Felicia in Lampworksland

We are venturing into a new genre of design.  Here we are in the Lampworks Showroom, installing a new storefront window for the Fall/Winter season.  Our vision for this window was based on the origin of our company name, Art de Triomphe.  Instead of designing something based on everyday Americana, like a picnic among pumpkins and wagons, we decided to add a European flair by creating the feel of dining in a Parisian courtyard.  But we didn't stop there!  To be more creative we turned the world upside down, so there is no sense of time or place.  (A Nod To Alice In Wonderland) 

And what may have seemed like an ambitious task, with a great team, we were able to bring it to fruition.  To catch a glimpse of how our design is evolving, look at the photos below.

"The guys with the brawn of Window 25"

"The girls-Angela, Jill, & Dorris of Faux Time Design"

"The crew"

"Alex & Victor posing before hoisting this gravel on the wall"

"Felicia hanging the sky"

"The view from inside the showroom"

"Ingredients: Faux rock walls by Faux Time Design, Moss & Curly Willow by Gramercy Park Flowers, &Lights

=Magical"

But it's not over yet. Stay tuned for the finished window..........

What Is A Designer Showhouse?

I often get asked the question “What is a Designer Showhouse”?  The answer is about to be explained. The short of it is that a Designer Showhouse is typically a space (home, townhouse, condominium, or estate) that is given to selected designers to decorate.

The truth is there is a lot of work that goes behind the scenes to get the finished product the public and media get to see. Like any project a designer tackles one has to create a floor plan and then a design concept. Next the designers need to start thinking about which resources to use. More often than not even when a designer thinks the plan is coming together there are obstacles; for example, the fabric selected won’t be in on time to make production, shipping is costly because it is coming from overseas, freight will take too long because the item is on the west coast, another item is out of stock, the list goes on and on. To get the room to look what the designer envisioned is extremely demanding.

As a designer these are what we call “design challenges”. Contrary to magazines claiming that Designer Showhouses are wonderful because there are no clients to impose what the design concept will be, the challenges can be even harder since there are trades to coordinate and a tight time crunch involved before it is open to the public, in addition to the complications mentioned above.

However, in the end when the room has finally come together thanks to helpful resources and a great support staff it is worth it in the end to see the final product. The satisfaction is bar none!

 ...If you haven’t heard this week is Fashion Week in NY at Lincoln Center. I have the privilege this year to be in a very unusual showhouse. This Showhouse pairs Fashion Designers with Interior Designers to design a space that is inspired through fashion.
The Showhouse is at the Aldyn 
(an Extell property in the Upper West Side) 
at 60 Riverside Blvd. 

It opens to the public September 21^st. 
For more information click on this link http://www.editoratlarge.com/interiordesignevents/american-fashion-designers-at-home-showhouse

Can’t wait to see you there!

Felicia

Tackling Those Summer Projects

When it comes to your own home – where to begin can be overwhelming. Here are some tips that may help the task be a little less daunting. Before you do anything- grab a pen and pad of paper. Start at the top floor and work your way down. You may want to divide this into several days so you can tackle these projects without getting overwhelmed- one floor for each day.

The upstairs rooms are typically the bedrooms and bathrooms. Analyze what needs to be done in terms of work to the room.  Look at the walls- do they need touch ups or complete repainting? How about the windows? Are they functional- or do you need to call someone to fix them? Try turning on the lights and lamps- do any need bulbs replaced or is it a case of calling the electrician? Now open those drawers and purge! Ask yourself these questions: Has this been worn in the last two years? If the answer is no- then donate it!! There are many foundations that will come right to your home and pick it up. Take a look at your closet – turn the hangers backwards on the clothes you haven’t worn in a while- if you don’t wear them in the next four months and the hangers are still backwards – time to get rid of this too! Assess your shoes are they worn out- send them to the shoemaker, but don’t waste the money if they are out of style. Getting rid of all this will help you find that much needed extra space in your closet. With organized drawers and a spacious closet; getting dressed will no longer be a stress factor. One of my favorite closet companies is http://www.affordableclosetsplus.com

Next tackle the bathrooms- same concerns as the bedrooms- is the paint peeling off the walls? Try contacting www.stevespaintinginc.com. Are the towels fraying? Do the bath rugs seems to have lost their fluffiness? Invest in good linens. Not only will they last longer, but nothing compares to the luxurious feel. Leron linens www.leron.com are excellent quality. I just used them on the bed in the Designer Showhouse of NJ. See the bed for yourself by clicking http://www.artdetriomphe.net/portfoilo/view/id/3/showhouses

Time to hit the ground floor. Survey your entertaining rooms (dining room, living room, great room, etc.)Do the carpets need cleaning? Before you do that-wipe all the moldings down. Clean the tops of bookcases, take the contents off the shelves, and wipe the shelves down. Another design tip when you put the items back on the shelves, assess what really works and what doesn’t. Keep in mind that often “less is more”. Maybe you can stack the books horizontally or group items together so it forms a collection. Rearranging accessories can give a room a lift.

Now hone in on the floors used more on a regular basis. The bathrooms and kitchen are always the rooms with the heaviest traffic. Does the grout need to be cleaned or your counters re polished? Then contact Amalfi, he’s the best in the business www.gilbertoamalfi.com

 Sometimes freshening up a space could be as simple as creating new pillows. Check out this website www.window25.com.  

Last place to tackle is the basement. Many people use this as “their dumping ground”. Try to consolidate what you really need and place like things together. It would be ideal to have a storage closet with shelving –contact www.closetsbydesign.com  For example if you keep holiday accessories make a shelf with all your holiday accessories (which should be organized and in good condition- if you read my last blog). Label the edge of the shelf “Holiday” so you can easily identify it. The same idea could be used for seasonal items except your label on that shelf should be labeled “Seasonal” etc. Try and do this approach for everything else whether it’s toys or luggage and you will soon find you are a lot more organized. Now not only is your home free and clear so is your conscience to enjoy the great outdoors!

Winter Blues? There's Lots to Do!!

Although it is snowy outside and winter seems like it is never going to end, believe it or not spring is right around the corner. Instead of using these dull winter days to “clean out the attic or organize the garage” think differently.
Now that all your holiday parties are over evaluate what around your home needs repair. This way you will be ready for next year’s entertaining. Create a checklist of what items you actually used during the holidays and then inspect them. Look at your stemware- are there chips on the rims? What about your china? Did some of your silver cutlery accidentally end up in the garbage? You can replace it by visiting the website Replacements, Ltd. Click here to follow the link http://www.replacementsltd.com/
Don’t stop there. What about your furniture- are there stains that don’t come out? Instead of trying and damaging it further click herehttp://www.fiberseal.com/ . Does your woodwork need repainting or wallpaper need to be changed – painters are easier to hire now that it’s winter try one of my favorites here http://stevespaintinginc.com/.
Your list may be overwhelming at first so my suggestion is try to tackle one or two things on the list each day – you will surprise yourself when you see how quickly it will all get done. Just think by the time Spring crops us- you will be able to enjoy the outdoors and not be stuck inside “Spring Cleaning”!