Presenting Ronda Rice Carman: Author, Blogger, and Entrepreneur

Many of you have watched the trajectory of our friend Ronda Rice Carman's fascinating career. Join me on this adventure along with Ronda and hear how her life has unfolded in the most magical way.

Ronda, You have been on a whirlwind the past few years. There have been so many changes and new ventures, both personally and professionally. Would you tell our readers about your very interesting background, blog, the places you have lived and what is new in your life?

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas.   Prior to moving to  Scotland in 2005, I lived in Pittsburgh for five years. Yes, it’s been a whirlwind tour over the past 8 years and very exaggerated the past year or so.   It’s hard to believe that it’s been seven years since penning my first blog post. In all honestly, I could never have envisioned the path that my life would take as I typed that first post in January 2007.  It seems at every turn, there is another door that opens with opportunity behind it.

This past year was professionally exciting and personally demanding. Commuting from Scotland  to the States for my  book tour, combined with my consulting practice and starting a new business has played a nontrivial role in whirl-winded schedule.

As many now know, I have entered a new chapter in my personal life…I’m divorced, I moved back to Texas  and I started Ronda Carman Fine Fabrics with my new love and business partner, Matt Whitaker. As this new chapter unfolds, I am both excited and inspired.

A new Luxe Line of Lambswool and Cashmere Scottish Throws

What was your vision when you started your widely acclaimed blog, All the Best?

I wish I could say that I had a vision.  What I had was a vague notion of what I wanted and strong desire to succeed. I began my blog (on a whim) in 2007 while working in corporate fundraising for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. After discovering the blogs Peak of Chic, Style Court and Absolutely Beautiful Things, I decided, on impulse, that I wanted a blog too.  All the Best, (named after the January issue of Town & Country sitting on my desk) was little more than an anthology of my thoughts on champagne, wine, dog beds and candles, among other design and luxury topics. My thought was, ‘I’ll just blog about whatever I deem to be the best that day.’ The blog became my connection to like-minded individuals and a way of adjusting to my new life in Scotland.

After 6 months I lost focus and became disenchanted with my new ‘hobby’. But after a shout out from Domino Magazine, my readership skyrocketed from a couple of views each day to more than 2,000 visitors. I emailed Rita Konig to thank her for the mention and she agreed to an interview on All the Best. I was so excited by the idea of ‘interviewing’ designers and tastemakers. Before long I was profiling people that I had admired for years, such as Ivanka Trump and Tory Burch. I had that aha moment…I found my niche and that is when All the Best really began.

When I decided to resign my real job and blog fulltime, my ex-husband thought I had lost my mind. I remember saying to him, ‘If you do what you love, the money will follow.’ I’m so glad I followed both my heart and head as opportunities are abound.

Ronda, when I received your recent book, Designers at Home, Personal Reflections on Stylish Living, it was like a jewel box of a book. Page after page of the best of the best in the Interior Design world. How did this feat come about?

Thank you. It was a life long dream. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to write a book. I have been collecting magazine clippings and tucking away “book ideas” since I was 12 years old. Much like the aha moment I had with the blog, the book idea was the same.   

In many ways I wrote it for myself. I am curious by nature. I wanted to know what life was like at home for designers…what they serve for dinner, the kind of sheets they use on their beds. Like Diana Vreeland once said, “Few things are more fascinating than how people live during their private hours.”

When I gave my mom and dad a copy of my book, my father commented, “It’s as if you have been preparing for this your whole life."

I am most appreciative to Rizzoli for publishing Designers at Home, my editor Sandy Gilbert and Martha Stewart for writing the forward. 

There have been a lot of changes in your life these last few years, and you are now launching Ronda Carman Fine Fabrics (to the trade) with your partner Matt. It was fun to see you both attired clothes made from your interiors fabrics. What's the genesis of this collection? 

Having lived in Scotland for 8 years I was privileged to build close relationships with several of the country's finest textile mills.  I soon learned that many of the most celebrated international luxury-fashion houses rely on Scottish mills for their fabrics. Many of the relationships go back decades.  And while the apparel industry knows full well the exceptional quality of Scottish fabrics, the interiors market has yet to utilize wholly Scotland’s finest offerings. We were given a very unique opportunity to curate and represent some of the finest mills under the brand RONDA CARMAN FINE FABRICS.

We are headquartered in Houston and have representation at EC Dicken in Dallas and Ainsworth-Noah in Atlanta. We will be looking at showrooms in NYC and LA later this year. It’s very exciting and surreal. The support and enthusiasm of the design community has been great due the exceptional quality of our suiting, wools, sateens, sheers, cashmeres and leathers.  With almost 400 different fabrics, we have something for every designer and every project.

Who are a few mentors or people you admire greatly; those have inspired you to make your dreams come to life?

Creative couples have always inspired me, and since launching a business with Matt, I have been looking at other couples as examples.  A few include:

 

Kate and Andy Spade

Kate and Andy Spade have been my style icons for years. Now I look to them as a creative couple that made it work…very successfully. I can relate to them from a business (and personal) point of view. From the beginning, nothing was planned at Kate Spade. Neither of them grew up wanting to be a fashion designer. The idea formed with a question from Andy: "Why don't you do handbags? You love handbags." And that was that. "We never thought about starting a company. We just said, ‘Let’s make some bags and see what happens,'" said Andy. Not bad for a $59 million payday.

RONDA CARMAN FINE FABRICS started much the same way.  Matt said to me one day, “with your love of textiles, relationships with the mills, and friendships within the design community, why don’t you start a fabric business.”

Charles and Ray Eames

Charles and Ray Eames were a creative powerhouse. Best known for their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, industrial design and the photographic arts, each brought unique genius to their union (he was an architect by training and she was a painter and sculptor). The house they built together inspires  me on many levels. Charles and Ray moved into the House on Christmas Eve, 1949, and lived there for the rest of their lives.  I love that the Eames House truly reflects the personality of both Eames’.

Tim and Nina Zagat

Founders of the iconic Zagat guide, Tim and Nina started the guide as a fun project during the early years of their marriage (both working as corporate lawyers). In a recent interview they were asked, “How do you work together as husband and wife?” Tim answered, “We each work in our strengths and accept that we won’t always agree on the means, but we always agree on the end.”

Tell us about your latest collaborations in the creation of the Scottish Throws of angora and lambswool, they look so luxurious.  What's special about the mill producing your cashmere?

We actually have four different blends that make up our line of throws.  Our high-end is 100% cashmere (not the stuff you would normally find).  Our’s has always been used in the fashion arena for scarfs and wraps (some of the biggest names you could imagine). Fashion houses have been using this wonderful fabric for years, we happen to be very fortunate in bringing this same quality of luxury to home interiors. 

Traditional, time-tested techniques are always applied. Such two include, pummeling the cloth in a century-old wooden milling machine to release short fibers for a soft handle, and brushing the cashmere with hand-harvested Italian teasel plant heads sprinkled with Scottish water to create the characteristic ripple effect.

Not only does the mill use the finest raw fibers, they carry out regular tests to ensure the purity of the yarn. Once spun into yarn, the fibers are then woven, washed, brushed, hand-cut and meticulously finished, before a final inch-by-inch inspection by two craftsmen. The mill, and their reputation, rely on fantastic hand-skills going over every inch of the fabric.

Once I experienced the time-honored tradition of the Scottish mills firsthand it deepened my appreciation of a skilled craft. I wanted the opportunity to share these amazing fabrics with the interiors world. The Scots have an extraordinary commodity to offer—textiles of the highest tradition and quality.

Ronda this is truly fascinating and educating regarding the intricate process of weaving cashmere. I had no idea what is involved in the production of these lines! 

Finally what words of wisdom do you have for the beginning author, designer, artist, or person of any age wanting to make a change in their life or career?

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. Two favorite quotes come to mind.

“To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.”

Mark Twain

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”  Winston Churchill

Ronda, thank you so much for sharing your story with our readers. You are truly an inspiration! We wish you and Matt all the best as you move forward with making all of your dreams come true.

Visit Ronda's website to learn even more and see her  fine fabrics and leather goods at  www.rondacarman.com   

Be sure to visit Ronda's blog All the Best, Passport to Stylish Living!

Order her book, (you will be thrilled that you did )  Designers at Home, Personal Reflections on Stylish Living 

Thank you to my Friends and Followers who Support The Arts!

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

Please leave a comment as they make my day!

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Introducing Scot Meacham Wood Interior Designer

If you have not yet met Scot Meacham Wood, you are missing out on the pleasure of knowing one of the most talented and interesting  Interior Designers in America.

Scot Meacham Wood: San Francisco Based Interior Designer

"I have always considered it a great pleasure to be part of the transformation of any home. Our homes should reflect our deepest passions, our true personalities, and show to the world who we are."

Scot has recently been featured in "Designers at Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living"  by Ronda Rice Carmen. He is a standout in the company of distinctive design leaders, including Charlotte Moss, Celerie Kemble, Ashley Hicks, Barry Dixon, India Hicks,  Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Suzanne Rheinstein, Rose Tarlow, Jay Jeffers, Jan Showers, Alex Papachristidis,  Matthew Patrick Smyth, Colette van den Thillart,   Bunny Williams and more.

Scot also specializes in Commercial Design and Custom Furniture

Four Seasons Residence

Please enjoy our discussion below!

1) Welcome Scot! Tell us a bit about your background. Did you develop a creative talent and design sense at an early age? How did that come about?

Thanks!  I guess I've always been creative to some extent.  I do recall, especially to my mother’s dismay, the number of times I would re-arrange and re-style my bedroom while I was growing up.  You know, move the bed over on this wall.  Re-hang all of the artwork.  And I was endlessly re-organizing my closets.  And we’re talking about a 6 year old here.  And I think because we moved so often, my father was in the military,  we were constantly being asked to re-imagine our lives in new and different places.  And seeing the same furniture from our house in Florida suddenly in our house in South Korea certainly opened my eyes to the ever-fluid world of design.  

Berkley Living Room

East Hampton Master Bedroom

 2)  I understand that you worked several years with Ralph Lauren; what 

did you gain from that experience? Who else may have influenced your Design Aesthetic?

My hope is that I never stop being influenced by people.  Though my ‘look’ is becoming very well established - there are numerous designers that always ping on my personal design radar.  Michael Smith.  Miles Redd.  Charlotte Moss.  Barry Dixon.  Eric Cohler.  And though their individual styles vary - there is always on strong aspect of ‘completeness’ to their work - with a strong sense of drama and style.  I always like a little ‘more is more’ to my work as well. 

I think the part of working for Ralph Lauren that was the most influential to me was his ability to re-create and re-imagine these ‘worlds’ whether it’s all about an English country house - or a New York penthouse - that always felt so specifically “Ralph.”  There was a running joke in the late 1990‘s - that the only store in London that felt like an actual, iconic “English Haberdashery” - was the Polo store on Bond Street!  

Working on the Home Collection rooms every season with a complete visual university all of its own.  It was all about the degree of detailing in the space.  The completely thought-out point of view of those rooms.  And the amazing romance that Ralph brings to all of his ‘worlds.’  That is the part of my own business that is most effected by my work with Mr. Lauren.  

Presidio Heights Bedroom

 3) Another thing I notice is that you work seamlessly from a feminine tone in a room to more masculine color palettes, fabric, woods, etc. Yet you often incorporate masculine touches into any room as opposed to having a “one man cave” in the entire home to call his home. How does that affect the client and finished project?

I always like to find that balance between husbands and wives - between masculine and feminine . . . and the spaces that they share.  I've never really designed a space that was specifically ‘male’ or ‘female,’ as I wouldn't want anyone in the house to feel as though they were being ‘left out.’  So one of my classic ‘men’s libraries’ might include a beautifully detailed custom lamp shades with gimping trim - and a ladies writing room would have a stout, manly antique dresser - for me it also gives the design a great deal of energy and movement to mix opposite influences in one space. 

California Homes Article "Antiques in a Modern Home"

Tartan Office

4)  Scot when I see projects that you have envisioned comes to fruition; almost all have a sense of comfort and warmth. What are your priorities for a project/ a home design?

In many ways, one thing that I often see missing from ‘residential design’ is that sense of ‘residence’ - the people that actually reside in these spaces.  So we work on a very lengthy questionnaire with our clients.  With everything from how they plan to entertain within the space to how many pairs of shoes they own.  

The most important thing to me is ‘how is the house going to be used.’  And then it is my job to create the most magnificent space for that ‘life’ to take place in. 

Atherton Residence

5) On a personal note I know our readers would love to know about your personal interests, collections and travels. I understand that you sing with a chorale group? ( a gift I have always wanted)

I think traveling is one of the most important inspirations for my interior design work - and the opportunity of seeing how other people and other cultures live.  I've been lucky to have clients across the US - so regional travel seems to be a constant for me.  It seemed as if I spent the entire 12 months of 2012 in an airport . . . lol.  And ‘Big Travel’ - or what we sometimes call ‘gotta find my passport travel’ - is always the best.  Being submerged in a new culture - even if it’s just spending a week in Scotland - always seems to awaken new creative ideas in me.  

As far as other interests - I've always been focused on being healthy - and living here in the San Francisco Bay Area is a parade of options.  Whether it’s spending my Saturday mornings running on the beach near the Golden Gate Bridge - or trail running in Marin County - I always seem to be out of doors.  

Sadly, because of my travel schedule - I've not been singing as much in the past few years.  Hopefully things will settle down soon - and I can get back into a small group.  

Piedmont Library

Detail Piedmont Tartan Library

6)  How do you relax after a long design job or even during that intense process?

What is this ‘relax’ you speak of . . . lol.  No seriously, I do spend a great deal of my free time running.  It really helps to clear my head - and gives me a great deal of focus.  

Woodside Showcase House Game Room

7) Scot, Finally, what words of advice do you have for the beginning designer?

I always remember that half of the ‘design business’ is the word ‘business.’  And you've got to run it that way.  Keeping an eye on your expenses and margins will help to create the financial basis for your business to succeed.  

Also - be amazing.  Listening to your clients.  And listen between their words.  They are describing their lives to you - and you need to be an active participant in creating ‘that life.’  

You can Reach Scot:

WEBSITE - http://smwdesign.com/

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scot-Meacham-Wood-Design/275482854269

TWITTER - https://twitter.com/ScotMeachamWood

PINTEREST - http://pinterest.com/tartanscot/pins/

Click on images to ENLARGE (Courtesy of Scot Meacham Wood Design) and 
Pin it Button in the Left Corner  of Images 

Thank you so much Scot for participating in my 2013 Interior Design Feature

xoxo

Karena 

Art by Karena

I hope my faithful followers and friends will leave a comment for Scot.

As always thank you to all who support the Arts that make our world a more beautiful place!

The winner of the book by Leslie Sinclair, Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors is Bette from Ideezine

A copy of Designers at Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living has been sent to me for review