Night Out

Last Thursday night, my husband and I were giddy as we climbed in the car. We had given the list of bedtimes and what to fix  for dinner to the sitter, and we were off.....off to enjoy dinner, a lovely bottle of wine,  and the luxury of  time to SIT STILL and have two cups of coffee after the meal. Decadent. We finished our sentences without anyone else interrupting, made frequent, lingering eye contact, held hands across the table, and actually had periods of quiet where no one was talking....

It had been a rough day for my husband, and it would be a rough weekend to follow, since he was brewing a nasty cold that would keep him in bed with a fever for the better part of Saturday--due in no small part, I am sure , to all the stress he has been under. But it was so nice, and important, that we had a chance to reconnect.

Putting the time aside to spend with those we love should be at the top of the list of all New Year's resolutions....or whatever "to do" list you are making today, tomorrow & every day....

Uncomfortable Where You Are, Unsure of Where To Go

Oftentimes, a new client will contact me because they know that their room or house in its current state is uncomfortable to them, and they are ready to make a change. What they are unsure of is the direction in which to go~Which path will get them to their destination? Which routes are too costly? They can even wonder what is the desirable destination, anyway??

So begins the process of finding our way! There are a number of things that help us on our journey. The questions below help to leave breadcrumbs, distinguish landmarks, and chart the course so that we can arrive at a space that is functional, beautiful, and just right for the people who will be using it. It is essentially drawing a map that we will use to ensure safe passage...

1. How do you want the room to feel when it is finished? It is important to be specific when answering this question, because a clear answer will help you to determine things that fit that feeling for you, versus those that DON'T.  For instance, a room in which you want to feel "carefree, and completely relaxed," should not contain a white sofa that has loose scatterback pillows always in need of straightening, and a coffee table on which you can't set down a drink without a coaster. Just sayin'....

2. What is the purpose of the room? What function does it provide for those who use it? Does this sound like a silly question to you? You would be amazed how often there are things in a room that have NOTHING to do with helping that room meet its purpose and support you. These things are there sometimes by default, they are taking up valuable space, and are just in your way. Answer that question with clarity, and move the clutter out.

3. What is appealing to you? Pages out of magazines that you are drawn to, rooms from favorite places in your past (like we talked about last week), types of fabrics, favorite colors, the list can go on and on. When you answer this question, go back to #1, and see which of these favorites evoke the feeling you want for the space. If it fits the feeling, then you can go on to see how you want to add that element to the room.

Vintage map image courtesy of BananaStrudel.

Walk Through That Door

Have you seen the movie Temple Grandin, about the "different--not less," brilliant woman by the same  name?  Ms. Grandin is autistic, and because of  amazing ability to see things unlike anyone else,  she has developed revolutionary systems and machines improving the lives of cattle, making their lives, and eventual deaths, far more humane.

Many people had recommended the movie to me, especially because my son is also on the Autism Spectrum.  We watched it as a family last year, and we were riveted. Here is a clip that shows some of her revolutionary designs, and her ability to help many, many people have a different understanding of what it means to be Autistic.

I have been thinking a lot about that movie this week. Ms. Grandin thinks in pictures--something that, as a visual thinker myself, I totally can relate to. At times when faced with a major challenge, a terrifying next step she would have to take (something so difficult not only due to her diagnosis, but also due to the time period, and her gender), she would picture a door  in front of her, and then imagine herself walking through it.

"A door opened! And I went through it."

There is a door in front of me now too, as I explore new avenues and things that I want to develop in this business of mine. God, please grant me the courage to go through it.

Today is the Last Day!

 

Today is the last day to register for Decluttered & Delightful at the early registration price! Hope to hear from you today!! And hope to see you there.....

Check out the details below!

Decluttered & Delightful in 2012ONLY TWO MORE DAYS TO REGISTER WITH THE SPECIAL PRICE!!!  a course in creating a home that speaks to your soul, organizes your life, and helps you put your best foot forward in the world! Learn how to kick clutter to the curb, set your house up so that it works for you (& not the other way around), & create an environment in your home that is nurturing to you and those you love! Monday Evenings 1/23/12 thru 2/13/12, 7:30-9pm Locust Hill Professional Center  327 West Baltimore Pike Media, PA $137.50 Email your registration form today! Limited space! Contact us today! SAVE $25 if you register before 1/7/12!!! ONLY $112.50!!

Black & White & "Just Right"

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.

Aunt Margret's House 2

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").

Aunt Margret's House 6

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.

Aunt Margret's House 4

Aunt Margret's House 5

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.

Aunt Margret's House 8

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.