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Designer Sketch: Allison Jaffe
An Austin interior designer shares a new contemporary kitchen and how she uses technology to design
Registered interior designer Allison Jaffe takes inspiration from many sources, including her town of Austin, Texas, her clients and even antiques. "As a child, I remember being dragged around by my mother to the Austin Antique Mall on weekends when I would've rather been doing something else," she says. "But now I spend time with my mom strolling down aisles and aisles of antiques, learning about their history from her and the sellers, and talking about authentic finds with value versus knockoffs. The whole experience has enriched my professional life as an interior designer."
Houzz profile: Allison Jaffe
Houzz profile: Allison Jaffe
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| What's a recent project that you're still excited about? I completed a project in Rising Hills a few months ago, and I'm still basking in the afterglow of the project. We took a 1980s kitchen and transformed it into a gorgeous, family-oriented space for function and entertainment. The family room is visible from the kitchen, so there's always a sense that no one is too far away and is always within plain view. Yet each space is clearly defined and has its purpose. The use of natural materials like travertine, onyx and glass creates a warm and inviting environment, while the strong contemporary lines of the space lend itself to a transitional style of design. |
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| Is everything in your design process digital or do you draw by hand? I have yet to draw by hand; I love that everything is digital nowadays. I think designs look cleaner using digital software, and nothing gets lost because it is all neatly stored on my computer or hard drive. |
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I utilize CAD for drawing floor plans and elevations and Google SketchUp for renderings of projects. I grew up in an age of technology, so it only makes sense that I operate my business in the same manner. I get a good laugh when someone asks me if they can fax me something. Who uses faxes nowadays? Most of my correspondence with clients are either digital files or scanned printed materials; it just makes more sense to send and store everything digitally. This image is my digital board for the Rolling Hills project.
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| This image shows the actual execution of the living room. I love this room because it utilizes a number of gray-based neutrals that are very on trend. The room comes alive with splashes of orange, peacock blue and chartreuse accessories and pillows. I love how this room also gives a nod to Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year, Tangerine Tango. |
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What are you working on now?
A kitchen and bath remodel in Westlake, Texas. The house is quite collected, but I'd like to inject some warmth into the space.
A kitchen and bath remodel in Westlake, Texas. The house is quite collected, but I'd like to inject some warmth into the space.
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Which iconic designer would you have liked to work with?
I would have loved to have worked with William Morris, the iconic 19th-century English textile designer and artist. Even my business card holder has one of his famous wallpaper designs on it. I love wallpaper, and his prolific designs and use of color are still relevant in today's market.
I would have loved to have worked with William Morris, the iconic 19th-century English textile designer and artist. Even my business card holder has one of his famous wallpaper designs on it. I love wallpaper, and his prolific designs and use of color are still relevant in today's market.
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Who do you admire?
Jeff Lewis is someone that people are talking about today, and for good reason — I love his sense of style, and he has done a great job educating the television audience about the hard work that happens behind the scenes when running a design firm. A lot more people know that being an interior designer goes beyond selecting pretty things in a room; there is a lot of time and hard work involved when working on a project and seeing it through until the very end.
Jeff Lewis is someone that people are talking about today, and for good reason — I love his sense of style, and he has done a great job educating the television audience about the hard work that happens behind the scenes when running a design firm. A lot more people know that being an interior designer goes beyond selecting pretty things in a room; there is a lot of time and hard work involved when working on a project and seeing it through until the very end.
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| Which city has inspired your work? Being that I am from Austin, Texas, I don't see myself living anywhere else; this city is so incredibly inspiring. Austin is one of the most amazing cities in the United States; it's an incredible town that has a healthy mix of government, technology and education. And the landscape is so picturesque; we are nestled in the Texas Hill Country and a branch of the Colorado River, which makes for spectacular sunsets and highway drives. What else inspires you? I let my clients be my inspiration. The clients I have worked with are so uniquely different from each other. We as designers must remember that we are not designing for ourselves — we are designing for our clients. In every project, my clients inspire me with their culture, passions and life experiences. I definitely have my own set of personal interests, but it is not for me to inject them into my design for my client. What I bring to the table is my experience and knowledge of design. Find an interior designer or architect More Designer Sketches: Susannah Devine Davis Noel Cross Danielle Wallinger |
Comments
Casart Coverings Very interesting post and profile. I like learning about interior designers and what inspires them. I learned from a Charlotte Moss "talk" that she gave yesterday (she doesn't call it a lecture because she says that is what her mother used to do to her), that among many places that she's visited and people she admires, she derives most of her inspiration from beautiful, sometimes every day objects that bring value to her life. Austin is a great artistic town for inspiration too!
13 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on April 17, 2012.
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