Client: sequins and fringe, part 2

“I’m hiring you right now to do the rest! I want it all to be beautiful!”

The rest meant the tiny kitchen, the living room, and her bathroom. 

She had brought furniture with her when she moved, but none of it made sense in the space. It’s a problem lots of people have when downsizing. They gather up either too much or too little and hope it will work.

“How involved do you want to be in the design?” I asked her.

“I don’t. Just make it look nice. And can I have a recliner?”

Working on her closet had given me a good idea of her style, so I knew the design needed to include bold colors. And something leopard.

She decided to donate the stuff that shouldn’t have been moved in the first place and just needed to go. Then, we brought in things she needed to feel at home–some color on the daybed, lamps, a bistro set for the kitchen. A recliner. Blue velvet. Curtains. Purple. A leopard ottoman. Fuzzy throw pillows. Yes! The room was starting to look like her.

I chose a dark green cover for the daybed because I could imagine her sitting there, with her much-younger boyfriend (yes. True story) radiant with her magenta hair against that jewel-toned backdrop. Killer.

I hung the art she hadn’t known what to do with, put shelves in the bathroom for her towels and toiletries, and organized the kitchen cabinets.

It was so joyful, so satisfying, to see her apartment become her home. 

Just a few weeks later, she ended up having to quarantine after a close exposure to Covid. “Thank you!” she said. “I couldn’t leave my apartment, but that was ok because I love it so much.”

I mean really. Does it get better than that?