The pause that refreshed

On September 15-17, Wells & Fox had their sixth design retreat. Our meetings left us renewed, reinvigorated, and ready to get back to work. The 14 members of the Chicago and Boston offices kicked off the weekend at Heather's vacation home in North Sutton, NH, on Kezar Lake.

Each retreat is an opportunity to reflect and view our vision statements with fresh eyes—and to hear from new staff members about their understanding of our mission. This year we talked about how our projects share quality, harmony, and balance of scale; how education and research keep us inspired; and how our passion for design shows. Then we had fun reflecting upon our successes and challenges.

We took time to discuss what works—and what we may want to tweak in our operations and working methods. Having Heather's dog Henry in the office definitely works. (Our committed canine also added a certain je ne sais quoi to the retreat.) As for bipeds, Barry's continued commitment to the non-profit Project Place makes us all feel good. Sarah sharing her knowledge of Adobe Photoshop helped us improve our skills, and now that our employee handbook has been revamped, we're all on the same page. We'll continue to refine our skills as we update our website, reorganize our CAD files, and clarify our procedures, among other changes.

A fun alternative activity, Janine administered the Meyers Briggs, a work personality test, so we could gain insight into our methods of collaborating. What did we find? That we generally share a similar approach—which helps us achieve amazing results.

But the retreat wasn't simply an intellectual pursuit. We also shared delicious meals prepared by a chef, took walks with Henry, and visited a historic New Hampshire home, the Fritz and Barbara Hunting Residence, to view its antiques and hear about its restoration.

Our time together enjoying the fall weather was short but sweet. We had only one regret: that the weather didn't permit a campfire for roasting s'mores.

Memories fuel camp makeover

Bright and shiny

A family with young children sought a timeless family home that reflected their colorful lifestyle. The design we created in their midwestern house is grounded in the classic, with antiques, oriental rugs, and custom upholstery, garnished with funky colors to add a contemporary edge. Taupe, mocha, and crisp white form a backdrop from which bright cerulean blue, salmon, and apple green can pop. Antiqued mirrors and polished nickel add a finishing gloss.

West coast talent comes east

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