My New Venture

I am thrilled to announce my new business!  Ramsay Gourd Home is a collection of fabrics, furniture and wall coverings that grew from years of design observations and musings.  The collection reflects my appreciation for classical design, infused with an energy that befits our modern lifestyles.

I have designed each fabric line with a number of patterns and color ways,
 making them easy to coordinate.  Illustrative designs, strong geometries, and subtle patterns come together to offer a wide range of visual emotion.  Many of the patterns are available as wall coverings as well. Contact us if you have a special application.  I love to explore new possibilities and have great flexibility with short turn-around times!


My bench-made furniture line is individually crafted in the U.S. by hand-selected artisans.  The finest materials and workmanship go into every piece.  Each design is fully customizable and may be tailored to meet your specific needs.   New pieces will continue to be added to the collection and I offer a bespoke design service, collaborating with designers and owners.

As an architect and designer, I am thrilled to offer my work to a much larger audience.  I am excited to see how the patterns and forms I have developed provide inspiration to your next project!

I invite you to explore the web site at ramsaygourd.com and see what I've been up to.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or observations.  One of the beautiful things about a small young business is its ability to nimbly respond to market demands, and with our bespoke service offerings, we know that Ramsay Gourd Home can find a place in your home!

RAMSAY  GOURD  HOME

Fresh Classics for Modern LivingTM

Flat-Weave - The Classically Casual Rug

Flat-weave rugs have become the de-rigueur selection for floor covering of the millennium.  They have a simplicity that denotes a casual, laid-back lifestyle. That having been said, the offerings run the gamut.  From synthetic weather-resistant outdoor carpets to hand woven bath-mats, there is something for just about everyone and every budget.

Stripes are a staple of the flat-weave market.  This effect is simple to achieve by varying the color of the warp threads in a pleasing pattern.  However, world-over, there are historic examples of wonderful geometric flat-woven designs.  From Navajo blankets to Indian Dhurries, tribal traditions have infused meaning into the patterns that represent their cultures.

 

Today Dash and Albert offers panoply of outdoor rugs.  Woven from spun polypropylene, these carpets hold their color, resist mildew and are tough as nails!  We have one of these work-horses in our mudroom and it holds up to all that Vermont can dish out (including Mud Season!).

There are a number of retailers who have tapped the resources of mills in Asia to offer exceptional values in either cotton or course wool.  I recommend doing some research into the social responsibility of these manufacturers, as many of these sources endorse exploitive work practices.

For a truly special application, you might want to consider a custom woven rug.  Select colors from a wide range of pom-poms.  Develop a design or select a pattern from the weavers’ portfolio.  And roll out your truly custom creation.  These rugs make for great stair runners when woven in all wool.  Working with a skilled installer, fine details like mitered corners and hemmed edges bring a level of sophistication to this simple material.

Re-use, Replace or Reupholster

When working with clients on interior projects, one of my first tasks is to inventory their existing furnishings and artwork.  I am often asked by my clients the benefits of reupholstering versus buying new furniture.  Here there are a number of questions I ask to establish the viability of recycling a piece of upholstery. 

A well loved family sofa re-invented as a fun focal point

Does the piece have sentimental value?  Was this your father’s chair that was reserved solely for him when you were a child?  Does it evoke visceral memories of pipe smoke, single malts and newspapers? 

Is it beautiful?  Ignore the thread-bear arms that are held together with duct tape.  Does it have sensual lines or unusual massing.  Think about it as if it were a person.  Would you be interested in knowing it’s story if you met it on the street?

Is it exceptionally comfortable?  Does it have the perfect seat depth for your extra-long legs or the ideal angle of repose for napping?

If you cannot answer one of these questions with a resounding “yes”, it may be time to reassess your relationship with this house-mate of yours.  And while jettisoning an old couch and finding a fresh new shape might be OK in the world of furnishings, I don’t recommend taking this approach with spouses prior to serious soul-searching and intense counseling! 

The truth of the matter is that, depending on the condition of your frame and internal support system, it may be cost effective to buy a new piece altogether.  Some things to look for in an older piece might include:

A well made antique wing chair
midway through restoration

Solid hardwood frame construction with mortised and pegged connections

Hand-carved details (And not those that are “hand-carved” by women and children on a production linein  an emerging country)

Horse-hair stuffing and edge-roll

Down filled cushions

Hand-tied springs

One of my closest friends, Isaiah McCauliffe, is an exceptional upholsterer.  And I am often intrigued by seeing his patients lined up in the waiting room, ready to go under the knife of this skilled cosmetic surgeon.  Each has a story.  Some are nostalgic, like sofa that was laden with presents every Christmas morning for as long as memory serves.  While others are tragic, like the chair with three broken legs that was the collateral damage from a dormitory brawl, or the couch who’s back panel was chewed by a teething puppy.

This chair is NOT too far gone
and worth the investment of
reupholstery!

My friend, Isaiah, was quick to remind me not to give up hope when you think a piece is too far gone.  Even with internal organs trailing across your living room floor, that beloved ottoman may be salvageable.  “It’s what I do!” said Isaiah, referring to the reconstructive surgery of his trade.

If, once you have weighed the pros and cons of the decision of rehabilitating versus replacing a piece of furniture, you still cannot decide, flip a coin.  If you’re not happy with the outcome of the coin toss, you had already made up your mind!