Yes, even the life of a popular, hardworking designer can get caught up in drama.
If you follow me on social media, you saw that last week I was the topic of conversation by a local community “advocate.” She stated that I recently got handed a job by Columbia County due to my personal friendships with top local officials.
I was mildly offended and somewhat amused that it was overlooked that maybe I got the job for my talent, value and customer service.
I get many great residential design jobs due to my private associations, but commercial jobs are always scrutinized much further than simply saying, “Let’s hire that fun, talented guy!” I sponsor many local fundraisers with my money, talent, time and store products, so I meet a lot of people that find interest in my work.
And, as I live in a big, small town, referrals are plentiful!
As it turned out, the attention I received from the social media post was tremendous, and I got much support from the community! The post was taken down as it backfired on the “advocate,” and she made a further post that her statements were probably incorrect.
So, let me share this fun project!
I was alerted that Columbia County was looking to refresh the lobby area of the Savannah Rapids Pavilion (SRP). I have always enjoyed going to functions at this special venue and I have noticed that the lobby furniture was looking dated and worn. So, I was happy to offer a bid to the county to replace the furnishings. And, as I live and work in Columbia County, I took great pride in being able to offer great design and value to my community.
I met with a county employee and manager of the SRP and we walked through the lobby and discussed the issues. Here are some images from that day. My aunt and uncle from Kentucky were visiting, and I took them with me so you will see them in the photos.
As you can see the rug and furniture were dated, dark and a little worn. The fireplace, in tones of gray, is the focal point, of course, and the beige and gray tile floors is a very strong detail.
I had to think of a way to “marry” these beige and gray tones. Considering the venue sits within a lush landscape on the Savannah River, I also considered that organic flavor as my theme. And, as I perused options for this project, I took much time looking for great value from my many vendors.
First, I found a great rug that was made from polypropylene. This meant that it was inherently fade- and stain- resistant and easy to clean. Considering this was such a high traffic area, this fiber was perfect. The rug had both beige and gray tones, so it pulled the fireplace and the floor together well.
Photo by Michael Siewert.
I wanted the sofa to be lighter than the brown that was currently there, and I wanted to stay with a leather so it would wear well. As caramel-colored leather is very trendy right now, I had many options to choose from.
The leather color I chose really worked well with the caramel colors of the tile floor.
Next was the coffee table. Here is where I could create a theme and make a statement. I found this great root table that offered great brown and gray tones. Its organic flavor worked really well!
I then found a deep gray striped performance fabric chair that had a firm seat cushion. It pulled the deep gray stones from the fireplace and added depth to the room.
A simple wooden drum end table between the chairs and this all made for a coherent and inviting furniture group! The much lighter and modern design makes a great statement as one enters the lobby. The clean and simple design allows the fireplace to pop much more than it did before!
I am kind of proud of this job, can you tell?
