Greta Finds (And Defines) Harmony

Bonjour & Hello fellow Townshippers! It’s your dear Greta von Schmedlapp, Design Sleuth again with you. Aurelien Guillory, my partner in Crime, and I are all primed to relate our view- point about the theme of this issue: HARMONY. As we always return to our design roots when we are writing, we must first start with the key word related to Harmony: BALANCE. ABRAXIS is a word that relates to the union of opposites. This is also a form of harmony – EQUILIBRIUM. A few years ago, Aurel & I were asked to meet a prospective client at their newly bought home. When we arrived, we found a 70’s contemporary split-level style home with most of the interiours in their original state. Complete with olive green shag carpeting! As we walked around, the clients showed us photos of their existing home, a traditional French style, with centre hall and well balanced rooms on either side. The idea of using this formal furniture in a modern style was giving us both head-aches…Either the furniture or the house had to go! Aurel & I were as diplomatic as possible under these shocking circumstances, but we tried to have the couple understand that there was little we could do to have the split level’s rooms and staircase proportions adjusted to suit the formality of the elegant and somewhat baroque furniture. We declined the project regretfully, but there could be very little HARMONY there, no matter how liberal the budget would be. Harmony is related also to function – the raison d’être of the room. A sparse clinical “mod” kitchen is not harmonious in a country clapboard home. There are several famous Architects Aurel wants to mention now, because they are known for a consictency of vision. One aspect of HARMONY in home design is attention to the details – the style, or quality of line continues from the structure of the building, down to the small details of door knobs. The following brilliant Architects are worth looking up with the magic GOOGLE method for more info than we have space for. They are…Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, I.M.Pei, Charles Rennie McIntosh, William Morris , Eileen Grey, and of course our Canadians Arthur Ericsson, and Frank Ghery. Once you have seen examples of them, you will understand how HARMONIOUS their work is. The illustrious Mies is reputed to have said: ”God is in the details.” Surely, with this,my favourite list, they all follow that example of multi layered harmonious concepts – from basic structure to all details. Now, I simply must bring all of this theorizing to reality. Please do go to the centre of “Downtown: Sutton, near the Post Office find at 12 rue Principal Nord, the marvelous shop with no sign: Image Encadrement. It is an example of the old adage that “ You Can”t Tell a Book By It’s Cover.” There is a serious contrast in the exterior of the building, with it’s pinky-peachey paint peeling off like some form of Psorasis to the charming and cozy interior. The lovely and totally Bilingue proprietor, Ms. Melissa Flanders has a totally HARMONIOUS shop of rather different items. She always has some original art-work displayed, and she has a coterie of devoted clients for her skills as a Framer. – Her eye for colour nuance for creative framing is as focused as the selection of her stock. We found the perfect stuffed baby toy for an adopted nephew, and Aurel has his eye on an unusual glass and copper Humming bird feeder. Melissa has created a special collection of gifts that all have a special look – hand-made and unusual…with some form of patina and mellowness in every item. A bit nostalgic and amusing…I only wish the building’s owner – whoever – would realize that his is the most neglected façade on the main centre of our town…The shop windows do distract from the flaking paint and the rotten centre board over the door – these are best ignored… Related to the theme of HARMONY, one of our local city beautifiers saw me last week, and She & I talked about the photo of her taken with the La Boheme Project…Her name is Solange – and her family name should be “ leJardiner Par Excellence” She has been busy creating an HARMONIOUS look for all of Sutton’s shopping streets. Solange was saying: “Greta, I have 40 bales of hay to place” Solange had lots of flowers as well as many scarecrow dolls in her jammed pick-up truck.– ( the marvelous French word is: épouvantail! -It is not just to be horrible to the Crows!) She has completed the displays in time for the Thanksgiving & the Fall season. Their placement in various nooks & crannies is truly helping create a HARMONIOUS atmosphere – and the set in front of Ms. Flanders shop is no exception. Aurel & I wish you the best of the chilly Season. Please do keep me in the know about interesting things in the LA TOUR region…I, Greta von Schmedlapp will be happy to hear from you. Oh yes, I must tell you that Aurel has started a weekly RADIO SHOW – LIVING COLOUR! He is on our local CIDI 99.1 FM. Do listen for his distinctive voice…Thanks for reading about our adventures here in the special EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. Have a lovely & HARMONIOUS Autumn.…please e-mail us at: aurelien@colorsbyaurelien.com.