Dear Jean and Richard, What are the inspirations for your designs?
Sandra, Arden

JEAN: Hi Sandra,
Ladies first. Truthfully, my inspirations come from anywhere and everywhere. Besides the obvious design magazines and books, and attending the interior design markets, one of my favorite sources of inspiration are movies and television. My focus is predominantly the sets and the costumes. On the set designs I am studying every aspect of the furniture and accessories, the lighting, the fabric choices, the styling and detailing of the draperies, the chandeliers, the shades on the lamps, wall coverings, texturing and paneling. And those costumes, especially on period movies, are fascinating to me. Their choice of style and fabrics to fit the character, and sometimes the detailing in their creations are unbelievable. The costumes in the movie version of Phantom of the Opera were worth seeing the movie for alone. No wonder I get lost trying to keep up with the story line!

RICHARD: I bet you have a really hard time watching a movie with sub titles.

JEAN: Who knows what those characters are saying! I also love going to museums and standing there forever studying antique furniture and beautiful old historic dresses. It amazes me to see all of the tiny hand stitches with beads, buttons, roses and tufts that have gone into their construction. So I take these observations and consider them when designing the detailing of custom draperies, upholstered furniture, lamp shades, and pillows, etc. The finishes on a curtain are like the details of a well made dress.

RICHARD: So, as you can well imagine, there isn’t anything plain and simple about my business partner. A good part of my inspiration comes from my travel, an expensive habit I picked up from my mother. I like taking ideas from the grandest residences in Italy, France or Sweden and updating that idea for a client’s needs. I was recently in a very contemporary home in Berlin with glass staircases, and we incorporated that concept into a townhome in south Florida. A stunning look, but a little treacherous going down four flights after a couple glasses of wine.

JEAN: Such challenges! Excuse me, Mr.Snob, but touring beautiful historic old homes in THIS country is also inspiring. I love seeing the architecture, furnishings and detailing. Last summer I toured the mansions in Newport. I came home and wanted to guild everything I own in gold and platinum…

RICHARD: Jean, not your dogs and cats!

JEAN: Maybe just their beds. Besides me, what else inspires you, Richard?

RICHARD: When a client walks into a completed room and says “This is nothing I would have ever thought of or dared to do….and I absolutely love it!”