Spring always signifies new life, a resurrection after a long, wet winter. I love to garden and now that the rains have subsided I am out digging in the dirt, pulling so many weeds…ugh, fertilizing and planting.There is nothing like seeing a new bud, or flower, blooming that you coaxed to life. It is a birth without the extreme pain…a little pain, yes, of the gardening sort, but nothing like real childbirth, believe me!  

New life is a joyous occasion. I feel the same pleasure taking worn furniture pieces, albeit with good bones, and giving them new life and making them relevant for today.

The Inspiration

It all starts with inspiration. For our Cali Cape Cod project dining room, we wanted a settee with beautiful carvings and distinctive motifs. In the process, one has to keep an open mind on what you might find and the cost to transform a storied piece. By the time you pay for the piece, the refinishing, the reupholstering it may not be the bargain you thought it was, but it will be a gem, a diamond in the rough transformed.

The Hunt

It is not always easy to find the attributes you are looking for in a piece of furniture, especially in a newly manufactured piece. So begins the hunt!

We scavenged the online consignment sites that have emerged in the last decade, much to my delight and fortune; Chairish, Sotheby’s, Incollect and others. There is such a wealth of options it literally takes hours to comb through the selections on each of these sites but it is well worth the reward when you find that perfect hidden gem.

Lo and behold, we find it on Chairish, with royal purple upholstery and a gilded gold frame….hmmmm. The bones of this piece are great but we don’t know what might lurk underneath this guilded lily. Once it is delivered to the refinisher’s, we discover that the settee is not made of carved wood at all, but resin, which requires a whole different set of skills to transform it into the piece we envision.

After a lot of discussion, angst, more discussion, more angst, and effort with our refinisher and myself (ok, I admit I carried most of angst) in the end we achieved what we set out to do!  What do you think?  Did we transform this piece?  Did we achieve our goals?

For another project, we wanted a small settee that was distinctive yet simple for the foyer of the client’s Pebble Beach home.  We pre-selected a hand block printed linen from Penny Morrison for the upholstery. We just needed the perfect settee to compliment it. Again, we scoured the online consignment “shops” and Chairish came through for us with this beautiful petit settee with a distinctive carved wood motif. It was in great shape. It only needed a little repair to the structure, a darker finish to fit the fabric and the overall concept of the home.  

It is so satisfying to see what was an outdated ugly duckling get transformed into a beautiful swan that compliments the home, tells a story of its own, and is cherished by its new owners.  Bringing new life to an old furniture piece is an exhilarating part of the creative process…always keeping a watchful eye out for what could be.

We progress….the third floor is taking shape; dormers are approaching completion, the bedroom and bath are framed, and new windows are installed. 

I’ve always love walking through design projects in the framing stage. This is when 2D plans take form and become a 3D reality…where rooms start to come alive. Change at this stage is an inevitability. So goes it in this Upstairs Downstairs project. Arched openings have evolved into squared openings, they just looked right juxtaposed with the “tunnel” under the stairs.

Openings are framed…it’s starting to take shape.

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“A designer must be open to the possibilities of change and evolution, allow for discovery and chance, and welcome circumstances happening of their own volition. ”

— Ray Booth

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As a designer you have to adapt, knowing when to push your clients beyond their comfort level and at other times they push me in new directions. It is a beautiful dance between client and designer…at times I lead them into new, unfamiliar territory, and other times we opt for something more familiar. Most of the time, it is comfort that dictates our response. What we know can be a very safe place, however sometimes what we are familiar with can hold us back, and we are ready to break free and experience something new (this is true for both homeowner & designer). This then becomes more comfortable than staying where we are. It is a risk that feels right.

A view from the 3rd Floor…wow!

Next installment, plumbing and electrical foundations are installed and sheetrock will begin soon. Will there be changes? Stay tuned!

A collector of comic books has some very precious collections of artwork to compliment his Super Hero figurines.

JM:  I learned so much listening to your recent talk on 10 Keys to Collecting Art. I felt like you provided the keys to unlock the door to building a solid art collection. How would a person who is new to art collecting start the process? How would they educate themselves and train their eye?

LY: The first thing is, don’t buy anything. Spend time learning and discovering what you like.  Seek experiences, visit museums and galleries that are new to you, check out library books on art, even go to street fairs. Immerse yourself in art magazines and online art websites.

My client loved the calm repose in Melinda Cootsona's figurative piece.

This was s surprise purchase as the clients gravitate to traditional art. The husband loved how this piece by Dominique Caron sparked conversation around the dinner table.

JM:  Why is it important to wait to purchase art and educate yourself?

LY: A person’s art collection is an expression of themselves. Don’t buy for pedigree alone. You must love the piece of art. Take the time to seek out art experiences. This kind of exploration will help you discover what truly resonates with you. Art is very personal and should be a reflection of you and your lifestyle.  

We reframed a traditional piece bought on a trip to Carmel and added some lovely small works to compliment it, hanging them gallery style.

The play of neutrals with a pop of color by artist was a perfect fit over the fireplace in the client's family room.

JM:  During your talk you mentioned  a telling story about one of your collector clients and a broken plate. Can you tell us that story?

LY:  I was advising a client on the purchase of a Picasso ceramic plate. As they are rare, he wanted to purchase the first one he came across. Much to his chagrin, I advised him to wait and see what else might come on the market. Three times he came across pieces to purchase and I advised him to wait. I felt we could find one that was in better condition and valued more in line with the investment he was going to make. Sure enough on one of the plates, which I had x-rayed for damage, we found that the plate had been damaged and restored, tremendously lowering the value of the piece. Finally, we did find one that was in fantastic condition and half of the price of the first one he wanted to buy. He was a happy client and so satisfied with his find.

Waiting is hard to do but fine art is an investment. It cannot be returned and you never want to experience buyers remorse.

A beloved piece of the client hangs above the headboard in an all white room.

JM:  Any last words of advice on building a collection?

LY:   Your home, where your art collection lives, is an expression of you. Art feeds your soul and fulfills a basic human need to say “ I exist, I am unique, this is me, this is what makes me smile!”

Lily Yu is an Art Agent, Cerified Art Appraiser, and so much more…

To contact Lily Yu,  visit msagentart.com   

Rain, Rain GO Away… especially when it comes to construction schedules. Our drought ridden California needs rain but now that we have it in buckets, it is wreaking havoc on our construction project. Between the raindrops, the construction team is able to sneak in some time to frame the new dormers on the third floor. Now we wait for a few sunny days to finish them.

To make lemonade out of lemons, we are not sitting idly by. No! There is work to be done, doors to be ordered, stone slabs selected, finishes to finalize, furniture, rugs and lighting to be specified and ordered.

While the house additions continue to be framed and readied for the next phase of construction, we are reconsidering decisions made long ago during the design phase. Much thought and design time has been spent working through the details of the openings between the common spaces of the home. Full arch or an eyebrow arch for the openings? Site lines have been considered but as much as you plan ahead on a project and design the details on paper, it is not until we see them constructed that these decisions made long ago need new consideration. At this stage everyone has an opinion. This can confuse and muddy the design focus. What is a designer to do?

Next month I will let you know what was decided, and why!

More and more, I find that reframing my client’s existing art brings new life to their cherished pieces.

Tips for reframing:

1. The most important tip is to work with a notable framing shop (no offense but Aaron Brothers just won’t cut it here).

2. Find and work with a staff member that understands your aesthetic. There are several staff members at the shop that I work with that really get my aesthetic while others that don’t. There might be some trial and error before you find the right person.

3. Have an idea of the room and placement for the piece as this will help inform your choices of frame size, color, and style.

4. Play with several framing ideas...sometimes you will really like a frame and then you try another and you really, really like that one. In a word, experiment!

5. Be open to different matte colors and textures. Linen mattes are more expensive but they drip with luxury.

6. Consider a more elaborate gilded frame for a contemporary art piece…the juxtaposition can be truly striking.

7. Experiment with updating a traditional art piece with a contemporary frame. That could add just the right spark.

8. Always, always, always use museum glass…it may be a 1/3 more in price but worth it.  Museum glass reduces glare and preserves your cherished artwork for long-term enjoyment.

Reframing art can be costly but if there is a piece that you really love, it is worth the investment.  

A black frame accented by a silver edge focuses the eye on the light surrounding the bull.

This photo realistic piece came to life with the two toned silver frame.

Brushed gold frames and two shades of green mattes accentuate these small intricate works.

Contemporary piece by Cristian Korn in a gilded frame.

Cristian Korn gilded frame detail.

The deep green matte draws your eye to this sweet little house.

A beaded edge on this wood frame mimics and highlights the detailed rubbing.

Exquisite rubbing passed down from the family gains new life with creamy matte & beautiful wood frame.

This wood frame is exquisitely hand carved relating to the texture of the rubbing.

Scroll through the before images to see the dramatic change to the client's cherished artwork.

Look what was found in the walls...hoping for a Picasso.

The Setting: A beautiful Tudor home on a tree-lined street in a well-established neighborhood. The home is very comfortable blessed with plenty of natural light and a backyard oozing with charm.

The Dilemma: The home isn’t working spatially for a family with three growing boys.  Everyone feels piled on top of each other, all the time. 

Stairs are turned towards the back of the house and framing for the Kitchen wall has begun. Turning the stairs and moving the Kitchen allowed for space at the back of the house for a nice Family Room facing the garden.

The arched "tunnel" that passes under the stairs opening a breezeway from the kitchen towards the Dining Room.

The Plan of Attack: We start with a third story attic build out and the project scope grows from there. The clients need more than additional square footage; they need a better flow to their spaces and adjacencies. We plan to move the kitchen, then the dining room, turn the staircase, and then place the family room where the kitchen used to be! One year in, we are now planning the spaces, finessing the architectural details and finishes, and sourcing furniture and fixtures.

It all starts with planning the spaces and visualizing them on paper

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We Start: Demolition is done. Framing has begun! I invite you on this remodeling journey with me, over the next 6 months, as we progress from a twinkle in the eye of my clients to the finished project! I will be sharing the ups and downs, highs and lows of a remodeling project.

Join me…….

Christmas is an amazing celebration of life, love, joy and freedom. I never want to lose the celebratory spirit of the season. I find it inspirational and transformative to experience the holidays in different regions to see firsthand how others celebrate. This year - New Orleans, last year it was Santa Fe. Two distinctively different cities in their architecture, their arts and their cuisine. Each is lovely in its own way.  Let me share with you our jazzy New Orleans holiday…

The historic Garden District is home to the finest and grandest architecture in New Orleans. Many homes were festively decorated with big red bows or garlands. Some even had Christmas trees on their upper verandas.

Many luminaries have lived in the Garden District, such as writer Anne Rice, actors Nicolas Cage and Sandra Bullock to name a few. Historical figure Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of America, probably not a favorite figure with Northerners, also resided in New Orleans at one time.

Notable architect Henry Howard, an immigrant from Ireland and sometimes called the forgotten architect, was responsible for so many of the resplendent architectural homes in the area. Howard infused his grand structures with fabulous details by using techniques that blended both American and European styles.   

Two hotels were a must see for their noted, over the top Christmas decor - The Roosevelt, and the Four Seasons, which were both in nearby downtown, only a trolley stop away.  Some of the best tips often come from fellow travelers. We stalked a few until they led us to these magical wonderlands…. (okay we didn’t stalk them but may have followed them for a bit). These beauties prove they were in the know!

The iconic French Quarter has its own kind of holiday magic. While on our engaging, historically enlightening, and delicious food tour with Dr. Gumbo, we viewed much wonder, magic and song in this historic sweet spot.

Just down from the French Quarter we were delighted to find Luna Fete, an amazing outdoor festival of light, art & technology presented by the Arts Council, which featured local artists who cast their light creations onto the historic Gallier Hall.  We were spellbound.

Looks like these holiday trips will be an annual event…hmmmm where to go next year!

We live our lives. Kids grow up and leave…. their stuff, and stuff, and more stuff behind…, and never seem to pick it up, or even care about it anymore. In this case, it was the son’s drum set that had been sitting and occupying a large part of the living room for years…the kid long gone and grown up, and the drum set forbidding anyone from using the room. 

Glimpses of the exquisite Dana Creath iron lantern through chocolate brown entry doors.

New beamed ceiling showcases the Fine Arts crystal chandelier

Ready to dump the drum set and reclaim her living room, and a few other rooms in the process, my client wanted to remake her home into a comfortable and inviting place for her and her husband to enjoy.

New floral window shades along with refinished and reupholstered chairs freshen a classic dining set.

When we get the opportunity to sort through the leftovers in our life, it is amazingly freeing to let these old things go. When the old and unused are discarded, that is when the truly meaningful rises to the surface. This is certainly true for this client, who has many exquisite collections of intricate German crystal glassware, Llardo, and Hummel figurines that now could be showcased. 

Quirky & humorous Ibis lamp nestles next to the newly framed & fanciful art diptych.

Deep blue textured grass cloth accents bookshelves with cherished figurine collections.

It is a remarkable experience, and a privilege, to transform a home that hasn’t been updated in 30 years. There is so much satisfaction in breathing new life into a space and knowing how wonderful that makes the people I work with feel.

Deep rich mushroom colored walls are a backdrop to the Dining Room's transitional furnishings that feel collected.

Design is a process, which ebbs and flows, riding the tide of time…

Life evolves and sometimes, you are just ready for a change…that is how my beloved client felt about her home. Traditionally styled 15 years prior with stately architectural details, situated on a beautiful knoll, surrounded by an extensive garden, she was more than ready to move away from her heavy dark, traditional furniture and go toward something fresh, updated, open and airy. 

Wall papered ceilings, airy draperies, and soothing colors made this Dining Room restful and peaceful.

During our initial consultation, we walked through her home reviewing each room. As we stopped to view the dining room, she remarked “It has to go, all of it! “. Our mantra became clean, updated, airy. We ended up selecting aerial sheers and modern colors for every room.

Some rooms were cleared of everything. Others, we worked with existing pieces, such as the distinctive and colorful rug in her living room. Repainting or refinishing existing furniture, reframing beloved art, or adding new to the old became the plan.

In this Living Room deep blue hues contrast light and ariel sheers and furnishings.

Everything in the guest suite exudes serenity and luxury…bidding guests to retreat and relax.

Blueish-green walls set the tone for this serene guest room.

Who wouldn't want to stay and relax with a good book in this lovely blue-green chaise.

I remember vividly the day we installed the new furniture, rugs, lighting, and the accessories as a finishing touch to each room. As I was leaving, I glanced through her dining room window and noticed my client standing in the room with such a peaceful and tranquil look on her face…this is what it is all about.

Photography by John Merkl 

Katherine Sherwood "Peonies"

As a docent for the local Monterey Museum of Art, we have the opportunity to walk through the upcoming exhibits with the curator of each show. It is always illuminating to peer into the behind the scenes process and the journey that led to the exhibition.

Lisa Solomon "Senninhari

As part of the Year of the Women, The New Domestics exhibit will not disappoint. It is quite a departure for the museum from historical California landscapes, such as the E Charlton Fortune show that just closed, this show will propel you into a new layer of thinking about everyday objects and historical activities that women participated in over the years.

Mitra Fabian "Rhizome"

Elevating the mundane takes us out of our paradigms, giving us pause, and into a world that is full of “what if”. What if this wasn’t just a needlepoint, what if this wasn’t just a resistor or part of a computer, what if these brain scans could be art? The show is both beautiful and tantalizes the senses through thought provoking images and sculptural feats.

Victoria May "Utility Panel"

The New Domestics, along with Salon Jane, opened September 20th….there are some exciting events in conjunction with these shows coming up at our educational center at La Mirada…don’t miss it!