In 2015, interior designers worldwide, okay- maybe not the designers….let’s start over.  In 2015, our media decided that ‘Individuality’ was the new trend in interior design. Who decides this stuff anyways?  Seriously, who decides what the latest trends are….I’ve always wondered that.  Not because I follow trends, quite the opposite.  It just seems…. Odd. Well, at least to me that seems odd- the concept of the media decides something, for all of us.

I’ve always thought that interior design should always reflect individuality, however, at some point society decided that was wrong- and it is far more important to follow trends, keep up with the Jones’, and replicate every Pinterest photo that inspires you.

Here are some examples of great designers like myself, who feel as though individuality never went out of style.
Winston-Salem
David Obel Rosenkvist
N Studio

​I want to ask my readers, what’s more important to you- a home that reflects changing trends -or- a home that reflects YOU?

What do Handmade, Minimalistic, Rustic Utilitarian, and even the  New Antiquarian Movement, design styles have in common?  Each one of these styles at their core represents: authenticity. Whether it’s a vintage chair, still encased in it’s bright yellow fabric, or a beautiful accent table, carved from locally sourced, and sanded by hand, or just a beautiful piece of linen, woven in small batches, and sewn into pillowcases. There’s something beautiful about a piece that has meaning rather than a mass manufactured item that is available at the click of a button.  

Those special pieces we have in our home, you know, the ones passed down from generation to generation they are personal and intimate. Or maybe they are things left behind or forgotten by loved ones, updated perhaps. Sometimes those pieces require some effort on getting to the heart of the piece itself.  Maybe it requires ripping up all the carpet in your home only to uncover the rich vintage oak floors hidden underneath, or making a quilt from the your children’s baby clothes you’ve saved for 20 years.

​There may be challenges and setbacks that you have to overcome; time you won’t get back.  But in the end, the reward of sourcing and creating, restoring and rebuilding, leaves a satisfaction that just can’t be had by any other way. Sometimes these sentimental things we incorporate in our space mean more than the $3,000 Ethan Allen sofa you just splurged on.  While they are all things you can touch, these authentic heirlooms are a story you can tell. It was created with thought and care. It’s real.  It’s AUTHENTIC.
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Having worked in the new home industry for 10 years, if there was something I noticed over and over agin when looking at the floor plans of the homes I sold- poor use of space  The layouts were not designed properly.

Once I moved over to the interior design side of things, I could help my Client's who were building new homes much easier when it came down to this big issue.  Keep in mind not all home builders are the same, and not all are going to make structural changes, but if you are building a custom or even semi custom home, knowing this design mistake ahead of time will save you from a lot of headaches down the road. 
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• Rooms designed for specific use

Don’t create too many rooms designed in a specific way for a specific use. This makes bad use of square footage and reduces the flexibility for future use. In case you want to resale, you will attract more potential buyers when they can visualize their own options for these spaces. Go for great room layouts (kitchen + dining + living)
This will provide flexibility for entertaining. Place the kitchen and the living at opposite ends of the entire space for noise buffering, while keeping the openness of vision.
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Something I talk a lot about with my Clients is how they start each and every day. Sometimes this is the catalyst of what will go right…and wrong for the rest of the day.  It is important to be mindful of this each and every day you wake up.  It is also important to practice these daily habits, so they eventually become part of your routine- just like brushing your teeth.

So to start this week fresh, I am giving you, YES, giving you one of my daily morning power start programs for FREE!!!  Try it out for a week, let me know how things change for you!

The first thing I want my Client’s to do is ask themselves, what rituals and routines support their creative flow.  From roughly 7am-9am my Morning Power Start Program happens.  This being said, the first thing I suggest- nix the alarm clock unless you absolutely need it. I’m a big proponent of giving my body the amount of sleep it naturally needs to function optimally, so I rarely use alarm clocks.  

Within the first hour of waking up, drink some green juice full of nutrients on an empty stomach.  This gives you a great energy boost for the day.  Next, meditate.  Either thing will happen, a) quiets the mind, or b) allows you to access source. 

Followed with some journaling.  At least 30 minutes.  Even having a “Gratitude Journal”, can have a huge and positive impact on how you see & respond to things each day.  

Another big thing is turning off all electronics before bed and not turning them on until after your morning routine is finished….then it’s time to make the magic happen!

Sometimes making a small shift in how you start your day, can be the one thing that changes your entire life!  Give it a try!
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​So what morning rituals do you have that help bring inspiration to your day?

Have you ever wondered what cool go-to apps an interior designer uses? No? I didn't think so...but I'm going to tell you anyways! 😁 Here are my 5 favorite design apps that anyone can use, even if you aren't a cool interior designer like me! 😉 
1. myPANTONE
Create colour palettes on the go with the myPANTONE app created by world-renowned colour experts Pantone. The app allows you to capture and extract colours from photos matching it to the closest Pantone colour, create and share inspiring colour schemes and you can even use it to calibrate your devices to colour-correct your display. www.pantone.com/studio
2. Benjamin Moore Color Capture
The Benjamin Moore Color Capture app allows you to take a photo of anything that inspires you and instantly find a Benjamin Moore paint colour to match it. www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/404
3. TiltMeter 
A professional grade angle measurement tool.  tiltmeterapp.com/
4. Genius Scan+
Scan documents on the go and export them as JPEG or PDF. www.thegrizzlylabs.com/genius-scan
5. My Measure PRO
An app perfect for storing and sharing object dimensions. www.mymeasuresapp.com/

​I'd love to get your feedback on these if you end up using them!  Comment below! 
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