All Good Things Must Come to an End

I loved this class.  Being relatively new to the program and not really sure of my skills I wasn't sure what to expect.  What I discovered is that I'm not too bad at rendering.  While there's lots of room for improvement, I was able to keep up with the class pretty well.  


When I was in 3rd grade my mother signed me up for art lessons.  I still have my original paintings; a still life or two and a horse.  I also took art in high school and have some of those projects; a perspective of the house I grew up in a and a Hawaiian sunset.  I also have some sketching I did my freshman year in college.  Other than that, I don't think I've ever really drawn since then which is too many years to count. 


What I discovered in this class is not only that I can do this but that I really love to do it.  Once of the reasons I left my job in corporate America is that I was craving doing something more creative but I didn't know what.  While I'm still unsure of the direction I want to go with design, I do like the creative process.  


Other skills I'm brining back to life are graphic design (sort of).  My first job out of graduate school was as a Marketing Manager for a small specialty food company.  With a marketing department of two I did lots of things I never would have done at a larger company.  My first day on the job I was sat in front of an Apple computer as asked to start designing.  Apple was pretty new back then and Microsoft Office didn't yet exist.  It was interesting.  In that job I went on to do some package design, all of our marketing sales sheets, oversaw photo shoots and designed our new trade show exhibit.  It was a great job but we were sold and I lost it.  I moved on to more mundane work and eventually computer work which I also liked.  However, here I am today realizing that these old skills are coming back to me.  Now with endless options in technology, learning about design, learning some principles of rendering and shading in different mediums, I have a lot of thinking to do on how I want to use all this.


Another thing I'm in the process of learning is who I am as a designer.  The process of putting together a portfolio is a challenge when you're not yet sure of the answer.  I'm sure as I move forward with my schooling and career, I'll continue to modify my portfolio style to better reflect my increased skills and understanding of what best represents me.


Finally, I've always thought about writing a blog but have never been sure how to do or what to write about.  Creating this blog has given me some confidence and food for thought on doing this.  I'm still not sure yet what I want to write about but at least I know now that I can.

Home Sweet Home

Although I've lived a number of places in the US, I've always considered Wyckoff, NJ home.  We moved there when I was 5 years old and my parents still live there . . .  well for a few more weeks anyway.  After 45 years, my parents will be leaving NJ and moving to MD into my sister's house.  While it's the right thing to do for many reasons, selfishly I wish they weren't.  Not because I don't want them to come to MD, but rather because Wyckoff will no longer be my home.  


Wyckoff is a small town in the NE corner of NJ about 20 miles outside of Manhattan.  Like most towns where I'm from, it has it's own government, schools, town services, etc.  It has a quaint downtown area where many of the old homes have been turned into businesses.  It also has a railroad that runs through it.  While it no longer has passenger service it still has freight trains come slowly through a few times a week.  


So what does any of this have to do with this blog? As I won't be going to Wyckoff anymore, on my trip there last week I took many pictures of town for my scrapbook.  The old train depot pictured below is a town landmark.  

The Victorian stick-style station was first built in 1870.  In 1966 when passenger service stopped, the Parent Teacher Organization in town has leased it and it became "The Economy Shop", a small consignment shop whose sales go to support the local PTO and to maintain the depot.  It remains one of a handful of these stations that have retained their architectural integrity.


The Wyckoff train depot represents my childhood and although I won't have my home in Wyckoff anymore, perhaps one day I'll live there again.  If not, I'll always have my pictures and great memories.

Modern Style

I grew up in the Northeast and lived in the south for 9 years as well so I'm very much a traditionalist when it comes to design style.  When I moved to Arizona, I tried to embrace a southwest style but after a few years remodeled to incorporate more traditional elements.  As I pursue Interior Design, I'm trying to be open minded to different styles that I may not be naturally drawn to.  Modern style is about as far away from my traditional roots as I can think of.  


When I look at this bedroom I try to imagine myself in the space.  I like the fact that the simplistic style does not detract from the wall of windows and the view. I think all the light coming into the space is what highlights minimal furnishings and unique shapes.  

As I explore modern design, you would think that this next bedroom would be more to my liking as it uses darker woods which are reminiscent of a more traditional style.  However, I find the room colder than the above.  Although part of that is due to the fact that you do not see light flooding the space, I think it's also due to having no other pops of color and a relatively uninteresting wall at the foot of the bed.

Finally, this kitchen is interesting . . sleek lines, lacquered cabinets in a bold color, and lots of light.  It's a great conversation piece.   

Given the three photos and my comments, I think that for modern design to work well, lots of natural light is a key to making it work.

Turn on the Lights!

There's nothing that sets the mood of room more than lighting.   Often overlooked, as I've done myself, it does make a huge difference.   Having lived in spaces with poor lighting for a long time, I'm very aware of it in design.  Here's my thoughts about lighting.


There's nothing better than taking a nap with the southern exposure of the sun streaming into the room.  I've always lived in a home with the main rooms having southern exposure.  It's a deal breaker for me.


It's a must that lighting in a dining area be on dimmer switches to adjust according the the occasion and mood.  In fact, the more with dimmer or 3 way options the better in my book.

I'm not a fan of the only lights in a room being in the ceiling.


Task lighting gives a room a whole different feel.  Much more warm and cozy. 


I like having a spotlight angled over a fireplace.


Although I know their good for the environment, I'm not a fan of the new types of bulbs.  Their ugly, can't be dimmed and five off a weird color of light.


I love white lights on a Christmas tree.  They're the only lights I'll have on in the room at the holidays whenever possible.  I love the glow they give off.


I'm not a fan of wall sconces as they're to restricting to wanting to change the furniture arrangement of a room.


A table lamp is a good way to add fun and whimsy or a touch of color or a surprise element in a room.


I HATE lights on a ceiling fan.


Under cabinet lights in a kitchen are preferred when possible.

The 5th Wall?

To me a ceiling is very utilitarian.  It's painted white and something to look up at when you're bored.  When vaulted it's hard to put crown molding up, which I love.   When too high, it's hard to change recessed lights, repair ceiling fans or change batteries in smoke detectors.  I've live in several homes with vaulted ceilings and while they give the illusion of space, I find they make the space cold and impersonal.


That said, I've also seen some beautiful ceilings . . . in cathedrals and castles in Europe, in the St. Peter's Basillica, in the mansion in Newport, RI, and a lodge in the mountains.  In my current home I have a tray ceiling in my bedroom painted with a mural.  


I'll admit, that thinking about the ceiling is something I'll have to make a conscious effort to do.  

When did it all begin?

My first answer to this is Fall of 2010 when I took the Intro to Interior Design course.  I was bored and looking for something to do.  I'm new to the area and also was looking for a way to meet new people.  I figured it would be fun.  What I didn't realize, is that I might actually want to pursue this as a career, or at worst a hobby.  

Now that I have a few more courses under my belt I look back at some things in my life and think that maybe there were signs all along that I didn't follow for a variety of reasons.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, when I was in grade school and the first man walked on the moon, I started drawing elaborate floor plans for living in space.  When I owned my first home, I was all about trying to "do it right".  I wanted to make sure it coordinated and looked like a magazine.  I'm not sure I achieved the latter but I did OK.  When I was in graduate school, an architectural firm in Boston my father worked with created a summer internship for me to work on marketing for them.  For various reasons, I had to back out of that at the last minute.   I've also always had a keen interest in real estate and have been to a zillion model homes and HGTV was a new best friend when it came on the air.

Given where I'm at now, I often wonder what course my life would have taken if I'd taken that summer internship.  I was in graduate school at the time pursuing my MBA.  I wanted to be a product manager for a consumer goods company.  Although the internship was in marketing, it was in a totally different industry. Had I worked there I may have realized at a much earlier time in my life that I loved this type of work.

They say life's a journey and things happen for a reason.  I guess this is the journey I was meant to take.

Beach House Getaway

One style I love is a cottage beach style.  My dream home would be on water or with a killer ocean view.  I've always liked to be near water.  It's calming to me.   I love the idea of white washed wood that's a little worn.  Comfortable furniture with pops of bright colors.  I like blues, and sherbet shades of yellow, green and orange, or on the other end of the spectrum, black, cream and tan.  A clean, clutter free space that's bright and open but also has cozy nooks for reading, napping, playing games or just sitting and watching the ocean.

To me this style is all about relaxation and feeling at home.