Are Your Favorite Things In Boxes?

During a design project there is so much excitement in the beginning. New plans are drawn up, the layout or furniture arrangement is decided upon, and the big ticket items are ordered. This can be rugs, furniture, or bathroom vanities and kitchen cabinets. This takes a lot of energy, and of course money! Then the waiting begins -- for fabrics, production, orders, contractors, construction, delivery of everything. This is when some people consider their room "done."

Often the things we love are still in boxes or behind closed doors because we don't know how to use them.   Details really do make your house a home! Once the furniture is in, it is time to add your personality, your treasures, and your history to the room. A room without art, without signs of YOUR life, is never going to feel finished. I see people wait too long or even skip this last step. Don't let your home feel like an Airbnb! A room can be beautiful, and technically perfect, but still feel impersonal. Don't be afraid to hang (and buy) art, or display a collection, or use the good china, put pillows on the sofa, stack some books! Paint the room if you haven't, (or the ceiling), hang the wallpaper...what are you waiting for? So many rooms I see have only one light. Don't stop at one! The finishing touches can be the most fun of all, often just working with what you have or finding a focus for your collections. For example, in this photo, my colleague added a hand-painted rooster from her travels to Portugal to her collection of Irish pint glasses in the bar cabinet. Just the right amount of whimsy and personality amid a cohesive display of glass to take it all up a notch, and of course spark some conversations. If this still feels daunting, and you are afraid of your spaces looking cluttered and yard-sale-ish, I can help. E-mail me or fill out my website's contact form to get started.