On the tack board above my desk is a copy of "Do Not Trust the Eraser", by poet Rosamond S. King. It is a beautiful reminder that art is iteration. Some days I miss the rolls of trace paper and felt tip pens, and although our design tools change and progress, the importance of iteration in the design process remains steadfast. I often explain to clients, "test fit number one is never the final answer".
When the idea to write about the benefits of interior plants first came up, we were in the throes of winter, stuck inside. Outside my window I was staring at nothing but piles of icy snow with dead, bare branches poking out sadly from beneath. As the temperatures dropped, daylight dwindled, and the promise of spring seemed out of reach, the thought occurred to me that bringing some cheerful greenery into my home office would be a simple yet effective way to beat the winter blues.
One of the core values of Stibler Associates has always been giving back to our profession and to the communities where we live, work and play. This part of our value statement isn’t just something we put on the website. It is something we strive to practice every day.
Learning interior design is like learning a new language. There’s much to absorb, and it seems impossible to retain all the information. It is a complex occupation that requires me to speak with this new vocabulary and, as much as I love it, it’s hard to truly understand without jumping straight into the design field.
As I write this article, I look at all the technology in our office that did not exist when I started my first job at a Boston architectural firm back in 1983. The drafting tables are gone. I now sit (and stand) at an adjustable desk with 2 monitors.
In 1984, I enjoyed 60 hours of flight training in a Cessna 156. While I decided not to pursue a license, I took some valuable lessons with me to the position of CEO for a dynamic, growing design firm.