I don't mind gifts for the home. Trust me, if I was gifted a vacuum cleaner or a coffee maker or a clever kitchen gadget,…
What is Luxury (in 30 Seconds or Less)?
Pretty things and expensive things get all the credit, but they're further down on my list.
Fear is the Latest Trend
Fear is the power that fuels inertia. I read somewhere that the all-white room is a byproduct of fear.
11 Ways to Frighten a Millennial
It's fun to make fun of millennials! Let's look back on our dangerous lives before it was ok to wear sweatpants on airplanes.
Does your Home Match (where you are in) your Life?
I bet your wardrobe does. Or your car, your wrist watch or even your boat. What about your home? Do you hesitate to invite people over?
The Best: My Favorites from Art Display to Outdoor Grills
Back by popular demand, here's our roundup of eight superlatives. Call them our favorite things or our go-to brands. When you seek the best, you get what you pay for and you won't be disappointed.
Why is Ironing So Satisfying?
Attacking the noxious wrinkles with a steam wand or heavy German steam iron stirs up a feeling of gratifying satisfaction and completes with a sense of primitive accomplishment that I feel like I can conquer the world.
Are You Embarrassed to Have People Over?
Aren't we all, at some level a bit afraid of being judged? Our homes might be the ultimate reveal into our personal attics of shame.
Isn’t Paint Just Paint?
The one thing that will completely transform a room is an exceptional paint job. It's the type of application that people can understand and relate to, though rarely give much consideration to the varying levels of quality.
I’ll Know It When I See It
We've all said it, but this doesn't work all the time, especially when a kaleidoscope of decisions must be made.
The Nickel and the Dime
The journey of interior design transformation is often more valuable and memorable than the results. This means (to me) gently and thoughtfully leading the client through a series of carefully intended doors.
What Do You Do?
When asked what I did, I would usually get the same blank stare. Not to put down that career choice, it just doesn't incite the type of excitement and enthusiasm that saying “I'm an interior designer” does.
A Thoughtful Job Posting
Platemark has a job opening for a studio assistant. Here are the qualities and qualifications that best align with the position. Does it sound like you or someone you know?
20 Questions I Don’t Know the Answer To
There's a lot I know – and a ton I don't. Here's some questions to ponder with me.
I Make Decisions for a Living
A decorated home that consists of, say, 350 elements is actually 3,500 decisions. Or more. Probably more.
Before Company Arrives, Review This Checklist
Our homes never looks as good as when company arrives. Or as worse as just a few hours before. Here's my “fluffing” routine, as I…
What I’ve Learned From Professional Photo Shoots
It's Not All Smoke and Mirrors My first assumption was, when flipping through shelter and home magazines, that nothing was "real". Objects were dropped in…
Things I Wish I’d Known Before Becoming a Designer
This isn't a post steeped in regret, pause or grudge. Rather, I entered this business quite deliberately, with much enthusiasm and energy. I never imagined…
Ignore Sunk Costs When Making New Decisions
We hold on to decisions from the past. Usually, I imagine, because there's a complicated series of (emotional) connections we have to the value of…
Video Killed the Radio Star
And customization is killing the luxury mass production stars. Is an $8K purse really luxury? Really? Is it even made out of leather? Are they…
Here’s My Design Bucket List
I get to dream up a lot of fun creations from project to project. I keep an informal list of all the fun things I'd…
The Ultimate Luxury: Lack of Choice
We now spend most of our time ... clicking the "compare" button so we can ruminate over decisions within our decisions. Until we're paralyzed by them.
Why Does Everything Take So Long?
We're so impatient. Trust me, I'm the worst in that regard. Though ironically I'm perfectly suited for this job because I aim my shepherding powers directly at…
Shut Up About Marble Countertops Already
I love marble. Everything about the natural, ancient quality of its surface. The porous, timeworn signs of a material that has endured hundreds of millions…
16 Surprising Gizmos & Gadgets of an Interior Designer
I'm a bit of a product junkie. I love tools that do the job efficiently and make life more satisfying in the process.