by Aries Moore

Helllloooooowwww – That’s a howling hello to you from Aries Moore, Design Muse. Design Muse you ask, what do you mean by that?  Well folks, I am a working breed of dog. Yes, I am beautiful but I work hard providing inspiration for my delightful master (mistress) as she works to create functional and stunning homes for her clients.

A little background. I am a greyhound and for those of you who don’t know. A greyhound is a sight hound—that means our vision is great! So great in fact I help Lucynda Moore as her visionary when she is concepting design work.

That is where the job title “design muse” comes in or you can simply refer to me as the Dog of Design.

For example, I rode along with Lucynda when she went to meet a new client, Ryan Montgomery. He had called a few days earlier to seek our opinion on a house in the Augusta Circle neighborhood that he and his wife were considering purchasing. Ryan couldn’t remember the house address but told us it was
the “ugliest house on the street” and we would know it when we saw it! Well, let me tell you, we figured out which one it was easily.

As I trotted around the yard, sniffing out the previous canine visitors I noticed that the facade was just simply uninviting and outdated. I was convinced that the Montgomery’s (they are dog people after all) must have vision too since they were even considering this place.

Lucynda began sketching while talking (a common occurrence) to create a unifying element that combined the hodgepodge collection of siding and roofing elements into a standout design, I lay down and gave her that knowing look, you know the
one—it says this place needs a really cool porch—for dinner parties & hanging out watching the kids play as well as giving a real sense of entry.

She felt my vibe and began tying the homes various elements  into a porch that reflected the fact that we ARE in South  Carolina . The South that is a place for porches. A place for the dog to lie and keep watch over his domain. The initial design sketch created a definite entry as well as appealing facade on the street—adding a bow front portion of porch to expand the dining room and an outdoor living space for conversations and  waving to neighbors. This concept, I will howl it out myself, convinced the Montgomery’s that we were good. Very good.
Especially the Dog of Design.

Time passed. It could have been mere minutes or months (I lose track as soon as she walks out of my line of sight—I am a SIGHT hound, you know) as I waited for Lucynda to finish  translating the design musings I was sending her into drawings that reinvigorated the whole house. Once we were measuring the original house (well…I was supervising from a pillow) and trying to determine how the house first looked—before the carport was turned into an apartment or the screened porch was converted to a cheesy (mmmmmmCheese) paneled space—and I thought to myself, this whole back section should be the kitchen (mmmmm…where the cheese is….) and we could even add a back porch toward the garage for everyone coming and going. I trotted down the hall with all the twists
and tiny doors to find She who Draws ( and gives me cheese ) so that through my wordless staring the idea would come to her.

And now, the house is finished. Check out the pictures of the really cool porch that She Who Draws got just right! I know that the Montgomery’s French Bulldog, Roxy must love it. It’s perfect for Foxy Roxy to survey her world and keep a sharp eye on her three Short People Who Drop Food.

Who knows, the Dog of Design may be coming to a  neighborhood near you, stay tuned!