iNSIDE

Love it

2011-03-04T17:17:00.002-08:00

Just a quick post today - busy gathering tax documents so I can ship them off to the accountant. Then, it's crash course gardening weekend - one "Northwest Newcomers" class and one on "Pruning." Spring seems just around the corner with these mild temperatures, and I have all fingers crossed that our garden will be back in its glory having been under our care since last June. We're also going to be planting a veggie garden this year (stay tuned!), so hopefully I'll learn a few tips in that department, too.

I think I mentioned I wasn't going to do a lot of posts on design, products, etc. Not because I don't enjoy looking at that stuff, but there are so many blogs out there doing it already that I don't think I'd add much to the mix. That's probably the case with this post, but I couldn't resist putting up a few pics of Angela Adams' Maine cottage featured this month in Coastal Living. I am a huge Angela Adams fan; I love her work and use it in a lot of projects. I even based all of the decor decisions in my daughter's playroom based on her "Birch" curtains that I bought:

It was that little chickadee that got me.

Some shots of her cottage:

Images courtesy of Design Sponge

I think my favorite parts are the little natural treasures arranged on window ledges, the liberal use of color (especially hot pink, which is shown more in the magazine spread), and the little row of tiles in her very humble (by today's standards) kitchen. I also like the fact that she has a row (not a wall) of the tiles she has designed for Ann Sacks. Although it's probably not the case because she has some pretty successful lines with several companies, it makes me wonder if she's like some artist friends I know who can't afford to own much of their own stuff. Anyway, I like the fact that she hasn't plastered her kitchen with her expensive tiles!

I liked this spread so much because I think it's a great example of my two loves - big bold bursts of color (again, seen better in the mag), and great utilization of a space 'as is.' Not to be a downer, but I actually think there so many blogs, magazine spreads and TV shows about design makeovers that I think they encourage us to re-do spaces that don't necessarily need it. I've worked with clients over the past few years who want to completely overhaul their kitchens and baths - not because the appliances are worn out or fixtures no longer work, but because "everyone wants stainless appliances" or "I don't think anyone likes tiles like this anymore..." I like examples that remind us that a little patina on something is a good thing! And, (in all seriousness), design is starting to become a lot like fashion: if you just a wait a little while, it will come back in style! Perhaps we could move things along and start a movement to "Save the bisque-colored bath decor!" (I could champion that one with all of the 'bisque' in this house). Or, we could put up posters of sad little lines of black and white appliances heading to the appliance junk heap, right behind their gold and olive-colored brothers and sisters. Their little word bubbles would have them all questioning why in the world their perfectly good selves are there in the first place. Okay, I know, I'm not really ready to live with orange shag carpet and olive-colored appliances, but you get my drift: we are often convinced that what we have (and even who we are) is not enough. Any opportunity to show the contrary is a good one, in my estimation! And I hope we'll continue to see more and more examples of real people living in real (not perfect, shiny and new) spaces.

Happy weekend to you and may you cherish "what is" in your life and get out there and enjoy something real that delights you!

Dear Tullsta Chairs

2011-02-24T16:07:00.006-08:00

Dear Tullsta Chairs:

I am writing this letter as apology to you, dear chairs. I know it seems like I have loved you and kept you in my life for some time now, but I must confess: that was not my intention from the beginning. You see, when I bought you nine years ago at IKEA, I barely had two Kroners to rub together and I really needed some seating in my den in my new condo. My husband I had just bought the place and had started merging our belongings. Once I convinced him to get rid of that big awning striped grandma sofa (now that was a close one), I bought you to go beside your Swedish brother, Karlstad. Now, I must be truthful with you, I wanted snazzier versions of both of you, but it has already been said that just wasn’t in the financial cards for me at the time. As you know, your brother has moved on (well, actually stayed on) to a new owner who now lives in the condo. “Yes, but we’re here!,” you say. “We made the move!” Well, this is true, but again, not because I adored you, but because, well, because we needed some temporary seating while we waited for some “real” furniture to arrive in the new place. Hard to hear, I’m sure, but wait: all is not lost! When the “real” furniture arrived and I placed it in the living room, there was a gaping hole where another occasional chair was clearly needed. Yes, I admit, I spent quite a few nights scouring my favorite sites for the perfect chair for that spot. And yes, what ultimately stopped me from purchasing one was the fact that I couldn’t bring myself to pay for one after I had spent as much as I already had on the new house and furnishings. But, I started to see you in a whole new light. I really always have liked your lines, and others have, too. I admit I’ve always been a little surprised when people picked you out of all of our furnishings and said: where did you get those chairs? They’re so comfortable and cool! Maybe it was the orange silk pillows I put on you, or the new metal legs I had swapped out for the wooden ones, but I really did wonder if they were yanking my chain. Seriously? Um, doesn’t everybody who frequents IKEA post-college pick up this chair for her first apartment? I suppose I have seen your doppelganger in much more expensive stores, so maybe the praise really was sincere. Hmmm.

So here is the exciting part (although I wouldn’t blame you if you can’t forgive me for all that I’ve just said): you really did look great in that hole in the living room arrangement. And I realized that by covering you with a favorite fabric that I’d really be pleased, heck I might even love to have you back as part of the new gang. Yes, we did hit that snag when I realized that a full slipcover in the fabric that I chose would cost $600 to have done (ouch), but I think our compromise of just doing your cushion and a little accent pillow has really breathed some new life into you. Oh, and that coupled with your new crisp white cover that I got back at the Swedish motherland for $30. That helped, too.

You know, having you still here is teaching me a valuble lesson about reusing and repurposing. Although I would have loved that new chair (I know, quit while I’m ahead...), I feel pretty good that I didn’t have to spend the money on a new chair and that I didn’t have to have a chair fabricated and shipped just for me, all the way to this little island. (It was really getting to me all of those boxes I had to put out for recycling each week, even for the things that we absolutely had to have). You’ve actually been an inspiration for me to not easily dismiss, change or discard the things I don’t love about this place. You know those little fishy tiles in the bathroom downstairs that were on the demo list? Well, don’t tell anyone, but they’re growing on me. I can’t look at their little fish faces and think about getting rid of them, just because they don’t fit into my ‘ideal’ look for the place. And, they kinda go with the place, seeing as we’re a stone’s throw from the water and all.

So, thank you, dear Tullsta chairs (rest assured, your counterpart is happily living in the ‘man lounge’ in the garage). You have taught me an important lesson AND you look pretty darned good these days, if I do say so myself. Looks like you bought yourself a few more years.

With gratitude,

Amy

THE HOUSE, Part II

2011-01-29T16:23:00.002-08:00

So let’s talk about what this house is not. A funny place to start, I know, but it’s akin to having to tell your friends about your new boyfriend who is not at all your usual type. It doesn’t have white trim (wood trim). I can’t hang drapes (not the right kind of windows). The bathrooms aren’t jazzy snazzy (think: whatever was really hot in 1987), nor is the kitchen (apparently, using bath tiles on coutertops was the thing back then). Half the house is carpeted (I’m a wood floor girl), and the closet doors are those floaty kind that have a track at the top and one slides behind the other (‘nough said).

Have I mentioned how much I love this place?

One thing I didn’t tell you the last time is that a key reason I love this place so much is that it’s not perfect. You see, all of those things I typically love (white trim, wood floors, shiny appliances and countertops, elegant drapes...) help to create a space that feels really perfect to me. And I don’t do so well with perfect. And not because I’m a mess or anything, quite the contrary: a perfect space brings out my tendency to want to keep everything perfect – all the time.

As a kid I once made my cousin Jane cry because she futzed with the curtains in my bedroom and messed them up. Apparently, she was lucky enough to escape the genes passed down on my mom’s side of the family that turned seemingly agreeable women into crazy people who (as we have all termed it), like things a certain way. My husband, dad, and grandfather would have a different way of describing this gene, but we like to say that we are particular, and damn you naysayers, this is a good thing. Ahem.

But, at this stage of the game, I have enough self-awareness to know that I need a little help being more laid back about my house. When we first moved in, we had very little furniture for the first four months or so. We sold a lot of it in Chicago and needed to get some new stuff out here. And as those of you who have ever ordered new furniture know, it takes a long time for it to come. Add transport to an island and you’ve not only tacked on an extra 20% or more to all of the shipping, you’ve added a few more weeks to the delivery time. But, the beauty of this furnitureless period and the reason I bring it up is that there were no throw pillows to arrange, no wool accent rugs to vaccum, and no dining table to clean nightly (we ate picnic style on the floor for a while). If I do say so myself, I may have even passed for a relaxed person in those early days.

So I’m being a little more thoughtful this time around to making this place feel happy and cozy and not slick and perfect. As drawn as I am to elegant interiors, this northwest charmer will never be elegant. She’s a little too rugged, a little too simple, and a little too woody to be considered elegant. I’m trying instead to focus on what she is and accentuate that. Like those windows that I can’t cover with drapes? Just today, I was sitting for a moment in front of the living room windows that span almost the entire front wall of the room. And guess what I saw...in January?

Image: Jack Doyle

I can’t even begin to describe the iridescent sheen on this little guy’s head. Seriously. Won’t even try. What a shame for me if I had hidden this view behind the drapes that I had wanted to put there when I first saw the room. Now, I can’t imagine any sort of adornment on any of the windows.

Oh I promise I will show you the before and afters of what we have done so far to the place. I hope it translates as well in photos as it feels in real life. And I hope if you ever come to our house, you feel welcomed. That you feel like I cared enough to make this place look nice, but that I won’t bite your head off if you mess things up. I hope perfect isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. “Warm and inviting,” a friend recently said on her first visit here. Success!, I thought.

On an end table in our living room, I have a few Scrabble and game tiles arranged to spell the words stay awhile. They are of course in two perfectly stacked rows (okay, reform takes a while), and they face outward so they catch your eye when passing. My three-year old, naturally, likes to rearrange the letters and I often walk by to see lestywahia or whaatylesi spelled out instead. The first couple times it happened, I explained to her that the tiles weren’t for touching, just looking. When I realized the absurdity in my reprimand, I have since taken to letting the words sit there as is. Lestywahia. Sounds like it could be Hawaiian for “stay awhile,” or at least something pleasant. And as much as I’d like you to admire the little witty invitation on my table, I’d prefer that you feel its sentiment instead. Whaatylesi, visitors, lestywahia. That is what this new place is all about.

THE HOUSE

2011-01-21T16:44:00.005-08:00

There is something about being in a house and feeling it.

I love houses. When I was much younger, I’m guessing that I paid a lot more attention to houses than the average young person. A couple years ago when I was interviewed by one of my favorite designers on his radio show, he asked me whether I had redecorated my bedroom as a young girl. I told him that I had, but what I omitted was that not only did I redo my bedroom, I mentally redecorated all of my friends’ bedrooms and their houses, too. If we were friends at any period after about fifth grade or so, and if I visited your house, then there is a very high liklihood that somewhere in the recesses of my mind is a very detailed design plan of your home.

I notice the way houses smell, the lighting, how I feel while there – I did then, too. In the dark months of the year, I’ve learned to disguise my excitement as I peek into people’s well-illuminated spaces lest I be viewed as some kind of voyeuristic weirdo. Mostly, I just like checking out the way that people decorate, but sometimes, (okay often), I imagine what it would be like to live there, in that house, in that part of town, living that life. It should then come as no surprise that a.) I chose the career that I’m in, and that b.) during the home search process, I became quickly addicted to online home search websites. Yes, I’m the kind of girl who looks at these sites from time to time even when she’s not in the market for a new home. Unlike most ‘normal’ people who find the search process somewhat stressful, I L-O-V-E-D it.

These days, it’s pretty cool that you can tell a lot about a space without having to set foot in it. Anyone who has started a home search online, though, knows that the camera angles portray the spaces quite favorably and do the equivalent of airbrushing a model in a magazine spread. Admittedly, it’s a great way to do a preliminary scan to know which ones are worth your time for an in-person visit – a kind of match.com for real estate.

Now that you know how strong a sense of ‘place’ I have and how much I love looking at interiors, it should surprise you (it did me) that we made an offer on a house that I had never set foot in. My husband was already living on the island while my daughter and I were tying up loose ends with the sale of our condo in Chicago. So to be fair, at least one of us had vetted the space and thought that it was a great big green light. It fit all of our criteria: old with that je ne sais quois quality of old homes, close to town and the ferry, not too big, within our liveable budget and with a nice-sized yard for the kiddo and dog to enjoy. And, cooks of the world hear this: it had a kick a&$ kitchen, recently redone completely to my taste. Yee haw.

So that you don’t get as excited as I was, because I’m about to let us down, we are not living in that house. Thankfully (and I mean thankfully), the inspection did not go well. The je ne sais quois ended up to be a little less romantic: a foundation problem and...I’m still cringing...a rodent infestation.

There is something about being in a house and feeling it.

Not to say that my Beagle Brigade-worthy sniffer would have detected something amiss, or that without the help of an inspector with a good eye that I would have had any inkling about the foundation problems. But I like to think that some part of me would have had a vibe that this was not the house for us. Many years of observing and sensing would have hopefully bought me that.

Which leads me to...the house that we are living in. Unlike most of the houses that normally catch my attention, ours is about eighty years younger and has more natural wood trim and detailing than I could ever imagine me enjoying, and yet, here I am. And I’m not just enjoying; I’m loving. It’s funny, back when my husband phoned me with his then most recent round of open house updates and started in with: so there’s this one house... I said: the green one, right? Although its online showcase wasn’t as impressive as the others, I had some notion that this might be the one.

Its je ne sais quois turned out to not be its age or its updated kitchen, but truly about its certain unknown quality that spoke to us both. On the very day that we said goodbye to Chicago, hopped a plane to Seattle and took our maiden voyage on the ferry as a family to our new island, I saw our now home for the first time. As I have jokingly recounted that night and said that I basically took a couple peeks around and said: “okay, this is it,” the real story isn’t that different. Although it looked different than the perfect house in my mind’s eye, it felt the way that my favorite places have throughout my life: well-lived in, happy, and like it would hold me and all of my stories as they unfolded within its walls. The best places I’ve ever lived in are the ones I secretly said “goodbye” to if I were leaving for more than a day or two. This was one of those places. And isn’t this what I was really looking for in a house? Isn’t this the best a house could be (aside from being rodentless and rather sturdy)?

And so that is how it happened, how I found my first ‘real’ house. Not particularly ceremonious, not at all what I expected or had planned on, but more or less exactly what I was looking for.

There is something about being in a house and feeling it.

Ours is the one in the background, not the foreground. I just realized we barely have ANY outside photos of the house!

NEXT UP: THE HOUSE, PART II

THE ISLAND

2011-01-13T14:00:00.001-08:00

I’m a mover. Not a shake my groove thang kind of mover (although in the privacy of my own living room, I’m that kind of mover, too). No, I’m an open up a map, close my eyes and see where my finger lands, kind of mover. From 1990-2000, I realized after the fact that I had picked up and moved every two years during that ten-year span. For the next ten years, I stayed in the same place. So in 2010, I was ready for some movin’.

Now, I don’t necessarily recommend upending your entire life and moving because you need a change, but I have also learned not to condemn myself for needing to do so every now and again. This was one of those times.

Chicago had felt right to me for a very long time. I loved being in a city where everything was happening. Being near the buzz felt exciting and held promise for lots of new opportunities. I fashioned myself a city girl and thought I’d never want to leave. And then I got the itch. It started small and began around the time we brought home our furry canine child (now 5). It grew stronger when our human child arrived three years ago. I had begun to notice the whole “city that doesn’t sleep” reality. (I know, it’s not New York, but I think most cities have this reality). Street lamps kept it light all day and all night (those blackout shades never quite shut out the light). Living near a busy intersection, we heard the hum of the buses all night long. On a quiet evening, we could even hear the “doors closing” announcement on the El, which was three city blocks away. I started to crave not only the quiet and the deep darkness of night, but feeling the grass underfoot (and not being completely grossed out that a barefoot walk might entail cigarette butts under my toes). I even had a weird urge to lay down in the grass to really sink in and let it envelop me, the way my daughter does now and the way I did when I was a kid. I needed a change.

The Pacific Northwest has called to me for a long time. In the mid-90’s when I graduated from college, I was among the throngs attracted to Seattle. I seriously contemplated a move then, but my meager teacher’s salary and solo romantic status made that move seem impossibly far and expensive. I kept it tucked away in the recesses of my mind, though, believing that someday, I’d be there.

Fast forward to the early 2000s when my then fiancee, now husband, and I visited Seattle for a friend’s wedding. We both knew then that we’d move here, we just weren’t sure when. Trading the Windy City for the Emerald City felt like a good move. Even though we’d be trading urban for urban, Seattle’s neighborhoods felt more like little green suburbs with sweet little green postage stamp lawns. It felt like breathing room.

Until it didn’t.

When our move looked like it would actually be a reality, we started to explore neighborhoods. As I usually do with a move, I researched neighborhoods and now as a homeowner and not a renter, I spent hours scouring real estate websites. And then I came across something interesting.

Just a 35 minute ferry ride across Puget Sound, due West, there is a lovely little island where people actually live and commute to downtown Seattle. Wha? Huh? It’s known for its scenic beauty, its tight-knit progressive community and its great public schools.

For reals?

My husband and I were married in a lovely pocket of Wisconsin, about four hours north of Chicago. We had always dreamed of living in a place like that, but lamented the fact that unless we were to run a B&B (not really a dream of ours), then it was unlikely that we would be able to manifest that dream. The kind of jobs we had weren’t exactly plentiful there. But...could this little northwest island be that dream realized?

Since I have already revealed that we live here on Bainbridge Island, I’ll spare you the story about visiting and deciding in about the first ten minutes that “yep,” this is it. Some decisions aren’t really decisions; you just know. But suffice it to say that somewhere along the decision-making process, we came to the conclusion that we didn’t just want to pursue outdoor activities on the weekends, we wanted to live them a day-to-day basis. We wanted our daughter’s “normal” to be climbing trees, collecting rocks and listening to bird songs. In the city vs. country argument, I fell on the side of believing that we could always cultivate in our daughter a love for and knowledge of culture and that this love could come now, or later in life. I believed in my heart (and still do), though, that there is a finite period of time a person has for a love of the natural world to seep into his or her bones. If you don’t grow up with it a part of your everyday life, I believe, you miss a window of time when it becomes part of you. You can appreciate it later in life, but it never reaches the deep parts where early memories are carved. Because we had a choice between the two, we chose to live in the country. For us, I am completely confident this was the right decision. Please don’t mistake this as a prescription for happiness, though. These are my beliefs, shaped by my personal needs and history, and are certainly not truth with a capital T.

So here we are. Here I am...about eight months after moving in the springtime. And I/we are totally in love. I would love to declare: “I’m home,” but my long history of moving has taught me that home has been (and may be?) many locations throughout my life. But let me just say: I’m in the home where I’d love to be for a great long while. There really has been no adjustment period in the sense of it feeling right or questioning our decision. We are exactly where we need to be in this moment in time.

My husband is the photographer in the family, and these days he takes a lot of photos on his phone. So, although I don’t have access to his really awesome shots, I will offer some that I’ve taken to give a little sense of why we are loving it here so much. I’m a visual person, so I think these will do a better job than I at highlighting just what it is that drew us here and continues to sustain us in our journey. This is not to say that we have found the place, as I recognize that this is our unique journey and not a declaration of having found nirvana. What I hope that it inspires, though, is an affirmation of your own decisions and a reflection of why the place you call home is just that. And, for those who don’t feel that connection to the place where they are, perhaps a little inspiration to seek out a new adventure.

This is what I had in mind.

Found sand dollars on the beach in the Spring. Had NO idea they existed outside Jersey Shore boardwalk shops.

On an evening walk, down the hill and around the corner from our house. Sally in foreground, Tierney in the background picking berries.

The Squirt, reporting to her favorite spot as the ferry boat departs the island, heading for Seattle.

Bainbridge Island's Harvest Fair, held annually. To me, this event was so quintessentially Bainbridge and captured everything I love about the island, that I wanted to cry with delight. I want to go back to being a kid, just so I can visit the Harvest Fair in my then self's shoes.

Late afternoon beach stroll.

Happy children on another afternoon outing.

Some friends took us east to their cabin for Memorial Day weekend. Love this action shot of Sally. It screams "freedom" to me.

Fall color outside our house. I was delighted by the number of deciduous trees that changed color. Prior to moving, I wrongfully assumed that the Fall wouldn't be as beautiful with all of the evergreen trees. I was happy to be proven wrong.

Tierney at preschool. Yes, Virginia, there is a preschool where you ride horses and swim every week. Nutballs!

The first snowfall of the Winter. Again, I wrongfully assumed I would have to bid adieu to the snow.

Next up: THE HOUSE.

THE DECISION

2011-01-07T15:23:00.001-08:00

There are two kinds of change as I see it. There are the changes that happen to you (job losses and promotions, unexplained illness and loss, having a stray dog show up on your doorstep...), and those that you choose yourself. Our move falls into the latter category. So, when people out here say: what brought you to Bainbridge Island,? they are often surprised to hear that we brought us to Bainbridge Island. Our move was very intentional.

What prompts two people to uproot and leave two perfectly good (great, actually) jobs, wonderful friends and neighbors, an established routine, a world-class city?...well, the list could go on and on. There isn’t a nice tight answer, but here are a few thoughts: pursuit of a new adventure, a hope for a more active/outdoorsy lifestyle and a stronger connection to nature, a break from the routine, an escape from the “city-ness” of said world-class city, and the creation of a home of our own making. Not a house of our own making (we definitely aren’t the build it types), but a chosen home. A place where we elected to be, not a “well, we might as well settle here...” kind of thing.

I think lots of people think we’re nuts (they may be right) and some were saddened by our choice (namely, family who lived close by); but so far, this journey has been (almost) everything we had hoped for. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to make big life changes like this, and from what I’ve seen, it only gets harder and harder as you get more established in a routine, or as your kids grow and uprooting them becomes less and less attractive.

So we’re here, in our chosen home, with our new chosen lives and learning all about what that means. We have a new (to us) house, a new commute, new friends, a new school experience for our daughter, and a new city and island to explore. As I previously mentioned, I’m giving a lot of thought to what ‘home’ means in these early stages as we redefine it for ourselves. I’ll give a bit more backstory on our move, choice of place, etc. before delving more into these thoughts, but they’ve taken up residence in my mind as of late.

I’ll close with this photo my husband and I took on our last walk on the beach in Evanston, IL, just two days before he departed to begin his new job in Seattle (my daughter and I stayed behind an extra month and a half to sell the house). It was a beautiful winter day in Chicago and we felt it appropriate to return to Evanston where we had spent so many of our early days together almost ten years before this shot was taken. I like the symbolism of the winter of our tenure in Chicago, and the optimism of the sunshine on the city in the distance. One of the few chosen homes in my life, Chicago was nothing but sunshine for me in those ten years. I met my husband there, tried on three careers there (the final of which was my beloved business), adopted our sweet Sally dog there, and gave birth to our amazing daughter in Evanson Hospital. I now refer to Chicago as “home” even though I grew up in Western Pennsylvania. I don’t yet know where our current adventure will lead, nor when I will make the transition and start referring to our little island as “home.” I’m fascinated, though, by what will establish it as such in my mind and my heart, and I look forward to sharing this journey and to thinking aloud about what all of this means.

Next up: THE ISLAND.

I'm back.

2011-01-04T11:13:00.011-08:00

Look at that. Talk about time flying. Well, as I departed this here lovely blog, I was about a third of the way through my pregnancy and my business was going gangbusters. I took a little, okay a long, break and now that little lima bean that was growing in my belly is now in preschool as I write. Whew!

A lot has changed.

I scaled back my business more and more until I found that my new-mommy lifestyle could only fit in a couple consultations a week. Then a couple a month. I rediscovered napping. (For me, not the kid). I got comfy in my yoga pants; arguably, a little too comfy. I slowed down. I reexamined. I took lots of walks with our dog.

I reignited my love for reading great books. I stayed current with design, through client research and in discovering some awesome design blogs. I explored new ideas. I thought a lot about what makes a home a great home, beyond just beautiful decor. At the same time, I started to bug out a little in the city. I craved fresh air and green grass. I longed for fewer sirens and more songbirds.

And then we moved.

We picked up, sold our downtown Chicago condo and headed West. We left behind great friends, a fab city, successful jobs and our former go-go lifestyle.

And then we landed.

Home is now a little island across Puget Sound from Seattle. Here, I’ve found the pace I craved, my slice of the natural world, a community, a great place for those on two legs and those on four. A little bit country, just a 35-minute ferry from a little bit rock n’ roll. I am delighted by how much I love this place I’m calling home.

Now that my little one is up and running with preschool, I feel like I get to put it all together. I get to be where I love, doing the work that I love. And, I get to explore that idea of what makes a home a home, especially as I am putting together my first “real” home. What are those special yet real life touches? How do we really live, especially in these times when we’re trying so hard not to accumulate too much stuff?

So here I am, looking at this blog again and hoping to put a different meaning on ‘inside’ design i Interiors. What you won’t see as much of is ‘this or that place to shop,’ or ‘this or that great product.’ Not because I don’t love those, too, but because there are SO many people who do that so much better than I could. So what am I hoping to explore? I want to share a little less of the perfect, and a little more of the real. As I’m reinventing my own sense of home and all that means, I want to share my thoughts as they are already surprising me.

So here is my promise to you (and to myself): I will do my best to offer something fresh. To think about what ‘living well’ means beyond just a pretty space, (although I’m gonna have to talk about those pretty spaces, too). I want to talk about ordinary people who like nice things, but aren’t attached to them. Who have families, pets, and friends...who have messy families, pets, and friends. People who not only care about the state of affairs in their homes, but in their communities, their country, their world, who are trying to do better, while trying to live better.

A peek behind the curtain(s).

I look forward to it.

Interview with Nate Berkus on Oprah & Friends

2007-02-09T13:26:00.001-08:00

I was thrilled and extremely grateful to have the opportunity to sit down earlier this week with designer-extraordinaire, Nate Berkus, on his "Oprah and Friends" XM radio program. Nate asked me to come on the show to talk about my accessible and affordable approach to interior design. We chatted about design inspiration, infusing a space with details that reflect the owner, and I discovered that Nate has a way to determine whether or not a person is destined to be a good designer (you'll have to tune in to find out what it is!).

If you've seen Nate on Oprah's show, I can tell you that he is just as warm, funny and kind in person. He truly believes in designing spaces that have a soul and that tell a story of the lives of those living within. I've certainly learned so much in watching him over the past couple of years and it was such a treat to meet and chat with him.

If you'd like to catch the show, it will be airing on XM radio (channel 156) next Friday, February 16 at (all EST): 4a.m. (you get a prize if you listen this early), 10 a.m., 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. If you miss it on Friday, it will re-air on Saturday at 8 a.m. and again on Sunday at 7 p.m. If you don't have XM radio, I know that you can download a free trial for a few days.

Thank you again, Nate, and all of the gracious folks at Harpo - the pleasure was all mine!

category: press_

Happy '07!

2007-01-05T14:05:00.000-08:00

Happy new year to all! It has been a while since I've posted to 'iNSIDE' as the end of 2006 was pretty hectic! Stay tuned for updates on current projects as well as more design tips and store finds. As always, if you have any tips of your own to share, please pass them along.

All the best for a wonderful 2007!

iNSIDE scoop: BAM (Broadway Antique Market)

2006-10-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

I am excited to say that I finally made my way up north (way up!) to BAM to see what all of the hype is about. As you may have gathered from previous posts, I am very much a fan of mixing old with new and thought BAM might hold some 'objets' of interest. Prices are high (after all, the store is still within city limits), but there are definitely some great finds. If you are like the many others who are crazy about midcentury modern, add this place to your list. Fans of Danish modern will also be pleased. I snapped a few photos, but I highly recommend visiting the store in person as what is appealing to me may not be your cup of tea!

Loved this 50's child's chair. (You can't tell from the photo, but it's pretty small). Kind of like a mini-Eames chair, but only $55!

The fabric on these chairs is hideous, but they could certainly be recovered. Scandinavian dining set (includes 6 chairs and 2 leaves for the table) for $995.

Norman Cherner chair for $245. (They currently have two).

Mission-style oak table for $375

Broadway Antique Market (BAM)
6130 N. Broadway (in Edgewater)
www.bamchicago.com

category: resources_

Art for grownups

2006-08-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

If you are like many of my friends and clients who would like to graduate from your collection of framed posters, but shudder at the thought of the price tags that accompany 'real' art, keep reading.

Yesterday, I checked out two local sources that I've been meaning to visit for quite some time: Sacred Art in Roscoe Village and Homey in North Center. I was really glad I did as both spaces showcased a lot of really great work, but at accessible prices.

Sacred Art is the smaller of the two galleries, but it crams as much as possible into the little shop on the main drag in Roscoe Village. Its owner, Sarah, will happily guide you to the works that are appropriate for your taste and your budget. She showcases all Chicago artists and the pieces run the gamut from photography to paintings and textile arts. Be sure to tell Sarah what you are looking for. As the space is so small, she has some things in storage. Also, if you don't see what you like in the store, several of the artists will work on commission. (Sounds scary, but the prices make it less so)!

Homey is the more expensive of the two, but is still reasonable considering you are paying to have unique art that you won't see all over town. Homey's owner, Mike, will walk you through his collection, which includes photography, paintings, sculpture, some furniture pieces and select accessories. If you are looking for a larger piece, Homey may be the better bet. And, if you are nervous that the painting you are eyeing won't fit in your space, you can take it home for a test drive.

So, when you go to hang that framed Chagall poster you've had since college, consider at least a peek at these two galleries that showcase art for the 'rest of us.'

Sacred Art
2040 W. Roscoe
773.404.8790

Homey
3656 N. Lincoln
773.248.0500

Fun find: bowling lane wood tables from Scout

2006-08-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

Just got this mailer from Scout and wanted to share. I saw these tables while recently in the store and can attest - they're fantastic! As with everything at Scout, these tables are unique and up the style factor in your space. I love the fact that they are customizable, too. Just think of the fun you'll have in telling the story of your find.

Definitely a must see!

www.scoutchicago.com

iNSIDE scoop: Praha

2006-08-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've visited Praha, so I felt a return trip was long overdue. Once there, I quickly remembered what attracted me to the store on previous visits.

Looking for well-priced furniture, but not so thrilled about seeing your piece in all of your friends' homes? Praha shop owners had you in mind, then, when they developed the concept for their store. Here, you'll find a wonderful collection of cottage-y furniture - tables, buffets, dressers - as well as great looking custom-order upholstered furniture. If that isn't enticement enough, everything is priced even lower than what you would expect to pay at a comparable large-scale retailer. (Think: somewhere in between Target and Crate & Barrel). If the word 'cottage' has you running for the hills, fear not. This is today's cottage, which translates into clean-lined yet rustic feeling, and without any country details.

Shop owners Todd and David travel frequently to the Czech Republic to replenish their ever-changing inventory. About 70% of the store is from the CR (thus the name). The remaining goodies are either antique finds or cool, unique accessories. Worried that the word will spread and you'll still see all of your things all over town? These guys have you covered. In an effort to make your items feel more unique, Todd and David usually carry only 6 of one item. So, good news - exclusivity at a great price; bad news - you may need to snap up that table you've been eyeing because it may not be there next week.

So, on your next trip to CB2 or after a date at Sola, be sure to cruise on over and check it out.

Praha
3849 N. Lincoln Ave.
773.549.1227
(no website)

category: resources_

5 low-cost solutions for making the most out of a small space

2006-08-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

We’ve all lived in one at some point. Maybe you are living in one now. Our politically correct culture might name them “area challenged” or simply: “quaint.” The rest of us know them better as small spaces.

In today’s age of ‘bigger is better,’ I find small spaces to be cozy and charming and often an eco-friendly alternative to their colossal counterparts. They can, however, be a bit of a design doozie if you don’t know how to make the most of their assets. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you tackle your diminutive dwelling.

1. Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

Ever notice the night before you are moving to a new place and everything has been removed from the walls that your space looks a lot smaller? That’s often because you’ve literally erased a dimension from the room: the one created by your wall hangings.

Well-placed mirrors work wonders in small spaces. A lot of good design is all about fooling your eye to perceive things in a more complimentary manner. Mounting a mirror opposite windows, for example, reflects the natural light and gives the impression of additional depth. Reflective surfaces such as lacquer, glass, and shiny metals like nickel or aluminum serve the same purpose. This works in any space – big or small.

2. Color me large.

A continuous color scheme is a nice idea in a large space as it unifies disparate areas. In a small space, it’s a must. Smaller, choppier rooms tend to look like individual showrooms if each is done in a different color. Fret not; this idea isn't as boring as it sounds. Start with a semi-neutral base color – gray-green, deep taupe, crisp white - and paint any adjoining rooms this color (or a one or two shade variant). Then, choose some complimentary accent colors and a couple of punchy ones and weave those throughout your rooms for a cohesive and more spacious look.

3. On a scale of 1-10...

...scale is a 10 in terms of its importance in making your small space look larger. Avoid too many little items in your space. This creates the dollhouse look and achieves the opposite effect of what you are striving for. Opt instead for fewer pieces that fill out (but don’t overwhelm) the room and that do double-duty. For example, could your dining table function as a desk? Could your bed frame be crafted from several drawers or low-slung dressers on which your mattress sits? What about using storage cubes or side tables as extra seating, when needed?

Scale is also extremely important in the choices for your artwork. Again – think fewer and larger and nix the choppy. Can’t afford ‘real’ art? Consider making your own. Paint large artists’ canvases solid colors – or – create a frame with some architectural molding and frame some wallpaper pieces.

4. Cut a rug.

Area rugs are a great way to unify a seating arrangement or to define a room within a room. (Think of studio apartments or lofts in which there is one large room vs. several smaller rooms). When placing your furniture on a rug, be sure that all or most of it sits atop the rug.

Large good-quality area rugs can set you back a few pennies. If the size you need is cost-prohibitive, look into having a custom rug created from carpet remnants. Just about any carpet retailer will take an existing remnant and bind it for you to create a rug. Notch it up a degree and have them create a border for your rug out of another complementary-colored remnant. This can be done for a fraction of what it would cost for a wool area rug. Natural rugs such as sisal or seagrass are also a lower cost alternative when you need a large sized rug.

5. Let there be light.

Observe your space at night. Where are the dark corners? Add a beautiful floor lamp or side table lamp to eliminate the shadows and create additional space.

In the daytime, make sure that you are utilizing all the available natural light. Select sheer curtains rather than heavy velvet ones. Also, mount your hardware and hang your drapes outside of the window frame. The rod can be hung a foot or more above the window frame. This gives the impression that what’s hiding behind your curtains is actually more window. Also, when the drapes are left open, it permits all available sunlight to make its way into your room.

category: tips_

design i featured on decor8

2006-08-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

Many, many thank yous are needed to properly thank Holly Becker for featuring design i on her blog, decor8. If you don't know decor8, do not pass go and immediately visit the site! Doing so will give you countless ideas for finishing out your space, and will give you great gift ideas for your design junkie friend. decor8 features 'fresh finds from sofas to stationery,' and is updated daily. I frequently check out the site to keep my finger on the pulse of what's new & exciting, and sometimes just to get my design fix.

Thank you again, Holly! I greatly appreciate your kind words and a forum to discuss fresh and affordable options to the existing model of interior design.

Click here to check out the interview. Enjoy!

category: press_

Thank you, Rosalind!

2006-07-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you to Rosalind Van Tuyl whose place is featured on my site as the "Lincoln Park Photographer's Studio" and who recently featured her project on her blog (along with some very kind comments).

I can't say enough about the wonderful photos that Rosalind did for my site, which she showcases (in a much larger format) on her blog. There are also some additional 'before' photos as well as Rosalind's ever-witty commentary.

If you are in need of a wedding photographer (or know someone who is), I think you'll agree that Rosalind's work is simply stunning.

Check it out: www.rosalindweddings.com

*Even if you don't need a photographer, there's some great eye candy in here. Beautiful!

category: press_

Tip #5 - Architectural Continuity

2006-07-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

This topic is fresh in my mind as I just saw an example of where architectural continuity wasn’t considered in a design project and it tainted what would otherwise have been a spectacular home. So, to back up a bit, as the name suggests, architectural continuity is all about reading the ‘bones’ of your space and using that as a guide for the types of furnishings and finishes you choose. A good parallel example would be choosing clothing based on your unique figure, age, style, etc. Unfortunately, we’ve all seen examples of where this has gone painfully awry. Heck, there are entire magazine columns dedicated to these mishaps: ‘muffin tops,’ middle aged moms borrowing their teens’ clothing – you get the picture.

So, the example to which I alluded was the 2006 Cottage Living magazine’s IDEA home located in Evanston. My husband and I thought it would make for a good field trip this past steamy weekend when staying indoors was the much-preferred option! Now, I must first say that the home itself is stunning. It’s a 2700 sq. ft. bungalow with wonderful flow conducive to modern family living. In my opinion, it’s new construction at its finest: smartly sized (read: not HUGE!) with modern amenities, but with the soul of an older home. Where I think it was lacking, was in the continuity. Much of the interior styling wasn’t in line with the architecture.

What does that mean? I think the most noticeable examples were the home’s lighting fixtures which were not only inconsistent from room-to-room (the main living floor had modern nickel pendants in the kitchen which opened right to the dining room that showcased a much more traditional brass lantern-like fixture), but some had finishes that weren’t in line with a Craftsman bungalow-style home. Many of the materials chosen were too ornate for a home whose style is supposed to embody simplicity and hand-wrought charm. The effect, I felt, was visual discord. Even an untrained eye would recognize that many of these pieces didn’t fit with the feel of the home. I’m all for mixing styles and periods, but when used together, they must create a feeling of harmony, especially within their setting.

How do we prevent this from happening in our own spaces? Ask yourself: what is my home’s innate style and (if applicable) period influences? Thinking back to the fashion example, is it young and fresh or mature and stately? A tomboy or a fashionista? This doesn’t mean that you can’t work outside of these constraints, it just dictates whether you should ‘dress it’ in pared down and simple vs. Louis XVI. Think of it as accentuating your home’s best features.

If only the 'muffin tops' would do the same.

So, to summarize:

1. Determine the style of your home.
2. Always keeping in mind that style, think about what pieces will accentuate the best of your home, and which ones will detract from it.
3. Feel free to mix styles WITHIN THOSE CONSTRAINTS. For example, antiques paired with modern pieces look wonderful together – BUT – choose the appropriate size and style that work with your home. Gothic Revival and Arts & Crafts are both considered antiques, but each has a radically different look.

category: tips_

INSIDE scoop: Galleria Concord

2006-07-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

While on my way to the Home Depot the other day, I discovered Galleria Concord tucked away on a side street off of Elston. Although they've been open for a year now, the store is off the beaten path a bit which is why I (and perhaps you) had not yet discovered it.

A more unique yet similarly priced alternative to the big-name furniture stores, the store carries a wonderful selection of solid wood tables, armoires, buffets and decorative accessories. All pieces are imported and most are from India. Tables range from $350-1200, armoires $1500-3500 and buffets $500-1100. The vibe is friendly and not salesy - it actually reminded me of a more affordably priced Golden Triangle and a more upscale Cost Plus World Market.

If you stop by, please shoot me an email and let me know what you thought!

Galleria Concord
1348 W. Concord Place (east of Elston, north of North Ave.)
773.489.9200
www.galleriaconcord.com

category: resources_

Tip #4 - Stop worrying about resale

2006-07-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

This one goes out to all of you homeowners who know that it is merely a matter of time - months? a year? - until you move into your next place. Unless you bought your home to ‘flip it’ or you are considering a windowless room painted floor to ceiling black, I suggest that you don’t worry so much about how the next inhabitant of your home will like your decorating decisions.

I have talked with several real estate agent friends who have all concurred that it is much more important that a room appear coherent and put together than it is for it to have the exact color scheme that will please the new owners. Even if you do decorate with these yet unknown people in mind, chances are they will end up changing the paint color and finishes anyway. So, my vote is to go with what you love for now. Unless your taste is completely off the wall or shall I say... scary, potential buyers will see your flair and will be drawn to that rather than the sea of beige you’ve chosen to underwhelm them.

category: tips_

design i featured in Apartment Therapy: Chicago

2006-07-10T12:33:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Janel at Apartment Therapy for including a post on design i! To check out her comments, please click here.

category: press_

iNSIDE scoop: Sprout Home

2006-07-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

If you are like I am and would love to have a great looking outdoor space, but have had trouble finding cool-looking planters, or even cool looking plants for that matter – you have to check out Sprout Home in Ukrainian Village. A store dedicated to the ‘urban gardener,’ Sprout carries not only vessels for your foliage, but a well-edited collection of housewares by independent designers, great funky kids’ stuff and even offers on-site monthly pickup of organic veggies!

Sprout has a very laid-back vibe (even Grifter, the resident pooch, is pretty chill) and the staff is extremely helpful. Tara, the owner, walked me through their garden design services that run the gamut from in-store help to full-service on-site design. No project is too small (well, almost) and the majority of the design projects are for decks. Design fees start around $75 for container planting (vs. ground planting) and there is a minimum requirement to sign on for a project. (Basically, more than a planter or two!) But, if you are trying to come up with a cool look and want to do it yourself, you can bring in photos of your space to the store where they will graciously assist you in choosing what will work best for you. Or, you might just get all of your inspiration from the well-arranged store displays.

So, whether you are looking for some tall plants to hide your unsightly neighbors, (or you, if you are the unsightly neighbors!), or for funky home furnishings, gift ideas or organic produce, Sprout has all of that and more. And, if you are well-meaning but don’t make it there until after summer has passed; fret not. Sprout also carries clean-lined modern holiday trees and trimmings.

See you there!

Some outdoor planters - there are a TON up here. Don't miss the upstairs!

I always think red really pops in a garden.

Sprout Home
745 N. Damen Ave., (Ukrainian Village)
312.226.5950
www.sprouthome.com

Category: resources_

Tip #3 - Lighting

2006-07-05T17:01:00.000-07:00

If I had to narrow down the list of ‘most common design mistakes’ I see happen time and again, this one just might top my list – over lighting. Now, I have to clarify as I am very much a believer in lighting – accent light, task light, natural light, candle light ... it’s that nasty monster better-known as OVERHEAD LIGHTING to which I’m referring. Lately, I seem to see the beast rear its ugly head when I’m at cocktail or dinner parties. I hate to tell tales on my gracious hosts, but there have been a few occasions when I have been sitting beneath fluorescent lights so bright that I half expected one of my dinner companions to turn to me, shine one in my eyes and demand: where were you on the night of the twelfth?

Okay, so I exaggerate, but in my opinion, nothing equals insta-mood creator as much as wonderful accent lights. I also believe that small changes in lighting can deliver big impact with little effect on your wallet. As a rule and if possible, I like to see at least three accent lamps in a room so that there are several alternatives to the overheads. Now, admittedly, we all need those overhead lights SOME of the time. Add some dimmers to those lights, though, and you have the ability to create a completely different mood. (A little tip: dimmers in bathrooms are a great way to avoid the assault on your eyes first thing in the morning).

So, if you feel you might be guilty of gratuitous use of overhead lighting, the next time you go to flip the switch, consider a soft accent light instead. And who knows? You might just see the light.

Category: tips_

iNSIDE scoop: Scout

2006-06-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

I’ve been putting off writing this for one very selfish reason – I want to keep Scout my little secret. Once you meet the owner of this ‘urban antique store,’ you’ll understand why I’ve concluded it would be almost mean to not share him (or this treasure) with anyone who will listen.

There is just something about this place that makes people turn heads. Is it the well-crafted and ever-changing window display? The cool clean lines of the store’s signage and logo? The friendly face behind the counter that beckons? What IS it about this place that whispers to you to come on in and check it out?

Scout is an homage to all things found. This is the place you visit in search of those pieces that add both gravity and levity to your space. Need a little history to balance your uber modern taste? What about a little whimsy to lighten the mood of the place? In Scout you will find this and more.

The store is put together with such a good eye and a loving hand that it just feels good to be there. While you may equate ‘previously owned’ items with musty piles of antiques arranged with no rhyme or reason – here you will find nothing of the kind. What you will find is a constantly fluctuating inventory of treasures that its owner, Larry Vodak, has ‘scouted’ and generously offered up for you to buy. Larry handpicks these treasures so he knows where they all originated. He loves telling you the story of a piece, (be sure to ask); especially what it was about it that he responded to. Not only can you find major furniture pieces here (unique dining tables - priced as low as $500!, storage pieces, desks, and chairs), but also those oh-so-difficult-to-find ‘little’ items that take your standard Crate & Barrel living room to a new level.

I believe that half the reason to visit Scout is to shop; the other is to chat with Larry. You will soon discover, as I have, that Larry’s passion is aligned with his vocation. Having no previous retail experience prior to opening, he started Scout in a quest to find his passion and to make a living doing it. A rarity in an environment usually filled with pushy salespeople, Larry makes you feel at home – like you can come in, kick the tires, and just hang out. Understanding that sometimes you just need to see how his things work in your space, Larry is happy for you to take home your item for a test-drive. Should you find that it doesn’t work as planned, just bring it back to the store for a full refund.

(I think I’m going to be hard-pressed to find something I don’t like about this place...)

So, in summary:

- The store is always changing. Stop by often to see what Larry has found.
- A storeowner who loves what he does translates into a positive and relaxed shopping experience.
- Antiques don’t have to be stuffy, smelly or expensive.
- A home put together as well as Scout would be a beautiful place in which to live!

Scout
5221 N. Clark (Andersonville)
773.275.5700
www.scoutchicago.com

category: resources_

Tip #2: Hanging Height

2006-06-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be like a lot people I know, my guess is that you are hanging your pictures too high. I have a friend who hung some bathroom pictures so high that I literally needed a step stool to look at them square on ... and I’m 5’9”.

There are all sorts of rules and calculations for determining the correct distance between objects. For example, some say that you should have only 6” between your piece of furniture and whatever is hanging above it. Perhaps. I feel a better gauge is to ask the question: if these things were people, would they look like a happy family (they should) – or - do they look like an angry couple who just had a nasty fight? Worse yet: did you unknowingly isolate your poor piece and hang it all by itself with no close neighbors? Unless you just acquired a Jackson Pollock that takes up a large portion of your wall, it is likely that your picture could use some company.

I was recently chatting with a shop owner about this subject and he had some great simple advice his mother had given him: Determine on the wall where you think you should hang your pictures. Now, hang them lower! Perfect.

category: tips_

iNSIDE scoop: P.O.S.H.

2006-06-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

A veritable oasis in the midst of its giant retail counterparts, P.O.S.H., located in the Tree Studios, is a fantastic place to find truly unique and affordable pieces to accessorize your space. I recently sat down with the store’s owner, Karl Sorensen, and Lisa, an extremely amiable and knowledgeable salesperson, to talk about P.O.S.H. and what it offers its customers that you (truly) can’t find anywhere else.

Karl accurately describes P.O.S.H. as a ‘cool well-edited flea market’ where all of the work of sorting through items has been done for you, (not to mention that you don’t have to lug it back from overseas)! They carry an extensive collection of pre-WWII silver, much of it from world-famous hotels and most of it from France, Belgium and England. (A lot of it is silver-plated, Lisa added, as silver-plate is much more durable than sterling silver). P.O.S.H. is especially known for their mix and match flatware (a unique look that I love). Although the clientele is diverse, most come to the store in search of pieces with some history and romance to them. P.O.S.H. also carries newer items to balance the vintage pieces. Karl described the rationale saying: ‘the new things give the old a fresher feel and the old things give the new more character.” (I quickly learned in talking to Karl that we share a lot of the same design philosophy and that his musings on the store are directly applicable to putting together a home!)

When asked what he feels is the best bargain in the store, Karl admits that he is really partial to what the store refers to as ‘flea market finds.’ These, he says, are ‘charming pieces that are full of personality that reflect your individuality and make you smile.’ I couldn’t agree more. *Some of these ‘finds’ are showcased on the website, but be sure to check them out in person. As you can imagine, items for which there is no back inventory are very difficult to post on the website because they are well priced and move out of the store very quickly.

When I asked Karl to give some parting advice to homeowners trying to create a beautiful and unique space, he said it basically boils down to investing in an environment that is pleasing to you – buy things that make you happy. (Insert Amen chorus!)

So, in summary, if you are like many who wish they had inherited some pieces of character (but didn’t) or are looking for a truly memorable gift, in P.O.S.H. you will find a fun European market-like shop full of one-of-a-kind pieces to lend a little 'je ne sais quoi' to your space - all without doing too much damage to the wallet.

(Many thanks to Karl, Lisa and the other staff members who graciously took me in and answered all of my questions.)

P.O.S.H.
613 N. State Street (*Many of you may remember the store when it was on Southport. It has been in the Tree Studios since September of 2004.)
312.280.1602
www.poshchicago.com (Fun fact - be sure to check out the FAQs to see what P.O.S.H. stands for and to learn the true derivation of the word).

category: resources_

Design Tip #1: Own it.

2006-06-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

In working with my clients, I have found that several topics come up again and again as they tackle their design projects. This is the first in a series of tips to address some of the more common questions.

One of the pitfalls I see my clients fall into over and over again is not owning their design decisions. Throughout the design process, they are getting input from friends, family members, the UPS guy - you name it. Stop for a moment to consider the most uniquely stylish person you know. Now think of the confidence that person has in his or her appearance. They don’t ask for your permission prior to getting dressed and probably don’t care if what they chose is pleasing to you. It may not be the way you would dress, but you recognize their confidence and likely admire it. One place where I have seen this trend catching on is in expectant parents who wait to reveal the name of their child until he or she is born. They present the baby to the world without (gasp!) asking for anyone’s input on the name.

I think it would be great if we could all apply this trend to the manner in which we put together our homes. The way you create your home environment is for your pleasure and your utility – not to please everyone else. What makes you happy is never going to be exactly what makes your best friend or your mother happy. Think back to your stylish friend and try to translate that confidence into how you feel about your space. Does it suit your needs? Does it make you happy? Does it reveal a little bit about you?

Everyone is going to an opinion if you ask. I suggest asking the only person who really counts, calling it a day and owning it.

category: tips_

Welcome to iNSIDE!

2006-06-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome and thank you for visiting iNSIDE, a forum for me to share a collection of all of the gems (people, places, ideas) I encounter in my business as a Chicago-based Interior Stylist. In my daily work, I am constantly pounding the pavement, visiting local stores and meeting new creative folks in my quest to find goods and services for the design-savvy yet budget conscious homeowner. Through iNSIDE, I hope to share these finds with you and be able to talk up some really cool and talented people I’ve met along the way.

I invite you to share your thoughts and any of your own tips – whether you know of a good store to check out, have a new idea or have a design question. Thanks again for visiting and I hope that you’ll check back frequently to get the iNSIDE scoop.