When designing anything, whether it be an article of clothing, building, toothbrush, car, or Christmas wreath, it begins with an inspiration. You can seek it or it can seek you, as in the case of these wreaths that I designed for a client. "Tradition with a twist" describes me, and also describes my design approach with the majority of my clients. Whether I am designing a floorplan or Christmas decorations, I am always inspired by things that help me achieve "Tradition with a twist". Here's how these wreaths came to grace my client's home:My brother, who is my design "muse", was in town helping me with the much dreaded holiday decorating season. I HATE (really shouldn't use that word because I don't allow my children to), okay I dislike holiday decorating intensely. I don't like to do it for my own home and I don't like to do it for my clients. It's a pain, it's expensive, and you only keep it up for a month. I use to decorate the majority of my design client's homes for the holidays, but now I only accept if begged AND if my brother can help me. He provides much needed comic relief, a great eye, and he works like a Turk.
One day we were shopping for a design client and inspiration found me in the form of mink pelts. Mink pelts! Inspiration will also make you doubt yourself for a moment and say: Am I crazy? Have I truly lost it this time? That's when I know I've been inspired. I snatched up these pelts in one of my favorite haunts in Little Rock, Fabulous Finds. (Wherever you live, seek out stores that provide you with a steady supply of inspiration.) I grabbed some wreath forms, gold bay leaves, and antique brass tacks and voila! Mink Christmas wreaths. Fun, luxe, and definitely "Tradition with a twist". My client was thrilled, and they were the talk of her Christmas gatherings.
Where do you find design inspiration?
