INTERIOR DESIGN MATTERS The Inside Story

​By: Kitty Golding
One delightful component of interior design is that there is always a hidden story woven through the finished space. We continue to introduce you to some of our past clients and share some tales along with showcasing a few projects we’ve been honored to work on.  Honestly, one of our favorite aspects about this work is getting to know our clients and partaking in a portion of their story.
The Martinez Family invited us to transform their main living spaces into an eclectic, inspiring home where they could entertain family and co-workers. Gaston from Lima, Peru and Vicki, raised in Venezuela, have called America home for a while, and Ann Arbor a shorter time, but haven’t forgotten their roots.   When meeting them for the first time, we were immediately inspired by the colorful art and accessories they had collected from their home countries. Implementing complimentary patterns, textures and colors, we wove their sentimental and beautiful pieces throughout the design, highlighting their interest.
A few musts were placing their bar cabinet into a usable position for their holiday parties, turning their dining room into a place where people wanted to linger over conversation and creating more interest with details. Changing out the tired builder grade-style light fixtures in the front entry, dining, kitchen and powder room were small ways to make big impacts.  Painting their existing carved wooden coffee table was a simple choice that brought some additional color into the living room.  We also brought in a painted wooden three panel screen, to fill in an empty corner and add some additional design pizzaz.  Folding leather contemporary chairs and a comfy sectional, along with a cowhide rug centered the living room space, which was directly seen upon entering the front door.
Gaston, the manager of their home, was always a gracious host, providing us with the best ever Café Americana and a joke or two, loved how the artwork was installed in groupings that made sense together.  He also has more than a green thumb and we learned about some of his fascinating interior plants and garden he has created outside their home. It was special to see how the plants and art they love came together in a new way. When we were finished, it was Vicki’s turn, a Domino’s Pizza Vice President, to host a party and try out the new digs.  We heard it was a success!

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