How would you use Pantone’s Color of the Year 2014, Radiant Orchid, in a living space?
Pantone’s Color of the Year 2014, Radiant Orchid is the perfect combination of pink and purple. It is a bold, magical color and I would use it to add pops of color to a room in an unexpected way. I am designing an eight-year-old girl’s room in a loft with very high ceilings, and although the walls are light and the built-ins are white dove, we will use this color to paint the industrial pipes coming across the ceiling as well as the inside of the deep window frame. We also found shimmering cut velvet fabric in this color from Designers Guild which we will use as large sofa pillows. The client is an ethereal, creative little girl and this color will inspire her creativity even further.
What’s one cool new trend you predict for 2014?
I see a couple of cool trends for 2014. One trend is that glamour and fantasy will be seeping their way into Kitchen design. Designers will be mixing organic designs with more luxe materials to create glamourous and imaginative Kitchen spaces.
I just completed a kitchen with hand painted cherry blossom tiles from Ann Sacks, and my decorative painter continued the design on the walls above the cabinets. The custom wood cabinets have antiqued glass to reflect more natural light into the Kitchen.
If you had an unlimited budget, what is the first change you would make to your own home or personal space?
If I had an unlimited budget, I would buy a gorgeous, organic sculpted bronze branch lighting fixture from Nancy Corzine that I have been eyeing for a long time. It is luxe and organic at the same time and it's a true work of art.
It harmonizes with a de Gournay custom painted gold leaf wallpaper panel on my LR wall and would continue to surround my loft like space with movement and sparkle.
What is the most difficult type of client to work with? What is your best advice for dealing with this type of client?
There are a couple of different types of difficult cients to work with.
One is the client who cannot make up his/her mind. Even worse, sometimes these clients finally make a decision after having been shown every possible option and will then change their minds after things have been ordered and set in motion. This will create havoc, extra expense and extra work for everyone involved.
It is important to have patience, however it is most important to set boundaries up front and have rules for making changes. A client must sign off on decisions especially when custom work is involved and understand that making changes will cost more money and add more time to the job. If all this is understood upfront, it will make the project run smoother in the end.
Learn more about Karen Reisler by visiting her Haute Residence profile and website.
