Designing with Natural Light in Mind
Natural light is one of the most powerful design elements in any space. It shapes the mood, highlights architectural features, and influences how colors and textures are perceived throughout the day. It is apropos to consider natural light to be a fundamental part of every design concept. It not only enhances beauty but also supports well-being and creates a sense of harmony within the home.
Understanding the Character of Light
Every space has its own light personality. The direction a room faces, the size of its windows, and even the surrounding landscape all affect how light enters and behaves. Morning light is cool and crisp, while afternoon light tends to be warmer and softer. Understanding these variations allows us to select finishes, fabrics, and materials that respond beautifully to changing light conditions.
When we begin a project, we study the orientation of each room and how sunlight moves throughout the space. This helps us determine where to emphasize brightness and where to create balance with shadows and texture.
Maximizing Light Through Color and Material
Color is one of the most effective tools for amplifying or softening natural light. Pale, neutral walls reflect sunlight and make rooms feel larger and airier, while deeper tones can create intimacy and depth. Finishes also play a role. A satin or eggshell finish subtly bounces light without glare, while matte surfaces absorb it for a more grounded effect.
We often pair reflective materials such as polished stone, glass, or metallic accents with soft textiles to achieve visual equilibrium. The goal is never to overwhelm with brightness but to achieve an inviting luminosity that feels natural and consistent.
Using Architecture to Frame Light
Architecture provides the framework for how light enters a home. Large windows, skylights, and glass doors invite light inward, but design balance is essential. We collaborate closely with architects to ensure window placement supports both aesthetic goals and functional needs.
For example, in coastal properties, we often position gathering areas to face the water, allowing natural light to flood in while framing the view. In urban residences, where privacy is a concern, we use transoms or clerestory windows to draw light into interior rooms without compromising seclusion. Thoughtful architectural integration ensures that natural light enhances the flow and proportion of every space.
Layering Light for Balance
Even the brightest homes require balanced lighting for evening and low-light conditions. We layer artificial lighting carefully to complement natural illumination. Ceiling fixtures provide general lighting, while sconces, lamps, and under-cabinet lighting add depth and dimension.
By layering different light sources, we maintain the warmth and ambiance of natural daylight after sunset. This approach also ensures that art, textures, and architectural features remain visible and inviting at any time of day.
Enhancing Wellness Through Light
Natural light contributes not only to beauty but also to health. Studies show that exposure to sunlight improves mood, supports circadian rhythm, and increases energy. We design interiors that maximize these benefits through open layouts, reflective surfaces, and thoughtful shading.
For clients who spend significant time indoors, access to natural light becomes a form of wellness design. We use sheer draperies, glass partitions, and open-plan configurations to allow light to circulate freely. When filtered properly, sunlight transforms a room into a rejuvenating environment that promotes comfort and vitality.
Creating Timeless Interiors Through Light
Spaces designed with natural light in mind feel timeless because they evolve gracefully throughout the day. Morning brightness may highlight crisp details, while evening shadows add warmth and serenity. By embracing these natural transitions, we create interiors that remain dynamic and engaging.
Our goal is to design homes that do not simply rely on light but live in harmony with it. When natural illumination interacts with thoughtful design, the result is a space that feels balanced, vibrant, and enduring.
In every beautiful interior, there is an unseen dialogue between concept and creation . Craftsmanship is what transforms design from idea to experience. In contemporary design, where clean lines and minimal ornamentation often prevail, craftsmanship provides the warmth and human touch that make spaces truly come alive. We view craftsmanship not as nostalgia, but as continuity. It connects us to the long tradition of makers who shaped their materials with care and imagination. Whether it is a hand-carved detail on a door, a custom metal inlay, or a piece of bespoke furniture, these gestures remind us that design is as much about the hand as it is about the mind. The Role of the Artisan Modern design does not exclude artisanship; it depends on it. Each project begins with collaboration, where we work closely with skilled craftspeople who understand material at its essence. A cabinetmaker knows how wood responds to touch and time. A textile weaver understands how fibers catch light and shadow. These relationships transform our designs into living, tactile works of art . When a home features a stone floor with subtle variation, a plaster wall with the faint trace of a trowel, or hand-finished hardware that bears the marks of its maker, those elements tell a story. They reveal process and individuality. Perfection in contemporary design is not found in uniformity, but in authenticity . Material Integrity In an age of mass production, true craftsmanship relies on respect for materials . We favor natural and enduring substances such as walnut, marble, bronze, and linen. Each carries inherent qualities of texture, tone, and strength that deepen with age. When treated properly, these materials acquire a patina that enhances their character rather than diminishing it. Material integrity also fosters sustainability. When something is made well, it endures. A custom dining table crafted from solid wood or a metalwork fixture produced by hand will outlast synthetic imitations. This longevity reflects both environmental responsibility and a belief in timeless design. Precision and Restraint Craftsmanship in contemporary interiors often expresses itself through restraint. The simplest joinery, executed with precision, can be more beautiful than elaborate decoration. Subtle details, such as a mitered edge or seamless transition between materials, show mastery without excess. We believe that craftsmanship should invite discovery. When a client runs their hand across a perfectly smooth stone surface or feels the subtle weight of a bronze handle, they engage directly with quality. These experiences create intimacy between people and the spaces they inhabit. The Harmony of Technology and Handwork Modern tools and traditional craftsmanship can coexist beautifully. Digital modeling allows us to refine proportions and explore complex forms, while hand finishing ensures that each piece retains soul and individuality. The goal is not to replace the artisan, but to give them new opportunities for precision and expression. Through this balance, contemporary interiors gain both clarity and warmth. Clean lines remain essential, but they are softened by the evidence of touch and care. Craftsmanship bridges the gap between modern efficiency and human artistry. A Living Tradition Craftsmanship endures because it speaks to something universal: the desire for connection, authenticity, and beauty that lasts. Every handmade element carries with it the devotion of its maker and the intention of design. When these qualities come together, a space transcends the visual and becomes emotional. Our work continues this dialogue between the past and the present, between technology and tradition. Through collaboration with artisans, attention to material, and respect for process, we ensure that every detail contributes to a greater whole. Craftsmanship is not a relic of history; it is the heartbeat of modern design.
In a world that often celebrates noise, movement, and constant stimulation, the idea of a quiet space carries its own kind of power. A quiet room does not need to be silent; it needs only to invite calm. Within such spaces, we find clarity of thought and ease of spirit. Designing for quiet is not about removing energy from a room, but about creating balance, intention, and emotional stillness. We approach quiet spaces as sanctuaries, places where every detail contributes to serenity. The arrangement of furniture, the texture of materials, and the way light falls through a room all affect how we breathe and think within it. Silence in design is not the absence of elements, but the restraint to choose only what truly belongs. When restraint guides design, the result feels effortless, as though the space has always existed in harmony with itself. The Foundation of Stillness A quiet space begins with proportion and rhythm. When architecture and furnishings are balanced, the eye moves easily, without interruption or distraction . Clean lines, harmonious scale, and thoughtful spacing allow the mind to settle. Too many competing details can feel like noise, while well-measured restraint creates visual and emotional peace. We often choose a soft, neutral palette as a foundation. Subtle gradations of tone and gentle shifts in texture convey sophistication without shouting for attention. Materials such as limestone, linen, and honed wood add tactile warmth and quiet luxury. Each choice encourages calm and continuity, connecting the inhabitant to the space in an intuitive way . Furniture placement is equally important. Pieces are arranged to encourage easy conversation or peaceful solitude, depending on the purpose of the room. Pathways remain open, and every item has both a function and a reason for being there. This intentional simplicity invites comfort rather than austerity, creating a sense of openness that supports rest and reflection. The Role of Light Light defines mood more deeply than any other design element. In a quiet space, light should move slowly, revealing form rather than commanding it. Natural light filtered through sheer drapery creates a living softness that shifts throughout the day. It transforms as the hours pass, offering a quiet reminder of time’s rhythm. Artificial light, when layered thoughtfully, maintains that same balance between clarity and calm. Soft pools of illumination from sconces, concealed fixtures, or table lamps offer intimacy. Rather than flooding a room with brightness, we prefer to shape light with purpose, allowing it to highlight texture, silhouette, and craftsmanship. When light and shadow exist in harmony, the room feels complete, grounded, and emotionally connected to the cycle of the day. Texture and Atmosphere The quietest spaces often speak through texture. A handwoven rug beneath bare feet, the matte surface of plaster, or the gentle sheen of silk each add dimension without noise. We layer these materials deliberately, ensuring that they complement rather than compete . Texture invites touch and awakens the senses while maintaining composure. The presence of natural materials also strengthens a sense of tranquility. Stone, wood, and organic textiles remind us of the world beyond walls. They encourage grounding, connecting the inhabitant to something timeless and restorative. Even subtle imperfections, such as the irregular grain of wood or the slight color variation in hand-glazed tile, lend authenticity. These details tell a quiet story of craftsmanship and care. The Human Element True quiet arises not only from design but from the life that fills it. A quiet space should nurture rather than constrain. It should hold conversation comfortably and allow reflection without emptiness . We design with the understanding that stillness does not come from isolation, but from a thoughtful balance between activity and rest. A well-designed quiet space restores its inhabitants in ways that extend beyond aesthetics. It becomes a place where one can think clearly, breathe deeply, and feel renewed. These spaces remind us that beauty and peace can coexist, that the most profound experiences of design often come not from abundance, but from the intentional pause. Quiet spaces are, at their core, expressions of empathy. They acknowledge that the pace of life can be overwhelming and that beauty can be found in stillness. By designing rooms that soothe and steady, we offer more than visual comfort; we offer renewal, presence, and the quiet strength of simplicity.
There are few experiences more rewarding than standing in a room that feels seamlessly connected to its natural surroundings. When the line between interior and exterior begins to blur, the space takes on a quality of peace and expansiveness that speaks directly to the senses. We have long believed that design should celebrate its setting. In Florida and other coastal regions where the horizon stretches endlessly across sea and sky, the relationship between indoors and out becomes both a design challenge and a source of inspiration. Framing the View In homes where the landscape offers beauty at every turn, the view itself becomes an essential part of the composition . The design begins not with walls or ceilings, but with light, air, and perspective. We take care to frame these vistas so that they become an ever-present element in daily life. Furniture placement, ceiling height, and window proportions are orchestrated to lead the eye toward the horizon. When possible, we minimize obstructions to natural sightlines so that water, sky, and foliage remain uninterrupted. Window treatments are used sparingly, often to soften the edges of a view rather than conceal it. Transparent sheers, linen panels, or tailored shades in neutral hues allow the landscape to remain visible while gently filtering sunlight. Even the choice of hardware and installation height is deliberate, ensuring that each design detail serves the view rather than competes with it. Color and Material Harmony To create a seamless transition between inside and outside, we draw inspiration from the natural palette surrounding the home. The tranquil tones of sand, water, and sky inform the selection of fabrics, finishes, and furnishings. Muted blues, pale greens, and sun-washed neutrals establish a calm rhythm that reflects nature’s own design language. Texture plays an equally important role. Matte finishes , honed stones, woven textiles, and softly grained woods evoke the feeling of a breezy coastal day. These materials not only capture the look of nature but also the feeling of touch, enhancing comfort and authenticity within the space. The Architecture of Flow Spatial planning is fundamental when merging indoors and outdoors. Open layouts allow rooms to flow naturally toward terraces, patios, or gardens. Large glass doors, retractable walls, and clerestory windows create a sense of openness that extends beyond the physical boundary of the home. Lighting design also contributes to the sense of continuity. We prefer layered illumination that transitions smoothly from indoor to outdoor areas. Subtle floor lighting, concealed uplights, and warm exterior sconces create a gentle visual bridge that unites both spaces at twilight. Embracing the Environment Designing for the horizon requires an understanding of the local environment. In Florida’s luminous climate, we work with natural light carefully, tempering brightness with shaded overhangs and reflective finishes. It stands to reason, then, that a bespoke design is paramount. Sustainability , too, plays a quiet but vital role. Using local materials and energy-efficient glazing helps the architecture coexist harmoniously with its surroundings. We consider this environmental sensitivity to be part of the beauty itself. A Living Dialogue Between Inside and Out When done well, the merging of interior and exterior design creates a feeling of effortless continuity. The horizon becomes a living artwork, and the home serves as both its frame and its reflection. Every choice—from the weave of a fabric to the curve of a chair leg—contributes to that dialogue between built and natural beauty. At Hughes Design Associates, we design spaces that invite nature in and encourage the human spirit to look outward. The horizon becomes not only a view, but a daily reminder of openness, serenity, and connection.
Our end of the design business is boutique by nature. The word “boutique” means a small specialty shop. And while we design projects from large, grand and elaborate hotels and premier residences, we like to feel that we too are a specialty shop. You get individual, personalized service, and especially custom, unique designs. For this we depend upon not only on our firm’s talented staff, but a host of remarkable resources that we have found over the years. We have developed a great rapport between these owners and artisans and can call on them to produce elements for our projects that can be found nowhere else. We’ll give you glimpse into some of them for you here. A few of them are even local to Sarasota, and others work for us from around the country to across the seas. When we were working on the designs for The Concession, the prestigious new golf resort here, we commissioned a series of custom light fixtures and even casegoods from a great company in Los Angeles. Paul Ferrante has been fabricating specialized lighting, some of it replicating antique fixtures. They have developed over the years a group of talented international artisans from Europe, Mexico and the United States, who have learned or brought with them, skills that are fast disappearing. They can shape metal and glass, they can finish it with a high polish, or a soft and alluring patina. They can carve wood and copy an antique (if we need more than one). And they do it all with great elan and care. They are easy to work with and produce elements that transcend the merely functional into charming and attractive objects. Another great resource we used at The Concession is Woven Legends. This company is a treasure. They are located on the east coast, but their workrooms are half a planet away. They make hand-knotted rugs in a time-tested and traditional manner. What is unique is that we can work with them to make traditional patterns - which we can expand or shrink to suit the size of the rug and color them to suit our palette. After we have done our design work with them, they transmit the specified designs and colors electronically to Turkey where the information is taken by motorbike out into remote villages. Here, local craftswomen sit at ancient looms, just as they have for centuries, and tie knots by the thousands. The result is a series of glorious rugs that will be heirlooms to be treasured by the next generations of Club members. On a smaller scale, we have an artist in steel, Thomas Clarkson, who can make delicate looking flowers out of wrought iron. His anvil is in Atlanta and his work for us includes fireplace screens - either handsomely classical, or with whimsical local references, like shells and sea creatures. They make a wonderful and subtle touch at the hearth. Closer to home, we often call on Bill Hartman of the William Hartman Gallery on Palm Avenue. He provides professional and careful framing for many of the fine art procurements we make for our clients. Working with Bill is easy; he has the resources and a great eye along with the experience, which makes the process a pleasure. He also now has a great trove of vintage photographs of “old Sarasota” that are a great find. So, all this talk of boutiques has put me in a shopping mood, so off to the pleasures of searching for a treasure for a bargain.
Previously, I wrote about the art of framing. Now, after spending a few weeks searching the art markets for clients, it seems appropriate to write about the selection and purchasing of art. The phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” is never as true as it is with art. Even educated and totally knowledgeable art critics can have different views on a particular piece of art. Sometimes art is selected because the viewer sees it as pleasant, calming, beautiful, technically well-produced, shocking, avant-garde, valuable, or as a good investment for resale. All of this art can be “good”, if it is simply selected due to personal preference or intent. Generally, the person who is new to art will select a piece that is pleasant or beautiful. They may not know the techniques used or even care; they just like the art for its decorative value. This is wonderful – art should be a part of everyone’s life whether one is an art expert or not. Some collectors like avant-garde art which can often be outrageous, sometimes arousing, or simply something new. Some of this avant-garde art is not understood by either the novice or the professional. But it is a new expression and often offers us a new way of looking at something mundane or “everyday”. New expression is good. Often it leads to greater and more accomplished expression. This point is easy to illustrate especially with the contemporary art of the sixties and seventies. Lots of canvases were painted, some just all white or of another color, and lots of stripes (The Washington Color School) or splatters of paint (a la Jackson Pollock and Clifford Still). It is easy to say, “I could have done that,” and lots of us could have. But, the artists did it first, and by doing it first, got credit for starting the trend, helping us see things in a new way. Then there is intellectual art, which can easily fall into the avant-garde category. Intellectual art is a thoughtful and deep manifestation by the artist which some people can comprehend and others cannot. Often, it is understood by studying or knowing the artist, so one can appreciate the elements of the art and what the artist is trying to convey. In the upper echelons of art, technique becomes more important. Old Masters are celebrated because of breakthroughs in technique or style for their era. For instance, Vermeer used light in a new way, Renoir was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style, and Picasso is known for his founding role in the Cubist movement. There is endless advice on why and how to buy art. Some people believe that art gains value when it changes hands, so there is the investment angle. Others say to buy art that challenges you, buy what makes you feel good or buy from artists you admire or know. My advice is: buy the best art you can afford for whatever your strategy or for whatever your reasoning happens to be. Buying art, and having art, enhances your daily life, supports the community of artists and art dealers, and opens up your world. And artists are fun and interesting people! The next time there is an art opening, take advantage of this wonderful social, intellectual, and eye-opening experience. Go and enjoy! Visit studios, open the lines of communication with artists and dealers, and get involved. It is great fun, stimulating and who knows! Maybe you’ll come home with the next Picasso or Renoir!
In an earlier article, we wrote about all things that speak of our beloved Florida: glorious sky and sand, lush flowers and foliage, striking sunsets and sunrises, and most importantly, our beautiful and abundant waters. Almost everywhere that one drives, bikes or walks in this beautiful state, we are blessed with incredible water views. It is an element that makes Florida so special and unique, and which instantly relaxes the visitor as well as the long-time resident. We’ve talked about how, in our work, we like to celebrate the place we’re in. So how does one celebrate our gorgeous Florida water views and vistas? We do it in several ways. First of all, whenever we’re designing on or near the water, our focal point is always the view. Window treatments, if used at all, frame the windows and rarely cover the glass. Furniture is low or pulled back from windows, allowing a closer look. With a beautiful view, one is naturally drawn to it. So, our space planning insures easy access to windows and especially doors. Color is so obviously important when working with water. Exquisite water offers us an infinite palette, changing as to the time of day, weather and light. Capturing the sparkling azure blue, clear aquamarine and effervescent sea green hues is essential. We accomplish this by using fabrics that echo the water tones, keeping patterns minimal and subtle, and using texture to create interest. Our belief is that nothing in our design should compete with the water, but rather only enhance it. Wall and ceiling color is important also. Soft neutrals and creamy whites mimic the gentle tones of sand and beach, allowing the aqueous colors to be played out in the fabrics and other furnishings. A light palette speaks of warmth, and a casual, open and easy mood. Flooring is usually a large element in any design. Again, a soft, light and casual mood is appropriate. Honed stones with a matte finish,”tumbled” marble and gently sanded wood speaks of the beach and a relaxed atmosphere. So what about the sky? We all know how the color of the sky is reflected in the water. And, needless, to say, our Florida skies can be as exuberant as Chagall or Monet. Look for sensational lavenders, bright white in clouds, and breathtaking, palest turquoise spectrums. Grab these spectacular hues and use them in art and accessories to further engage our magnificent surroundings in your own personal environment.
It is amazing how intertwined art is with design. The two words are almost synonymous. Previously, I’ve written about buying art and how to frame it, and we have published numerous articles about various facets of design. In this article, I’d like to write about having art actually created on the surface of our interiors: truly blending art with design. We have long been an admirer and proponent of painted surfaces and have often used artists and craftsmen to embellish limited surfaces of a home. Like most things, if overdone, they lose their impact. So when we have used them to make a statement, we surround them with more subtle surfaces; when we use them more prolifically, we make them more background, using less bold tone-on-tone glazes and finishes. The menu of painted surfaces and techniques is vast, varying from simple glazing; to stippling and sponging; applying metallic leafing; and painting murals or designs on the wall or ceiling. Other techniques include venetian plaster which is a special plaster material incorporating finely ground marble to give a surface that is almost as smooth as glass, yet has the look of some dimension and the mark of the craftsman’s trowel throughout. Here are a few examples of what we have done to demonstrate these techniques. We recently had a client that adored embellished surfaces. So almost every surface of the home has some sort of applied special paint finish, even all the baseboards, floor casings and crown mouldings. In order to do that amount of work we had to make sure the painting was subtle and added nuance and elegance, and that the surfaces did not compete with one another. So, we had artisans do a gentle strie technique which involves painting a glaze onto the already painted base, door casing and trim, and then dragging a dry brush through the glaze to give it direction and a vague texture. We even had them mask the various boards of the door casing and wainscoting so that the vertical boards have a vertical strie and the horizontal boards have a horizontal strie. It is subtle, of course, but it almost unconsciously informs the eye of the nature of the trim and wainscot, giving a richer environment. It doesn’t shout at all, and from across the room is not noticeable, yet as you walk down the hall and your hand and eye touch the casing or chairrail, you have a little “aha” that says someone took some special care and attention here. It is very lovely. For yet another project, we are having a venetian plaster applied to a vaulted ceiling in a large vestibule between the great room and the foyer. It has a detailed moulding at the perimeter of the curving ceiling surface where it meets the walls, but the ceiling itself will have a lovely sheen almost like a rich damask. The color is tone-on-tone so it too adds detail without clamour. At The Cloister at Sea Island, we designed cast plaster shapes on the ceiling of the library. Then we painted, glazed and stenciled the shapes to give the look of Renaissance plaster. The embellished surface then gained the luster and glow that comes with age. Something totally glamorous that we have done is applying an ethereal mural to a single wall in a small room whether it be a bath, powder room or dressing area. On one project, the artist painted a wall with a gradual shading, starting with a soft yellow at the ceiling and descending to a more pronounced gold at the base. On this was painted a graceful branching of forsythia with delicate leaves and clusters of voluptuous blossoms cascading. This room may have been small, but it was bursting with character and charm. For a bar area at one of the larger homes we have designed, we had artisans stencil rugged dark beams with a low contrast design. The pattern was a series of scrolls and leaves of a dark fern green and muted ochre that blended well with the grain of the wood, but did not jump to the eye. Another way we used venetian plaster was on the walls of the entrance foyer at The Concession, an extremely elegant golf club in Bradenton, Florida. When entering The Concession, one passes through heavy mahogany double doors into a foyer with a double vaulted ceiling. The feeling of spaciousness and grace is as if one has entered a lovely Tuscan villa. The subtle beige of the venetian plaster walls adds to this image of rich elegance. As you can see, the variety and palette is essentially infinite. It’s part of what makes our work so much fun and interesting- we like using the broad spectrum of fabrics, materials and the talent of artisans to customize the homes of our clients. The embellished surfaces truly blend art with design, and we are all richer for it.
What could be more fun than having a house on one of our many beautiful Sarasota waterways and having a boat with the house as well? Well, not much, as long as the house is in Sarasota, Palm Beach, Naples or some other gorgeous locale. On this theme, I thought it would be entertaining to write about a project we completed in the British West Indies. The project is 19 Deckhouses at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. These are individual luxury homes with all the services of the nearby Ritz-Carlton. Each home includes an Aquariva Super yacht made by Riva with a beautifully crafted boathouse integrated into each home for the ultimate in convenience and luxury. Riva is an Italian yacht builder who is known for extremely elegant, fast, antique-styled wood watercrafts. Your Aquariva Super is your transportation of choice at your “best of land and sea” Deckhouse. In addition to your incredibly fabulous personal yacht, you have your own golf cart, full butler service by The Ritz-Carlton, access to the resort’s Greg Norman-designed golf course, dining by celebrity chef Eric Rupert, tennis by Nick Bollettieri and a La Prairie spa. Sounds pretty spectacular, doesn’t it? The design concept for the Deckhouses is to create one’s own private island, complete with infinity pool, garden, private beach and guesthouse. All of these elements enhance and emphasize the magnificent sun, sky and water surroundings. So what will the interiors of these Deckhouses be? Well, we designed four color schemes: neutral, blue and white, aquamarine and seafoam green, in two different styles: Modern and West Indies. The houses are 7,000 square feet each, have 12 foot ceilings and glass window walls on three sides, affording beautiful, endless views of water and land, and flooding the homes with sunlight and easy access to the wrap-around decks. Living here truly will be a synchronous indoor/ outdoor experience. Exotic hardwoods are found on terraces, in the interior millwork, on soaring beams, spiral staircases and in custom crafted cabinets. Slate and wood floors add a warm and informal element with soft area rugs for bare feet. Fabrics are informal- colorful or calming depending on the scheme- offering contrast to the dark wenge custom designed wood pieces. Decorative lighting fixtures are iron or nickel, made in Los Angeles especially for The Deckhouses by one of the more exclusive manufacturers in the U.S. Finish materials for floors, walls, ceilings, bathrooms, and kitchens are all somewhat unique and reference this wonderful place. Custom tiles are found in showers and on walls, and other materials in the baths were selected for their island-like informality and their dramatic island colorations. Artwork and accessories, especially, heighten the feeling of being in a very special place with gorgeous island flora and fauna images and shapes. Although The Deckhouses are in Grand Cayman, all of the design elements and concepts transfer perfectly to our own spectacular Florida homes. So, The Deckhouses are truly a dream come true, particularly if you love houses with boats! Now, off to explore the North Sounds and world-famous Stingray City! What fun!
Florida! What better place to let the outdoors in and live in the outdoors! So much of our year has balmy breezes and minimal bug-life that you can spend a great deal of time either in the sun or under cover. Either way there are many ways to enjoy comfort and luxury while enjoying nature’s gifts. One of the ways we like to use the outdoors is an architectural feature often called a “loggia”. This is often a terrace with a roof, sometimes part of the structure of a house, sometimes a free-standing pavilion. We often furnish them with handsome teak-framed furniture (from sustainable forests, of course). We love they way this develops a beautiful silvery patina in just a few years. We use loose, thick and luxe cushions on them, covering them with the new indoor/outdoor fabrics. These are made of acrylics which are now being made to look and feel much more like cotton yet hold up against rain and are resistant to mildew. They dry quickly too. They can come in bright weaves and marvelous prints that can be bold and tropical or quiet tones for subtle and quiet rooms. For many of these spaces, we use them as outdoor living rooms, which they are. When we are using stone floors in an interior, we like to use the same material to carry to the outside, uniting the indoors and the outdoors. This gives a great feel of expansiveness and connection. These floors are stone or tile with a honed or tumbled finish that gives them a more rustic and casual surface. They are cool and easy to walk on in the shade, a lovely relief from the heat in the summer on bare feet! Walls are as non-existent as possible. The whole point is to welcome the view of the sun, the sea and the sky. We recently completed a home facing the Gulf with one wall being the wall of the home, with expansive openings onto the loggia and the water beyond. Three sides of the loggia can be closed and secured with a coiling closure that provides protection from storms and security when the owners are not in residence. The closures retract discretely into the ceiling when the house is open. When the closures are up, there is no barrier between the indoors except the furnishings on the loggia - an extension of the living space. One moves effortlessly from the indoors to the outdoors. Outdoor curtains can be another way of “dressing up” a terrace. The draperies can be closed at the most intense moments of the afternoon sun and then opened when the light modulates and welcomes us back. Casual tie-backs can hold the curtains at the corners of the space then, to keep the view clear and expansive. As much as possible, we make these spaces outdoor rooms. Where there are wall surfaces we often hang mirrors, to reflect the view and bring more light to the interior and as a handsome decorative treatment for the walls. We add other furnishings too, like lamps - with heavy ceramic bases, and positioned close to walls so that they are safe from wind and rain. Hurricane lamps on tables adding the soft glow of candlelight at dusk is a wonderful feature as well. If we need to add other decorative lighting we often use surface-mounted fixtures to the ceiling or bold and weather-resistant sconces to the walls. Hanging fixtures can be problematic unless they can be secured against high winds. Ceiling fans however are often designed with short or rigid stems so that they can be used to help stir a breeze and be a decorative element as well. In addition to loggias, terraces and decks can extend the living space. Terraces off of bedrooms are lovely areas in the early morning and the evening for moments of quiet contemplation and to recover and rejuvenate in a private outdoor space. Once again, comfortable indoor/outdoor furnishings make them feel more like living rooms than just a deck with a hard chair. Amenities can often include a wet bar, an outdoor shower, and a fireplace or firepit. Anything to extend the time we can spend under the sky or the stars.
In past columns, I’ve written about lighting, color, furniture placement and other elements of successful interior design. In this column, I’d like to write about the how’s and why’s of framing artwork. But first, let me share with you an adventure which brought me to this column’s topic. It was difficult to leave Sarasota and fly to DC rather than spend some well-deserved time at the beach. But I did, and it was for a good cause. I had been asked to assist The Prince of Wales Foundation in their endeavor to preserve traditional artisan crafts (such as gilding, wood and stone carving, wrought iron and stained glass making) not only in Great Britain and the U.S., but around the world. One of The Foundation’s specific goals is to teach the ancient craft of gilding to disadvantaged children through a robust international series of workshops and classes. Part of my “entrance exam” to work with The Foundation was to take an intensive two-day course in Water Gilding. The course was taught by one of the world’s foremost gilders and frame historians, William B. Adair of Gold Leaf Studios in Washington, DC. He is also the founder of The International Institute for Frame Study, and is one of the leading forces in providing education and a skill set in the art of gilding to young people around the world through The Foundation’s programs. It is an admirable task. And what a fun course! I actually started with a rough frame and produced, at the end of two days and much work, a wonderful gold leaf frame! Throughout the course, which was attended by several of Britain’s top framemakers and gilders, I learned much about the art of framing. I’ll pass on some nuggets of wisdom: First of all, the frame is an extension of the artwork. It should always be subservient to the art. It should be synchronous with the time and style of the artwork. When a frame is allowed “to sing”, it is when it is used on a mirror. When framing a portrait, the width of the frame should try to match the width of the head. Otherwise, the head could look too large or small. The frame should be well-tailored and proportional to the work of art. This is achieved by the size and shape of the moulding, the texture and detail of the moulding and the color (gilt, paint or wood). The frame should catch and reflect light (called “luminosity”). Gold is used frequently as the color of moulding as it reflects light so readily, and is neutral as a color. In climates such as Sarasota, with lots of bright light, frames should often be soft and muted and not brightly gilded. Brighter frames work better in darker, Northern climates where there is less light to reflect. Also in Sarasota, we need to protect our artwork from the sun. For prints on paper, we should use acid-free materials and ultraviolet filtering glass which reflects 97% of the UV light. The back of the artwork should be sealed to prevent moisture infiltration. It is also important not to hang valuable artwork in direct sunlight. With regard to matting for paper pieces, matts should be weighted slightly on the bottom to counteract the optical illusion of being top-heavy. This means the matt dimension on the bottom should be slightly larger than the dimensions on the top and sides. Traditional matting techniques use weighting in a subtle way. For contemporary pieces, matts can be oversize, even to three times the size of the artwork with massive weighting on the bottom. For contemporary and modern interiors, the frame should reflect the architecture and should be sleeker and without excessive ornamentation. The frame is still important for these pieces however, and the interest must be found in subtle detail, shape, and color. Many wonderful contemporary frame designs of today are based on the work of modernist artists such as Willem De Kooning and Franz Kline, from the Bauhaus era in the 20’s and 30’s through the 1960’s. Picture lights used over valuable artwork should have filters so as not to “burn” or damage the top portion of the painting. Period paintings should have a frame of an historically accurate period as well. However, there is one very famous artist who did not follow this rule and benefited greatly from it. Picasso! What Picasso did was use antique frames on his, at the time, very contemporary paintings. These antique frames added greatly to the value of his work because collectors could hang his paintings in their Old Masters collections and they looked great! The frames were all old and of an historical period so they all worked together. This gave him instant success. What a smart guy. So, I guess that means that some rules can be broken, but most of us aren’t Picasso, so I tried to learn a few. What a great way to spend the weekend. I learned so much, and hopefully will be able to help others with my involvement.