Those Things That We Touch… They Say So Much!

My dear design friends, I must tell you what bliss it is to rest my world-weary carcass on one of Aurel”s teak deck chairs and enjoy the Townships lovely mountain Air. As I write these words … I am sipping a Pisco Sour !...ever since Aurel had experienced them in Lima and Macchu Piccu, he has been slowly converting me to them, even though I am a die-hard martini girl -(Gin, of course…never Vodka), I must confess to really enjoying the clear crispness, and the flavor complexity with the special bitters he brought back from Cusco.. The miracle of modern electronics allows me to be cordless here on Aurel’s deck overlooking his pond and the luscious sound of the spring water trickling down the hill while I am clicking away on my sleek new Macbook – so thin and light, yet so much brains are compressed within! Enough Rambling. I must tell you all about the theme this week: as Frank Lloyd Wright said: ”God is in the details” Ladies, how many times have you bought a blouse because the buttons and the stitching on the collar made it special? Well, please think about those details around your house that will make it special, and thrill you every time you look and touch them.. I mean those things like the door knobs and handles, the kitchen cabinet and drawer pulls, do you realize that the ceiling cornice mouldings and light switch plates are also in that category? As Aurel is now working on a new kitchen that has not been renovated in 30 (!) years, he is questioning all of the details that have been there, so the new renovation will more accurately reflect the clients' taste today, as well as the current inventions and innovations that have been happening in the world of kitchen design. Since he has been designing several retirement residences in the past few years (a definite growth industry!); and he himself is a victim of arthritis, Aurel has, along with several of my friends, been specifying the lever handle instead of the knob, as the motion is easier to push downward, instead of turning. The type of metal and the shape selected should relate to the style of the home…One dosen’t usually have a baroque curvy Louis XV bronze handle with an angular modern split-level home, when a steel techno-style lever will keep the rhythm of the line throughout the home consistent. He is also working with a young couple who have bought a really surprising condo near the Atwater Market, but all of the door knobs are black plastic with a large square button to squeeze to open the door! Those were prevalent in the trendy market over 20 years ago, but the couple was in diapers at the time, and don’t regard them as trendy, but as out-dated and difficult to handle. Those steel Techno – style levers will be just the right choice to make the condo look modern. Remember, we all look at the light switches, the door knobs (or levers),and the stair railings should feel comfortable in your hand. --and suit the house architecture. I must mention here, that although most of you have heard of Baldwin for all the brass classical hardware, and that the Richelieu Hardware company is really amazing for all sorts of special drawers and knobs, sometimes we look for a speciality company (that makes all of their knobs here in Quebec) to have something that will take these important details to another level altogether. I must mention the lively couple that are casting their own knobs, (and special Door Knockers) here in La Belle Province: Big Bang Boom Knobs!!! They have moved from Montreal to Knowlton several years ago– and since the e-mail business means that the world is flat (from an electronics view-point) they are happy here in the Townships, and still are able to ship the crazy and elegant knobs every-where …and still enjoy the lovely Eastern Townships air. They are Daphne-Monique Beaudry and Marc-Andre Fortier, the artists using the ancient lost-wax process known as cire perdue in French, a process that is very time-consuming, but results in incredible detail. Remember, the theme of today is Details, so you must visit their web site, www.bbbknobs.com, to see their items: the range of knobs from “bon-bons” to enamels that will suit a fancy bathroom at the Port Royal with $10,000 worth of Versache tiles. I promise to not reveal the details, only to say that once “Madam Port-Royal” had seen the special 24 carat plated drawer handles Aurel found for her bathroom console, she wanted them for her condo in Boca Raton!.You simply must tell them that Greta sent you..I really must close now, as I slip into another Pisco…Hugs, and kisses, your Greta. Do keep me up to date with your questions and commentaire. aurelien@colorsbyaurelien PS: Aurelien will be at the Westmount Rotary Noon Meeting Wed. May 13. with his Power Point Presentation of“The Upside of Downsizing” ; and then, will be at the Fairview Shopping Centre Thursday May14,15,16 with his presentation for “LES ARTS DE LA TABLE” He will design and decorate two tables with resources from the shops : Sunday Brunch in the Vieux Carre of New Orleans, and a rather scandalous one entitled: “Midnight Supper For the Secret Lovers” I will advise him on the latter, and let him be the expert on the former. Perhaps I, too will be there! Do visit us! Colourfully yours, Greta von Schmedlapp.