Meet Todd Falconbury

Todd Falconbury is an Interior Designer with the Musso Design Group.  Todd joined the firm in 2006, shortly before he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2007.  Todd shares some personal insights in this interview. 

Did you always know that you were destined for design?
Yes.  In grade school, a few of the neighborhood kids would get together and make up plays for our parents or other kids.  I was always in charge of set design.  As I grew up, my passion went to landscape design, but I knew the Indiana weather would not allow me to do that.  So many years later and after a career in sales, I finally went back to school, received a degree in Fine Arts, and was hired by Bill Musso in 2006.

What absolutely has to be in place for a successful design project?
One word for me, “patience.”  And that goes for both parties involved.  As in any job that is done in any field, if you rush a job, more than likely there will be consequences.  Delays, extra expenses, and time driven short cuts always compromise good design.

Who makes your favorite home accessories on the market now? 
I have to say Moooi.  We found them in New York last year.  Where else can you find a “blow away vase” which is a blue and white china vase that literally looks like the top section has been blown over, or a fiberglass side table that has four very different leg shapes?

What is that one piece of furniture you completely love?  
I have always loved the Barcelona chair for its clean lines and would love to have one someday.  At home, I love my sectional sofa from Southern Design Source at ADAC.  Besides looking great, it is simply comfortable to collapse in after a long day.  

How often do you make interior changes at home?
I say not enough, others say TOO MUCH!  Again, I like changing my surroundings to create different feelings for different times.  I may just change an accent wall color, or pick up new pillows for a chair or bed.

What’s the one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
I have a rather unchecked addiction to candles.  Some people call it crazy, I call it fun. I use them to create moods by addressing the sense of smell.  For Halloween I have a special black candle ("Salem" from Modern Alchemy) that smells of burnt wood when lit.

Must see TV:  What television show do you watch religiously?
Yes, I’m a “Gleek!”  I got the “Glee” bug and I dread the day they say the show is canceled.  I also really like “Raising Hope.”  Of course, Project Runway, Top Chef, Survivor, and MY favorite BIG Brother are always filling up the DVR.  

Tell us about your most challenging design project.
Every job has a unique challenge to attack, but we designed a home in the Northeast without seeing it in person.  The entire project was executed through emails, photos, and conference calls.  We never met the client face to face until a year after it was completed. When we finally got to Connecticut, it was great to see the room was set up as we originally planned it.

Seaside Showhouse Success

We were excited to asked to take part in the Designer Showhouse for the Arts in Seaside, Florida, open now through July 4th. This showhouse is sponsored by the Cultural Arts Association and is in the home of Robert Davis, Seaside Town Founder.

CAA asked us to design a room inspired by a mid-century cultural icon. After just minutes of deliberation, we selected the Duke and Duchess of Windsor - immensely popular, stylish and relevant to Florida during the 1940's and beyond.

Some quick research uncovered an iconic photo of the Duke and Duchess visiting Florida in 1941. The combination of the peacock blue and coral together is very fresh and current. They shaped the Palm Beach look with their bold choices of color, and their clean line of dress is still relevant today.

This photo became inspiration for the design of the guest bedroom in the Seaside, Florida home.

We had only one day to install the entire room. What do you think? Leave a comment to let us know.

The CAA Designer Showhouse for the Arts is open through July 4, Wednesdays - Sundays, from noon to 5:00 pm.

For more information, visit the CAA's website.

Weekend retreat in Athens unveiled

The Musso Design Group just completed a project in Athens, Georgia. This new home was a gift from our client's long time friend. Our charge was to make this a special, relaxing weekend retreat that someday may be the client's primary residence. We aimed to frame a relaxed, yet sophisticated, lifestyle.

The home sits on three acres in Georgia's horse country, just outside of Athens. The builder took extra care to preserve the tree canopy and site the home in the perfect location. Natural stone elements give the home a feeling that it has been there for years.

Our work started about a year ago and we unveiled the home this past weekend. The new owner had not seen the home since mid-December, so we were a little anxious while we worked overnight to finesse the details and prepare for the reveal.

Working closely with the owner, we established a design that complemented the architecture of the home and its beautiful wooded setting. The palette is quiet, sophisticated, and uncluttered, not fussy. It's also durable and will stand up to the traffic provided by four rescued dogs in a wide array of sizes.

The Psychology of Color

Todd Falconbury

We know you would not choose paint colors without us, but we find the psychology of colors simply fascinating. The Musso Design Group approach is to use bold colors in accessories against a neutral background. This gives the flexibility to change the feel of the room seasonally.

• Reds naturally make the biggest impact as an accent color in a room. Red is generally associated with passion and energy. While passion may be good for a bedroom, a more restful color may be a better choice. Red increases a person’s appetite which explains why it’s used in restaurants so often!

• Oranges tend to warm a room and can be more welcoming than red. Shades and tints of this color can work well in a living room with lots of natural light.

• Yellows are another warm and welcoming color that works well in foyers or other rooms that do not get a lot of natural light, but can have negative effects. Babies cry more often in yellow rooms than any other color. We suggest carefully chosen softer yellows.

• Blues can be soothing and serene and are described as a cool color. Blues often make great colors for bedrooms and bathrooms because of its restful qualities. Blue colors can also work as an appetite suppressant. Not good for a dining room...unless your on a diet!

• Green is also considered a comforting color, but more versatile than blue. Light greens are more appropriate for living rooms, home offices, and bedrooms where mid-tones are needed.

• Violet and plum colors can get complicated in a space, but if used correctly can be beautiful and dramatic in a living room, dining room, or library. Men typically dislike this color. Consider using darker tones, like eggplant, for focal or single walls.

• Gray encourages productivity and encourages creativity which is great for an office space!Black embraces a feeling of solidarity and formality. Black is considered a natural classic color. Use sparingly - a little bit goes a long way.

• White, we all know, represents purity. You can almost never go wrong using white with any other color in a room. Looks better in a more modern or contemporary setting.

• Browns are our earthy neutrals. Lighter browns can help unify a complete project if used as a backdrop. Darker browns tend to be more elegant than your lighter browns, but truly any shade of brown will work in almost any space and style.