Personal Space to unwind... creating a home gym

Designing in a Pandemic.... 

Who ever thought it would be over a year and we would still be here, at home, staring at the same walls. For most, we saw things in our houses that had to change; whether this was cleaning out a closet, tossing clothing that we never wear, haven't worn in years or just didn't like anymore... or the simple exercise of cleaning those little corners or the rooms you never spent more time in. 

We looked more closely at how we surround ourselves, what a room "feels like".

We asked ourselves if this was the "space" that we wanted to be in; that made us feel good. 

I started working from home a few short months before everything closed down. I had a bit of a head start setting up an "in house" office... I showed the make over in an earlier post. 

The issue with working from home is that it is allways there; no, that is not a typo, LOL! 

I quickly realized you need to set boundaries for yourself, hours you will work, eat.. and not just sit at your desk endlessly. My office faces my front yard, so I would see my neighbors walking their dogs or out for a stroll and knew I had to carve time out of my day to get some fresh air... even in the dead of winter. 

What changes did you make? To your routine, your house, yourself?!!! What questions did you ask yourself, what did you need...

I was commuting to NYC every day for work, taking Soul Cycle class four times a week, seeing friends, and clients. This routine worked for me. In Dec. 2019 I made a job change and started working from home.... I needed to find a new routine. I joined a second gym, belonging to one at home already, and continued to go into the city to once a week. One reason was to take that SoulCycle spin class with my daughter, I then would comp stores for work; it kept me connected to the city. I mean, who wouldn't be happy about not having to commute every single day?!  I added a new membership at a very new and cool gym at home, worked out at least 5 days (between @orangetheory and @Lifetime). I found a new normal, where I could work from home but still have my socialization and exercise. I met new people and loved the schedule I set, all based around the classes I was taking. I could do this! 

 

Then on March 12th, I came in to the city to ride with my favorite instructor, @melaniegriffith, with my friends I had made in the class over time... had lunch with my old colleagues who flew in from CA for Market Week, and somehow I knew it was my last day going to the city for some time. I visited my daughter and took the train home. I heard rumors about the growing numbers of covid cases and that the city, as we knew it, was closing down. Market week was pending and everyone who was preparing for clients to come see their new developments was stopped mid-step and told for the first time, in my career in home textiles, that market week is not going to happen. 

 Slowly everything closed - gyms closed... I could feel that this isolation was not going to be easy. 

So where is the design topic, where I tell you about a new project?

Right here! 

 I felt I had to first "set the scene" build the story and let you understand where the need came from and why I had to create a purposeful space for myself at home a home gym.. a place to recuperate, invigorate and escape to in my house.

First you need to know that we have been empty nesters for some time now. We also have been in this house 21 years this coming May! That being said, I have a lot of great exercise equipment.. and then a spin bike I inherited from my youngest daughter who is a SoulCycle Spin instructor for the past 6 years... it has cages on the pedal, but I did not let that stop me for the first 6 months of quarantine! LOL! Here are the before shots; as you can see my mess and lots of stuff that we have accumulated over the year, including the stuff my kids left behind when they moved out.

Before shots with so much stuff!

 

I was determined to create a sanctuary; an at home "dark room" that I could spin in, listen to the best music, and just disappear and work out...

 

I cleaned out the space, rearranged the room, put up the most beautiful wall mandala decals! 

So bohemian!

Then I was lucky enough to have the best brother and sister in-law; in October I received the best present ever - the final touch to my space!  

The piece dé resistance! A Peloton! 

 Look at this space! I could not be happier! 

Now onto the other room renovations needed. 

For now, at least I have an escape, and I have to say, I spend so much time in "MY GYM" that it was worth it!

Create a space for yourself! 

We all need a place to breathe, to feel good... do this for yourself, if not, then who will? If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we need to look around and live in the present... you never know what is around the corner. ... and if you didn't notice, there is an extra bike - come ride with me! I promise the music will be amazing!

Empty Nest? Time to update some bedrooms!

 It has been way too long since our kids lived home... we miss their voices, singing, music we used to hear echoing through the house.  When they visit, it is wonderful; but as we examine the house, the rooms, the colors... boy do we need to clean and update!

As a designer my kids knew I loved to decorate and re-decorate - I was all ways ready for a color change, a new look (yes, all ways, in every way)  I find it so much fun to redefine your space.  Being in the home textiles industry for over 20 years... bedding, blankets, throws, dec pillows are my thing!  I design every day for others, why not my family and my house.

Well, it was time ...Back in the day warm dark colors were all the rage; now it is about 

"clean and classic".  

Neutrals Rule!

Out with the deep dark mocha that we had painting on the ceiling and the walls... WOW that is a job!  It took 2 coats of Killz and then 3 coats of the soft off-white we chose.  The ceiling took 2 coats of primer and then 2 coats ceiling white!

TIP: if you are trying to cover a dark color; be sure to use a primer and be prepared to do at least 2 coats of paint, especially if you plan to use a much lighter color in the end!

A dark mocha on the walls and ceiling!

Thankfully I have a "Handy Husband"
who is a great painter!

Once we finally covered this dark color on the walls and ceiling we were so happy to look down the hall to this fresh new room!  I made use of our existing art, window treatments and furniture... no reason to invest in new at this time - 

I did add a pop of my favorite color; a soft teal cotton coverlet; some inherited pillows from my daughter, a plant relocated from my room and a new rug....

I am only sorry I did not take true before pictures prior to taking everything out and covered it all with the drop cloths....  I am always in such a rush to get started I often forget this step.

We tore up the carpet... that has been in this room since we moved in 20 years ago!!!!

The original wood floors underneath had never been exposed, except of course when the house was built back in the 70's! 

They were in perfect condition!

When you take out carpet expect tons of dust and dirt; the back of the carpet along with the foam over years starts to deteriorate so that was a mess!

All the base molding was removed and my "Handy Husband" got a beautiful high profile base and quarter round, painted it to match the trim in the room and it looks amazing!  So happy he has a nail gun!

I still have a few finishing touches I want to add; linen panels to soften the look of the wall and windows and a few more pieces of art for the walls - some of my dad's photography...

Very happy with our renovation... the kids like it too!

Social Distancing and Design.... how interconnected they really are!

In my lifetime I never could have imagined we would all be here today, where we need to think about every person we are in physical contact with, who we saw in the last two weeks and how to keep eachother safe....  scary times!  

I am thankful that I have been working from home since December.  I had been in and out of the city up until last week, when I went for one day to see friends ... thankful I now have the luxury of working from home; yes luxury!

When I made this change I had to re-think the "space" I would be working in, what would make it feel like an office, not just a desk in my dining room. It had to be a place I could feel good in, and look good to fit my home aesthetic.  Not to mention that I would be video chatting more often so people would see it, lol! See my photos of the room I changed to my home office at the end of this post!

For most who now find themselves having to re-think their day, their meals, their space, it is new and not so easy - I first had to deal with the isolation, no other people to laugh with, to talk about projects as they happen, tv shows or just to have social interaction.  

A friend sent me this article;  in the Washington Post that really hit home!  So much of it spoke to what I had to go through when I started to work from home, and now what so many other people will have to deal with... this one statement :

"When a global pandemic shrinks your world, you can’t help but notice its imperfections. The uneven lighting. The ho-hum paint."

BOOM!  The connection back to my world, design and your home and how you need to feel good in your space! They are talking about your space, having to carve out work space at home,  and all the issues you will see now that you spend so much more time at home ... what you notice!

I often talk about inspiration in my posts.... don't let the things you now see become that thorn in your side... because, let's face it, you are spending a lot more time home then you did before and will see things you let slide because it wasn't "in your face".

It is difficult to deal with this Coronavirus (Covid-19), "forcing us" to stay home, to take a look at so many things, (for those of us lucky enough to have jobs where we can work from home), this is just the tip of the iceberg:

• how to structure your workday
• your space
• the need to communicate with your associates, clients, etc.

Nevermind the fact that you are now staring at your four walls and starting to see all of the things you would want to change, fix and improve.

So many people think, " I don't have any idea where to start..."  That is what I hope to help you with here.

On your breaks, (oh, don't forget to take breaks!) look for ideas online, in magazines you didn't have time to read before.  Make a pinterest page with ideas for your office, or any other room that now stands out as needing a fresh look ....

Start to gather your ideas, changes you want to make and consider these small suggestions that might also help to lift you up.... today and tomorrow and in the weeks to come. In a time where we have to give up control of so many things, this is one area that we can feel "in control".. where we can make a difference in how we feel everyday.

Look at what you can do NOW to make you feel like you can affect your space.  

Changing, fixing, improving and the ever so simple .... "re-arranging".  This alone can make a huge difference! 

Here are some suggestions:

• Take down the art in your house and see how you might re-arrange the pieces together, place them in different rooms or create a gallery wall, arranging your favorites, in your most lived in space.
• Look to see if you have any paint in the house, or order paint to pick up ( I know local stores can use all the help they can get to stay in business and would be happy to have it ready for you to pick up curbside) and start with the room you will spend the most time in.
• Move your furniture around for a new layout; take a chair or ottoman and use it in a different room, drape it with a throw.
• Take decorative pillows and throws and use them in new rooms!

New perspective, new day.... Spring is coming and as time passes, hopefully this will too; sooner than later.

For now - be good to each other, to yourself! 

Here is my before and after of my home office 
Everything out and ready for painting - it really was a dining room with a desk. 

Now it is my office,  a space I really feel good about!  I  painted, added new drapes, a desk and bookcase, some decorative items, wall art  and baskets for files. There are still things to do, organizationally and more... so little by little I add a touch here and there, adding the finishing touches that make it feel like "my space"!

**Also loving this desk.. it has a lift top feature!

Reigniting My Love for Painting

I love painting!  The art of creating... it is what I do for a living, which is a luxury, as it does not feel like work!  I create textile designs, bedding collections, and home textiles; working in the industry over 25 years... can hardly believe it has been that long!

Finding love in an old hobby is hard to do... first you have to find the time, then the courage to try it again... asking yourself "is it worth investing the time, the money... what if I am not really good at it?"

Cranbury Station Gallery runs these wonderful painting parties, and every time I got an invitation, I wanted to go.  What with work, commuting in and out of NYC, the time never aligned for my schedule... until now! 

I am working from home since December and when this invite came, and it was a floral theme, I couldn't been happier to say yes!  I have been framing artwork with Kathleen for all the years I have lived in the area, a long time - and as an artist, her work is so pretty!  She has it in the gallery in Princeton for sale, and I always love to go in and peruse what is hanging.

Kathy sends out emails and shows you an image of the project you will be working on.... and when you have the winter blues and long for the colors of Spring, painting flowers feels like the right thing to do!

Located in Palmer Square, next to the garage it was easy to park and I could not wait!  Almost all of the art I have purchased, that hangs in my home is related to botanicals...  why not try...



I attended to two parties - some of the people who attend are regulars!
The first class I attended we were to paint these pretty pink flowers in a vase... I thought what better way to start!  Kathy gives great direction, we paint from a painting that she has done - which can be helpful when getting back into the art, or starting from scratch.

As amazing as it sounds, every one of us looked at the same painting and every one of us had a different outcome; one prettier than the other!

Here is my first painting; after over 2 decades of not taking paint brush to canvas...
Kathy convinced me to sign it, lol!

Over the years I have done multiple murals for friends kid's rooms and lead the design on both post prom events for my kids High Schools, but this is more personal... therapeutic and relaxing!

I really enjoyed the evening.  

When I received the next invite, I set up a "date night" with my husband, who is also an artist in his own right... I planned a day, then the painting party and dinner next door at Mediterra for afterwards

... This time Kathy showed us that we would be painting daisies; my daughter's favorite flower... so we went!

We had a really fun evening and I am pretty happy with how it turned out!  I keep critiquing it,   how I would add  more shadows, and how else I could have approached it... but overall I am pretty pleased and proud of myself.... for taking on the challenge and just allowing myself to have fun!

Spring is in the air!
I am now waiting for the town of Princeton to hang all those amazing flower baskets that they do every year to make it official!

Take time to take a deep breath, try something new or go back to an old hobby you once loved!

SHOES! Fashion for you feet!

Fashion for your feet and terrific ideas for trims, appliques, treatments for your home. Have to dedicate this post to my daughter, Erika.... a shoe addict!

I am one of the lucky ones who just LOVES what I do!

I love my job and the creative license I have to design; to interpret and create new ideas for home textiles. Often heard coming out of my mouth "home textiles in not rocket science"

It is challenging to come up with new ideas that will resonate with the end use consumer... something new, a different take on what is currently in stores online and actual stores that you peruse through when you have time. I still love to physically be in a store to touch and feel the merchandise! That being said, it is rare to have the time and then when you do need something, it is more of a chore, so not so much fun.

In January, I was lucky enough to go to the Germany, England and France, looking at what the Europeans had to offer. As all of us in fashion were taught that they are "light years" ahead of us.... not so true anymore with all of the online shopping we do and "speed to market"

My goal is that when everyone is going left, I want to turn right... why offer what everyone else has?

Why shop for inspiration where everyone else is looking - that might be boring and wind up looking like everyone else come time for Market Week. I mean you want to be "on point", and at the same time, offer some new fresh look that no one else thought of, right??

So you might now be asking... why did I title this SHOES?

I will tell you, as much time as I spent looking at home textiles and furniture and decorative accessories in Europe; I spent equal time looking at fashion.... and shoes stood out BIG TIME this trip - take a look at the photos and tell me if you agree.... Amazing techniques, trims, fabrics, treatments, re-designed heel shapes and placements, fur everywhere! From the well know designers including Jimmy Choo, Mui Mui, Prada, United Nude, Dolce.... all the way through every collection! EYE CANDY

I post today, as I search to replace my loved simple black loafers and realize the depth of design in shoes... and I just want classic low heel loafers, lol!

Enjoy!.....

First up..... HEEL ARCHITECTURE!

Here are just FUZZY SHOES!!! Crazy fabrics, poms, fur.... lots of fur and texture!

JEWELS! DRIPPING IN JEWELS AND SEQUINS- some classic... some crazy!

ANIMAL SKIN PATTERNS ... still popular!!

and good, anything but old- fashioned.... COMBAT BOOTS!

Home mimics Fashion!

My life has been about noticing details, everywhere with everything.... there is beauty and inspiration all around us, we just have to open our eyes and notice. For me, I take photos of it all, even floor patterns and rod iron gates. While in Paris my charge was to "FIND THE TRENDS"

How to find the fashion and interpret it into the home market.. I had to post this perfect example: High Couture Fashion to High Fashion Lampshades!

So many amazing fabric techniques, trims and manipulations are interpreted in home textiles; ruffles on sleeves and dresses are used in bedding! In fact you will see a lot more of that in the stores moving forward! Look at this best selling bed from Amrapur Overseas! This is Antonella and one of the best beds we offer! Look at the ruffles, paired with pinch pleats and decorative trim as an accent.

Look at your favorite style, a belt, some pom poms or an old piece of jewelry or beads, see how you might add a spark to your home by interpreting it to fit your style

- buy trim at the fabric store and tie back your drapes to change up the look.

You could even sew a ruffle on to the edge of the panel for a softer more farmhouse touch!

Bring Fashion into your Home!

What would my younger self think... hold on to your dreams!

What would my 25 year old self say.....

OMG!!!

FASHION AND COLOR TREND SHOPPING IN EUROPE????!!!! MY GOAL, MY DREAM JOB! and here I find myself packing for 16 days abroad!

I have to say, that as I work with students at FIT University, and wonder where they hope to be in say 10 - 15 years, I know I used to hate that question. Once I graduated, I set my course to work "in fashion", whatever that meant... with hopes to one day travel through Europe, looking at trends, shopping, exploring... a dream I was never sure I could realize. Life moved on and I started my career in fashion, at the "best" place to learn ... a better University that the one I left... Polo Ralph Lauren! Young and inspired I worked my way though the ranks, rather quickly I am told... Met really wonderful people along the way, some I still keep in touch with! Career, marriage, kids, a wonderful life! And here I find myself, kids grown, two of them married and starting their own journey... in a job that I love!

Often we do not look around and appreciate the path, the journey we have taken and where it has led us - closing on 2017, a very interesting year with some very high highs and low lows.... I stopped. I looked around. I looked back and realize I did it! I am doing what I love! Designing, planning, trending, directing, respected for what I do and know how to do .... being part of something bigger than myself!

In a week after the New Year I leave on a "journey" the one I always hoped I would take, one I took last year and now get to do it again - Travel Europe in search of and discovering new ideas, colors and trends!

FRANKFURT is the first stop • a HUGE trade show for Home textiles - where we talk to suppliers, meet new ones, and set plans in place for Home Fashion 2018-2019! There is an entire building with design studios! Some of the most creative, beautiful artwork you will ever see! For someone like me, it is like bringing a kid into a candy shop!

There are 11 buildings consisting of 2-4 floors each, filled with exhibitors from all over the world! I know one thing... I will definitely hit my 10K steps every day, probably by noon and ... I need to wear good shoes, comfortable shoes, as someone once told me... controlled "step management" you want to be sure to walk the floors methodically and not jump from one aisle to the other without a plan.

The next show I attend is about 5 days later, in Europe... so as not to waste time, miles and money I had to find something to do in those days between shows - not too shabby!

My plan this year is to visit a city I have longed to see - LONDON! for the weekend.. what could be bad?!

Really looking forward to a whirlwind tour through every single high end retailer and more, in search of new ideas! Marks & Spencer, Selfridges, Liberty of London, Debenhams, Oxford Street.... the list goes on and on!

Lastly and certainly the highlight of my trip..... PARIS!

My first time there was last year where I had the amazing advantage of having my husband join me on this adventure! We took 5 days vacation time to explore every single museum, in January with no lines! The next half of that trip was spent working; visiting retailers, and uncovering parts of the city including St. Germaine where we found Deco Off Paris, the market launch for all fabric textile houses from around the world! We traveled with amazing friends from Brooklyn; Alex, Danny, thoroughly enjoying the city, the trade show and each others company! Four design minded individuals, together, sharing this experience! This year will be different but exciting none the less! A dear friend, a Professor from FIT, my colleague from work and I will travel the city; explore Deco Off Paris and Maison & Objet - the premier design show for the home and so much more!

So..... looking back, and channeling my inner younger self.... I guess I have arrived! Always keep your goals and dreams in mind - you might look up and realize you achieved them! I did!