A Starting Point

(RE)DESIGN was recently hired to make sense of the basement apartment below Dave and Nancy's home. It was a rewarding and challenging first job. Dave and Nancy are people of incredible heart; every cupboard and drawer offered proof of their love for their family and friends. However, the little space also had the misfortune of becoming a dumping ground of sorts, a place to put all the excess stuff the couple had acquired over the years. For a peek at the before and after photos, click here.

Making it Yours: Part II

Edit. Before they can take on a shape or style, the rooms of your home need a good edit. Furniture, clothing, accessories, momentos, you name it. You're going to have to ask yourself, "Do I love it? Do I use it? Is it worth making room for?" Giving something space in your home, in your life, is no small gesture. The items you choose need to serve you; either they are useful to you in some way or another, or they're not.

Image from a Swedish interior as featured on the Style Files.

Making it Yours: Part One

Our Style/Ourselves. Pinpointing your style preferences is a key element in shaping the interior of your home. Sounds easy and all too obvious, but almost everyone I know struggles with this little nugget of truth. Between the plethora of products and images, well meaning but perhaps incompatible shopping partners, gifts and hand-me-downs, and of course, the desire to simply get it over with and effectively furnish one's home, it can get a little cloudy.

I believe every person, and every couple, has a personal style; a style that suits their needs and tastes above all else. Furthermore, honoring your own personal style is the only way a person can expect to be content with his/her home, wardrobe, and lifestyle.

Establishing, and in some cases, defending your style, is the first step to making your home yours. Hoping to be of help, I went on the hunt; took every online home style quiz I could. The goal of these quizzes is to provide you with a phrase, or a label (a whale doesn't know he is a whale until you tell him so, is the thought here). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a quiz that provided enlightening results; I was told that my style was everything from 'comfortable classic' to 'modern bohemian', both of which couldn't be further from the truth.

And then I stumbled upon something great. Style Statement. In this month's Real Simple, design expert Carrie McCarthy not only confirms my suspicion that knowing is half the battle, she also offers practical advise on how to recover and honor your inner style.

1. Look at your furniture. With a pad in hand, walk from room to room and make two truthful lists: “Love It” and “Wish I Could Replace It.” Catalog everything you can, including art―and be honest. “It’s all based on how things make you feel,” says McCarthy.
2. Gather items you cherish. Check the top of your dresser, your mantel, your bookshelves, then pull special clothes from your closet. “Focus on the items that make you feel beautiful and joyful,” says McCarthy.
3. Think about places you love and why you love them. “Picture your dream home, if you could live anywhere,” says McCarthy. Then think outside of home: “If you were invited to the Oscars, what would you wear?” This moves you beyond the limitations of your lifestyle and budget and into a new realm of creativity.
4. Look for common threads―design, colors, shapes, materials, vibe―among the things you treasure. See which of the styles pictured here your picks most jibe with. You may find yourself attracted to a blend of styles rather than just one; as you delve into the following rooms, note which features appeal to you. This will help you translate your taste into smart decorating choices.

(photo via traditional home; click here to get a glimpse at the lovely little brownstone of Lauren McGrath)

Swoon, and a little something old & something new...

Color the inside of my house white, throw in plenty of wood and metal accents, and color me happy. Stumbled across this dream of a home on one of my favorite blogs, design sponge. Click here for a full view.



I've decided to fashion myself a little inspiration board for my work space; so today I headed to a local thrift store in the hopes of scoring some supplies. As is often the case, I didn't find what I was looking for, though I did come across a few other treasures, obviously completely unrelated to the task at hand, but sweet nonetheless.



It happens that I was interested in acquiring some white sheets for a little sewing project. And I found the most beautifully worn, soft, and spotless set. Also found a funny oval ceramic vase and a glass jar; both of which will soon house a succulent or two. Will keep you posted on the progress of both projects.

In the meantime, I wanted to profess my love for second hand treasures. Junk shops, thrift stores, antique malls, garage sales, flea markets, and the occasional free pile have supplied me with some of my most treasured objects. Objects that possess a previous history and bring a depth that couldn't be acquired by anything found at Ikea or Pottery Barn. Don't get me wrong, I love the fresh and the new, but I also think everyone should poke around for alternative sources. Take a day, or an hour, to check out what happens to be there right now...