Harlem HOUZZ Tour

I don't usually post on the weekends, but I couldn't resist publishing this right away because I'm so excited! I recently wrote a quickie post on houzz.com, the site that allows you to find ideas from designers and DIY-ers all over the country. I'm so honored to share with you the wonderful story about our New York apartment (prior to our Austin move), Houzz Tour: Killy and Oliver's Hip Harlem Apartment: Color, Clever Storage and Editing Turns a Tiny Apartment Into a Gem, written beautifully by Houzz contributor Lily Gahagan.

This is by far the most in-depth look at our (beloved) former apartment, complete with small-space decorating tips and explanations of the driving forces behind our design decisions. Sending out a huge thank you to Lily and the Houzz team!

All photos by Frisson

Houzz in the House - Feeling the Love

I "discovered" Houzz a while back (read: I didn't discover it at all. Check out all the press). It's a great tool for collecting ideas, inspiration and finding designers by region, specialty, style or all of the above. You can browse around, make your own ideabooks (more than 130,000 have been created), share them with others or keep them for your own reference.

A few months ago I created a profile, hoping to drum up a little interest in Austin's Newest Interior Designer, and I have been overwhelmed by the response to my work. Subscribers have been saving my images in their own ideabooks, and Houzz contributors have illustrated their informative posts with some of my project photos, along with the work of other talented designers! Check out some of the recent stories:

Have Lemons? Make a Decorative Statement by Lily Gahagan
Bedding Trends: Tailored and Tucked In by Janell Beals
Keep Your Collectibles (Without Losing Your Sanity) by Lily Gahagan
Relax A Little – Home Decor Should Be Fun by Kerrie Kelly

Becky Harris' post, How to Turn Your Closet Into an Office, even appeared on SF Gate!

It warms my heart that others are finding inspiration in my work – thank you Houzz community! Whether you just moved, think you'll move, or are always on the lookout for new ideas to implement in your home (current, future, dream home, etc.), but clipping images from magazines sounds time consuming and space-eating, I strongly suggest you get on Houzz and make some ideabooks for yourself! They'll be saved in the cloud so you'll never lose them and they won't require filling an entire filing cabinet with ideas!

A New Look for The Studiolo!

First off, let me apologize for missing a post this week. We have been busy with storing our stuff, returning our moving truck, house hunting, getting new drivers licenses and handling logistical car stuff, and updating our portfolios to make the best impression possible for potential employers/clients, all while continuing work on some projects in New York. The weather has vacillated between 50 and and a balmy 75 degrees since we got here (a little colder at night), and we have eaten lunch outside for the last two days. In the sun. Without coats. We even slept with the window OPEN on Wednesday night! WA-HOO!

Onto the explanation of my brand-spanking new header and business cards! Before we left New York, we designed and printed up some new business cards for me (back to that whole making-a-good-impression thing) for when I do some networking in Austin. We started thinking about an identity for The Studiolo and sketching ideas months ago. I've had a bit of an obsession with the whole sunburst theme lately, and I was hoping to find a way to incorporate it into a logo. Initial ideas from my sketchbook:


After looking at those, Oliver hit the ground running with his own ideas:


You can see some Frisson explorations, as well as some unrealized custom lettering for Mara's calling cards.

And then he hit the jackpot with this sketch:


He tweaked parts of it in illustrator, but retained the hand-drawn feel with the final result. Once the plates were ordered, he marched off to The Arm in Brooklyn to letterpress them (his first time doing a two-sided card).


Oliver also designed the other side of the card to reflect some new information about Frisson (note the new Austin phone number)!


The Studiolo side was printed with Rhodamine Red and the Frisson side was printed using Delft Blue, both Pantone colors. We didn't have a chance to photograph the cards before we left New York, but Oliver's parents have a yard filled with spectacular trees, stumps, pine needles, pine cones and all sorts of other whimsical specimens to use for styling. I love how the natural elements contrast with the precise craftsmanship of the cards.

I promise to share some photos of our travels soon. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek of us the morning we left town:

Custom Armoire

Today I'm working in the office of a decorator for whom I've been doing freelance work for about a year. She brings me in to do drawings and custom millwork designs, which is fun for me because she has wonderful clients with great taste and oodles of money, so I get to play around with all kinds of interesting design options and materials. Earlier this week, I met the senior designer at a client's house for a little measuring and had the opportunity to quickly snap a shot of an armoire I designed and detailed out months ago. I wasn't involved in the production of it, so seeing the built version of something I'd only seen on paper was a hoot!

Here are the elevations I did:


And here's the finished product:


The piece turned out just as I'd envisioned it, from the dark stained oak frame and white lacquered doors to the proportions and the brass hardware.

Live on Facebook....

A shameless self promotion on Facebook about our new FRISSON website going live.