A Special Edition Home!

Spaces

Are the decorating dilemmas in your busy life overwhelming? Rooms have to do double duty these days, and can end up being so full of personalities that there’s little room for a family to breathe! Between the special occasions, family vacations, sporting events, new babies, birthday parties and the like, we tend to collect multitudes of mementos. The beauty and qualities of your room could actually end up hiding behind all that stuff.

A big part of what I do would have to fall into the category of Interior Editor, instead of Interior Designer. Is your room bursting at the seams? If you’re overwhelmed with decorating, then I suggest you try your hand at becoming the celebrated Editor-in-Chief of your Special Edition Home!

Does your room have a welcoming feel, or is your access to the room crowded and confused? Sometimes we can’t use every piece of furniture that our grandmother handed down, or those lamps we’ve been hanging onto since college. Edit, Edit, Edit! By opening up the space, your traffic flow will not only improve, but a sense of calm will start to appear. By no means am I suggesting that you push everything up against the wall, only to open up the center of the room. That’s wasted space! You should always keep the conversation areas intimate whenever possible. Give your architecture a second look, and pull the furniture away from the walls to let the architecture shine.

Another place you might streamline is to remember that every chair doesn’t need a side table, nor do you need multiple pictures on every wall. As long as guests have a place to set a drink, or book, you should have the side tables covered. After that it’s merely decorative. Please don’t over-decorate, if a piece doesn’t work in the room, don’t shove it in just because you love it. People need room to breathe! Consider other solutions, another room, vacation home, save it for the next house, or maybe it’s time for someone else to enjoy it. By editing your space you are making room in your life and your home for new possibilities.

A good editor must be discriminating in their selections. It’s a given that each month there will be a whole new series of exciting awards, or photos that need to be proudly displayed for all to see. By consolidating these collections and creating a place where those coveted photos and trophies can bask in their glory you will keep the focus on the most current accomplishments. Maybe it’s time to get those scrapbooks and photo albums updated. Going vertical with decorative shelving or bookcases in children’s rooms, or offices will allow the personal shrines to continue. This will give you a place to retire the trophies and treasures as soon as a new one inevitably comes in the front door. Keep the family photos current and fresh. Your 13-year-old son would probably appreciate it if you would replace his faded baby picture with the new one documenting his big touchdown!

This is your chance to edit your own show, so keep it interesting and keep it fresh.

Spaces is happy to answer your questions. If you have a problem space and a question please forward to my e-mail address at: