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Art to Interior
I love art. I considered curatorial studies for a time while in college. During my first exhibit installation, however, I broke two large glass plates protecting a famous photographer’s work. I concluded pretty quickly that “this is probably not for me”. Still, my love affair continued well into my interior design degree and career. There is almost no genre or medium that I don’t appreciate in some way. A 1982 kinetic sculpture and an oil portrait from the 19th century can both stir my senses. It follows then that artwork sometimes informs my designs.
THE STARTING POINT
Essie, Ruby and Ferdinand – Children of Asher Wertheimer, 1902
It’s hard to not love Sargent. His oil paintings are lush, moody and undeniably beautiful. I chose this work as a jumping off point for a media principal’s office for its sophistication and intimacy.
THE INTERPRETATION
The idea here is art as muse. I pulled what spoke to me – the colors, tones, textures and emotions. My design is an interpretation of the painting, not a copy of it.
Our client’s office is entered by way of an anteroom. The space is a waiting area for visitors and serves as a buffer between her office and the staff workplace. The finish selections and air of elegance are derived from the Sergent painting. But as this is a modern woman’s office and a Huntley & Co. interior, we changed tack by mixing genres and funking up certain elements.
– plan & anteroom elevations –
– office elevations –
Our client is a businesswoman and loving mother. She is worldly, feminine and capable – someone who is both interesting and interested. Her combination of sophistication, warmth and strength is part of what has made her a success in her field. With that in mind, we imbued her workspace with a similar sensibility and furnished it with antiques, modern European pieces and an impressive art collection. We think Mrs. Asher Wertheimer would have approved.
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DESIGNING WITH PASSION :: THE COLORS OF VALENTINE’S DAY
I love the colors associated with Valentine’s Day. Red, garnet, blush, pink, plum — they’re all so delicious and sexy. This is a palette that seduces in design, fashion, and even nature. I suggest that you soak in the gorgeous inspiration of our post today, especially if you are spending the holiday sans sig-other. There is no balm for the soul like beauty. Well, that and a really good bottle of pinot noir and dark chocolate.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
** Sources/links for the photos above can be found on our Pinterest page … along with other Valentine’s Day inspiration.
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EDGEMOOR SUNROOM :: THE REVEAL!
The Edgemoor sunroom has been installed! Installation days are such a highlight for interior designers. They represent the culmination of months of hard work, careful planning and patience. Considering this project started in the summer of 2015, we were thrilled to see the room finally come to life. So it is with great delight that we report that the room is even more beautiful than we expected. We always have an idea of how an interior will look, but we can’t necessarily anticipate how it will feel. Being in a space where the architecture, the decor and the surroundings truly sing makes all the trials and tribulations of the previous months disappear. We’re thrilled and our clients are thrilled. Santa couldn’t have brought us a better present for the holidays. Enjoy!
|| Pre-Install Site Review ||
We scoped out the site the day before to ensure that there were no surprises on install day. Thanks to the contractor, all of the construction debris had been removed and the floors and glass were clean. This is a small, but important detail when delivering a room full of fresh, new [and valuable] furnishings. And with a blank slate before us, we were finally able to appreciate all of the beautiful architectural lines and the gracious volume of space.
|| Design is [not] glamorous ||
Installations requires a mix of muscle, troubleshooting and finesse. Pillows get fluffed, furniture placement tweaked, and motorized curtains programmed and dressed. One of the trickier exercises of the day was hanging the porcelain Fenella Elms artwork. Both delicate and heavy — and weighing in at well over 100 lbs — it took four men and two very nerve-wracking attempts to hang it on the wall. Needless to say, we all gave a cheer and a generous sigh of relief once it was in place.
|| A Beautiful Finish ||
Just as we were finishing the installation, the sun came out and cast an ethereal light into the room giving it a magical sparkle. The shadows danced off the porcelain artwork, the plaster walls, and the mother of pearl inlay on the pedestal table top. Simultaneously, the light saturated the drapery with warmth and illuminated the dramatic skylight overhead. Enveloped by so much natural beauty, it’s easy to envision spending hours in this space lounging, reading, socializing or napping.
|| Taking Care ||
Our work here is done! Well, almost. Installations require guidance regarding the care and maintenance of the space. We strive to ensure our client’s satisfaction by giving them the tools they need to enjoy their homes for years to come. Our care packages vary depending on the scope of a project and specific needs of the client. However, they generally include care and maintenance instructions, mechanical specifications and a paint+finish schedule. In this particular case, we also included a separate artwork care package. The art we installed is fragile and valuable, so we provided our clients with handling instructions along with extra porcelain pieces. And of course, we packaged it beautifully in a Huntley & Co. box with ribbon – something befitting the showstopper art piece itself.
We hope you enjoyed following our Edgemoor series. In case you missed anything, check out each phase here, here, here and here. We will be signing off for the next few weeks to enjoy some R&R. We will post again in 2017 with new installations, discoveries and our behind-the-scenes adventures. Until then, Huntley & Co. — and our mascot Nina — wish you and yours the happiest of holidays!
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EDGEMOOR SUNROOM :: PART IV
The Edgemoor sunroom has required patience, perseverance and plenty of blood, sweat and tears (and bones, but I’ll get to that later). After nearly a year of design and planning, construction finally began in early spring. Starting work was both a relief and a thrill.
With a schedule as protracted as this one, there are plenty of progress photos to share.
From start to finish there hasn’t been a dull moment!
— Breaking Ground —
Construction crews arrived at the end of February to dig, set drainage lines and pour the slab for the sunroom. The most dramatic transformations start with a lot of dirt!
— Movin’ on Up! —
Once July arrived, the building finally started to take shape. Remember that patience we mentioned? This phase of the project is all about oversight and troubleshooting as needed. We made several site visits and met everyone from the tile installer to the drapery fabricator to review drawings and inspect details. It may seem unusual to discuss softgoods in a room without drywall, but spotting architectural modifications early allows us, and our workrooms, to modify plans accordingly.
— Finishing Touches —
As you can see in the pictures below, work continued into the Fall. Still, we were happy to have a room with walls, trim, windows and doors — not to mention a massive, one-of-a-kind skylight overhead. With the space enclosed, we were ready for paint and decorative finishes. We enlisted Julia from Monkton Studios (below) to dress the room in a beautiful knockback plaster, adding warmth and subtle dimension to the envelope.
Interior design is often associated with drama. True, but we usually try to avoid it if we
can. Unfortunately, at one of the many site visits, Lindsey fell into an open floor vent
(ahem, a hidden open floor vent that is). Thanks to a broken fibula and fifth metatarsal,
the Edgemoor project is officially going out with a CRASH-BOOM-BANG!
(L) the offending floor vent sans cover; (C) post site visit x-ray; (R) masterful use of the Rollator Walker
… Installation day is TODAY.
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Edgemoor Sunroom :: Part III
Developing a thorough drawing set is critical to the success of all Huntley & Co. projects. It’s the technical backbone of the design, ensuring precision and accuracy. The Edgemoor sunroom features two expansive nano walls, a seamlessly integrated reflecting pool and a dramatic skylight. With fenestrations composing 90% of the room, it was important to consider the furniture and its arrangement carefully. We worked through an endless stream of floorplans to maximize circulation, engage the views and allow for both conversation and lounging. And we selected pieces that spoke to a luxurious “camp” style (think Out of Africa or Lawrence of Arabia). An abundance of comfort promises a room that is open, yet absolutely intimate.
— The Floorplan —
It always starts with the floorplan; a birds-eye view provides a wealth of knowledge. Drawing everything (walls, windows, doors, floor vents, etc.) to the exact measurement is critical. Because an inch can be the difference between a flawless installation and a costly mistake.
As shown in the floorplan above, pulling the furniture into the center of the room creates circulation space.
— The Study of Furniture & Lighting —
Each and every piece that goes into our projects is vetted for size and scale. We collaborate with our vendors to verify, and sometimes adjust, dimensions down to the 1/16″ — ensuring the best possible function and fit.
Drawings above include the custom console and sofas, pedestal table and the Huntley sconce from Urban Electric Co.
— The Perspective Drawing —
Perspectives are exciting because they allow us to “pull a design up” and study the relationship between architecture and décor. The Edgemoor sunroom is visually complex – from the dramatic skylight to all those windows – so it was important to implement décor that would complement, not compete with the envelope. A neutral palette, low slung furnishings and layers of softness add the right amount of quiet.
Our perspective drawing illustrates how open the sunroom becomes when the nano doors are retracted. The layered rugs and sheer drapery panels at the perimeter help create intimacy.A room like this is, without a doubt, a design challenge. Generating meticulous drawings allowed us to tackle the project in an informed, confident manner. With that, seeing our drawings “go vertical” during the construction process is when the real fun begins. Well, typically. Our next post will include on-site progress photos replete with a little unexpected drama. Stay tuned!
xo, Huntley & Co.
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Edgemoor Sunroom :: Part II
Our Edgemoor clients are long-time residents of Bethesda, a neighborhood of beautiful homes, large backyards, and gracious sidewalks. A variety of architectural vernaculars decorate each tree-lined street thereby giving us license to explore a pastiche of design styles. We devoted countless hours and many team meetings to perfecting the architectural and decorative intentions of their sunroom in order to craft a space with the perfect blend of traditional and modern styling. It was especially relevant for us to carefully study how the new sunroom would meet and interact with the landscape, establishing a strong indoor/outdoor feel.
— NEIGHBORHOOD VERNACULAR & INSPIRATION —
The sunroom addition is quite modern and acts as a counterpoint to the traditional envelope of the house. Because of the room’s strong geometry and metalwork, it was key that our interior selections complement and soften the space.
— FABRICS & FINISHES —
Textured linens, verdigrised metal, hand-molded porcelain and mother-of-pearl inlay are layered into the space. Plaster walls, cerused oak, and embroidered trims also add to the tactile, warm design.
This project has seen seasons come and go and reminds us that projects, especially of this caliber, take time. Dozens of hands, ours included, have touched this space. From architects and builders, landscape designers and decorative finishers, to a variety of workrooms and the clients themselves — the phrase “it takes a village” has become especially relevant. We look forward to sharing more with you next week as we get one step closer to the big reveal!
xo, Huntley & Co.
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EDGEMOOR SUNROOM
November is filled with anticipation as the holidays quickly approach and designers clamour to wrap up design projects. At Huntley & Co., we have labored long and hard for one Bethesda client in particular and are eager to put the finishing touches on their remarkable sunroom renovation. Our goal was to create a sculptural, textural space that elegantly captures the spirit of indoor/outdoor living. We will be featuring work product and site photos for this sunroom-cum-lounge in the next several posts. And we’ll reveal the installation around Thanksgiving, so just a little more patience! To give you an idea of the inspiration behind our design, we’ve shared the Edgemoor Sunroom concept board below. Wrap yourself up in the luxe imagery and escape.
xo, Huntley & Co.* Subscribe to our newsletter or find us on Bloglovin’ and you wont miss a thing.
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POM POMS
You wouldn’t think there would be any commonality among design, fashion and a dog’s tail. Pardon? My beloved pup had surgery on her tail recently and her gorgeous, fluffy appendage turned into something of a pom pom. Sad? Yes. Adorable? Absolutely. It reminded me of how delightful pom poms are. It’s something about a shape so perfectly simple encased in fluff. Whether it’s a detail on shoes, trim on drapes or something more unexpected – pom poms just make me happy.
The indefatigable Iris Apfel gets it.
(L) Rebecca de Ravenel wearing her celebrated Les Bonbons earrings; (C) a fanciful canopy by Olive Juice Interior Design; (R) happy yellow Billy Button flowers c/o Lisa Tharp
(L) Ulyanna Sergeenko’s fur “ballerina tutu” purse from F/W 2015; (C) Nina and her post-op tail; (R) Camille Styles’ beautiful berry ice cream cake
My idea of ensemble perfection! Chloe embroidered bomber jacket, jeans and pom pom pumps.
Nina Seuss’ to-die-for, über fashions can be found on her eponymous blog
(L) En Shalle pom pom bag at Pink Chicken NY; (C) Snowball Chandelier by Helen Foot; (R) Shop La Lune baby hat
(L) Mode de Vert seafoam green Summer heels; (C) an unexpected mirror detail at the State Department; (R) black pom pom trim detail in a Huntley & Co. living room
We adore the ice princess charm of this room — a wonderful mix of playfulness, restraint and drama.
This is Glamorous via Flickr
(L) a favorite Jeffrey Bilhuber bedroom; (C) garnet and neutral pom pom iPhone cases; (R) purple alliums in a Huntley & Co. den
(L) winter glamour from Jimmy Choo; (C) a transparent sculpture at The Phillips Collection in DC; (R) a fuschia Robert Allen trim
Winter is right around the corner. That means jackets (hooray!) and the holidays (gasp!). Time to start shopping!
a magical winter cover up from Ralph & Russo
(L) a wreath at chez Huntley; (C) Mingo and Tinks garland; (R) the perfect holiday giftwrap from Anastasia1977
(L) It’s alive! Jung Puppy club cuteness; (C) Elsie Marley DIY Christmas garland; (R) Cox & Cox Cloud Pom String Lights
The pom pom tail has been fun for me, but my furbaby is looking forward to having her fluffy rear back to normal …
The [tail] End!
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show-house // faux-client :: the reveal!
We know you and our fabulous faux clients have been waiting for our big reveal. The design process is nothing, if not, an exercise in patience. From concept to installation, interior design requires vision, tenacity and know-how. It’s a labor of love, but labor nonetheless. So when the time finally comes to present our clients with their dream home, our excitement is hard to contain. This particular dream home is ‘faux show’, but the thrill of the reveal remains the same … So without further ado!
— THE 2016 FAUX HOUSE REVEAL —
[ Our clients seem pleased ]
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— DESIGNER Q&A —
Our Huntley & Co. clients and room may have been crafted from imagination,
but they do speak to the real methodology and design vernacular of our firm’s work.
Here, principal Tricia Huntley, opens up about her influences, the importance
of breaking the rules and the best song to get a party started.
1. What are some of the things that influence you, aside from furniture and décor?
Museums, music, fashion, history, parks/nature, architecture, poetry … those things that are thoughtful, provocative, moving. I like to start with a feeling or mood before I pivot to the tangible aspect of things.
2. What qualities of a room do you most admire?
Substantial hardware and appropriate, expertly executed millwork. I would rather live in an empty house with those two qualities than a shoddy new-build with the best furniture.
3. Design rule you love to break?
Symmetry. I was classically trained so I believe in building a space according to the rules of symmetry. But I also believe that breaking that symmetry in clever, nuanced ways is what brings a room to life.
4. You know these clients will be having many a fete, what’s a good hostess gift?
I love to give sophisticated, unusual candles and fragrances. Aedes de Venustas, Joya and Santa Maria Novella all offer intriguing scents in stunning vessels. And of course, good booze and wine never go out of style. Add a beautiful ribbon with a handwritten tag and you’re done.
5. Rapid Fire!
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It’s been fun, but we need to dash! Our clients told us to get out so they can enjoy their new home ; )
If you want another glimpse at the process, simply click on posts Part I, Part II and/or Part III. And special thanks to our “faux clients” Justin O’Shea and Veronika Heilbrunner. They are the coolest couple on the planet and dream clients fo sho!
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SHOW-HOUSE // FAUX-CLIENT :: PART III
Sourcing goods and materials for our interior fuels our creativity, but drawings take the design to the next level. After all, a room is only as good as it is functional — we aren’t aiming for beauty just for beauty’s sake. Working out our ideas in AutoCAD ensures that we are on target with scale, proportion and spatial relationships. A well-trained designer can evaluate whether a piece will work in a room or not simply by looking at it. Still, transferring its dimensions to paper (or the computer as in our case) ensures down-to-the-1/8” accuracy. Huntley & Co. is a business built on mindfulness and our drawings are the technical backbone of our work.
The Floorplan___________________________
We start with a floor plan, which guides the flow and circulation of a space. With our clients’ penchant for entertaining, it was important to think outside the traditional box and get creative with furniture placement. Our ‘star’ is the four sided bench that beautifully anchors the room. Varied seating arrangements offer opportunities for independent conversations and debate for our clients’ guests who come from a wide range of cultures, professions and political views. The room is meant to be as warm, interesting and thoughtful as the clients are.
The Elevations___________________________
Elevations reveal how a room’s architecture, furnishings and art will work together. A space won’t look or feel good if there are too many masses, it’s too ‘leggy’, everything is at the same level or the values are off-balance. Deep-diving the millwork, fenestrations and other details gives us the platform we need to make good decisions. Not to mention that “pulling the design up” and seeing it come to life happens to be pretty exciting ; )
The Presentation Board____________________
The presentation board is our opportunity to showcase the tactility of a room. Ambience is affected by the ratio of soft vs. coarse, understated vs. luminous and natural vs. refined materials and textures. We wanted this space to feel glamorous, but totally approachable with an air of intelligent wit. With that in mind we combined fibers like linen, seagrass and rushing with velvet and damask. Then we took it a step further by incorporating lacquered leather, eelskin and electric-colored cowhide. This is a luxurious space where you can kick up your feet and have fun!
The Response___________________________
And because these are the dreamiest of clients, they love everything and will TAKE IT ALL! Orders are placed and construction begins. This next phase is about site visits, management, coordination, follow-up and a lot of patience. But we’re getting our hands dirty and seeing our workrooms do their magic — so we love it!
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Tune in next week for a fun Q&A and the FINAL REVEAL! We will be sharing more insights about our process and the why’s and how’s of a successful design project.
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THE MUSINGS OF DESIGNER TRICIA HUNTLEY
