An Interview with Glenna Stone, Interior Designer

During times of uncertainty, it’s important to find leaders who continue to move forward.

Glenna Stone of Glenna Stone Interior Design, is such a leader. She is using her time at home to create new opportunities for her clients and her team.

“We have all been so busy and rushed before all this. Now, we have a chance to slow down and decide what matters.”

“We are taking the opportunity to work with our clients to define what they love and because they have the time, they are enjoying the process.”

Our clients enjoy the fact that they now have the time and the energy to focus on completing their projects. They no longer make knee-jerk reactions due to the stress of their own work deadlines.

She also notes that everyone she is working with is enjoying the extra time spent with children as a family. Her clients are treasuring this time and working the ideas that emerge from these experiences into future home designs such as places to play games, planning outdoor spaces for gathering around fires for storytelling, etc.

Using Zoom meetings, she has moved seamlessly from live meetings to remote with hardly an interruption.

Glenna provides her clients with a defined process as well as important tech tools that move the engagement forward. These include measuring tools, instruction on how to photograph/video a room or a home, and resources for ways to use space in multiple ways.

Her clients love the convenience of meeting from their home. They receive the same process in every way that includes personal conversations, definition of the work, creating a mood board with colors, textures, lighting, fabric choices – all these delivered by mail or dropped off.

“I love the magical process of design where we start with an idea and work collaboratively to create spaces that are a reflection of the client”

Glenna can be reached at [email protected]

The Colors of Spring

Spring is finally here and the flowers are all starting to bloom. As mother nature begins to awaken from winter and spread color across the earth, why not join in the fun? Here are the top 2016 spring colors. You can expect to see them in clothing and accessories before they make there way into home accents. And with Benjamin Moore’s selection on Simply White as their color of the year, these fun colors are a great way to brighten up a neutral space without making a huge commitment. Happy Spring!!

 
 

The Importance of Color in the Workplace

What is the importance of color in the workplace? We focus a good deal on color (we are a painting company after all), but it really is one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make when setting the backdrop for your home or office space. We recently purchased an office (which happens to be a converted three-story brick home), and took great care when choosing colors for each individual office.
Today we will take a closer look at one office transformation. The initial space was a two-tone purple with a glossy finish that was overly stimulating on the senses. After careful consideration of the natural light as well as the newly installed LED lighting, we selected a light and airy gray that sets a very calm tone in the space. Now, upon entry, the subconscious reaction is to exhale and relax (as opposed to holding your breath in shock when entering the purple space).
Do you have a space in your home or office that doesn’t truly reflect the tone you were hoping to set? A change of color may be all it takes to go from drab to fabulous.

Decorating for the Seasons

Decorating for the seasons is a great way to brighten your home and to get in the holiday spirit.
I came into work this morning and discovered this little guy on my desk. Of course, my first thought was to give him a face.

 

 
Fall is such a beautiful time of year, especially on the East Coast, so why not take your cue from Mother Nature and bring the splendor of the changing seasons into your home.  A few quick and inexpensive updates can have a big impact. Some suggestions include adding a fall wreath to your front entrance, changing out the decorations on your mantle (flowers, candles, mini pumpkins, etc.) or picking up a new runner for your dining room table.

What’s Your Design Philosophy?

During a recent trip to Phoenix, Az for a painting convention, I chose to use my few free hours on Sunday afternoon to visit Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s final residence. I knew a bit about him upon my arrival, but was astounded by the details of his life and career as recounted by an architectural student/guide on my 90-minute tour. After five years in the painting and decorating industry I walked away with a whole new outlook on design. What’s your design philosophy?
First and foremost – you don’t have to be a designer to have a philosophy on design. Frank Lloyd Wright believed that everyone’s home should be a reflection of you as an individual – a “mini museum” if you will. He also believed that form and function can and should co-exist, using nature as his proof that this is an achievable goal. Lastly, he always emphasized the use of natural light, for there is nothing more flattering and believed it should be taken advantage of to the fullest.

So how does this translate into the world of painting and decorating? Well, without a clear vision as to what inspires you, it can be difficult to create a living space that is inspiring. We often do this subconsciously, but if you truly take the time to figure out what you love most and find a way to incorporate it into your everyday life, every time you walk into your bedroom, family room, kitchen, etc, you will do so with a smile (or a sigh of relief as you finally crawl into bed at the end of the day).
So where do you begin? If you have a piece of artwork or a collection you would like to display, you can start there, but choosing a paint color is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make when trying to establish your tone. It can be used as a subtle backdrop for everything else you plan to fill the space with, as an accent to define a specific area you would like the focus to fall upon, or the color/finish can be the focal point in itself. Whatever the case may be, keep in mind the natural light in the space, and how it changes throughout the day. Use a light color to brighten up a space with minimal natural lighting, or a deeper shade to absorb excess light.
The key is to be patient with the process, taking the time to really determine how you want to feel in each room in your home. Then, choose what’s right for you, keep it simple and make it beautiful. Til next time . . .
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John Neill Painting Service Areas: Philadelphia, The Main Line, Center City Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd, Gladwyne, Narberth, Penn Valley, Merion, Wynnewood, Ardmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Villanova, Wayne, Devon, Berwyn, Paoli, Malvern, Chester Springs, Newtown Square, West Chester, Blue Bell, Gwynedd, Jenkintown, Rydal, Meadowbrook, and Chestnut Hill.