The dream is this…

Imagine me in my new sun room addition, surrounded by my seashells collected from my travels, writing poetry in my spare time…..

The reality is this…..

…my view while upside down during yoga, trying not to get blinded by Fifi’s fur swishing by…..

I’ve always needed a home that was – forgiving…..if not downright – giving…..Can you say dusting-free?  Cat-fur-hiding?  Child-play-friendly?  Now I am a busy mom of a toddler with a career I half operate out of my home.  Before that I had two cats (I still have one).  And before that I was an art student with two cats…..

My clients are the same way!  Many of them are artists themselves…..Some of them have children who are artists…..Most of them have children or grandchildren, or hope to have them someday…..Lots of my clients do something creatively in their house – whether it’s cooking, writing songs, or painting…..

So this blog post is dedicated my clients – who inspire me so much.  And is a peek at the things I try to do for them:  Help them create homes which enable them to live their lives…..I’m calling it “relaxed living”.

The mudroom…..

…..A place where you drop off your muddy shoes, wet coat and umbrella on your way in.  A nice place to hang your coats and shopping bags, and sort recycling on its way out.  Use it as a way station for groceries and other clutter that would otherwise get all over the house.  It doesn’t have to be a literal room:  Growing up in Louisiana, which stays warm and rainy much of the year, we used a deep screened in porch with a brick floor to serve as our “mudroom”…..

The kitchen…..

Like a white kitchen?  That’s fine – just delete the all-white floors and counters from your plans…..Keep white to the vertical surfaces, thus to avoid the aggravation of footprints and food prep smears…..If you like white everywhere, consider white terrazzo floors or white marble counters with gray veining, so as to obscure the smudges…..

The living room….

Leather covered ottomans are hot, and not just for their cool effect.  They’re also great for living too!  Let your husband prop his feet up and watch TV on it.  No constantly wiping off nasty fingerprints from kids playing.  It’s soft to lean on, and yet you can still serve hors d’oeuvres on it at a party…..

The breakfast room…..

More and more, the “breakfast room” is what we have for a “dining room”.  This wooden table and bench just feel relaxed and inviting.  It’s also easy to clean – just wipe it off!  A fun decorative light fixture above the table will “dress it up”, making it a great place to serve hors d’oeuvres at a party (in addition to that great leather covered ottoman)…..

The study…..

Many people these days trade in the dining room they hardly use, for a study.  The bookshelves store not just books, but also your “artwork” and mementos found during travels.  Stow away your “home office” stuff in the cabinets below.  The table gives you a resting place for your book while reading, but it also serves as a spot to pay bills and check emails.  Mix some soft seating (window seat) in there for a place to curl up and have a cup of tea…..

The bedroom…

Lots and lots of pillows give you the flexibility to sit up and watch TV, read a book, or get comfortable in your favorite sleeping position.  A really full duvet like this pin-tuck gives you airy comfort – cool in the summer and warm in the winter.   Great bedding  creates an escape from the distractions of life…..

The bathroom…..

A great soak tub, proportioned to fit your size, can create a great spa getaway, right in your own home.   Add natural stone, spa-like glass tile, and places to perch your favorite sea shells within your view while soaking, creating an ambiance of relaxation.

The home studio…..

Okay, so I don’t have my poetry-writing sun room yet.  But I have manifested my office studio with a view of this dogwood in the Spring.  When it’s nice out, you can come out and sit in a chair and have your tea break…..

When it’s not nice out – you still have a view…..

Like any of these “mini-topics”?  Let me know about it in the comments, and I’ll expound on it in the coming year

1) Via a “dream file” of mine I’ve had so long I no longer know where it came from.  Anyone who knows the credits, please leave below in the comments.

2)  My living room/yoga room.

3)  Via The English Home, home of Ben and Emma Taylor.

4)  Via House and Garden, the home of Will and Laura Jones.  Photograph by Rory Carnegie.

5)  Via The English Home, Interior Designer Henriette von Stockhausen’s home.

6)  Another “dream file” image.  This was given to me by a friend, so I’ll never know where it’s from.  Leave in the comments the source, if you have it.

7)  Via Traditional Home, Designer Madeline Stuart, photography by Werner Straube.

7)  Via West Elm.

8)  Via Coastal Living, photographer Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn, Stylist Lynn Nesmith.