AT HOME WITH DESIGNER LIZ WILSON

A master of big design ideas, Liz Wilson has mastered the art of putting those big ideas to work in a relatively small space. "It's not the square footage of a room or an entire home that determines whether the look will be stunning. Good design is about space planning, the use of color, and integrating elements that will individualize the home, enveloping the people who live there and welcoming guests who visit. My goal for any home is to make it come alive with family and friends," says Wilson. Not surprisingly, she lives by and with those very design tenets.
 Most of the time she and her husband Michael, a partner in a funding business, live in a picturesque farmhouse in Floyds Knobs. But also wanting to enjoy the amenities of a more urban environment, they purchased an Indiana condominium that overlooks the Ohio River. "The character of our farmhouse is very dear to us, but we also love being able to spend time in the condo and looking out at the skyline, especially at night and when we entertain. The view is incredible, making it seem as if Downtown Louisville is part of our home," she says.
    The Wilsons converted a two bedroom condominium into a one bedroom unit with a dining area, making it an ideal weekend getaway. Vibrant colors and contemporary furnishings and art contribute to the home's sense of energy and vitality that's apparent simply by stepping into the foyer. A black and gold theme, carried out through a mosaic pattern tile floor, and black doors and trim, is accentuated by striking metal sculptures. "Many people are hesitant to use black trim, but I've used it many times to great advantage, believing it makes such a strong statement," says Wilson
    When talking about her home, she intersperses the conversation with observations and suggestions about myriad design topics. She doesn't make the intricacies of interior design seem easy, but her passion makes it seem a fun endeavor. And she indeed had fun designing her own home. More correctly stated, she's still having fun because it's a process, not an ever completed project. "My husband jokes that he has to be careful getting up in the middle of the night because there's always something new or something has been rearranged," she laughs.
    Because the Wilsons' children and grandchildren frequently visit, she wanted the condo to be comfortable and open, leading her to remove the walls of the guest bedroom to allow for a more spacious living and dining area. She added mirrors at the end of the living room, on the closet doors in the dining area and on the backsplash in the adjoining kitchen to give the illusion of extended depth. A custom made curved aquarium opens onto both the dining area and the master bedroom.
    "I'm sort of a combination City Mouse and a Country Mouse, but the City Mouse comes alive in the condo. I instilled some New York glitz by using hot colors and quite a few faux finishes," says Wilson, who painted the living room walls a bright red and installed Red Zodiac countertops in the kitchen. But it is one wall in the living room that perhaps best exemplifies her design approach to the condo. The wall is bold and dramatic, but not brash or overpowering. Although she describes it as "classy graffiti", most observers would probably describe it as a remarkable piece of art. The unique effect was achieved by applying spots of black paint to the red wall, followed by an application of gold and an "etching" technique. The wall is illuminated by monorail track lighting.



    The living space features a nutmeg color sectional and chairs, each carefully chosen based on its size and its placement in the room. "Space planning is an essential initial step to interior design. Space planning involves several issues, including scale and proportion, both of which are very important when shopping for furniture. All too often someone will see furniture in a showroom that they think would look great in their own home. Unfortunately, once they get it home, they realize it's totally wrong for the space because the scale is way off. Don't assume that anything will look the same in a home as it does in a showroom," advises WilsoAlso in her living area are contemporary rug and lamps, and artfully blended accessories that punch up the room with color. The print on accent pillows mimics the pattern on the foyer ceiling; the type of nuance that characterizes Wilson's design style.



Wilson designed the bedroom to be more neutral, choosing a sleekly sophisticated black leather bed and a chocolate Ultrasuede duvet. But to her, neutral doesn't mean boring. An animal print rug with black leather binding, animal print pillows, and black leather lamps add another layer of urban style to the room. Providing further texture are two pieces of palm tree bark above the bed, and in the corner, the base of a coconut tree filled with large bamboo.
    Even the condo's bathrooms are cocoons of high style. Red and gold from other areas of the condo are carried into the master bathroom which repeats black cabinetry used elsewhere in the home. The guest bath has contemporary wallpaper with a red, orange and green circle motif and is further individualized by black and metal artwork. Wilson is especially fond of metal sculptural pieces that have an oxidized appearance, believing that their aged patina exudes a sense of warmth.
    "I'm so glad much of the design community and consumers have broken out of the monochromatic mode and away from all those taupe rooms!", says Wilson. Undoubtedly, she has the expertise to know how and where to use bold colors. For those people who don't believe they have the ability, or even confidence, to make strong colors part of their décor, Wilson has some advice. "You have to develop a feel for knowing when to use color aggressively and when to be more restrained with it. I think color is part of a person's spirit or soul. Being very practical, remember that the key is to have color make sense and to have colors flow from room to room. It's like putting together a puzzle," she advises.
    "Regardless of the colors in a room, lighting can make or break the design, depending on how the light is dispersed. While lighting is certainly a functional consideration, I think there are many fixtures on the market that are so fantastic that they also can be thought of as art," she says.
    "I hate repetition. I always want to be on the cutting edge, with unusual pieces and surprises throughout the home, whether it's mine or a client's," says Wilson. One of those surprises in her condo is a handmade brushed stainless steel contemporary light fixture that hangs above the dining table. "It's absolutely perfect for the space. Anything less contemporary would have looked out of place. And it works so well because the reds, greens, blues and purples pick up colors elsewhere in the room," she explains.
    Another unexpected accessory, standing next to the table and emitting a subtle glow, is a light crafted from the pod of an African tree. "My daughter Tiffany and I saw it at the design market. I was immediately crazy about it, but she definitely didn't share that sentiment. I bought it when she had stepped away. When it was delivered, she remained very skeptical, but now she agrees that it's wonderful. Sometimes you just know when something is right for your home. Don't doubt your instincts and don't be easily dissuaded," says Wilson.
    The kitchen is highly functional and notable for its expressive red and black color palette. Brushed stainless steel hardware with red inserts reflects Wilson's belief that small details provide significant impact. A red tagine, a Moroccan cooking vessel, sits on top of the black stove. "The kitchen isn't overly accessorized, but the tagine is perfect. Michael calls me The Queen of Props. I like the nickname because I think accessories really complete the look of a room," says Wilson.
    Everyone has certain pieces that hold special significance. For me, two of them
are sterling silver Kiddush cup wine fountains used to serve wine during the Jewish Sabbath. One was given to me by a client. I was so touched by the gesture and intrigued by the fountain's design and use that my daughter gave me another of a different style. They are both magnificent and very important to me," she says.
    "Our home nurtures us and makes us happy because it reflects who we are. To me, those are the objectives of home design. A home should express the personalities of the people who live there. It shouldn't look like every other home on the block or like something that was copied from a magazine," says Wilson.
    Since she is so much a part of the design of her home and the design makes such a personal statement, would she ever consider moving? "Oh, sure! I'd like to find a big warehouse with exposed bricks and an open ceiling with raw beams. I wouldn't mind starting over and creating a totally different look. It would be exciting to express myself in another way," she says without hesitation.