As of 2014, we were one of the top 10 dreamy places to retire according to Huffington Post. It’s not surprising, really. We have a lovely small community. A trip to the grocery store usually means a hug from a friend or a familiar smile and wave. The natural environment here is blissful.

Oh my goodness… I suppose it is time to tell my big secret. Some of you, who receive my newsletter know the big news, but for the most part, we’ve kept things on the down-low.

Three months ago, Waldron Designs was a two-person firm. A designer and a designer-in-training. Today, Waldron Designs totes a crew of six, and we anticipate adding 2-3 more in the short term.

I’ve been noticing a lot of contractors with the title “design-build” in their company name. When I saw how many there were initially, I was excited and motivated. What a wonderful solution for building owners- to be able to hire one company who can completely manage their project from start to finish, have a keen eye on the costs as they design, and an equally keen eye on design as they build. I reached out to a few of these firms, and was astonished to find that most of them do not have a designer on staff!

I think about Pacific Northwest Design a lot. I am influenced by this style every day. After all, this is where we live and the style is a direct response to regionalism. It is entirely appropriate that a designer in the PNW think about and be influenced by the style originated by our region. However, I am also strongly influenced by modern design (see my post about Les Corbusier). Then, there’s the fact that… well, I live on an island as do the vast majority of my clients.

During the schematic design phase of each project, I develop preliminary selections. I then confer with the product rep and contractor to broaden my awareness of that particular product and verify that my application is suitable.

Waldron Designs has been simply exploding! We have so much going on, particularly at the start of a new month, that we've decided to shift our monthly newsletter to go out mid-month instead of the start of each month, so that you can be prepared for all the excitement in advance.

First Friday

We hosted a fabulous First Friday for July with a great turnout and amazing artists. This is a wonderful event to attend if you are looking for that perfect piece for your home. I have to admit, I've found a few myself for my home! It's not too late to pop in and see the art currently in our space by Ken C. Judd and Michael Denslow. Ken's amazing sculptures and wall art are edgy, funky, and even a bit creepy sometimes, in the most wonderful way! Michael offers a unique approach to pottery and painting that I envision working in many types of spaces, but boy would I love to see his raw take in a super modern space!

Next month, we are thrilled to have Brian Fisher and Ilse Reimnitz featured in the space along with The Parlour Snakes as our musical entertainment! You won't want to miss this!!

PUBLISHED Design Firm!

That's right. Waldron Designs is soon to be featured in a coffee table book. Early ordering will be available soon, so if you'd like a copy, let us know and we can get one ordered for you. We have a 10-page spread in the book, featuring many of the projects seen on our website. Additional projects will be added to a digital version of the book which will be able to be embedded on our site. We will probably have a little book release soiree at our studio, and you will most definitely receive an invitation!