Throwing Out The Box - Part Deux

"Home should be your sanctuary.  Today's world can sometimes sadden me - we are overworked, often underpaid and scrounging to make ends meet yet we are constantly connected to our phones, our computers, our work.  We all need a place to unwind and what better place to do that than home?"

You remember this from our last discussion?  The rules still apply :-)  So what other elements can we apply to your home so that it truly IS your sanctuary.  Items 1 through 3 were VERY important so I hope you have given them some thought.  Let's keep up the momentum, shall we?

4. Organic:
Keeping your home alive is the best advice I can offer you.  Now I am not telling you to change your life, start eating organic (although there's nothing wrong with that) or change your lifestyle.  I am telling you to keep your interior real.

Nature has HUGE healing properties.  And while you may not be "in tune" with nature (case in point, myself, who has a healthy dose of respect for nature but for goodness sake, don't ask me to sleep outdoors!) you can introduce some of the elements to give the illusion of bringing nature inside.  NO, I do not want to see a home full of houseplants, no I do not want you to go from modern to country, and no, I am not trying to convert you.  I want you to have the feeling of the great outdoors, with a giant twist.

Introduce greenery...an easy-to-care for Bamboo plant, PAINT, decorative rocks or stones, SHAPE.  I cannot stress the need for organic shapes enough.  Shape is important, shape is real, shapes are soothing.  Some examples of all these...

Bamboo in a window sill will bring a room to light

Shapes are calming - shapes are true

Sage green grounds this space

 See how easy that was?  Need more? Fresh flowers on a wood table captures nature effortlessly.  A metal wall hanging in a traditional room grounds a space...the possibilities are endless.

MOST IMPORTANT TIP THAT I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH - REALLY.

Dried flowers are a thing of the PAST (really cannot stress that enough)  - Toss them.  Immediately.  Dead flowers equal dead home.  Go on, do it.

Wood comes alive with greenery and river rocks (courtesy FreshHome)

5. Mix and Match
Most often heard "argument" between my clients - We Don't Have The Same Taste!
PSHAW, I say!  Do not be afraid dear readers.  So you are modern and he is country.  So he is traditional and you are eclectic.  Fear not.  As you were married, we can marry your tastes and styles.

His shabby table - your modern chairs (credit RH)

Your country paired with his traditional (note the table greenery!!) (credit: RH)

Credit: Prairie Perch

Do you see how all the elements work together?  You can have brilliant spaces by mixing and matching the tastes and preferences of everyone in your home.  It works!  Not sure how exactly? Consult with us...

6. Finally, Let There Be Air

Nothing is more stifling to your psyche than dead air.  It's harmful to your well being and can impact your days and nights.  Baby, it can be hot outside.  Baby, it can be cold outside.  OPEN UP THE WINDOWS.  The biggest "pick-me-up" I can offer you is fresh air.  Even in the dead of winter, opening up the windows can clear your mind.  Take 5 minutes to open up every window in your home (regardless of the temps outside) and BREATHE.  Just for 5 minutes then you can close it back up.  Air circulation does the mind so much good and you will infinitely feel better in your space.

And let there be light...Do away with those heavy draperies and open up your space.  You can purchase light weight draperies that offer heat insulation properties now so you are longer weighed down by heavy fabrics and light blocking draperies.

In the evenings, turn off the lights and light some candles.  Not only is it romantic, it's so calming.  You'll have no choice but to relax.  The harshness of bright, overhead lights are tough on the eyes and do us no good.  We don't need bright, artificial light - dim the bulbs, enjoy the ambiance - make a change.

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I hope I have allowed you to take a few steps forward to your new and improved living arrangements.  Baby steps and an open mind are all it takes.  Don't be boxed in by the box, and don't feel you have to think outside of it.  Forget the darn box!  It it feels right, do it.  If it makes you happy inside, do it.

If you need assistance, please feel free to contact me.  It's difficult to address all the steps in one blog post, so if you need more, just ask.  It's what I'm here for.

Enjoy the peace my friends.

P.S. Next week we'll address some of the most frequently asked questions I get.  Stay tuned.

Throw Out The Box!

Some people have trouble thinking outside the box.  So let's throw out the box, shall we?

Decor choices can be overwhelming, no?  From Pinterest to television to magazines, we are constantly being reminded as to how quickly trends can change, the do's, the don'ts and the what-were-you-thinkings when it comes to decorating.

I want to dispel a myth or two about how you should (or should not) decorate.  If you are currently living in your forever home (no plans to sell within the next 5-10 years or your last residence until your kids put you in a really nice, 24 hour butler service nursing home complete with spa) then traditional rules do not apply.  For the most part.

1) Your home should be a reflection of you and your family.  Modern? Traditional? Eclectic?

2) Your home should be comfortable.

3) Your home should be livable.

4) Your home should be functional.

We took on a home not long ago that was in desperate need of an design intervention.  This beautifully laid out home had not only been badly built (we had to address and fix those issues as well) it had been horribly decorated.  Horrible is a strong word, no?  It was horrible.  Really.

Having heard the history of the previous owners I had no problem believing that the house had a huge impact on how they were living.  The colors were aggressive, bold, had no rhyme or reason and just looking at those colors made me feel agitated.  Yes, agitated.

Home should be your sanctuary.  Today's world can sometimes sadden me - we are overworked, often underpaid and scrounging to make ends meet yet we are constantly connected to our phones, our computers, our work.  We all need a place to unwind and what better place to do that than home?

You should want to unwind, relax, unload and BREATHE the minute you walk in the door.  And you can.  No, really you can.

1. Paint: Color has a HUGE impact on our lives.  Color is meant to make a statement, yes.  But it should be geared to make the statement YOU want.  Soft or carefully selected bright colors to soothe or bold, brash color to provoke?  It's your choice. Consider the room, the lighting, the environment first.  What do you want to accomplish in that room?

2. Clutter: Oh the dreaded clutter.  I am not suggesting you part with your treasured collectibles.  I am merely suggesting you control them.  Find them a spot, a niche of their own.  Mail, long forgotten papers? Trash them!  Nothing clutters the mind like a cluttered home.  If you can adopt the "everything in its place and a place for everything " way of life your general, overall happiness gauge just went up :-)

3. Functionality: Is your home functional?  Here's a thought...it's not because the previous owners or the builder of your home called the dining room the dining room that you have to use it for the dining room.  Capiche?  Maybe your family room would make a better dining room?  May be you don't need the dining room at all but it would make an outstanding home office?  There's the box again.  DO NOT feel stymied by your floor plan.  Shake it up a little.  Move it around.  Make your home what you need it to be and not what people think it should be.

I will talk about this some more next week but let's start small, shall we?  Try tackling numbers one through 3 and get back to me.  Jot down your ideas, comb through magazines, find those interiors you love and make a plan.  Unsure?  Contact me. Baby steps. Baby steps before we go full throttle and change the way you look at your home forever.

Phancy will have you relaxed in no time.