Welcome to my private world. My home. This is the place I always long to be whenever I am away. It is the place where I feel the safest, the most secure, the most loved. The place where I can pull on my flannel jammies and slippers, pour a cup of warm tea, and cuddle up in a soft chair (with lots of plush pillows, of course). My home is like a second skin; it says "me" more than anything else. I have always tried to make whatever space I had into something of a refuge, a sanctuary, a place where I feel great about myself.
Even when I was growing up in Arlington, Nebraska, when the money was tight (because the lack of handing it out came at that of my hardworking father). I never lived in a dream bedroom that we were unable to afford. I made due with what I had lying about, what interested me, and things I loved. At that time, I lived for music, boys, and shopping. I saved shopping bags from all sorts of adventures and also had well traveled family and friends do the same. I remember placing each and every bag onto the ceiling strategically to cover the popcorn style plaster that totally freaked me out, even then. It was a small cave, covered from floor to (actual) ceiling with reminders of other places, bigger places, places I had yet never been but longed to be one day. It was the perfect backdrop to a creative teen with a wandering mind of the greater things in the vast world I had yet to explore.
Upon leaving home, my first place was shared with my bestest gal pal, Alison. We rented a studio apartment in a shaky part of the city close to downtown and we stuck out like a sore thumb. However, our apartment was cozy and comfortable. A bunk bed style futon allowed for sleep quarters for us both, while leaving the bottom bed as a couch would accomodate guests. We had a dresser with mirror (handed down from my dad and painted black) that was used for storage and also served double duty as a buffet in case our living area was needed as a dining room. We stacked things to the very tippy top of the only closet we had and we used an old foldable step. We last there a few short months before we were both both onto bigger and better things. However, our friendship has lasted throughout and that speaks volumes for the lack of space we had to share at that time.
The next few years were filled with building credit, acquiring hand me downs, flea-market finds and saving and scrounging to buy perfect pieces I just could NOT go without. The same goes for your space. It's YOUR space. Whether awakard in shape or too small for much large furnishings, some signature pieces needed to tie it all together; it is YOUR space and should be represented as such.
Think about the things you will be doing in that area.
Think about the things in that space already that make you happy and you are committed to.
Think about the colors that make your mood.
With the right "eye" and the right mindset, it could literally take only 5 minutes for a room to go from drab to fab, just by rearranging some small items, tossing in some color, and organizing the place. Home should be your sanctuary; the place you arrive to toss your keys in the bowl or onto the hook (or wherever it is you place your keys once you get home: and they should have a designated space), the place you kick off your shoes and you inhale deeply and you say, "Relax! You're home!" It doesn't get any better than that. The door is closed behind you to all the rest of the world and you are in your personal space surrounded by the people and the things you love the absolute most, making you feel all warm and fuzzy inside; like wrapping up in a warm terry cloth robe upon exiting the shower. Home is like the center of the Oreo, It's the good stuff and you should indulge completely!
I surround myself with the things I love. Is your child a budding artist? Hang their masterpieces in a grouping going up the stairs or on the back of their bedroom door, personalizing it to their taste. You can easily switch it out as new additions come home in their backpacks. Got a favorite seashell you snagged from your honeymoon? I have saved sand and seashells and had friends bring me back sand and shells from all around the world. I keep the sand in vases and top it with a few specifically placed shells. I can say I have a piece of the world, right there in the glass atop the shelf. It makes me happy knowing that piece of the world has travelled from Greece, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, from the shores of Florida, from numerous trips to California; all the way back to my living room and survived several moves I made personally since then. Home is where the heart is and that is where you should begin.
Just like fashion; design comes and goes in fads. It's possible to spend a considerable amount of money on items for your home, whether it be the Chippendale dining room you purchased because it was the "grown up" thing to do or painting the bathroom in a Chevron pattern (which personally I love but think it's the fad right now and will soon explode to the point I don't want what everybody else has). Remember that there are things that are in fashion today, just like what you wear, that can be gone tomorrow; yesterdays newspaper. Will you love what you buy 10 years from now? Think about that before you buy it. Think about your heart and what speaks to you when you go out shopping. Does that fabric or table or lamp speak to you? If yes, buy it. If not, leave it there...you'll be amazed at how quickly you forget it.
I have put a significant amount of money, minutes, and my tears into the house I live in now; but what really makes this place work are the personal things that are about me and my children. There are the pictures of my family, the things we've collected on trips (even if it's pine cones on our walks by the lake), and memories being built.
When I take time to look around at the decorating I've done-buying things, making mistakes (lots of mistakes), being driven by what I saw in a magazine, following trends- I can tell you that if you stay with good lines, simplicity, and you take things slowly and always ask your inner self its opinion, you probably can't go wrong. After working with me and I share all that I have learned to cut corners and save money, transform a room with paint, choose the right window treatments, experiement with lighting...and much, much more, I know you'll create a home you will love. But remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. This process can be long, hard and frustrating. Just take it one step at a time and enjoy the whole operation.
And please try to remember: there are some thing you just can't fix. I am currently renting. There are plenty of things I can still style and redo to my taste and liking but there are other things that are untouchable (per the landlord) and that's the kitchen in my case. It's a dark knotty pine and laminate with flourescent lighting catastrophe. I make due with what I can by incorporating my love for wine and all the accent pieces I have by hanging things on the wall, throwing down some rugs for added comfort and contrast to the cold porcelain tile floor that I get to enjoy while I'm cooking or washing dishes. I make the rest of the space just as much "me" as I possibly can and cross my fingers that those are the things people notice upon diverting their eyes from the obvious old fashioned mess that is the cabinets and countertops now. There are ways around any problem (usually) and there are ways to get the look and style you are going for without having to spend much time or money in doing so.
Finding the perfect pieces; the throw to toss over the ottoman in the reading nook to snuggle up with, the lamps and shades to set the right mood, the perfect vase to incorporate with a fresh flower arrangement to enjoy when it's just too cold out to enjoy them elsewhere; is the excitement that gets me geared up and going. The thrill is searching for these treasures, doing it on a budget is makes it even more satisfying, because if you ever really do finish-God forbid! What will you then do on the weekends?-you'll have a home that's truly yours and one that comes from the heart-not from your pocketbook.
I know that you budget is definitely on your mind when you're thinking about decorating your home. It should be. I know mine is. Very few of us can just go out and buy everything we like right now. If you need to watch your dollars carefully, it means only that you must do more research to get what you want for the price you can afford. Style is more about how you put together what you have than about spending the most amount of money. I know plenty of fabulously wealthy people who have fabulously awful taste. Sure, they spend a lot, but so what? I can teach you how to spend the least and have a home that others envy. Everyone will think you've spent a fortune, because your home will look spectacular. You'll see that even the little things really count. I can teach you how to transform one room or all of them and make your private place yours. So, let's get to work :)
Even when I was growing up in Arlington, Nebraska, when the money was tight (because the lack of handing it out came at that of my hardworking father). I never lived in a dream bedroom that we were unable to afford. I made due with what I had lying about, what interested me, and things I loved. At that time, I lived for music, boys, and shopping. I saved shopping bags from all sorts of adventures and also had well traveled family and friends do the same. I remember placing each and every bag onto the ceiling strategically to cover the popcorn style plaster that totally freaked me out, even then. It was a small cave, covered from floor to (actual) ceiling with reminders of other places, bigger places, places I had yet never been but longed to be one day. It was the perfect backdrop to a creative teen with a wandering mind of the greater things in the vast world I had yet to explore.
Upon leaving home, my first place was shared with my bestest gal pal, Alison. We rented a studio apartment in a shaky part of the city close to downtown and we stuck out like a sore thumb. However, our apartment was cozy and comfortable. A bunk bed style futon allowed for sleep quarters for us both, while leaving the bottom bed as a couch would accomodate guests. We had a dresser with mirror (handed down from my dad and painted black) that was used for storage and also served double duty as a buffet in case our living area was needed as a dining room. We stacked things to the very tippy top of the only closet we had and we used an old foldable step. We last there a few short months before we were both both onto bigger and better things. However, our friendship has lasted throughout and that speaks volumes for the lack of space we had to share at that time.
The next few years were filled with building credit, acquiring hand me downs, flea-market finds and saving and scrounging to buy perfect pieces I just could NOT go without. The same goes for your space. It's YOUR space. Whether awakard in shape or too small for much large furnishings, some signature pieces needed to tie it all together; it is YOUR space and should be represented as such.
Think about the things you will be doing in that area.
Think about the things in that space already that make you happy and you are committed to.
Think about the colors that make your mood.
With the right "eye" and the right mindset, it could literally take only 5 minutes for a room to go from drab to fab, just by rearranging some small items, tossing in some color, and organizing the place. Home should be your sanctuary; the place you arrive to toss your keys in the bowl or onto the hook (or wherever it is you place your keys once you get home: and they should have a designated space), the place you kick off your shoes and you inhale deeply and you say, "Relax! You're home!" It doesn't get any better than that. The door is closed behind you to all the rest of the world and you are in your personal space surrounded by the people and the things you love the absolute most, making you feel all warm and fuzzy inside; like wrapping up in a warm terry cloth robe upon exiting the shower. Home is like the center of the Oreo, It's the good stuff and you should indulge completely!
I surround myself with the things I love. Is your child a budding artist? Hang their masterpieces in a grouping going up the stairs or on the back of their bedroom door, personalizing it to their taste. You can easily switch it out as new additions come home in their backpacks. Got a favorite seashell you snagged from your honeymoon? I have saved sand and seashells and had friends bring me back sand and shells from all around the world. I keep the sand in vases and top it with a few specifically placed shells. I can say I have a piece of the world, right there in the glass atop the shelf. It makes me happy knowing that piece of the world has travelled from Greece, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, from the shores of Florida, from numerous trips to California; all the way back to my living room and survived several moves I made personally since then. Home is where the heart is and that is where you should begin.
Just like fashion; design comes and goes in fads. It's possible to spend a considerable amount of money on items for your home, whether it be the Chippendale dining room you purchased because it was the "grown up" thing to do or painting the bathroom in a Chevron pattern (which personally I love but think it's the fad right now and will soon explode to the point I don't want what everybody else has). Remember that there are things that are in fashion today, just like what you wear, that can be gone tomorrow; yesterdays newspaper. Will you love what you buy 10 years from now? Think about that before you buy it. Think about your heart and what speaks to you when you go out shopping. Does that fabric or table or lamp speak to you? If yes, buy it. If not, leave it there...you'll be amazed at how quickly you forget it.
I have put a significant amount of money, minutes, and my tears into the house I live in now; but what really makes this place work are the personal things that are about me and my children. There are the pictures of my family, the things we've collected on trips (even if it's pine cones on our walks by the lake), and memories being built.
When I take time to look around at the decorating I've done-buying things, making mistakes (lots of mistakes), being driven by what I saw in a magazine, following trends- I can tell you that if you stay with good lines, simplicity, and you take things slowly and always ask your inner self its opinion, you probably can't go wrong. After working with me and I share all that I have learned to cut corners and save money, transform a room with paint, choose the right window treatments, experiement with lighting...and much, much more, I know you'll create a home you will love. But remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. This process can be long, hard and frustrating. Just take it one step at a time and enjoy the whole operation.
And please try to remember: there are some thing you just can't fix. I am currently renting. There are plenty of things I can still style and redo to my taste and liking but there are other things that are untouchable (per the landlord) and that's the kitchen in my case. It's a dark knotty pine and laminate with flourescent lighting catastrophe. I make due with what I can by incorporating my love for wine and all the accent pieces I have by hanging things on the wall, throwing down some rugs for added comfort and contrast to the cold porcelain tile floor that I get to enjoy while I'm cooking or washing dishes. I make the rest of the space just as much "me" as I possibly can and cross my fingers that those are the things people notice upon diverting their eyes from the obvious old fashioned mess that is the cabinets and countertops now. There are ways around any problem (usually) and there are ways to get the look and style you are going for without having to spend much time or money in doing so.
Finding the perfect pieces; the throw to toss over the ottoman in the reading nook to snuggle up with, the lamps and shades to set the right mood, the perfect vase to incorporate with a fresh flower arrangement to enjoy when it's just too cold out to enjoy them elsewhere; is the excitement that gets me geared up and going. The thrill is searching for these treasures, doing it on a budget is makes it even more satisfying, because if you ever really do finish-God forbid! What will you then do on the weekends?-you'll have a home that's truly yours and one that comes from the heart-not from your pocketbook.
I know that you budget is definitely on your mind when you're thinking about decorating your home. It should be. I know mine is. Very few of us can just go out and buy everything we like right now. If you need to watch your dollars carefully, it means only that you must do more research to get what you want for the price you can afford. Style is more about how you put together what you have than about spending the most amount of money. I know plenty of fabulously wealthy people who have fabulously awful taste. Sure, they spend a lot, but so what? I can teach you how to spend the least and have a home that others envy. Everyone will think you've spent a fortune, because your home will look spectacular. You'll see that even the little things really count. I can teach you how to transform one room or all of them and make your private place yours. So, let's get to work :)
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