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June 30,
2008 Southlake
The Lady in
Lavender
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Judy Gaman, BSHS, CMA, CCRC, CID
La Dame Aux Lavande Designs/Owner
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A
poem, that speaks of growing old in a wonderfully outrageous style, was written in 1961 by Jenny Joseph who lives in Minchinhampton, England.
It is popularly known by many titles including, of course, the actual title "Warning", as well as by "When I Am An Old Woman", "The Purple Poem", "Old Woman", "I Shall Wear Purple", simply "Purple" and by other affectionate names.
The poem is said to be
cherished by women all over the world that enjoy its light-hearted
humor, including Southlake's Judy Gaman. Judy took the love
of the poem one step further and named her design business
,"La Dame Aux Lavande." A literal French
translation is "The Lady in Lavender."
For one that came
into the interview NOT being a woman that cherished the poem, I
had to spend a little Internet research time to gather a better
understanding.
After reading the poem, the purple clothes fit! Certainly
one has to appreciate the poem's laissez faire approach to growing
old, but the real meaning, at least in the case of Judy; here is a lady
with a creative mind with a flair for design but
has some very practical elements that guide her in a growing
business. |
Because of copyright restrictions, we are unable to publish the entire poem
in this article. However, following is an adapted version of the poem,
I found on another website, so readers can get an idea of what it is about.
WARNING
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens . . .
The ending of the poem pleases its readers when the woman says . . .
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
Certainly, this successful business woman with her bright
smile, beautiful blue eyes AND her lavender wardrobe is a long way
from the chronological period referenced in the poem. She may be
doing a little practice now but she is the inverse
of the lady "which doesn't go and doesn't suit
me." Judy has made a career of finding out what looks
good and, most of all what suits her clients. |
Designed by Judy
Gaman, BSHS, CMA, CCRC, CID
La Dame Aux Lavande Designs/Owner
Click on photo
to enlarge |
Judy's offices are
lined with sketches done on behalf of her residential
clients. While Judy handles a substantial amount of
residential remodeling and design, her designs in the healthcare
field make her a leader in her industry. |
Judy performs a unique
"psychology of color test" for clients to determine the
best color combination in home and office.
 |
Judy
used to work out of her home, however the growth of her business
required that she relocate in her current professional office
space at 1205 S. White Chapel Blvd. in Southlake.
Of course, one other factor came into play for the girl born in
Michigan, grew up in Cleburne and now the mom and/or step mom for
ten children, ages 6 to 30!
At first, Judy's current occupation seems a very long way from her
Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences earned from George
Washington University.
However, she has merged her interest and further education, with
multiple certifications, in design with her George
Washington Degree to create a niche area of her business that is
truly unique, innovative and can actually improve health! |
As
part of her senior studies at George Washington, Judy undertook a
case study on how one's environment can impact your blood
pressure. With her degree concentration on research, Judy
decided to explore the "White Coat Hypertension Syndrome" (when
a Doctor walks into a room in white coat studies indicate
patients' blood pressure would actually rise), one step
further. The patient's blood pressure was measured at
various times, including at home and in the doctor's office.
A patient would be put into a typical waiting room with its white
walls, cheap chairs, lack of decor and general sterile feel.
The patient's blood pressure would be taken and, for the most
part, all were elevated to some extent. No doctor ever
entered the room.
On the ruse that the room was needed for another, the patient was
then moved to a room without fluorescent lights furnished with
pleasing colors, nice furniture, subdued lighting and a
non-sterile feel. Then the doctor would come into the room
and rummage through some books as if he were looking for
something. Amazingly, not only did the patient's blood
pressure not become elevated at the site of the doctor, their
blood pressure typically returned to pre-stress numbers. |
Judy's design is seen
above located at Executive Medicine in Southlake. She
specializes in designs that are sensitive to the health care of
the individual, both in homes and medical offices. |
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The Las Colinas PET imaging facility is a La Dame Designed Facility.
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Judy
has combined her healthcare training with her talent for design to
build a reputation as one of the leading specialist healthcare
designers.
She virtually wrote the book on the advantages of chucking the old
theories that the medical facility has to look like a
sterilization chamber. In fact, Judy pointed out, there is
now a wide variety of designer available products that provide and
promote as much or more ability to maintain the integrity of the
facilities' need to keep the rooms clean and sanitized.
When given the option for the medical personnel, that is one
office in the old design and another designed by Judy; the
personnel clearly prefer the working environment and results in
the latter. Judy pointed out that when doctors, for example,
bid out their offices with the old style sterile look versus the
rich tones and comfortable surroundings that she designs, the
difference in cost could be summed up to 1 or 2 patients
difference, at best, per day. However, Judy said that
her designed facilities typically result in a patient spending
more quality time with the doctor and being more
forthcoming. These facts alone have contributed to doctors'
better understanding and health care preventive approaches. She
pointed out one example of her design is the use of "QuiteRock"
versus normal sheetrock. This new design is virtually sound proof
and provides the assurance that one patient can not hear another
in the next room. |
Judy is
passionate about her work and points out that, if one understands
healthcare, then why not implement the same knowledge in the design of
homes where people actually spend most of their time. She said that
more times than not, when the remodel work has been completed, the owner
feels that the house has now become their personal home and actually enjoy
spending more time there. The overwhelming majority of Judy's
residential business has been by referrals of other clients.
BEDROOM BEFORE: This outdated bedroom was filled with furniture that made it feel closed in. The door entrance to the bathroom was also changed when the bathroom was relocated during the remodel.
Click on BEDROOM AFTER photo to enlarge. |
BEDROOM AFTER: The clean lines of this beach style retreat are evident in the bamboo floors, rattan furniture, and seagrass wall. Custom furniture and custom bedding bring the home owner's favorite colors to life. Wooden blinds and a wooden leaf fan finish the look. |
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"Judy tells us that some people think they know what style they like, but when she does a psychological color test, their supposed style clashes with the test results. For
example, "Most people have heard of Old World, French Country, or Modern Eclectic, but don't have a grasp of their meaning."
Judy's
approach is that each new or design/remodeling job is custom. She says that the only identifiable marker of her work should be the high quality. A true custom design is never a reflection of the designer, but the client. Most importantly, Judy's design for commercial or residential
is underlined by one common theme, the design is timeless and the design
is personalized. |
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This bathroom had outdated wallpaper, a very small shower, and a dysfunctional
counter space that was cluttered with necessary toiletries. |
This custom bamboo cabinetry comes with a garage for storing blow dryers and make-up. The water fall faucets and glass bowl sinks give it a modern flare. |
A rounded shower, complete with a bench seat and a shower tower has plenty of elbow room. |
Full size linen closet made from bamboo has three pull out hampers. No more sorting the whites, colors, and dry cleaning. |
Judy said that
as her business began to blossom, she talked with her children at
home. "I asked them if they wanted me to quit and spend more
time with them," explained Judy, "The kids said absolutely not,
they wanted me to continue and even join in with our projects to help out
at times."
As if the wife of a busy doctor, a his, mine and ours mom of 10 and a
successful businesswoman is not enough to fill this lovely overachiever's
time; she is also co-author of a book! Yes, coming out in bookstores
this August, her book "What Not to Build." The book can be
preordered on Amazon. Judy co-authored the book with Sandra Edelman
and Robbie Reid. No information yet on local autograph book
signings, but LNO will keep your advised. Judy Gaman, another local
business owner that puts a stamp on what is so special about the cities in
northeast Tarrant County. Judy's office is located in Southlake at
1205 S. White Chapel, Suite 285 and she can be reached at 817.706.5839
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Available in
bookstores in August..preorder with Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
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