Sunday, December 1, 2013

A Morning with Candice Olson.

As a welcome break from our demanding project schedule, Keely, my Design Associate, and I attend workshops hosted by our valued design partners. In November, we had the opportunity, through one of favorite vendors, Kravet, to meet Celebrity Designer, Candice Olson. The invitation only, morning meet and greet was well attended and held at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. On the ride down, clutching a copy of one of Ms. Olson’s books, Keely expressed how much she was looking forward to meeting her. And I must admit, I was more than a bit intrigued. After all, how often do you have the chance to meet a professional as well known as Candice Olson?

Before we could get settled in, she was standing right behind us awaiting her introduction. I was immediately struck by her down-to-earth demeanor, and her height, as she greeted guests on her way up to the stage. Relaxed, friendly and charmingly disheveled, her posture was in sharp contrast to the often times pretentious atmosphere involving the Mart’s self-proclaimed design elites. It was so refreshing to hear her speak of the important role of the Designer in the challenging process of construction and remodeling. After narrating several creative journeys through before and after images from her portfolio, Keely and I were so pleased to see that her presentation, and enthusiasm for her work was as authentic as her personality. Listed below were a few “take-aways” from our morning with Candice Olson.
 

-          It was interesting to hear that the television side of her career was much more difficult to manage than a typical remodel. It can take up to ten months to completely tape an episode. And to make it even more interesting, she described the challenge of fitting 10 months of design and construction activity into 23 minutes of actual on-air time.

-          She attributes much of her success to her ability to deliver finished interiors that reflect the actual needs and tastes of the client, rather than that of than her own. Relying on her experience and sound design principles to satisfy the needs of the client and project…even SHE needs to work around certain design elements deemed sacred by the client.

-          Her love of lighting comes from her years designing retail and commercial spaces, and she always includes healthy lighting allowances in her projects. She noted that she likes to light areas for a specific purpose and dramatic effect, rather than spread it evenly throughout the room. She went as far as to say that that if a room is not well lit, it’s not worth designing.

-          She expressed how difficult it can be to find a builder who understands design. Her general contractor and partner in her design/build company is her husband, she joked, “If you find a good builder, marry him.” Her team for both design/build and textile design is only 12 people, and everyone is expected at one time or another to do the “dirty-work” of design.

-          Her design philosophy favors clean lines, and striking focal points within a room. In her eyes the term “contemporary” is very different than modern. She likes to create rooms that feel comfortable and current, and above all leverage contrast.

-          After spending almost eight years hosting a design segment on local television, she was approached to do a show on a larger scale. However, she initially turned down several offers because the show concepts looked to over-dramatize the design process, rather than share with people the hard work that actually goes into thoughtful design.

-          And lastly, her inspirations from her fabric line are drawn from the fashion industry. She appreciates designing textiles she would actually use on a project.  

Once the presentation concluded, we had the opportunity to have breakfast and chat with Candice back at the beautifully updated Kravet-Chicago Showroom. All of this leading to the eventual Facebook/Instagram worthy snap shot with her. Needless to say, we’re so thankful to Kravet for the amazing experience. And for those of you who were wondering…Keely did get her book signed. Mission accomplished.
 
 

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