Visiting Old Friends

We walked along in the cold morning air-- George the dog needed to stretch his legs and take care of a few things before all of us were to start our busy day.

My cousin took a route along the streets of her hometown that George was certainly familiar with, but one that was totally new and full of wonder for me. 

I had a long drive ahead of me that day (returning home to Philadelphia), and starting my morning taking in so many beautiful houses--some in good condition, some under construction, some in complete disrepair, but all retaining most of the original architectural detail from the Victorian Era--was such an inspiration. 

You see, historic buildings are often the victim of updates over the years that are less than sensitive to their original design aesthetic. Many well-meaning people renovate these old structures, removing elements that are of higher quality than you could get today (unless you are willing to have something custom-made by a craftsman) and replacing them with inferior components that are mass-produced using lesser materials. 

Sadly, in this process, the character of the house is altered or lost entirely. 

This pox that has marred many a quaint old building is known as remuddling.

Remuddling is defined as misguided remodeling-that is, an alteration that is insensitive to the architecture or character of the house. (Image and definition compliments of Old House Journal.)

When a city or town understands and honors the history of its buildings, stunning, one-of-a-kind neighborhoods rich with character are the result--as is the case, thankfully, in Providence, Rhode Island, where we were enjoying our morning walk with George the bulldog. 

This building below, even though it has stood vacant for some time, was saved by the city which recognized its architectural value. 

I am so happy to say that this structure is in the process of being renovated and will be put to innovative new use. 

Turns out this house, originally built in 1875 & known to locals as Barnaby Castle, has quite the history--even including a murder! You can read more about it here.  :)

These buildings feel like old friends to me, and I am so grateful to all those whom have taken the time and effort to preserve them so that we all can enjoy them for years to come.  

Because we all need a little inspiration sometimes...

One of the most important tools I have in my arsenal as a designer are photographs of beautiful rooms. A stunning photo can spark an idea in me, can help my clients to clarify exactly what speaks to their soul when it comes to creating a space for them, and can be the essential insight needed when selecting elements for a room.

Because looking through images can get your creative juices flowing and help you to see what is possible, I wanted to share an online tool that I can't live without these days: Houzz.com

SO, if you are looking for some inspiration, (and who isn't these days as we are in the lingering grey days of winter!?)--take some time to page through the beautiful rooms featured on Houzz, and drink in all the beauty and possibility.

If you want to, you can even start to collect your favorite photos in an Ideabook there, so they are all gathered right at your fingertips when you are ready to roll up your sleeves and get started redesigning your space.

Get started by checking out Revealing Redesign's little corner of Houzz, and then go on to look at the over 6 MILLION high definition home photos on their site.

Have FUN!

A Sensory Experience

With the cold, grey days we have at this time of year, it is easy to think that there isn't much around us to savor. 

But maybe we are wrong.

As this little sparrow proved to me a few winters ago, as he would sit outside our family room window and sing his little heart out day after day...

maybe we need to pay attention to things in a whole new way. 

When I think back to the winter days days when my children were very small--even though we were often stuck inside our little old house as the winter winds whipped outside-- it was still a delight to see the world through their eyes as they experienced sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes for the first time.

It is a bit sad to me that as we "grow up" we become removed from the joy and wonder of our senses. It can be restorative to remind ourselves to pay attention to each one of them once again.

To be mindful of each of our senses, one at a time, is a great way to slow down and really appreciate all that is so good around us. And where better to do this than in our homes?

Maybe the things that we love about where we live has become white noise to us, things that we no longer take in or appreciate. 

When I take the time to pay attention, it is amazing how many simple yet wonderful sensory joys are present each day in my home. Here are a few favorites that come to mind for me:

• Hearing--birdsong, Mozart, the quiet of the house after everyone has gone to bed....
• Sight--family pictures, treasured artwork, green daffodil shoots emerging outside, the faces of those I love.
• Smell--freshly washed towels, favorite meals cooking in the kitchen, coffee in the morning.
• Touch--our comfy family room chair, soft blankets and sheets on the bed, my dog's velvety ears.
• Taste--any meal I didn't have to cook :)...oh, and a glass of wine.

What are your favorites?? Please be sure to write some in the comments!~Can't wait to hear them!!!

How To Pick Paint Colors??--Not A Black or White Issue

Painting, inside or out, is truly one of the fastest ways to totally transform your house.

But to fully take advantage of all of that bang for your buck and achieve the transformation that you want, colors are needed that will pull everything together and make the materials of the building or space sing in harmony.

Sounds daunting, doesn't it?

But really it is tons of fun, and one of my favorite things to do!!

As you can see, the house's facade had stone detail with BRIGHT white siding and black trim, which was stark and cold next to the earth tones of the stone. I was excited that my clients were game to change their color palette, and knew that we could achieve a much more cohesive and inviting look...

Using the tones in the existing stone, we worked to pull out the warmth and depth that was already there.

Even with new vinyl clad windows finished in bright white, I felt it was important to choose a different trim color for the other "white" areas of the facade (porch trim as well as window casings, etc.) that didn't just match, but rather gave depth to the bluish white of the new sashes. The warm white of the trim would smooth the visual transition from the new materials to the old in a subtle and graceful way.

It may be hard to see in this photo below, but the trim around the windows is this warm white, which adds detail and richness to the overall look. Going with the bluish white of the vinyl would not have had the same results...

The door color was chosen by pulling out a dark grey green tone also found in the stonework...

& the same color was used for the garage doors as well...

Now that the colors and materials of the house's exterior are working together, the house has a more unified appearance and extends a warmer welcome to all!

Keep Calm and Throw it Out

The feeling of calm is something that can be in short supply in our busy lives--and it is the feeling that most of us long to create in our homes. 

Should be easy, right? 

The mistake we can make is thinking that to improve a room, we have to ADD something. But in this case what is missing is CALM, and to create this much sought after feeling, we most often need to take something away. 

Because we are such busy people, we often have a lot of STUFF out in our homes and don't realize how this changes how we feel each day. 

You see, when we have a lot of stuff sitting out, it is almost like having a group of people all talking at us at the same time. You may not really "see" all of those items on the shelf or stuck on the refrigerator anymore --it may have become white noise to you--but trust me, they are still trying to get your attention and causing a commotion every time your eye glances over them....

What things around your home can be taken down, donated, thrown out, put in a drawer, or stored in such a way that it gives you some visual rest? Having less on the surfaces in our homes automatically makes it feel more settled. It helps us to feel more calm. 

And peace and calm is what I wish for you, dear friends!