You have to fall in love with your home again and it should be an area that when you come home.......the space and the people within it make you smile. Sounds silly but it's true. You don't have to say your new intentions out loud, it can be our little secret! But either way, design can be more beneficial than you realize.
It's easy to forget in the big scheme of life how much your environment can affect your emotions. So I'm hear to remind you that design can be great for the soul.
Most of you know the kind of last couple of years I've had........(the whole win a reality show HGTV Design Star, found out I was pregnant, told Winston had a tumor, NICUs, PICUs, a trach, feeding tube, nurses, cancelled tv show.....ya-di-yadda-yadda....) :) And if you don't, go to http://www.hugsforthesoul.blogspot.com/ for some insight on my other life (that of a mom of a special needs child).
And yet, now I am more inspired than ever before. And even though we are under a pile of medical bills and our financial lives are officially a hot mess...... design is serving as my therapy.
Why should anyone care about any of this? I am a design expert who finds herself in the same boat as a lot of you.....no time or money to make things happen. So over time, I am going to show you what projects I am doing in my own home or for clients that can inspire you to make smart choices and subtle improvements to your home. You will score some great tips and instructions on how to pull things off. And on top of that, I'm going to teach you how to re-think your whole perspective towards your home design. And I'll teach you how to use words like "espresso" instead of brown or "aubergine" instead of purple........just so you can sound cool. :)
Let's make sure that when you're taking the time to do a project, you're only going forward and not two steps back in the grand scheme of things.
And most importantly, if you're not having fun doing it, you're not doing it right......pure and simple.
Comment on this blog with topics you want me to cover! Just list anything you want me to write about!!! Nothing is a silly question or topic.
I'll post step by step instructions for you when I force myself to sit down! And most importantly, thank you for reading this........
jen photos by the lovely tom styrkowicz http://www.53tom.com/
I moved into my condo 2.5 years ago. I've done a lot to decorate it and make it look more like me, but my kitchen needs help! I have those hideous white laminate cabinets with the light wood "handles" and frame.
ReplyDeleteI considered painting the walls yellow ... thinking that would warm up everything I make the wood stand out less.
Then, I thought about painting all the wood white to blend in with the laminate.
Then, I wondered if I could paint the laminate and put on door & drawer handles.
Then, I just sat on all my ideas for 2.5 years because it makes my brain hurt to think about it. :)
The cabinets match the white laminate counter top ... and I can't afford to replace either at this point. There are 19 cabinets and 8 drawers (some of which don't open). Any suggestions?
I just need something!! Motivation, new color, or something to get exciteda about. A friend just built a new house and I'm secretly jealous of the "newness" of it - no scratches, dents, door dings, woodrot, etc! Her house is magazine perfect! I just need something to get excited about. And I just live around the corner from you, so you can just pop in any time!
ReplyDeleteI am ready for some refreshing re-do's in my house after the Holidays!!! We have the lovely stained oak through our house (not quite as bad as most Olathe houses but still). I am wondering about the wood around my fireplace but I will be honest, painting the wood in my house scares me!!! Would it be bad to only do the fireplace? I am not getting into trim, doors etc. I just don't want to open a can of worms. I am a total thrifty girl and hoping to find some fun inspirations! Thanks Jen!
ReplyDeleteAmy Dye
I am going to paint the vanity in the girls bathroom, but don't want to use oil paint. Can I use an interior latex? Will it hold up? Any suggestions?
ReplyDelete