11 June 2009
june newsletter
Dear friends,
In between the rainy days I've been off to the beach, planting in the yard, cooking out, and planning a summer vacation. So it really is about to be summer!
As I've been out and about experiencing a lot of new things, it has caused me to move into different modes of thinking too. Have you read the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron? One of the cornerstones of her method for living a more creative life is "the artist date." This is a date you take with yourself and your inner artist to gather up inspiration and feed your subconscious mind the food it needs to be more inventive. I love the concept and I know it works.
This month's feature article is about color and its subtle gradations, and I describe how I picked up these observations while out experiencing life and aesthetics. I hope your summer can be filled with some of the same!
Please do check out this month's recipe, written by my friend Randy Rabney who has a business that focuses on Teaching the Art of Health Conscious Cooking. Also you will see we have launched a NEW program of summer design seminars if you want to learn about how to create interiors a la furbish! Plus this month we are doing 15% off custom orders, so call us to discuss exactly what you might need that we can help with.
Be well!
Uma Stewart
in this issue
quick links
SUMMER DESIGN SEMINARS
Would you like to learn more about interior design and develop skills that will help you create a beautiful home on your own? Then our SUMMER DESIGN SEMINARS
are for you! I have put together four sessions that will teach you about design and decorating with a furbish twist. You see, I have always rejected the idea that there are definite rules about decorating, in large part because I was noticing a trend towards more eclectic and casual styles over the last five years or so. Now I see that, while there are no rules, there ARE principles that we can apply to create the looks we crave for today, and I am going to share with you all that I have learned about these principles in these four sessions. We will cover:
- How to combine prints, textures, and colors in ways that feel really current
- How to create furniture arrangements that feel really designer and functional
- Accessorizing for just the right level of impact, interest, and personality
- Getting inspired at a project level, but also at a deep personal level about beauty and design
Register NOW for as many sessions as you like online today at www.furbishhome.com/seminars.html. Or call us at 973.761.0311. I look forward to taking this journey towards better design with you!
color consciousness as evolution
This month's feature comes by way of significant aesthetic experiences I had over the last four weeks.
#1
A couple of weeks ago I went out and bought plants for my front garden. People who know me well are going to laugh because I have what I call a black thumb for the most part. But since planting is not one of my strengths or regular activities, the experience of selecting plants and actually planting really showed me how my brain operates when it comes to aesthetic questions.
First, if everyone has the plant, I probably will pass. I am constantly looking for something different because that is what visually excites me. Second, when I do find the something different, I want it to actually FEEL really different too, so it is not just about having a rare red rose that is still a red rose, but something that looks totally different. Finally, I am intrigued by really subtle differences in color, texture, and form.
For example, the first plants I picked out for my front border garden were "Ivory Prince Christmas Roses."
(They are not actually roses but Hellebores). The flowers are pale green, and within each leaf are such beautiful, subtle gradations, and tinges of pink. They are delicate and lovely, and set off by strong leaves that are blue green with deep red stems. I absolutely adore them. I cannot walk in the front door without stopping to admire them in all their complex subtlety. I am now searching for some purple red ornamental grass that can grow in the shade to plant behind them to really set them off.
#2
This last weekend I went on the South Orange Maplewood Artist Studio Tours for the first time. Two series of art by two artists really have a strong presence in my mind at the moment. The first is a set of photos of pebbles and stones by Joy Yagid
. Joy's photos were compelling to me for many reasons and I found myself having to circle back to her display to buy one. As I sat considering which one to take home, I ended up opting for the one with the least amount of contrast in the stone colors and sizes because I was getting lost in the difference between a gray stone with brown undertones, and one with purple undertones, and one with blue and metallic undertones. The other pieces I am remembering were by Tara O'Leary
, pastels of her studies of the South Mountain Reservation. I really appreciated that with each rendering of earth, sky, branches, and leaves, she was able to capture such totally different feelings. She picked up on those subtle differences in clarity and light and color and really brought them out.
#3
I am going somewhere with this so please hang on! Last month I attended a special presentation to a group I belong to at the House Beautiful offices in the Hearst Tower, and the publisher and head of the Color Institute gave a presentation on color in American interiors. They used the phrase complex neutrals to describe a current trend and noted that these are colors that require two words at least to describe them. Greenish gray, purple brown, etc. Heaven to my ears. Kate Smith went on to explain that the popularity of complex neutrals really points to an evolution in our ability as a culture to see and notice such subtle differentiations in color. It has to do with the development of our collective eye. How exciting!
All these experiences really caused things to click for me. My work at furbish IS about developing our collective eye, increasing our awareness, and ultimately our level of appreciation and gratitude for all the beauty that exists in this world. We do not have to live in this space of subtlety and complexity all the time. In fact, I am often acutely UNaware of interiors or aesthetics when I am in the middle of great conversation or some other engaging aspect of life. But it definitely doesn't hurt to take out some time on a regular basis to notice and be grateful for all that subtle and complex beauty present in even our everyday lives. Let this newsletter be that monthly invitation to you. And in between, try these tips at home.
15% off EXACTLY what you want.
We are doing it again! Between NOW and June 30 you will receive 15% off on all custom and special orders. Use your 15% on window treatments, upholstery, special orders from OLY, or accent pieces you missed buying when they were in store. You have until June 30th to place your order or schedule an in-home consultation. Call us at 973.761.0311 or stop in to see how you can best use this limited time offer.
develop YOUR eye for color
Go ahead and look at the rocks and the leaves and the flowers! Indulge in this childlike delight. I do it on a regular basis and I am CERTAIN it feeds my creative and subconscious mind. What do you see? Look at the different shades of green. Some are more yellow, some more blue. It helps me when I articulate what I see to myself, like, "Oh wow, that shade of green looks really great the purple flecks in this plant." Then observe what difference texture makes. Pretend you are an artist and that all these differentiations really do matter. What appeals to you at a basic aesthetic level?
Assess the paint colors in your house. Are any of them too harsh or bright or clear? Muted color and complex neutrals really do feel more current right now. And they are more soothing to the eye, perhaps because they feel more natural. See if you can find a more muted version of the colors you already have. For example, if you are dealing with blues stop at the paint store and grab up a whole bunch of blue swatches and really look for those that are a bit more gray or have a tinge of green. They will still feel blue when you get them up on the wall but the effect may be more soothing.
Take it to the next level. If you are ready to really develop your eye and improve your design skill register for my summer design seminars for the month of July!
The first one will cover complex neutrals, muted colors, and then also how to incorporate brights, work with texture, and add patterns. I will put together design schemes right in front of your eyes and invite you to practice making your own schemes with my personal collection of design swatches. All while we enjoy some wine and nice things to eat. I look forward to seeing you there!
delicious and good for you by randy rabney: quinoa pilaf
Do you love food? Would you like to learn what it means to really eat healthy without giving up delicious food. My friend Randy Rabney trained as a Chef and Holistic Health Counselor. She combines her love of really great food with her knowledge of food and health. She teaches the Art of Health Conscious Cooking through classes and prepared meals. To receive her "Foodie Survival Guide: 3 Health Conscious Recipes for Every Lover of Food" visit www.RandyRabney.com
where you can get it for free. I can recommend Randy's prepared meals and teaching because I've had her amazing cooking. Having dinner with Randy is an experience because she truly knows and loves food.
Here is one of her recipes: if you've never tried quinoa, you can try it now. It is one of my favorite grains and it is used by many top chefs.
Quinoa Pilaf
Quinoa is a whole grain and a complete protein. In addition to being filled with vitamins and minerals it is also delicious. This recipe can be eaten warm or cold as a salad.
Serves 4 as a side dish
- 1 medium onion, chopped small
- 1 medium carrot, chopped small
- 1 medium zucchini, chopped small
- 5 white or cremini mushrooms, chopped small
- 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed under running water
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed well in a strainer
- 2 cups water
- Fresh flat leaf parsley
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil to sauté
- A handful of flat leaf parsley, chopped
- Sea Salt
Heat the oil in a pot that is large enough to cook the quinoa. When oil is hot, reduce heat to medium and add onions with a pinch of salt. When onions are translucent, add the carrots and 1 more pinch of salt let them begin to soften, then the zucchini with a pinch of salt letting it soften and then same procedure for the mushrooms. When mushrooms are soft, stir in the quinoa and let it toast slightly, you will smell it toasting. Then add the water and cover the pot. Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer. Cook about 15 minutes and turn off the flame. Let it sit covered with the lid on for about 5 more or until the water is evaporated. Stir in the peas and parsley. Enjoy!
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