Mindful Design

Creating Home

2012-01-08T19:43:00.000-08:00

My eldest daughter has decided it's time to see what life's like outside the nest. Thrilled, she and her friends have found a charming townhouse at a reasonable rate. Having a visual eye, she is excited but wary of the paint that leans to pink. Why? Our environments have a great impact on us and effect how we feel in our day to day setting. Moving into a rental environment that you're not crazy can make you a little crazy, beacuase everyone needs to define personal space withthings that makes us us.

The good news is there are plenty of ways to make rental spaces fabulous without making landlords fuss. Here are just two:

Ask if you can paint your space a different color. Some apartment complexes and property management companies allow painting upon approval. Say "goodbye pink!"

My daughter Erica wants a fun ceiling fixture in her room but the room doesn't have existing electrical in the ceiling. My solution is easy to install and easy to remove. I'll purchase a large ceiling fixture from IKEA. We'll use a long extension to run the cord up the wall and across the ceiling to the center of the room. Extension cords aren't pretty, so we'll create a fabric tube and bunch it up all along the cord to create a casual feel, but not before making sure the fabric choice communicates the feel we want. A simple neutral linen will look sophisticated and smart, where a bright punchy color will look like high energy fun. No matter what look you're going for these tips offer simple and smart ways to personalize a space.

Amsterdam, take me away.

2011-10-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Holland is an exciting and intuitive study between the human and interior environment. On a recent trip to Europe I arrived at Schiphol after a flight from San Francisco. Sure, I was excited to arrive at the beginning of my vacation but didn’t anticipate the sensory pleasure I’d experience while awaiting my connecting flight to Switzerland. Uber-functional and beautiful, Schiphol couldn’t be in further contrast with SFO’s seemingly never-ending people movers and tightly packed restaurants. Schiphol sports many spacious options for travelers. One can visit the Rijks Museum with its display of Dutch masters, read up on the history of the Netherlands at the airport library, or take time to renew at the oxygen bar. Weary travelers are invited to stretch out and relax or sleep in lounges. The furniture is modern, colorful and fun. For those wanting alone time, travelers may choose to climb in to one of the many individual chair pods that face the outdoors. The design is clever and concentrates mindfully on the human experience. What a novel idea. I’d welcome the 10 hour flight just to hang out.

Uh, Mecca

2011-08-04T18:28:00.001-07:00

The Merchandise Mart beckons. Built in 1930, The Mart in Chicago is design source Mecca. I have the opportunity to again visit this beautiful city. I will spend two of my days immersing myself at the Mart. This may indeed be the perfect destination for finding beautiful, unique architectural pieces for one of my clients. Sorry LA and SF, gotta go Chi -town or go home.

Steven Dahlman Photography

History of the Merchandise Mart

http://www.stevendahlman.com/pictorial/mercmart1.htm

Fine Tuning

2011-07-17T15:05:00.000-07:00

Followed up Feng Shui adjustments at home with a virtual Feng Shui makeover at the studio. I switched offices, purged unused library items and adjusted here and there. It seems to have aligned me with creative space. As much as I looked forward to working on my website today, instead I designed pillows, drapery, and selected fabric for dining chairs. The palette is playful, easy, relaxed, and enjoyable. Hurray.

Organically Grown

2011-07-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

This has been a favorite piece of mine for several years. One day I'll work with a client for whom this, or another Reinoso piece is the perfect fit.
A reminder that we should all dare to live outside the box.

Pablo Reinoso
Spaghetti Bench

I like a Pulley

2011-07-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

This design is so good it gives me the shivers. The door makes me happy, as I imagine opening and closing it a lot. The furniture grouping is timeless and sophisticated, contrasting nicely with the door and its call to action.

David Mann and Brett McMullen

MR Architecture + Decor

A Day of Feng Shui

2011-07-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

Less than two weeks ago, I made a fair amount of feng shui corrections to my home. I am beginning to notice and feel energies, some subtle and some not. One of othe biggest awarenesses I've had is that the more I get my home in harmonic alignment, the more I realize how much my Design Studio can use a Feng Shui, take me away kind of day. It will feel so good.

Seattle Public Library

2011-05-25T21:32:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Seattle, I stayed at the Executive Pacific Hotel, a quaint boutique downtown hotel. One of the best features of the hotel is its close proximity to the Seattle Public Library, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. Laminated tour cards of the building are available at the main desk, offering a fun and informative way to learn more about the 10 story structure. This is one of the most interesting and thoughtful buildings I’ve seen in a good while. If you’re ever in the rainy city, it’s a must see.

Yes or No, I'll say so

2011-02-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

No thanks.

A better way to design a country vignette in my opinion would be to use an updated wallpaper in a current color scheme versus blue wallpaper and carpet that throws me back to 1980. The wicker is boring and predictable. The basket storing plans is nothing but a prop without a piece of furniture or wall space on which to unfurl drawings.

Designer: Libby Cameron

Yes or No, I'll say so

2011-02-11T09:53:00.001-08:00

Resounding Yes. This design offers an artful progression that gracefully leads the eye from the front of the space to the back.

What's working:
Repetition of circle
Curved chair and table lines support circle
Variety of color and texture
Lovely scale

Designer: Thom Felicia

Be Mindful of Color

2009-07-03T15:13:00.001-07:00

Let’s face it. The easiest way to make a dramatic change in your home is through the use of color. An application of paint can make a room go from ho-hum to fabulous in no time. Sounds simple, right? It can be if you choose the right hue. Working with color can be challenging. Sometimes people feel stuck; they don’t like the color they have but aren’t sure of what new color to choose. Or, people may have chosen a color that they loved, until it went up on their walls. Why can working with color be so tricky?

It’s important to know that colors cause physical and psychological reactions. Reaction to color is intensely personal and unique, based on our memory and perception. Keep this in mind when choosing colors for your home. Each person living in the home will have a reaction to the color, so make sure to get their input when choosing something new. Don’t base your decision on what looks great in another home or in a magazine. Color choices should be site specific: tailored to the lighting and spacial orientation of your space with consideration to your belongings and personal taste. As an interior designer, I will help you choose the perfect hue to meet your needs. Color can be used to make walls appear to advance or recede. It can highlight a special piece of furniture or art, making it a focal point in a room. Furthermore, color can balance a space with too much, or too little natural daylighting.

And remember, the best choice doesn’t stop when you select a hue for your space. Why not go “green” and select a paint that contains zero volatile organic compounds. Zero VOC paints have fewer toxins than traditional paints, making them safer for your family and the environment.