Swan Detail
I have a client who loves swans. Well, I guess I should say I inherited a client who loves swans. She was originally the client of a seasoned local designer who was my friend and colleague and when her health no longer permitted her to finish the client’s bathroom, I was asked to step in.
The entire bathroom is beautiful but the crowning touch is the etched glass shower panel of a swan in a pond. Difficult to photograph but worth the wait the swan stands proudly in this small room.
The next project on the docket was to install a hand rail at the step down leading to the living room. The original idea was a wood railing but the more we discussed our options I kept coming back to the swan. In the end we installed a brass railing, typical in other parts of the building, and in place of stiles we installed glass panels with, you guessed it, swans!
The panels are clamped in so at any time they can be removed if needed for cleaning or to change them out in the future. But the solid brass railing remains there to safely assist homeowner and guests in and out of the living room.
A few years later, when I thought we had done all we could with swans, my client came to me to assist her in replacing her dining room rug. Keeping in mind that the room was also designed by my collegue which meant furniture, wallpaper, layers of draperies, lighting and an oriental rug in colors you don’t normally see in that type of rug. But perfect for the colors of the room. So changing it out meant finding a rug that complemented the rose, teal, ivory color scheme already in place.
I approached Masland Rugs as I have in the past to inquire about having a rug manufactured because we could select the design and the yarn color. Somewhere in the design process I may have mentioned how great it would be to look through the glass top dining table and see a swan in the rug. Suffice to say there was no turning back; I made the suggestion and now I had to make the rug. I don’t think Masland Rugs took us seriously at first, but as the details unfolded they were on board and produced a stunning rug with a ribbon like border and a swan in the middle. My only regret was that I couldn’t be there when it was delivered and by the time I did arrive they had put all the furniture back so I have no photo of the entire rug.
Design will continue to enhance this home when needed but never without a swan detail involved.