On my kitchen shelf sits a blue, handmade clay teapot with a small crack in the lid.  I bought it about 25 years ago while shopping with my mom in Cold Spring Harbor, a small town in Long Island close to where I grew up.  A few years ago, I had taken it out to show her and realized the chip. I was devastated.   

I can clearly remember her reaction — one that I hadn’t expected.  Because she knew how important that piece was to me, she said gently, “It’s a teapot, not a person.”  

It’s crazy how one small chip can trigger such a strong emotional memory.

Embracing imperfections like this is at the core of Kintsugi — a Japanese mending process which translates to “golden joinery.” In this process, broken pottery is fixed with lacquer resin dusted or mixed with powdered gold, transforming an imperfection into something beautiful. 

Here at Fiori Interior Design, we believe your interior design choices have the power to do the same.

Antique items and heirloom pieces are often flawed — they’ve been around for generations, after all. But within these flaws is a story: every scuff, scratch or chip can reveal who, what, where and when they were used. In some situations, it may serve a space to highlight certain defects; in others, it may be best to have them reupholstered or refinished. Either way, there is often beauty and potential in flawed items, so don’t ignore them!

Stop hiding flaws in your home and start showcasing your imperfectly perfect items. In return you will be sharing your meaningful story.

Having trouble embracing imperfectly perfect items? We’re here to show you their potential AND how they can transform your home.

Contact us today to book a Discovery Call.

At Fiori Interior Design, we pride ourselves on designing homes that speak to the heart of every client. When we begin any new design, we ask our clients to show us objects that are meaningful to them. Oftentimes, these objects become our springboard into inspiring design.

Here are three unique ways we have begun a few of our interior design projects.

Hand-Crafted Items Can Be a Catalyst for Creativity 

Having worked with this client for over a decade, we were quite aware of her love for one-of-a-kind, handmade items.  When I presented this Fromental wallpaper to her, she fell in love with its hand-embroidered details and exquisite level of artistry. Following our V.I.B.E standard, we took an innovative approach and had the wallpaper adhered to individual panels. This allowed the client to have the panels taken down and removed, should they ever decide to move.

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Personal Pieces May Provide the Best Inspiration

Designing spaces with a personal touch is at the core of every project, so when this client shared a cherished piece of jewelry with us from her collection, we couldn’t help but be inspired by it. This particular item was specifically made for her by one of her favorite artists. Its beautiful details, vibrant colors and handmade craftsmanship inspired us to create a bespoke mosaic for her primary bathroom. Because this is still a work in progress, there will be more updates and photos to follow, so stay tuned!

Heirloom Items are the Perfect Details to Drive Design

The design we created for this living room was entirely driven by the embroidered sampler hanging on our client’s wall. Not only does it serve as an eclectic focal point in the room, but its history gives this space a personal touch — our client made it when she was 16 years old! Because her living room had heirloom furnishings that were well made and meaningful to her, the embroidered sampler influenced how we reupholstered each piece. Its subtle hues, playful shapes and mix of patterns wound up creating a relaxing but playful living room aesthetic.

Whether you want a room’s design to be inspired by an object you cherish or you’re simply ready to transform a space in your home, we’re here to make sure it speaks to your heart! 

What inspires you? Contact us today to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call!

We believe that every home should speak to our hearts — this means including those familial touches, heirloom pieces and hues that make you happy – objects that are meaningful to you and your family. Simply put, your home’s interior design should capture a V.I.B.E.™ (Vibrant, Innovative, Bespoke and Enchanting).

Today we’re sharing four ways to incorporate these elements into your home to create your unique V.I.B.E.™ !

Incorporate Vibrant Touches

Research has shown that saturated colors can energize a person’s mood, whereas muted colors are known to help you relax. We were hired to design a client’s living room with the specific purpose of hosting monthly meetings for professional women. The space needed to spark conversation and creative thought.

Tip #1: Start with your favorite piece of art. Add complementary pops of vibrant, saturated colors along with stimulating patterns.

Opt for Innovative Items 

A home should reflect the people who live in it and tell their story in a personal way. While artwork is a wonderful option, we advise (Tip #2) to think “outside of the box”. When a client asked us for a “family portrait,” we avoided the classic headshot route and instead asked each family member to “ink” their thumbprint. We then enlarged and then gilded each one, and had it framed. Above is the end result of a fun twist on a classic family portrait.

Create Meaningful Spaces with Bespoke Products 

Is there a particular piece that you have been searching for…forever? Tip #3: When you cannot find that perfect size, shape or color, it’s time to enlist the talent of a local tradeperson. At Fiori Interior Design, we’re all about working with local trades whenever possible. Thanks to our partnerships with a variety of local trades, we’re able to design one-of-a-kind heirlooms for our clients that are the perfect shape, size and design for them and their home. Plus, because these handcrafted items are well made, they can be enjoyed by generations for years to come. 

Enhance the Feel of a Room with Enchanting Pieces 

You and your family are unlike anyone else — we believe your home should reflect that. Whether that means incorporating flea market finds with finesse or highlighting special collectibles in a chic way, placing eclectic pieces throughout your home tells your story in a unique way. At FID, we love these eclectic touches – so much so that we leave behind handcarved mushrooms (made from local cherry trees!) at the end of every project. 

Tip #4: Visit your local flea market or antique shop and find that one piece that stops you in your tracks. Talk to the seller about the piece and find out its provenance. Your find can become that “story-telling” piece that will create conversation for years to come.

Ready to create a home you LOVE with an interior design V.I.B.E.™ that’s all your own? Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

3 Top Reasons Why We Need (now more than ever) to Plan Ahead!

And just like that January 2022 is behind us.  Although the future looks different for everyone, it’s been repeatedly proven that planning can help us cope with unforeseeable hardships in a healthy and stress-free way. Whether you’re planning to become an empty nester or to start a family, the time to plan for your future home is now, and here are three reasons why.

1. Meet Deadlines By Anticipating Lead Times

These days, it’s hard to know if — and for how long — a project may be delayed. 

In fact, upholstery orders are currently taking an average of 20 weeks to be fulfilled. (and that doesn’t factor in the shipping time!) To avoid this, utilize (shameless plug) an experienced interior designer who can help you visualize your overall home design. This will help you see the big picture, so you can establish a plan, get your orders placed and have the ability to install multiple rooms at once.

2. Cut Down on Construction Chaos 

Planning ahead can result in calmer, healthier lives; the road to designing one should be the same!  If you’re designing a bathroom, for example, we strongly advise not to initiate construction until all of the pieces have arrived and have been inspected.  This gives our contractors the time to block out and reserve space on their calendar and to be able to plan for any unforeseen issues.

3. Create Cohesion By Seeing the Whole Picture

When homes are designed in fragments, it results in disjointed spaces and differing styles.  To avoid this, it’s best to have a vision of your home in its entirety – even if you are not ready to implement it all at once.  This will ensure a seamless, fluid design that will serve your family’s needs for years to come.

Bonus Material:

Although you can’t predict the future, there are things you can prepare for, such as:

• Multiple Generations living under one roof

20% of homes in the US have more than one adult generation living under one roof, and if you think (or already know) your home could become a multi-generational home, it’s wise to plan for that now. Click here to see how I transformed my own house into a well-oiled multi-generational home.

• “Livable Design” aka “invisible” design

We can’t predict where our lives will bring us, but we can envision how we want our home to look and perform. These tips  can help you to stay in your home safely and easily for years to come. 

Let 2022 be the year you plan for you and your family’s future and prepare for the many curveballs of life.

Schedule a consultation today and get one step closer to making your future home a reality.