After a recent visit to Scandinavia and seeing how well they cope with short winter days, I learned about Hygge, the art of staying cozy, happy and positive during the winter months.  During this extra wet California season, we need this more than ever!

Capture as much light and sun as possible in these 5 easy ways:

1) Grab a Sunny Spot – Pull your favorite chair up to a window or glass door.  Not only can this be your personal refuge for reading or enjoying the change in seasons, the chair captures warmth from what sun there is and makes you feel comforted and safe. Just 30 minutes a day sitting there will give your body the amount of vitamin C it needs to keep your mind alive.

2) Let the Sun Shine In – Open up the window treatments.  Many of us grew up with the concept that to keep the cold out, close blinds and drapes.  This is not only unnecessary but makes our rooms darker and dismal.  If you have double paned windows, you don’t have to worry about heat loss and the morning sun is the best for starting your day off right.  In the winter, take down valances and cornices to expose as much of the window as possible.

3) Winter White – Scandinavians knew the secret to surviving winter darkness.  Living without sun for months on end made them experts.  Their secret was effective use of color.  White painted furniture and white washed walls made any room bright and cheerful, no matter how black the night (or day!).  Use light colors; add white, cream or linen colored pillows and throws around the room.  Ban dark and harsh colors from your home.

4) Grow a Winter Garden – You may not be able to plant outdoors, but this is the time for flowers and plants inside.  Succulents in a long wooden bowl in the kitchen window do great and add the green you crave. Start an herb garden! Bring home an orchid or bromeliad for the table and watch the smile it brings to your family’s face.

5) Get Motivated – Now might be the best time to plan ahead. Start thinking about changes and renovations you’ll be doing when it warms up. These gray days inside don’t have to be dismal – start that list, collect those links, talk to your designer, architect or landscaper – get them lined up and scheduled and on the calendar. It’s always nice to be ahead of things.. when spring comes, you’ll be ready!

Add your personal suggestions below.  Love to hear from you!

I wrote my first list of trends in 2013, 10 years ago.  Here we are almost to 2023 and how have they changed? Always so many new thoughts, ideas, concepts and creative designs.  I can only imagine what the new year will bring, and excited to see where the industry goes and what imaginative and fun rooms we will see.

Here are 3 trends I predict will be big in the new year.

Warmth makes a triumphant return: For the past few years we’ve seen bright colors make a huge splash… the lime greens, oranges and bright blues have become ubiquitous, as have all gray and white rooms.  I hope to see less of these cool colors and warm, homey hues make a comeback.  Look for browns, tans, and khaki to be used in rooms and on walls inside and out. Think the color of sandy beaches or animal fur.

Color by Sherwin-Willaims

Getting lost in big upholstery: Big, soft and enveloping furniture will be everywhere.  Sofas that are deep and over stuffed will help us forget the world outside and the stress of life.  We’ll want to sink in and be lost in comfort and tactile fabrics. Look for curvy and sexy sofas and chairs. Shape is the new thing – getting away from hard corners, stiff cushions and scratchy materials.

From Daily Dream Décor

Escaping the tech world:  In 2023, there will be a backlash against a TV in every room.  We will find that we need a place to decompress and escape, and there will be a big push for rooms that are tech free… quiet and peaceful.  I’d like to see libraries and rooms for reading and meditation becoming the must have in every home. We’ve learned a few things from the pandemic, having to all coexist in the same space. Quiet and calm is what we need now.

Happy New Year – Thrive In Your Space!

This post first appeared in 2014 – but every year people ask me for it again. So, another encore – HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

Many of us live in a haunted house and don’t even realize it.  I don’t mean haunted in the traditional sense; like the kind you go to on Halloween or an abandoned mansion you may see in the movies.  But, our homes can be and often are haunted by the ghosts of our own furnishings.  We tend to keep possessions and stuff we don’t really need anymore.  Look around you…  do you still need to display that trinket you bought on your vacation in 1985?  How about the framed wall hanging that says “Have A Nice Day” your Aunt Ruth gave you for a housewarming gift when you moved in 20 years ago?  It’s time to go through and refresh your accessories.  Edit out what’s old and just a dust collector.  Arrange like things that are precious to you in a collection, not spread over every surface.

Another way you may be living in the past is your upholstery.  When was the last time you had those chairs recovered?  Maybe it’s time to stop living with what you liked when you first moved in and just haven’t really looked at in many years.  Over time, upholstery fades and discolors.  Wear and tear from a busy family really can take its toll on furniture.  Paint colors will change over time and can look dreary and drab.  Try freshening up those rooms with a modern color or new wallpaper.

Pictures and artwork can also really make your home feel dated and old.  Your tastes have probably changed, you might like abstracts now but just can’t part with the landscape you bought at a garage sale a few years back. Maybe there is art you’ve had since college, and it has memories.  But those memories might be holding you back, keeping you in the past.. when you should be looking to the future.

It’s easy to go day-to-day thinking that next year you’ll buy a new sofa, or paint the den or have that painting reframed.  But days turn into months and months into years, and before you know it.. you are living in a home from yesteryear.. Yes, a haunted house!  Haunted by old, used and sad furnishings and colors.  Make a change before those ghosts decide to just take over.

So, this year, go visit a real haunted house, don’t live in one!

It’s easy to say that inspiration is all around us, and of course it is. But often we may find it hard to translate that into our living environment. We look at our home and don’t know where to start. It’s important to find that something special that speaks to us and our vision and complete the interior we desire.

Everything in your home can be a source of inspiration. The idea for a room often begins with a single object: a family heirloom, a framed photo, a piece of fabric, that Merlot in your glass. Start from that single element that you love and watch the space take shape.

Even beyond that, inspiration can often be more obvious than you realize. That vacation you took last year to the beach or a visit to your local museum. The color of the sky or the leaves on a tree. Smell and sound can bring an idea to your mind. Music can inspire you visually. A song can bring the power to energize your space or be soothing and peaceful, and your home will reflect this.

I have helped clients create children’s rooms inspired by fairy tales or sports teams. We have painted stars and moons on ceilings of nurseries. A master suite enveloped in fabric can be a Moroccan fantasy and a South Seas paradise can be achieved by finding that right shade of blue you saw in Tahiti.  Anything is possible and the possibilities are endless.

Once you have landed on your inspiration, don’t feel pressured to move quickly. Let a room take shape naturally. It may take time for the elements to fuse together. Don’t be disillusioned or frustrated just because you have the perfect blue pillow but aren’t finding the sofa fabric to go with it. Keep an open mind, let the inspiration flow and allow the space to speak to you.

Finally, don’t be afraid to do the unexpected. It’s OK to take risks. Keep an open mind about your room and what it may be saying to you. Discover the hidden texture or spot of brilliance in your personal inspiration. Don’t be boxed in by convention!

I always try to help clients move just a bit further from their comfort zone. A home should be a personal statement.  Your finished space, if you let it, will spring from your inspiration and may just be the impetus for someone else’s imagination.

*Originally posted in 2017 – reposted by popular demand!

Taken from Insider.com

Pastel Palette’s are IN!

Aaron Lebowski, an interior designer and consultant at Juliei Salone, said this summer is all about bringing pastel colors into your space. He said colors like pink, yellow, and blue bring to mind summery images, like sunny days and pool parties. Adding soft colors elevates your mood. Often just an accent can bring a room to life!

Natural Materials indoors are IN!

Kate Diaz, interior designer and cofounder of Swanky Den, said we’ll see more natural materials in design choices this season because they bring the outdoors in. “Wood, stone, and leather are going to be big this summer,” Diaz said. Texture and tactile elements contribute for that indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

Floral Window Treatments are SO IN!

Florals are no longer just a trend of the past, according to Courtney Wollersheim, interior designer from FLOOR360. “Grandmillennial’ or ‘grandma chic’ is sneaking into many room styles as the summer season heats up because you need lots of florals and bold colors to achieve this look,” Wollersheim explained: “It’s very on-trend to recreate the comfort and coziness of grandma’s traditional style house with vintage pieces and floral fabrics for window curtains.” When incorporating florals, Wollersheim recommends mixing and matching tablecloth and window-curtain fabrics that are within the same color family.

The Movement to Arch Shaped Elements is IN!

Catherine Staples, lead designer at Aspen & Ivy, tells us arches are a timeless trend you’ll see more of this season. “From doorways to windows to mirrors and millwork, arches are a warm, whimsical way to elevate your space off the linear path,” Staples said. “I expect to see arched elements in design this summer in furniture as well.” Arches suggest a classic, European architectural addition – bringing even the most cookie cutter rooms a sophistication.

The Trend of Reclaimed Wood is SO OUT!

“The appeal of reclaimed wood kitchen tables, dining tables, chairs, coffee tables makes sense because it brings character and texture to any room,” Wollersheim said. But in recent years, she said, people are realizing there’s such a thing as too much reclaimed wood in a space. We recommend keeping one of your favorite pieces and contrasting it with glass accents and soft-cushioned chairs for a more holistic look. Beautiful, rich polished wood like walnut and mahogany up your game!

Overdone Rustic Interiors are OUT!

Known for its natural-looking aged look, the rustic interior-design style is on its way out. “It’s not that the rustic look is inherently bad, but the proliferation of it in homes can be overwhelming,” Lebowski said. He said you can find balance by having one or two rustic elements in your home, but you might not want to overdo it. Shiplap can be so 2010 – it’s time to move on to a more finished look in your home.

All White Interiors are OUT!

Toussaint Derby, a lead designer at Havenly, said sleek, all-white interiors are going to be replaced with colorful ones. She told Insider “the all-white aesthetic may have felt a little too cold and impersonal” so it’s falling out of favor as people try to cozy up their spaces. Try an accent wall in lime green, periwinkle blue or salmon to add a punch to your space!

Minimalism is OUT!

According to luxury interior designer Margarita Bravo, monochromatic spaces just aren’t as welcoming as other design choices. “People are spending more time in their homes, and they want a more welcoming, inviting space with the use of different materials, textures, and accent colors,” Bravo said. There is a warmth and coziness to creating an environment that mixes textures, colors and styles. Maximalism rules!

What are the trends you’d like to see take a hike and what ones are you open to embracing in your space?

It’s important for our homes to be a physical and mental refuge from today’s unrelenting world.  The place where we gather defines our mood. Our personal space should enrich our life, not make it more stressful.  Here are 5 ways to return home at the end of a long day to a peaceful house.

1 – Start with the entrance and front door.  Paint your door a soothing color like eggplant or chocolate brown.  Plant an assortment of pots of flowers on the front steps, like a mixture of wildflowers.  Keep it simple and opt for a natural woven door mat, not one with funny sayings or crazy patterns.

2 – Keep your kitchen stress free by banning clutter, especially on kitchen counters.  Contemporary cabinetry often uses sliding doors at counter level, where you can store toasters, blenders and the like for easy access, but hidden.  Don’t let your kitchen table end up being a computer desk or the spot where you dump your keys and mail.  Keep it clean and ready to set for dinner.

3 – One word about bathrooms: SPA! This room, more than any, is your personal sanctuary.  Paint it a restorative color.  Roll white fluffy towels and keep them in a basket or on the tub decking.  Use a silverware divider or handled plastic bins for toiletries and make up.  No more searching around your vanity drawers for what you need!

4 – Home offices and children’s playrooms are an important part of todays home. They will never be completely organized and don’t need to be.  The key is to close the door to that space when not in use.  In real life, there are just some spaces that are what they are.  Resist the urge to try and de-clutter this space, but go to the rooms where you can relax.

5 – The best place for renewal and recharging is the bedroom.  Use the bed only for sleeping and intimacy.  Take the TV and computer out of the bedroom completely.  Keep excess pillows and unnecessary items off  the bed. If every bedroom looked like the pictures in magazines, we’d be exhausted by the time we removed all those pillows from the bed just to get into it!  Have scented candles in the bedroom, you don’t even have to light them to enjoy the fragranced as you sleep.

In these times where pressure and stress run high, it’s important to have your sanctuary where you can start each day refreshed and ready to face new challenges.  Your house can do this for you if you allow it.  When you get home tonight, look around and see where and what you can improve in your own home.  Have fun and enjoy your new peaceful surroundings!

As we close out on 2021, it’s time to look ahead at the New Year and explore the latest trends in design. After living nearly two years now in the pandemic, more than ever our homes and spaces have become of utmost importance to our well being. Here are 5 trends and comebacks from the design industry, and they are fun! Let’s take a look –

Bold Color – Although gray is still a popular choice, we are seeing a move to warmer colors, with browns making a huge breakthrough. But, just in time to keep us from boredom, bold, bright colors are here and we need them more than ever. Yellows, oranges and lime greens help make a room pop, give us energy and work with almost any color scheme. Many of us are a bit nervous about color, so start small – a Canary yellow pillow, Mandarin orange rug or green accessories and when you feel ready, move on up to the latest in bright wallcoverings, upholstery and paint. Have fun with it and let your inner brightness shine!

Vintage Makes a Comeback – For years, top designers have scoured consigment shops and vintage flea markets to find that special piece that gives a room an anchor and a history. Vintage and retro looks help us embrace our roots and are usually very well priced. As the supply chain has pushed new furniture back to 6 months or more, clients aren’t willing to wait. Getting what they need now is important as well as that feeling of repurposing and discovering the past. From the 1920’s to the 80’s, vintage is in the eye of the beholder. Re-upholster a classic sofa or chair that you found online. The fun is in the search – you never know what you might find!

Organic and Sustainable – Although the growing need to support sustainable design has been around for a while, in 2022 we will see a whole new breed of companies working towards achieving this goal and clients asking specifically for it. I also love to see the wave of organic looks coming our way, like the return of macrame and textural fabrics, the renewed interest in bamboo flooring and kitchen design that matches the organic eating trend we all like to follow. Bring live greenery into your home, the energy they bring to your space is great for healthy living.

Smart Furniture – Along with seeing organic design we are really latching onto the idea of “smart” furniture – pieces that can be multifunctional. This is especially important for smaller spaces. Modular furniture, stand up desks and the return of bean bag chairs show that we want (and need) our furniture to not be static, but change and morph into being used in creative and necessary ways. One of my favorites is the look of Italian floor seating, cushions that work for napping, conversation, even cocktail hour.

Abstract Art Makes a Comeback – One of the most exciting trends we will see in 2022 is the return of 60’s and 70’s style absract art. Whether bright colors or black & white – bold, minimal looks are taking over our walls. Large pieces that make a statement and hold their own against the furnishings give a space that “wow factor” we strive for. Pulling the vintage card into it, think Bauhaus prints or graphic art of the Mid Century Modern era. Whether original pieces or prints, there is something here for every environment. There is so much great art to be found online – buy an original or a print – just go big or go home!

Take a look around your home and see which (or all!) these new design ideas will be a part of your 2022!