
Kips Bay Showhouse
Many people who have acquired an historic home approach living in it with reverence and a sense of homage. It is wonderful that you have a healthy respect for the home and its history, but unless you are moving into a significant property in your community, respect but not reverence is the way to go.
I have no problem with someone deciding to paint the dining room raspberry if it works for them. As I have said many times, your house usually has had many different owners with varied tastes, and your history is no less important.
Every generation has its own opportunity to make “contemporary” additions in structure or design and your generation is no different.
So paint any color that makes you happy. Design your house to become a beloved home that reflects YOUR beliefs, heritage and aspirations.
Now go out there and make some history….of your own.

“Forget about other people’s styles. What do you love about yourself? What do you want to learn about yourself? What parts of your soul need to be expressed and set free into the world? With these words award-winning interior designer Xorin Balbes invites us to make of our homes — whether large or small, luxurious or simple — a sacred space in which we can grow and flourish, a true “ SoulSpace.” He invites ourselves to know exactly what we need to thrive and to experiment, if we are still learning to listen to own inner voice, to “move the couch a hundred times if you have to until it feels just right, until our whole being can resound with a strong and confident yes to our environment.”
I am often asked to come to someone’s home after they move and place pictures, furniture etc. I use a simple formula for all decisions concerning placement of anything in any room. First and foremost is the objects importance to the homeowner. Why do they have it? Is it a family piece or something they bought when the kids were little? After we determine its emotional importance in their lives we either discard it or place it in the order of its importance. When we are done, most times this results in a new house becoming their home. The emotion with which you associate certain pieces is a natural elimination process. Its important for the home to reflect the clients life and loves. I recently had to opportunity to help a dear friend with thier new move. The house they are temporarily renting was not their first choice but time constraints made it more appealing as the days passed in their hunt and in they moved. As we worked on placing pictures, photo’s and furniture. I was struck by the small story attached to each piece. “My daughter painted this her first year in college”,” Uncle George gave us that”, and “This was my Grandmother’s bible”. Almost each piece had a story or thread woven into this very special families life and the house flew together. (Easy for me to say, I just pointed as I sat, they had to lug the boxes up and down the stairs and unpack everything) My point to this tale is simple, your home should be a emotional touchstone of your families life. It should reflect through its objects that are around you the collective history of the the occupants. A designer should only act as a navigator through this and help you as the homeowner find that perfect place where your beloved item is seen everyday.






Many times a curator or designer is asked to “bridge” the different periods that the history of a house spans. They often have to choose which part of the house is most reflective of the period for which it is known and often this is the period of the greatest physical expansion of the home due to the means of its owners at the time. You have the option of blending the various periods together and taking the different architectural aspects of the rooms by letting them lead you to the “interpretation” of that space—for instance, a 1780 home that in 1870 had a front porch added complete with gingerbread, but left the 18th century kitchen hearth intact. Two very different spaces yet giving the designer and or curator the option of white wicker furniture on the front porch and an 18th century farm table and cupboard in the kitchen. These are solutions that private home owners come up with all the time and they work beautifully. I love homes and museums that give a very clear depiction of the various periods the house has lived through. Historic homes really do reflect the truth of life, good and bad, flush or famine they reflect within their walls the truth and history of the families that have lived there. Just like a fascinating 90 year old who has witnessed and experienced so much and if we are lucky, gives us the privilege of learning from them.
I recently was given the opportunity to consult on the ongoing restoration of the Commandant’s house at 8th and I in Washington, D.C. On one level (professional) this was exciting though I have done other significant historical restoration projects, yet on another level (personal) this was perhaps the greatest thrill of my career.
