Lisa Laberge Interiors

A 'can't miss' art show is coming.

2012-02-12T18:20:00.004-05:00

Anyone who wanted to delve into the art world of Paris inthe 1920’s would have visited Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas’ apartment on27 Rue de Fleurus in Paris. Man Ray’s 1922 black and white photo of themcomfortably seated in front of the fireplace gives you a glimpse into thatworld. The photo is wonderful butdoes not do the scene justice. Canyou imagine the riot of colors all around them? Paintings were hung to therafters with works by now famous names such as Henri Matisse, Juan Gris, PabloPicasso, Paul Cezanne, Pierre-August Renoir and others.

First the artists came and then the writers followed withmore jaw dropping names such as Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Thornton Wilderand Sherwood Anderson. Gertrude became known for two things – her collection ofmodern art and her collection of friends, both collected before the art or thefriend was famous. To say she hadan eye for talent is perhaps a bit of an understatement. It was one of those golden moments intime for the cultural world, as the birth of Modernism unfolded around theStein’s.

It really began when Gertrude joined her brother Leo inParis is 1904. Leo was on his wayto amassing a modest art collection and Gertrude caught the collector’s bug. They were unlikely patrons who weren’trich, living off of a modest income from a family trust. The art dealer, Ambroise Vollard, oncesaid that the Steins bought paintings “not because they were rich, but despitethe fact that they weren’t.” Gertrude would lecture the stylish wives of herartistic visitors to save on clothing by dressing practically and use the moneyto buy art. Gertrude looked and dressed like a sack of potatoes but we arestill fascinated by her today.

The Steins were extraordinary in that they trusted theirinstinct even when the critics of the time were loudly opposed to the new artform, and they befriended and encouraged young talent by being patrons of theart world even without financial means.

The Steins Collect started at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,is now at the Grand Palais in Paris until January, and then will travel to theMetropolitan Museum of Art in NYC from February 12 until March 12^th. You don’t want to miss this show.

Selecting Tile. Read on. You may need this someday.

2012-01-21T07:16:00.000-05:00

It seems to me that there is a renewed interest inremodeling kitchens and baths and that makes a lot of sense in this type of aneconomy. Most folks figure theyhave to stay put so why not spruce things up a bit. An important element in a kitchen and bath design is theselection of tile and one that should be chosen carefully.

I asked Maureen Savage at Village Tile to explain what typesof tiles are in the marketplace right now. She said that in Vermont, natural stones such as granite,marble, slate and travertine are commonly used because of their earthy quality.Another popular choice is glass tiles in a wide range of color, often made ofrecycled glass. In the manufactured tile category there is porcelain andceramic tiles. Ceramic tile ismade of clay mixed with various minerals and water, then processed with heatand some are sealed with a glaze. The glazed ceramics are best used as wall tiles because they would betoo slippery for floor applications. Porcelain tile is made of finely groundsand, then processed under pressure and extremely high temperatures resultingin a very dense, glass-like material. Some are ‘through body porcelains’ withthe color showing all the way through. Chips won’t be as obvious and installers can cut the tile to use asbullnose edgeing.

There are so many choices that selecting tiles and creatinga design can be a bit daunting. Ifind it helpful to bring with me an inspiration piece such as wallpaper, fabricor a photo torn from a shelter magazine. This is helpful in determining the style and feel of the room. One trick is to select a tilecollection, then use different sizes of it within a room. For example, a largertile on the floor of a bathroom, a small mosaic for the shower floor, and amedium sized tile as the walls of the shower. For an upscale look on a budget, use an expensive mosaictile judiciously as the shower floor and as an accent border in the shower.

Grout has improved greatly with a new epoxy variety thatresists mildew and staining. Previously a sanded grout was used, which is a cement-based grout.Cement absorbs water leading to mildew. Choosing a grout color needs to be considered as part of the overalldesign scheme. You can match the groutcolor to the predominant tile color or you can contrast the grout with thetiles to create a checkerboard effect.

A proper installation is the most important aspect totiling. A professional tileinstaller will take time to consider the layout to figure out how all thegeometric pieces will fit together.

Maybe this long winter is a good time to do your research,visit tile stores and dream a bit about a beautiful new kitchen or bath.

What is the spark that begins a career?

2012-01-08T08:38:00.000-05:00

My passion for design began inBrooklyn, of all places, while traipsing after my mother’s decorator, a womannamed Vinnie, who decorated for Roma Furniture.

It was the 70’s and we weredescendants of recent Italian immigrants so you can imagine what the finishedlook was – velvets in red wine colors, cupids on lamps, and gold everywhere. Idistinctly remember the custom made plastic slipcovers that encased the velvetsofas in my, and all of my friends’ living rooms. The plastic dried out and cracked rather quickly, pinchingour legs as we sat down. Someone must have made a fortune on this upholsteryoddity and thankfully it was a trend that passed.

One thing that gave me braggingrights with my friends was the wallpaper selected for the kitchen – the verysame mustard and avocado green wallpaper that The Partridge Family had in theirTV kitchen. I now know that the70’s was not the best decade for design but at the time it seemed that a doorwas open a crack into a very special world.

The other thing that reallysolidified it for me was my exposure to what lay just over the bridge in ‘TheCity’. My schoolteacher mother, who was well traveled for her day,took the four of us kids on outings to every museum and historic house we couldreach by public transportation. She would extol the notion that it was a big, beautiful world out thereand to be cultured was a very important task of growing up. Teddy Roosevelt’s boy hood homeparticularly stuck in my mind, most likely because of all the dead animalsstrewn around the brownstone on East 20^th Street off Park Avenue. Tothis day, I am still a bit iffy on the use of dead animals as decoration.

I have continued the traditionwith my own family, dragging my two daughters and husband to every historichouse we could reach by a car ride away from our home in Dorset. The Berkshires holds a wellspring ofhistoric houses. Most memorable is Edith Wharton’s house, ‘The Mount’, in Lenox,MA, which brought her philosophy of design to life as written in the book sheco-authored with architect Ogden Codman, Jr. called The Decoration of Houses. Her mansion positively sparkles in the sunlight dueto the marble dust she insisted be put in the white exterior paint. She didn’t just concentrate on thehouse design but also created elaborate exterior rooms in her gardens, whichare accessed by cleverly designed sod covered steps. This home must have beenher laboratory to explore her innovative ideas.

If someone asked me how to be agood decorator, my advice would be to live fully, travel often, ask questionsand never stop learning.

A Not So Hidden Gem

2011-10-23T21:17:00.004-04:00

At the junction of 7A and Center Hill, across from GringoJack’s and Adams’ Park lives a charming cottage with a Victorian porch, picketfence and pretty lace curtains in the windows. I have always wondered about this house because of itsstorybook demeanor. The other day,seeing the Antique flag flying by the front door, and with some free time on myhands, I decided to stop in and take a look around.

I was greeted warmly by Phyllis Carlson, who, along with herhusband, runs this shop filled with the finest collection of antique linens Ihave ever seen, outside of the Shelburne Museum. Crisp white napkins pile up on tables. Painstakingly handmade lace tableclothshang on a round rack. Quilts andbedding fill armoires. It feels abit like stepping through time and Phyllis adds to the illusion with her prettywhite hair done up in a bun and her violet blue eyes, giving her a Victorianallure.

Phyllis explained that the linens in her shop date from1775-1930 and consist of three distinct categories -- Plain Linens, Fancy Linens and Needlework. The Plain Linens were used daily, suchas homespun sheets, tablecloths and towels, and were made out of flax. These basic necessities tended to beunadorned but were sometimes initialed by the maker. Each homemaker grew herown flax and wove her own goods. She showed me one example of a sheet that wasbeautifully pieces together because the loom was only so wide. The delicate stitches add to theoverall design. Such care andexpertise!

Fancy Linens were made by the upper class. Girls around 1778-1840 were sent off toboarding schools or academies to learn the 3 graces – needlework, art in theform of watercolor, and music. Needlework consisted of samplers, silk work, fancy embroideries and woolwork. Phyllis has fine examples of these hanging in her shop.

Women of that day, whether poor or rich, elevated needleworkto a fine art. Phyllis showed me a rare pair of beautifully embroidered longpockets on a string. Women would ties these pockets around their waists andwear them under their long skirts to store their treasured needles and thread,accessed by slits in the side of skirts. Their tools were always close at handand traveled easily to a neighbor’s house.

I have been stumped by how to care for fine linens andknowing that I had an expert in my clutches, I posed that question toPhyllis. Here are herrecommendations. Linens with any kind of handwork or embroidery must be washedby hand, pressing the water out rather than wringing. The most important thing to remember is never use Chlorinebleach as it continually breaks down the fibers of the fabric. She has triedall sorts of laundry detergent and recommends you use the one that youprefer. You can soak stained linensin Oxi-Clean overnight but you may have to accept some stains as part of thecharm. Hang them on the line, and iron when still slightly damp. Store linens on hangers, in acid freepaper on a shelf or an acid free box. She even suggested that a clean pillowcase makes a nice environment forold fabrics.

I hope you get a chance to visit her shop and learn, like Idid, to appreciate a different era in America, not so long ago. And as Phyllis says: “Anything of thisquality is worth a bit of effort!”

Helping the home we call Vermont.

2011-09-10T18:13:00.002-04:00

Water flooding a field and spilling over the road on River Road in Manchester, VT.

We took an unexpected body blow when Hurricane Irene madeher unwanted visit. That fatefulSunday will be seared in our memories. We watched in horror as streams, rivers and lakes all over Vermontoverflowed their usually placid courses to wreak havoc in neighborhoods, onfarms and roads throughout our community. For a state that has a long-standing respect for nature, this has givenus an even deeper respect for the power and fury of water.

That day two of my neighbors’ houses were overrun by theMettowee River, which runs between their two properties. Told to evacuatequickly and take what they could, neighbors helped wade through waist highwater to carry out a few of the more precious belongings – photo albums, paintings,important papers. My husband kept a careful eye on the storm drain near ourdriveway that was under a foot of water but still, thankfully, drainingaway. As a precaution, I startedto pile up a few items on the dining room table that I would grab just in casethe lake forming outside our window got any larger and headed towards ourhome. What would you take ifyou only had a few minutes time? My pile consisted of computers, somejewelry, passports, a bag of clothes. Items that were either practical or irreplaceable made the cut. In the end, we did not have to evacuatebut I will reflect on those frantic moments for a while to come.

Some Vermonters were not lucky enough to even have a fewminutes preparation before their homes washed down a river. My heart breaks for them. We who fared better are now called onto help where we can.

I am impressed with the way Vermonters are getting to workon the hard task of rebuilding our state. I come from an Italian tradition of operatic histrionics when faced withadversity but that is not the way here. No less felt, but in a quiet, steely determined way, the work ahead willbe hard and together we will rebuild the place we call home.

Now, let’s get to work.

Summer …. It’s all about the exteriors.

2011-08-11T14:27:00.003-04:00

I have become obsessed with gardening. I don’t know how it happened and it seemed to have come upon me suddenly. It all started last year when I decided to put in an English cottage garden at my Design Studio in Dorset. I clipped magazine spreads of beautiful, lush, yet slightly askew country gardens and brought them with me to the Mettowee Mill Nursery. Cornering Tina, the nursery’s Manager, in one of the greenhouses, I asked her how I could achieve this look, even though I was starting with a neglected plot and a beginner’s level of gardening. Tina said she would meet me over at the Design Studio to take a look.

Perhaps calling me a beginner gardener is a bit kind. You see, I am notorious killer of houseplants and have been doing so for many years. In fact, the wide windowsill in my kitchen is known as the “shelf of death” because nothing has survived on it yet. I explained this to Tina but she seemed unruffled.

We conferred on the types of plants and she drew out a floor plan of the overall scheme. It all seemed simple enough and not that different from interior design, with a well thought out planning stage followed by an execution. I was to prepare the beds by weeding thoroughly, composting freely and edging the beds away from the grass. A few days and one bad back later I was done and ready to plant. Tina brought over the plants in a big truck, unloading them onto the grass. While still in pots, she placed them in their soon to be new homes and told me to start digging. As she pulled away, it was starting to rain, and she yelled back to get them in sooner rather than later. Well sooner was in a torrential downpour but I kept going until I was covered in mud from head to toe, but the task was completed. I was quite proud of myself and wished them good luck under my breath hoping they would fair better than my windowsill plants.

They say it takes three years for perennials to really shine and I am on year two. It is a daily pleasure to visit my garden each day and see what has bloomed when I wasn’t looking. I asked Tina back this year because I am converting a barn into a shop and she advised that we should create outdoor rooms with structure, urns filled with flowers and paths of marble stone. Outdoor rooms, Grecian urns, marble? Sign me up. I better start digging again.

Something in your home is naked. I hope it isn’t your windows.

2011-08-10T13:10:00.002-04:00

There are times when I bring up the subject of window treatments to my clients that I see a panicked, deer in the headlights kind of look in their eyes. More often than not I hear, “My spouse likes to keep the windows clear so they can look out at the view.” Fair enough as we Vermonters are lucky enough to usually have the kind of views most people in other less scenic states would envy. Nature is the best decorator, after all. But why not frame that scene with a beautifully designed, well thought out, functional window treatment that calls attention to that hard earned view. And for all you naked window homeowners out there, take notice that when the sun goes down your cold, undressed window turns into a black hole. Yes, a black hole. It happens every night.

Window treatments like most things in the marketplace have come a long way. They are no longer the little old lady lace affair with polyester sheer under drapes and the style and price varies widely to fit any desire or budget. Think of draperies and shades as clothing for your window – you can dress them up in designer duds or ready to wear. For the do-it-yourselfer, the ready-made market is the way to go. If you want a more custom approach you must go to a pro as the details to work out and the choices are endless: with a wide array of decorative rods, a world of fabric choices and trims galore.

I like to think of windows as if they are people, with strong bones to highlight and weak features to downplay, and dress them accordingly. There are many visual tricks you can employ to fool the eye. For example, if you hang the draperies inches higher than the top of the window frame and place the brackets as far to the left and right as possible your windows will look much larger and grander. All of sudden your plain, uninteresting, ‘wouldn’t get a second glance’ window becomes the star of the room.

I have seen it time and again: wonderful furnishings, carpeting, art and accessories are set in place, but a room is never really finished until the draperies are hung with care. Like magic, the draperies pull the whole scene together, raise the eye up high and wrap everything in a warm embrace. Finally your windows are fully dressed and ready for company.

High fashion meets home design.

2011-05-08T09:05:00.005-04:00

The last ice storm in March nearly did me in, so I packed up my car and headed to the Design Center in New York City. I mumbled something to my husband about a business trip but I knew I needed to feel dry pavement beneath my feet for a couple of days. Call it a mental health break from a long, endless winter.

The Design Center, a resource for interior designers and known to the trade as the D&D Building, is located on Lexington Avenue across from Bloomingdales. It is an 18-floor behemoth that is crammed with fabrics, trims, wallcoverings and accessories. It is, I am proud to say, my personal Mecca. You must be well rested, tote a generous supply of energy bars, and consume a Grande Starbucks at the outset, as it is not for the feint of heart.

I was on a bit of a mission. I recently found out from a fabric sales rep that Christian Lacroix designed a new line of fabrics for Designer Guild and I was anxious to see the entire collection displayed in large swatches. Ralph Lauren started the trend by creating a story for his models and then designing their surroundings as well. Other designers have followed his lead into the interior design world.

Lacroix brings his rich history of fashion design to this fabric line and knowing his background will help to understand the collection. His design is informed by growing up in Arles in the South of France. A sun drenched color palette and hints of the tradition of bullfighting, both great influences on his clothing design, peek around each corner. He is a cross over designer in so many ways, with his long history of designing for the Opera and theater. This can be seen in some of the detailing of the fabric finishes. To see some of his exuberant wardrobe designs, click through his website www.christian-lacroix

As a designer, I am thrilled to be able to explore the world of fashion, as it relates to home design. These intersecting worlds can enrich one another in fascinating ways. And the fact that Lacroix is French – Magnifique!

The best kept secret in France – The Toile de Jouy Museum.

2011-01-08T08:18:00.009-05:00

THERE IS a textile museum in the outskirts of Paris dedicated to explaining the production of Toile de Jouy fabric and brimming with original examples. I read about it many years ago in Victoria magazine and put it on my “must do someday” list.

Toile means “cloth” in French and “Toile de Jouy” refers to the fabric that was first manufactured at a factory in Jouy-en-Josas, a village located outside of Paris. The factory, founded in 1760 by Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf, was known for its monochromatic toiles, which depicted scenes printed in red, blue, or black, on a white or cream background.

On a recent trip to Paris with my husband, Bill, I was hoping we could fit it in but we only had a few days and our itinerary was already chock full. Mentioning it to him I explained that the museum is located in the suburbs of Paris, it would be very hard to find, we would have to take the train to get there, etc. That did it. He loves a challenge and his favorite thing is to pour over train schedules especially ones in a foreign language. I believe he was more excited about the journey than the destination but whatever it took was fine with me.
Paris is a city dedicated to design and that day we were visiting the Museum of Decorative Arts. We thought it prudent to ask at the information desk for more details about the Toile Museum before dedicating a precious day to this side trip. Bill worked up the French and the courage to ask. The desk clerk looked at us quite perplexed as if he had never heard of it. Surely it was our broken French that he was misunderstanding, but no, he proceeded to look it up on the internet because he had never heard of it! I was thinking this did not bode well for us but Bill explained it was even more of a challenge and now we had to go.
The next day, 1 ½ hours and a few train connections later we were deposited in that sleepy little town of Jouy-en-Josas. It was a short walk through a charming French village to the XIXth Century chateau. Once through the doors we were handed an English audio guide to aid us as we strolled through the galleries.
We learned that Oberkampf’s biggest fans were the upper classes and royalty in particular. One of the most memorable toile prints, called “Les travaux de la manufacture” (the activity of the factory) depicted the process involved in fabric production at Jouy, showing the workers laying the newly printed yards of cloth out in the fields to dry. Marie Antoinette was fond of the pastoral scenes with idealistic views of farm life. One of the toiles showed a scene of a newly invented hot air balloon ascending above a crowd of onlookers. Bill said that maybe toiles were the newspapers of their day.

If you are ever in the neighborhood you must visit this marvelous museum. It is well worth the train ride from Paris. There the secret is out!

Bright New Ideas For Selecting Lighting For Your Home

2010-11-07T06:44:00.003-05:00

I sat down with Joanne VanDeusen, the proprietor of The Lighting Place on Main Street in Manchester to have a chat about the most common lighting questions. I came away with lots of new tips and a few tricks in helping to select the proper fixtures. Here is what she shared with me.

When looking for a new lampshade, be sure to bring the lamp base in with you so you can try on different sizes and styles. It is very similar to finding the proper hat to fit your head. The size of the harp (the brass piece the shade sits on) can be changed to raise or lower the shade for a proper fit. You can also add a decorative finial to the top of the harp, which adds a custom touch. Another consideration is choice of material for the shade, a white or cream colored fabric will give you the most light, while a dark shade will create down light and add drama to a room setting.

There is a way to tell if your lamp has a one-way or three-way socket. Remove the bulb and for safety sake unplug the lamp, then look into the socket. One horizontal brass contact is a one-way socket; a horizontal brass and small silver contact is a three-way socket. Obviously, push-through switches are always one-way. You want to go check your lamps, don’t you? Go ahead, but remember to unplug the fixture first!

The Green Revolution is quite evident in the light bulb section of the store with technological changes coming fast and furiously. All of us are getting more comfortable with CFL’s, Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, with their spiral shape, but now they have a variety that looks like a regular bulb with the spiral shape encased inside. Use these if you have clip on shades or wherever you can see the bulb in a fixture. They have also improved the color of the bulb so look for a bulb with 2700-2800 Kelvin, which closely resembles the warm color of incandescent bulbs. And now for a stock market tip – three letters – LED. Light Emitting Diodes will be the wave of the future in lighting. They use less energy and last longer with 25,000 hours of life and can be embedded in anything – imagine your coffee table also becoming a lamp or switching your wall on at night. We are living in very exciting times.

When Joanne is asked what types of light to choose for a specific room she always recommends that a homeowner layer the light using ceiling, floor and table fixtures. A kitchen can never be too bright so think task lighting --under counter, pendants over the island, overhead light. Add personality and style to the room with your lighting choices as there are an endless variety of styles. She recommends lights be put on dimmer switches, an easy change for an electrician to make and one that saves energy and the life of your bulbs.

I want to add that it is always a pleasure to shop at a specialty store because I find they have a range of prices, the sales staff are knowledgeable about their product, they back up the purchase after the sale and can provide parts when needed. I take all of these factors into account when deciding where to shop. Thank you, Joanne, for sharing your knowledge with us.

Houses, like people, can have a past, too.

2010-08-20T12:36:00.004-04:00

My Design Studio is located in a cheerful yellow house on Route 30 with the new beginnings of a freshly planted English Cottage garden: tended, coddled and fretted over everyday. It is cheerful inside too, every inch freshly painted. There are fabric and decorating books stacked high on shelves and a designer-decorated apartment in the back for weekend rentals.

I have decided that a house is what you make it. Plain and simple. If you are willing to put in the effort and a little imagination you can turn any house into a welcoming retreat. When we bought this house it was run down and sadly neglected. At that time it was a three-apartment rental with lots of people coming and going, no one every staying very long, and some even leaving in a cloud of drama. Tired of being landlords and needing a space for my growing business, my husband and I decided the best course was for me to move my interior design business into the building. During the year-long renovation lots of subcontractors came through the door – plumbers, electricians, painters. One common theme emerged. Almost all of them to a man would look around and tell me how they spent many evenings in their youth in this house partying and raising the roof. The details were never forthcoming but there was always a bit of wistfulness in their eyes as the memories flashed back to their rowdier days. Apparently, this was the party house of the neighborhood. I felt a bit like a reform school director straightening out a wayward child and taking all the fun out of it to boot. They would tell me it looked very pretty, and shaking their heads walk away at the end of their workday.

Now the house is its own world created from imagination and inspired by scenes out of Rosamunde Pilcher’s novels set in the West Country of England. On our family trip to Cornwall when our girls were 5 and 7, we stayed in a classic version of a Bed and Breakfast as only the English can present. We were lucky enough to stay in beds with canopies above our heads, Laura Ashley floral bathrooms, and thatch roofed chicken houses nestled in gardens filled with color. My oldest daughter remembers feeling like a princess in those rooms. I would say decorating has done its job if you can make a little girl, and maybe even some adults, feel like a princess. The details of that trip have stayed with me through the years and finally had an outlet in this particular house with its classic Vermont farmhouse bones.

Quiet and peaceful, the house sits proudly on Route 30 across from a marble quarry. I don’t think people who stay in the little rental out back have any idea of its past and perhaps that’s okay. Even a house can change its ways.

For more details about the vacation rental and to view photos, visit dorsetnest.blogspot.com

Can't sleep? Try counting threads instead of sheep.

2010-05-11T12:47:00.006-04:00

We spend one third of each and every day sleeping so why not unravel the mystery of selecting the proper sheets. There is nothing more luxurious than slipping between high thread count, silky soft sheets. Before you rest, let me help you sort through all the conflicting information so you can make an educated decision and realize that thread count is one factor but not the whole story.

Here is my sad sheet tale and I have a feeling some of you have one, too. I purchased a set of luxury sheets that were promised by the manufacturer to be of the finest quality, and they were, for about two washing’s worth. Then, after the third wash the dreaded pilling happened turning my super soft sheets into scratchy sandpaper. I don’t think we should have to shave our sheets, so what happened? Let’s do the research and find out.

First we must travel to the fertile banks of the Nile River. With its humid weather and rich soil it has the perfect condition to grow long cotton fibers, about twice the size of other cotton fibers, that are then spun into a very fine yarn. Come back stateside to the Pima Indian Reservation in Arizona where as far back as the 1900’s long staple cotton, called Pima cotton, has been grown to come close to it’s Egyptian cousin’s quality. Nowadays, Egyptian cotton is grown in many other countries but must uphold the long staple length to qualify for comparison. So the very first step to a great product is to start with the very best long staple cotton.

This part is a bit of a slog, but get through it because it is important --- Thread count is, simply put, the number of threads per square inch of fabric consisting of vertical warp threads and horizontal weft threads woven together. Thread count is affected by the ply and thickness of the threads used with a finer thread producing a higher thread count. Single-ply fabrics use threads on their own, while two-ply fabrics are formed by two pieces of thread twisted together, and sometimes multiple yarns (called picks) are inserted into the weft to achieve even higher thread count. Here is where the math starts to get a bit fuzzy – with manufacturers counting each and every twist – So is a fabric with 250 individual four-ply yarns in a square inch really 1,000 thread count product? It depends on whose counting. According to my research, anything above 300-thread count product may have little incremental comfort value.

The next consideration is weave and that is a personal taste issue with sateen sheets being softer than a classic crisp linen weave. After the sheeting fabric is woven it now needs to be finished, which can include singeing to remove the tiny fuzz that can later develop into pilling. So that’s what happened to my sheets. The finishing process helps maintain clarity of color and preserves the cellulose core of the cotton to give the fabric a smooth hand and silky look.

Keep in mind that in order to mass-produce high thread count sheets at a low cost, quality must be sacrificed in the finishing process so focus instead on fiber quality, yarn size, finishing and construction when making your selection and don’t fall into the high thread count trap. Make sure you feel the sheets before purchasing and select ones that will feel comfortable against your skin. Quality sheets are an investment that will enhance your daily life so choose wisely and buy the best you can afford.

Sleep tight! Don’t let the bed bugs bite. But that’s another story.

How to make your everyday breakfast, lunch or dinner table special.

2010-03-23T15:43:00.007-04:00

All of us have our “good things” tucked away for those special occasions but I would like to make a case for taking these beautiful things out of storage and using them any day of the week. I know this is breaking some sort of assumed rule, somehow handed down along with the objects, but I want you to try. Now, keep in mind that some of them might break and that is the chance you take. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

I speak from experience. My sister, her husband and my two nephews came to visit last summer and within less than a half hours time of their arrival, two antique glasses from two different glass collections were tragically broken. I never had boys so I didn’t know how their elbows and knees go everywhere while they play fight and age didn’t seem to be a factor either as one nephew was 10 and the other 18. Okay, pause to let this one go.

Back to my point – food seems to taste better eaten off of china plates and tea more fragrant sipped out of antique cups, turning an ordinary meal into a sensory moment of reflection. A quiet pause in an otherwise busy day. And, as lifestyles change, more people are too hastily discarding these treasures from days gone by so you can easily add to your collection for a modest sum at local thrift and antique stores. Whenever I find linen napkins for sale, I snatch them up to add to my ever-growing collection, using them often, laundered but not always ironed, and presented on a plate encircled by mismatched napkin rings.

Have some fun with this and don’t take it too seriously. Who says all of the plates have to match anyway, think about coordinating instead. While you are at it, why not buy that bouquet of flowers that caught your eye when grocery shopping and place them in your best vase in the middle of the table, in the middle of the week, for no reason at all, except to celebrate a day fully lived in the moment.

Watch the reaction from family members as they sit down around a company set table made just for them. Think of all the practice you will have setting beautiful, creative tablescapes throughout the year, getting you into shape for that holiday table.

And the next time my nephews come to visit, what do I plan on doing? Well maybe second best for that occasion.

ANNOUNCING A CHAIR CLINIC

2010-01-24T08:42:00.004-05:00

Do you have an antique chair tucked away in the attic that you inherited long ago and always wondered if it was worth redoing? Do you want to move a special chair to another room but it doesn’t quite go with the décor? Help is on the way. Lisa Laberge Interiors on Route 30 in Dorset is holding a free CHAIR CLINIC on Saturdays in February. Sign up to meet with me and my upholsterer, Dave Santore to have an in depth discussion about your piece. Bring in photos or bring the chair itself. You will come away with knowledge about the inner workings, whether or not it is worth redoing, and creative design tricks to make your piece fabulous. There is no obligation to purchase anything, just two experts who want to share their knowledge, enthusiasm and creativity. Sign up now by calling me at (802) 366-8138.

"The Design Room" at the Southern Vermont Art Center

2009-10-08T07:20:00.013-04:00

I recently transformed a gallery at the Southern Vermont Art Center located just off West Road in Manchester, Vermont into a Dining Room setting and it will be in place until December 10th. If you visit, you will enjoy strolling the beautiful grounds of the Art Center and wandering through galleries filled with art. There is also a Cafe to have a leisurely lunch. The Southern Vermont Art Center is a very special place in Manchester.

Design Follows Inspiration
Gallery X is known as the Founders’ Room, and in this dining room scene, the table is set for an imagined "Founders' Luncheon" bringing together a few of the artists and patrons whose talent, dedication and foresight were instrumental in creating this special place "on the hill".
Seated at the Table:
EDWIN B. CHILD, WALLACE FAHNESTOCK AND JOHN LILLIE, who were among the original Dorset Painters exhibiting at the Dorset Town Hall on a hot August day in 1922, setting this particular history in motion. ELSA BLEY, pictured at her easel on the cover of "Art and Soul" by Mary Hart Bort. Ms Bley believed passionately in art education and gave classes at the Art Center as part of the SVA's Art Education outreach. LOUISE RYALLS ARKELL, a devoted patron of the arts and SVAC, honored with the naming of the Louise Ryalls Arkell Pavilion. MRS. HAROLD "PETIE" BOSWELL has a seat at the table as the creator of the Boswell Botany Trail. The outdoor elements in this room are in tribute to her. And, at the head and foot of the table, host and hostess and owners of the house - MR. AND MRS. HUGH WEBSTER.

Eye Candy Decorating

2009-08-16T12:34:00.021-04:00

I am a Francophile through and through (Definition of Francophile as found in Webster’s Dictionary “A person who is fond of or greatly admires France or the French”.) Yup, Francophile, that’s me. So, when I recently received an email from Laurent of Teo Jasmin, an interior design company located in Paris, the City of Lights, it caught my attention. The company, founded in 2001 by Angéline Bailly, began by digital printing on wall canvas and then expanded on their range of products with cushions and classic furniture, using the same digital process on them to create amazing eye catching decorative items. I think the photos speak for themselves. Any one of these pieces would infuse a spark of life into any interior. Go to TeoJasmin to see their entire line of products.

DOGGY QUEEN CHAIR
UNION JACK SETTEE

Decorating is a Family Affair

2009-07-23T19:52:00.009-04:00

One of my favorite activities as a decorator is to visit a client’s home for a design consultation. I call it an activity because it usually turns into a quick and snappy way to share with the homeowner my first impression design ideas as we sprint together room by room. Sometimes it gets quite strenuous, with the client on one end of the sofa and me, the decorator (sometimes in heels) on the other end of the sofa as we tug and pull it into a more pleasing place. And, more times than not we end up laughing about perhaps the absolutely hideous lamp that Aunt so and so gave them years ago that has somehow followed the family from house to house.

As I leave the homeowner with a long To Do list, I sometimes wonder how much of it they actually accomplish once I leave and the door shuts firmly behind me. Well, in the case of one young couple living in Arlington, VT I didn’t have to wonder long. Shortly after our consultation, I receive these cheerful photos in my email box. They took all of my suggestions to heart and it turned into a family affair with their adorable kids helping to strip wallpaper and paint. They were pleased with the results.

Portfolio of Interior Design Projects

2009-04-21T16:33:00.002-04:00

An Unexpected Harbinger of Spring - The Laundry Line

2009-04-15T20:10:00.000-04:00

As the winter fades from view and the days grow longer, I turn my thoughts to the laundry line that my husband and I installed at our house in Dorset late last summer. Our main reason was to do our part to save energy in our household and fight global warming but unexpected things happened along the way.

Faded memories and a bit of nostalgia caught me by surprise as I hung my first load. Don’t all of us of a certain age remember our mother’s laundry line? At that time, it was the 60’s, moms were still doing all of the laundry and our line hung in the backyard of our house in Brooklyn. My mom would be out there in the bright sunshine hanging her laundry and chatting with the Grandmother next door, who had just arrived from China and didn’t speak a word of English, but somehow they were able to communicate with each other. Also, the memory of helping to fold the dry sheets - me on one end, my brother on the opposite end, making him bend and walk towards me several times since he was the younger one. And, the sound and clean air scent of linens flapping in the breeze brought back a flash of playing hide and seek between psychedelic patterned sheets.

By hanging our clothes outside rather than popping them in the dryer we have saved quite a bit of money on our electric bill. According to Project Laundry List found at laundrylist.org, an average household can save $25 on their electric bill each month. Besides saving money they list many benefits that make hanging your clothes on a line worth the effort – clothes last longer (think about where lint comes from); sunlight bleaches and disinfects; clothes and bed linens smell better scented with the real fresh outdoors and not a chemical brew resembling it from a dryer sheet; each one of us in their small way is conserving energy and helping to save the planet; and the pleasure of being able to do a usually tedious household chore outside surrounded by singing birds.

Well, I have to go now bring in the sheets before dark, make the bed, fluff the pillows and jump in – surrounded by the fresh air smell of the outdoors. Heaven.

I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT - It's a compact fluorescent bulb.

2009-03-30T16:12:00.000-04:00

I have a confession to make. The environment is one of my top priorities and I am actively involved in helping my friends, family and community to become more aware of the problems of global warming. I am also an interior decorator who works really hard to make sure the interiors I design are color coordinated in every way. I tried compact fluorescent bulbs a few years ago and was put off by the blue light it cast in my interiors and the slow start time after flicking the switch. I secretly never used them in my own home nor would I recommend them to my clients.

Well, folks, I should not have discounted American ingenuity because compact fluorescent bulbs have come a long way since 1980 when they were first introduced. There has been a gradual replacement from magnetic ballasts to electronic ballasts, which has removed the flickering and slow start problems of the earlier bulbs. CFL’s now come in a variety of color options – Warm white or soft white is nearest in traditional light to incandescent bulbs and the ones that I choose now for all my interiors; white or bright white is whiter than incandescent but still on the warm side; cool white is a pure white tone; and daylight is slightly bluish white. Choose a bulb that has the same lumen rating, for example, a 60 watt incandescent bulb = 800 lumens.

This is a simple way for all of us to do our part in combating global warming and it begins at home. Here is a quote from the Energy Star website, “If every American home replaced just one light bulb with a “compact fluorescent” we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.”

If each and every one of us rethinks our lifestyle choices in small ways, we could become part of the solution. Check out Environmental Defense Fund website (Environmentaldefense.org) where you can join the “Make the Switch” campaign called “The One Million Bulb Swap Out” and encourage your friends to do the same.

Now, I have to get back to switching the rest of my bulbs. I must find the tall ladder for that ceiling fixture.

The transformative POWER of color -

2009-03-02T19:27:00.000-05:00

This is for all of you out there who, when faced with a decision on what to paint your walls, default to that old standby, Benjamin Moore’s Navajo White, a bland but safe off-white color. You know who you are. As it turns out, this is not actually the safe choice anymore, thanks to all of the fun and fast paced HGTV shows, homeowners are realizing that color on the walls can transform a room like no other decorating element. I call it a bit of magic in a can.

Now, your next question will be, “Then what color should I choose?” Here is one method that is simple and foolproof. I have used it many times when decorating my client’s homes. I want you to select something from the room that will be your “inspiration”. This can be a patterned fabric, oriental carpet, oil painting or even a torn out page of a particularly pleasing room from a home shelter magazine. From this “inspiration”, I want you to select paint chips that match colors from the object you selected. Invariably, you will have a neutral color for walls in an open area, a rich color for the dining room, a contrasting color for another room, and so on. Essentially, what you are taking advantage of by doing this is that some artist somewhere designed that fabric or carpet, belaboring the color choices to create a thing of beauty. Half of the work is already done for you. With this exercise you have created a color story for your home and a reference point to come back to time and again. It’s simple and a great way to select pleasing colors for your home. I know you are going to have fun doing this.

Why you should choose a neutral fabric for your sofa, AND NO, that is not the boring choice!

2009-02-20T11:27:00.000-05:00

The choice you make in a sofa is a crucial one because it is usually the piece of furniture that a living room is built around. Taking the time to contemplate a few key aspects in the selection process is well worth your while.

You can express the style of the room, whether it is traditional, country/cottage, contemporary, transitional or eclectic by carefully choosing a shape that reflects that particular style. The next important decision will be the fabric choice. After many years of designing rooms for couples and families, I strongly suggest choosing a neutral fabric, usually solid with some texture so it has a nice feel, as the basic fabric. Then, you can build out from there in any direction stylewise with pillows that add color and pattern. Here is where you want to spend time getting personal and creative in your coordinating fabric choices. Add a colorful throw for another shot of color and texture. It is simple and fun and takes the doubt out of the decision making process.

This is a topic near and dear to my heart. Confession time. I once selected a fabric, it still pains me to admit this, in a fruit pattern on a black background. Sounds scary. Well it was. It actually turned out to be a bit of a family inside joke with many family members clocking how many hours they spent on “The Fruit Couch” as it was affectionately called, as it was a sleeper sofa. Hopefully this illustrates the problem with not selecting a neutral fabric - I had to live with that choice for many years before finally coming up with a good enough excuse to bring it to the local thrift – my husband and I were purchasing a pellet stove and needed the room.

Usually a sofa lives with you for at least 10 years or more so your neutral sofa can be the base around which you can change the look of the room with the seasons or the changing style of a decade by simply replacing your patterned pillows and even wall color in the living room as the spirit moves you. It widens the choices and the possibilities are endless.

If I have saved just one homeowner from making a big mistake I will have done my job. Happy decorating!

Banish Clutter

2009-02-11T11:49:00.000-05:00

The first step to your soon to be beautiful interior is to deal with CLUTTER. We all have it. It is the stuff of life that doesn’t have a place and a way to defer a task for later – “I’ll deal with that pile on Saturday." Each person has their own personal litmus test of how much clutter they are willing to stand. My own personal level is quite low – it makes me nervous and itchy to see too much stuff in a room. But that is me. I totally understand that there are people in this world that perhaps think clutter is kinda cozy and charming. Only you can decide how much you can stand, but if you want to do something about it, I have some sure fire ways to deal with this subject once and for all.

Clutter is an outward manifestation of the absence of a conscious organization system in place in your home. I hope I haven’t lost you yet. This is just fancy language for not giving it a second thought before now. What you need to deal with clutter is a system that can be used again and again whenever and wherever clutter strikes.

Treat this upcoming approach in a business like manner as if you are “The House Manager”. This might take some of the sentimental stumbling blocks out of the way for you. All items can fit into one of 4 categories so I want you to collect 4 boxes and label them as follows:

TOSS – This is the most obvious category – any item that is broken, yesterday’s newspaper, old dated material - you get the idea.

PUT AWAY – Items that you have use of and want to keep. They may not have a place in your home yet but they will soon.

GIVE AWAY – Stuff that can be given away to your local Thrift Store for the ultimate Green Solutions of getting still useful stuff back into circulation again. You will feel good at getting rid of it and having contributed to a local charity. A double whammy!

SELL – Items that are maybe too good to give to the thrift and something that you may make some money on in a yard sale. This will only work if you are the type to actually have a yard sale. Otherwise, pack these items into the Give Away box. I suggest finding a corner of a garage or basement to store these items, pricing them as you go along.

Okay, there is a fifth box but only use this if you absolutely need to. It is the MAYBE box – something that doesn’t fit into any one of the categories above. You know, like the ugly teapot that Aunt Betty who visits once a year gave you. Date this box for 6 months and then review it again. I guarantee you will be able to cull it further the next time around.

Now you are probably saying to yourself this sounds workable but to do a whole house will take forever. That is the beauty of this particular system – you can apply it to a drawer, a corner of the room, the kitchen table, one bookshelf -- so that you are doing this in small bursts of energy, building confidence as you go along. Believe me when I say once you use this method, you are going to be hooked on the incredibly powerful feeling of control you will gain over clutter.

Now, I want to go into a bit more detail about the PUT AWAY stuff because this will involve other areas of the house. Ultimately, everything in your home should have a designated spot – one that every household member knows about and so can return the item to when they are done with it. This involves some thought on your part in regards to the most logical places for things. For example, dishes and glasses should be stored in the cupboard near the dishwasher. Telephone books should be near the telephone. Toiletries should actually be stored in the bathroom rather than randomly piled in a heap in the bedroom on one of your trips upstairs. You get the idea. For now, as you are taking the baby steps to a more organized life, put the items in the area of the room that they will ultimately live in. Don’t worry that they are not going to fit into the overstuffed drawers or closets because they will someday soon as you continue the purging and sorting procedure. You will be freeing up lots of space as you go along.

Here is where you can apply another time-tested approach to organization – it is THE KINDERGARTEN METHOD. Like goes with like – all the pens and pencils should be stored together, same for extension cords and paint brushes. Make sense and seems rather obvious doesn’t it? I think it is something that most people never really give much thought to, but if they apply this method they will never have to ask their spouse where the ‘thingy that goes to the vacuum cleaner is’ again. If you are planning on purchasing storage bins please choose clear ones that you can see through. This will make it so much easier to find things in closets, drawers and basements.

Quick fun tips
Stopping clutter at its source – have you ever noticed the neat and tidy person in the post office very calmly flipping through their mail and wondered what they are doing? They are separating out the junk mail, right there in the post office, and throwing it away immediately. The stuff never even enters their house. This is brilliant in its simplicity.

Everyone house needs a command center whether it is a desk, or a small home office. This is where the business of life can be dealt with – writing out checks, signing your kid’s permission slips, filing important papers away. Keeping all of this activity in one place makes the most sense.

Consider finding a spot to be designated as a Creative Center where you will find markers, paper, ribbons and art items. This can be set up in a closet and can be quite coloruful and fun – again using the kindergarten method of placing like items together in clear plastic bins.

Sometimes we have too much of a good thing such as too many sets of sheets or towels. When you think about it, each bed in your home really only needs two sets of sheets. Again, this can be a personal preference but consider keeping the best quality linens and parting with the mismatched ones, creating more room in the linen closet.

I want to leave you with this thought – don’t try for perfection but instead focus on creating a more livable environment for you and your family. You will find that your life feels easier and less stressed and that everything seems to run smoother. Then, you will have more time and energy for the fun activities of life – time with your kids, spouse and friends and the good feeling of knowing that you are returning at the end of the day to a neater, more organized and comfortable home.