On a recent “field trip”, Kerry Davis from Creating Your Space and I discovered the fabulous Jeff Newell and his company, Newell Design. It’s been some time since our discovery and this blog post is long overdue. I have started this post several times, but haven’t quite found the most effective and appropriate way to express to you how fabulous, delightful, creative, unique and inspiring Newell Design is.

The best description of the company is the one they use to describe themselves:

“Whether you are looking for one unique piece to compliment a room of existing furniture, or many new elements for a remodel, or designs to fill an entire house, our ability to listen to your needs and tastes, and respond with appropriate and compelling designs can be a great asset to your project.”

The image above is the piece that left us speechless (if you knew us both, you would know that is really saying something!) and our minds racing with ideas. Both having been in the flooring business for more years than we care to count, we thought long and hard about how best to tell you about Newell. We decided that rather than try to express how we feel about them, we would provide you with their website and encourage you to visit, spend some time and create your own impression. We hope you feel the same way. Dizzy with awe, appreciation and inspiration.

After viewing the image above and some pieces in their studio, our focus of course came back to flooring. First came the questions:

• What floors are deserving of these pieces?
• What type of floors would best compliment a piece such as the one above?
• Which do you choose first? The flooring to compliment the piece or the piece to compliment the floors?
• Does it matter? (because this stuff could make raw concrete look good)
• HOW DO WE GET ONE?!?

Then after much discussion, we came to some conclusions:

• These pieces can be the focal point of a design plan or the inspiration for a floor choice. The beauty is, if you have fabulous, existing floors Newell can design something for your space, your floors, your design scheme, your lifestyle and your needs. If you are beginning a new project with a blank canvas, then you get the pleasure of finding mutual compliments.
• We could envision this piece sitting on everything from wood to stone to concrete.  We talked about wood options from high polished Santos Mahogany to an exotic tiger wood to a wire brushed white washed oak to……..well, we talked about alot. In the stone category, the obvious choices are light colored travertines that are either polished, unpolished or even tumbled. Stones with range and stones without range – it doesn’t matter, but nothing so detailed that the pattern takes away from the attention this piece deserves. My vision so far only includes this piece and an amazing floor – any other piece of furniture that was allowed to accompany this piece would simply be a bonus to the room. Oh, can you imagine the area rug and fabric choices?
• Which to choose first? It depends on your situation. If you have a room with furniture needs, then you are in luck because chances are your room will be complete before a project that hasn’t been started and you will be sitting back in your favorite chair admiring your new room first. If you are at the beginning stages of a project and have all of the flooring options to choose from AND the need for furniture – then we suggest you call Jeff or his wife/partner Beth to make an appointment and bring an interior designer if for no other reason than to help you focus and make an informed decision because these pieces and the right floor choice will be with you forever.
• To get started, either contact your local flooring retailer and tell them you have a special project or call/email Jenn at Newell to make an appointment at 303.298.8572 or jen@newelldesignstudio.com. Don’t fret, if you aren’t in Denver, Colorado – they ship. (Although I would recommend getting on a plane. Their showroom is not flashy, it’s their studio where these works of art are created.)

Now that I’ve shared our experience with you, feel free to share yours with us. Have you heard of Newell before? Seen any pieces in person? Have a project in mind? Were you inspired by the website? What pieces are your favorite? Do any floors inspire you for this style?

PS – If you make it to Denver, check out the Gazelle Desk if it’s still in the entry. Remember that I told you it’s not the altitude that makes you feel the way you do, this piece will take your breath and give you goosebumps that might require medical attention.

-Shannon and Kerry