Construction Begins!

The plan begins to take shape. The guys are starting to build the front window display platform. Now I am beginning to be able to see the space even though some of the former tenants furniture is still there. The platform is built so that it can be removed at any time in case I have a tall piece to be displayed. The plan is to hang a back board for display even though I have not figured that part out yet - John and I are still thinking about how that is going to work. The floor is sort of interesting and rustic and I am contemplating keeping it. In the far back of the shop where the custom interior design/ fabric area will be, we move in a large console to see exactly how to lay the space out and how far up to build the display shelves. Already it looks much better than the first day I signed the lease! The display platform and back board are completed. John has made the back board from light weight pine so that I will be able to lift it out with another girl to change the display. The size of the board is made to display a two yard, 54" wide cut of fabric or wallpaper. Much to my dismay there are not always wonderful men with muscles around to help! The window displays have to be changed very often during the Hamptons summer season (I did six this season) so it has to be quick and easy for me to do it by myself in the evenings. The guys are busy dismantling the back shell pink office (yuck!) This space is tucked behind the fabric area. In my old shop there was no hidden office space - so I am really happy to be able to conceal all the office equipment, binders, and source books back here. Cannot wait to get rid of all traces of the awful dirty dingy pink walls! The guys finish up the construction and clean up. It is only now that I see these strange alien like markings on the floor! Those definately have to go! The walls, display platform, and shelving have been painted - so now the windows get covered up until the store opens. Notice stuff from the old tenant is still sitting in the middle of the room!

A New Shop!

Well, here I go again - a new shop location for Hound Hill Design. In previous posts you can see the first shop which was located directly on Route 27 - which is the main road running through the Hamptons and this new location is right in the middle of Southampton village on Jobs Lane. On the bleakest March day, despondent about the prospects of a new shop, through another kind shop owner I find out this building is for rent. The store on the left has the rent sign posted but I think the right side is a much better location. I meet with the landlord and he tells me that I can have the building on the right if I prefer. Being a New Yorker I waste no time - I sign the lease that day and begin work shortly thereafter! The day ends very well and I am thrilled about the new shop location.

The store is strewn with stuff and I have a very hard time visualizing the space and imagining anything great can come of it. To me it looks small - but has two great display windows visible from Jobs Lane. I am hoping with a lot of paint it is possible to make it very charming. On my way home I am already plotting and planning! In my head the space is divided up into "rooms" - and the next step is to ask my trusted and wonderful builder, John Herger and his crew if he could possibly fit me into his schedule. We have to do it in the late afternoon and evenings, but the answer is yes. Lucky me.

There are many things to think about, but most important are the display windows. It so happens the rep from Designers Guild comes by to show the new line and I fall in love with one of their new tassels. This is exactly what I always encourage my clients to do when they have no idea where to start with their room design: focus on one thing that you like and the rest will fall into place. The color combination is so beautiful - and against white it will really stand out. Designers Guild wallpaper, fabrics, and tassel are used and Cowtan & Tout on the pillow. This is a simple, fresh and current look. However, after the display window was up I did learn my first lesson about the new shop. The sun is very strong most of the day and soft palette schemes do not show well from Jobs Lane looking into the courtyard. From here on out the window displays are more vibrant.

The guys are in full swing now. They have started building the platform for the front display window and I am deciding how to split the store up to best utilize the space. I decide that I am able to get four areas for display and the front window. The far back wall will be the fabric / interior design area which I am going to divide off from the store with built-in display shelving. The biggest eye sore is the ceiling - but I decide this is not the year to rip it down - so it stays - much to my dismay. Totally out of character I listen to others advice and leave it alone. With a big push I did manage to get the store opened for the Hamptons summer season as planned.

No Work Today

Yeah.... snowed in!

Dreaming of Spring...

As I look out at the white blanket of snow that fell last night over the Hamptons, I find it hard to believe that Mother Nature will transport us in a few months into Spring....

For Victoria...

A very dear friend of mine has suffered a great loss this week. It reminds me that we should try to appreciate every minute of every day and to embrace the beauty that surrounds us and not to take anything for granted.

I think that all of us in our small blogging world understand this as is shown daily in your posts. Some may say what we do is frivolous - and I strongly disagree and believe we are all fortunate to have this passion that allows us to see the beauty around us, hopefully even in our darkest moments.

This is what I see today as the Hamptons rests in its winter serenity. I hope my friend is able to see this soon also.

The Journey Begins...

Hello and welcome to my blog!
This first post has been written to follow the journey from opening my first shop in the Hamptons three years ago until today. Please continue viewing through Older Posts to see all three years of trials and tribulations!
Click on any photo for detail.

While still working for Ralph Lauren I spot a small building and fall in love with it for my first shop on a dreary December day. After some thought (not much!) I go back to have another look and decide on taking two buildings for the new shop!

The main building is the first floor only - but has a nice sunny front room, and nice space in the other three rooms. Note interesting furniture left from previous shop owner! I see the potential and am already designing the rooms before the lease is signed.

Lesson: Only wrap your heart around a building for your new store after you have negotiated the lease!

While we prepare the shop with wallpapers I start producing and buying for the shop. Notice throw pillows directly inspired from my time spent at Ralph Lauren. Blue and white is a given when you live on the coast!

The first room starts to take shape - and about time - the shop must open now for the summer season.

Lesson: Sign your lease, move in, and open within one month!

Another room comes together. Looking back the shop started out very English and traditional!

The small building is shown as a garden room. The custom table skirt is made from fabric and bullion fringe trim from Cowtan & Tout. The floral arrangement is silk and was custom made for this vignette. I just used these white majolica plates for my Christmas table on tartan place mats - timeless!

This is the front room of the main building. Note the beautiful French inspired dining table with the heavy wrought iron base. This table found a home in my client's wine cellar next to an antique wine barrel that I also sold to him. These dog prints are favorites of mine - I think they work equally well in traditional or transitional rooms. The curtains are hanging over the chair waiting to be hung.

The shop started out sort of sparse - but as you can see it rapidly started filling up.

Lesson: Interior design for the home is very different than for a store: more is much better!

A sweet vignette in front of the small building. The set of four plates have a different beehive scene on each plate. Nice for a ladies luncheon or brunch.

The shop has great exposure being located directly on the main road running through the Hamptons. Hard work displaying this everyday.

A very nice spot for lunch! Note the beautifully aged columns in the background.

Dog lovers will appreciate how wonderful these large dog prints are. Look at the expression in their eyes. These have somehow found there way into my own home flanking the fireplace!

These are our custom built huge cedar birdhouses. My talented friend who builds them is busy assembling one at a client's house. It is quite a bit of work as the birdhouse measures four feet high. He never looks very happy during the ordeal - but the end result is well worth the effort.

I start thinking about Christmas displays for the shop. You wouldn't think what is shown in this photo would amount to much! But it actually is how an idea starts - by falling in love with something - a fabric, a new piece of merchandise, a trim, pillow, or a rug. In this case it was this beautiful apple green velvet and a luxurious trim from Houles.

Merchandise starts arriving for the Christmas vignettes. Look how far they have come with the artificial greenery! (Required by fire codes)

And then we put it all together in a couple of long nights just in time for the holidays! Many of my favorites are shown here: I kept a set of these antique gilded quails for myself. Very reasonably priced at $25-$45 and I use them all year round. Also look at the beautiful set of Limoge plates - love the hand painted rim on the chargers. I like to think the table setting helped sell the dining table -which sold the next week.

All Christmas packages are wrapped like this for the holiday season. I love the combination of woody rustic with gilded anything!

Lesson: Don't become too attached to your store vignettes - they hopefully sell and then you start all over again!