Details

de·tail     /dəˈtāl,ˈdētāl/

Whether used as a noun or a verb we all know that “the devil is in the details”. Not to overlook or under appreciate the smallest of these cleverly employed edifications I decided to create a “detail page” to showcase all of the special accents that are easily lost in the larger composition of an entire room.

Everyday items can also be elevated into a distinctive category, a cutting board, a mortar and pestle, china, pottery, cache pots can all be part of a vignette that tells a story.

A typical china cabinet, not just for china in my interiors but ginger jars, small art, books mixed with china, crystal and silver trays. Details should not be static. By mixing varying items energy is created.

I believe part of the intrigue for me is how to make something so small a perfect detail. It is the artisan’s hand to create, the designer’s use of such and the photographers eye to capture.

When working with photographer’s I strive for the perfect placement of the intimate finishes in the styling process. It’s not always about a rug or a sofa but the final touches that are put in place to take interiors from the ordinary to extraordinary.

For instance: a pillow is a lovely addition to a piece of furniture but add fringe, cording or simple flange and you have elevated the object.

A knob is not just a knob or a tassel just a tassel it is the execution of such layering that pleases the eye of the discerning viewer.

It could be the antique Eiffel tower scale that sits on the kitchen mantle on Main Street or the carved Zodiac plaques over the settee in the Woodland foyer, or a simple shell ~ these are moments, moments that create a mood that has an effect on the overall finished gems I call interiors.

The bronze sculpture of the mother elephant with baby under a tree ~ turned into a lamp. Well, not everyone has one of those. The detail is the rarity of the art object. Exclusivity and the one of a kind aspect are always something I strive for in my interiors.

Using details in unexpected ways is always very satisfying. A bowel filled with a group of antique bocce` balls, a butchers scale, flowers arranged in a soup tureen are a few. I especially love to incorporate items that no longer are used in our everyday life such as stirrup cups, biscuit boxes, sugar shakers and white creamery jug ware. Items such as these where commonly used in the 18th and 19th century. Out of place and out of time brings attention to the detail in an unexpected nature.

There is the high low styling of details that can be very successful mixing everyday common items such as a basket with a sterling silver or Herand with pewter platters is very inspiring.

Everyone knows my love of all things small. I have my own collections of various items, from a child’s tea set to snuff boxes to enamel plaques that were used to identify business in Paris. I am especially fond of the simple birds nest. The architectural details that the birds create are mind bending. I enjoy mixing organic elements into the design process. It gives rooms a sense of grounding in history.

Art, Plants and books are my singular obsession. Every interior must have these. A vision of books speaks to the personality of it’s owner. Plants breathe life into an interior.

The composition of the details (like poetry), art objects, books, boxes and flowers are what tell the story. Given a dab hand at arranging multiple objects can create a conversational storm ~ telling a larger detailed story.

When the hammers are put down, installation begins for all of the beautiful items we have collected. It is magical the way it all comes together.