Yay! It’s Friday. That means it’s the weekend and it’s time for some musings from our friend Jim Williamson of ID Collection. I spent the holiday in Dallas at the “palace,” which is what an East Coast vendor thought we all called our homes here. Long story, but at that time we were working on several projects overseas, which just happened to include a few palaces. So when she kept hearing, “I need this for that palace and that for this palace,” she just assumed that is what Dallas folks called their homes.
My “palace” consists of oh about 1,300 square feet—about the size of some closets I’ve seen. My digs include a fab chair and ottoman from Scott + Cooner that are now the most expensive scratching posts ever, a guest room that has no bed, and patio doors that could use replacing. Doesn’t that sound swanky?
The first time the bf came over, he couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you in the showroom business? Shouldn’t this place be pristine?” What can I say? I like to leave my work at the office. (If only that were true—darn you iPhone for being so handy and useful.) And the truth is, my place was pristine—for about two seconds— when I renovated the space. (Everything but those darn doors!)
Has it really been five years? Before that, I was someone who moved at least every two years for no particular reason. I’ve lived in everything from a converted warehouse loft in downtown Houston (home to some particularly awesome parties) to a leaky old house on Bowser, where every time you jumped in the pool, the pool came off on your feet. My first apartment out of college was in Macon, Georgia. It had the original 1970s wallpaper with a dark background and head-size orange and yellow flowers that went nicely with the brown shag carpet. I still have nightmares about it.
As I look around my place, it occurs to me that it has started looking like a well-worn suite at the SLS. A scratch here; a stain there; suitcase marks on the walls over there. But now that I’m in a new LTA (living together apart) situation, do I redo my place? Redo his place? Redo both places?
This brings me to George Smith, a fine furniture maker in England for more than 150 years. It looks great, and it’s comfortable, and I need it in my space—wherever that space maybe. Because let’s face it, when you want to eat carbs and watch some reality TV with your co-habitator, that modern sofa with the pricey mohair sure looks good. But other than that, there’s not much going for it. But this couch is divine, and I’m inspired to start looking for my own new comfortable sofa that will be ideal for both one or two.
