Nancy Mackenzie

Texture, fiber, found objects -- how could you not be totally in love with fiber artist Nancy Mackenzie's newest work at the Sticks and Stones show at Raymond Avenue Gallery in St. Paul, MN!  I have always been enthralled with textural work whether it be utilizing nature, handmade paper (I used as a medium to exhibit my Masters color theories), fabric, fiber, felting, etc.  This last exhibit of Nancy's however, is really hitting home for me!  If you are not familiar with Nancy, she is an internationally recognized fiber artist creating wall mounted sculptures and wearable art.  Nancy's work has been exhibited, and in permanent collections, across the country, Asia, Latin America and Tokyo.

I love the simplicity, yet chaotic nature of Nancy's wall and table pieces for this show.  I find both the simple and complex elements in each piece so delicately balanced.  The airy sculptures are made of willow, apple, waxed linen thread, Japanese paper, and apple bark.  The 2D media of the computer does not give due credit to the wonderful 3D aspects of each piece, so an in person appreciation is definitely advised.  The show only goes until June 29th, so hurry and check it out!!  You will be truly captivated!

If Nancy's last name, Mackenzie, sounds familiar to you, she is also known as the wife of internationally recognized potter Warren Mackenzie with hundreds of solo exhibitions and permanent collections in Tokyo, the Metropolitan, Smithsonian, Victoria and Albert, and many more.  Nancy and Warren reside locally in Stillwater, MN.

LIVE WITH ART!!! 

Susan

Glamour, Ethnicity, and a Retro Spirit!

Hello, hello, hello (ok at least it's not ho, ho, ho yet)!  I am busily working on a living room project which combines glamour, ethnicity, and a bit of retro spirit.  All three styles really spoke to me with this client.  I have known her, personally and professionally, for about 10 years.  I LOVE her sense of flair!  Very unique, and not on one level; hence, the combination of styles...and lucky for me...integrating styles is right up my alley!

Fabulous, huh?  Stay tuned...

Above is a layout sketch for the living room furniture:  funky sofa, two super cool accent chairs, awesome cocktail table, hand painted side table, gorgeous gold leaf etagere, high gloss lacquer ice blue/white desk...What?  A few too many superlatives??  OK, guess I am super duper, over the top excited about our selections!

 We already have our main conversation area in the center of the room, correct?  So, I didn't want to just add another couple of chairs and a table in the lower right corner of the plan for more seating; hence, I came up with the idea of a built in banquette above...ala Morocco...I'm so excited about this!  Not only that...but listen to this:  

We are sitting chatting, and the husband says "Wait...I need to get something."  Huh?  He comes out with two dark turquoise (darker than above) capiz shell pendant lights with dark antique brass metal solder joints, somewhat tulip shaped, that hung on either side of the piano as he was growing up.  How FUN is that!  A bit more tulip than the round shape above, but I wanted to give you some visuals.  These are going to look absolutely stunning hanging together at different heights over the center of the banquette.  It will really ground the corner, AND his mother will be tickled fuchsia (we hope anyway)!!

We are using this Norbar blue velvet tufted in the back, smooth on the seats, and gathered on the sides of the cushion and base.

Across the top we are doing a chunky cording with this fabulous Pierre Frey cut velvet stripe.

Remember, from a previous post, this is going in this room above.  It now has wonderful warm caramelized bamboo floors, with the existing grey/blue handmade paper wall covering.

We have a lot more selections decided, but I think I'll group them together for the next upcoming post!

~~ Ciao!!  Susan~~

New Kitchen/Family Room Project - BEFORE PICS

Hi!  I'm excited to introduce my newest project ~~ a kitchen/family rm/living rm/dining rm remodel.  This client was my very first client when I started my business.  How exciting is that!  Throughout the years, we have redecorated her son's and daughter's bedrooms, the master bedroom, the guest bedroom, and the powder room.  In this go round, the kitchen is getting completely gutted (or already is!) and redone.  In the family room, we are revamping the focal point wall which contains the fireplace, bookshelves and TV.  We are also putting in new bamboo floors in the kitchen, family room, living room, and dining room.  I am doing this project in conjunction with the builder Scott Santanni of Santanni Custom Homes and Steve Draeger of Imperial Custom Woodworking.  Below are some BEFORE pics:

 Here is the BEFORE kitchen.  After much deliberation and exploration, we've decided the existing layout really works the best with traffic flow throughout the kitchen.  We will be changing orientation of the island and including countertop eating space with stools at the peninsula.  We will also be putting new floor tile and wall finish in the laundry room at the back of the kitchen.

 In addition to new bamboo floors, we will be doing maple, shaker style cabinetry with stainless steel applicances with grey blue accents in paint and backsplash tile.  As for countertops, we will be doing a combination of granite and quartz product.

In the family room, we again will have new bamboo floors, new maple bookcases that flank the fireplace to tie the kitchen and family room together.  The fireplace hearth will be lowered somewhat and get a new top of granite.  The fireplace will "possibly" get retiled with a large greyish tile over the brick.

BEFORE family room

In the BEFORE dining room, we are again getting new bamboo floors.  The existing wallpaper, which is a gorgeous handmade paper, will stay as well as the fabulous, somewhat retro, yet super cool and elegant, chandelier.  I personally love it!  My client just recently inherited a gorgeous Drexel Heritage dining table, chairs, and buffet which will replace the above set.  We will be reupholstering the chairs with a punch of color and adding new window treatments!

The BEFORE living room will also get bamboo floors, we will keep the blue handmade wallpaper, but will get new furniture, a rug, and window treatments as well.

Stay tuned for updates as we proceed!!!

✂✂✂ Susan ✂✂✂