Install of the Day !

Howdy . .

I have been so looking forward to Shannon Avason's install and I give her major credit for doing this at the beginning of the holiday season.  But now that it's installed with a week to spare, she can sit on that new sectional, take a deep breath and enjoy the space (literally) for the holidays.  I take all the blame for the last minute pre-holiday craziness.   You see, while standing in her kitchen trying to look around a big, fat wall into the family room we were re-doing, I said . . . "we should take that wall out." We did.  I called my contractor and the demo began right at Thanksgiving.  Demo is always a drag, it's dusty, a pain, and throws your routine off, but the outcome - totally worth it.  Her space seems huge now with the wall down and all the new lighter colors.

When Shannon came to me wanting to update her family room I knew it would be a fun job.  I did her "lego" inspired kid's bonus room about two years ago and she was game for whatever I threw out there and this project was the same.  She's open to new ideas, colors, and when it came to all the details, she let me surprise her with a full vision, I love that.

It was time to leave the dark and heavy colors behind and bring in the crisp, light and clean look.  All the pieces I chose reflected her fun personality, while being kid and George friendly.  George, the funniest bulldog you will ever meet.  So without further chatter, take a look at the finished product.

This space all started with the rug and window fabric I chose.  With such a gorgeous view of the lake I wanted to bring the outside in.  I then took both 2 boys and a big bull dog into consideration with the leather sectional.  This particular leather has a slight distress finish, so any kid and dog scuffs wouldn't be too noticeable.  The ottoman too is covered in a tough vinyl and has a more interesting leg shape.  There's nothing my upholster can't do for me.  With the TV to the side both chairs swivel which was as must for all those boys.  The main thing about this room is the wall and bookcase color.  We went from a dark khaki and even darker khaki bookcase to light grey and white.  Major difference.

It's all about unique shapes, textures and details in this space.  The console table has a hammered metal top with distress wood legs, the nail heads on the ottoman define the shape and the rug - a high / low pile in a bright green and cream pattern.

I had fun styling her bookcase with lighter, more whimsical accessories included a wire "bulldog" as one of my gifts to Shannon for being such a joy to work with !  I shopped her house for a few thing of sentimental value and then filtered in a few more pieces.

photos by mekenzie france

Where did it all start?  With design boards showing a new look.  I love the response I got when I emailed these to her and her husband Frank... simply "love it, I am so excited, when can we start."  I think that was it . . . trust factor . . .  high.

Shannon and I wanted to change all the tan, all the heavy, all the furniture and I think we accomplished that.  

Big change I would say !

Merry Christmas Shannon . . . it was a fun - day and thanks for dealing with the demo mess !!!

Stay tuned for install no. 2 we managed to pull off same day  . . . a fun bonus room on a whole other lake . . .

Spotlight: Rebecca Hossack Gallery, NYC

Hey There . . .

Thank you The English Room's Holly Phillips.  I read and love your blog and on this early Sunday morning before my day kicks in I came across your recent NYC Jaunt post.  First of all - jealous, second of all - noticing we gravitate towards the same neighborhoods and sights in the Big Apple.  One thing I didn't know about was Rebecca Hossack Gallery on Mott Street.  I am adding that to my list of "Don't Miss" the next time I am up there . . .

The artists they represent are pretty awesome, I would be hard pressed to not fall in love if I were to walk in there.  Thanks again Holly for the mentioning Peter Clark's collage work.  I am a huge fan of that type of mixed media so I hit the gallery site immediately.

Peter Clark's work uses an amazing array of vintage papers and other collected materials creating these captivating, whimsical pieces.  He is best know for his dog and animal images which I love, but I also noticed these . . . pretty great !

Not able to splurge on one of these, his book might do the trick on the coffee table for the time being !

I am having the best time wondering through all the works represented at Rebecca Hossack.  Another artist that caught my eye, Piers Bourke.

Combining photographic images ". . . extracting images and assembling them without regard to the normal external work," he explains.  Attending school in Chelsea, Bristol and London, this 35 year old has a great eye and I love these in particular.  His work also include furniture and commission pieces.

Piers Bourke

Oohh... take a look at Allyson Reynolds . . . love.  Her bio say "Allyson Reynolds paints moths."  Well these moths, and their large scale has achieved an international reputation.  Allyson lives in Queensland, Australia and her technique (painting wet on wet) does ideally suit her subject.

She does have a book out there, available through blurb.  It's a large, hard cover and was published for the first for her exhibit at Rebecca Hossack for the exhibition of Moth Song in 2012.  Another great coffee table beauty.

And lastly, Klaus Enrique.  Ok - crazy genius.   Born in '75 - Mexico City, studied genetics in England, received an MBA from Columbia NYC, then turned to photography - studying at Parson's.

I first checked out his site after seeing his work showcased at Rebecca Hossack and took a deep breath . . .

. . . then I read more about him in Muse Magazine.  His show (Oct - Nov this year at RHG) was spotlighted on the press page  . . . "Mr. Enrique may be lucky in that his style and idea comes from so lofty a place.  Was it Picasso who said that "good artists copy, great artists steal?"  If that is so, then Enrique is a great artist; the idea came from 16th century Italian portrait painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo who, tired of painting the same faces of bored aristocrats, decided to make portraits of people using vegetables or fruit.

His process is to first stage the photo by arranging fruit, flower petals or grains and in the case of Darth Vader .. butterflies.   He captures the moment before it is lost.  In my opinion, sculptor, photographer, and crazy clever.  The epitome of my view that an artist's mind makes the world a brighter place.

wow . . .

Ok.  This concludes my Sunday morning moment  - for me, I need to head to the office to wrap my brain around the four installs we are doing next week - yeah . . . I need to take a deep breath, but at least I know I have a team that will not stop in helping me pull it off.

Thanks again Holly for steering me in such a happy direction !

Nothing Like a Man in Uniform . . Go Army !

Hey There !

Today is the perfect day for a football game - inside that is.  We've got football food going and we are in the first quarter of the Army-Navy game in Philly.  Today will be the day.  After, I won't even say it... a few years ...  Army is due for a win !  But ok if that is not in the cards, watching the tradition is what I love.

You see, my Dad went to West Point.  Class of '61.  The black, grey and gold has been a part of this family forever.  He tells his stories of "the mole patrol", walking the area, the "definition of leather" and "how's the cow?"   I even went to a dance or two in Eisenhower Hall back in the day.   I am here to say, when you walk into a sea of grey uniforms, your heart stops a bit.   There really is nothing like a man in uniform.   It kind of takes your breath away.  Game days are events and nothing is a bigger event than the Army-Navy Game.

summer of 1961 - mom and dad

If you talk tradition, you'd be hard pressed to find any institution with as much history as the two that face off today.

A game of this magnitude has some pretty interesting stories of the lengths cadets and midshipmen go in order to preserve these great traditions.  Here are three  I love and have hear over the years, but so well written by Stix Symmonds for the Bleacher Report . . .

The March-On.  There is something about a uniform.  Nothing tugs at the soul quite like seeing these young men (as as of '75 women) marching in sharp uniform with military precision.  As each academy enters the stadium they are lined up in tight rows and columns, conscious of every movement, from the distance of their step to the arc and travel in the swing of their arms.  If anyone has ever seriously conducted Drill and Ceremony drills, you would know that the amount of attention to your body movements required is immense.  When it all comes together, it's a spectacle of discipline.

Honor the Fallen.  At the conclusion of each game, the teams meet in the center of the field.  Both teams first turn to the stands containing the fans of the defeated team, and they sing that teams alma mater.  Then, both teams turn to the side of the victors and return the favor of their fans.  It's a clear sign of solidarity and mutual respect. Nowhere in college football does this happen outside of this game.  It's the greatest display of sportsmanship you will ever see!  It is a reminder that, while the rivalry is as deep as any other in the nation, these two teams are ultimately on the same team.  Away from the field of collegiate competition, they serve side-by-side in the deadliest game of all, national defense.

Prisoner Exchange.  Where else would find a taking of prisoners?  Well, the military of course.  Where else would find students swapping schools for a semester just for a football game?  Only the military.  This is exactly what happens between Army and Navy.  During their junior year, selected midshipmen and cadets spend a semester "in enemy territory" attending the opposition's institution until game day, when they are returned to their own side during the prisoner exchange.  This tradition is not only involved, it's mutually beneficial.  The selected cadets and miss get a taste of life and training from the view of their brothers-in-arms.  It fosters mutual respect and helps open the gates of communication between rival entities!

As my tribute to the grey, black and gold, and the simple fact I cannot just do one thing at a time while I sit on the big ole sofa with the men in my life screaming around me . . . I am pulling my favorite colors of the day . . . and all things West Point !!!

all available at www.lucyandcompany.com, except the cadets.

Game on . . . .