Month: November 2014

Breathing Life into Your Windows

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The windows of a home are like the eyes to one’s soul.  Each one should serve a purpose and should welcome those on the outside in.  I think that’s why in every room I like mine symmetrical and formally adorned. 😉  So, I have three basic rules when designing a window while hunting for those perfectly paired panels.  But first, allow me to introduce you to our first model…

 

Drapery1 

 

Tip Number One: Go All The Way.  I’ve come to learn that there are two people in life, maximizers and satisficers.  I’m a firm believer that you must maximize your vision and your budget to be happy in the end.  And if you’re reading this article, you’ve probably satisficed your way through your design plan.  It’s okay, we’ve all been there!  But this is the time I challenge you to get it right and go all the way.  If you picture floor to ceiling, go floor to ceiling!  If you picture thai silk panels, splurge for thai silk panels. In my opinion, if you’re going to invest your precious resources of time, energy and money, do it right. Everyone has a budget… We ALL have budgets.  And if you can’t afford to get what you want now, I encourage you to save up until it’s a reality.  

Tip Number Two: Go Up And Out.  I always extend my drapery rods at least ten inches above my window trim and out 12 inches on both sides.  This makes the window feel more substantial and sizeable in scale.  It also takes your sight line to the ceiling and provides additional texture to the space.  And if you know me, you know I love texture.  The perfect balance is when hardscaping meets soft scaping.  And, this happens when you have at least 30 inches of flowy goodness streaming down each side of her frame. 🙂  Oh, and be sure to let your panels ever so lightly graze the floor.  They shouldn’t sit on the floor, just gently brush your hardwoods or carpet.  No one ever saw a pair of high water (flood) pants they liked… Treat your draperies the same way.  Make sure they touch the ground!

Tip Number Three: Don’t Skimp On Your Hardware. Your hardware is like the body of that your panels hang from.  Compare that to the clothes that hang off of one’s body.  Let’s just be honest for a second… The stronger the body looks, the better the clothes will likely look hanging from one’s limbs.  Which means, you don’t need fancy clothes to look good! Do you understand what I’m saying?  Good. Okay then, let’s get back to draperies.  I always feel that you need a strong substantial piece of hardware to showcase your goods.  In this case, it just happens to be our rods.  I always like to use rods that are at least 1 1/4″ thick in diameter.  And, I like the finish of my rod to match my hardware in the space.  As an example, if my light fixture is bronze then I’ll likely select bronze drapery hardware.  And, if I select a chrome light fixture, I’ll select a polished nickel drapery rod.  Polished nickel and chrome are so similar it’s extremely difficult to tell the difference unless they’re side by side.  And if you’re looking for the budget friendly option of the two, go with chrome.  It’ll always save you money in the end and no one will ever know… 😉  And those clothes, (our panels) you can easily find cost effective options at West Elm, Target, ZGallerie or HomeGoods.  And because you took my design savvy advice to purchase sturdy hardware, this will automatically make your panels feel refined, substantial and expensive.

 

Drapery2

This picture above contains products from Restoration Hardware, ZGallerie & Jonathan Adler. Please feel free to email me here if you have any questions! Follow these simple tips and you’ll be happy again to walk into your house and call it HOME. 🙂

Repurposing Our Children’s Hearts

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I read an article this morning at the gym and it’s been on mind ever since. It was titled, ‘Mommy, Are We Rich?’  The next tag line goes onto add, “When your kids ask frank questions about your finances, try to view it as a teaching opportunity rather than a breach of privacy.”  This caught my attention for a couple of reasons.  Number one, why are we putting such an emphasis on status and wealth?  Number two, is this really what we’re teaching our kids to aspire to be, ‘rich?’  And last but not least, regardless of mommy’s answer, “Kid, you’re broke!”  There is no “We.”  Because you my darling, you will have to stumble, sacrifice, sweat and save to get where your father and I are today.  Sweet Kennedy, I love you; but you will need to learn the value of strong work ethic.  My job is not that of your own personal ATM; but one that will provide a paved path to the journey of your dreams.  Period.

As far as the article’s concerned, it was excellent.  One objective worth mentioning, is that a child’s curiosity may be a catalyst for teaching the simple lessons of money. Money, in my book, is the opportunity to offer a lesson in stewardship.  And this curiosity just may be the sign we need as a parent to begin this conversation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a first time parent and I’m sure I will make plenty of mistakes.  But I don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to pour into my child especially when she’s seeking my knowledge.  And I believe 90% of this journey is the awareness and intentionality of the process.

With that being said, what would I say? What does being ‘rich’ really mean? A dollar figure certainly does not guarantee happiness.  On the other hand, gratitude does.  When we offer gratitude, we are offering our gratefulness for what we are given no matter what that is.  Even in our deepest valleys, we need to thank God for that journey.  It is my deepest belief that God takes us through these valleys because He wants us to lean into Him.   Because without struggle, would we ever realize how much we need our faith. 

The second thing I would tell my child is that being ‘rich’ is having your health.  We take this for granted, everyday.  It isn’t until you lose it, you realize just how vital this is to our existence.  Take a moment and think, your doctor walks into the room and tells you you’ve been diagnosed with cancer.  And just then you wonder, will I have another year with my kids?  Will I see my daughter walk down the aisle?  Or what about a child that’s been diagnosed with a life threatening disease like diabetes.  You’re now answering to the stress of managing this disease and the costs that are incurred.  And everyone says they’re so sorry…. But what you’re really sorry about is that you had it all, and you didn’t even know it.  You’re rich at this very moment in time and you’re running so fast you’re not even aware… God has blessed you with two hands, two strong legs one powerful mind.  So, in light of this blessing and our lesson in stewardship we must use them.  And with this realization, He’s really drawing us near…  Because He loves us.  Which brings me to my final point.

This comes from 1 Corinthians 13:13, “Three things will last forever– And the greatest of these is love.”  If you can offer love in all circumstances, I believe you truly are rich.  Because it takes self-control and obedience to love those that have wronged you.  And if you choose to love, you are saying no to jealousy and yes to forgiveness.  You feel at peace within your soul and that’s the sweet spot God intended us all to live.  Everyday, we have a choice.  And each and every one of us will have to answer to that calling.  Will you choose to love?  It’s a beautiful thing really.  Because out of this unconditional love comes pure selflessness with no expectations in return.   And, when we offer unconditional love to others without the expectation of anything in return, the beauty of that reflection is so much greater to the world that surrounds you. 

So, what would I say to my children as it relates to the riches of the world.  I would say this… Sweet Kennedy, I love you.  You may only be 13 pounds; but you are rich, my dear.  Because when those eyes roll back into your head when you’ve had too much to drink, I know you’re grateful.  And when I see you developing and growing bigger everyday, I thank the Lord that you’re healthy.  Now that you’re almost five months, I finally see the way you light up when I enter the room; and for that, I know you feel love.  So please, don’t chase a dollar figure because this will never lead to happiness.  Instead, know that you are rich by fulfilling your purpose, everyday. 

This may be the time that we are called to intentionally repurpose our children’s hearts and renew the dreams of a rich future.  What are they chasing?  Have you asked them?  This is our time to pour into their tiny hearts and serve their souls reminding them that gratitude, health and love are the only riches they need to leave a legacy in this world they’ll so briefly call HOME.

Peace, Love & Repurposefully,

Melissa 🙂

Thess

 

Negotiating Your Design

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This past week was a big week for us.  We added a new member to our family!  A new member you ask… Yes, a new member.  Because each and every one of them has a place and serves a purpose.  Yet, my husband says, the most beautiful thing about it is the reflection that it displays… Our Family.  Meet my new design solution for a Butler’s Pantry for less than $150.

Mirror

I love it for a few reasons.  Number one, this puppy was originally $399 at ZGallerie.  And, I got it for $139.  How did this happen?? It ‘s a little thing I call divine intervention and a payoff for what I believe is good stewardship.  And, you would never know but it has a small crack in the bottom left corner.  This reduced the price down from $399 to $199 and because it just so happened to be a floor model, they wanted to get it off the floor ASAP.  Word to the wise: everything that’s a floor model is negotiable.  Just talk to the store manager.  They can make just about anything happen.  And just like that, they came down an extra $60.  The best part is to finish this space with custom cabinetry it was going to cost over $2,000.  Ridiculous!! What you can’t quite see in this picture above is that this mirror is placed upon a piece of granite that is part of what people call a “Butler’s Pantry.”  First of all, you may be wondering, what is a butler’s pantry and why do I need one? My thoughts exactly…  Number one, I don’t have a butler; and number two I already have a pantry! Last spring my builder decided to generously offer this unfinished space that we could simply finish off at a later time.  Simple enough, right? Well, when we calculated this was going to cost a couple G’s just to add cabinetry, we decided to get creative.  Now, my space is open, bright and is more beautiful than before because it reflects the faces of those I love.  And check out my sight line, now I can see the beautiful photos that extend up the stairway also drawing visual interest.

Butler'sPantry

Design Takeaway: If you find a great deal, think outside the box! Get creative.  I didn’t set out looking for this but it inspired me and I knew I had to find a place to use this in my design.  Another great idea is to use this mirror with a basket of blankets, toys or towels in front to hide the blemish.  My second tip, most floor models are negotiable. I always try to go for an extra 10% off but in this case I was able to get 30%.  Become friends with the sales staff at your favorite stores.  They’re there to keep customers happy! Tip number three, shop on Thursday nights and Friday mornings… This is when retailers do their mark downs and you’re often able to get the best selection at the best price.   And last but not least, only buy if you LOVE it. There’s no reason to simply collect things that will collect dust because it’s a good deal.  This is what I mean about good stewardship.  Collect pieces that mean something and have a story to tell.  The older I become I realize less is really more… Thanks for taking a moment to allow me to share what I love in the place I call HOME.