TO WALLPAPER OR NOT

Contrary to popular belief, wallpaper is still a very popular option for wall treatments in this country. While it may not be advised if you're considering a move anytime soon, many people feel it's an creative expression of their taste. Depending on where you were raised, you might consider wallpaper a far better choice for the walls than paint. And depending on the household you were raised in as well as your parent's preferences, some would have it no other way.

The assortment of styles of wallpapers is indeed dizzying and can be downright overwhelming unless approached in a methodical manner which is often aided by some professional help. As always, consider the style of your home. Is it a turn-of-the-century Victorian, a modern contemporary home, or an American mish-mash like so many of us live in? Those who have worked with me know that the answer to this question is a critical determination before moving forward on any house project whether it's furniture buying, wall or window covering, or renovations of any size. Once you're clear about your home's style, you've narrowed down many choices, and decisions become far easier.

MAD MEN

You wonder if you're stark raving mad!! You get up every morning, get dressed as if it will be a warm, splendid day, and then cross your fingers and hope for the best. About every fourth day the sun might grace us with an appearance so you throw your coat on, run outside, and search for a few garden chores still left to do. Sometimes I keep a list of things to do IF the sun comes out and it's not blowing like mad, raining cats and dogs, and is still not below zero. A whole new meaning to Mad Men.

Seasonal Affects Disorder (SAD) is a real issue in the land of short winter days. Luckily the leaves are still brilliant and beautiful, many still on the trees casting a golden hue even under a dreary sky. But they do fall down, and there will be a LOT of grey days ahead. So if you know someone having trouble, please offer to help. This is no human shortcoming but an unfortunate ailment very common in Northern climates.

FALL IS UPON US

There's no denying it....it's fall in Minnesota and that can mean only one thing. We will have winter, once again, this year. For some of you, this may be a glimpse into the tangled psyche of a non-native who struggles with this inevitable truth year after year. So what to do??

A few of my coping mechanisms, other than humor, include:

• Change at least your throw pillows with the season to ensure you enjoy spending time inside because spring is a long way off!


• Stay really busy, even vacuum if you must, because it will warm you up, and that's important when it's below zero.


• Soften cold hard surfaces with tablecloths, throw blankets, area rugs, etc. Your spaces will appear cozier and not so cold to the touch.


• Own an animal that needs daily walking. They NEVER complain or whine about the weather. They have a good attitude in general, as long as they're with you.


• Turn on lamps with soft light for comfort and light a candle at dinner.


• Every day, get outside and get some fresh air, even when it's inhumanely cold, wet, dark, and dreary.


• Turn on the stove, even if it's just to warm up some bread for dinner. A warm kitchen is always a comfort when the weather grows cold.

LIGHTING

So you're wondering why the color looked so different at the home depot than it does in that bedroom that you just spent A LOT of time and $$$$ painting! Or why the color you liked upstairs looks dramatically different on that lower level. Or why you love the color of the room during the day but at night, you don't! Or even, why the color chip looks different inside the store than it does in the parking lot.

The lesson is - look at the color in the space that you're painting. The new energy efficient lighting in our homes is great for the environment but it casts a greenish hue in the room. The store lighting is altogether different than that in your home. The light in a south facing upstairs room is completely different than a south facing downstairs room. The color of the rug in the room, the furniture stain, and the brick fireplace will all change how a single color appears on your walls.

But the beauty in all of this is that your walls will look different every time you look at them- the fall leaves will reflect the season into your home through the windows. The bright winter snow will lighten your rooms in the winter. The crackling fire will flicker across your interior landscape and remind you of why you spent the time and effort choosing just the right color for that space.

CLINGING TO SUMMER

In Minnesota, we have such short summers relative to our long and cold winters. It's impossible for me to not cling to summer's images, even though the spiritual teacher would tell me otherwise. I realize that it's my profession to help people transition- whether to new homes, new looks for their spaces, and to the new season, but perhaps I've taken up this line of work to help me let go and move on myself.

INTENTIONAL DESIGN - DEVELOPING OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS FOR PROFESSIONALS

Sensory impressions account for much of how we perceive the world we encounter each day. The colors, the smells, the shapes, and the sounds that intersect with our lives all impact our perceptions. Research in the areas of color therapy and visual/auditory influences are all in infantile stages, however it has long been speculated that people are drawn to certain sensory stimulation in our quest for health and nourishment.
The research and the theories that surround this study have fascinated me for some time as I assist people in either the creation of places that are more conducive to their needs or when designing universal environments that appeal to many.
Office spaces are not created equal and practitioners often need individualized environments to service their clients. Because of this, SRH continues to explore how the placement of objects, the furnishing of our spaces, the colors we paint the walls, the background sounds, etc, all affect healing. I am actively seeking counseling therapists who may be interested in redesigning their professional spaces with an eye toward positively moving clients even before therapy begins.

HOTEL ROOMS, RENTALS, AND CONDOS- OH MY!!

We're staying in a condo on Cocoa Beach, in Florida. We're here with my sister, her 5 kids, 2 sister-in-laws, and other family members to see my brother-in-law get launched into space aboard STS-128 in just a few days. The condo- well what can I say. Every rental I ever check into gets my discerning once over and almost immediately, I'm calculating how I can spend the next few days here without rearranging furniture, cleaning the silk plants, etc. I remember reading a feng shui book that suggested a brief "realignment" upon checking in- moving. setting up mirrors, clearing the space- but what to do with this coral and aqua Florida motif, done up with a tight budget?? Probably time to go into vacation mode and let it go. Anyway, the waves are calling and I can practice yoga on the beach in my sunglasses!

DO WHAT YOU KNOW BEST

There are some things I don't do well, and there are some things I do very well. The older I get, the less patience I have for fumbling through a job others do better. I would much rather pay a decent wage to someone whose skills and passion more align with the project. Plain and simple. Don't spend your precious energy when hiring a pro is, in the end, more efficient and saves time and usually money (assuming your time is money).

THE TENDER ART OF MOVING

My girlfriend is facing a difficult divorce, and although she is clear about what she needs to do, she is calm and collected until our discussions turn to her garden. She is suddenly distraught. The place where she has sought solace, the yard where her children squealed with laughter, the flowers that have brought her so much joy..... some things you cannot take with you.

As women, we are immersed through our hearts and soul to the homes we have tended and toiled over. There is no doubt in my mind that abruptly leaving or even a calculated move does not ensure the process will be any easier. But just as we can hardly avoid change in this world, leaving behind a home we've known and loved will someday happen.

Staging a home can often soften the process psychologically as we prepare ourselves and the physical dwelling for some other family to know and love a dwelling the way we did. We begin to hear other children in our homes and slowly become excited about our own possibilities for the future.imagine ourselves

GREAT PICTURES OF STAGED HOMES SELL HOUSES

I just received another thank you from a client. Of course I'm thrilled she sold her house in 16 days during one of the worst times in the history of the housing market. But I will be selfishly honest. Her realtor has one of the best photographers around and I LIKED having my work (photographed by him) on display. O well. There will be other great photos on the Internet of my work. However, I would advise anyone who plans on selling their home to check out pictures of homes listed by realtors they're considering. There is a HUGE difference, and your home deserves to be marketed with the best pictures possible!

As we've mentioned before in this blog, people are definitely shopping online for homes and if yours has only one picture, or is otherwise not particularly memorable, folks will move on quickly!

DO IT RIGHT THE 1ST TIME AROUND-HAVE IT STAGED

"The house has closed and we've yet to unpack, but the relief is huge. This morning I'm reflecting on the magnitude of selling a home and moving, even when everything goes exactly as planned. I never doubted for a moment when we put the house on the market that it would sell quickly."

Staged homes that are priced correctly almost always do sell very quickly. But as a person who doesn't live well with chaos around me, I understand that a major life change like selling a home (up there with a death in the family and divorce) creates some major upheaval. I feel for those who have yet to discover how much easier it is to do it right the first time around. For those who've had homes on the market a long time already, it isn't an option to go back and do things right. That place is reserved for folks just beginning the process.

FASCINATING ARTICLE ON THE EFFECTS OF COLOR

.....from the University of Rochester, a leader in the field of color psychology-

"The subconscious effects of color is a hot area of research, in part because marketers try to use color to hook us on whatever they're trying to sell."

We've known for years that we're being tracked and observed to further the cause of market research, but only now has the level of sophistication become pretty fascinating. Red aids in recall and attention to detail as it's a provocative color. Blue is calming and stirs the imaginations and helps when an amount of invention is required. So when we consider how to make our homes stand out from the crowd, drawing the buyer into the space, let's not discount the psychological implications of color. And when we seek to improve our homes so they are more comfortable to live in, choose your colors carefully.

SAVING TIME AND MONEY BY CALLING ME FIRST

It comes as no surprise to me that my business is at the forefront of the green movement, largely by eliminating what folks put in the landfill. I'm often confronted with disillusioned homeowners who've given up on their kitchens, have turned their backs on a less than perfect bathroom, or are ready to junk their entire living room for the current trends. But why spend the unnecessary dollars when a creative eye can envision a better way? Almost always, I can save you thousands of dollars spent in the wrong direction, allowing you to spend somewhere it will really pay off- now, and when you list your home for sale! Going green DOES pay.

GOT A DIFFICULT COLOR?

Every color, yes every color, has a complement that will help integrate it into a good looking color scheme. This is such a fun challenge for me to find the complementary colors that work well together, and really, all you need is a very good color chart. There are bad ones out there, so be careful. Some of you have heard my story about the distraught woman at the HD paint display practically in tears. Using that store's color chart, the maroon and the gold she had chosen were supposed to work very well together but she ended up with a room the Minnesota Gopher sports team boosters would've loved. Her son was hysterical as he gladly offered to paint over it for her!

Color theory isn't an easy subject to learn. There are some great books available on the subject as well as some tricks include finding fabric that includes your difficult color (think tricky brown cupboards that are expensive to replace). This is just one more area that getting some professional consultation can save you a lot of time, aggravation, and money.

FINDING VALUE IN ALL OF OUR EXERCISES

Like most everyone, I feel pulled in many directions most of the time, and having more than one job isn't helping the confusion. Luckily, I have my yoga, which helps me with the complexity of life, but I do find myself wondering, AM I MISSING SOMETHING?? With the many tools I have for simplifying life, could I be doing a better job?

So by habit, I first put on my Zen hat. I take the deep breaths and remember to 'let go' on the exhale of everything that isn't serving me at present- the anger, resentment, jealously, confusion, etc. I feel my shoulders relaxing, my breath lengthening, and my neck releasing. Next, I put on my coach hat. I try to separate out what's most important and break it down into bite sized pieces. I start a list for the day (and yes, blogging is on my priority list) based on goals I revisit regularly. By then, at least I'm feeling a little more focused. I'm curious to know if everyone functions as I do- that once I have things scheduled, written, and planned for, I'm confident they will be accomplished.

Perhaps regularly asking the question - could I be doing a better job? - is a healthy exercise for all of us although there's a risk of judging ourselves too harshly. I'm reminded of what I always tell my students. "Get help for the tasks that you don't do well yourself." In the end, you will save yourself more than time and money.

ENJOYING YOUR ENVIRONMENTS

With discontentment everywhere in our world, improving the spaces where you work, live, and play can only be a good thing. The environments around us set the backdrop for business, pleasure, efficiency, creativity, wealth, power, and energy, just to name a few. We are humans so we are influenced by the energy and colors in our presence. We assign value to all sorts of things, and we can't help but be impacted by their positive or negative vibrations. So have fun with your spaces. Understand why we improve our homes. Be glad for the inspiration to add more beauty to the world.

FINDING OURSELVES / BEING HOME

There is something so precious about being home, feeling at home, knowing where we are, and being at ease with our surroundings. I heard Frank Gearhy speak this evening and he is absolutely the most modest man when it comes to the effect of his dynamic spaces on the lives of so many. He was musing about the "why" of it all. Why do we create, what motivates us? And his conclusion was that we create to have an impact on others. In his case, he feels rewarded by making people feel good.

I create to bring more beauty into this world. I pondered the question of "Why do I create?" many years before realising that I was making it way more complicated than it needed to be. So why would I help someone design a place where they can repose? Or why would I help an artist design a studio that stimulates the brain? Or why would I help create a garden that gives back based on what you put forth? Why not??

CLIENT SAVED $1000 ON THE CARPET ALONE!

Of course the homeowner was thrilled. She had muttered something to me while we were staging her home that she would need to take out a PT job to pay for the new carpeting before the sale. I referred her to my resource for quality, inexpensive carpet and after comparing prices, she was amazed at the cost reduction! Don't be fooled that some upfront costs such as staging can save a bundle!

SELLING TURN-KEY READY HOMES

I taught my last Staging class for the spring season last night, and it was, in many ways, like so many others classes I've taught. There were a few women considering moving out of town homes, a few in single family homes, a few with neighbor problems, one with the vaulted ceiling dilemma, etc. But one question comes up again and again. "Should I spend the money to get this (whatever their 'this' is) fixed before I list my home?" And although I qualify answers with "without seeing your home, I can't give you a definitive answer", the answer to that question is usually "yes".

There are plenty of "fixer-uppers" and foreclosures on the market these days, and unless you will be selling your home at a fire sale price, I suggest you have your home 'turn-key' ready. In other words, assume the next family will not have the time, money, or energy when they move into their new home to repair, repaint, or re carpet. They will be looking for a home that is turn-key ready so they can hit the ground running, so to speak. In time, people generally improve the homes they move into, but not prior to move-in. And if your listing is one of the few that is in excellent condition, you'll certainly draw a lot of attention.

A LIFE OF EASE

Is your life working for you, or are there too many days you feel you're fighting an uphill battle? Are you feeling supported by the systems you have in place, or are you forced to react at every turn? Are the places in your life designed to enrich your lifestyle, or are they adding weight to your overwhelm? These, and so many more questions, have been on my mind lately.

Remember when you were much younger, as young as your children may now be, and you were sure that as soon as you moved away from home/graduated/got your own car/had your own place/were making your own rules/ etc, etc, etc, you were going to be able to REALLY live! Life was going to be REALLY cool then! Life would be a beach!

But now we've grown up. Now we realize that it isn't where we live, it's not our possessions, the rules imposed by our community, or even our status in life. No, it's really about our attitude. It's our approach to life, challenges, and obstacles. It's about balance and stability, and these are often elusive states. Yes, it's about how we make the most of what we have and where we are and our state of mind.

And my role, as someone who helps to create the environments in which we live, work, and play, is to help you create spaces that support that balance, that ease, and that stability. "Surround yourself with greatness" was a phrase I heard many years ago and have pondered every day since. Make the places in your life great places to hang out!

TIPS FOR AN UN-CLUTTERED LIFE

Like it or not, I am experiencing the same process all homeowners must when selling a home. I am helping my partner divest himself of 25 years of accumulation in order to put his house on the market during one of the most challenging periods in recent housing history. I didn't realize at the outset how valuable this experience would be for me, and when I am the most overwhelmed, I remember that all lessons serve us well , if not now, then in the future. Some of the more obvious lessons might be:
*don't continue to transport to new homes information and goods you can either replace or no longer use
*limit holiday decor to what you use on a yearly basis
*charity is a good thing- donate all you can to those less fortunate
*have regular garage sales to encourage you to rummage through closets for items you no longer need or use
*store your memorabilia in one place
*keep the paper storage organized or at least keep it in one room
*encourage your children to donate toys and books to a charity of their choice to develop altruistic habits
*keep your home up to date- it will need to be spiffed up when you sell anyway, and you might as well enjoy the upgrades while living there

GIDDY WITH GREEN

Green is EVERYWHERE, and those of us who have spent our entire lives recycling, conserving, and trying to be earth conscious are left wondering why this is "new" information to so many. Did we study different subjects in school? Were we raised in a completely different culture than those considering a switch to organics? How did this happen? Whatever, at least there is now heightened awareness that the fat American lifestyle, promoted for so long by so many, is not sustainable long term. Hurrah!! But the stories I hear add levity to the situation.

One salt-of-the-earth type friend, Ginger, mentioned that she's never been terribly bothered by the Martha Stewart phenomena. "Martha is teaching women all of the things my mother taught to me." And if they didn't learn it from Mom, why not learn it from Martha? She puts a contemporary spin on timeless activities- whether it's tag sales (recycling) or gardening (sustainability at it's best).

Another friend mentioned "my grandmother taught me how to hang out laundry and make a meal with whatever we had in the cupboards!- What's the big deal all of a sudden?"

We are humans. It often takes pain and suffering to shake us out of our passive denial. With a wobbly economy and a sick environment, all but the extremely obtuse (and there are still plenty of them arguing that global warming is a hoax) are willingly making changes for the good of the world community. I guess necessity IS the mother of invention after all!

THE SHRINKING OF AMERICAN HOMES

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Americans are now realizing they don't need 1000 s.f. plus of space for each person living in the home. So with our current recession, rising energy costs, and the right-sizing our economy in general, perhaps the boomers really are growing up.
For years, my own three children slept in a bunk bed with a trundle, and even after I set up a third bedroom on the lower level for the 2 girls, they all continued to sleep at night in my son's room. To this day, with the last about to graduate from high school, my kids are very close. And I often wonder if our limited upstairs bedrooms (2) which kept us in fairly close proximity in spite of our large house, contributed to their close relationships.
I grew up in a family of 11 and we were all on top of each other, so there are extremes both ways. But space is a luxury with plenty of strings attached. As we reexamine the way we design and use our homes, there is plenty to consider. Most experienced professionals will offer initial consultations free of charge and that is a good place to begin when anticipating change.

GREENER BY THE MINUTE

I feel like the world I live in just caught up with the world I wanted to live in. Sure, the economy has been better and the newspapers have plenty of dreary news, but we are becoming more realistic in the way we live. Being from conservative roots, I was taught to leave a place better than how you found it (thanks, Dad). So recycling and conservation have been a way of life for me and I'm happy to see it becoming trendy. If feeling hip is what it takes for more people to embrace environmentalism, that's cool. The point is that we do the right things to ensure that we leave the earth a better place than when we found it.

INTENTIONAL SPACES NEED TO BE NURTURED

Like anything else we value, our homes/offices/play spaces need TLC in order to provide nurturing in return. As I move into the area of creating intentional spaces that heal and cultivate healthy emotions for those who work, live, and are healed in the space, I want to remember that it's a two way street, as most things are. Putting thought and attention in any direction improves the outcome.