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SHOW-HOUSE // FAUX-CLIENT
A showhouse is unique in that it provides a designer with the freedom to create a space that is bound only by her innovation and talent. With a project that lacks a scope of work and a flesh-and-blood client, we find it important to invent a narrative to guide our design concept. At Huntley & Co. we create a “faux client” to serve as muse during the showhouse process. We have been blessed with some pretty wonderful clients throughout the years, but our Faux Clients 2016 definitely have us crushing hard! dc interior designer Concept Development______________ Washington DC is a city filled with people of varied and interesting backgrounds. Our…
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HARDWARE – THE ESSENTIAL ACCESSORY
Those who won in Rio can be found post-games posing with their hard-earned medals (gold, silver and/or bronze) at news conferences, talk shows and celebrity events. Olympic hardware is pretty delicious — and not just because the athletes like to take a playful chomp during photo-ops — the heft and quality of the medals is obvious. That’s why hardware is one of my favorite elements in design. Well-crafted hardware not only looks good, if feels good. Handling a door knob or drawer pull that’s cast and detailed to perfection is like nothing else. Install beautiful, substantial hardware throughout a residence and the home will have guaranteed gravitas and soul. MAKE…
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The Floors Beneath our Feet
Like a painter preps his canvas, a good designer attends to the bones of a room before honing in on its decorative elements. We make strategic shifts in proportion, tone, and detail, both subtle and grandiose, when thoughtfully designing a space. A beautiful wood floor is one such essential element that has the power to really make our rooms sing. We’re always told to “look up” or “look forward”, as a kind of mantra to mindfulness, happiness and all things good. Well, I say “look down” because there’s beauty and inspiration to be had at your feet! Our design studio becomes a laboratory for deep diving, where…
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Tableaux
There are only two things in this world of which I will never tire. One, cute animals. And two, vignettes. It’s true, nothing snaps me out of a bad mood faster than a cleverly styled tabletop or an otter eating lettuce on Youtube. Vignettes I love because they can be pulled together in minutes. I love them because everyday things – a branch from the yard, a child’s toy, a vintage teacup – always make them more interesting. I love them because they have personality. I love them because they’re artistic and inspirational. I love them because they make me happy … even sans otter. A favorite vignette from…
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The Truth About Romance
Romance for me is all about atmosphere. It’s not necessarily defined by luxury and indulgence (although that works too). It’s more about a warmth that is at once alluring and thoughtful. And it can be found anywhere … Listening to a sexy mix on Pandora; alone on a cold night next to a roaring fire; at a breathtaking art exhibit; overlooking a misty river; in a tiny shop tucked away in a gritty part of London; or, of course, cozied up with your loved one in a hotel suite for the weekend. The misconception about romance is that it’s exclusive to those with a black Amex or a wedding band. It may smack a bit of “personal…
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mad for plaid
I was talking with a girlfriend recently about her upcoming wedding. “I’m thinking about incorporating tartan,” she said. “I know that’s probably not your thing as a designer.” Au contraire! I can’t get enough of checks and plaids. Everything about them appeals to me — the geometry, the endless color combinations, the nod to Midwest traditionalism. I have incorporated a check or plaid in nearly every Huntley & Co. project and have plenty of it in my closet as well. The evidence of my ongoing love affair can be seen below. You don’t have to be Scottish, traditional, Midwestern or preppy to love these patterns … fall is upon us, so…
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East Wing Inspiration
I was hungry for some inspiration this past week and decided to break from my routine, play hooky and hit a local museum. I walked through the National Gallery’s East Wing on Wednesday – one of the many world class museums that just happen to be in my ‘hood – and soaked up the amazing collection of modern sculpture they have on display. Giacometti, Calder, Bertoia … delicious. An enormous mobile by Calder hovers above the light filled central space. Artist Richard Long assembled rough cut blocks of slate to form an elegant circle on the main floor. A guard stands watch for those visitors tempted to disturb the work.…
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THE BEST OF LA // DESIGN
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Mother Nature, The Original Muse
I created the inspiration board below for a client this week. The concept of “bespoke-modern-organic” is specific to this particular project, but it’s also an underlying theme I try to channel in my work. I often find that design is at its best when it is inspired by something true and natural. And I don’t mean conservative. Mother nature is not exactly bourgeoisie; she rocks some pretty crazy stuff. She informs some of the most interesting, avant garde art and design. She’s the perfect muse. Samples of stone slabs and my Christmas wrapping from last year. The “bloom” of the coolest plant ever, Asclepias…
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Chez Huntley – update 08/05
A great deal of progress has been made here in the past couple of weeks. The millwork installation – new casing, baseboards and bookshelves – is complete. The painting has been corrected and looks lovely. Lighting fixtures have been installed in the foyer/living room along with simple, modern light switches and receptacles throughout the main floor. I’ve even styled my bookshelves and purchased a new painting for the dining room and a pair of cast greyhounds for the front entry. And as excited as I am to move on to the next layer of furnishings and accessories, nothing is quite as important to good design as getting “the envelope” right. I…
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Personal Shopper – Summer Holiday
I think I could be a personal shopper in another life. It’s like my day job, but with clothes. And with the social calendar of summer in full swing, there are a bevy of opportunities for crafting looks that suit the occasion. The coming holiday weekend alone could demand a half dozen “fashion-scapes”. With that in mind, I have styled four summer looks for my Luxe & Lucid readers. And although my own ensembles typically consist of a mix of labels and price points, each of the outfits below has been culled from a single source or shopping district to make your purchase all the less painless. That’s what…
THE MUSINGS OF DESIGNER TRICIA HUNTLEY
