Greta's resolutions for 2009...

Well, well, my dears, What a bad, bad, old girl I have been..! Here it is almost the end of the first month of the year of Change, and I haven't written to my devoted design friends yet...Please do forgive me, as it's been a whirlwind lately,, First , as I begin to remember the lovely holidays, I was Invited to share almost 2 full weeks at Aurelien's Cottage near the Vermont border. The blessed quiet after all the hectic celebrating in the city, I almost couldn't sleep the first few days because of the quiet. no city sirens, and truck and buss screeches.. We had a lovely Christmas Eve dinner with another Eastern township couple at the superb Auberge West Brome - including the best cassoulet outside of Bordeaux. I remember a superb Winter Solstice party December 21st at a most delightful couple's recent house warming of an extensive downsizing - a really superbly thought-out restoration and restructuring of a rather sad building neglected for years. Dear readers, you might imagine that as a designer's shadow, Aurelien and yours truly have encountered lots of money as manifested in elaborate houses and furnishings...Well, we are not really impressed with dollars, so much as impressed with IDEAS..To me, dear design and art appreciators, Ideas are really what lasts, long after the bills are paid. When I see a well thought-out living room,a beautifully proportioned staircase that allows an elegant entrance, and centres thehall and main rooms., I am thrilled! When I feel the proportions and movement of my hand on the well wrought railing,this far eclipses many a grandiose "Faux Chateau" out in the "burbs", I swoon with aesthetic delight. So, now's the time to introduce the major word of the new year" EDITING! Several of Aurelien's French clients are reminding us Anglos of the pun of the word "neuf" with the letter 9, and the word is :new -neuf...So please remind yourself that we must change with the year 09 to re-neuf, and re-new our priorities for this year of change and challenge...Our friend's carriage -house was a re-editing of the best "bones" of the old space, with modern additions, a heated floor in honed stone, good insulation, and sensible lighting. I do remember Aurel's old dowager Aunt Dinah, who wore too many pins and broaches scattered across her ample bosom, and when she mentioned her newest addition to the collecion, his younger brother remarked that he couldn't see which one was the new one because of all the competition, there was a silence at the dinner table...! Editing your home display of family heirlooms, and object from the travels, often obscure the elegance of the room, and removing a quarter of the elements carefully will often result in a fresher look (as well as a room easier to dust!). Recently , when we were asked to do a short 3 hour freshening up of the public areas in a grand house, our first job was to collect all the items with a bird motif and theme, and arrange them in a glorious grouping over the sofa in the study. It had been "hide the Easter egg" all over the house. We had noticed the bird theme during our first tour, and we commented that the lady of the house must like birds, she was surprised by the comment, as she had not realized the number of bird-related items. Her friends remarked that they had never seen such a nice display , and she really had not noticed how many she had collected..Mounted in one wall that was freshly painted a lovely robin's egg blue, the result was smashing, and the cost was very little. Ideas over dollars made a big impact, and resulted in the dreary study getting a fresh look, and soon became the favourite room of the family. I do want you readers to send me some of your editing experience...This business of downsizing everyone is talking about these days doesn't have to be a let-down to the family, but a new beginning, and a fresh was to re-think the usefullness of the room elements..I really must put a good word in for that new pain AURA by Benjamin Moore, as Aurel re-painted the end wall of his hall a marvelous red-orange called poetically "salsa dancing" one evening before a dinner party. Just as they promised, the ecological paint covered in 2 coats, with no smells and all was done in an evening! Usually any kind of red needs at least 3,if not 4 coats..so now you have no excuse not to change the colour you have hated for years. Believe me, dears, if Aurel can re-do his hall wall, you can too. So, Bon courage, about refreshing the hall or the vestibule, as it will make a major improvement with little effort. I must stop now, as I must pack my carpet bags to hop a flight to Calgary with Aurel. He is giving a seminar there at the House of Persian Rugs on "How to select the Perfect Persian Rug for Your Home" We will be giving some colour consultations for the 2 days after the Presentation, so I will get an Idea about Calgarian taste.. Moreon that later!!! I also am looking forward to his Nephew's superb grilled Angus steaks...I will give you dear readers a thorough report of the western style soon after we return. so, remember my word of the neuf-year..Edit, Edit,EDIT... anything but my theraputic Martinis...a bientot, your design sleuth, Greta von Schmedlapp. Please do keep your comments arriving electronically at Aurel's e-mail aurelien@colorsbyaurelien