For those of you that know me, I enjoy the outdoor rooms of my home as much as the inside; certainly more so in the summer

months when this born and bred Texan can warm her bones.  As I write this, my vegetable garden is not yet blanketed in snow but rather layered in the washed out golds and coppers of Fall’s  confettied leaves. The pale, vertical stalks of brocolli still offer tiny, silvered florets for one last harvest while the whispy green ferns of the asparagus bed and yellowed vines of squash remain neatly edged in the royal purples of robust, round cabbages.  I know this landscape will soon leave behind these warm colors and take on the chiseled characteristics of an Ansel Adams still life.

What makes a garden hold its beauty when all the color has been removed is the architecture itself – the teasing of past perennials with a white dusting, the arch of an arbor, the invitational reminder of gates, patterns of picket fencing and lattice, softening evergreen boxwoods holding the curves in place, the courtly concrete sculptures left to critique winter’s  canvass.

Take the time to study your gardens now and note how and if your outdoor rooms still have the power to beckon and fascinate the eye. If not, we can change that come spring.

If you have an active household like I do, consider slip covering dated or worn furniture. I know you are probably familiar with the looser, “pre-made” versions available at big box stores and they do serve a purpose. But I am referring to custom made slipcovers made of lush velvets, silk blends, woven wools or blended linen weaves that have been typically reserved for formal rooms. Use these gorgeous fabrics as slipcovers and you will have a high-end look with the added ability to dry-clean yearly not to mention the bonus of having reserve cushion covers on hand should you need them quickly.

Custom slipcovers are measured in the home, cut and pinned on the piece of furniture and then installed with zippers for an extra tight fit. Slipcovers from French Country take about 2-3 weeks from the time the fabric arrives to installation. The price will depend upon the grade of material you choose. Make two different slipcovers and you can switch out a room from summer to winter. Add 30″ down filled custom pillows and you can take a 1970’s sofa and turn it into today’s showpiece. Have the bottom cushions rewrapped if looking flat.  Tear off an outdated skirt and add turned legs for a cleaner look. Add some decadent corded fringe at the bottom and you will have a classic jewel.

These days, I probably design as many library rooms and home offices as I do kitchens. There has been a return to or perhaps a craving for the academic feel and touch of books. I personally find libraries, both private and public, to be pure sensory power on so many levels. The feel and smell of books is hypnotic, the stories that surround you are pure potential and the knowledge they hold are solid leverage. Whether you have a collection of antique books or today’s best sellers, why not exhibit them as their true art?  Why not display them as valuables within the home?

Today’s library rooms typically fall into two categories: a library, which is also the media room, or a library which dually serves as an office. Rarely do I see all three at once. I mention this in following the last blog about not combining the home office with the kitchen. So, too, does the logic follow that a library which is to serve as the home office should not be the family’s media center. Let the electronic buzz of one not be confused with the soothing, studied solitude of the other. At a minimum, design it such that the media center can be hidden behind doors so that the quiet hush of a university library can imbue the space.

 Finally, don’t think for a minute that these libraries need be dark and masculine. Most of my clients are women and they have me design spaces that are powerful displays of intellect but also the physical landscapes of their quiet, reflective natures.