Very often I am asked to remake a client's jewelry. Many of us have been the grateful recipients of jewels handed down to us by mothers, grandmothers, aunts and other loved ones, and often we end up not wearing them because they are just not "us." In today's world, there is really no excuse to have your jewelry locked in a safe where it sits unworn, unseen and unenjoyed. So, when a client, or in this case a dear friend from my high school days, asks me to reimagine a family heirloom, I jump at the opportunity. My friend had been given two lovely diamond-set cocktail rings that she didn't wear. They were beautiful, set in platinum, and in their day would have been "on trend" and prized for their beauty and quality. She wanted something she could wear every day that was also versatile enough to dress up at night. We decided to turn her two rings into three that she can stack, wear one at a time, or mix with other rings as you can see below. Here's a look at the before and after....
the settings...
the diamonds...
the final product...the bezels are cone shaped and we burnished the smaller diamonds into the bands. My friend loves peridot, so we added one to the mix. Mixing color into the stack is a fun option. Bringing an heirloom into the 21st Century is a meaningful way of keeping family memories and traditions alive. For my friend, these rings will forever be conversation pieces with a great history to share!
When you turn your hobby into your livelihood, and it's no longer just a hobby, it's incredibly rewarding. In my case, and I'm sure I'm not alone, I found myself craving a new creative outlet. Something purely extracurricular. Something fun! My house in Florida has been my escape from NYC for the last few years - and working on the design elements has become a new passion. I have become completely design obsessed. I posted about the kitchen overhaul a while ago. When I first got this house, it was pretty much a blank slate with country French tones. I have nothing against country French - my family had a house in the south of France and I spent much of my childhood there. I think it's great - in France. And, while a little taste of any style is ok for me, I wouldn't want a whole house of all one thing. I like a more eclectic, un-done home. That being said, I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to the foundation of design, relying on a neutral black and white canvas for decor that is punctuated with pops of color and texture. Sort of like my jewelry. I like classic pieces that tell a story and I like things to be hand made, full of character and integrity. I'm not afraid to mix it up - combining vintage with modern elements for an "undecorated" look. I've learned a lot over the years from my Mom. She personifies casual, understated elegance in both her dress and her home. Unfortunately, I did not get her green thumb...but more about that another time. And, my grandmother was a renaissance woman who lived way before her time. I often remember her standing in her apartment in Boston staring at a wall, analyzing the placement of her artwork. Or, in front of her sofa, pondering the array of throw pillows she so deliberately chose -- but made it look effortless and casual. I definitely inherited her anything goes as long as it has substance, character and integrity approach to decorating...and living. That's what gives it style, she would say. Here's a peek at the before and after.
before....we were very beige...
...and sort of country French...
after... I stained the floors a dark mix of ebony & jacobean and painted the walls in Benjamin Moore Super White - it's so bright and airy now.
my grandmother gave me the Barcelona table...an original from Design Research in Boston
fireplace details...
dining room buffet & details....the sideboard is a built-in work of art in itself. More on that later...
the original icebox...I use it for a bread pantry
Otis loves his place in the sun...
