Pilgrimage to a Design Mecca

I was working on my first free-lance newspaper article called Old Things, New Use. Part of the research included an interview at the home of interior designer Todd Richesin.

My “don’t screw-up…don’t screw-up” mantra faded away as I drove up to a beautifully appointed French-style house. Looking over at the passenger seat, I took stock of the things I would need to conduct the interview.

Notepad? Check! Pencil? Check. Camera? Check!

I was glad to have a camera with me to help remember everything I was about to see. In fact, I probably looked at that camera like Ralphie looked at his Daisy Red Ryder BB gun.

I couldn’t wait to get inside.

Summoning my cool, I rang the bell and was escorted into the foyer. Two steps in and I knew I was in for a treat. Focusing on the conversation was a challenge as my eyes scanned the curved staircase and custom ironwork and woodwork in just the entry way.

We walked through the entire house and the garden. Todd showed me ways he had repurposed beautiful items in his home. I took notes and pictures.

At one point, my sizeable loner camera thumped me hard on the stomach. (Todd had run upstairs to get something, and while he was gone I found myself involuntarily jumping up and down and clapping).

Needless to say, the whole thing was really fun.

I used a few photos for the article, but got permission from Todd to post some of the other photos here. I wish I had taken more (and better) pictures, but I am limited by my mediocre photography skills and self-diagnosed ADD. Wait. What are we talking about?

Oh yeah, here are some pictures from my mini pilgrimage to a design Mecca.

 These are actually hand-painted shades that hung at a former Bobby Todd Antiques store location. When they no longer needed them, they cut hem off and had them framed into artwork.

An architectural piece of a column was turned into a table.

Richesin found an ornate headboard that he loved, but it was too small. So he added part of the original headboard to a larger headboard he had custom-made.

I never would have thought of using hats with a mirror and little horns for above a bed, but it looked fabulous.

Columns from an historic building stand in their garden. What a fabulous place to throw a party!