Summer is always a favorite season at Casa Real. We love this garden. After the hail storm here in Knoxville in April, it was crippled. Mother nature has been a fast healer, and finally, in summer’s final days, it has become beautiful once again. Enjoy these photos of our little paradise in Summer’s final days.
Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category
Summer’s Final Days
Sunday, September 18th, 2011Christmas Party at the White House
Monday, December 6th, 2010
Wednesday evening, after having worked on the decorations for the past five days, all of the volunteers were invited to a reception at the White House. This would be the first of many holiday parties at the house this season. Mrs. Obama estimated that over 100,000 people would get to enjoy the decorations we had created.
The party started at 4:00, but we were told to gather near the entrance starting at 3:30. There was a large line at the entrance. About 500 people were invited to the party. In addition to the Christmas decorating volunteers, there are many others who volunteer at the White House through the year, and all those people were invited. Our id’s were checked four times, and we had to go through an airport-like security screening process to get inside. Ultimately, we entered through the East visitor’s entrance just as we had done every day before. The difference was this time we were guests and were allowed to actually sit on the furniture!
The party was spectacular to say the least. The house just glittered. Everything in the White House is perfectly cleaned and maintained, so in its Christmas finery, it really shined. I stopped to ask one of the housekeepers one day what was the secret to the deep shine on the marble floors, and the answer was clear. “We polish them every day.” With the amount of traffic through the house, this made sense. The movie theater was used as the coat check for the party. The first family can watch first run movies in the theater, and one day while working in the house, we saw Warner Brothers delivering current movies. The theater is a beautiful space luxuriously appointed in red velvet, and located along the East Colonnade.
The stage for the party was set in the Visitor’s Foyer where the male chorus from Princeton was singing. There were about 20 of them and the downstairs hall was filled with their voices. After that, I bumped into Santa who was welcoming people at the foot of the stairs going up to the main floor. I walked through all the rooms we had decorated on the lower level first. People were really enjoying themselves. There was a table set up in the Lower Cross Hall with wine, sparkling water, or champagne. The cocktail napkins were beautiful and had the Presidential seal embossed in gold. Upstairs in the main floor, the magic unfolded. As soon as you entered the Grand Foyer, you could hear the Marine Corps band playing swing style Christmas music in the East Room. It was such a festive atmosphere.
The foyer was magical with the giant urns filled with the Aspen branches we had decorated days before. The icy branches we wove into them just sparkled. There was another drink station set up in the Cross Hall with wine and water, and another one with coffee and hot chocolate. There were a few tall round bistro type tables set up in the grand foyer draped in red tablecloths. The flower arrangements in the Grand Foyer were small bouquets of red roses and coffee berries. Amazingly fresh was the only way to describe them.
Once you moved into the East Room, the scene was so festive. To the right was a station serving the richest eggnog you have ever tasted. Four round tables in the center of the room had beef tenderloin; pork tenderloin; a giant punch bowl filled with oysters on the half shell, shrimp, and crab claws; tiny roasted potatoes; white asparagus; fresh vegetables; and smoked salmon. There were homemade breads to put things on and amazingly delicious sauces. No surprise that everything you tasted was cooked to perfection…just as all the meals we had eaten there before were prepared. There was a table set up serving roast turkey…..the most perfectly browned bird ever. There was also a ham carving station here as well and there were dressing balls and cranberry sauce as well. For desssert, there were homemade Christmas cookies, apple pie, chocolate cakes, coconut cakes, and so many other things I can’t recall them all. There was also a full bar, and another station for wine and water. After you get all that delicious food in your mind, filter in the marine corps band, the four towering Christmas trees and wreaths on gorgeous mirrors, the beautiful golden silk draperies at the windows, and three enormous crystal chandeliers overhead and you have the makings of a magical event. There were countless butlers. These people made certain that no dish on the table was empty, and made certain that you had what you needed. Whenever a glass would be set down, it would magically disappear. Nothing ever ran out on the food tables. There was a constant flow of fresh goodies from the kitchen. The entire East Room scene was repeated again in the State Dining room….with the exception of the band.
In the Red, Blue, and Green rooms you could sit on all of the furniture. At 5:00 Mrs. Obama descended the Grand Staircase and addressed the crowd. She was so appreciative of the effort of all the volunteers. She talked about how so many of the states were represented. She talked about how proud we should be because of all the people who will enjoy the house during the holidays. She was certainly clear that this was not her house…..that it was the People’s house….and that EVERY American should be proud of it. After being in the house and seeing how many people it takes to run it…..butlers, cooks, housekeepers, janitors, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, Secret Service, photographers, and then on top of the the First Lady’s and President’s staff….it is very clear that it is not a private house. Mrs. Obama spoke for about eight minutes and then shook hands with many people in the audience. It was a great experience to see that these people are in fact real people.
We were at the party from about 4:00 to 6:00. About 5:50, the State Dining Room doors were closed, and they used the door closing to start ushering people out of the house. Eventually only the East Room was open, and it was closed by 6:15. The crowd slowly started to elave, and I would estimate that by 6:45 everyone was gone. It is a good thing because at 7:00 there was another holiday party at the house!
The entire experience was eye opening for me. The operation of the house is incredible. It is an entertaining machine. Everything is so beautifully maintained and cared for. Everything works like clockwork, and because so many of the staff have been there for so many years, it runs very smoothly. Everyone knows what to do and when to do it….and they do it with a sense of urgency and pride that is absent from lost of areas in our country’s work force. If every American could have this experience, they would change the way they think about the President’s life (maybe not the politics) and they would change the way they work.
High Point in October
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010Recently, I attended the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina. This is the showcase of everything new and exciting in the furniture and design business. Designers, buyers, retailers, and manufacturers all descend on this small town twice each year to see what everyone else is doing. For me, this is usually a source of great inspiration. This year, I left uninspired by what I saw…..but incredibly uplifted by who I met and got a chance to talk with.
One of the highlights of this market was meeting design legend Bunny Williams in the new showroom for her new product line, Bee Line Home. I am now carrying Bee Line home here in Knoxville thanks to my sales representative Roe Pitts. Bunny is truly an interesting person who has a unique perspective on design, and who has lived a life full of doing what she loves, and creating beautiful interiors along the way. Her classic book, “Affair with a House” is one of my favorites, and chronicles the evolution of her country estate. Her partnership with John Roselli in Treillage is also an incredible story of interesting travel and places…..again coupled with beautiful objects from around the world. Bee Line Home gives fans and consumers the opportunity to purchase some of her all time favorite pieces which she has beautifully reproduced.
Another highlight was meeting Alexa Hampton. I had met her a few years ago when she introduced her first collection for Hickory Chair. This time, she was autographing copies of her new book, “The Language of Interior Design” at the Visual Comfort lighting showroom. She has designed a collection for them that is beautifully chic…and of course, since it is from Visual Comfort, it is affordable. She is so gracious, and an inspiration to me knowing her history and the fact that her father, Mark Hampton, was one of the greatest designers of all time. The book is beautiful, and richly showcases many of her projects. The book is interesting because she speaks to so many different styles and can’t be categorized to one look. This is something I strive to do in my own work, and is the result of listening to what your clients have to say and to what they want.
The final highlight was meeting legendary designer Michael S. Smith and Elle Decor editor Margaret Russell at the Press Party in the Baker showroom. The showroom is of course unbelievably large and even more beautiful. They have created an entire Michael S. Smith home in the showroom to showcase his new product line for Baker. I have enjoyed watching his career develop….even before his most recent honor to design the private living quarters in the White House. It was an incredible experience to walk through his brilliantly laid out spaces and soak up inspiration. His look for Baker is classic but fresh at the same time. It walks a fine line between the 18th century and today. This is a tricky place to be because there has to be enough fresh elements to keep the look current….but at the same time has to referrence history enough to make the look classic. He is a master at this mix.
Old-World Style in a Farmhouse
Friday, October 15th, 2010Traditional Home is one of my favorite magazines. I have had a subscription since I was in college. Their outlook on design is much the same as mine. Classic interiors that are timeless. There are ways to make them feel fresh, and that is exactly what we do at Todd Richesin Interiors! They have just published another one of my projects in the November issue. We are happy they liked it as much as we did, and hope you will enjoy it as well. This is a farmhouse I designed for a couple with grown children. They wanted a home that felt grounded. That it had been in the spot for generations. We accomplished this by having an incredible builder, and by using some beautiful and unique antique elements, including a set of antique windows from a house in Provence. It is a one of a kind home, for a one of a kind family. Debbie, my client, is an amazing cook among other things, and she loves for the entire family to be there at the same time…..enjoying each others company, and making memories in a house that will be around for generations. They also breed and raise the most amazing horses. Irish Draught Horses. These are majestic animals, and what a perfect spot to do it. The entire project fits together perfectly…..just like Debbie’s family and those beautiful horses. Enjoy.
Read the entire article at http://www.traditionalhome.com/design_decorating/howwelive/farmhouse-style-renovation_ss1.html
Villas of the Brenta Canal
Friday, May 21st, 2010
Palladio's Villa Foscari or "Malcontenta"

The portico of the Villa Valmarana

Charming side porch of the Villa Valmarana in Mira

Side entrance of the Villa Valmarana

Canal view of the Villa Valmarana

Canal view of the Villa Pisani in Stra

Garden of Villa Pisani

The canal at Villa Pisani in the garden
Kindel – Hot Off the Dock!
Thursday, January 21st, 2010A favorite resource for custom products is Kindel Furniture Company. Their story is as interesting as their products. Started in St. Louis over 100 years ago, and still owned by part of the original founders, Kindel is considered one of the last great American furniture companies. Now located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they have a distinct ability to adapt to market trends while staying true to their values of quality and craftsmanship. They are delightful, friendly people, and their showroom is always one of my highlights at the High Point furniture market.
Kindel holds the license agreement to reproduce items from the world famous Winterthur Museum, as well as the license agreement to reproduce items from our founding president’s home, Mount Vernon. Recently, they have become famous for their work at the Greenbrier Hotel assisting in the restoration of the public and guest rooms. In order to do justice to the restoration of the Greenbrier, they have begun reproducing many pieces designed by the great Dorothy Draper, who set the standard for design in what the Greenbrier is today. A classic American decorator, her work was fresh and innovative at the time, and it still is today.
Kindel sends me regular examples of items they are preparing for shipment. It is interesting to see what they are doing and how other designers manipulate their products to become one of a kind items.
The trellis writing table is a great example of how Kindel can manipulate a product and change its look. This table was originally done in mahogany, but the white laquer makes it look totally fresh.
The two drawer console and curio is a fabulous Dorothy Draper piece. This can be done in any of their multitude of finishes, but imagine how “traditional” it would look in mahogany, how contemporary it would look in black, how Asian it would look in red. This is a great versatile piece with endless possibilities.
The Custom Mark round tables are fun and playful. Definitely not a design one would initially think of Kindel as producing.
The Townsend Tea Table is a classic Kindel piece, and harkens back to their roots as reproducing 18th century American antiques.
Faux Finish Expertise
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Photo shows a painted kitchen floor
We work with several different types of painters in the interior design business. Different jobs require different levels of expertise. A painter who is experienced at wall and trim paint, getting a silky smooth finish on woodwork, and walls free of drywall seams and nail pops is a wonderful thing, but he is probably not the person you want to do a decorative finish. My experience is that an expert in that area is very important. Faux finishing is a talent that requires years of experience to master. A professional finisher will know where to start with the finish, how long it will take him to complete an area, and where a safe place to stop finishing will be. You see, you can’t just stop for lunch anywhere along the way. Stopping points have to be calculated in advance or your stopping points will be visible in the finished product.
One faux finisher I work with regularly is Timothy Brown of Brown Studios in New York. He makes monthly trips to Knoxville to work on my jobs, and is considering moving here in early summer. Timothy’s work is world class. He was trained by another of my faux painters, Daryl Garrison, who is still practicing in Nashville, Tennessee. Timothy honed his craft under Daryl’s tutelage, and branched out to form his own company in New York. There, he has worked for many top interior designers and their major league clients. He has done work in the Kipps Bay Showhouse several times, worked with nationally recognized designer Eric Cohler, and his clients have included Katie Couric, Michael Douglas, and Katherine Zeta Jones. Following are a few images of Timothy’s talents.

A painted nursery floor

Layered blocks

Painted monogram

Painted stripes for a playroom

Black and white stripes

Kipps Bay Showhouse
As you can see from the above photos, Timothy’s talent extends far beyond “walls” and includes floors, ceilings, furniture, and decorative items. These are world class finishes by a fun and talented man. His precision is amazing. Who else could paint those perfect stripes with such detail? Look for more of Timothy’s work in the future.












































































