YAY! A fun BEFORE & AFTER!

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A home office is an important place indeed.

It is especially important that this space is peaceful, supportive and nurturing--

but so often our home offices are ANYTHING BUT... 

A lot of furniture--pieces big and small-- squeezed in with a lot of piles of paper, electrical cords going every which way...things that have found their way from other rooms in the house....

This space was one of the final rooms left to be redesigned in my client's home--(we have prepped every other space so that they can place their house on the market in the coming months) and I couldn't wait to roll up my sleeves, move some furniture, and add just the right touches! :)

Come on in and take a look at how it looks now!

New furniture placement, paint, & area rug paired with new accessories and artwork--it looks like a different space all together...

We grouped my client's favorite art--golf & baseball treasures--on the wall directly across from the desk so they can be seen while working each day. The doggie crate (a very functional and important piece in the room) is tucked neatly away just inside the door so it is no longer the first thing you see from the entry.

The final touches were new window treatments to soften the space, and a stylish clock to hang over the desk...

I LOVE these kind of projects. It is such a joy to see a space that was a bit down on its luck come together in such a lovely way.  I was so touched when my client texted me later that evening and said: "The transformation of the office should be in a magazine..."

Just makes my heart sing... :)

 

 

My Summer Cottage...and Yours

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Where is your mind in the summer? Mine is somewhere on the coast of Maine--one of my favorite places on earth. 

Just thinking about the pond and mountains and fresh air our family loves...my heart skips a beat and a smile spreads across my face.

Where is your favorite summer place?

Maybe you already own your dream summer cottage, maybe you get to visit yours as a rental....or perhaps just driving by while dreaming, or flipping through a magazine. We all have a favorite place that comes to mind as Memorial Day ushers in the season.

While most of us cannot spend a full three months away on vacation, we can capture the essence of that place we love so much, and bring it home to our everyday house, making each day of the season ahead that much more special.

Having a summer that is extra summery-- full of beauty & simplicity each day--that sounds fantastic to me. How about you?  

So let's think about what makes our time away so special? What are the qualities of a summer cottage that we can recreate here at home??

Here are just a few ideas:

  • summertime simplicity--when on vacation we only have the things we need with us, and nothing else. How freeing! Start to create this simplicity by throwing away, putting away, or giving away at least 10 things in each room of your house and give yourself a vacation from all of that stress and visual clutter.
  • a slower pace--make sure you have time built in to your schedule this summer just to spend quiet time at home. Put your feet up and enjoy the evening breeze with an iced tea on the porch or a glass of wine on the deck.
  • light and bright--put away heavier, darker fabrics and rugs (you can get them back out again come September), and put some accessories around that are colorful and airy. I bet you already have some things in your house that would qualify...no shopping needed. Think sparkly clear glass vases, white bed linens, a collection of sea shells from last year's trip....
  • fresh flowers and natural treasures--a little life in a room goes a long way. Flowers are blooming and leaves are unfurling everywhere right now, so be sure to bring some indoors. The kitchen table, your nightstand, the bathroom sink are all places that can benefit from a blossom or two. These are also good places to set out the seashells I mentioned, or other things collected on vacation from Mother Nature that evoke a summery vibe. 

Here's to a relaxing, peaceful, and beautiful summer at your summer cottage--wherever it may be!