As a lover of architecture and interior design, I recently took a little trip to Spring Green, Wisconsin to see the home of Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Taliesin is a journey back in time, with a look to the future.

Frank Lloyd Wright - The Perpetual Home Renovator
This home was built in 1911 and added on to and remodeled many times over the years. Because he could! I love his experimental courage, always innovating. True to his Organic Design philosophy, all of the building materials were sourced locally.  Sadly, the soft sandstone is beginning to deteriorate.
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The photos can not possible capture the spirit and beauty of the place, so I encourage you to visit and donate to the preservation of this national treasure. Check it out  www.taliesinpreservation.org

ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE Frank Lloyd Wright loved the land, he integrated his structures into the surrounding nature, and surrounded the home in lovely gardens.

​He experimented with his use of windows and doors in unexpected shapes and ways.

You can see the influence of Japanesse architecture, the roof lines mimic the hills of the surrounding countryside.

In some places the ceilings were very low, apparently Frank was a short man.
The kitchen was the smallest room in the house, I thought it was a butler pantry and didn't even take a photo.
The furniture was not designed for comfort, as he believed we should not spend our time sitting around.
His book collection was truly amazing. I would like to spend 6 months in his library.
He designed tea cups to camouflage women's lipstick marks. A man of function and good taste!
His apprentices were highly involved in the construction and building.
Plywood was used in everything from flooring to light fixtures.
He was highly influenced by Japanese design and had an extensive collection of Japanese artifacts.

Looking for kitchen remodeling ideas? The most economical way to remodel a kitchen, is to keep the footprint the same. Moving plumbing and electric can add costs to your remodel. If your kitchen functions properly, using the typical triangle, including plenty of counter space where you need it, you can affordably update your old tile counter top, dated back splash or add additional decorative lighting to give your kitchen a fresh new look. My client was ready to get rid of the tired wallpaper and border. The black appliances were in great shape, so I tied them into the design with black accent tile and a black under-mount sink.

Oversized white subway tile gets jazzed up with a black border and a large scale mosaic pattern. An airy shade of silvery blue paint, softens the contrast and pops the wood tones, for a bright and airy freshness.

Black is a crisp neutral, giving definition and contrast to a space. The classic black and white theme of the hard surfaces will easily support new color choices, including appliances, paint or accessories. The new black light fixtures and barstools tie the entire look together.

I love finding the perfect lighting solutions! Using rainglass diffuses the light while adding interest and dimension to the large space. Not only is new lighting a great upgrade to functionality, it's the best jewelry for your space, adding beauty and mood. Previously, this kitchen was shadowy and dark with can lights on the high ceilings. By adding three new pendants over the bar, we have defined the space and featured the vertical depth in a long horizontal space.

Now that you've had extra time around the house to purge the clutter during the Covid19 lock down, you're probably tired of looking at the same walls and dream about adding some style to your space.

Several of my clients were anxious to transform their space during quarantine and we did remote consultations via Facetime and Zoom. Even before Covid hit, I've provided many remote color consultations and design services nationwide from Phoenix to Fargo.

One interesting remote design project was for clients in Sweden, who were turning their historic Denver landmark into an AirBnB. I helped them with space planning, lighting, paint colors, furniture and art sourcing and selection, and installation coordination and final styling. The home was originally owned by Buffalo Bills' sister and where he ultimately took his final breath. It was fun to research and add touches of the history in the home. Even though the clients were an ocean away, they were involved in the process and thrilled with the results!

Click to see the before and after pictures here.

Imagine building a new home, three states away with so many details to attend to. When it came to design choices and materials, my clients Jan & Mark relied on me to guide the vision and source products to create a custom home beyond boring builder grade.

Why do certain colors trend? Have you noticed, that you haven't been able to find a pair of hot pink pumps for decades? Want to replace that eggplant bath rug, but can't find that color anywhere anymore?  Color forecasting is done in advance and the entire manufacturing industry jumps on board, from fashion, to home decor, to print advertising.

Pantone is recognized worldwide, designers pay attention, The color forecasters gather and talk color, until they come up with the "Color of the Year". Decision by committee. Personally, I feel that the new blue is a bit heavy and depressing for the dawn of a new decade. Yes, we need to feel peaceful, but we also need to feel hopeful. If I was on the international color forecasting board I would block this conservative decision ;) More on Pantone

​Well, I did it!
I made the move from Denver to Wisconsin. It was a very Merry Christmas with family and friends, to be followed by a long stretch of bitter cold that has not ended. I’m happy to look for houses while sitting by the fireplace. Thank God for Zillow, Realtor.com and hot tea!
 
Of course I am excited to dive into the interior design community here in the Milwaukee area and start to get acquainted with new people, suppliers and vendors. In the meantime, as I browse through the real estate listings, I see that realtors and homeowners in the area could be greatly helped with a two-hour interior design consultation.
 
People generally think that interior designers are only for the extremely wealthy. Not true!  A $250 consultation can dramatically change the look of your space, and save you money. ​Many people prefer to do it themselves, but need ideas, guidelines and

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