Burntside Lake family Retreat
The client, a lady from California contacted me, she was in the process of having a home/cottage built to be used by herself and her children and grandchildren, a legacy that would be passed on to insure future generations could experience summers at the lake in the family cabin. It also in about 6 months was to be in the Builder’s Parade of Homes. First problem is time, a very tight time schedule to plan, order, and execute a whole house of furniture and interior design. It normally takes over a year with new construction. Second problem she would not be coming to Ely until it was all finished, furnished and the weather warmed up. Third problem we had never met and I did not know her at all. We would be working totally by phone, fax e-mail and snail mail. We got right to work, discussing her likes, dislikes and most important to her how the cabin would be used by the whole family and sometimes large numbers visiting during the same time periods.
I contacted the builder, visited the project, gathered up the materials already selected, along with the blue prints. I developed the layout for all areas, selected furniture, fabrics, paint colors, lamps, lighting fixtures and accessories. I mailed everything off to California along of course with the cost of everything. The client Oked everything with only minor changes. Together the builder and I and architect selected the other materials and kept the project on schedule.
With construction complete and the home cleaned. It was time for the furniture delivery. I arrive just before the furniture. I instruct the delivery crew where to place things, go over assembly of beds, they put on mattresses. I roll out the area rugs, and plug in the lamps. When the delivery truck leaves there is still much work to be done. I opened boxes of towels put them in linen closets and in the bathrooms, put linens on beds, placed accessories, hung art on the walls and put fresh flowers on the table. Ready for the arrival of the client and her daughter. When she arrived the builder, his wife and myself were there to greet her. When she walked in and took it all in tears of joy were streaming down her cheeks. It was a beautiful moment and a privilege to work with a great team of people to bring such happiness to someone.
