WHAT IS HOME?

Is your home merely a place to sleep and eat?  A home is more than a place of shelter, storage and eating.  It should be a place that supports our needs & nurtures our spirit.  Home should be your shelter from the outside world, it should be a place for sanctuary and retreat, fun and joy. Your home should function in harmony with who you are.

For those of us who are seekers of a deeper truth to who we are, our homes and offices should be a support system to our deepening awakening , awareness & sensitivity.  What may have worked for us even a few years ago may not support who we are today.  We are all waking to the truth of who we are.  We are being taught to go deeply within to hear, see and feel what is real and true for each and every one of us.  Although we are all one in the deepest sense, no one is the same and no one has the same needs, dreams and desires. 

 Because each one of us is unique, there is not one approach or solution that works for everyone.  I am  not a follower of RULES.  I do not follow or practice Fung Shui because it does not resonate for me, thou it may for you.  One size fits all is not my path.  I am here to honor the individual and to find out what works best for them.  I dig deeply, I question a lot and I come up with possibilities.  I return to the drawing board if it doesn't feel right to my clients.

I will fight, for only so long, for what I believe is right but at the end of the day, the truth is that it is not my home and it is my clients who have to be happy.

My clients are drawn to me because of my style and creativity.  They like that I custom  design furniture that is just for them and no one else.  They know that I love playing with color, but most of all they know that I will listen to what is most important to them and honor them.

CREATING A SANCTUARY FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS

I just finished listening to Neale Donald Walsch of the "Conversations with God" book series.  In his forthcoming book, "When Everything Changes, Change Everything" he talks about peoples tendencies to isolate themselves when  they are going thru rough patches.  He spoke of  the time that rather than calling his father for help, he stayed homeless for close to one year.

Those comments got me thinking about the small things we can do for ourselves and others who may be facing uncertainty and fears during this big shift on our planet.  Even if you are not living in your dream home, even if your home is less than ideal and even if you are going thru your own scary times, you can cut some fresh  flowers, light some scented candles, put on some heartfelt music and share a cup of coffee or tea with a friend.  Shift the energy by talking about your dreams and your future self.  Neale suggests that you stop everything for even 10 seconds and breathe in the moment and be with the silence.  He says that you will find "wisdom in the silence".

I promise you, your friend will not care about the worn out carpet, the mess or whatever it is that keeps you from sharing your home.  What will matter and remain is the kindness that you showed and that, if only for a few moments, your friend was supported by love.

What You Feel Inside, You create Outside

 I went to a dear friends home for a Passover Seder.  She has designed a beautiful modern home that is filled with exquisite art work.  Ellen and her husband love sharing their home with friends and she goes to great lengths to bring out different accessories and dinnerware patterns depending upon the occasion and the size of the group.  She always creates a very festive environment and the lucky ones who have been invited over always look forward to see what she has come up with each and every time. 

As we were all seated, Ellen spoke of her joy in shopping for flowers, selecting a very creative menu and arranging everything to perfection to share with her friends and family.  She acknowledged that her very modern style did not not appeal to everyone but that they could all FEEL the love that was there.

I was stunned, for that was exactly the word I had just written about a couple of hours earlier in my latest blog post. It affirmed that I was on to something as well as knowing why this lovely soul and I are friends.     

The Hidden Secret to Design

Have you ever walked into a perfectly decorated house that had no spirit in it or that felt dead? It is usually for what can't be seen that you are hiring a designer.  Of course you want a beautiful and comfortable home and of course it has to function for your lifestyle and budget. The hidden secret for me is how will it make you FEEL?  Do you want a home or room that aids you in calming down after a hectic day or do you want a room that makes you feel alive and energized?

Your home is about you and the people who live with you.  It is not about what your friends are going to think or say.  They can have their own style at their house.  If someone else's environment deeply speaks to you, look at what it is that you like.  Is it the style of architecture, the type of furniture or the colors?  Go inside of yourself to become aware of what you resonate to.

I usually have clients tag pages in magazines to show me what speaks to them, and when I have asked what it is in the photo that they respond to,  I often hear that they don't really want the featured colors, style of furniture or architecture for themselves.  I usually is always about the MOOD of the space and how it makes them FEEL.