SCHOLARSHIP WINNER SPOTLIGHT
Congratulations on being a winner of the 2nd Annual Rocky LaFleur Scholarship Fund Student Competition! Tell us what most inspired you about the brief and drove the vision for your project.
Thank you so much! I’m truly grateful for this opportunity. I started my design process by reading about Rocky and taking an inspiration trip to Kneedler Fauchère. At the showroom, I gravitated towards the elegant and fantastical pieces from Porta Romana. I felt that many of them embodied the French word ‘rocaille’ and the Rococo period, which referenced 18th century grottos adorned with rocks and shells. When I learned that Rocky had both a vibrant, joyful personality and a deep spiritual practice, I thought that the themes of the Rococo would be perfectly suited for his countryside place of respite. Conceptually, the period spoke to both the inner and outer realms that Rocky inhabited, as it balanced play and fantasy with leisure, relaxation, and nature. I decided to reinterpret the motifs from a conceptual standpoint, rather than decorating with all period-specific pieces. Throughout the three rooms, I combined carved plaster pieces with rock and shell motifs alongside those with a more adventurous and contemporary sense of pattern, form, and color. The Pierre Frey Litho Bench, Gregorius Pineo Magritte Console, and the Porta Romana Edna lamp were among my favorites.
Which space or feature of the Chateau Guest House was your most favorite to design?
My favorite area of the Chateau Guest House was the Salon. The room featured 12’h ceilings and windows, which created an opportunity to play with scale and form. I chose to hang an oversized Pierre Frey verdure tapestry as a backdrop to an atypical, playful seating arrangement. I used additional moldings to help break up the oversized walls and incorporated Porta Romana sconces, mirrors, and a large watercolor painting by artist Kayt Fitzmorris. I had a lot of fun designing this space and finding appropriate-sized fixtures and hangings.
You were asked to incorporate products sold by KF in your project - which product and/or KF supplier partner stands above the rest to you, and why?
I have so many favorites that it is almost hard to choose. During my trip to the showroom, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Pierre Frey’s textiles. The general palette and overall aesthetic of my design was inspired by the ‘Touraine’ jacquard and the ‘Au Bord du Lac’ tapestry. I worked with many additional Pierre Frey textiles in my project, all with such a huge range in what they were able to contribute to the overall design. Their textural depth, intricacy, and color is really unparalleled.
What about Rocky’s legacy resonates most with you?
I really loved reading about Rocky and talking to his colleagues about their memories. I am deeply inspired by Rocky’s passion, generous spirit, and way of life. His exuberant personality balanced a vibrant social life with a deep spiritual practice. Above all, he centered love in all his relationships and endeavors, which is so apparent in his work. I aspire to lead with love, generosity, joy, and a sense of optimism, especially within my work. Rocky’s legacy is a reminder of the values I hold dearly.
Will we see you in Paris 2024, or have you decided to use your prize money to further your education?
I will be attending Paris for Déco Off. I have such a strong love for Paris and am so excited for the opportunity to be immersed in all its design offerings.
Congratulations! Tell us what most inspired you about this year’s brief and drove the vision for your project.
What I loved about this year's brief is its contrast in scale to last year's. Figuring out efficient yet luxurious space planning was an enjoyable challenge. I also quickly leaned into the idea that it would be a place for Rocky to come together with smaller groups of guests but also to be alone. This helped to set the stage for planning how public and private certain areas would be.
I have a close friend who is a world traveler, and we had been talking recently about her experiences trying to find durian fruit in the boat markets in Vietnam, traveling from market to market on an adventure to try to find someone who would sell one to this small and persistent American lady. While I never met Rocky, this felt like a story he may have enjoyed. As I was thinking about the boat markets, I realized that, conceptually, they were their own individual entities that could come together to form a larger market or break off to be on their own. Having been a French colony, Vietnam has design ties to France, and the boat markets have their own vernacular of colors, materials, and textures to draw from. While it doesn't seem an obvious jumping-off point for a 16th-century French chateau, it all came together and just fit.
Which space or feature of the Chateau Guest House was your most favorite to design?
This is like picking a favorite child. The feature I loved designing the most was the glass wall and pivot doors between the dining and the living room. I knew I wanted to do a glass separator between the spaces, and when I found Theodore Ellison's glass work it all came together and helped inform the design for not just those rooms, but the other two as well. As for space, I loved designing Rocky's guest room and office. Realizing that the small window on the east wall just went into the stairwell really opened the possibilities for built-ins and allowed the wall space for a Murphy bed. And once I replaced a swing door with a pocket door, I had all the room for everything I wanted to do in there
Which product and/or KF supplier partner stands above the rest to you, and why?
I found myself returning to Holly Hunt over and over. Their pieces are so modern and versatile. Gregorius Pineo products were frequently the last missing puzzle pieces, namely the San Lorenzo chandelier in the dining room and the Valmonte Bed in Rocky's room. I also could have used Erden rugs everywhere. The colors and textures are gorgeous and perfect for the design.
What about Rocky’s legacy resonates most with you?
His support for and love of students. Having coached women's roller derby for years, I always aimed to help those coming up be more prepared and better skilled than I was -- it's how the league would keep up the quality of athleticism we had worked so hard to build. I think in any field, whether sport or profession, there's a fear-based tendency to try to keep people out or keep the competition small. But in reality, there's more than enough for everyone, and there's something to learn from every success, whether it's yours or someone else's. And anyway, isn't it more fun to cheer for each other than not? Everything I've learned about Rocky makes me believe he'd be cheering all of us on.
Will we see you in Paris 2024, or have you decided to use your prize money to further your education?
Truthfully, I already had my ticket to Paris before the competition was announced! So, I'm happy to use this to pay off some of that expense and take myself out for champagne -- anyone's free to join me!
Congratulations — this is your second time winning! Tell us what most inspired you about this year’s brief and drove the vision for your project.
Firstly, words cannot express the gratitude I have for being selected as one of the winners of this year’s competition. Thank you to the judges, those who organized the competition again, and everyone who spreads Rocky's warmth. And of course, thank you to Rocky for leaving such a beautiful legacy.
Having had the opportunity to experience the hustle and bustle of Paris last year, I recognize the yearn to depart from city life from time to time. The spellbinding countryside surrounding the Château de la Chevallerie orchestrated the vision to bring peace and comfort to Rocky’s visits to France. I sought to imbue the magic of nature into these spaces, guided by landscape paintings, to create an atmosphere of calm and connection. In turn, Rocky can enchant his guests as the passionate and optimistic “Design Icon”.
Which space or feature of the Chateau Guest House was your most favorite to design?
The Salon was quite an exciting space to design. The challenge, of course, was that it is technically two spaces. The dining area and living area had to speak with each other yet be distinct enough and offer a variety of functions. This room was where I most sought to explore the concept of nature, striving to hint at a forest.
Which product and/or KF supplier partner stands above the rest to you, and why?
The Turku Lounge Chair from Ironies stood out to me as the star of my project last year, and this year it was the Marcel Lounge Chair, also from Ironies. So, it seems Ironies is the winner! Their pieces possess the inspiration from nature that I so greatly enjoy. There’s also a breath of elegance and timelessness that outpaces the trends of today.
What about Rocky’s legacy resonates most with you?
At every design event I’ve attended, someone has mentioned Rocky, how marvelous he was, and how wonderful he made them feel. It’s clear that he was much loved and appreciated, and I am disappointed that I was never able to meet him. The part of Rocky’s legacy that inspires me most is the message and effects of his connection-making to act in the best interest of those you meet and to make them feel welcomed and included. It is human nature to want to feel connected, and he provided that space to everyone he met. It seems that the design industry is so tight knit thanks to him, and I am so uplifted to see and be a part of this.
Will we see you in Paris 2024, or have you decided to use your prize money to further your education?
Initially, I was going to strictly use the prize money for tuition. However, after much thought, I don’t think I want to miss an opportunity to go to Paris again with our design community!
