Don't worry ...

Design with Life

My worst client

I've been in a mood lately - moving things around - trying to make my eyes happy. I cannot get it "just right". So I shift things and remove things and then add them back. Over and over again. It is just not right this thing that I do. Thankfully it is not like that for my clients. But when it comes to my house - well, it can drive me crazy. I am my worst client.

Thankfully I am going to have to stop because as my sister says, "I'm getting the heck out of dodge." I'm going on a little road trip to see my 'baby' who is about to turn 22 (seriously, how does this happen?) and stopping by to see the newest baby who is just over 5 months old! Have a great weekend everyone ... see you back in a few days! xo

Mood boards and photo collages

Ever since I heard that Picnik is closing I have tried to come up with alternate ways to collage my photos together. This is how I like to do it:

It works well for a few photos and I am going to miss being able do this, but it does not give you the ability to overlap or give information about the items. I have never really mastered the computer mood board but I have been playing around with Olioboard and although I have not figured it out completely, I do like what it allows me to do.

It is nice to be able to give a client a better visual but trying to master all these new techniques is time consuming and mind boggling. I would love to hear what programs you use for mood boards and if you have a program that allows you to simply collage your photos.

Telling time

I tried to find a way to download a large clock screensaver for my computer yesterday. I searched and searched and never found what I was looking for.

And then tonight while I was searching for images with black painted walls I found not only this amazing office  (it belongs to Alaina Kaczmarski who writes the blog, Live Creating Yourself. She has a beautiful home - well worth checking out) ...

... but also the download for the clock. (I seriously searched forever yesterday ... and then when I wasn't even looking...) Ah! The beauty of the internet. Thank you pinterest. Thank you Twig & Thistle. You can download your own clock screensaver here. It's free!

I originally saw the clock in Jen Ramos' office. You know, Made By Girl ...

Made By Girl

I'm so happy to have my own ...

Also, I got an email confirmation today for a purchase I made yesterday (a surprise present for my daughter) and this was at the bottom of the email (so lovely!) ... I will leave you with these words:

"The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do." -Sarah Ban Breathnach

A soft upholstery palette

I'm working with a new client on a small re-upholstery job ... recovering some kitchen chairs and a couple of chairs in her living room. The kitchen chairs get a lot of wear and so, as I usually do, I suggested using an outdoor fabric. 

Pindler & Pindler Halcona "Ocean" 100% solution dyed all weather acrylic

The existing living room chairs are pink and although she still loves them, she felt it was time for a little change. The carpet will be changed (it is green now) and she wanted new pillows for her white sofa (I love that it's white - the perfect clean slate for new pillows!!!). She is a traditional gal and really likes her greens and pinks and mauves. And she really didn't want to change her room too much. But she was a good sport and she let me show her some new ideas ...

When I am working with a new client I explain to them as we are working that my job is to give them the home they will love and feel comfortable in - not what I would love, necessarily. But I also explain that it is my job to help move them forward just a bit - or at least stretch their exposure to new ideas. So although my goal is to select what my client will ultimately love, it is hard for me to not show my excitement when I find things that I love too.

Which is what happened while we were selecting fabrics last week. While looking for a completely different palette, I came across a gorgeous Pindler & Pindler fabric called Bokhara (color - linen) and I could not help but show my enthusiasm for it. Much to my surprise my client loved it as well. Surprise, surprise! So, that was our jumping off point and the rest came together beautifully. The Bokhara will be the new sofa pillows as well as a blue-green solid.

New pillow fabrics

The living room chairs will be recovered in the softest blue (sky) and in addition, I am having the old brass casters removed and replaced with new espresso legs. The chairs sit very low now - the seat height is only 16" from the ground, so adding a new higher leg will make them more comfortable and give them a more proportioned look. The new chevron (zigzag) fabric will update them in a subtle way.  

I think these new fabrics will be just the thing to bring this room up to date. 

before photos of client's living room

Pindler & Pindler Bokhara "Linen"      |     Duralee 32359 "Sea Green"      |      Pindler & Pindler Rythmic "Sky

My day

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Do you like Mondays? Do they feel like a fresh start for you?

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For a while I tried to make Mondays, "my day". Because I often work through the weekend I thought it would be nice to take Monday as a day off - a day that I could attend to the things around my own house. Like cleaning and paying bills, running errands or just catching up on a good book (have you read The Hunger Games yet???). 

bhg

But that didn't really work. It turns out that Mondays are just too busy of a day for taking any time off. 

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I still haven't figured out what day 'my day' is yet. But I do like the idea of it. 

Happy Monday! xo

Trust

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"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." - Psalm 28:7