4 minute read
Remotely Designed Condo
DESIGN BY LORI MARVEL, NANDINA AIKEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY GLENN LIVERMORE PHOTOGRAPHY
This project started in the midst of the global pandemic, and for me, introduced an entirely new perspective to the way I design. When my clients, Richard and Suzanne, approached me about their new condo in Newburyport, MA, they had just moved from a beautiful home in Charleston’s Lowcountry that I had originally helped them design. They wanted this new home in New England to reflect warmth and comfort with a nod to the design elements from the Charleston home they had grown to love. The challenge of putting the entire plan together remotely allowed me to explore additional technological resources and taught me the many capabilities a smartphone affords.
Always drawn to light, airy interiors, Suzanne wanted to introduce a bit of Charleston to their New England condo. In addition, they wanted to integrate beautiful art and accessories that had been collected over their history of travel and the many places they had lived around the world. Modern Charleston interiors are known for the subtle mix of light fabrics, textured elements that are reflective of the beach, and a rich layering of antiques and accessories.
The open kitchen, dining and living area are tied together with a cream, brown and white pallet throughout, with color added through art and blue Asian pottery. Natural Fiber rugs are used in both the living and dining areas and are a perfect backdrop for rich leather chairs, dark wood side tables and a natural wood pedestal dining table. Wishbone style dining chairs with a natural sheepskin hide and a hand knotted Turkish rug are a reflection of my client’s eclectic taste and openness to mixing design styles.
Both grateful and reliant on technology, we were able to work closely together to come up with what has turned out to be the most fitting design for this well-traveled couple. The condo speaks to the many places they have lived around the world and highlights their unique and personal art collection. Most of all, this stylish inviting home has provided a comfortable respite from the ever-changing global environment.
Richard and I have traveled and moved many times, and we were hoping to have a home that reflected our travels, but that felt warm and welcoming to those visiting. Our home isn’t any one type of design, it’s unique to us, and we couldn’t be happier!
- Suzanne, Homeowner
BEHIND
the design
When my clients purchased their new home in a historic New England building that had recently been gutted and renovated into modern multifamily townhouses, they loved the space. Still, they felt like the finishes were a bit cold. Craving warmth, comfort, and the texture and layering she loved from her previous home in Charleston, we worked together to achieve that feel in this new, wonderful environment. Charleston is known for bamboo, rattan, antiques, hand-knotted rugs, and blue and white pottery. We artfully mixed these elements throughout the open-concept space while maintaining a light pallet throughout. Large, woven pendants over the island in the kitchen added texture and warmth to the allwhite cabinetry and solid surfaces. The beaded chandelier over the dining table within the same area is uniquely different but blends perfectly with the mix of modern and traditional elements throughout the room. An antique French chest with white alabaster lamps and Blue Asian pottery are a nod to the Charleston style of layering that my client loves. Textured natural fiber rugs, shearling sheepskins, and a bamboo desk with a cane back chair added character and additional texture to the light toneon-tone interiors. The pallet and texture of this design is the perfect backdrop for the homeowner's photography and accessories that represent their well-traveled life. Scan to view
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THE BEAUTY OF
Creative Design
- Bill Moyers
When you experience a beautiful room, you intuitively see and feel the creativity of the design. The way the designer has used imagination or original ideas to solve problems or produce artistry in the design.
Creativity is the elusive element of great design. We know it when we see it, even if we can’t clearly define it. Why is the use of creativity so important in the creation of the interiors of our homes? Creativity is the true intersection of art and science. It is creativity that helps us solve problems and come up with alternatives to how our spaces will work for us and give us joy. In the design world, we are constantly inspired by the creative evolution of products all around us. Fabrics that have evolved to look and feel like silk or velvet but have the durability of canvas, rugs that are luxurious in texture and color but can be stain-resistant and last a lifetime.
Creative design is ingenious and innovative, original and visionary. As designers, we work to create functional spaces that fit our client’s lifestyles but ultimately judging the success of the design will hinge on the creativity of how it was executed. It may be the use of color or surface selections in an unusual way, or bringing traditionally outdoor products inside, or using furniture in new and innovative ways. As you explore our interpretation of creative design, we hope you will appreciate how we, as designers, work with you to design spaces that are an expression of your creative style.
