What Can Be Done In a DAY??? PART 2--(BEFORE & AFTERS)

/

I don’t know if you saw the fun, time-lapse video we created last week (make sure you check it out, if you haven’t yet!), but I wanted to be sure to share some more detailed STILL photos of the space and give an explanation of what was going on as we flew around in that video!

This space is actually the living room of my fearless, spunky design assistant, Annette—and she had been asking if we could work on the space together (“at least find me some new throw pillows!” ) because it had been feeling a bit tired to her…

I was so excited for us to do the space (so was Annette—she told me she could barely sleep the night before! :) ), and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out this new way of making videos!!

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN.

Annette has a degree in interior design, and has created a LOVELY home, but all of us need a fresh perspective on things from time to time (she has helped me many times in my own house when I am stuck!).

A new set of eyes on a room can pull things together in a completely different way—even with using most of WHAT IS ALREADY ON HAND IN THE SPACE.

That is essentially what Redesign is—repurposing & rearranging much of what is already on hand in the space, and then adding a few, strategically selected and expertly chosen finishing touches.

Here is what the room looks like now:

As is almost always the first step, we began by editing what was in the space and removing what was no longer working. The keyboard, which was rarely used, and older lamps were removed, as were some of the wall hangings, to make room for a cleaner, simpler room.

We added a fresh, more colorful area rug that had hints of orange and blue in it, and pulled all the seating pieces closer together to make for a more intimate conversation area.

I wanted to make a bold statement and really pull out the orange that was in Annette’s side chairs, so new throw pillows (YAY!) as well as a candles, poppy stems, and a pouf all come together to make the color really POP!

Annette had the most beautiful collection of seascape paintings that she has gathered over the years, and I wanted to make sure to highlight those as well by pulling them together into a striking grouping over the sofa (before they were spread out around the room, and they didn’t have as much of an impact).

Grouped together, they make a statement and really set the tone for the room. The soothing blues in these paintings are a wonderful counterpoint to the electricity of the oranges, and I made sure we carried the blues into other accents in the room, such as the vases, picture frames, soft new blue curtains, & a mixture of shades of blue in the pillows on the sofa.

JOB WELL DONE, I think! :D

DON’T FORGET—We are having a special on this SOULFUL REDESIGN IN A DAY which you can read more about here.

IT ONLY GOES UNTIL NOVEMBER 30th, & we have a limited number of spots, so CLAIM YOURS TODAY by emailing us at hello@revealingredesign.com right away!!

What can be done in a day?? A LOT!

/

So excited to share this fun video with you this week!!!—a time lapse video of our Soulful Redesign in a Day service, which we are offering a special on through November!!!!

The Soulful Redesign in a Day is a special package I have developed using my founding practice of REDESIGN (repurposing & rearranging much of what is already on hand in the space, and then adding a few, strategically selected and expertly chosen finishing touches). 

SO MUCH FUN. (Make sure you don't miss Annette, my assistant's, happy dance at the end!)

Because we have so little time before the holidays, I have only a few spots open for this special offer.  What does it include?:

      • Our Initial Consult—to look over the room and help you discern what you want to create in your new soulful space (so exciting!!).

      • Revealing Redesign’s Expert Prep & Planning— gathering all the items to pull your room together on the big day

      • The Soulful Redesign Day itself—where Erin & her team arrive to put everything in place, including rearranging furniture, hanging window treatments, artwork, etc so that your room is GORGEOUS and ready for its big reveal this holiday season!!

      • AND AN AMAZING BONUS—for just a short amount of time, I am throwing in a COMPLIMENTARY PAINT COLOR CONSULTATION (a $395 value) for those who call to book their redesign before November 30th, 2018! 

The first step is to schedule a House Call with me, which is our hour-long initial consult, developing ideas for your space. The $195 cost for the House Call will be deducted from the price of your package, should you decide to go forward with the Soulful Redesign in a Day—ANOTHER SUPER BONUS!)

If this sounds like something of interest to you, contact me today at  hello@revealingredesign.com or call (484) 904-7391 to book your House Call—Can’t wait to see you soon and start the transformation!

Black & White & "Just Right"

/

I wanted to take a little walk down memory lane and share one of my favorite posts I wrote back in 2011…Hope these neat old pictures inspire you all over again!!

Because of recent family events, lots of old family photos and memorabilia have surfaced around here. It started me thinking.... The pictures below are of one of my favorite places on earth, even though to my knowledge, I was only there once. The house no longer exists, but in my mind's eye it still sits quiet and proud on the quaint Santa Monica street where I visited my Great Aunt Margret when I was only 5 years old.

Margret, an avid gardener, lived in this house with her brother, my Great Uncle Dave, who was a landscape architect. The fact that these pictures even exist shows how much these transplanted midwesterners loved their little bungalow, and the gardens around it. Each picture has some type of notation on it...such as the numbers above listing the plants in the photo (on the back: "#2--sweet peas--way high now").

My experience visiting here as a child left a lasting impression on me, to say the least. It was a magical place the likes of which I had never seen in my five oh-so-long years of life, with its fragrant, blossoming grounds, the simple and uncluttered rooms, and the good feelings that seemed to reside there.

Finding these pictures helped me to see how this special place profoundly influenced me when searching for and creating the spaces I would live in as an adult.

In Winifred Gallagher's book House Thinking, she writes of research connecting the recognition of meaningful places in a person's past, and the ability to then create a "just-right home" that provides a "deep, gut-level feeling of identification and comfort." Have you been able to make that connection?

So, what are the rooms, homes and gardens of your past--environments in which you felt truly yourself, truly alive? These are spaces that Gallagher refers to as your "best places." Take some time to reflect, and you may find some clues to help you create a very meaningful, special, and comfortable place in which to live and thrive today.

When Things Don't Go As Planned

/

As they so often don't...


If your life is anything like mine (as I am pretty sure it is), there are times when the tide just seems to be pushing against you--maybe even throwing you against some nice sharp rocks. From petty annoyances to dammitall difficulties, day-to-day of life during these seasons of stress is busy, overwhelming and unpredictable. 

These are the times when it is so nice to have a live-in housekeeper and nanny. 

But again, if your life is anything like mine (as I am pretty sure it is) you don't.  

Not only is Alice from the Brady Bunch not in the kitchen with dinner ready when you get home, but there is a heaping pile of unopened mail on the counter, the cat box needs to be scooped (puh-lease!), the trash cans are overflowing, and you can't remember the last time you changed your sheets. 

The thing that we often do at these times to make matters worse (whether or not we admit it to ourselves), is create drama and criticism in an already difficult situation.  For example, we might imagine someone from whom we long to receive approval ( I dunno, Oprah? The Pope?), showing up unannounced (gasp!) at our front door wanting a full house tour. 

Because, you know that kind of thing happens all the time. 

Not. 

But nonetheless, we go there mentally, fully experiencing how unimpressive our life would be to these oh-so-impressive people.  "I really need to get my s%*t together," you say to yourself. "C'mon! What's wrong with me?!?"

I would like to offer an alternative to this personal flogging--one that will actually make things better--something that beating ourselves up never does. 

1. Fashion Small Victories: think about something that would make you feel better and more at peace in your home. We are not talking renovations or new paint colors--we are talking small--like a sink that is completely free of dirty dishes, a bed that is beautifully made, a load of wash that is put in the washer smellin' all good as it sloshes around. Pick one. Do it. Celebrate.

2. Remember- Progress Not Perfection: As in step number 1 above, paying attention to the things we can do right now with our limited time and resources, is so much more helpful that being critical of ourselves for not getting everything done all at once. The last thing we need right now is judgment and negativity--so make sure you aren't creating any of it yourself with your own thoughts. Repeat this mantra after me: "Peaceful progress, peaceful progress, peaceful progress…"

3. Schedule A "Do Nothing" Day:  Sometime later this month, after the stomach bug has finally left the building, the deadline has been met at work, and the dog has safely passed the miniature action figure she ate last week, put a day on your calendar that is simply for you. Let no one schedule anything on this day--really. Plan on lazying around in your jammies and doing what seems best to you moment to moment.  If you do want to re-create some order around the house on this day, do so slowly and in a way that is fun and enjoyable--no deep cleaning or breaking a sweat.  (If you are already arguing with me that this is not possible, there are too many things TO DO and PLACES TO BE, we need to talk. You absolutely can take a whole day just for you. You are worthy of that, and the world will not stop turning if you check out for 24 hours. Trust me.)

While these seasons of stress are absolutely no fun, we can be mindful that life is not like this all the time (thank GOD!). During the stressful times, we must remember to be kind and understanding with ourselves and create peaceful progress that will carry us forward.