Hey Mr D. J..... Keeping a Design Journal

All Journals shown available
at BarnesandNoble.com

I truly believe that part of knowing yourself is knowing what you like in your environment. Your home is your most personal space and it should reflect your personality and contain all the things that you love to be around. Your home should be all about you and your family. It should have the colors that you love, the textures that you love , the items that you love and the spaces should be arranged to fit your family's needs. One way of exploring and getting to know your design sense is through keeping a journal.

One of the things I love most about my job, as a designer, is discovering how others like to use their space, what their design style is and what type of things they like to have in their environment. At the beginning of a project, I spend time with the homeowner exploring these things. I ask lots of questions about how they use their spaces, I look at pictures they've saved of rooms they like, I look at items that are important to them, in general I try to get an idea of what their personal design sense is. My main objective as a designer is to make my client's space reflect them and work for them. Most people will say to me, "I don't have a style". This is not true!! Everyone does!! Everyone is drawn to certain items, colors and styles; the trick is, if you don't recognize these, is to look for patterns. Keeping a journal is perfect for this because you can look back at your entries, notes and pictures and say, "everyone of these pictures have celedon green in them, I should add some of that color to my room" or "I keep noting the crystal candle sticks in every entry, I must need a few". It's fun, easy and a useful tool for working with a designer.

The first question I ask, when starting a new project, is have you saved any pictures? If they haven't, I give them "homework". I give them a pile of magazines to mark what they like in. I tell them, mark anything you like, it can be an advertisment, a bedroom (even if we are doing a living room), a piece of jewlery, anything that catches your eye. I am not looking for a room to "copy" for them, I am looking for patterns. I will see the same colors showing up, the same textures, the same style of furniture. I can see what your eye is drawn too, you can do this for yourself!!

Tips for design journaling:

• First get yourself an attractive journal. It can be small to keep in your purse, or large. Barnes and Noble has a great selection.
• Look through magazines and paste in things that you are drawn too. It can be a place setting that you like, a bedroom, a lamp, etc.
• Make notes of spaces that you like. Why do you like being in your friend's living room? Aside from the company, is it the lighting, the fabrics, the colors? Jot it down. Be a keen observer of spaces and write about what you like(refer to my earlier post about this).
• Stuck in a rut with your home? Jot down why you are picking the same things. I hear a lot from clients "I am always picking the same things". Before you buy something that you know is the same and you will be bored with, jot down why. If it is the same shade of blue that you always buy and think your space is too blue, give yourself "homework" before you buy. Look through magazines and find pictures of rooms that mix blues with different colors. I did a post on blues and browns and found pictures that combined them in different ways. Find inspiration to shake up your rut!!
• Having a dinner party? Keep notes on the way your favorite restaurant serves or look through magazines and paste in pictures of table settings and food serving ideas. Take this with you when shopping so your inspiration is at hand.
• Get paint samples and make different color combos, paste them in your journal for future reference.
• Have fun!!

As you can see, a design journal can be fun to keep and a great tool to take with you shopping or hand over to a designer that is helping you. Afterall, isn't it a great luxury to be surrounded with the things you love and be able to recognize the things you like when out? Your home should be your haven!!

A few minutes of bliss.....

An ideal room for me!! A fabulous interior by Vicente Wolf

I have a lot to do today!! I have many places to be and many people to meet with. I am absolutely grateful that my schedule is full today with design tasks, but I am already thinking about the end of the day when I can take, maybe 20 minutes to catch my breath before I'm onto dinner and taking my child to her swim practice!!

I am dreaming about lounging in the Vicente Wolf room in the photo above. I love everything about this room, the mix of the classic and contemporary furnishings, the mix of warm hues against the white walls, the mix of formal chairs and area rug with the more casual couch and chair, the horizontal mirrors that appear to be windows...... It is a well done mix that would be ideal for me!!

I picture myself lounging on the comfortable sofa, with a glass of wine and my favorite design magazines. The room is nice and clean, pleasant to look at and I'm sure the temperature is perfect!! Today, take a few minutes before your busy day starts and imagine yourself relaxing in your ideal room. Think about the elements that make up your most relaxing space, picture yourself there doing something that relaxes you. After all, isn't starting a hectic day knowing a break is coming, if only in your mind, the most luxurious thing of all!!

Inspiration........

My yard

My yard

My yard

Inspiration Photo from Veranda

Inspiration Photo from Southern Living

Inspiration Photo from Restoration Hardware

Inspiration Photo from Veranda

I am excited to spend a lot of time outdoors this summer. I have been working on a list of things I want to accomplish in the yard, not major work, but refining some of the elements that already exist in the space. My yard has a lot of trees, a variety of types and varying shades of green. I am very lucky to have 4 beautiful Japanese Maples that add a pop of deep burgundy to almost every corner of the yard. The landscaping is very natural, almost rustic, with a lot of ground cover, a stone retaining wall and stone lining the planting beds. My house is dark brown stained wood and stone. I am working on a few small planting beds for some perennials but will be adding most of the color with pots on the deck. This is the back drop I have to work with in my yard, or as I refer to it the "architecture of the yard". These are my givens. Without major construction or re hauling of the landscape, I have to work within these perimeters to achieve my desired look.

My thought is to enhance the natural surroundings. I have gathered a few inspiration photos, above, of the feel I want to achieve in my yard. You can see as you scroll down the photos from my yard to the inspiration photos, there isn't a big contrast. Any of these elements will work well in my surroundings. I love to dine al fresco, surrounded by greenery, so I am going to take ques from the photo from Southern Living. I love the weathered teak dining table and chairs; I do not have a set like this. My table is glass and my chairs mesh (never liked this set, my husband bought it, sorry honey!!) , I probably won't get new this year, but I am not worried about making them work in this context. Why? Because I am going to be able to convey the feel
that I love about the photo. It is cozy, lush and rustic. I have the natural greenery. We just had a pergola built on our deck, over the table, with a candle chandelier hanging above,(more coverage from sun than an umbrella which is a problem for us) which helps achieve the cozy feel. I can add potted annuals around, like my inspiration photos from Veranda, that will surround the table, like in my inspiration patio. I can set my existing table to mimic the table in the picture so the table its self doesn't hinder me.
I also love plush seating outdoors. A few years ago I had a wood benches, with backs built on my upper deck. They are in an L shape, like my Restoration Hardware photo. I am going to have cushions made for them this summer and I will probably add an outdoor ottoman in the middle. So even though I am not going to buy a new outdoor sectional, I can achieve the feel with my existing elements. I just got 2 new chairs that have woven sides and cushions, so I am adding some of the elements of that photo too.

The gist of it is, if you are planning on updating your yard this year, you can achieve the feel you are looking for in inspiration photos. The elements don't have to match exactly, you don't have to buy all new; inventory what you have and compare the "feel" to your inspiration photos. Survey the "architecture of your yard". Look for photos that have the feel of your yard. If you have a rustic, wooded setting, such as mine, look for photos that convey that look. If you have a more formal setting, look for photos that enhance that look. Without a major overhaul, the look of your yard and house are your givens. Think about what drew you to them in the first place and try to enhance that feel. I loved the natural feel of my yard. It has been a work in progress for years and this year, with the help of a few professionals, I will continue to enhance the feel I fell in love with in the first place. I will blog before and afters as it progresses.

Today's luxury is to fall in love with your yard. Select photos that can help you expand upon that, it can be as small as adding a few new plants, to redecorating your deck. Is there anything more luxurious than enjoying your piece of this earth on a beautiful sunny day?