Friday, January 23, 2009

Video Blog Sunday

A friend of mine from Texas e-mailed me today with a interesting set of questions about me and interior design. I wouldn't normally post something like this - but as the questions are actually very good, I thought I'd leave this here for you all to browse until I update you on Sunday with a full video tour of my CLEAN bottom floor (yes - I'm using this as incentive to make sure it's clean by Sunday!) So if there is anything you want to see, let me know! Enjoy.

1. When designing a room, what three things are most important?
Scale, Color, and Personality. I think that you have to remember that these (most often) are rooms you'll be living in, and they should be an extension of the life you live, or the life you'd like to. Scale makes and breaks good design, and color - of course, will evoke a mood in a room. So make sure to take a measuring tape to all stores, and don't be afraid of color!

2. When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
I still want to be a designer. I knew that interior design was my passion from about age 10. I would take scraps of my mothers fabric and tie them around pillows in no-sew projects to make her bed look better. My younger brother would get so mad when I'd switch the layout of our bedroom because I needed a change, and my Aunt constantly joked: "Artie, you can only paint drywall so many times before it crumbles!" It makes me happy, it gives me energy and keeps me creative and vibrant.

3. What has been your most challenging project?
Decorating my house in New York. It was built in 1924, filled to the brim with beautiful Chestnut colored woodwork that Scott will not allow me to paint, and should I do it anyway, it would spell out divorce, possibly sudden death. Finding my voice in the house has been difficult, and even now I'm not always happy with the rooms I've created, especially with the popularity of Swedish and French influences gracing almost every magazine and decor blog.

4. Attach a picture of your current "dream room" and explain why it has that status.

This room is a symbol of everything I love. The freshness of a simple palate, the mix of antiques with new, and the sophistication of the black and white harlequin patterned floor. As Scott and I review options for the remodel of our kitchen, I keep this in my file, hoping that he might give in - and let me play.

5. Who has been your greatest design influence?
That's a hard question: Bunny Williams, Phoebe Howard, Candice Olson (yes - I know), Thom Filicia, Christopher Lowell (yeah - again - I know!) and now that I've been blogging, there are far too many unpublished designers with extreme talent that influence me daily.

6. The highest design praise you've ever received?
"Wanna trade?"

7. Where do you draw the most inspiration from?
Nature. First and foremost. Then the list is sort of endless: music, television, people, a feeling, a mood, a sofa, fabric, a candlestick: its a process for me - start to finish, and I get perspective and inspiration from almost everything I see during that process, maybe not for that project - but my eyes are always open to good design.

8. What would be your dream design job?
Eeek. Um, that's difficult to say. A part of me would love to do set design for a long-running series, like the genius behind the Will & Grace Sets, Melinda Ritz; but then another part of me would love to have a tv show where I could help people who needed design advice, or inspiration, or both.

9. In your home, what are your favorite pieces, and where did you get them?
(1) My Door - a Victorian garage door section, Antique Mart
(2) My Cart/Coffee Table - a Train Luggage Cart from the Cincinnati Railroad, Old Flower Shoppe
(3) My Art - all of it, various locations and artist friends


10. When you make it big, what would you want people to say about your design?
Timeless, Livable, and Beautiful.

Feel free to take this and post on your blog. I'd love to hear your answers to these questions, and if you have a particular object you would like me to talk about in the video blog Sunday, let me know here. Have a great weekend!

27 comments:

  1. Artie, what a fun and interesting post. I love learning more about you. I love your dream room.. hugs ~lynne ~

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  2. Hi Artie,
    I enjoyed learnig about you. We have a similar design philosophy. I also enjoy the designers that you mentioned. Good luck with your clean up.
    Kathleen

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  3. I hope he lets you re-do your kitchen similar to that - it is gorgeous!

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  4. Wow Artie what a great post... An interview of sorts which really lets us get to know you even better than we do... Loved your answers....

    (((HUGS)))
    Donna

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  5. You are my hero.
    ...Especially if you video the bottom floor on Sunday! Bwhahahaha!

    xo Isa ala crackalackin'

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  6. Thanks for stopping by and leaving that sweet comment on my blog. I just read through some of your latest posts. What a natural wonderful blogger you are! Looking forward to seeing pics of that clean 1st floor and if you need any good recipies for your party, I've got some good ones! I'd be glad to share.

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  7. Your dream kitchen is perfect! Scott needs to listen to you...I'm sure you can let him have his way on something else. Right?

    Thanks for sharing the wonderful interview. Happy Weekend!

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  8. This was great - thanks for sharing it!

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  9. Your dream kitchen is gorgeous! I would love something like that too!

    Enjoyed this post, so very much!

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  10. Hi Artie,
    Had to stop in and see what you are up to. Ooooo I love that photo in #4, that is totally me too, I could move in that one!
    Good luck with your clean up. I have been down with flu and not getting much done. So this next week I got to get back at this place, looks horrible around here.
    Have a good weekend!
    LindaQ

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  11. Hi Artie, great post. Love that you're giving yourself a deadline with the video-- it's the only way we ever finish projects- when someone's coming to visit. hahaha

    Great to know more about you & I also love Candice Olson hahaha

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  12. Hi Artie ~ It was wonderful to learn how passionate you are about design. Your dream kitchen is beautiful - what a wonderful blend of modern conveniences with classic style. Actually way back before RMS or even digital camera days - I painted our "oak" kitchen cabinets black. As this was right after having my 2nd child, everyone accused me of having Postpartum Depression! :) NOT THE CASE! But I LOVED it. I hope you get your dream kitchen someday! Oh regarding your previous post - who could blame you for enjoying that cozy, inviting room instead of cleaning? Love that desk & ottoman. Have a great weekend. ~ Laurie

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  13. Hi Artie,

    I too love the black and white kitchen. Maybe I have to sit down and have a talk with Scott for you. ;) LOL Good luck.

    Hugs
    'D'

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  14. loved this post artie, and I have been a fan of candy and chris too. I designed my first room at age 4, only in my head of course, It was pink and purple...vickydarnell

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  15. Hi Artie,

    I just found your blog through Nikki...great post! Your home is beautiful.

    Take care,
    Michael

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  16. Great post. I always love to hear other artists and designers discuss their philosophies and what makes them tick. I would also like to say bravo on your party post. You should be in event planning!
    And let me thank you for bring the first to comment on my new little blog. (I'm trying to learn!) It was exciting to see a comment posted and I appreciate your your nice words. Thanks.

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  17. I understand where you are coming from. In August we moved into a new house. I would not have choosen this style but the house had the In-Law apartment that we needed and so many other things that we loved, so here we are. The house is victorian and dark. Dark wood everywhere. It is not possible to paint it all now or take down the wallpaper so I did the next best thing, I got creative. Stop by sometime and check out my older posts for pics of the house dressed for Christmas.

    Love your inspirational blog.

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  18. OOOH, I love that black and white kithcen! Not sure how I came to your blog, but I am so glad I did! I will be back to lurk around some more! I'll have to add you to my blog list so I can remember to how to find you....hope you don't mind. Blessings, Nancy

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  19. Hey, Artie, I have to agree with you...that kitchen inspiration pic is just stunning. This was fun to read.

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  20. Very fun and interesting post/read today! Thanks for a peek into who YOU are! Can't wait for video blog Sunday!

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  21. Artie, I'm loving that kitchen. So classic. Keep it in your file.....you never know what the future may hold. ~ Robyn

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  22. Fantastic answers, Artie, and I too love that kitchen you showed us! Have we ever seen a picture of YOUR kitchen? I don't recall seeing it.

    Justine :o )

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  23. Hi Artienss! Oh, this has been a great read - learning more about you! You're very good at designing/decorating! You, at a young age, have so much talent packed into your years and I know you're going to acheive all you want to do in life. Now, I love your inspiration kitchen, too! If I only had more space!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  24. Artie, it was fun getting to know you better. You'll make it as a designer. I hope you audition for one of the design shows. You'd be a hit!

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  25. Such fun to read this post about you!
    I am loving that kitchen, too. Adore the creamy white walls with the black furniture and ...of course the black and white flooring. I am totally in love forever with black and white....
    xo bj

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