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FEMALE WEAVER BIRDS WILL PULL APART POORLY BUILT NESTS LABORIOUSLY WOVEN, STRAND-BYSTRAND, BY THEIR FEATHERED PARTNERS. HUMANS ALSO WANT THEIR ‘NESTS’ TO LOOK AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE AND SOMETIMES IT’S NECESSARY TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IN DOING SO.
FAR RIGHT: Owner & Creative Director of Design Monarchy Rose McClement (right) and her Associate Marica Fick (left).
Some folks just have the knack. They can look at a room and by swopping two pictures hanging on the wall, adding a few colourful throw cushions, moving a lamp and artfully arranging a pile of books on a coffee table, completely transform the space!
Owner & Creative Director of Design Monarchy Rose McClement and her Associate Marica Fick are two such people – and homes, offices and even international hotels are the better for having them conceptualise and action their interior ideas.
As interesting as their professional CV of projects undertaken is, it’s their blog which provides the man or woman in the street with an interesting glimpse into their vocation and their individual creativity.
“Gosh! We’ve been doing it for seven years – taking turns – and we both just love writing about what we do,” McClement said. The duo complement each other with Fick’s interior design credentials accompanying the more than 30 years decorating experience that McClement has accumulated.
“Interior design delves deeper than simply decor. We believe every interior solution should reflect different cultures, styles and personalities,” they maintain – and they do so while working within current trends but not being enslaved by contemporary fashion. And their main consideration is always what the client wants. “We work with them to design environments that reflect their individuality and lifestyle.” Obviously the blog is very visual with drool-worthy pictures illustrating their various projects, but an element which sets it apart and also shows their reflective – different – styles is one in which they posted their favourite “looks” while researching material.
It’s dated June 9 and was supposed to be a pick of their best workspace interiors from Pinterest. The idea was to choose the best look ... but they ended up each choosing three!
They admit essentially “playing a little game of ‘I wish’, as in ‘I wish I had that interior’ – be it lounge, bedroom, kitchen or anything in between.”
They browsed a variety of Pinterest boards before selecting their favourite interior image: “the space we most desire to have as our own,” as Fick wrote. “We then explain exactly why we coveted that particular space and if there is anything we would like to change. Naturally, we ended up choosing two ‘runner-up’ interiors… because deciding on just one room was just too difficult!”
The fascinating thing is being granted insight into what pushes their buttons and their explanation of why – be it the depth created, a paint technique, the use of colour, practical considerations of storage needs and so much more. Fick’s runner up selections could not be more different – one quite industrial and white while the second, an attic space, was cosy and dark, with lots of flea market finds and knick-knacks. Great suggestion by Marica, a graduate of Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT): “There’s one more appealing use for wallpaper that recently grabbed my attention – using wallpaper on staircases. Not only is this quirky decorating idea quick, simple, and easy on the wallet, it’ll add a conversation-starting focal point to your home. It truly is an inventive way of introducing pattern, colour and personality into an otherwise drab and utilitarian space.” Then there was the post on industrial-themed bedside pedestals, or the feature on bar carts – which is superbly relevant to CHEERS readers! This blog is a fantastic resource if you’re looking for interior ideas. And it’s a lovely light, yet warm and inviting read. There’s no intimidation of intellectual ability. These are quite obviously two very bright, capable and talented designers but there’s nothing snooty or exclusive about how they go about their process.
Reading the blog feels comfortable and cosy, like having a friend provide some really good ideas about how you could liven up your nest’s look.
