A Sensory Experience

With the cold, grey days we have at this time of year, it is easy to think that there isn't much around us to savor. 

But maybe we are wrong.

As this little sparrow proved to me a few winters ago, as he would sit outside our family room window and sing his little heart out day after day...

maybe we need to pay attention to things in a whole new way. 

When I think back to the winter days days when my children were very small--even though we were often stuck inside our little old house as the winter winds whipped outside-- it was still a delight to see the world through their eyes as they experienced sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes for the first time.

It is a bit sad to me that as we "grow up" we become removed from the joy and wonder of our senses. It can be restorative to remind ourselves to pay attention to each one of them once again.

To be mindful of each of our senses, one at a time, is a great way to slow down and really appreciate all that is so good around us. And where better to do this than in our homes?

Maybe the things that we love about where we live has become white noise to us, things that we no longer take in or appreciate. 

When I take the time to pay attention, it is amazing how many simple yet wonderful sensory joys are present each day in my home. Here are a few favorites that come to mind for me:

• Hearing--birdsong, Mozart, the quiet of the house after everyone has gone to bed....
• Sight--family pictures, treasured artwork, green daffodil shoots emerging outside, the faces of those I love.
• Smell--freshly washed towels, favorite meals cooking in the kitchen, coffee in the morning.
• Touch--our comfy family room chair, soft blankets and sheets on the bed, my dog's velvety ears.
• Taste--any meal I didn't have to cook :)...oh, and a glass of wine.

What are your favorites?? Please be sure to write some in the comments!~Can't wait to hear them!!!

How To Pick Paint Colors??--Not A Black or White Issue

Painting, inside or out, is truly one of the fastest ways to totally transform your house.

But to fully take advantage of all of that bang for your buck and achieve the transformation that you want, colors are needed that will pull everything together and make the materials of the building or space sing in harmony.

Sounds daunting, doesn't it?

But really it is tons of fun, and one of my favorite things to do!!

As you can see, the house's facade had stone detail with BRIGHT white siding and black trim, which was stark and cold next to the earth tones of the stone. I was excited that my clients were game to change their color palette, and knew that we could achieve a much more cohesive and inviting look...

Using the tones in the existing stone, we worked to pull out the warmth and depth that was already there.

Even with new vinyl clad windows finished in bright white, I felt it was important to choose a different trim color for the other "white" areas of the facade (porch trim as well as window casings, etc.) that didn't just match, but rather gave depth to the bluish white of the new sashes. The warm white of the trim would smooth the visual transition from the new materials to the old in a subtle and graceful way.

It may be hard to see in this photo below, but the trim around the windows is this warm white, which adds detail and richness to the overall look. Going with the bluish white of the vinyl would not have had the same results...

The door color was chosen by pulling out a dark grey green tone also found in the stonework...

& the same color was used for the garage doors as well...

Now that the colors and materials of the house's exterior are working together, the house has a more unified appearance and extends a warmer welcome to all!

Keep Calm and Throw it Out

The feeling of calm is something that can be in short supply in our busy lives--and it is the feeling that most of us long to create in our homes. 

Should be easy, right? 

The mistake we can make is thinking that to improve a room, we have to ADD something. But in this case what is missing is CALM, and to create this much sought after feeling, we most often need to take something away. 

Because we are such busy people, we often have a lot of STUFF out in our homes and don't realize how this changes how we feel each day. 

You see, when we have a lot of stuff sitting out, it is almost like having a group of people all talking at us at the same time. You may not really "see" all of those items on the shelf or stuck on the refrigerator anymore --it may have become white noise to you--but trust me, they are still trying to get your attention and causing a commotion every time your eye glances over them....

What things around your home can be taken down, donated, thrown out, put in a drawer, or stored in such a way that it gives you some visual rest? Having less on the surfaces in our homes automatically makes it feel more settled. It helps us to feel more calm. 

And peace and calm is what I wish for you, dear friends! 

A little blue tape, and a big new vision...

When making decisions about a room, it is always best to help yourself "see" things as best you can. 

This photo is of a client's fireplace a few weeks ago, when we were creating a whole new look for the room. Victor Burgos, the contractor I work with all the time, was kind enough to create a "mock up" of the proposed design, outlining the dimensions of all the major elements for this very important focal point.  (I can't wait to show you how the room looks now! It will be ready to be photographed in the next few weeks. :) )

As a lot of you know, I never go anywhere without my blue painter's tape in hand! It is an essential tool to see just how the footprint of a piece of furniture will sit in a room, or how big a design element will really feel in an actual space. Indispensable. 

Don't be afraid to try all different kinds of tricks as you are working on a project like this. Move furniture around, make sure you look at colors and swatches IN THE ROOM ITSELF (not only in the store), take a gander at all different times of day to see how things may appear different in different light levels, pull up pictures of the items you are thinking of adding while standing in the space to ensure it visually makes sense to you with the other things you have in the room...

And make sure through all of this you are taking a step back to gain some perspective. Looking at the whole room at once from different angles is key in helping to figure out what works and what doesn't. 

Now go do it! With these tips to help you see more clearly, go make some fun changes, create a new vision, and enjoy your home all the more! :)

Can you please answer this one question for me?

Almost exactly three years ago today I was feeling a little scared, feeling a bit uncomfortable, and I wasn't at all sure that I was making the right decision...but I kept putting one foot in front of the other, day after day. 

We are just one week into a new year, a time when many people long to make a fresh start, to make big changes, to feel the thrill of possibility.  Maybe you are feeling the need to change something? Try something new? 

In 2013 the new challenge I was stepping into was a business mentoring/coaching program --something that changed me in such a meaningful way, made me a better designer so I could better serve my clients, and connected me to caring, inspiring people whom I am sure will be dear friends for the rest of my life. 

One of the most important things I learned during that year of growth was to ask myself a very simple question when I came upon something that seemed like a roadblock or a limitation (which happens a lot when you are really stretching yourself).  For example, if in 2016 you are thinking of changing jobs, getting the pet hamster you have been dreaming of, embarking on a home renovation (my personal favorite! :), or some other life-altering undertaking, you may find yourself saying limiting things like:

I don't have time for this!

That is too expensive.

That will never work for me.

I'm too old for this kind of craziness!

I can't stand cleaning up hamster poop.

This negativity will happen. You know it will. SO this is the time when you simply step back and ask yourself this question: 

What if it were possible....?

and you then fill in the blank :

"What if it were possible that I could easily find the time/money I needed to accomplish this?"

"What if it were possible that I am at the perfect age and time of my life for this to happen? "

"What if it were possible that I could toilet train my new pet hamster?"

I mean, who's to say it isn't??

It isn't important to answer this question, just to ask it. Write down your question and leave it somewhere where you will see it often. Read it out loud. Allow yourself to ponder the possibility. :)

May the year ahead be one in which we all stretch and grow, dream big and keep putting one foot in front of the other. And as we go along, let's keep asking ourselves and those we love this question that is so full of possibility:

What if it were possible...?