Inside the Designer's Studio

"I pride myself on creating interiors that, while always stylish, also fit the needs of those who experience the daily routines and celebrations of life within the home. I firmly believe that no matter how lovely and inviting the end result might be, if it doesn't function for the people it serves, it is not a success. My greatest satisfaction is when clients tell me how their new space affects the way that they live. In short, I help create beautiful homes and gracious living, without the velvet ropes."

-Scot Meacham Wood

Perfect design philosophy.  

I would like for you to meet my friend Scot Meacham Wood.  Scot is the great San Francisco based interior designer and stylist behind the fabulous blog Tartanscot.  I have had such fun getting to know him.  We share Southern roots, an enjoyment of opera, similar design philosophy--and a sense of humor!    

  

An interview with The Tartanscot just wouldn't be right if it didn't have a few giggles, so without further ado, may I present 

Granny Smith Green's 

INSIDE THE DESIGNER'S STUDIO:  

Scot Meacham Wood 

Photographs interspersed below are of Scot's amazing work.  The photographs were taken by Nicolas Smith and Eric Tagen Hooten.  They were kind enough to even give us a "behind the scenes" look at photographing Scot's own place.  Thank you all very much for your beautiful work.

(One credit exception is to the photograph of Ward Gardner's room at GlenFeshie Lodge.)    

What is your favorite word?
“magic”









What sound do you love?
"harmony"

What smells do you enjoy?
"Oddly, I have no sense of smell. I think it’s genetic on my Mother’s side of the family. I’ve never been able to smell, so it’s not like I miss having it. It did mean that the cat box was in my bedroom for a while when I was growing up. lol, really."

What profession other than design would you like to attempt?
"In a different version of my life . . . I would like to work in Hollywood in set design . . . but, since that’s ‘still’ design, I do have a distant dream of owning a bed and breakfast in Scotland. and I make a damn good scone."

This is in his kitchen.  How warm and inviting.

Behind the scenes

When we get to Heaven, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
“You made the right choice.”

Do you have any bumper stickers on your car?
"Just the Scottish flag."

What's on your iPod?
"Good grief, everything. Crazy dance music that I use when I run, crunchy-folk music when I’m at my desk, what ever opera production I’m in, and some broadway. Oh, and some classical." 

You grew up in Mississippi.  How does being a Southerner affect your design work?
"It definitely gives me a certain sense of formality in my work. And an understanding of the need for hospitality within each project. I do an extensive interview with new clients about how they use their home . . . and an understanding of how and when they entertain is very important. I remember a great residence that I worked on a few years ago . . . I was chatting with the couple about their lives and how they use the different rooms in the house . . suddenly the husband said of the living room, 'I want a place that when we get home from work, we can share a glass of champagne before we go out for dinner.' I saw the completed room in my mind almost immediately."

What's your favorite city in the world and why?

"London. the energy. the great style. the history. the architecture. the art and museums. and the shopping."

Why did you choose to become an interior designer/stylist?
"Like many designers, I kinda fell backwards into design as a career. I had studied design in college, but started working in retail (Creative Services for Polo/Ralph Lauren for 14 years) after moving to San Francisco in the late ’80’s. The entire time I was working for Ralph Lauren, customers were constantly asking for design assistance in their homes. After leaving Polo in 2001, I just called several old customers, and luckily, started working on a few project almost immediately. The rest, as they say, is history. lol."

What was the last thing you had to eat? 

"Most likely, my most recent meal was oatmeal with almond butter stirred in or Mexican food."

Do you have a favorite interior designer?
"Several ; Michael S. Smith, Daryll Carter, Martha Agnus, Mark Hampton, Ward Denton, Thomas O’Brien."

Is there a certain order you follow? (First the lighting, second color, mood, flow, etc.)
"I almost always start with textiles and space plans. Then floor coverings and artwork."


Care to share a favorite inspiration picture? What grabbed you?
"Ward Denton’s work at GlenFeshie Lodge in Scotland. Never could quite decide if I’d rather live here . . . or have worked on the design project."

Denton Gardner at Glen Feshie

The famous folks dinner party question--who's dining with you? (I'd better be included! ha!)
"Wow. This is gonna be random . . .
my beloved Granny Smith Green.
Meryl Streep (I have always wanted to meet her)
Evelyn Waugh (we’d have a long Brideshead chat ahead of us)
Stacy and Clinton. (from WNTW. just for comedy)
Cecile Beaton"

Describe your ideal interior.
"Warm, dark, inviting, comfortable"

Tartanscot's own living room.  

Perfect for this very talented gentleman.

Getting the shot just right.

Lovely detail photo.  Just look at that lamp!

Do you have a design motto?"

"No project is complete until the clients are *truly* living in the space"

Warm and inviting-just like him.

Thank you so very much to Scot Meacham Wood for sharing of your time and talent with all of us.  Please visit Thane Studio for more inspiring information.  Also, see the San Francisco Examiner for a great article on Mr. Wood.  We can't wait to see more!

Like what you saw?  Let me know with your comments.  Better yet, let Tartanscot know--and wish him a Happy National Tartan Day!

Big Announcement...

Guess who's coming to Granny's?

I'm so excited to announce that Tartanscot is coming to visit the Granny Smith Green blog!

I don't want to give away too much, but we are going to have a roaring good time.  

Just imagine GSG as James Lipton or better yet...

I have a blog crush and yes, I'm excited.  

Check back soon!

April Food Day

Don't you just love the thoughts of sitting down to a delicious meal? I sure do.

How many people can't do that these days? More than you think. I was very surprised that at a local church food bank. There were church members taking advantage of the services. They used to be the ones stocking the shelves and the freezer.

I think the blogging world is pretty amazing. Want to see what a community of internet folks can do to feed America? I'm game!

Everyday, the news is filled with the dire news about the current economic climate and a lot of us use the blogging community to take a break from the constant drumbeat. However, we can not ignore the fact that friends and family members, and even some blogger friends have lost their jobs because of the recession.

People who never had a worry in the world now have to think about where their next meal is coming from. People who never would have dreamt that they would need help are now showing up at the local food banks. But when they get there, the shelves are bare. There is not enough food being donated to meet the sudden rise in demand. There is not enough money to buy the food for the food banks. There is not a general understanding that food banks need help to help fill their shelves.

Former advertising executive, Chris Cox, the editor of Easy & Elegant Life, and fundraising professional, Meg Fairfax Fielding, editor of Pigtown*Design, have teamed up to create a blogger action day on April 1, 2009, which we are calling April Food Day – Bloggers Fighting Hunger.

We are asking our fellow bloggers to create a post about this project and ask each of you to make a contribution to Feeding America (formerly Second Harvest), a national food bank with 200 member banks across the country.

Every dollar contributed provides seven meals or 10 pounds of food. A gift of $25 provides 75 meals. If we all post together and ask our readers to make a contribution on April 1, we can make a huge difference in our communities.

To DONATE NOW, CLICK HERE.

Don't want to do cash, but have a stocked pantry? Donate food to a local food bank of your choice. Find one near you by CLICKING HERE.

Happy April FOOD Day Everyone!

You Never Get a Second Chance

(Tria Giovan)

I'm thinking of having the front door painted.  I've always had a stained door so this is a big change for me--and I don't do change very well.  My set up would be similar to the door shown above.  I'll have a glass door with a solid door behind it.  I've thought it would be fun to have a punch of color  in the foyer.  Blue, green, red...humm, I just don't know.

For fun, here are a few pictures of lovely "first impressions".  Enjoy.  

(photo: Pieter Estersohn; designer: John Bobbitt)

No color needed here--just oxygen.  I've gasped it all away!

(Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn)

What an interesting mix.  Traditional, contemporary, coastal, early American.  Anything goes.  Stained door.  

(photo: Jean-Francois Jaussaud; stylist: Emile Yannoukou)

Any one want to move in with me?  Looks like there will be plenty of room! (oxygen needed here too!)  Stained door--ugh, I'm so predictable!

(photo: Mark Lohman; stylist: Cynthia Marks)

Stained door, again! Casual, warm and welcoming.  This is a "take your shoes off" kind of house.  

 

Yes, I know, I'm GSG and this is a green door, but isn't it great!  I'm leaning this way.  That is until I see something like this:

Decisions, decisions.  

Alright blog friends, what kind of door do you see for GSG's future?  I'm all ears.  

Lovely Luxurious Linens

Who doesn't want to fall into this bed?

I can't begin to tell you how the peace and serenity of it is calling my name!  What a few weeks it has been.  

 

Does your bedding have color or are you a purist?  This duvet reminds me of a cottage garden.  

My bedding changes like my china.  I'm seasonal.  Spring in my bedroom is pure ivory.

 

Thank you, Sferra.  I adore you.

Rest well this wonderful weekend, dear friends.

Spring Color

(Suzanne Rheinstein)

(Thomas Jayne)

Today is the first official day of spring.  Are you celebrating in your home with wonderful color?  

As I'm sure you know, paint is the least expensive way to completely change the feeling of a room.  Imagine the foyer above in a decadent oxblood?  

(Residential Interiors)

                                               (Charlotte Moss)

How do you plan to bring in the spring?

Happy Spring to everyone!  

I hope you have a colorful weekend!

____________________________________________________________________

Speaking of positive spring color, our sweet friend Hopsy...

A very big thank you goes out to Hopsy of Monograms and Manicures.  She hosted a great give-a-way several months ago featuring Toss Designs.  I was the lucky winner of the Balboa Weekender.  It is so bright and colorful.  I am quite impressed with just how spacious it is too.  She is such a kind person.  I do hope that if you aren't familiar with her blog, you'll go over and say, "hello".    

Irish Furniture

(M. Ford Creech)

Pair of George I Irish Cuban Mahogany Carved Side Chairs with ribbon carved knees and web carved pad feet.

(M. Ford Creech)

The rectangular molded top above a conforming case with three short drawers and a shaped apron, on

foliate-carved well shaped cabriole legs ending in ball and claw feet; excellent color and patination.

Anyone swooning?  I'm on the floor!  Want to see more beauties?  

Be sure to visit:

M. FORD CREECH ANTIQUES 

Laurelwood Collection
581 South Perkins Road
Memphis, TN 38117
901-761-1163 / Fax 901-761-1227
Wed - Sat 11-6, or by appointment

Hopefully, you'll have the luck of the Irish and find a pot full of fabulous treasures!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

One more thing:

Today is PVE's birthday.  Run over and wish her the best.  

She's so very kind and talented!