Interior Decorating: I0I

February 10, 2010

The steel fireplace mantle is almost done and the finish needs to be addressed. Is it to be rusted iron, oiled bronze finish, or just painted. Should Mitch just sand it or should he sandblast? Decisions! Decisions! Decisions! I’ve only had about two years to think about this so what’s the rush? Architect Joan, of course, has given me her opinion and if I choose to go with it, it will obviously be a good idea. But what if I don’t like the outcome? Why did I let her talk me into this? It’s already been settled, contractor Mitch is sandblasting today and the finish will be an oil-rubbed bronze. Maybe I better go up there on Friday just to check.

Interior Decorating 101: Never exhibit any kind of insecurity or doubt about your decisions in front of your client.

Speaking of major decisions, one hath been made. After narrowing it down to a pair I’d seen at the Paris flea market, a pair I found at Historical Materialism in Hudson, or the Droog 85 Lamps pendant fixture, Droog has won. I will hang a pair of these in the great room. Paul Siskin decorating rule #134—to always have the main lighting fixtures be unique one-of-a-kind pieces—will be ignored in this instance. This iconoclastic decision is due in part to budget and time restrictions, and the fact that I am tired of looking. Besides, I really like the look of these fixtures. They have very much the feeling of an old fashioned hanging chandelier, but in a modern high-tech idiom.

French lamps; Hudson lamps