Functionality is the key to any space, but especially in the bathroom. If in order to achieve better functionality you need to make major structural changes then you are best to hire an interior designer.

Documentary film producer, Jason Cohn, recently shared one of the primary lessons he learned about interior design while making a film about famed, interior design icons, Charles and Ray Eames, “It’s not a surface gloss you put on a product.  When it’s practiced correctly, it’s about problem solving at a deep level.”

As an interior designer with more than 30 years experience, I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Cohn’s assessment of what constitutes good design.  Clients and curious friends often ask me what the difference is between a designer and a decorator.  My answer often is as simple as:  “it’s surface versus substance.” What I mean by this is that a good decorator can help you create a new and beautiful “surface” for your space by helping you decide what color to paint the walls, what type of window treatments to use and how best to position your belongings and furniture so that it is pleasing to the eye.  On the other hand, an interior designer is often called upon to go well beyond the surface, which means a designer needs to be able to deconstruct a room and know structurally how to put it back together again—often in a whole new way–so it will function properly.  As a designer, my primary duty is to help my clients conceptualize, from floor to ceiling what their space could look like, create the design and then manage the design execution.  I love that my work requires me to be both creative and strategic in order to create a space that is functional, structurally safe and aesthetically pleasing to my clients and all who visit their space.

Knowing the difference between a decorator and a designer can save you time, money and a lot of headaches.  So remember, if you were thinking about hiring someone to help give your master bedroom and bath a two-dimensional facelift (i.e. change the paint color, buy new bedding, change the furniture placement) then you would be wise to hire a decorator. However, if instead of a two-dimensional facelift, you want to knock out a wall, add some new French doors in place of a window then you are better to hire an interior designer who can consult with you about how to creatively get the look you want and also advise you on what is structurally and functionally possible in your space.

At the end of the day, neither one is better than the other, but knowing whom to hire at the unset of your project is important.  The next time you are considering taking on a design project think carefully about the scope of your project, what needs to happen in order for you to realize your dream room or home and then hire the right designer or decorator for the task.

To my amazement, as I moved onto London earlier this week, and continued to tour multiple stops around the city, including a museum or two, I came across a display that essentially mirrored the pieces I had seen the week before in Paris.  On display in London, an ancient, incrusted bowl, and right next to it,  a modern-day re-creation of what the piece would have looked like when it was newly minted–thousands of years ago–before it became a victim of time.  The craftmanship on the replica gave me a good idea of how the piece would have appeared in the home of someone who lived in ancient times.  All I could image was how treasured and admired such a piece much have been to its owner.

Having seen the beautiful glass in Paris, and now standing in front of this display in London, reminded me of the old adage: everything old is new again.  And of course it proves to all you pack rats out there that if you hold onto something long enough, in this case thousands of years, you are likely to see it come back into vogue like the pieces seen in the picture below. 

We recently arrived in London, and took a stroll down the Portobello Road. The pastel colors on the buildings seem to make this gloomy day a little brighter.

We recently said “a bientot” (see you soon) to the “City of Lights.”  We had such a beautiful time that I hope we will get to see Paris again soon.  I love all the inspiration and ideas I got while exploring the sights, landmarks, and of course, the Maison & Objet trade show, which I posted and shared about in my earlier travel entries.  My mind is swimming with so many fabulous ideas for my clients back home that part of me wants to rush back home now and start working immediately, but alas, we have a quick stop over in London.

While Paris was inspirational, as only Paris can be, London holds equal appeal for me.  Yes, it’s a totally different culture, ambiance and design scene when compared to Paris, but it’s still London and I’m looking forward to soaking in all the sites and sounds of another European experience.  During our first day walking through the damp and chilly streets, we visited many shops on the well-travelled Portotbello Road.  While meandering from store to store, I gleefully came across Cath Kidston’s Shop.  Ms. Kidston is a British designer who specializes in many things one of them being in retro-print fabrics.  I found all her design charming, colorful and whimsical.  Most of her prints consisted of  flowers and polka dots, which in this designer’s mind is a can’t miss when you are attempting to create a lasting and timeless style statement.   While we were visiting the shop, I was elated to learn that Ms. Kidston’s retro fabrics recently have been released as furnishing fabrics for upholstery.  Are you interested in seeing more of her designs including wallpaper, fabric, oil cloth and cushions?  Visit her website at www.CathKidston.com.

In the meantime, for a quick view of her work, here’s a picture I snapped of one of the displays in her shop.  

Cheerio from London! I hope to share more photos and design inspirations throughout the week, and then it’s back home to put all these design ideas to work.  What a field trip this has been!

Direct from the floor of Maison & Objet show in Paris, this silk worm cocoon shade was divine.

There is something apropos about shopping for lightning while visiting the “City of Lights.” My experience at the Maison & Objet show in Paris continued to excite and delight me as I discovered one section of the show that was completely dedicated to lighting. As even the do-it-yourself designer knows, lighting is extremely important to any room–it not only serves a functional purpose by supplying the light we need to see, but it also plays a pivotal role in setting the mood in any room. Lighting can make a room feel warm and cozy or bright and expansive.

I could get lost (and did) in all the beautiful lighting installations I saw while exploring the trade floor of Maison & Objet. Like the “Ethnic Chic” section I wrote about earlier this week, I found the lighting section truly illuminating. Wandering through this area gave me plenty of ideas to bring back stateside with me. There were so many different, dreamy variations of illuminations that I wanted to be sure and share some pictures here.

I desperately wanted to go up and run my fingers through this heavenly looking sheep's wool shade.

There was one booth, called Cocons de Soie, which displayed two fabulous examples of lights that do more than light a space they make it heavenly and airy. The silk worm lamp (seen at the beginning of this post) and a sheep’s wool lamp, seen here, were two of my favorites.

This beautiful floor lamp reminded me of a tree after an ice storm.

Additionally, I came across this fantastic floor lamp that reminded me of a beautiful tree after a wintry, ice storm.  I loved how the light reflected off the long hanging drops of crystal.

Pieces made from many different types of recycled materials could be found throughout the Maison&Objet show.

During my time at the Maison&Objet show, I was particularly taken with one section of the show that was dubbed “Ethnic Chic.”  Geared toward a more environmentally-consciencous, bohemian, and often younger crowd, these designs are creative, unique and earth friendly.  While walking through this section I saw one of a kind furniture like the piece seen here on the left.

Old textiles made new again.

This was by far my favorite part of the show and apparently the Obama’s designer, Michael Smith of Los Angeles agreed with me!  He just purchased the piece seen hanging on the wall for his showroom from a Belgium exhibitor who collects antique textiles and then “edits” them into her own beautiful and colorful items. I loved them!

After a fabulous day walking the floor,  I was exhausted, but also very grateful that I had the opportunity to see all the items that will dominant interior design in 2012.  If you’re ever in Paris in the winter, I highly recommend you bring an interior design friend along (the show is only open to people in the trade) so you can see for yourself this amazing show!  And in case you’re wondering, I will gladly make myself available to be your travel companion.

The amazing view from our "Paris-perfect" apartment.

Bon Jour! I’m so excited to post from the City of Lights. During the next week, I will get to enjoy all that Paris has to offer. I plan to shop, visit galleries, and keep meticulous notes of ideas and concepts to bring home to all my wonderful clients back in California. I thought while I was here, I would share some of the photos from our trip and keep you up to date on all the wonderful design ideas that I’m collecting while enjoying all the sites, sounds and beauty of Paris.

My travel companion (my husband Scott) and I arrived on Saturday with high hopes that our Paris apartment would live up to the lovely Internet description, and much to our surprise, it did!  The street below is located in the “silk-stocking district of the 7th Arrondissement, and beyond that you can see the Eiffel Tower.

Janice shopping for fresh, local provisions on the Right Bank.

After settling into our apartment, we set out to explore the city. First things first, we took to the streets and headed to a lovely market on the Right Bank to purchase provisions including fresh vegetables, seafood and fromage.

Our first day was busy and exciting, we ended the day with a stroll through the streets where I snapped this photo of the Effifel Tower.

What is a trip to Paris without a picture (or twenty) of the Eiffel Tower?  It’s quintessential Paris!

The Effifel Tower in the Evening

Historically, a suzani was fashioned by women in Uzbekistan. The painstakingly detailed, embroidery work of a suzani was started by an Uzbek woman upon the birth of a daughter. Work on the suzani would continue, with the help of female friends and family, until the daughter was grown and able to marry, at which time the suzani became a part of her dowry.

As the Soviet era ended, and Westerners discovered folk art from Central Asia, the price of antique suzanis skyrocketed. Today, it is fairly easy to find affordable fabrics inspired by suzani designs, but it’s rare and difficult to find an authentic suzani. In fact, I have used suzani-inspired fabrics in my own design work. For example, the throw pillow seen in this photo was a piece I had made for use in a client’s bedroom.

And late last year, while visiting an antique fair in San Francisco, I came across this handcrafted suzani. I was enamored by its beauty and in awe of all the work that went into creating such a beautiful piece of art.

If you are ever fortunate to see an authentic suzani, be sure to study and appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity. And remember that each suzani is unique and inspired by the close-knit bond of the women who created it.

It is an event not to be missed and I encourage you to attend next year’s show at Fort Mason (on the Embarcadero).  Aside from looking for items to purchase, one of the benefits of attending this annual event is experiencing and educating yourself about the hundreds of authentic pieces you will see from the past.  Though not everyone can afford this level of collecting, studying the real thing brings an appreciation and an eye for quality that can only be cultivated by such exposure.

From traditional folk art and antique wicker to furniture from the 17^th and 18^th centuries and 20^th century Danish design, there were so many fabulous items to see including this amazing display of Americana.

We spent the day exploring a plethora of wonderful pieces.  And we spoke to several knowledgeable dealers who shared stories about their items and many of them provided a history lesson on how and where some of the items were used.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the items and I saw how the meaning we attach to designs and motifs is not only repeated over and over again throughout time and across cultures, but how it is reinterpreted and applied to modern-day home furnishings.

Here are some noteworthy treasures from my visit.  Can you see how these influence tastes and trends in design today?

Before embarking on a design project, either on your own, or with an interior designer, I suggest taking your camera, a pencil, and a piece of paper along with you as you move through your daily life.  Even when doing the most mundane tasks take pictures of things that inspire you, write down colors you love, take notes when you see items you like and want.  Snap away with the camera.  Don’t worry about your picture taking abilities or be too focused on taking pictures of only items you would find in the room you are designing, your pictures can and should be of anything and everything:  clothes, signs, food, architectural items, whatever piques your interest and helps create an idea for the type of room or home you want.

I do this often, but my most recent inspiration day was during a trip to New York City.  While there I visited several different neighborhoods and took pictures of anything I liked.  In doing this I gained insight into the latest design trends, saw beautiful and inspiring pieces of “art” and was able to more fully appearance the visual feast that makes up any urban area, but seems to be especially true of New York.

Included in this post are some of the pictures that I took while wandering the city.  I thought you might like to see what inspires this interior designer.

As you can see, I took pictures of everything from the colorful tablecloths at an outside eatery in the Flatiron District to some great, colorful, modern murals that don the windows of the “soon-to-open” Marimekko shop in SoHo. I also snapped some photos at the Chelsea Food Market where I saw one of the most beautiful displays of spices (the colors were amazing) and a bountiful display of pumpkins, gourds and squash.

Having worked on multiple photo shoots during the past 30 years, I thought it would be interesting to give you a “behind the scenes” look at the collaboration that happens between an interior designer and photographer in order to achieve the picture perfect photos that you see.

As an interior designer I’m most interested in working with a photographer who can appreciate the vision that my client and I had for the space.  By sharing our vision and inspiration with the photographer, he gains a better sense of where to focus his lens and how best to tell the story of the room.

After we reach an understanding of the functionality of the space, we begin brainstorming about what we’ll need to dress the room.  This means preparing the room for “photo day.”  For example, if we are shooting photos of a dining room (like we did for my most recent client shoot) then we need to decide how we will set the table, what flowers or natural elements we’ll use in the room and whether we need any other elements that will help bring the room, and the pictures to life.   Once we decide how the room will be dressed we begin purchasing the elements we need and working on any other details that will ensure that the room will be picture-perfect ready for photo day.

Not surprisingly, photo day is usually the busiest, longest day for everyone involved—designer, photographer, and client.  We often start early in the morning dressing the room, and we can work well into the evening depending on lightening.  Waiting for the sun to be in just the right spot so we can fully capture the warmth of the room is something we’ve done many times.    But photo day is also the most rewarding because it is the day I get to see my design come to life and I almost always gain a better understanding of how the room will look and feel to others as they enter the space.  It also often turns out to be an entertaining and fun day for my clients who get to see their space look its very best.