Saturday Stuff: Oh! I’d Forgotten About That Side Of My Proverbial “House”!
We all have them
Those areas we forget about until…
We schedule a party
A visitor is due to arrive
We get the “Donations Accepted” postcard & start hunting for forgotten treasure to pass along
Or…as in my case…one of the pugs goes sniffing around a corner around a corner…and I follow!
Oh my!
I’d forgotten about that area 🙂
Today I’m sharing a few videos that we use to help get at some of those areas in our Life & Home
As part of Saturday Stuff…this gets at the STUFF that holds us back from the inside!!
I need to thank Karen Davis for reminding me of these videos
I love them. We watch & share with clients because one of the MOST important things about decorating a BEAUTIFUL SPACE is being REAL about who we are, where we are, why we are & being COMFORTABLE in that space
May these be a blessing to you.
Saturday Stuff. YOU are worth the time it will take to be blessed by these videos.
PS: Don’t forget to share what we are doing here with friends who have the same heart. I’d be grateful to build a community of people who desire to LIVE as beautifully as our spaces look…
PPS: Sign up NOW to be part of our BETA TEST for Decorate Like A Pro System (Linked). We are still in the starting gates. BE in from the ground floor!!! You are SO worth it!
Frugal Friday: A Video on Small Space Decorating With Fabulous Tips!
We are swamped in the Studio & excited about what is coming up
With that in mind, take the Four Minutes & watch this SPACES video!
I am inspired. YES, it has made the rounds before – but even if you saw it the first time, it’s a great reminder that Style has nothing to do with label.
Today? My take on Barbara Barry. It is really quite simple. Yet profound to me. It spoke to my soul.
It confirmed the genteel quietness with which I was raised by a mother who is long gone.
It was Barbara’s lipstick on a beautifully pressed linen napkin photo
Barbara rearticulated my love of GRACIOUS process & for that I am grateful
She shared so much – you can find it in her book, her life
What she rekindled in me was-is the passion for Graciousness
So often lost in our Eco-No Waste-Get it done Now-Efficient-Effective Society of Work + Play
You simply cannot rush or execute without EFFORT & FOCUS & SKILL a gorgeous intentional pressed linen napkin that your guest may soil with lipstick & a drop of tea with no worry or fuss about consequence other than that THEY ARE WORTH IT
I grew up with linen napkins, used, loved, worn, pressed & re-pressed, monograms that didn’t match from generations of “M, E, W, L, G…” and a few that weren’t even part of the official family tree because some Grandmother or Great-something had a passion for a gorgeous linen or monogram
Is there anything more lovely than a layered table setting? One that graciously welcomes & slows us down to take part in life?
They become family members & even now, with holes & yet perfectly pressed, they are invited guests to our dinner parties & daily living with a bagel at breakfast & warm soup at lunch
Why?
Because YOU, THEY…the Guest in my home, the family member…is WORTH IT
WORTH the effort. Is Holy in their own right – simply as a created being, in all OUR (their) glorious mess
WORTH IT.
The effort, the acknowledgement of effort.
What is your Beautiful Living?
Take the Four (4) Minutes & watch Barbara’s Video. Let me know if it speaks to you as it spoke to me.
What is your Beautiful Life?
A lesson learned, a heart reminded…there is no substitute for delighting in the BEST today
PS: If you like what we are doing here, please share it with a friend on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin…you know – all those Social Media sites! We are still small & exclusive 🙂 but we’d love to be known by your friends with the same heart for intentional living & design. It’s a passion that life itself could not take out of me…and I assume could not take out of you! Thank God for that. May today be a blessed + protected day for you and yours.
Monday Matters: Design Your Home, Design Your Life. I Believe You Can!
Am just off three weeks of intensive training, from Mastermind Calls, Design Bloggers Conference & then time in NY and CT with my Business Consultant going over in minute detail what I need to focus on to achieve my goals: Equipping YOU & remaining viable as a business so I have the opportunity to do that in an era of financial uncertainty.
I literally spent all day yesterday, Sunday, quiet & almost shell shocked. Funny how we forget how taxing that stuff is! GREAT but taxing!
Can anyone say sweats & slippers? Got my church on via the internet & even took a nap! What have I learned these past three weeks?
My mission & goal is still the same it’s always been – can’t kill it or root it out of me:
I desire deeply to EQUIP YOU to design your home & life so you can get on with the business of living YOUR call!
From the Free: Blog, Webinars, FB & Social Media
I love this image. It helps ME keep track of what everything is and why we work hard to engage!!
To the Mid Priced: Information Products, Teaching Systems, Coaching
One of the first workshops I ever did was called “HELP! I’m a Home Goods Addict”. It was seriously fun & funny.
To the Expensive: Mastermind & Full Service Interior Bespoke Design
Detail of Chair. Our amazing restorer applied five coats of lacquer to a fabulous vintage chair and had new cane put on so the finish would absorb properly. Our use of this menswear fabric made the new & trend section that year!
It all comes back to equipping you. You the Designer, You the Decorator, You the DIY or You the PERSON! It matters not who, what, where you are. If you are HERE, I want it to be a blessing.
I think I feel so strongly about this because I know how hard it is when there is no one to equip you. I have been there. It’s lonely & hard. We need each other. We are made stronger together. We share burdens, victories, struggles & strength.
What is YOUR Monday Matters? What have you been focused on? What do you want to learn? Have you ever thought of building a business from your desk at home to change the world? Let me know!! Maybe I can help!!
Stay tuned for some fun stuff.
For now, may this get you thinking. I’ll call it “Today’s Equipping” & I have it written on my Back Hall Blackboard in BIG LETTERS: “Fail Harder”.
PS: If you haven’t signed up yet, NOW IS THE TIME! Here is the link to our BETA TEST for Decorate Like A Pro System. Even if you NEVER want to Decorate for Clients, yourself or others, THIS has nuggets for everyday living. Don’t miss out because you are afraid. Life is short. We only get one go around.
Don’t forget to put your email in to receive updates! Visit link HERE!
PPS: If you like what we are doing here, share it with a friend! We are still pretty hidden except to a select group & want to make sure our message gets out to the world. We need you to do that!
Saturday Stuff: Decorating Systems That Actually Work
So I love watching HGTV, DIY…all of that
I really do!
Am kind of a dork for some of my FAVorite Design Stars
One problem – it is not real
No, really! It is not real!
You’d be shocked at how many Client’s say…well, “I was watching HGTV and they did….this…..for this…..with this many people…”
Ummm…..hummmm……how shall I answer this?
Some day I am going to organize a group for a Tour of a Set or Location Shoot for a Home Show. Who is with me?! I’d LOVE to do a Fabulous + Fun Behind the Scenes on a Home Decorating Show – we could be honoring & have a educational seminar to boot!
Back lot shot of Universal Studios
How about we hit where the Writers hang out…you know, the peeps who make the magic appear so effortlessly
Then onto the:
Trailers like this are all over location shoots. Some much smaller! Some much bigger.
Make up trailers, Food Trucks, Interns on bicycles with super cool baskets, Lighting Crew, Sound Crew…WGA, SAG…all of it!
Smile.
Why do I share this?
Because even though I love television decorating shows, they aren’t always the best mechanism for equipping you to do something in a systematic manner that you can REPEAT in your own life
One of the reasons I created Decorate Like A Pro System is to TEACH SYSTEMS THAT you CAN repeat in your own life
Saturday Stuff. Life is filled with a lot of baggage. Sometimes we just have to call it what it is so we can get on with the unpacking & find the outfit that fits!!
Frugal Friday: Do You Ever Wish You Could Just Ask A Decorator A Question Without Being Charged?
So, I get this all the time…
Can I just ask a question Ann?
It won’t take much time – it’s not like I need to hire you or anything 😉
I just need some feedback
Ummm…..
(Me =Radio Silence)
(Me = Deep Breath)
(Me = adding up the cost of years of education, continuing education, clients…& thinking about what that “free information” has actually cost me in terms of my life, my family….& wishing I could communicate that)
Now….ready at the gracious answer – WHY? Because I really DO desire to EQUIP in my heart and if the only engagement you and I ever have this side of heaven, then I DO wish to help you navigate some of the decorating dilemmas you may have.
Timothy Corrigan is seriously one of my all timers. His work has inspired me for decades. Linked to Timothy Corrigan.
THAT is WHY I felt called to put together this Webinar.
It’s why I do the Blog, Facebook, Twitter etc…
To EQUIP you, Freely….and if you want to wade deeper, then you can decide…
I know it’s one of those areas we all think we should just “get”…I mean everyone has a home or a space, right? But we can’t do it alone. Ever. We need each other. I will never cure cancer, but I can decorate. And design. And teach you, free or otherwise.
The nugget for today:
“I believe everyone is capable of designing their own life + home beautifully, sometimes we just need some encouragement”
I hope that this Webinar will be encouraging to you!
You can listen at your leisure, in the privacy of your own home
You will not be put on the spot. You can stop, take notes…engage in the way it works for you!
You know I believe you are custom. You know I believe one size does NOT fit all!
Thursday Spotlight: What To Do About Decorating When You Don’t Know Where To Start?
So this is a biggie!
What to do? Where to start?
Do you get that dreaded “just find an inspiration”?!
A what?
An “inspiration”…you know…”let it speak to you”
Mental Reality Check HERE: Ummm…last time I checked, my inspiration (whatever that means) wasn’t talking to me (and if it was, I’d be contacting the guys who make those paranormal movies)
I think this is one of the funniest “Decorator Speak” things out there
YES, I have been guilty
Have you seen “S&*t Designers Say?” It makes me laugh HARD because I am so completely GUILTY!! Trad Home = Brills.
HOWEVER, we do tackle this one HEAD ON in the Webinar so you can actually FIND a starting place
One preferably with out needing fabric to talk to you!!
Nuggets: Start with WHO you are, WHERE you are, WHY you are
We break down what that actually means & talk about your Life & Space Envelope
THAT is where you start. Not with a talking fabric 🙂 Or a nebulous inspiration…
WHY? Can you imagine picking out the uniform before you knew the sport?
Chew on that for a minute…
And make sure to join us!! The sign up link is HERE.
Wednesday Style Points: The Shopaholic Decorator is Not Really A Decorator, Decorating Involves Control
You’ve seen them…
Maybe you are “them”….
The perpetual home decorating shoppers
West Elm to Bergdorfs, Home Goods to Design Centers…they never stop shopping
BUT there is a better way
We tackle this one head on as well – albeit in a bit more humorous way
(I DO happen to have a blue & white Ginger Jar Addiction so…..THOSE don’t count)
not sure why, but they speak to me!
We get at what I teach as “The Power Stance”
The graphic is even a lady holding a gold megaphone!!
I love these clip arts! Gold + Megaphone? All we need now are great shoes! Perfection! Let’s make sure that this is YOU when it comes to designing your life + home.
Fun!!
This is another NUGGET from our Decorate Like A Pro System Webinar coming out at the end of March.
You DO need to enter your name & email to access the link HERE
WHY do you think I used a woman shopping as our Logo? First, I’ve been there. Remember those ginger jars. Second…once we learn HOW, we get to! It’s quite fun!
The actual TEACHING part, which is FREE on the Webinar is material I charge $800 for when you come into the Studio.
I am sharing it with you because I feel called..& finally equipped…(life’s a process, isn’t it!)
So may it be a blessing to you – think about those things & make sure to join us!
Tuesday Tidbit: How Much Have You Wasted On Bad Decorating?
It’s another NUGGET from our Decorate Like A Pro System Free Webinar
My hope is that by sharing some of these things you will just HAVE to join us!!
Here’s today’s question:
“How much TIME, MONEY & EMOTION have you wasted on bad decorating decisions? Or MEDIOCRE ones? Have you ever been angry over your house?”
Yup!
We tackle this stuff head on.
Why? Because I believe – after so many years in this industry – that if we don’t, we never really get past all that baggage stuff & move on to EXQUISITE spaces!!
Think about it!
What would you give to not make another bad decorating choice?
What would you do if you could avoid the “mediocre” & actually live with beauty that inspired you?
How about this: what would it be worth to you and your family if you were never angry over your space again?
We tackle these issues head on! We talk and teach about WHAT to do about these
How to move forward in PEACE!
Make sure you are signed up for our Free Webinar when it comes out live. The drop date is March 30.
Am off, again…this time to meet and work on our new website.
This time, it’s the East Coast!
It will be all focus, so for this week’s blog posts am sharing NUGGETS from our Decorate Like A Pro System
TODAY? One of the sections in our Free Webinar deals with those emotional decorating decisions we make…
Think of this as a thought for the day…
“Emotionally charged Decorating Decisions lead to Emotionally Charged Spaces
We don’t want those….we want spaces that can HOLD our emotions & keep us safe”
I love this image. The truth is we have emotions & they come out when we are trying to make a space a home…the trick is to figure out how to best use them to our advantage! We tackle this HEAD on in the Webinar!! xo
If you have not signed up yet, make sure to do so! Click the link on the right.
