October 15, 2013
Shell Chair with wooden arms carved as fishes (Photo by Ted Yarwood)
1. I consider it an honour to be invited into people’s homes and for them to tell me about their passions and desire to make their homes a reflection of themselves.
2. It’s fun - we get to play together. Sometimes we are simply move furniture around, bring up stored furniture in the basement up to the main floor or brainstorm about how to make the space functional and funky, stylish or whatever mood suits you. Sometimes it’s as easy as that – moving furniture and making a room more comfortable and functional.
3. It’s like being a kid again – playing house, making models and looking at the possibilities of your space.
James Janz rearranging furniture in a client's home.
James is massing concepts and building a model home.
4. When clients realize that it is possible to have a home that they are thrilled to come home to and have their friends visit.
White Walls to lighten Basement Office (Photo by Angus Fergusson)
Fabric Upholstered Walls for French Deco design (Photo by Angus Fergusson)
5. That this doesn’t need to be domain of the rich and famous or intimidating in any way. Not everyone has the budget for a major (or a minor) renovation, but, there is room for everyone. A two-hour consult allows you take advantage of experienced, problem solving dynamo-design brains. For me, the best part is the look of relief on my client’s faces when they see what is possible in their space.
6. It pushes me to see new points of view and my client’s interests that I have had no previous exposure to, like one of my clients who collects antique toy soldiers. His collection was stored away in boxes because he didn’t have a way to display it. We jumped to the challenge by designing built-in cabinetry that would ultimately be moved to their country home, yet still work in their historic downtown home.
Built-in White Oak Cabinet with glass door display case above and shelving below (Photo by Ted Yarwood)
7. Every job is always a challenge, new and different (as it should be!). There are some similarities from client to client, but ultimately, it’s about each individual client.
8. I love getting people unstuck. With a few key moves we can get a stalled project moving. See this before and after.
BEFORE - The client's kitchen was cold and outdate.
AFTER - We rejuvenated this kitchen by updating the cabinets with a new paint job and by raising their height. (Photo by Donna Griffith)
9. I get to play like a kid and be inspired by my travels. A great example is the "Elephant Love Tree" that we created for the Gardiner Museum "12 trees for the holidays". The theme was "All things great and small" and as one of the selects designers we were allowed to choose our concept. Having just returned from India, as a Canadian delegate for an interior design trade mission, we we're inspired to respond with a bejewelled giant elephant tree. See some of the images that inspired us and the resulting Elephant love Tree.
The decoupaged elephant head encrusted with jewels, glitter and brass fixings.
Homemade gingerbread ornaments hang from the tree.
Theresa Casey and Kari Serrao with the "Elephant Love Tree."
Inspiration from Theresa's trip to India.
10. Because it combines all my loves and passions: fine art, antiques, history, travel and discovering new talents in art and design.