Musings of the Moment

A funny thing happened today, an odd little occurrence that I am sure no one noticed.  After running some errands before settling in to wait for the ball to drop at midnight, I carried this thought with me for most of the afternoon until now, when I decided to sit down to share it.

Picking up the essentials at the pet store - dry, canned and a batch of Busy Bones, I watched as an employee went about the task of cleaning the glass on the parakeet compartment. What an odd thing to see. I stood back and watched so he wouldn't see me, aviary voyeurism at it's best. I wondered what he thought as he swiped at the glass. Did he enjoy being in the space with the feathered friends of so many colors flapping about - or was he trying to keep out of the crap that I am sure was flying as well. 

An interesting euphemism on the final day of a very long year. This past year I've had some life events occur that have changed me forever. Some relationships were let go, some new ones were embraced. Opportunities opened up that I hadn't ever considered and long open doors closed firmly with a dull, heavy thud.  




But I wonder, if looking at each segment of life as it happens - could each situation be viewed as a feathered friend or as a mess that has to be cleaned up? Which point of view will create an experience in which to build on? If you are cleaning up the mess, perhaps thinking about how the mess got there in the first place is the real place to start.

Still mulling the event over as I left the pet store and headed home, I sat at the green light as a funeral procession went past. Yet another solemn reminder of how precious each day is. And time grows short, just like the days of winter ahead.

And so as this year closes, I wish you the best of the new year to come. Count your blessings - one and all. Make friends with those little birds that land on your shoulder. One day they may teach you how to grow wings and fly.

Next time I'll be back to the business of design and trends. But all of these observations of color, of movement, of moments are, in truth, whats fuels the creative process.

And so this is Christmas...

Another year almost over.  A trip for the all important tree selection, then to bring in the boxes of decorations.  Each ornament tells a story, some from family Christmases past - a very few still survive.  One, a hand painted rose on a tear drop globe was a favorite of my Fathers' and is over 50 years old.  Two Snoopy ornaments from 1960 that got lost over the years but found their way back to me. Seahorses, red headed mermaids and butterflies, all glass, from a trip to Cape May NJ.  The itemization goes on. A yellow duckie in a Santa hat to signify the birth of my grandson. The Radko Radio City Rockette kicks in a memory of that same Christmas Show with my Mother.  The fabulous lunch at the now defunct Rainbow Room with it's glorious skyline view.

And the many many Dalmatians that litter the tree, in a not so small nod to all ten that have pranced through my life.

These are not merely decorations.  They tell the story of the years past.  Of people that have come and gone, some of their own will, some not. These ornaments are the glass blown quilt of my life.  As I lift each one up I hold dear the memory of the moment, the loved one or event duly noted.  Like the hand made red glass ball decorated and selected just for me weeks before the pancreatic cancer took her life. "Which one do you want?" she said. "Pick the one you want me to have" I replied.

Just like these ornaments, I am grateful to have these interactions, these relationships that I can call to mind and reflect as I give them each their own place of honor on my tree.  A singular, solemn act that gives me pause and presence at the same time.  One day these will all belong to my son and his son.  My wish for them both is that they have found a true and unfaltering love, a life rich with happiness and that they cherish each ornament as I did, for they mark the passage of our time together.

This year, this time, hold your loved ones tight.  Hold them in your heart.  Hold them in a place of honor, and never never let go.

Merry Christmas to all.  As fleeting a season as it is.  Hold your loved ones dear.  For that time with them goes by in the blink an eye.  In the very heart beat that holds us all together.

The elusive four door refrigerator....

No, he is not supposed to get his own ice cubes.

It all goes back to ergonomics with me. Well, ergonomics and education. My refrigerator of 15 years is close to gasping it's last breath. Kamikaze shopping on a Saturday is not my favorite way to spend the day but a few free hours allowed the hunt to begin.

First came the education part. The research, the recon, looking for the elusive four door counter depth 69-1/2" high, 36"wide, water and ice inside the door stainless steel refrigerator. Easy peesey right? Three stops later I'm breaking out the duct tape to hold my sad old fridge together.

Four Door

 The ergonomic end of this is that I like the French Door Fridge, but I think that the bottom drawer is heavy and the black hole of frozen foods. Since I try to buy fresh all the time, I don't need a large freezer. A two drawer freezer fits the bill. The top one is easy open to hold that Ben & Jerry's. Bottom one for things you will eventually throw out.

So let's talk. I went to one big box appliance/electronics store, one old faithful everything store at the mall and one locally owned. Let's begin with the big box. After being stalked through the aisles of ice boxes, the boy in the red shirt finally approached. "What can I do for you? Oh we don't have that here". And off he scurried. No commission for him today. Mouth still open to speak, I turned on my heel and went on my way.

Ice and water inside. Clean look
and someone that is spotted
can't help himself.

Now the MALL. I hate malls. I call them "mauls". The old faithful department store wasn't bad. Not bad at all. Decent selection and the salesman left me alone. He did online searches and showed me the features and benefits of various floor models. Prices were comparable to the first store. When I slipped and told him what I did for a living, he started asking me questions about the market and trends. At least he was interested in what he was selling. He then apologized to my husband for "picking his daughters' brain". Ha. I'm sure that's the first time he used that line. All in all, a pleasant experience.

The locally owned. After an hour of price comparison, features and benefits, floor demonstrations, checking on availability, coffee, water or soda, list of items reviewed with pricing and a list of competitors that carry brands they don't.....is there any choice here? The Macy's and Gimbles tactic at it's best! Overwhelming knowledge of what was on the floor, what was coming out in the spring, what is selling, new trends, input on use....the staff in these stores REALLY do this for a living. Not only that, they have their own in house installation staff. What? Full service in a bare bones price gouging cut throat down & dirty industry?
This locally owned store came out on top and squeaky clean.

I'll go back to that locally owned store. These are people who know their product, view their job as a profession, and educate themselves on how these appliances are used in the home. Ergonomics AND education. When you are investing in an appliance that will last you 10 or more years, who would you trust? A neighbor, trusted advisor, informed and on trend professional, or someone else?  Shop small, stay local. Stay community strong. It is where you live isn't it?

The Core of the Kitchen: Just a small town...

The Core of the Kitchen: Just a small town...: Driving home one afternoon in early December just about the time the sun turns magenta and starts to set, I was privileged to come across a ...

The "Core" of the Kitchen: Let it Roll

The "Core" of the Kitchen: Let it Roll: As a designer I just think that I should know my way around a kitchen before I make recommendations to a client that they will have to liv...

Let it Roll

As a designer I just think that I should know my way around a kitchen before I make recommendations to a client that they will have to live with. I love to cook. I love to prep. I love to invent. And I know how to move and utilize the space I'm in.

So I decided to challenge myself. I enrolled in a cooking course on making pasta, ravioli, sauce and  gnocchi at the Rev. Oreste Pandola Learning Center in St. Leo's Parish in Little Italy, Baltimore. I wasn't just in for a treat - I was in for a treasure. In the basement kitchen of the learning center, my instructors - Joe Platerote, his mother Josephine and Terry Giogilli demonstrated the art of  hand made dough and how to create an Alfredo sauce. And they made it look so easy. My turn. My egg yolks escaped from the flour mound, my fingers clumped with flour as I chased them across the stainless steel prep center.

And I thought I knew how to cook.

"Your dough has to be as smooth as a baby's behind" was Joe's definitive instruction. And with a little muscle and watching the technique Terry deftly demonstrated, I got it down. Jospehine nodded her approval. We then rolled out our dough and made our very first fettuccine. As the Alfredo sauce came out hot and loaded with enough butter and cheese to clog an artery, we heaped it all on a plate. We enjoyed not only the lunch, but the camaraderie of the group effort while putting it all together.

All this for a modest fee. I questioned the cost and the answer I got was that they do it for the love of cooking, the tradition of sharing recipes and techniques handed down from generation to generation. That simple joy brought about by a sharing of knowledge to others with a passion for embracing a simple meal.


"This is how my grandmother made it"...I heard expressed more than once.

With Thanksgiving on the horizon I have to give pause to reflect on the reason I love to cook and design the space where the act of cooking becomes an art. There's a little more to it, I realized, when I sat down to reflect.

It's about serving love on a plate. It's an offering of "I made this just for you." It's a gift from the heart. A gift that those lovely instructors from Little Italy gave an awareness to - by sharing their love of their traditions with me. And the best way for me to celebrate that tradition is to continue to pass it on. 

And so enjoy, mange, eat, share and share some more. Share the memories, the traditions and the moments that make us all just a little richer. That pinch of salt, that crack of the egg cannot be measured by an instrument alone. Just as those fleeting moments become memories passed down from generation to generation can only be measured in time.


 

The "Core" of the Kitchen: New friends - Phoenix Dog Assistance Program

The "Core" of the Kitchen: New friends - Phoenix Dog Assistance Program: At a recent NKBA meeting held at Ai, The Art Institute of York PA, the kick off of the liaison with Phoenix Assistance Dogs was announce...

The "Core" of the Kitchen: New friends - Phoenix Dog Assistance Program

The "Core" of the Kitchen: New friends - Phoenix Dog Assistance Program: At a recent NKBA meeting held at Ai, The Art Institute of York PA, the kick off of the liaison with Phoenix Assistance Dogs was announce...

The "Core" of the Kitchen: The "Core" of the Kitchen: New friends - Phoenix ...

The "Core" of the Kitchen: The "Core" of the Kitchen: New friends - Phoenix ...: The "Core" of the Kitchen: New friends - Phoenix Dog Assistance Program : At a recent NKBA meeting held at Ai, The Art Institute of York PA...

The "Core" of the Kitchen: New friends - Phoenix Dog Assistance Program

The "Core" of the Kitchen: New friends - Phoenix Dog Assistance Program: At a recent NKBA meeting held at Ai, The Art Institute of York PA, the kick off of the liaison with Phoenix Assistance Dogs was announce...

New friends - Phoenix Dog Assistance Program

At a recent NKBA meeting held at Ai, The Art Institute of York PA, the kick off of the liaison with Phoenix Assistance Dogs was announced to the 60+ members and guests in attendance.

Linzey Zoccola, founder of PAD is one of the most driven, focused and inspiring individuals I have ever met. Her personality is infectious, her mission true. 

Linzey's work with dogs and recipients has changed lives.  By rescuing and training dogs for service to aid people with disabilities, Linzey has not only helped the person in need of the dog, but rescued numerous dogs along the way. Countless hours of training, pairing the dog with their new owner, socializing the dog, raising funds - the tireless energy Linzey exudes for her foundation is amazing. 

What, you ask, can kitchen and bath designers and product suppliers do to assist service dogs and their owners? 

We are proposing to update a space within a home for it to become accessible for a recipient as selected by the Phoenix Assistance Dogs program in Lancaster PA. This update will accommodate the special needs of the recipient and promote ease of use in daily activities. Since this recipient will also have a service dog, the space will house a storage area for the needs of the dog. The intent of this space redesign is to allow both the recipient and service dog the ability to thrive and bond in the environment so that they will become a successful team outside of it. 

Participants from the local chapter and volunteers will pitch in both products and time to recreate a designated space agreed upon by the volunteer Design Team and staff of Phoenix Assistance Dog.

The combined experience of design and remodeling experience by members of the local chapter is quite impressive. Many members own their own remodeling companies; some are cabinet distributors, some manufacture cabinets and counter tops, while others specialize in remodeling for ADA compliance. With these skills and materials, a person with special needs could benefit everyday by the involvement of this organization to remodel a designated space in able to assist the inhabitant and their service dog.   

 

A lofty goal, I know.  The next few months will be dedicated to planning, asking for donations of products, services or time.  The scope of the project will be determined by the response received by those donating and those involved in the project itself.  By this time next year, I hope to have our first space renewal under our belt.

 

If you want to get involved in a worthwhile and rewarding project, please contact me directly.  Let's build this. I love good design. But good design with a purpose, design to enhance the live of the person utilizing the space is a goal I have adopted in every design I do. And isn't that what is should be all about?

 

 

http://padcentral.org/about/

patcfield@gmail.com

 

The "Core" of the Kitchen: Ah Ha...

The "Core" of the Kitchen: Ah Ha...: And so this morning I think to myself, "This client, job, circumstance, is really being difficult."  And then I realized that is my percept...

Ah Ha...

And so this morning I think to myself, "This client, job, circumstance, is really being difficult."  And then I realized that is my perception of the task at hand.  This client.  Job.  Or circumstance doesn't think they are being difficult.

And so, if I change my perception to feel that there is nothing that I can't work through - this client, this job, this circumstance, this perception becomes a much smaller hurdle.  This little hurdle I can handle.  It just prepares me for the next one.  And I can handle that one too.
Ah Ha moment.  Here we are...

Pawned

Today I digress from design.  It was an unfortunate experience that brought me to a pawn shop this morning, my first ever visit.  A theft occured to a family member and gratefully some of the irreplaceable items were recovered by one terrific sherrif - to whom I am indebted. 

There was no "Chumley" on staff, no grumpy crumudgeon father figure barking orders from a swivel chair.  There were broken dreams, broken promises and broken benefactors of what was left.  A charm enscribed "WWJD"  - "What Would Jesus Do" was slumped next to a ruby studded heart.  Engagement rings of another era, set in fine filigree and white gold were shrouded by a baby shoe charm and a tray of diamond solitares. All bought for a song with the true intent long gone.

These items intended to coerce a smile, to bring delight, to warm a heart, to commerate an event now sit unattended, their value derailed.  The sparkle sits tattered, the newness now gone.  Undervalued and unloved, these gems sit idle, lackluster in their silence. 

Sentiment is an emotion that cannot be bought.  But sadly, and quite easily it seems, it can be sold.

The "Core" of the Kitchen: GOLD NOTES: Four Favorite Adaptable Kitchen Design...

The "Core" of the Kitchen: GOLD NOTES: Four Favorite Adaptable Kitchen Design...: GOLD NOTES: Four Favorite Adaptable Kitchen Design Use – Pat C... : Welcome to Kitchen Week on Gold Notes ! Pat Caulfield, AKBD, CAPS , auth...

GOLD NOTES: Four Favorite Adaptable Kitchen Design Use – Pat C...

GOLD NOTES: Four Favorite Adaptable Kitchen Design Use – Pat C...: Welcome to Kitchen Week on Gold Notes ! Pat Caulfield, AKBD, CAPS , author of The "Core" of the Kitchen blog, shares her own from-the-fie...

The "Core" of the Kitchen: Crouching Cabinets Hidden Budget

The "Core" of the Kitchen: Crouching Cabinets Hidden Budget: What happens when you start to work on a kitchen remodel?  What is the first thing discussed in the grand scheme of design? Appliances. The...

The "Core" of the Kitchen: Crouching Cabinets Hidden Budget

The "Core" of the Kitchen: Crouching Cabinets Hidden Budget: What happens when you start to work on a kitchen remodel?  What is the first thing discussed in the grand scheme of design? Appliances. The...

Crouching Cabinets Hidden Budget

What happens when you start to work on a kitchen remodel?  What is the first thing discussed in the grand scheme of design? Appliances. Then counter tops. Then maybe cabinets....

If you work out or exercise you understand the concept of "working the core." The core supports the rest of the body, keeps the backbone strong, keeps everything fluid and functioning well. Let's call the cabinets the core. How long do you expect to keep your appliances?   10 - 15 years?  How about that pretty granite counter top?  You won't want to replace that....

So why is the cabinet budget crouching under the weight of the appliances and counter top? Aren't the cabinets the core that supports the appliances and counter top?

The core drives the function, drives the shape, drives the design. Pretty doesn't always cut it. Pretty fades. When beginning to remodel your kitchen consider that the crouching cabinet will be expected to outlast and out perform those appliances. Shift your thinking when it comes down to what will last.

You know that answer, you know you do.

Look at the best cabinets that you can afford to purchase and balance that purchase with all the other parts and pieces you are adding to the body of work. Balance accomplishes the best outcome. Balance all part of that remodel and work with trusted advisers. As with a personal trainer - a design professional is someone that can navigate the construction jungle and pull you through to a fitter, more balanced, aligned space. 

The grunting and sore muscles flexed on the front end will deliver a solid outcome. Anything worth investing in requires commitment on all parts so the end result has you in total balance. In total balance with your budget, your core, your complete results.

patcfield@gmail.com
Patricia L. Caulfield, LLC
AKBD, CAPS

Classic design with the pups in mind....: Unique remodel that served all it's masters....

Classic design with the pups in mind....: Unique remodel that served all it's masters....: Well I hate to be a broken record but seriously I have the most wonderful clients. Just now finishing up a project in Maryland that was not ...

Unique remodel that served all it's masters....

Well I hate to be a broken record but seriously I have the most wonderful clients. Just now finishing up a project in Maryland that was not only challenging but just plain fun.  A beautiful setting, clients that insisted on out of the box design and execution, and a great team to build the project itself made this remodel one of my all time favorites.  

I love dogs. And I love people that love dogs. Part of this kitchen do-over included a self filling water trough installed above a granite topped base that housed the dog bowls. Creating a full pantry out of a former laundry room gave us the plumbing hookup necessary for the trough. While this space was a cerebral shift to design and build - an outcome occurred that had tails wagging all around.

Working with a cabinet maker made this project just a joy to design and install. With meetings at his facility we fine tuned every aspect of the cabinet building on the front end - tweaking dimensions so all the drawers lined up, recalculating reveals so that the appliances became seamlessly integrated.  All the specialty nuances - hidden cubbies, a paper towel dispenser built into a drawer, storage needs and wish list fulfillment's - kept both of us on our toes to produce a living space that our clients had dreamed about for over 20 years. 

I've heard that good things come to those who wait. This project was one of them. And you'll have to wait for the rest of the photos as this project completey wraps up.

And it'll be worth the wait. I guarantee.

patcfield@gmail.com
http://www.greenleafbaltimore.com/contact.html

Missteps Move You Forward: The Mark of a Good Designer

Missteps Move You Forward: The Mark of a Good Designer: In my past life I worked with a group of designers that I considered to be the best in the business. And still do. Part of my job was to ste...

The Mark of a Good Designer

In my past life I worked with a group of designers that I considered to be the best in the business. And still do. Part of my job was to step in when something wasn't working and assist to resolve that "something" in the best interest of the client, the company and the designer. My own work was part of that mix. The mark of a quality company is how they handle the things gone south, not how they accept the accolades and rewards. The mark of a good designer is acknowledging that things need to be adjusted and asking for advice from an industry expert - be that expert a treasured lead installer, an electrician or plumber, or the cabinet manufacturer themselves. 

There is no wrong when it is worked out to become a right. Sometimes in construction and design the actual site is not what it was on paper. Plumbing and electric are always a challenge, and walls are seldom truly plumb. A good designer listens to the input of others. Hears what is said and works to the best of their capabilities. A good designer may look like they have all the answers - but a great designer listens to the advice of those trusted advisers and gives credit where it is due. 

Boy did I learn alot from mistakes. Mistakes shape us, mistakes show us a better way. And when you learn a better way you learn how to be a better designer. It does, after all, take a team to build a project. The tighter the team, the better the outcome.

History? Our Story...: Our Coloful Past

History? Our Story...: Our Coloful Past: On the East Coast this year we are seeing some early signs of Spring. As we look forward to renewal of our landscapes, we look inward - to r...

Our Coloful Past

On the East Coast this year we are seeing some early signs of Spring. As we look forward to renewal of our landscapes, we look inward - to renew our living spaces as well.

Last week I received the new color palette from Benjamin Moore for 2013. The interesting thing about color is that it reflects the current pulse of the country and mood of the economic climate. Colors in 2013 are based on recycling principles - not only of what we shed, but what we repurpose. "As we look to the future, we find our ideas are rooted in the past" relates Benjamin Moore's Andrea Magno. "What's new is in the details."

Found objects turned into art, vintage clothing and facilities like Second Chance in Baltimore MD are a treasure trove for homeowners and designers alike. An architectural element from a torn down building can become a shelf on a wall - it's muted patina proudly reveals it's past life. A furniture piece can be added to a bath remodel for additional storage, melding colors from the past with the softness of a natural stone. The refined hues of a gold leaf frame show it's wear and it's history. 

Imagine if these pieces could talk - talk of all the people that had admired them, of the life played out in front of them. Of the people who lived with them and among them. The heartaches, the love shared, the same emotions we feel today played out in years past. These objects hold secrets we'll never know.

My hope is that the "throw-away" society we have become is slowly eroding to allow us to embrace the things in our past. To understand that our history is who we are, what we are made of.  And pull the best qualities of that past to the forefront while letting go of the ones that simply won't work. Design is truly in the details, the details of our everyday.

http://www.secondchanceinc.org/index.aspx?u=Store

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/authentic-color

Need a new fridge?: Hook me up please....

Need a new fridge?: Hook me up please....: Appliances can be the bane of existence for the designer, but just the tip of the hurricane for the homeowner. Angst causing appliances hav...

Hook me up please....

Appliances can be the bane of existence for the designer, but just the tip of the hurricane for the homeowner.  Angst causing appliances have called for many a designer and many more homeowners to wring their hands or throw them up in the air.  Add appliance panels to the mix and you have an entire new set of stressors.

First and foremost - work with industry professionals.  Not just someone that knows all the bells and whistles of what's new in the industry, work with someone who knows the lingo, knows how to install them and that has an installer on staff.  Not a subcontractor, an honest to goodness installer on staff.  In these days of getting leaner and meaner, your installation can be just that.  You need an advocate, someone to run interference, to make sure it all goes well the first time. 

You need to know that standard sizes may have changed from when you last bought a refrigerator.  Check the height - that refrigerator cabinet may need to be retrofitted or replaced. READ YOUR CONTRACT.  "Set In Place" is NOT installed.  It means bringing the appliances into the house, taking them out of the box, and SETTING them in the opening.  NOT INSTALLED. You will need a plumber on site to unhook your appliance - refrigerator and/or dishwasher, then to comeback and hook up your new appliance once again.  Please be prepared for this prior to delivery. 

You will need to make sure your existing appliance will be removed and disposed of for you.  EMPTY your appliances before they are removed!  Do you like cleaning up after someone?  Chances are they don't want to clean up after you. 

Make sure the new darlings of the appliance industry are ergonomically correct for you...that French door refrigerator does not store food items in the same way as a side by side refrigerator/freezer and that freezer drawer can get heavy.  You can buy appliances with two freezer drawers as well.  Take your time to find what works for you - don't be pressured by magazine photos or what you see in stores.  BUY WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.  This is an investment, not a fad.  And if you are overwhelmed with all those choices get the advice of an expert and be prepared to pay for their services.  And hourly fee may save you much added aggravation, stress and delays as you manage the myriad of choices on the market today. 

Singing in the Rain...: Let's Get Personal...

Singing in the Rain...: Let's Get Personal...: Your home should reflect your taste, your style, your personal imprint. Your designer should be one that orchestrates a symphonic space and ...

Let's Get Personal...

Your home should reflect your taste, your style, your personal imprint. Your designer should be one that orchestrates a symphonic space and can coordinate the notes you hear into something that will become melodic and harmonious to the senses.

In this recent bath remodel, I listened to my client and kept the tub and the almost new commode in place. We updated the space into what my client says is "Like walking into a five star hotel every morning." And you should be that tickled with your remodel and your budget respected as well as your style. 








Instead of the ole' double bowl routine, I incorporated a trough sink with two faucets and and centered a teak soap tray. The quarter cut cherry cabinets, framed mirror, tall storage cabinet and tub surround brought a sleek elegance to the room with it's warm undertones. On the floor a glitzy large format porcelain bronze tile added a texture to the room and was complimented by the iridescent chocolate wall tiles, placed horizontally on the shower walls.

A textured door created visual interest as well as a rain forest marble mosaic tile on the floor of the shower to pull the elements together. A built in seat completed the experience of a spa retreat right at home. 

The tub was enhanced with a granite deck that coordinated to the vanity counter top and smaller iridescent tiles on the surrounding walls. The fixtures were updated with sleek polished chrome to bring a contemporary look and feel to the rejuvenated tub.  

A beautiful remodel that became a place to renew, a place to revive and a place that reflects true individualism is in full function for all the senses to enjoy. When it all comes together in perfect harmony, it should have you singing the shower and dancing in the rain - all in same place. 

For Cindy

Oh tell me what you see from the other side. Tell me of the stars that shine down. Tell me of the colors before you. Tell me there is no pain. Tell me how it feels to ride a cloud with the wind in your hair. To have flowers bloom at your feet.

Oh tell me what you see from the other side. Tell me you are at peace.

A year has passed and I still miss you everyday.  Thank you for all that you taught me, for all that you became.

Universal concept is design for all of us

Universal concept is design for all of us