort.  Little did we know what we were getting in to.   I must be a glutton for punishment because twelve years later, I was captivated by a turn-of-the century Victorian commercial building on the South Side and renovated it for my interior design offices.  That project took ten months of non-stop intensive work

It goes without saying that I could write volumes about my experiences.  Renovation is not for the faint of heart.  I always say when I talk with people about my projects “They are a labor of love with the emphasis on labor.”  I think you have to have the wisdom to know what you can do and what you can’t.   Thankfully Joe had expert knowledge of working with wood and could figure lots of things out on his own.  I learned a lot from observation and from my professional contacts.   What we didn’t know we researched, followed the advice of and hired good contractors.

So this month and next, I thought I would share the Top Ten things I have learned, as well as believe in, when renovating the interior of a home.

First, take your time.  Hopefully you look at this as a long-term investment.  As the saying goes “Rome was not built in a day.”   I think it is always best to live in a home for a while before making changes.   This helps you think about how you use the rooms; what works, what doesn’t; where does the sun come into the rooms throughout the year; what are the priorities; what is your realistic budget?  Patience is a real virtue.

Second, get the advice of professionals.   As you move forward, a real master plan is essential.    I think you would be surprised what a wealth of experience you can tap into for a very reasonable design fee, whether it’s an architect, a designer, a landscape architect, a lighting designer or a general contractor.

From my perspective, a professional interior designer will be objective about your home.  They will have a broad knowledge of styles and a clear idea of what works.   “Eclectic” is not always the answer.  They will tap into your personality and taste and style – bringing creative solutions to the space that you never imagined.

Third, set some budget parameters.  Think about things like “How long do I intend to live here?”  “Am I over-improving the house?”  “What return on investment do I need or expect?”  With this knowledge, your consultants can help you set priorities and make your dollars go as far as possible

Fourth, be prepared for the unexpected projects that interject themselves into your plans. When we first moved into our home, we were excited to finally have a real shower after living with only a bathtub for a while.  Two days later, the old mixing valve for the shower broke.  What to do?  We decided to move up the plans to restore the bathroom and purchase new fixtures that looked like the originals.  When I was renovating my office building, the tin ceiling was one of the things that made me fall in love with the space and I wanted to feature it.  But the building inspector wanted me to remove it because it was not one-hour fire rated.  A compromise was reached with fire rated paint.

Fifth, be prepared for the “may as wells.”  You know how it goes. You are into the project and discover that an additional item (or items) should probably be done at the same time.  The results will look better; it will save money in the long run; and prevent having to go to the project at a later date.

More on the topic next month.  But I want to add a personal note of gratitude to our outgoing editor, Chris Simcic, for the fantastic job she has done with “The Last Word.”  I have appreciated her help in getting my articles published every month.  Thanks Chris!

Arts and Crafts Style

A friend of mine, visiting our neighborhood for the first time, commented how wonderful it was to see such diverse architecture in our homes.  Truly, one of the best parts of living in Rosslyn Farms is that each home has its unique characteristics.

Many of our homes display more than one style, but Arts and Crafts is prevalent in both pre-war and even later built homes in the Farms.  The style actually started in Victorian England in about 1860 when two men - John Ruskin, an art critic and the artist William Morris – founded the British Arts and Crafts movement.  Both men disliked Victorian decoration and they advocated simplicity in color, pattern and design.  Their ideal was a rustic cottage in a natural setting.  They also disliked the rise of the factory and machine made items and encouraged artisans who made objects by hand.

In the 1890’s, the style crossed the pond and American architects, artists and designers began to take up the style.  Some of the earlier interpreters of the style are very recognizable names.  Gustav Stickley, who founded the Stickley Brothers furniture company, edited Craftsman magazine and published house plans and interior designs for this ideal house, the bungalow.  Elbert Hubbard, founder of Roycroft Studio, was best known for hammered copperware.

Architects carried the style to the Midwest where they called it “Prairie School” and on the West Coast, “Mission.”  One of the most famous Prairie School architects was Frank Lloyd Wright.  Just visit Fallingwater and you will see these influences.  In California, Charles and Henry Greene added inspiration derived from Spanish missions.

The key element of Arts and Crafts design was simplicity.  Furniture was stripped down to plain, square lines showcasing the beauty of the wood.  Construction details – tenons, hinges and upholstery studs – were the decorative elements.  The same was true of other decorative items, especially pottery.  Grueby in Boston and Rookwood, made in Cincinnati helped to popularize the style as did tile makers such as Moravian Tileworks in Pennsylvania. (Note: The Cincinnati Art Museum has an outstanding collection of Rookwood.)    The designers drew inspiration in color and motif from nature – landscapes, mountains, pinecones, animals, flowers and leaves.  The colors were mainly earth tones – muted shades of green, brown, yellow, blue and deep reds.  By 1910, Arts and Crafts was the preeminent style in the United States and it continued to be strong until about 1930.  Those dates seem to coincide with many of Rosslyn Farm’s homes built in this style.

Then the style disappeared for a while until – according to some research – Princeton University held a large exhibit of Arts and Crafts design.  A new generation of collectors and designers emerged.  Also, the preservation and restoration movement spiked an interest in the bungalow home.

Fortunately, many companies reintroduced or adapted patterns of the decorative arts.  Some still had the original molds and screens for textiles and wallpapers.  If you are searching for the proper designs to complement your Arts and Crafts style home, there are many companies to recommend.  Some of my favorites for wall coverings and fabrics are Schumacher, Bradbury and Bradbury’s border stencils and Sanderson’s William Morris collection; Rejuvenation, for lighting, hardware and kitchen and bath fittings; and Stickley for some of the finest collections of furniture. 

Many of our neighborhood homes feature fireplaces and mantels in this style. The hearth was more than just an interesting feature in the room.  It was integral to the Arts and Crafts philosophy of home. Tile is one of the most beautiful examples of Arts and Crafts design.  Ceramiche Tile in the West End carries Motawi, who produces true handcrafted tile in rich glazes and matte finishes.

For those of you who are lucky to live in Arts and Crafts home, or for those who are passing by one of them, I hope you have a new appreciation of the warmth and coziness of this important American decorative style.