interview by diane dorrans saeks -...

d e s i g n e r p r o f i l e

56 | CALIFORNIA HOMES

This Noted California Designer Has A Keen Sense Of Perfection And Craft

INTERVIEW BY DIANE DORRANS SAEKS

Wendy Posard

CALIFORNIA DESIGNER WENDY POSARDtravels the world to source fine antiques andauthentic materials, and to study historicaldetails for the superb residences her thrivingcompany creates.

The founder of the ten year old full-servicedesign and architectural firm, Wendy Posard &Associates, is known for creating elegant, clas-sically inspired and traditional residences.

Posard has had more than sixteen years ofexperience in the fields of architecture, interiordesign, planning, and construction of singlefamily residences. Her emphasis is on design-ing luxury estate and custom-crafted residen-tial projects. Passionate about superblydetailed interiors, she has a particular expert-

ise in designing interior cabinetry and finishes.Based in San Anselmo, in Marin County,

Wendy Posard & Associates works in a rangeof styles and does not propose a specific archi-tectural aesthetic. She and her team apply asuccessfully-formulated process of interactionwith their clients so each residence is truly oneof a kind.

“Our designs evolve from listening to ourclients so that we can design and create aunique, practical and appropriate residence,”she explains. “We examine the natural fea-tures of the site, the aesthetics of any existingstructures, and the context and landscape. Wework with a rich source of ideas concerningstyle, materials and details.”

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OPPOSITE At a 650-acre Cabernet vineyardin Hopland, Northern California, a family

ranch house was originally built in the late1950s and designed by William Turnbull.Wendy Posard and Associates created a

larger family compound. Respecting the clas-sic California vernacular, the firm designed anaddition with vertical grain Douglas fir panel-ing, open beam ceiling, and aggregate floor-

ing. A back to back wood burning fireplacesets the outdoor fireplace on axis with the

new pool and pool house. Wicker Works fur-niture from Sloan Miyasato and sisal rugs and

textured linens allow for elegance and com-fort. RIGHT In Ross, Marin County, a gardencottage retreat has an eclectic mix of found

objects from antique dealers through outNorthern California and flea markets in Paris.

The tall basket is from MARCH, San Franciscoand the upholstered wing back chair was

custom fabricated from Belmar and Company.Design by Wendy Posard and Associates.

CH Your firm offers a broad range of serv-ices. What is the secret of your success?WP We specialize in custom residences andprovide highly customized architectural andinterior design services. I trade sources withwinemakers, boutique hotel owners and cura-tors of museums, rather than with otherdesigners, and have talented specialists on theteam. Lori Henle, our senior designer, has anincredible eye for color palettes. We strive forinteriors rich in history and quality, and furnishwith objects that reflect our clients. VictorTempleton has twenty five years of experiencefor traditional details in design. He completed aseries of iron designs in collaboration withFerrous Studios that include a twenty sevenfoot long and twelve foot high all-metal book-case and rolling library ladder which in style arevery much like the massive steel sculptures ofRichard Serra.

CH Where did you hone your considerabledesign skills?WP Originally, I took numerous drafting classesat Gunn High School in Palo Alto. It is themost magical experience to draw three dimen-sionally. Becoming an interior designer was anatural offshoot of my later architectural stud-

ies, and I never tire of shopping for beautifulthings. I’m self taught, and I read and researchconstantly. My heroes in interior design areThierry Despont, Rose Tarlow, London basedDavid Mlinaric, as well as Bunny Williams. Itook classes at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in thearchitectural department, and rounded out atthe University of California, Berkeley.

One assignment at Berkeley was to designa bungalow co-habited by Wallace Shawn andAndre Gregory. The instructor, RichardFernau, asked that we view the cult film “MyDinner with Andre” and proceed to design forthe two radically different personalities. It wasa brilliant assignment and it has served me wellever since. A designer’s job is to be a good lis-tener and to provide a balanced design with forall parties involved.

CH When did you found your own firm? WP Wendy Posard & Associates was foundedwith five employees in the fall of 2000. Istarted with one exceptional client and over anine year period the firm has grown strictly ona referral basis. The initial projects in MarinCounty turned into multiple projects inMalibu, Healdsburg, and beyond.

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A kitchen in Ross, NorthernCalifornia was specificallydesigned to be an extensionof the garden and to serve asliving space. A relaxed stylewas created with antique ter-racotta floors from the southof France and curtains fromSienna Antiques, Petaluma.The chairs around the farmtable, each one different, arefrom Antonio’s Antiques in SanFrancisco. Design by WendyPosard and Associates.

CH Which design movement has inspiredyou most? WP I admire eighteenth century English andFrench architecture of all kinds. However, Imodel my practice more closely on the earlynineteenth century works of Charles Platt,John Russell Pope, and the elegant works ofDelano and Aldrich, and of course our localfavorite architect, Willis Polk.

CH Who was a mentor? WP I was extraordinarily lucky to have been thefirst employee of Brooks Walker and GregWarner (of Walker Warner Architects in SanFrancisco) when they began their very suc-cessful partnership.

Brooks’ vision for master planning of asite stems from his passion for all things wildand green. Greg’s unsurpassed artistic abilitiesto design beautiful and well thought outbuildings gave me a life-long desire to focuson the details.

CH What is the favorite interior you’ve seenon your travels? WP The neoclassical interiors of architect SirJohn Soane’s early nineteenth century resi-dence at 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields in London. Itsoars four floors, starting with the crypt. Thisliteral museum is ingenious in its interior use

of natural light and rich in its contents ofarchitectural fragments. It becomes a spiri-tual experience. And, I admire everythingThierry Despont touches: Art, architecture,interiors, product.

CH Favorite piece of furniture?WP Soane in London makes the Cavaletti Desk,of forged and hand-beaten iron with a Hermès-style burnt orange goatskin leather top.

Gregorious–Pineo (exclusively atKneedler-Fauchere) furniture collection hassuperior finishes that are very refined, withclean lines that blend well with all styles.

Our office is crazy about great light fix-tures and there are amazing lanterns to be hadat JAMB, off of Pimlico Road in London. Allthe light fixtures at JAMB are handcrafted.They have a substantial weight to them, andmake a statement. We admire the proportionsand the highest level of craftsmanship. It’s mynew favorite place to shop.

CH Favorite versatile fabric?WP I adore the Rogers & Goffigon textile lineat the Kneedler-Fauchere showrooms. Thequality, natural fibers and soft natural colors areperfection. George Spencer trims are one of myfavorite trim resources. They are made of beau-tiful natural fibers, woven with an authentic,

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BELOW A secondary staircase in ashingle-style Pacific Heights house in

San Francisco, California was deco-rated with an antique lamp and gate

leg table were purchased at Art &Antique Exchange, San Francisco.

LOWER RIGHT For the living room ofa a shingle-style house in Ross,

Wendy Posard and Associates createdhigh contrast with antique walnut fur-niture and eighty yards of Travis Linen

fabric with a neutral palette of seagrass and straw yellow linen chairs.

The large figurative paintings arefrom Dolby Chadwick Gallery, San

Francisco. The chairs are from A.Rudin. The ottoman by Dennis &

Leen from Shears and Windows wasupholstered in Rose Tarlow fabric.

handmade feel. The color palette is soft, withrich muddy hues inspired from historical designdetails. George Spencer Designs are available atDe Sousa Hughes in San Francisco.

Designer Sandra Jordan designs themost beautiful Prima Alpaca Collection ofsumptuous fabrics that can be used for drap-ery and upholstered wall applications, to cre-ate a rich and elegant room environment.The line is available in a palette of over fortyfour colors, inspired by the wine country inSonoma, California.

CH What do you love most about being adesigner? WP My inspiration for design springs from theÈcole des Beaux Arts. Architectural studies,and drawing and painting are required com-ponents of being a good designer. My passionfor hand drawing and use of watercolors isvery personally rewarding. In this digital age Icontinue to strive for historical references andto embrace collaboration with artists andcraftspeople. Most recently we had the pleas-ure of designing an all-stone French countryfarmhouse with antique timber trusses. We

worked with very talented cabinetmakers indeveloping French overlay doors with raisedbolection moldings.

CH How are you changing your practice asthe industry evolves?WP I go through great efforts to study histori-cally accurate detailings for any design con-cepts. However, all of our working drawingsand correspondence with contractors are nowfully digital. That is the practical way to work.But CAD will never completely replace thecreative process of hand sketching.

CH What advice would you give to youngdesigners?WP I recommend that all designers and archi-tects travel as much as possible, to study design.I suggest Kyoto in Japan, the Amalfi Coast,Paris, Oxford and Tuscany—especially Florence.It’s important to immerse yourself in differentparts of the world, such as France or England,and to sketch and photograph as much as possi-ble. It is also essential to continue to study thehistory of design, so that you enable a sense ofthe future in architecture and design. CH

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