Adaptations
Inquiring with any HMR Event Designer about the latest trends in wedding and party décor will consistently yield the same result: they aren’t particularly interested in talking about what’s hot or trending. Of course they know what’s out there, but they know what they like, what they find timeless, and what works (or doesn’t work) within the parameters of a space and a client’s design direction. Among this knowledge, favorites emerge.
Designers also have a tendency to see props, fixtures, and furniture as dynamic pieces, capable of alteration and adaptation. With their quest to make the perfect room comes an openness to any kind of change that will better the design. We checked in with Jessica Griffin Pfluegl about putting her own spin on several pieces she loves.
One of Jessica’s favorites? The beveled mirror bar. Wanting to add a more luxe feel to the classic beveled bar, Jessica added the mirrored design herself. Since then, it has become a widely utilized item in our inventory.
Jessica loves this piece for its versatility and elegance. “I actually love pairing the mirrored bar with rich wood for a lovely juxtaposition.” She feels that the bar is a fabulous complement to crystal chandeliers or with more modern light fixtures, such as orbs. “It can be used with gold or silver…or even better: a combination of both,” she adds.
Jessica also loves our sputnik chandeliers. Though she always liked the fixtures, she also knew it was possible for her to like them more–and for them to be more versatile– and undertook altering their design as well. The huge bulbs typically used with the sputniks gave them a very industrial feel.
Her solution? She redesigned them to have smaller bulbs and arms of only one size, giving them a more feminine, sophisticated look. These small changes completely transformed the chandeliers, giving them more versatility to work well in a larger variety of venues.
As you plan any special occasion or decorate your own space, take a page from a designer’s playbook: trust your instincts, and follow your own path of style. But also be open to change–remember that small tweaks can give fixtures and furniture a whole new feel.
Thanks to all of our fantastic vendor partners featured in this post:
The Ivy Room Chicago
The Hyatt Regency O’Hare
The Field Museum
The Art Institute of Chicago
Kent Drake Photography
Averyhouse
Fandl Photography
Photography by Tay