Rejuventation...or... Becoming Empty Nesters

Rejuvenation...or... Becoming Empty Nesters

Today was very special. I worked with a couple you met in the book. At the time I did that work, we were struggling with how to change their home to suit their twins who were no longer toddlers They were trying to prevent a move, and use their space more efficiently. You probably will recognize the story easiest if I mention that we made the living room a music room, adding a grand piano, swivel chairs, and rhythm instruments as accessories. And it changed their circle of friends and their lives.

Well, today they've moved into a new category. They're empty nesters and want to bring their home around to meeting their current life. Both of them had read the book cover to cover (some of the process is new!) and done all the exercises. We went through with the interpretations and moved on to what to do with the house now to bring it up to today. It was great fun! We talked about lots of things, things like making the living room into a library by putting a big table in front of the fireplace, bookshelves around, chairs at either side of what used to be the dining room table. It can be used for dining when need be because the dining room is now going to house the grand piano! On and on. It was such an amazing appointment and so full of rejuvenation and transformation!

The cherry on top was them showing me the gardens and pool they had done with a pool person, using my process, about 9 years ago. It was superb with stone patios, a kidney shaped pool, a stone elevated hot tub that's used all year round with a spill that creates a waterfall into the pool, steps down to the pool, and gardens all around. It used to be a dry hard flat piece of property. Now it’s sumptuous, elegant and fits right into the land.

This couple is not hugely affluent. Instead they're just really creative and attentive to growth and transformation. We addressed the entire house. Much will change, and some things will stay the same. But the only things that will stay the same are the things that are working for them now... like the kitchen where they easily cook together, the breakfast area except that we're dropping a ceiling fixture over the table to warm it up, and his sound room where he creates CDs with a music therapist/friend except we'll add a sofa. We may not buy one new piece of furniture. Instead we're shifting and shaking it up and then redistributing. It's very exciting. My hat is off to them.

Interior Design is changing!

This past weekend I went to Santa Fe, New Mexico (lucky me!) to attend a retreat for designers. It was held at a wonderful spa (Bishop's Lodge) nestled in the foothills surrounding Santa Fe. The weather was incredible, but the information surpassed it.

As you well know if you've read my book, my thesis is for the design of the home to come from within and to be supportive of the human spirit. This means forgetting the trends and specified styles and creating a home that is filled with what you love, need and want.

Well, the retreat was based on this material. It was assisting designers to have a deeper relationship with the client, observing their clients more closely, understanding their needs and wants and then asking better questions as they processed. It also was based on environmental psychology. Much of my book was written from these concepts, but the speakers updated me, and also brought the concept to all the designers there. The material was so well received.

This is a wonderful sign. It means homes will be connected to the needs of the inhabitants. It means design is becoming more compassionate, earthy, and sensitive to life. It means Interior design is going to support life in a healthier way. Hurray!

My hat is off to all designers who attended. This is a great new interface to our art, and a positive sign that the client is more important than the architecture or the fashion trend. (Actually architecture needs to come from this same premise!) It's also an indicator that homes and public spaces will become softer, friendlier, and more human.

Now all of us need to get better at using this great reality. People creating homes need to get better at knowing who they are and what they need and want. They also need to create healthy partnerships with designers who will work from this premise. Designers need to get better at deep interviewing and then transforming a client's important loves, needs and wants into powerful and beautiful spaces. The end product will be healthier design, more individual happiness, identity, safety and comfort, and all of us living more inspired lives. Fantastic.

It's Happening!

The universe is at work! I have had two more communications from women interested in interior design who have believed as I have for years, that the home is sacred and must be created from what we love and what inspires us. One has graduated from Drexel and her master's thesis was on designing from what the client loves. The other is a woman who has believed this in her heart for years and has, at the wonderful age of 58, entered a design school.

This is so exciting to me. Both of these women conjured these beliefs from their own contemplation, and from looking at the state of design today where the client's loves are ignored and trends prevail. Both have expressed to me great feelings about this and how home needs to be a sanctuary that holds what inspires its inhabitants.

I know there are more of us out there. We must persist. We're on an exciting cutting edge that promises homes to our clients that are so personal, so healing, because they come from within. I believe as homes become healing spaces, more humans will be comfortable on the planet. That has to lead to some kind of new and wonderful peace.

One of the women spoke about my book literally flying into her hands in a bookstore. We've all had that experience when something that the Universe wants us to see is put before us quite significantly. She was so excited that she bought four right then!

Well, these two women have made my week. I can't wait to hear from others. We need clients to understand this concept so they go within and choose from who they are. And we need designers who work with their clients to make this happen. So be it!