Interior Design Question: Can Design Advice = Botox?

So . . . this morning as I was applying the daily dose of “spackle” to my face – aka – makeup, my mind wandered off to quick fixes for the inherited dark circles under my eyes.  (You know, the kind that make you look as if a good night’s sleep has been out of reach for months?)  I absolutely know they came from my mother’s side of the family.  We’ve long been aficionados of concealers and make-up tricks!  I know that going under the knife might ultimately be the only real solution, but of course, wouldn’t I love a painless and quick fix solution?

  

(Botox injections range $450 to $500 per injection and last about six months.  Several injection sites could add up to $2,000.  If done twice a year - times five years, that equals $20,000.  A good facelift can last up to ten years and averages about $25,000 – depending on if you do the full face – eyes, etc.  So, you may get an even better return because it’s not just spot treating.)

How on earth did I segue from my morning wandering of the mind into an interior design post – you might ask?  It occurred to me, when I get calls from folks who just want a “little design” advice, it’s a bit like having them ask for a shot of Botox in the hope they can get a fast fix to an interior issue which goes deeper than the surface.  And . . . the solution may only be a temporary one and will have to be redone every so many months.

(Beauty can be fleeting.  Great design is forever!)

In my design practice, I’ve discovered, while placing some “pretty” elements in a room might bring an initial delight, if the underlying issues aren’t addressed, that glow wears off pretty quickly.

The question becomes . . . Is a long term solution a better way to invest your design dollars or would you prefer to purchase incremental, temporary design fixes?

Hello Spring . . .

You had me at first blush!

Strolling on Camden Avenue in Charlotte, NC, today.  Heading towards Pike’s for lunch.

Oh, the ‘cheery’ blossoms do make me smile!

I hardly even noticed the pollen!

A girl, of any age, can appreciate a little extra rose in her cheeks. 

Pennies & Pearls

Thirty years ago, it rained on my wedding day.  I remember fretting about making the outdoor passage from the church’s side hall to the narthex, without staining my satin gown.  I was getting married in the Episcopal church where I was christened and where my father attended services from boyhood to his adult years.  I was confirmed in the Lutheran church, as that was my mother’s denomination, and we’ve always had a good chuckle about me being the child who kept the spiritual peace between the two.

Meanwhile, back to the rain.  My father assured me not to consider it to be a bad omen and that I should think of the rain as being ‘pennies from heaven’. 

(Coin Purse – Designer Desirables)

I remember how he loved the song.  Now, I have an even better appreciation for the words . . . “Every time it rains, it rains . . . pennies from heaven” - “If you want the things you love, you've got to have showers.”  That song puts a smile on your face, even when you’re not sure you can muster one.

Supposedly, if one has been married for thirty years, the gift or commemoration should be pearls.  I think it symbolizes the wisdom a couple would have gained from being together for so many years.  I also like to think our relationship has become more “polished” . . . just as in the rough grain of sand being smoothed over with the pearly coating by the oyster.

My husband has asked what might be a special gift to me, on this momentous occasion.  After all of these years together, I think he’s been a mighty fine “umbrella”.  

But . . .  a few more *pearls* of wisdom would be welcome, too!  :)

 

Pinterest Postings

I’m breaking my rules.  I made a personal pact to pull back a little from being online in order to get projects in full swing.  More face-to-face time, as it were. 

In the meanwhile, I’m taking a momentary mental vacay.  The kind of visual break which takes me back to an experience . . . . the “I can see the light at the end of the tunnel” of the paper piles kind of experience.  That usually means being somewhere out in the countryside/mountain valleys or in a favorite garden spot. 

Funny thing is, that must be what a few of you all enjoy, too!  Here are my two top photos that have been repinned from my Pinterest page.  With all of the interior design and food images I’ve pinned, it was very interesting to watch the almost instantaneous repinnings of these occur.  (I’m kind of proud that I took these pics, too!) 

A fabulous barn on the way to the Todd General Store.  Somewhere around Fleetwood, NC.  Notice the window treatments in the upper level?  I call this my “drive by shooting”.  As the DH tends to zoom by, I’m always yelling, “pull the car over!” 

The stained glass dome at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens - Belmont, NC.  This isn’t the only jewel at the gardens, but it gives me a sense of childlike awe and wonder.  I think that’s an important trait to have, as a creative person . . . to always be open to the possibilities. 

I’m so glad I’ve shared images that inspire or stir the imagination. I hope my interiors do the same for my clients.

Now, back to reality!

Home Stretch Hatchings

There’s nothing more satisfying than watching the transformation of a project.  When it has involved construction and I’ve been a part of the design from the onset, I feel like a proud mother hen watching her chicks hatch.

You might recall, from an earlier post, my English style home remodeling project where the desire was to let in more light and and to expand a view from the master bedroom.  The challenge was the lot had a steep slope and it would have required a large expense to build out an additional lower porch or room, to support the overhanging structure.  We decided to blow out the wall to an adjacent screened in porch.  While the porch was only 60” in depth, it provided just enough space for a solarium/observation spot.

Here’s the before view.  And I mean it was a before.  This client had a house flood which got the ball rolling on the idea of “while the house is all apart, why not . . . . .”   The bed was on the back wall and it was kind of lost.  This Ralph Lauren beauty needs to be in the spotlight!  It’s now on the opposite wall with an advantage of the view, below.

Today:  Painting, cleaning, tweaking.  The husband is an avid reader and they didn’t have a place to store his books.  There will be two solid doors and a pair of glass doors added to the bookcase.  We needed to keep a header for structural support, so columns were placed at either end of the bookcase for an assist as well as for design.  A chair and ottoman will cozy up to it as if it were a fireplace.

Before:  Great view and observation spot.  The landscaping is in progress so it will be a bit more verdant in a few weeks.

 

Today’s view:  During the home stretch.  The screens have been replaced by roll-out windows and a radiant-heated tile floor helps keep it climate-controlled on chilly days . . . and it addressed some issues that would be far too boring to read about.  We’re doing motorized shades that will disappear when privacy isn’t needed.  The ceiling is painted in 1/2 formula, Benjamin Moore Whippoorwill, which is in full strength in the adjacent master bedroom.  We added some short shelves for display of pottery and art glass pieces.  I think it feels like a lovely solarium, don’t you?

Move in begins this weekend and the nesting will begin!  Pardon me if I cluck a little.  :)

Spring Dreams

My thank you notes have been collecting way too much dust and the etiquette patrol might be on their way to collect them.  I’m spread a little thin on a convergence of projects, while writing away for some editorial deadlines and planning for some industry presentations.  I’m looking at my own home projects and wondering how on earth I’ll get to them with the calendar clicking along!

And THEN . . . there is all of this talking about leaping, springing, jumping ahead.  (Guilty as charged, on that account, too!)

So, in my perfect world, I dream of easing into spring.  Taking time to plant the seeds, enjoy them, and restore a bit of order to my creative chaos. 

Spring dreams to you!  Oh, and don’t forget Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday.  Remember, it’s “spring forward”.  Even the handsome toads must kiss that hour goodbye!

Sigh!