Interior Design Shrink

A Space Odyssey

Kim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:13:20 +0000

According to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, wanting a bigger home is cited as the top reason people list their homes (tied with job transfer). Although it was not specifically stated, my experience tells me that it s not bigger rooms that most people want, it’s more efficient storage space. If that s the case, many people may be uprooting for all the wrong reasons.

If you are like most people, you are more than likely living with about 60% – 70% of your possessions out in plain sight. That would be the furniture you sit on, the things displayed on walls and in bookshelves, items that sit on countertops, etc. Unless you are a minimalist, the other 30-40% is stored in garages, attics, basements, under beds, in closets and cabinets. Inefficient storage can leave us frustrated and wanting to move, even from a home with ample square footage. But moving needn’t be the only solution. There are so many ways to cleverly find or create storage space in your existing home if you just know where to look.

But, before you go looking for this hidden cache of storage space, it is vital to take a good look at the things you ve been warehousing to access whether or not it’s worth the money, time or sweat equity to keep doing so. For example, seasonal decorations, tools, and extra linens are things you might not use every day, but it’s vital that there are accessible accommodations for them. On the other hand, is it really necessary to use precious storage space on clothes that haven’t been worn in years, old sports equipment, unused kitchen gadgets, old paint cans, broken bits and bobs that never quite get fixed?

If we keep adding stuff but never taking any of it away we reach the tipping point, where even the biggest of homes will get choked out of space.

I worked with a couple that lived in a 5600 square foot home. Even though it was just the two of them they had years of accumulated possessions. They wanted to move because they felt there was not enough space in the house. But we methodically went through every nook and cranny and eliminated anything that wasn’t loved or needed or used. Although it was hard work, they realized that about 40% of what they had been storing had no value in their life. Out it went (never to be missed!) and they were blown away to see how much space their home really had.

Once you’ve don t that it’s time to think about the storage you already have. If I ask most people what their most problematic storage space is they typically say the bedroom closets. Most are outfitted with just one pole for hanging clothes and a shelf above. That’s quite an inefficient set up for storing clothing of varying lengths or items like shoes, belts, folded garments and handbags. Good storage space is found when we take advantage of the height (not just the width) of the closet. Multiple hanging rods allow different length garments to hang in the same space. Vertical towers or cubbies allow us to stack folded items or shoes, for example. If space allows, drawers can be added to take overflow from dresser drawers. And don’t forget the backs of those closet doors. They are great places to mount full length mirrors, shoe bags, robe hooks or belt/tie racks. Take a look at closet outfitting websites to get great ideas, not only for your bedroom closets but linen and other closets too.

Attics, basements and garages warehouse a variety of items, anything from granny’s antique dishes to extra cases of water and bags of cat litter. My suggestion is to line the walls of these spaces with shelves. It doesn’t need to be expensive custom shelving. Inexpensive metal shelving is readily available from most home repair superstores or buying clubs. Go floor to ceiling when possible. And don’t forget to add valuable hooks. They are available from tiny to huge and can hold everything from hoses and cables to bikes, sporting and lawn equipment. There are even some great space opportunities if we remember to look up. A friend of mine always bumped into his kayak when he pulled his car into the garage. One day he looked up and realized there was lots of unused space overhead. By laying plywood over the rafters he was able to make an out of the way storage space. Again, going vertical with storage allows you to get things up off the floor, making it easier to see what you have and easily access it when needed. If you are looking for a more custom option, remember that most custom closet companies have storage systems for these areas as well.

Inside the house can prove a little more challenging to create storage space. If a room is large but lacking in storage, you may need to annex a bit of wall space to get big storage returns. For instance, a long wall could be padded out a foot or two to create a concealed storage closet. Or that same space could be built out as bookshelves or a work station incorporating a desk with file and drawers storage. If your home lacks long expanses of space then consider the unused spaces that are frequently overlooked. The depth of a dormered window is a great places for built in seating (with storage below, of course) or a built in chest of drawers. The awkward space under stairs is a great place for storage too. The depth provides good basic storage for things like luggage and vacuums. I’ve personally done TV built ins and even a wet bar in those spaces. Finding storage space this way is a bit costlier and a lot messier, but in the long run could provide you with some great storage options.

Lastly, one of the easiest ways to add storage is by using furnishings that have combined function and storage. For instance, a Murphy bed can allow a spare room to be used as an office during the day and a guest room when needed. An ottoman with lift up storage is a great place to store blankets and knitting projects. A bed that has drawers built into it’s base can eliminate the need for an additional dresser. Today, more than ever, furniture manufacturers are mindful of the need to multifunction in a single space so they are coming up with new and interesting options.

If you love your house, but hate the storage, these might just be some solutions that keep you in it a while longer. Remember that storage is nothing but space that is being used efficiently. Take a long hard look at the available space in your home or bring in an expert that can see opportunity you can’t. There is more possibility there than you think.

If you’d like to find your homes hidden storage potential contact the Interior Design Shrink to schedule an in-home consultation.

Click Here To Contact The Interior Design Shrink Today.

Getting Away From It All

Kim — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:07:09 +0000

“When all else fails, take a vacation”. – Betty Williams

Seems like just about everyone I talk to has taken advantage of a “spring break” getaway this year, myself included. This might be a sign that the economy is on the upswing or it might be validation that vacations and travel play a vitalrole in our lives.

Vacations are not mere indulgences. They are a chance to temporarily get off of those hamster wheels we find ourselves on and take a much needed breather. Most of us are so entrenched in the rote actions of life – working, running errands, shuttling kids, doing chores, repeat, repeat, repeat – that we never stop long enough to check in and see if we’re living a life that is fulfilling. If we did, we might see that we are living in constant motion but going nowhere.

Vacations don’t have to be exotic tours of foreign lands or require opulent accommodations. They just need to be a physical and energetic departure from our daily routines. Sometimes we just need a day, sometimes longer. This break from the known world is actually an opportunity to see different ways of doing things, to experience new tastes, to process new sights and to feel the effects of a change in tempo. Not doing so leads to stagnant thoughts, stagnant living and narrow mindedness. Not departing from our routines is like eating the same old gruel every day and never knowing the variety of flavors the world has to offer.

This expansion into the world is what connects us to something bigger, externally and internally.

The beauty of a vacation is that whatever we’ve experienced isn’t lost when we unpack our suitcases. Some piece always comes home with us. In fact, some of my favorite design projects were initiated by clients who wanting to replicate some aspect of their vacation experience. Sometimes it’s a material or a color or a texture they would like used in their own home. One client was inspired to remodel her bathroom after a trip to Italy because she loved the feel of marble floors beneath her feet. Another incorporated the same sandblasted glass walls in their bathroom renovation after seeing them in their favorite hotel. Yet another painted her home the faded shell pink hue so commonly found on homes in Bermuda. Their projects could have been very predictable and frankly, ho-hum, had they not been exposed to other options.

Sometimes what we bring home is a desire to replicate the activities we enjoyed on a trip. If we made time to cook together, enjoy an evening on a screened-in porch or read in a cozy spot, we might wonder why we never thought to incorporate space for these things in our own homes. One couple expanded their kitchen by 12 feet so they could replicate the family cooking and gathering they enjoy in the French villa they’ve rented for many years. Another put in a beautiful stone patio and hot tub because they loved it so much on their ski holiday. Sometimes little things like a swing arm lamp near a hotel bed or drapes with blackout lining can remind us of the little details that we might appreciate in our own homes.

Traveling and seeing architectural and décor diversity can sometimes provide those missing puzzle pieces that give us a better understanding of our homes. Currently, I am working on a house that never really found its design identity. Built with clean lines and natural material like soaring stone walls, floor to ceiling windows and wood ceilings, the houses architectural features were always ignored by previous owners. One incarnation involved faux painting, Country French furnishings and billowy drapes. Talk about incongruity! When the current owners moved in their furnishings and art were a combination of contemporary and traditional. While it was an improvement from previous owners, there was still some piece of the house that was not being understood. A recent trip to Africa changed all that. Seeing homes and resorts that were architecturally similar to their own the owners immediately related to the simple textiles, the comfy understated furniture and the natural color palettes they saw. They finally understood the direction that the house needed to go and it’s on it’s way to finally feeling just right.

Our travels can help us to find the materials, experiences or vibes we are missing and we can start to incorporate these things into our homes. But sometimes a vacation can show us the places where we have excess or spaces that aren’t really serving any purpose. My last trip was a reminder of that. We rented a house with several friends and spent our days lounging by the pool, reading in the shade or sneaking off for naps. We spent evenings having cocktails at sunset and listening to music and dancing in a living space that opened to the outside. We retreated at night to our own private bungalows with comfy beds, nice sized bathrooms and ample space for clothing storage. While the total square footage was smaller than what we had at home “it managed to feel more spacious, even with 5 adults under the same roof”. That’s because the homeowners put thought into the things that make living more enjoyable, like shady spots to nap, crisp bed linens and lots of wine glasses! There was nothing extraneous. It made us realize how little space and few possessions we really need to live well.

Travel and vacations make opportunities for us to go into the world and entertain new ideas and experiences we couldn’t have on our hamster wheels. Our homes can be the destination where all those ideas and experiences find a place to live. Once we are inspired we can figure out what’s missing and what’s simply not needed.

Whether it’s a world tour or a weekend getaway, we all need to occasionally leave home to figure out exactly what we need to bring home.

The Secret to an Organized Life

Kim — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:00:59 +0000

“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” - Albert Einstein

Every day there are more and more signs that spring is fast approaching. The days are longer, the birds are making their way back to northern trees and some brave plants are tentatively starting their journey back to the surface. But I don’t need the calendar to tell me what time of year it is. Right about now, the phone calls increase and I can tell that people are starting to emerge from the cocoon of winter and starting their journey back to the surface.

Dormancy is the natural energetic tempo as we hunker down for winter and wrap ourselves in our “stuff”. The slower pace (and post holiday malaise) makes it easier for us to ignore the things that have been passively accumulating around us. But the energetic upswing, which is a harbinger of spring, acts like an alarm waking us up and forcing us back into action. Well aware of the faster pace that is upon us many are feeling a need to get back to a more organized way of living.

Recently, someone asked if I could write a piece on how to get organized. I thought long and hard about organizational rules and systems, but it occurred to me that creating an organized life and home isn’t achieved with to-do lists, storage bins and closet organizers. Feeling, or being, “disorganized” is a symptom, not a diagnosis.

Living an organized life is achieved through training the mind to constantly evaluate and edit the things that come into our world as they are coming into our world. Shifting to this mindset brings awareness to exactly how much physical, emotional and energetic stuff there is out there to bury us. Believing that we must give our focus and energy to every email, phone call, social obligation, fashion trend, unwanted catalog, work assignment, peer pressure, difficult family member or complaining friend, is how we mere mortals short circuit. Even the most energetic and highly organized amongst us are incapable of processing everything that bombards us. Believing we can, or should, is where our lives shift from organized to chaotic. Those piles of papers, piles of clothes and piles of things we can’t quite find time to finish are where it starts. Left unchecked, we spin out of control and the lives we are living are no longer our own.

To find a path back to an organized and authentic life is as simple as remembering that we are our own gatekeepers and we get to choose what surrounds us.

We get to choose what is in our homes, our bodies, our minds and our lives. And if something is there that we don’t want, we have no one to blame but ourselves if it persists. We get to decide how much we want to let in and how much we want to keep out. Determining the amount that we let in or keep out is calculated by asking a very important question – “what do I really need”. Sometimes that answer contradicts the way we are living and it’s up to us to decide if we want to do the work needed to take us from chaos to calm.

“Organized living” isn’t something that can be set to a standard. What works for one might not work for another, because we all have different tolerances for the amount of literal and figurative “stuff” we can handle. The key is finding out where your tipping point is and striving for a point of balance. To do so we have to look internally and not judge ourselves by what others seem capable of doing. I frequently use the lessons I have learned in my yoga practice to give greater understanding to the world around me. I’m reminded of my many teachers who’ve advised us never to worry about what is happening on the next mat. Someone may be breezing through a one armed handstand twisted like a pretzel while another struggles with a standing balance. The point is not to compare but to find the place where we are all present and balanced in our own lives.

Now, I’m not endorsing a life that is too calculated or lacking in activity, or even living a life that is played too safe. What fun is that? And the reality is that we can’t control every aspect of life even if we tried. But striving for a more organized way of living allows us to gain some control again. With less to distract us we can act, instead of always re-acting. We can decide, instead of being resigned. And we wobble a lot less in life when we aren’t trying to spin plates and juggle while riding a unicycle.

As a designer, I work with clients in the realm of the physical home to clear out the unneeded things that clog physical space and minimize flow of life energy. I never cease to be amazed at the life changes that occur when the principles of organized living are implemented in the home (the base of our lives) and extended into other areas of ones’ life. But, like anything that serves our higher good, maintaining an organized home, life and mind requires us to check in and stay on top of things, lest we be swept away by the tidal waves the world is always crashing towards us.

Living an organized life is so much more than trying to find a space for everything. It’s about deciding what we want to make space for.
If we dump the things, people, beliefs, etc. that we really don’t need we free up an awful lot of space for the stuff that makes life full and rich. An organized life is the key to truly having it all, instead of having too much.

A HOME OF ONE’S OWN

Kim — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 01:59:52 +0000

“Owning a home is a keystone of wealth – both financial affluence and emotional security.”
– Suze Orman

I was listening to a radio program recently and the moderator was interviewing a financial analyst about the state of the economy and asked for an update on the housing market. One of the things that the analyst detailed was the wave of investors buying up housing to use as rental inventory. He wasn’t talking about the small time investors that buy one or two at a time and flip them back to new homeowners. He was talking about large investment groups that are buying huge quantities of homes (most of which had been foreclosed on). The moderator questioned what a release of that amount of rental properties might mean to the way we view housing in this country.

I started to think how sad it would be if we started to view our homes as mere commodities, like soy beans and pork bellies – nothing more than inventory or product. If the concept of home were reduced to impersonal shelter where would the connection be to the lives that we live there? Would we lose the desire to imprint our individuality in our surroundings? Would we stop caring about making a place that felt like home?

I’m not suggesting that renting one’s place of residence is in any way inferior to owning. In fact, from a financial standpoint the decision to rent might make greater economic sense. But regardless of what the analysts and investors data may suggest, owning a home of ones own is something that many still aspire to.
During the course of the radio program they cut to commentary from people that were currently renting. Almost all were saving for the day they could one day own their own home. To them, it was a milestone to be reached in their lives and a marker that they had gotten one step closer to achieving the American Dream.
The notion was almost poetic, as they talked about the life that was going to happen when they bought their home.

Before the housing crash and economic downturns, a home was seen as a valuable commodity and owning one was viewed as security, like having money in the bank. Now it seems as if lenders and financial prognosticators are putting something so deeply meaningful through a series of algorithms and formulas that seem to spit out the same result – that a house is a losing proposition, all because it might not yield a profit when it’s time to sell.

But I beg to differ. I see value in a home that cannot be calculated on a spreadsheet or seen in a comparable. I see the symbiotic relationship we have with our homes and the almost primal need we have to transform a dwelling into something of meaning. Personally and professionally I see the continued desire to root in a home of one’s own (at some point in life) all around me.

Home ownership is a declaration that we want to be connected to a particular geographical place and time. When we walk through a potential new home we envision the life that we will live there and the foundation it might provide as our lives and lifestyles inevitably change. Owning a home gives us an attachment to a physical place that invites us to belong to something bigger.

Our homes are the individual building blocks that make up communities. What will become of them if homeownership is seen as a negative instead of a positive?

Beyond the personal benefits we get from owning our own home is the fact that homeownership is a major factor in keeping our communities stabilized. A recent study done by researchers at the UNC Center for Community Capital looked at low-income communities and found that:

“…not only does homeownership lead residents to take steps to protect and secure their neighborhoods thereby reducing crime levels, those perceptions are also important because they affect residents’ mental and physical health as well. The study compares the perceptions of low-income homeowners with renter to demonstrate that it is homeownership that makes the difference. These findings support earlier research that shows a wide range of social and economic benefits that homeownership offers…”

Even in the midst of the Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover was extolling the importance of homeownership and the value it played to past memories and future hope. He said:

“There is a wide distinction between homes and mere housing. Those immortal ballads, ‘Home, Sweet Home,‘My Old Kentucky Home’ and ‘The Little Grey Home in the West’ were not written about tenements or apartments…They were written about an individual abode, alive with tender associations of childhood, the family life at the fireside, the free out-of-doors, the independence, the security and the pride in possession of the family’s own home…Many of our people must live under other conditions. But they never sing songs about a pile of rent receipts…”

The decision to own a home might not always make sense to a computer print out, but it makes sense somewhere deep inside of us, and that is what will continue to give our homes value beyond compare.

Happy New World

Kim — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 16:22:12 +0000

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice” - T.S. Elliot

So here we are, once again welcoming in a brand new year. Last year December 21, 2012 came and went and the world did not end with a cosmic bang. Many were relieved that the Mayans got it wrong, or did they? Perhaps it was simply reminder of a universal truth – that everything must eventually end for something new to arrive.

We’ve all heard the adage “today is the first day of the rest of your life”. As cliché as it’s become, it still rings true. We seem to mark the passing of time and events in years. But life happens in seconds and minutes and days. And when one day ends it is gone forever. There is no going backwards, no do-overs. The only thing we can do is reevaluate how we are moving forward. Whether on a conscious or unconscious level, much of our lives are spent finding ways to keep moving ahead when staying where we are can sometimes seem easier.

Moving from the end of one day into the dawn of another mimics the cycle of death and rebirth that plays out in the bigger picture. While we have no control over our literal birth and death, we have total control over what lives or dies in our daily lives. We manifest everything around us, good or bad, so we need to be really honest with ourselves about why we won’t let certain things die and why we fight the birth of others. The word courage comes to mind, for no honest self-evaluation can happen without the courage to see who, and where, we really are.

Courage is needed to allow the things we no longer need, whether it is possessions, relationships or behaviors, to die. It creates the portal through which we enter a new world.

In my world, I help people transform their physical space from old reality to new. It is yet another playing out of the cycle of death and rebirth. Sometimes the process of change can rival the worst of labor pains as people have to actively participate in the ending part of things. I’ve seen people become furious at the prospect of getting rid of a box of broken knickknacks that have been ignored in a basement for 15 years. I’ve seen people complain they have no closet space, but are unable to part with clothing they’ve long outgrown. I’ve also seen a sheer look of panic as demolition loomed on a dated kitchen or moldy old bathroom. The impulse to cling a little tighter is a natural reaction when it’s time for goodbye.
I gave a talk recently and was explaining the importance of editing out the things that no longer work in our homes and the emotions that accompany that process. I explained the criteria that I ask my clients to use when deciding on whether something stays in their life or not. I have them honestly answer the following: “do you need it?’, “do you love it?” and “does it reflect the highest version of yourself?”. A woman in the audience raised her hand and asked what other criteria I use. I told her none. If we ask enough questions we will surely find answers that give us an out, or a loophole, that delays or indefinitely postpones our birth into something newer and better.

So, as we contemplate the New Year, perhaps we must say a thank you to the Mayans who raised our consciousness about endings and new beginnings. If we learn to look at the importance of endings in all aspects of living, perhaps we won’t be so afraid of making changes that bring us to a happier and healthier version of ourselves. And we don’t have to wait for another 5125 years to do so.

Happy New Year. Happy New You!

A Home for the Holidays

Kim — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:55:46 +0000

It’s that time of the year again when Charlie Brown specials, Black Friday deals and mailboxes overflowing with catalogs remind us that the holidays are (clamping down) upon us. While the thought of twinkling lights and visits with family and friends can fill us with excitement the prospect of readying our homes can fill us with dread.

I think our homes deserve a big round of applause and a great deal of appreciation for the role they play in our holiday traditions. They never complain as we festoon them in lights and oversized bows. They quietly sit back when we bring trees indoors, and they never snicker at the incongruity of tropical poinsettias and frozen snowmen in the same tableau. Without fanfare or praise our homes are the quiet backdrop for the ramped up activity that holidays bring, and the memories they leave behind.

I often wonder why we pay so much attention to our surroundings in this relatively short amount of time and then ignore them the rest of the year. As if fighting our way through crowded shops, preparing for overnight guests and making the rounds on the party circuit isn’t enough, some add the task of redecorating to a holiday deadline! With so much on our plates and so little time, how can we really be focused on making good design decisions? I had a client once who had a fire engine red iron bed with all kinds of curly-cues and animals embedded in the design. We both agreed it was the most awful thing and I asked her how she came to select it. With months and months of ignoring the guest room, she panicked as her houseguests’ arrival date got closer and closer. She said that months and months passed and she kept closing her eyes every time she walked by her guest room. Months and months turned into weeks and weeks, until her houseguests arrival was just days away. She panicked and went out and bought the first bed she saw. Massively over-scaled for the room and not to her taste, the bed ultimately found its way to a resale shop where she recouped about 20% of what she’d paid in haste.

My recommendation is to put aside making permanent design decisions during the holidays. Instead, concentrate on the small adjustments that we can make with festive, and impermanent, holiday décor. While we may not be actively implementing new ideas, this is a great time for us to observe how our houses really work and set a plan for changing the things that are lacking. It’s an opportunity to see if beds are comfortable for guests, if furniture layouts invite easy gathering and conversation, or if our walls and woodwork need a fresh coat of paint. We might also ask if our rooms are flexible enough to go from weekday to holiday without too much adjustment.

Most importantly, as we are making our list of observations, don’t forget to note how energetically different our homes feel around the holidays. That’s because we are actively changing and raising the vibratory energy of home every time we give it positive attention. Small things, like displaying our treasured ornaments, listening to festive music and gathering around the table with people we love is palpable and imprints in a space. Filling our homes with positive energy is like putting money in the bank. Getting in the habit of making these “deposits” insures happy dividends that make it feel holiday special every day of the year.

So, for the next few weeks, give yourself a gift and take last minute re-decorating off your “to do” list. Instead, spend some quality time with your home, observing and thoughtfully preparing to implement action early in the new year. Give yourself plenty of time to complete projects before next years’ rounds of pumpkin pie and egg nog are upon us.
Happiest of Holidays to you all!

As Good as It Can Get

Kim — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:52:35 +0000

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the 1997 romantic comedy, As Good As It Gets, a sweetly neurotic Melvin (played brilliantly by Jack Nicholson) falls hard for Carol (played by Helen Hunt). In an effort to explain the depth of his feelings, Melvin gives the ultimate compliment when he tells her that he is facing his fears and changing some of his behavioral patterns saying, “you make me want to be a better man”.

We all know that interpersonal relationships, whether romantic, personal or professional, can be a great impetus for looking at who we are and deciding what we need in our lives and who we want to be. So too can experiences, like travel and education, that expand our minds and pique our curiosity to become better versions of ourselves. But did you know that improvements to your home can also inspire you to step up your game? Yes, your home.

I recently had dinner with a client who is looking svelte and sexy after losing a significant amount of weight. For her, one of the kick starts to renovating herself was the renovation of her home. Once old and uninspired, we ripped down to the studs to rebuild a better version of her home. During the long renovation she was also inspired to begin the process of looking inward and challenging lifelong beliefs she had about herself. She told me that she wanted to “look as good as my house does“. Before the renovation the house was not someplace she was proud to bring family or friends. It was the stylistic equivalent of being seen a pair of baggy grey sweatpants. Now the house is comfortable couture and making it’s owners look and feel great.

This is not an isolated incidence. Over the years, I have more examples than I can remember where changes made to the physical environment acted as a catalyst to intense personal renovation. On another project, we turned a house that was a cacophony of styles and excess into an elegant home that felt calm the minute you walked in. I wasn’t surprised to see the homeowner start evaluating other areas of his life, wishing to continue the peaceful tone his home now exuded. Ultimately, he decided to leave a career where adversary and stress were the norm. Now, feeling re-aligned, he is happily following a more fulfilling career path.

I read an interview with Jennifer Aniston a year or so ago where she was recounting a major renovation to her then new home. She said that prior to the reno she never gave any thought to her kitchen. For her, it was just a place to store her Power Bars and pre packaged meals and it had no real significance in her life. But after the renovation she was amazed at what a kitchen could be. She had instant reverence for the room she now calls a “sanctuary” and it inspired her to prioritize the value of healthy nutrition. She’s since hired a chef (2 actually) and moved to a new home. A recent article said that her new house is the gathering hub, and feeding her friends healthy and delicious food is one of the things she gets most pleasure from. Her home definitely got credit for that shift.

Our homes can make us want to be a better version of ourselves because our homes are a reflection of how we see ourselves. If we see beauty then we believe there is beauty in our lives. If we see colors or patterns that make us happy, then we believe we are happy! If we step up the higher vibratory energy in homes we ultimately wind up doing the same for ourselves.

They say “what we see we shall become” and that is exactly why it’s so important to see something that inspires us to our highest selves.

If we don’t like what we are seeing we just need to adjust the picture and create a new one. And you don’t need a Jen Aniston budget to start making adjustments that have big impact. Getting rid of the stuff that we don’t need or love or want doesn’t cost a thing but gets us energetically jumpstarted. I recently redecorated my dressing room and it inspired a long overdue purge of my dated wardrobe. I was amazed at how many things were ready for the donation bags. Shaking up my dressing room made me really shake up the way I’d been dressing and looking at myself. I’ve been updating and upgrading my wardrobe and I want it to be worthy to hang in that little room.

If you’re ready to let your house inspire you, don’t think you have to do a complete, expensive overhaul. Small things like a fresh coat of paint or new throw pillows can have just as much effect as totally new drapes and furnishings. A vase of flowers on your kitchen counter or a scented candle near the tub can remind you what it’s like to do something nice for yourself. And that is where the motivation to self-improve begins.

So take a look around your home and see where you can act as it’s personal trainer. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how good you both will look and feel.

Getting From Before to Happily Ever After

Kim — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 04:41:52 +0000

Expect the best, plan for the worst and prepare to be surprised.”-Dennis Waitley

One of the best perks of being an interior designer is that I get to accompany people through the process of making a thought or a dream turn into a reality. Last week I had some recent projects photographed. Standing with my clients in the completed rooms we reminisced about where we had stared and marveled at where we ended up. I wish I could say it happened by magic wand, but we all knew better.

When a client contacts me initially it is because they are ready to make a change to their physical environment. During the course of a consultation I am listening to their wish list and paring them with the physical realities of the home. I offer the possibilities and options for achieving those goals. If the home’s layout is good and we are merely redecorating then the task skips right to assembling the decorative elements like draperies and furniture. and But all the beautiful furnishings in the world cannot fix a home with poor layout, insufficient storage or outdated kitchens and baths. When space and function are lacking, a renovation may be the only answer. If that is the agreed upon conclusion it’s important to have a clear vision of what to expect.

Home renovation is not for the faint of heart and should not be entered into lightly. Until you have experienced it, there is no way to convey the dust, noise and disruption that come with having a work crew in your home. But there are ways to make it less painful and preparation is the key.

I believe that 80% of a renovation happens before a tool comes on site.

One must be prepared financially, physically and psychologically, and that’s where the expertise of a good professional team is invaluable. Designers and builders know how to convert the language of a dream into the language of construction, formulating a plan of action to achieve your goals. Without such a trusted translator, one winds up with a mishmash of ideas and finishes, a disappointing Tower of Babel.

To prepare financially, it’s important to have a sense of what things cost. Bathtubs are not $300 and cabinetmakers do not work for $12.00 an hour. Most initial meetings with a reputable builder will give you a ballpark of what you’ll need. Even if you’ve done renovations in the past you might be shocked to see how prices jump from year to year. Yes, you probably could find a bathtub for $300, but it is one you’d want? I have seen many folks underestimate the total needed to complete a project. You can see where an idea started in style but finished with cheap materials and sub-par workmanship to squeeze the last pennies of a budget.

Champagne tastes with beer budgets can make for very disappointing results. My advice is always to wait a little longer, until there is more money in the coffers than you think you will need. Trust me, you always wind up needing it.

Physically preparing for a renovation is not only prudent, it’s a must. Thinking about the ways your home will be disrupted allows you to prepare temporary solutions. If you are able to live in your home during the renovation you may simply camp out in a guest bedroom or shower in another bathroom. Perhaps a makeshift kitchen consisting of a microwave and a coffee pot is set up in another room of the house during a short term interruption. If the renovation scale is larger or will result in major disruptions like lack of utilities, lack of privacy or lack of peace and quiet you may want to make temporary housing arrangements. An active construction site might not be the most ideal place to begin or end your day, and don’t forget that you will be sharing your home with the trades working in it. I have countless stories of clients caught in their nightgowns, or worse, because the contractors’ day started well before their own.

We take for granted the routines we have in our homes, so the psychological preparation is usually overlooked. Disruptions to the hum of home life impacts every member of the household, including our four legged ones. When work begins, you may feel like your home has been hijacked and you have been disregarded in the process. It’s good advice to make sure you are clear about your expectations before a project begins. Small annoyances like loud music, delivery trucks driving too fast or lack of daily clean up are magnified in the midst of a renovation upset. Good communication and scheduled update meetings with the people on your job keeps you abreast of progress or problems, minimizing the feelings of helplessness.

Just as important as knowing what’s going on is the need to mentally step away from it all from time to time. Pretending you are temporarily absolved of the responsibilities of your home, like it is in suspended animation, can provide much needed relief from it all. Think of not having a kitchen as an excuse to have a picnic or try a new restaurant. Paint fumes or constant hammering are great reasons to try a quaint B & B or take the kids to an amusement park for much needed distraction from the commotion. Adapting the attitude of “this too shall pass” and reminding yourself that there is end in sight will help smooth out the stress of it all.

I am used to holding my clients hands and reassuring them through the process of a home renovation. It may be comforting to know that interior designers like myself are not immune to the upheaval when it happens in our own homes. Seven years ago my family and I underwent a major renovation of our home. The stress of ever changing completion dates, carelessly discarded sandwich wrappers and cigarette butts and wasted days when subs did not show made us vow “never again”. But as the project progressed and our initial vision began to take shape we understood clearly that getting from before to after doesn’t happen without temporary inconvenience.

It’s taken us a long time to sum up the mental fortitude to do it all over again, but our vows of “never again” have been overridden by the desire to keep making this the home of our dreams. We now have two major projects happening concurrently and I must say that all of the time we put into preparation, along with the benefit of past experience, has paid off. I know the process is a necessary evil and I keep reminding myself that this time next year I will be reminiscing on where it all began and marveling at what it has become.

SEE SOME OF MY LATEST PROJECTS -BEFORE AND AFTER

This kitchen was small, outdated and lacking valuable prep and storage area. Walls on either side kept the cook away from the action.

Knocking down the walls on either side doubled the size of the kitchen and opened it up to the breakfast and family rooms. The annexed dining room was relocated to the larger, never used formal living room, which is adjacent to the new kitchen.

A mish mash of styles, floor levels and box store materials made this bathroom a total disconnect in this elegant historic home.

Ripping the bathroom down to it’s studs allowed us to return the room to its proper architectural proportions. A revised layout, custom millwork and vanities, along with higher end finishes make this room a luxurious retreat.

What Are You Waiting For?

Kim — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 18:42:20 +0000

“If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we will never begin.” – Ivan Turgenev

I got a call recently from a new client who had several areas of her home that needed decorating or renovating. Her excitement about changing things and the urgency in setting up our appointment led me to believe that she had just moved in. When I asked how long she had been living in the house she said 16 years! Surprised, I asked what prompted her call after all this time. She said it suddenly occurred to her that she had never taken time to make her home pretty and she wanted to do something about it before it was too late for her to enjoy.

There are several reasons why people put beautifying their homes on the back burner. As the place that you begin and end each day, none of them make any sense to me. Financial concerns are the easy reason to give, but adding beauty can be as simple as a small vase of fresh flowers or a coat of paint in a color that delights you.

As a designer, I hear more complex excuses that seem to justify living in a state of limbo. One that resonates with me like nails on a chalkboard is “we don’t have anything nice because we have kids”, which of course changes in a few years to “we have teenagers” and ultimately, “we have grandchildren”. The thinking is that having children and having a lovely home are mutually exclusive. Hogwash! And what does that say to our kids? Are we promoting the belief that they are destructive and incapable of learning how to live civilly and take care of things? Raising kids around beautiful things gives them an appreciation of the homes they grow up in and instills the ability to create beauty in their own homes one day. Today it’s easier than ever to have a home that is a combination of practical and beautiful. There is a huge array of fabrics, furnishings and wall finishes designed with durability in mind to satisfy just about any personal style. The right choices are all that’s needed to prevent parenthood from being a life sentenced to wood crate furniture and paper plates.

Another reason people stay in a state of limbo where their homes are concerned is because they are afraid to commit to a purchase, lest something better come along. My friend has carried around a picture of a sofa she loves for over 6 years. I’ve tired of showing her other options because none seem to compare to her picture. When I ask her why she doesn’t just buy it, she says she’s afraid that if she commits to it she might see something she likes better. She still does not have a sofa in her living room and I secretly suspect she never will. I never advocate settling but if we look and look forever we risk winding up with nothing and enjoying nothing. There is never just one answer and we can drive ourselves mad if we don’t make a decision and move on to the next thing that needs our attention.

Working with couples I hear the following excuse for living in limbo over and over again – “why do we need a new (fill in the blank), the old one is just fine”. Some people have the notion that once a room is done it can never be revised or updated. If one spouse is advocating change and the other is happy growing old with the first furniture they ever purchased, it’s a perfect recipe for stalemate (so that’s where the word comes from). Imagine applying that same logic to our clothing, our careers or our circle of friends. With nothing new coming in there is never an exchange of new energy. There is never an opportunity to deviate from the predictable and find out what else we might enjoy. My experience is that those who resist change the most are usually the ones that need it the most.

Whether we are talking about home furnishings or life opportunities we must fight the urge to buy into our excuses for staying undecided and in limbo.

Life is finite, so if we spend time waiting for the kids to be gone, for something better to come along or any other excuse that keeps us from action, we may be missing out on the opportunity to bring beauty into our surroundings and our lives while we can still enjoy it.

That’s what this time is for and if we don’t make it happen we might just find that there is no more time left. So, what are you waiting for?

New Home Sweet Home

Kim — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:01:39 +0000

When you step into your new home, with empty rooms, empty closets, empty cupboards – it’s a moment that feels like a brand new world, where anything can happen. -Unknown

This past month I had the pleasure of helping 3 families settle in to their new homes. While they all came to their new dwellings for different reasons, the task at hand was the same – to help imprint their tastes, lifestyles and energies into the unfamiliar space that surrounded them.

When most people start to look for a new home it is usually because there has been some life change that requires them to adjust their physical space. Whether getting married, getting divorced, expanding a family, becoming empty nesters, changing a job or just in need of a change of scenery, the transition to a new home is about transitioning to a new phase of life. It’s about finding a place for our new dreams and goals to manifest. But most of all, we are looking for a place that looks and feels like we belong there.

Many times I’m asked to join clients as they look at listings and offer suggestions on a homes potential. Finding the right home is as important as finding the right mate and a mismatch could bring years of misery. That’s why I encourage buyers to be clear about why they are moving and to list their priorities before looking at potential candidates. The goal, after all, is to find a physical structure that’s a great fit for ones lifestyle needs. But all too often buyers get distracted by things like a homes’ décor or features they really don’t need, prompting them to make an offer for all the wrong reasons. A few years ago, I consulted with a woman that hated almost everything about her new home. When I asked why she bought it, she said she absolutely loved the bed the previous owner had! Focusing on a piece of furniture instead of her list of needs distracted her from seeing, and feeling, that this was not the right home for her. Sadly, no amount of design work could compensate for the huge disconnect between home and homeowner. But for those lucky enough to find their four sided soul mate, the process of getting to know one another can be quite the honeymoon.

The act of transforming a mere structure to a sacred home begins the second you cross the threshold as its new owner. How you approach this critical new stage of co-habitation can set the tone for the life you will live there.

A new home is like a blank canvas waiting for you to write a part of your life story on. It is inviting you to interact with it and make it yours. The best way to start is by imprinting your personal sense of style. Surrounding yourself with paint colors, furnishings and accessories that you find personally appealing starts to make a connection between you both. Remember that the home is yours, so don’t be afraid to be authentic and honest with your choices. Living with things you think you “should” like is like marrying someone that looks good on paper, but there is no chemistry. Moving into a new home is a great time to bring in the new, but don’t forget to evaluate the old you’ve brought with you. If things don’t quite fit or they don’t represent your current tastes, it’s a good time to part ways. It’s also a great time to practice saying “thanks, but no thanks” to offerings of furniture and bricka-brack that seem to pour in from well meaning family and friends. I’ve seen too many people live with things they hate because they were afraid to disappoint someone or hurt their feelings. If you wouldn’t have picked it for your new home, then politely pass on it. Looking around and seeing things that reflect your taste and your personality is critical in forming an authentic relationship with the space that surrounds you.

Another way we imprint ourselves on a new home it to bring the act of living into it. I don’t mean just the mundane events of eating, sleeping and watching TV. I mean, really living in a home. Having holiday celebrations, enjoying the company of friends or doing pleasurable activities in or around the home, such as cooking or gardening begins to imprint your lifestyle on a home. Incorporating places to play music, quiet nooks to read or a spot to do crafts starts to make your home a supportive extension of who you are. One client of mine decided to turn the formal living room of her new home into her art studio while another turned a small den into a home recording studio. Instead of having rooms that served no purpose, they both decided to pursue the things they loved in the comfort and convenience of their homes. By intertwining the interests and activities of our lives with the place we live, we are forming a bond that establishes home as the integral hub through which all aspects of our lives connect.

While imprinting one’s personal taste and lifestyle is key to making a new house
feel like home, there is a more important imprinting that can’t be seen, but is most powerfully felt. That is the imprinting of your personal energy. What we bring to a space energetically has great impact on the way we feel there. If we bring positive energy and love, then the house responds and feels wonderful when we are in it. If we bring drama or strife the house responds in kind, leaving us with a cold, unwelcome feeling. I firmly believe that all activity and thought that happens in a home imprints the way trauma imprints on a cellular level in the body. And not only does our energy impact how a house feels, so too does the energetic shadow left by a homes’ previous occupants. I walked into a client’s new home last years and she told me she couldn’t stand being in the house. The last owners personal taste was unusual and still present at every turn, but there was some intangible thing that seemed to hang in the air and suck the life out of every room. She told me of the messy, acrimonious divorce that led the house to become available. When that connection was made I realized that the house had been deeply imprinted with discord and sadness and that’s what it was radiating back. While I could do my part to shift the physical look and feel of the house, it would be her infusion of love and positive energy that would start to make the house feel like her home. Luckily, she and her husband were committed to that task. The transformations we made collectively on the house turned it into a lovely home that bears no resemblance at all to the bleak, sad home it had once been.

Infusing one’s personal taste, lifestyle and personal energy into bricks and mortar is, to me, the definition of interior design. It’s the alchemical magic by which we take a new and unfamiliar physical space and make a deep connection to our lives and our souls. Homes are not static structures. They live and breathe what we fill them with. Even if you’ve been in your home for years there is always opportunity to make it, and ourselves, feel brand new again. By bringing mindfulness to this symbiotic relationship we always have the power to turn a mere house into home.