This is the first in a series of posts I am doing in regards to redecorating and how to start. After several years helping people get past that first step, I realized that it’s a process we all go through and thus, I wanted to share what I have learned.Decorating, or lack of it, is so ingrained in who we are and what we do that it rarely works to have someone come over, redo the place, and continue to live like that for the next however many years. People will keep it nice and neat and “decorated” for all of a month, then it’s back to the old ways. This doesn’t mean it’s hopeless, however, it’s critical to identify your current patterns and the way that you live before you ever begin to re-do your space.
For instance, two of my favorite clients made piles by the front door. Actually, they make piles everywhere and I love them for it but we tackled this challenge by giving them well-designed things to put their piles in. An antique wire basket by the phone charger is filled with mail, outgoing objects and anything else that emerges from their pockets. A nice ceramic jar in the kitchen collects pens, pencils and whatnot. A big, beautiful desk in the bedroom is now home to office papers and folders. Acknowledging their love of piling and giving them a way to do it more constructively worked out well. They can manage. If I would have designed their space with no such concessions, it would never have worked. Creative storage is one of the biggest requests I get. I like to use vintage baskets and containers in to artfully store things:
This vintage blue Indian basket works well to hold the rolled carpets in my shop. It would be great in a bathroom holding rolled towels or toilet paper rolls.
This French leather-handled tote now holds vintage frames but would be perfect for holding magazines, knitting, or a collection of scarves and gloves near the front door.
I love the rolled map pages in this glass ice bucket but think it would be charming holding cooking utensils or collecting wayward mail.
Small but beautiful bowls are a great way to corral jewelry, keys and change.
Learning who you are and how you live is step 1 to figuring out a new design style that can both propel you forward but support your lifestyle. You have to work with it, and through trial and error you’ll recognize which habits you can and want to change and which ones will be there for the long haul.
In my next post I’ll be talking about breaking the though barriers in design and why it may be a losing battle to try to do so.
All my best!
Melisa