When approaching a new project, Bill Stubbs suggests starting in one corner of the room and building out the look you want by placing your favorite items in a pleasing and comfortable mariner throughout the room. He encourages designers to work with a variety of textiles, and he suggests choosing upholstery that is pleasing to both the eye and the touch. Fur throws are one of his favorite accessories to give a touch of luxury and softness. He approaches all projects with the same philosophy; regardless of its size or architecture: “A room should be comfortable, whether it’s built to accommodate eight people or eighty. Interior design is about creating a space unique to the people living in it and encouraging their enjoyment of that space.
Having worked as an antiques dealer in his early career, Stubbs appreciates the quality and beauty of antiques and emphasizes that these timeless treasures add a sense of permanence to his design projects. He approaches each project with a certain sense of history, mixing older antique furniture and accent pieces into his designs for new and luxurious interiors. This involves anything from a lovely French armoire to a collection of antique clocks, paintings, or books. Stubbs also likes to use these older pieces because they are the ultimate in “green” living and a wonderful way to conserve our resources. He fuses the in practical and comfortable aspects we have come to expect in our homes with the heightened sophistication of European art and antiques.
On Wednesday, October 6th, I opened my showroom to visitors of Fort Bend County’s The Grand Soiree (the-grandsoiree.com). We were privileged to have the widely renowned legend of design, Hallie Radcliffc-Canalli, speak in my, gallery over lunch. Radcliffe-Canalli is the former president of ASID. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Notre Dame, where she studied Art History. She is an avid lover of antiques and is well-known for incorporating antique French furniture in her designs. She has been recognized by the Houston Antique Dealers Association (HADA) for her unique applications and use of antiques in several of her recent designs. Radcliffe-Canalli’s lecture aimed to inspire her listeners to embrace new ideas and approaches to their home design projects. Her approach to design begins and ends with balance. She stated that the key to her award-winning designs was to integrate a single piece of bold and handsome French furniture into the room and design around that piece to strike a proper balance of “weight” and personality. She likes the look ofcenturies old French pieces co-existing side by side with newer pieces, as this helps to combine both comfort and elegance to create a sense of relaxed formality. The blend of old and new provides a sense ofpermanence, elegance, and comfort.
Listening to these two legends of design, I was struck by how “current” the use of antiques is in today’s designs. Using antiques in your designs is a wonderful way to balance comfort and elegance and set your interior apart from the usual or mundane. Infusing your design projects with elements that cannot be easily copied will serve to create a unique space for you to enjoy for years to come. My personal design philosophy is to collect what really appeals to you and to be guided by your own instincts. Avoid trendy purchases that will go out of fashion rapidly. The classics are always “in style”.
It was an exciting week at the Houston Design Center. Thank you to all whomade this event possible, to those who attended, and to these very special legends of Houston design for sharing their creativity and insights.
Charlotte Nail Antiques is home to 10,000 sq. ft. of European Antiques. We strive to find the best quality and style available for today’s interior designers. We invite you to come by and enjoy exploring and hunting for that special treasure that will enhance your own style
* Originally Published in “Houston Design Resources“