"Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, create it"
~ Sir Henry Royce, engineer and creator of the Rolls Royce
In one word: Delight.
Delight is defined as a "high degree of satisfaction" or "joy". Life is short. When we have delight in life, our whole outlook changes. When we are fulfilled, we are better positioned to give something of ourselves to others. In short, we exude joy.
Since the beginning of time, mankind has sought refuge from the chaos of the surrounding world. Perhaps this is the basic reason we so love our homes. It's easy to get lost in the doldrums of life. Our homes are often the only places where we have full control over our small universe.
Delight is defined as a "high degree of satisfaction" or "joy". Life is short. When we have delight in life, our whole outlook changes. When we are fulfilled, we are better positioned to give something of ourselves to others. In short, we exude joy.
Since the beginning of time, mankind has sought refuge from the chaos of the surrounding world. Perhaps this is the basic reason we so love our homes. It's easy to get lost in the doldrums of life. Our homes are often the only places where we have full control over our small universe.
From as young as I can recall, I was designing. With all the innocence and naivete of youth, unencumbered by budgets and the laws of the universe, and armed with a No. 2 pencil and piece of paper, I was designing. As time went on, I learned that true value was not only in the relationship of the spaces, but also the relationships of those spaces to their inhabitants. Joy could be found in the details, and every surface and connection offered new opportunities to explore and find joy. Finally, through education and experience, I learned the value of refinement (as well as a few practical things like physics, budgets, construction administration and so on). Refinement is the difference between good design and Great Design, and each project affords more opportunities for perfection.
Elegance is not simply design, but can be found through knowing what to highlight, as well as what to leave out.
Projects often start with a single idea, or even a hodgepodge of disjointed and sometimes amorphous fancies. Through various brainstorm sessions, conversations getting to know a client and learning how a client interacts with spaces, the design of begins to take form. may ideas are generated. Many end up in a trash can. Some make it to the client. Ultimately, through the client-designer relationship, certain elements of the design rise to the forefront and a theme begins to emerge. Finally, this theme is pursued, studied and refined to provide the best solutions for the project at hand.
When building or renovating a home, it's easy to get overwhelmed in the minutia. This is why it is so important to have a professional on board. Whether a new home, addition or renovation, design professionals are part composer and part conductor - they compose the design, orchestrate the details, find ways to communicate them to the contractors, and then humbly take a bow for a job well done. The best get standing ovations and even requests for encores!
Design is about Value. Beauty, enjoyment, comfort and function are all values that good design brings to people's lives everyday. These values transcend monetary values. Many of the values embodied in quality design are felt, and can even be difficult to define. What makes one home make you never want to leave, or even to duplicate the feeling in your own home?
The difference between a builder's "custom home" and a home designed by a professional designer is the difference between a off-the-rack suit or dress, and one handmade and tailored to YOU. Most importantly, a design professional works for you alone, and takes care of all the headaches, unknowns, mistakes and whatever else may happen along the process from design to finished product. He or she usually has a wealth of information about products on the market that you may not even have considered, like a full home automation system that can be operated from your smartphone, or materials and finishes available only "to the trade."
Living in and through spaces that are designed specifically for you, and to who you, is one of the great experiences to be able to enjoy in life - so much so for some that they will start a new project almost before the last has finished. These folks are far and few between, and approach design as a way of life rather than the means to an end.
Most importantly is my desire to make life easier for my patrons. A well-refined design will ultimately lead to a daily life with less effort - a life uncomplicated with clutter, dysfunction and angst. Whether it's framing specific views of the house, or from the house; creating a closet with the proper places for everything from shoes to hats; selecting just the right finish or lighting; or designing spaces for special uses such as in-home gourmet cooking, storing a collection of wines, dining by the pool, or an in- home theater experience, design can make life easier. And fun!
I delight in designing homes, spaces and even objects that bring more joy, comfort, and delight to the daily experience, and make the owners' lives a bit easier. Some call these dream homes. I call them reality. This is why I design.
Projects often start with a single idea, or even a hodgepodge of disjointed and sometimes amorphous fancies. Through various brainstorm sessions, conversations getting to know a client and learning how a client interacts with spaces, the design of begins to take form. may ideas are generated. Many end up in a trash can. Some make it to the client. Ultimately, through the client-designer relationship, certain elements of the design rise to the forefront and a theme begins to emerge. Finally, this theme is pursued, studied and refined to provide the best solutions for the project at hand.
When building or renovating a home, it's easy to get overwhelmed in the minutia. This is why it is so important to have a professional on board. Whether a new home, addition or renovation, design professionals are part composer and part conductor - they compose the design, orchestrate the details, find ways to communicate them to the contractors, and then humbly take a bow for a job well done. The best get standing ovations and even requests for encores!
Design is about Value. Beauty, enjoyment, comfort and function are all values that good design brings to people's lives everyday. These values transcend monetary values. Many of the values embodied in quality design are felt, and can even be difficult to define. What makes one home make you never want to leave, or even to duplicate the feeling in your own home?
The difference between a builder's "custom home" and a home designed by a professional designer is the difference between a off-the-rack suit or dress, and one handmade and tailored to YOU. Most importantly, a design professional works for you alone, and takes care of all the headaches, unknowns, mistakes and whatever else may happen along the process from design to finished product. He or she usually has a wealth of information about products on the market that you may not even have considered, like a full home automation system that can be operated from your smartphone, or materials and finishes available only "to the trade."
Living in and through spaces that are designed specifically for you, and to who you, is one of the great experiences to be able to enjoy in life - so much so for some that they will start a new project almost before the last has finished. These folks are far and few between, and approach design as a way of life rather than the means to an end.
Most importantly is my desire to make life easier for my patrons. A well-refined design will ultimately lead to a daily life with less effort - a life uncomplicated with clutter, dysfunction and angst. Whether it's framing specific views of the house, or from the house; creating a closet with the proper places for everything from shoes to hats; selecting just the right finish or lighting; or designing spaces for special uses such as in-home gourmet cooking, storing a collection of wines, dining by the pool, or an in- home theater experience, design can make life easier. And fun!
I delight in designing homes, spaces and even objects that bring more joy, comfort, and delight to the daily experience, and make the owners' lives a bit easier. Some call these dream homes. I call them reality. This is why I design.
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