One of the pure pleasures of getting older is working with my clients on project after project. A third project with this client; I am trying to actually remember our first meeting- I would just say -it seemed we had known one another forever. Any designer will admit, they have initial instincts about a project immediately at the first meeting. The connection you have that day is many times over- strengthened- but if that initial something isn't there-It probably will never be.
OUR first project involved selecting final touches for a living room and we added curtains in the dining room. NEXT, A small dining room became the SITTING ROOM and the clients created a large DINING ROOM to satisfy their love for entertaining -the lady of the house is a chef with some of the best secret recipes in the South. She makes it seem so simple- but that is the art of, is it not?
the Tudor in question
with new lamps, rug and hanging light
Along with the room changes- an ADDITION- brought me back to the house- satisfying the man of the house-his family having established an impeccable reputation for building the finest homes in the area many years ago. Other needs were pressing too- a growing family- the addition included a huge living dining area and a master suite upstairs. This project flew by.
Last summer when my clients contacted me to ask about updating the addition I was surprised, thrilled and then said
"Why?" I actually said that to the clients. It was still perfect!
LE FRUITIER
Our color palette by French painter Andre Beauchant
Updates needed doing, Pieces needed refining, Rugs needed adding, fine tuning in the Master bathroom- the list increased and we touched every room and had a wonderful time doing it.
One of the fabrics used for the redux
Here are some photographs of the results, With Notes, and a Footnote or two.
the MASTER SUITE
I love the Master Suite. This space was added during Project III-a new Master Suite. We had established the wall color and the clients were still very happy with the choice.The carpet is new and it is one of those things we waited for over four months. The WALL color-a soft dove gray, the headboard and the two ottomans were selected for the bedroom when we decorated the first time. The new washed gray linen curtains with their antique look are on informal bamboo rods.
headboard fabric by Groves Brothers
curtain fabric
A much needed seating arrangement was added on a large wall along with a skirted table that once served as one of the bedside tables. An embroidered Lee Jofa fabric updates a french chair while other touches of yellow and camel were added to the room.French chair fabric & Headboard fabric
My client found the pair of mercury glass lamps in a favorite antique store- custom gray silk drum shades give them a modern edge. I Love the gray ultrasuede french chaise dressed with a camel pashmina and Randolph and Hein silk pillows, all paired with a simple modern table and a decidedly 1940's wood and iron sconce.
The SITTING ROOMDeep taupe walls are just as they were the first time I visited. SITTING ROOM Chairs are all in taupe with pink accents- A traditional camel back sofa in taupe and table skirt are from the first project. The curtains and shade were part of the original Dining Rooms decor. One of the french chairs is covered in an Indian sari the other pink and taupe fabric is by Vervain.
Sitting Room chair fabric detailan Indian Sari fabric covers the french chair
an Indian Sari fabric covers this french chair
a cozy corner with old family slipper chairs covered in a J Robert Scott dragonfly print.
old gray and pink Kilim pillows add color to the taupe room, just peeking out in the photograph is a Merida sisal rug
THE FOYERThe grayed taupe walls were hand finished by the client's sister when they had just moved in. New tall porcelain lamps enliven a very narrow console made from an old iron gate; Nest porcelain adds just a touch of color.
A richly detailed rug adds color and impact to the foyer. I am always in love with rugs when I start looking at them- I would take any of them home, this one is no exception.
A small sitting area in the Kitchen. The Fabrics- a Schumacher embroidery & club chairs covered in a Phillip Gorrivan Greek key inspired fabric. In the Kitchen, we took the dark cherry cabinets to a light grayed white and added new bar chairs and lighting. (Must get some photographs of this.) 
THE SUNROOM
Vibrant green linen curtains cover all the windows and doors and are accented
with a great Greek Key bordered edge. An old cane chair, and by the way, I love these 1920's cane pieces- is covered in a huge print by designer-Thomas Paul and and antique Empire ottoman is covered in a dralon Schumacher fabric.
This room was once a porch off the dining room. We painted the brick a "dirty" shade of white and added the arched windows and doors. The original brick floor remains, the ceiling is painted an old shade of faded brown. Pieces from other areas were called on to serve along with a "odd pair"/meaning almost-but not quite/ of old Chinese tables. I purchased these for myself- where would they go? and why? They remained in the trusted hands of the clients- Until they decided to keep them. Some things just work out. These two pieces are perfect stacked on top of each other for catching papers and magazines.
THE LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM
aka the Everything Room
This room is THE Everything room- originally the ADDITION, now a well integrated part of the family. The Original design for this room created a Tudor Keeping Room- of sorts. It was time to lighten up. Deep brown painted woodwork was banished for a light color and the walls were lightened as well. The original half curtains in a Calvin brown woven "burlap" were retained- I love those curtains. A pair of new modern pendants were added overhead in the sitting area and over the dining table.
The comfort of leather never grows old- and the original pieces of leather purchased for the room stayed, along with an English style loveseat covered in a Brunschwig and Fils wide wale cord in a mustard.
Sunflowers pillow fabric- however we used the reverse side to get the mileage from the pink ground
ottoman detail- a woodgraining pattern
A PINK BEDROOM, go
here to see the room in detail.
Summer came and it is already waning, I hope to get some photographs of the porch and the patio, along with the Kitchen and some other details shots.
We slipped up and ran out of time -when the family returns from their summer at the beach-I will stop by, say hello and who knows? We Do need to get new rugs on that staircase.
the original post ended here
updated -What happened last summer? A saltwater pool was added, porch and patio furniture was finished. I am now working on a project with this client where He assumes the role of Builder- and I- of Designer. A switch, but no less rewarding- I will share as things progress.
No- We still have not found the right runner for the Foyer Stair-
but, This will be the Summer.
Loads of old wrought iron to refurbish for the patio
My client's color palette moved out into the great outdoors for a Fall Supper Party and a Neighborhood Halloween Party by the pool last fall. I arranged Flowers in tall bark urns- with full blown orange and yellow fall foliage and flowers towering to seven feet high.
I will photograph the porch very soon.
These things take time.
. 
, author Jeanne Holm has this to say about Loreta Velasques: One of the most colorful and enterprising characters...was Loreta Velasques. Beautiful, well educated and affluent, she had been born in Cuba, where her father was a diplomat. When her husband, who was an army officer, left for the war, Loreta, over his objections, bought a Confederate uniform, glued on a moustache and chin beard, recruited a troop of soldiers, and set herself up as their commander under the name Lt. Harry T. Buford. Before she was discovered, she had fought in a number of battles, including the First Battle of Bull Run, and had served a brief stint as a self-styled spy.
