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The Rural Voice, 1996-04, Page 49An original BY PATTI ROBERTSON As of late, I lost my design mentor, Jon Austin of Owen Sound. Jon fought a brave battle against both cancer and heart disease. For more than 15 years, Jon was a formidable energy source in my life. He used to say to me "Girl, I've saved you 10 years in the design business by sharing my knowledge with you!" So gentle reader you ask . ... "What has this got to do with me?" Well, as a tribute to this greatly creative talent of interior design and as a catharsis for myself I would enjoy sharing with you a few Jon's theory was "less is more" of Jon's thoughts and ideas of classic design. Nobody I know could make a room come alive through the use of neutral colours better than Jon — his belief being that neutrals arc ultimately classic and timeless. Through the use of varying tints of camel, oatmeal, putty and taupe in combination with interesting textures and restrained patterns, Jon created many a showcase room. Jon also worked on the principle that one or two classic furniture or accessory pieces could carry the theme of an entire room ... as in a fabulously designed statue or a grand scale lamp. When it came to wall art Jon often leaned towards the Renaissance artists as again, their works are timeless and always appropriate. Foremost Jon will be remembered for his "designer's white" paint colour ... or "Jon's white". In this area it's known as "Patti's favourite colour", but it was Jon who taught me its value. Jon's theory was that a pure white is only fresh and clean for such a short time, making it "hard to live up to" and care for and it usually ends up "yellowing" or dulling to off-white. Designer's white, tcnds to co-ordinate with 95 per cent of our colour schemes, is rich and warm in huc, and an easy 46 THE RURAL VOICE Iib Home Decorating design by an original designer care colour. The great benefit of choosing this off-white to use throughout your home is that touch-ups and colour selection are incredibly easy. Jon gave everything in his own home, and most of his clients' homes, a coat of "designer's white" ... inexpensive wood trims and moldings which are better blended than accented, lamp bases, statues, humidifiers, fieldstone and brick fireplaces ... no object was spared if Jon believed "designer's white" would improve it or "save it". At a yard sale Jon spied two very ugly, dated '70s metal wall artworks ... exclaiming, "They'll be fabulous painted in designer's white!" Wouldn't you know it, painted these became the perfect pieces for a '90s decor. (If you are interested in "designer's white", go into the Decor Shoppc, Wingham and ask Murray for Patti's favourite colour, he'll mix it up.) Designer's white is actually a French white, having a definite almond toning to the base. Jon also preached working with a minimal colour use within a living space. While I tend to work with the magic rule of five hues Jon more often than not narrowed this down to three, working with the theory "Less is more". Upon completing the decorating of his own home Jon was unable to find the proper scale and theme for artwork to enhance his Southwestern/ Tuscany style. He solved the problem by creating his own originals. Large, relatively inexpensive picture frames were built (6' x 8') encasing a soft plush carpet in a subtle camel tone. Onto the one carpet an artist associate created a descrt landscape in raw umber hue while onto the other, Jon used various shapes cut from Berber carpeting, lengths of corded rope and cuttlebone (the kind you would buy at the pet store for your bird) to create a daisy floral motif ... Talk about original! Before Jon died he was busy creating florals from grapefruit, orangc, and melon peels. Jon was shaping, then drying the peel and then painting them ... you guessed it! "designer's whitc!" A mutual younger friend of ours moved to Vancouver into an extremely tiny two -room apartment. Upon visiting Jon discovered although Dwight was content, he definitely could use a designer's touch, turning this small arca into a home with classic amenities. Unfortunately Dwight was short of funds after the big move: no decorating budget! Always one to rise to a challenge, while Dwight worked days, Jon scrounged, hit bargain stores, second-hand shops, etc. and proceeded to bring together all the bits and pieces which would create a showplace with little cash and great panache! Every surface got a coat of "designer's white" — walls, vim, lamps, pots, furniture. Sono tubes and planking became tables upon which were placed interesting, sculptured lamps. A heavy cardboard barrel was wrapped in canvas, and painted to bccome a unique plant stand. Wall art was created by wrapping various sired boards in canvas and hot gluing anything from Chinese soup spoons, plastic pot scrubbers, shampoo brushes, shaped pieces of carpet, etc., into abstract floral motifs. Of course all were coated in "designer's white". Texture was of paramount importance in this endeavour. A side from a cast-off wooden crib became a picture frame! Windows were dressed with venetian blinds and topped off with tailored box -pleated valances, which Dwight sewed for himself, from cast off table linen in off-white. The floor was painted a soft mustard hue to add warmth to the room and allow easy care. A few green houseplants, a great - looking statue and WOW!, the place not only looks bigger, but Dwight's living in an Austin Original ... which certainly did not break the bank! No matter what Jon tackled, "Classic" was the goal he strived to achieve. He'd say to me, "Patti, 1 don't think 1 have anything more to teach you". But time and again we'd be together discussing possibilities and ideas, and once again yet another "casual visit" was transformed into another valuable learning experience. I shall miss Jon greatly. My friend loved me, he fcd me, and told mc many a bedtime story. I have been blessed with his knowledge and will be forever grateful.0 Patti Robertson operates Classic Interiors in Wingham.