RennieLou's Profile

Wow. Fabulous... I love the polished but not overly formal look. And, I agree with everyone else who said it before: thanks so much for taking before and after photos that match!

Reading the comments from the design clients makes me wonder where you found the terrible designers you've been describing!

A designer / architect should never "take rejection personally" - a good designer will work with you to accomplish a vision that suits your needs and budget without getting upset if you disagree with something; they should help to explain anything you don't understand. I once had a client decline toss pillows based on the price; when I showed her a similar custom pillow, she said, "Oh, I didn't realize how amazing it would be - I love them." Communication is key.

Also, my time was always billed between $75 - $150 for service when I worked for a private firm. Anyone who knows about running a business will agree that billing charges are a combined total of the cost it takes to run the business. Would you dispute your mechanic's $100 - $125 / hour charge after your car was done? We readily accept similar charges all the time without thought because they are the norm.

Thanks for posting an article that helps to close the gap between false perception put forth by design shows and design reality.

You might try http://www.highbrowfurniture.com - I know they have replacement parts for Eames designs, but not sure about the Le Corbusier stuff, though.

I second the very first comment by E53: "one of the best home tours I have seen in a really long time" - yes. Lovely home with lots of character!

Don't people have hobbies any more??

My husband and I have lived in 3 major cities in the last 8 years. Every time we settle in a new place, I find a dog park, or take a class in something I'm interested in, or volunteer for an organization that I find interesting. My husband likes to rebuild Norton motorcycles, so he joins the British bike club or attends every Ton-Up or Vintage Bike Rally within a day's drive. Because of our openness to try new things, our friends range greatly in age and background. We have several sets of "best friends" and a constant stream of visitors.

If making friends is a true priority, then don't be shy. Go out, meet someone, ask for an email address or phone number and actually contact them. You're only going to get good friends if YOU'RE a good friend.

I LOVE this story... the house, too, of course.

:)

I agree with @SUSANINTORONTO - "cozy little home" isn't how most of us would describe a 2,400 SF house.

Other than that, kudos on a smartly designed and welcoming home! Very cute.

Well, generally speaking a lot of reaction = success no matter the sentiment (good or bad).

That said, this house seems a bit forced: like everything was borrowed from a design blog or a West Elm catalog. It's like a projection of personality without actual substance, as if everything has been borrowed from somewhere else and there is no soul to the home.

And I agree with @Piecour. Be real, AT.

Oh, and you could finish the lower left corner with a small bookcase and an extra chair or two. It's always nice to have a small, wood or metal frame chair to pull up when you have company.

I agree that the space is not cohesive - choose a style and stick to it. If you want to accommodate the fireplace, select a light neutral in the grays and paint both walls rather than going for a dated "accent wall" effect.

Curtain panels that are the correct length will help - try a set that just touch the floor enough to break and opt for a similar color to the wall to create some openness in the room.

Finally, select a minimal number of accessories. A punch of color would be nice in a vase, a minimalist painting over the fireplace and a brushed brass grate without a lot of frills will give you a stunning look.