Interior Design with Julia Luttrell
Bringing the outdoors inside
Ah, to be a Northerner and know the privilege of a fresh spring morning walk along the lake. To watch last years� unearthed brown, mushy mattresses of leaves bring forth life after a long comatose sleep under a blanket of snow.
The newborn birch and pussy willow, the slate gray driftwood along the beach, the tactile, felt-green moss peeking through crevices of massive, ancient Canadian Shield rock, all ignite the imagination and stimulate creativity. Yes, nothing rivals the artful design of nature and making a fresh start is what it�s all about.
Take something as simple as a small piece of driftwood for instance. Place it on an oversized tray, surround it in river rocks and give nature a nudge with the addition of a shallow clay potted plant of fresh chives. Punctuate it with a few happy sprigs of purple crocus blooming in a simple tin pail. Set it on your kitchen island with a pitcher of fresh flowers and voila, the perfect supplication to spring, to celebrate this most welcome of all seasons.
Often the simplest idea makes the most dramatic impact, with the least effort. A favourite accessory of mine for instance, is an oversize ginger jar vase, filled with straight European willow sticks. Yet, what is it? A vase with sticks. Still, it�s elegant simplicity never fails when called upon to make an emphatic statement on the floor of a foyer, become the solitary focus on a sleek console table, or provide beautiful balance in an otherwise clumsy corner.
When it comes to the ultimate in elegant simplicity, God does it best, and bringing the outside in is a natural. Picture the potential usage of simple pebbles for example. Collect all those mismatched champagne and martini glasses of varying heights and shapes that you�ve no doubt accumulated over the years. Fill them with smooth polished stones, set a tea light in the centre of each vessel and arrange them in a grouping on a tray lined in black, polished river rocks. Fabulous!
You�ll have a dazzling array of dancing light to sit on your cocktail table as a subtle centrepiece. Better still, think of the fetching effect of sitting it on a vanity were its sensuous sparkle will be repeated in the depth of a bathroom mirror!
It�s tempting as Northerners, to take the bounteous beauty that surrounds us for granted. Daily exposure to the exquisite lakes, trees and rocks, can easily diminish their intricate design detail from our notice. To often, what we see is rocks, rocks and more rocks, and their potential power to move us, is missed. But what is a jewel other than a polished rock that in it�s raw, natural state, can be every bit as elegant as a diamond when given its space to shine.
I once designed a sumptuous Skybox at the Skydome in Toronto, which cost more than most people�s homes, yet among all that luxurious design detail, the one thing that drew the most admiring attention was a rock.
Shadowboxed in an oversized bull-nose frame with a wide, asymmetrical matte, I mounted a large chunk of raw amethyst, then lit it with a single pinpoint of halogen light. Giving it that respectful presentation gave it the museum quality dimensional heft and definition it demanded to become the star of the show.
So, do yourself a favour and take a walk on the wild side. Welcome the spring with a walk along the lake. Pocket a few pebbles, bring home some bark and branches and discover the delight of bringing the outdoors in, to create your own natural alter to natures� inspiration.
