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The Elegance of Etiquette
The topic of manners came up this week. It related to job site etiquette, but it’s worth revisiting as a general modus operandi. I find guidelines and rules delightful in most cases. Having a framework in place makes life easier and frees me up to “do” instead of think. I’m also a contrarian, so don’t assume I’m going to follow your rules if they irritate, offend, or don’t make sense. My 4th-grade, Catholic school teacher said this was an attitude problem; I think it’s emotional intelligence. I’m a major champion of procedures and systems (see below), but I think a healthy dose of common sense and scrutiny makes the world a better place.
Job Site Etiquette
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to “What is proper job site etiquette?”. The size, scope, contractor, and cost are all determining factors. I share my thoughts on the subject in the following video and responded directly to the questioner, Kate, with the answer below.
Send in your questions! I answer reader’s questions weekly via our Instagram ‘Asked and Answered’ feature.
Since job sites are my happy place, it’s worth sharing how magically they transform (as seen here). It’s one of the best parts of my job – gathering with the team, talking shop with talented craftspeople, walking through the skeletons of future rooms, and of course, seeing my designs develop from plans and elevations into actual livable structures.
above (counterclockwise): The lifecycle of a Huntley & Co. job site from start to finish.
My Favorite Forms of Etiquette
How I love a code of conduct (aka, etiquette). Any situation can benefit from it. Here are three that I recommend.
Grammar
The use of proper grammar says something about the speaker. You value quality over convenience. You want your thoughts conveyed with clarity. You appreciate the beauty and nuances of y/our language. I believe there is glamour in grammar … as evidenced by my copy of Roy Peter Clark’s book.
Table Setting
Setting a table according to a particular framework isn’t about being fussy, it’s about creating order. When everything is in its place, the beauty of the meal shines through and you create a consistent experience for your guests.
Driving
This will seem like a controversial stance to those who have driven with me. Do I have a reputation for cussing while in the car, yes. Is this ladylike behavior, no. In my defense, my anger is born from my enthusiasm for rules, and I find the lack of vehicular awareness and consideration of those written and unwritten absolutely maddening. Left lane drivers, I despise you.
Stay in the right lane, pass on the left. Watch for the light to turn. Keep an eye out for your exit. And for all that is good and sensible, get off your phones!
A Rule that Pays Off
As mentioned above, I’m a champion of systems. And there is one rule, that if you implement it, you will thank yourself for down the road. Systemize your files. It may not seem critical, but trust me, it’s worthwhile. Whether it’s an exterior trim paint color from a client’s vacation home, a photo from a site visit in March of 2018, or an antique I saw in Palm Beach on a trip 10 years ago, We Can Find It. I’ve had clients call and ask the most obscure things and 9 times out of 10, I have the answer in 5 minutes. Why? Because our internal files are organized according to a standardized system from which we do not deviate. Knowing how to find anything in 18 years of data saves time, avoids stress, and makes us look like miracle workers to boot!
Here’s our secret sauce for labeling H&Co. site visit files.
Sequence:
- Site Visit (aka subject)
- Year-
- Month-
- Day
- Underscore
- Room or Leading Topic
- Underscore
- Additional details to make info easier to find
I really let my type-A shine this week!
Hey Insiders – I love hearing from you, so share your comments below!
TRICIA HUNTLEY | HUNTLEY & CO.
“The glamorous space where tradition and modernity collide.”
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Unleash Your Power!
The last 24 hours have not been easy. To see a fierce, beautiful, intelligent, and accomplished woman lose to a (insert reader’s choice) has me reeling. Yet despite the shock and distress, we have seen nothing but grace from her. Typical. Just like a woman. It just proves how awe-inspiring women are. Goddam we’re fabulous. So if you have held back, stayed small, or lived in doubt – now is the time to DO YOU. Wear what you want, speak your mind, start that business, move abroad (not a bad idea). The braver, fiercer, bolder version of you is waiting. And we are here to cheer you on!
Multi-Dimensional
Contrary to a certain, popular narrative, women are not one-dimensional. A woman can be ambitious and sensitive, athletic and feminine, creative and type-A (yours truly). Case in point, the Huntley & Co. vibe. It’s a study of contrasts, eclectic and somewhat disparate. Not everyone gets it, and that’s OK. It resonates for me and feels like home.
My Secret Point of Power
Perfectly inline with this week’s topic, is one of my favorite things to use in the studio – PowerPoint. I’m not kidding. I have learned to exploit this software within an inch of its life and it always has more to give. I do create the occasional slide show, but you wouldn’t believe how many other uses there are for it.
3 Unexpected Ways I Use PowerPoint:
1. Vibe boards (e.g., like the one at top)
2 Our huntleyco “roomXroom” files:
For our projects, we collect images of furnishings, lighting, etc. and copy them into slides, sort, and label them by room. We hyperlink all of the photos and delete and replace them as the design develops.
3. 3-dimensional elevations
The room shown here was created in PowerPoint. It’s not as robust a program as SketchUp or Revit, but it’s a thousand times faster and easier … and creates beautiful results!
Screenshot(s) of the Week
Rebranding chocolate as “Wenge” is genius marketing. It didn’t need to be done, but I dig it.
I wish I could properly credit these gorgeous photos. @wittok1 is a curator, not the source.
Here is to the women who fight the good fight, stand tall, and persevere. Bravo!
Hey Insider – If you are noodling on a problem or project, I may be able to help! Share in comments.
Otherwise, I will see you next week or on social media. Links below.
TRICIA HUNTLEY | HUNTLEY & CO.
“The glamorous space where tradition and modernity collide.”
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What Will Make a Difference in Your Interior?
What Will Make a Difference in Your Interior?
I have been inside a lot of homes recently; early fall is house-tour season here in MSP. A few I visited were spectacular (bravo!), some were nicely done, and most were perfectly fine. Those that caught my attention typically had good bones, quality hardware, better finishes, and a unique point of view. The unfortunate reality is that most projects require value-engineering. Deciding how and where to uplevel makes the difference between the “perfectly fine” homes and those we remember.
Behind the Design
The photos below are behind-the-scenes shots of our cover star, the primary bedroom of our H&Co. Greenwich Village project. What decisions made a difference in this project? 1) Drenching the walls and ceiling in a similar hue/tone to minimize the impact of the bulkheads. 2) Installing custom cabinetry at the perimeter so we could eliminate furniture. Architecturally, this room has a lot going on, so it was necessary to reduce clutter and quiet the envelope. 3) Finding the vintage, hand-painted, silk folding screen and mounting it behind the bed. What an impact!
Clockwise from upper left: (1) a better view of the cabinetry and the terrace; (2) a detail of the vanity mirror; (3) a hidden door on the bed wall leads to the bath; (4) my all-time favorite flower/plant, aka “monkey balls” found their way into the corner of the cover photo.
3 Details Worth the Investment
There are three details that I consider mandatory in a custom home. Keep an eye out for these the next time you visit, what is considered, a custom / luxury / high-end home. It should have these details, full stop.
1. LUTRON DESIGNER STYLE LIGHTING CONTROLS
The lightswitch controls at right are ganged in a screwless, satin finish plate with dimmable capabilities. Worth it.
2. CUSTOM VENT COVERS
The decorative vent cover at right has a design motif specific to the home’s vernacular, and again, no screws are visible. Worth it.
3. STONE COUNTERS
The real marble at right has veining with layered, nuanced hues and movement that is natural in its unpredictability. Worth it.
How to Prioritize Like a Type-A
Want to know a secret? Type-A’s are not born, we’re made. My love of systems and spreadsheets developed at a young age as a way to manage overwhelm. That turned out to be fortuitous since – as an interior designer – I’m responsible for overseeing, tracking, and implementing thousands of details. From problems come opportunities! I now have a multitude of procedures, and templates in my arsenal. Some are elaborate in their construction (20-column matrices, anyone?), but others are really simple – just habits really. This is one of those little tricks.
Daily Prioritizing Process
// Every morning I do a “brain dump”. I pull these to-do’s from my week’s priority list (on another page) and add anything else that comes to mind.
// To combat the paralyzing issue of priority, I do a quick run-through of the list and number each task with a #1 (must do today), a #2 (important, but not critical), or a #3 (can roll over to tomorrow, but let’s not forget about it). Suddenly, it’s no longer a laundry list of action items; I’ve essentially broken it into thirds and the first third is the only portion that needs my attention right now.
// To clarify further, I will circle one (or two) #1 tasks if they are screaming for priority.
As you can see there is other coding that develops as the day goes on: checkmarks, X’s, arrows, and strikethrough’s. I will explain those details, and the other blocks of my DAP (daily action planner) for another day.
Footnote: The use of cursive is not accidental. This practice is going the way of the Dodo bird, but I will tell you nothing gets thoughts out of your head and into actionable tasks faster. I rediscovered this skill when I started my own firm and #cantlivewithout it.Asked and Answered | our new Instagram Q+A feature
We have started a new, regular feature on Instagram called Asked and Answered. I will answer interior design questions in a weekly IG post from readers/viewers who (1) follow us on Instagram, (2) sign-up for our newsletter, and (3) DM their inquiry. More details are available on IG: click the image at right and look for the 10/30 carousel post with “High Expectations?” in the first photo. Send in your questions!
Hey Insider, Luxe & Lucid will have more frequent drops moving forward, so I will see you next week!
In the meantime, I would love to connect with you via our social media platforms. Links below.
TRICIA HUNTLEY | HUNTLEY & CO.
“The glamorous space where tradition and modernity collide.”
THE MUSINGS OF DESIGNER TRICIA HUNTLEY
