The High Price Of Design Experience

And a great opportunity.

When I First started in the Design Business I was hired by successful Interior Designer in Manhattan. We completed installing a big beautiful brownstone on East 73rd Street    

( between Park & Lexington ). 

We had been working all day finishing this job, making sure everything was just right, and every piece in its rightful place. The project had turned out beautifully, all 6 stories were fabulous.

We were finally back at the office , it was about 7 PM and I was packing up to go home on this cold and dark January night. Just then my boss called me outside and hailed a cab for me, 

I thought to myself,  he must be sending me home in a cab & paying for it because I worked so darn hard .

When I settled in the cab and looked up to say goodbye,  he handed me a bucket. In this bucket were cleaning supplies consisting of  paper towels, Windex, Ajax and a toilet brush. 

I said : " What is this for ?" He said: " I want you to go to the brownstone tonight and make sure that the bathrooms are not dusty on the counters or toilet seats. And make sure the toilets are clean. "

I absolutely flipped out !!!  I mean, I was a little designer. Little designers were not supposed to be cleaning toilets. Were they ??

I said:    " I have never cleaned a toilet, I am not cleaning their toilets !!!! " 

My boss smiled at me and said: " If you want to work for me you will,"  and he shut the door and off I went in the night up 3rd Avenue.

I was so angry, and I thought to myself, what were my chances of getting hired again by another designer of the same caliber, with my limited experience ? 

Thankfully, I only thought about it for 2  1/2  seconds.

I knew right then that I was willing to do whatever it took to gain the knowledge of an Uber Talented Designer. Who , by the way, was generous with the answers to any of the sometimes stupid questions I asked. He shared his personal design rules, which he came by painfully.

These rules came about because of a few expensive mistakes made in his early career.

I learned something about myself, I learned how much I wanted this profession. And how much easier it is for me to take my false pride for a moment, and just put it in a pretty little box for a while. 

Life for me is so much easier when I move with the direction of things, and just try to trust a little bit. 

I know less today ( if you follow my meaning ), than I did at 22 years of age. For me learning never ends, whether it is related to work or personal relationships. 

And it has been my experience, that an open and willing mind is a healthier mind.     And as you might have guest by now, I scrubbed that toilet until it sparkled , and did so with gratitude in my heart.

I mean after all, did I think cleaning a toilet would make me less of a person ?

Quite the contrary.

 **swarovsky crystal studded toilet

( enlarge any picture for more info and a closer look )

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design

Somewhere on East 61st Street Near Park Avenue....

GEOFFREY BRADFIELD LLC - Headquarters on East 61st St. NYC, NY.
Have I mentioned lately how much I miss NYC and most importantly, living there?

So, in NYC there is Geoffrey Bradfield , a designer.

I am ashamed to say that I am not a designer junkie, and I don't necessarily know who's on top and who's not. I am also a designer that does not go to see the latest model homes when I am working on a project. I have always felt that it effects my creativity negatively, I can end up in the 'design mud'. Stuck.

I can not pick up where someone else has left off, if you get my meaning. For me , it has to come from the inside out While doing a little research on new products I happened upon Geoffrey Bradfield and his work.

Look at the hard cornice that frames and arches the windows here in the sitting area. It could be a straight window which has been made to look as though it has an arch. If that is the case, I like that very much , and do the same whenever I can. The windows with the arched hard cornice, including the drapery panels ( and whatever decorative hardware & trims that you might use ) will look architecturally enhanced when installed.

This Top Designer has a 'Top Drawer' Clients as well.

Now here is the thing I was researching, Lucite Case Goods.

But I found his own SIGNATURE COLLECTION of area rugs made by Stark Carpet. Which means of course that you can custom color your carpet with Stark's custom color carpet tufts.

They have a bizzillion different colored yarns to choose from.

I think these are sooooooo Hollywood.

Now we get to the LUCITE, and his MILLENNIUM MODERN Collection.

Geoffrey Bradfield's Favorite Room: ’40s glamour FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

http://www.nyspacesmagazine.com/pages.asp?ID=760

GEOFFREY BRADFIELD LLC
964 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10022
212 755-7024

http://www.geoffreybradfield.com/

To my readers , I am suffering at the moment with Internet issues and I am on a friends computer. Please cut me a bit of slack if I am slow to post this week.

.....I am working on it.

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Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design

'Cappy's' For Lunch And 'Starbird' For Shopping In Camden

Downtown Camden on a cold and rainy day and  I don't mind.  I would enjoy Camden no matter what the weather.

A river runs under Maine street ( right under the center ). There are pretty ducks that are always right where you see them in this picture. 

This is my favorite shop on main street.

 This is Starbirds. They have fine antiques and other wonderful accessories.

Let's take a look inside.

I know this is one of the owners, the other is his wife. 

She does a really good job merchandising the store. I get the feeling she may do the purchasing as well. At any rate, he is very nice, but I have never met her.

You can see the harbor through the windows in the shop. 

See the giant tall ship with snow on it ?? I think that is pretty great.

This is the first display when you walk in.

These are Chinese Water Bottles, and they are antiques. They are on the display table in the pic before this one. I did that to give you a sense of scale.

To the left right when you walk in , you see this wall.

Again, I have a close-up of these globes. ( See pic above )

I think the would look great in a big wood bowl on a big cocktail table , desk or a dining room table.

This is another display and I simply could not fit everything in the shot. 

This is a close-up of the same framed SHELL ART from the picture above.

Very sweet, and if you are a True Mainiac, it is a must have !

This gorgeous wreath was very interesting and about 350.00. 

I have taken a close up so that perhaps one of you creatives might figure out what it is made of and how it is made. 

I think it is made of baby pine cones that are sprayed with something like green xmas tree snow.

LOOK THROUGH THE WREATH, it is a Tall Ship ( 3 masted sailing ship ) covered with snow.

More inside Starbird's.

You can't see how lovely the soft mohair throws are. The colors are edible.

Speaking of edible, it is time for the best clam chowder etc. At CAPPY"S. The building on the right. I would tell you to go to Cappy's when in Camden, but just like what is printed on all their promo stuff, everyone eventually ends up at Cappy's !

Check the moose head out on the left.

This place gets pretty busy, often can grab a bar stool and eat at the bar. Notice the beer tap.

Remember the river that runs under main street ? 

Well, this is it running out on the other side of the street and into harbor, and then into the wide open bay/ocean ,

This is my goodbye to Camden until next time.

Camden - main street again, heading back towards Rockland and home.

Starbird
Formal country antiques and fine decorative accents
Camden Maine
207.236.8292
Owner : Caroline Sutherland
Email: carolinesea123@aol.com
I hope it is right, her husband wrote it down and I wasn't real clear on it.

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Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design

ABCD Books Of Camden Maine

This is a special OUT OF PRINT Bookstore.  

And just like Camden, it is charming. Let's have a look.

This is the owner. She is very sweet and super helpful. 

If you can't find a book, contact ABCD BOOKS.

After you walk in and pass the owner, this is what you see.

I have found that most of Maine is filled with well read intellectuals. In most of these charming little towns, you will have a difficult time finding a lot of different items to purchase. 

But you will never have to go very far for something to read. In these tiny towns it is not unusual to find 2 or 3 book stores. 

The libraries are loaded, better than the library in Boca Raton, Florida. 

Perhaps because Boca Raton-ians shop, they don't read much.

Isn't this cozy and funky ??

That's my funky daughter, she is a reader and loved the store.

BTW, this is a very large shop. I have not posted all the really great reading corners . The owner has done a fabulous job with her place. ABCD BOOKS has an inviting and warm atmosphere.

She had interesting things on the bookshelves that were for sale as well.

My daughter Andi & me at the end of the days adventures.

ABCD Books
Your Maine source for out of print books
Camden Maine
207.236.3903 or Toll Free : 888.236.3903
www.ABCDBooks.com
Email:Books@ABCDBooks.com

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Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design

Cozy Camden And A Good Cup Of Coffee

It was rainy and cold in Camden.

There is a river that runs right under main street, and this is it. There are always beautiful ducks on it.

So, I decide on a yummy mocha to warm up and people watch, when I see the cutest Boxer dog sitting in the drivers seat of the car in front of me. I also decide to go over to 'Surroundings' across the street. This place is jammed packed with housewares and other pick-up items.

Here is a closer look at the Boxer if you can see through the glare of the window.

This is the coffee shop looking back as I cross to head over to ' Surroundings'.

Inside the shop.

Remember , this is Maine. These dishes  and linens are BLUEBERRY designs.

I am crazy about these linens, very sexy colors. And no, I really couldn't get a better shot. They were jammed between a few things.  But they were great.

I love black & white. The egg cups are way too adorable. !!!

Surroundings
Durable goods for the Home and Garden
Camden Maine
207.236.8536

( enlarge any picture for more info and a closer look )

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design