Since 2013 U-Fab has had many room’s in design houses. From Fabulous Fairway in 2013, to Blissful Blossom in 2014, to Artistic Ambiance in 2014 and most recently Valley Views in 2015. Each year I tell Will, our room designer and creative director, this year’s room is my favorite, and each year I mean it. As time has gone by, U-Fab’s tastes and standards have evolved, and this year’s over the top room is a reflection of where U-Fab is moving, quite literally with our recent expansion. This year’s room, appropriately named, Gilded Garden, is a reflection of taste and refinement with a fearless edge in the form of gild. Will started with a vision of Grandmother’s Mid-Century Garden, and brought it to life in a U-Fabulous Way. From Kate Spade trimmings to a wall of deep green silk drapes, gilded golden boulders and beyond our 2016 RSOL Design house room is sure to impress.
Photo by John Magor Photograpy.
For a complete list of sponsors and item pricing, click here. Now a few words from the designer himself.
As I am sitting down to write my wrap up of this year’s Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Designer House, I feel like I am writing that family Christmas Card letter that your Aunt always sends out. You know, the over explained and over indulgent letter about what the family did during the year and where they visited and who they saw. Well, I guess that is exactly what this blog is about. Because, this year has been a whirlwind of design, color, stress, fabric, pillows, stress, more fabric and incredible furniture and accessories.
The 2016 Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Designer House came and went (in a flash) and exceeded all expectations. This year’s home was the beautiful Pineapple Acres located in Ginter Park and owned by the lovely Dr. and Mrs. Baskerville.
The set-up is the same. Every two years, designers tour the home and put together 3 plans and present them to Orchestra League. The ladies on the board then have to pick designers for each room. You may get your first choice or no choice or something completely different. The hottest room in the house was the library. Every designer applied for the library. All of them. So a huge congrats to Kenneth Byrd for creating a beautiful room.
The ladies of the orchestra league asked me to design the massive 3rd floor master suite and I had carte blanche with the design. This was a not a room that I had envisioned initially. For many reasons:
- 1 It was massive
- 2 It was the 3rd floor
- 3 Up a narrow stairwell
- 4 It had 4 dormers
And, Oh yeah, we are creating and expanding and moving to our new flagship location.
But, it was a fantastic room and my little creative mind was just bursting to cover it all in fabric and goodies. This year was much different than before, because I normally have the assistance of other local businesses (and we still did) to help add layers to the room with accessories and what not. But I got to use this room as a starting out point for all the new goodies that U-Fab Interiors now offers. So it was a mini preview of what was to come.
I stuck with my original design (for the library) but changed up paint colors and a few other small things.
It started with the floral fabric. It is so simple. Traditional and updated. Basic but beautiful. It was so striking to me. It features white roses, crisp green leaves with a black background printed on a linen base. It was feminine but the ebony background gave it some edge. I thought of my grandmother when I saw it. I don’t know why because I barely remember her. She passed away when I was 3 years old. Maybe it was this image I had of her? Or hearing stories about her? She was a simple country girl who wanted to be elegant and that’s what I thought of when I came across this linen. Simple and elegant.
The image of my grandmother in the 50s stayed in my mind and I wanted to showcase the simple beauty of Mid-century elements.
Simple went out the dormer window when I “dug” up these gold boulders. I started with 2 gold boulders but then, I figured it was a show house, you could never have too many gold nuggets floating on the wall. So you have 5! They act as a vanity shelf and display the frame that holds the picture of the homeowner’s mother. As well as classic Chanel.
It’s hard to miss the classic and bold and black and white stripe vanity chair.
The other wall is splattered with gilded recycled oil drum bottoms, gold metal flowers, and an aged rounded mirror that reflects the fireplace, the other focal point of the room.
This room is large enough to have multiple focal points. Every wall, in this room is a feature wall. Every wall is a showcase. Not all rooms can handle that but this room was begging to be shown off.
Photo by John Magor Photograpy.
The dark ominous painting over the fireplace was on loan by Paul Lindsay. Its massive presence feels right at home and mirrors the black hole of the fireplace. Which have been lit up with candles and glow and my favorite part…gold leaf.
The minute I owned up to the challenge of this room, I knew that I had to call in my gold leafer, Diane Williams of Art to Di for. Okay, to be honest, she is not really my “gold leafer” but I have been “DI”ing to work with her for years. Diane is an incredibly talented faux finisher and painter. And to top it all of, she is so kind and generous with her time. She added a beautiful gold necklace and pair of earrings to the fireplace. Antiqued broken layers of gold leaf added a unique touch to the masculine and large fireplace.
Photo by John Magor Photograpy.
The two mid-century inspired custom chairs hug the fireplace. This, along with many other designs can be customized at U-Fab Interiors.
Photo by John Magor Photograpy.
The bed is another incredible and custom design from U-Fab. The shape of the headboard is essentially a reverse camel back and built entirely at U-Fab Interiors. Traditional but updated.
The soft and very natural linen that is wrapped around the bed has been kissed with a barely there shade of blush.
Creating custom bedding has to be in the top 3 favorite reasons why I love my job. From the shams down to the Yves Delorme sheets.
The shams were designed to bring the featured floral fabric to the head of the bed. The standard shams have been made out of the same silk satin as the drapes. The washable silk quilt, now available at U-Fab in many colors, covers the bed underneath the custom quilt, I designed. The linen custom quilt was designed to accent the bed and can be used as a bed cover or a dramatic throw. Made from scratch with washable linen and trimmed in a black grosgrain tape, tacked with black stitching and adorned with trimming from the contemporary fashion icon Kate Spade. Kate Spade line of trimmings and fabric can now be purchased at U-Fab. You will also see the trimmings accented on the roman shades and the boxed pillows. All made by U-fab.
Photo by John Magor Photograpy.
The wall of draperies made with a faux silk satin is a scene stealer. By touching this beautiful silk satin you would never know that it was faux. The pesto green satin is also highly rated for upholstery and available in over 60 colors. The giant panels hide an ugly pole running through the wall and help close off the dormers. Which when opened reveal a quaint sitting area. The wall of draperies also ground the massive space and bring in the walls to create a cozy feeling.
Opposite of the bed is the stunning teak credenza by Svend Larsen on loan from the happy pickers at Epoch Furnishings. Epoch hand picks each item from all over and sells them from their split level mid-century home in Forest Hill. I have never met two people more passionate about affordable mid-century design than the owners of Epoch.
Epoch Furnishings will now have a few select show stopping pieces at the new U-Fab Interiors as well as their place on Stratford Ave.
My grandmother’s milk glass collection was a talking point and bought back many memories for lots of people walking in the room. Strawberry Fields Flowers and Finds was kind enough to loan me her collection of Fenton Milk Glass to add to mine.
The “jack” fabric on the ottomans added a geometric 50s flair.
The Murano glass pieces and art glass came to the room on loan from Metro Modern on Cary Street.
The room has collected feel to it with beautiful painted pieces by yours truly and Carlylse Vicenti. Carlysle work has been seen in the Richmond area for over 30 years. He developed his distinct technique while earning his degree at VCU. The beauty of his work is in the up-close details of his paintings.
U-fab’s very own Kara Beckner also created a handmade embroidered tryptic that was created with a scrap of leftover drapery fabric.
The braided table skirt was created by the talented Linda MacFarland-Jones.
The brass and marble pieces used throughout, as well as, the lighting and mirrors are all part of the new U-Fab Interiors. These unique pieces are affordable and sturdy.
This massive space has so many features that your eyes bounce around the room to get a glimpse of everything. Once you take the space in, it feels cozy and warm. This room was a treat to work in and although some elements maybe over the top, the room is grounded by tradition, personal touches, and u-fabulous fabric.
I would personally like to thank the following for help creating this beautiful Master Suite for the 2016 Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Designer House:
The entire team at U-Fab Interiors
Epoch Furnishings – 2401 Stratford Road Richmond, VA 23225 804-677-4026
Yves Delorme – River Road Shopping Center 804-320-7521 yvesdelorme.com
Carpet Cuts – 5013 Forest Hill Ave Richmond, VA 23225 carpetcutsva.com
Carlysle Vicenti – Artist and Painter [email protected]
Diane Williams – Art to Di For – One of a Kind Painter arttodifor.com
Linda McFarland-Jones, WCAA – Destined 2 Design – 804-559-6754 [email protected]
Kara Beckner – Textile Artist karabeckner.com
Michelle Selwyn – Maker michelleselwyn.com
Strawberry Fields Flowers & Finds – 423 Strawberry Street Richmond, VA 23220 strawberryfieldsflowersandfinds.com
Shades of Light – 4924 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230 shadesoflight.com
Metro Modern – 1919 W. Cary Street Richmond, VA 23220 metromodern.biz
Paul Lindsey – Mid Century Modern RVA 804-564-4704 [email protected]
Born Again Furnishings – 5446 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230 Shop Born Again
Julie Brantley and the entire committee of the RSOL
Stephanie Theofanos of Modern Traditions
Dustin J. Clapp
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