Don’t Wait for a Mate, Feather Your Nest Now! Part 1

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt Hey, it’s the new millennium and you’ve been working hard at your career for a number of years, but you haven’t taken the time to really make yourself a home. Why not? Don’t wait for a better half, a mate, or a spouse--just do it for you. And don’t wait till you buy a house, an apartment, condo, even a tent. All qualify as home spaces worthy of decorating. If you live there, it counts. You deserve it! You’ll also get to entertain in style rather than always complaining that your place isn’t done or ready. (Didn’t think anybody heard that, did you?!) Get going now on making your home the haven you have dreamed of. The best part is it is all for you, and you can do it any way you want! Design and decorating is a valuable process of self discovery, and it is through working on your home’s interiors that you will really find yourself, establish your priorities, and create the lifestyle you want. In part 1 of this 2 part series you’ll learn the first 5 simple, yet valuable steps for creating a comfortable, inviting nest for yourself. 1. Create a road map. Tour each room in your house and make a list of the pieces you think you will need to complete each space. This list is general. For example, in a bedroom you might have listed: a king sized bed, two nightstands, a dresser, an armoire (for TV), artwork, greenery and lamps. This is just a guideline of what you will need. Don’t get bogged down in details and how each piece will look. That comes later. Do this for each room, including the bathrooms, and be sure to note any changes you want to make in finishes like tile, countertops, hardware and such. 2. Establish an idea file. Go through current design and decorating publications and catalogues (online print outs are good too) and tear out pictures of rooms you like the feeling of, pieces of furniture you like, and even rugs and artwork you enjoy. In the case of individual pieces, be sure to circle the pieces in question, as when you return to the file, you may forget what it is you liked. File these by room either in a three ring binder with dividers for each room or an accordion file with a separate pocket for each space. Don’t save entire magazines-- it takes up too much room and much too much time to go back through to find what you liked. Be sure to review your wish files regularly as you are likely to change your mind a few times, and the next favorite can always be right around the corner. Don’t worry about being “all over the board.” In the next step you’ll want to consider getting some professional guidance, and the right expert will be able to find the common theme in your files. 3. Now it’s time to investigate some professional expertise. Unless this is truly your talent and you have the time, it will save you both time and money to hire a designer or decorator for at least a consultation to guide and direct you in the process of furnishing your home. Designers all work differently, so ask--don’t assume. Many will do consultations. Be sure it is someone you are comfortable with, have reviewed their portfolio and checked references. They are there to work with you, educate you in the options available, and make professional recommendations. They should never intimidate or insult you. The best places to find such a professional are by referral from friends, an online web search reviewing their websites, or contacting a favorite you saw published. A designer or decorator can also help you establish a realistic spending plan and steer you to appropriate resources if you want to embark on this process solo. Remember this is moveable money and flexible investment. If you buy it right the first time, you won’t waste time and money on a replacement later. It moves with you, so you aren’t doing this all over again, unless you want to! 4. With some of the critical homework behind you, you are ready to start the process of decorating your home. In each room start either at the top with artwork as inspiration or at the bottom with a rug as “artwork for the floor.” It is much simpler to start at either the top or bottom of a room than in the middle. This is not an Oreo cookie, but your house! The artwork or rug will act as a guideline on the colors and mood you are creating. You are the constant, so generally speaking there will be a consistency and continuity in your selections. Remember a pro can always be part of the process in guiding, translating, and delivering your vision. 5. Select major pieces of furniture. In a bedroom this is the bed, dresser and armoire. In a great room it is the sofa and chairs. Upholstery always comes first in these spaces, and in a bedroom that means the bedding. If you keep your main pieces simpler and quieter (not boring) you are less likely to tire of them, and they will not get dated as quickly. In other words, on a sofa, a textured chenille fabric in a loden green, or muted taupe, or even rich persimmon will age better than a vivid plaid, or cheerful large floral. Confine your patterns and vivid visuals to accent pieces that you can change out. Some of you men out there are going to be inclined to go leather all the way. Don’t! One piece is enough. It is an important consideration and part of your plan to mix your materials. Get a balance of soft vs. hard, slick vs. textured, shiny vs. matte finish, smooth vs. nubby. The more texture, the less dirt, wear and soil will show. Go for timeless and classic, and you can update seasonally. Be open to a variety of textiles, cotton prints, linens, chenilles, tapestries, damasks, leather and woven fabrics. Variety will also make it look like you have created this over time, creating a collected feeling instead of the room in a box look. In these first 5 steps we’ve laid the groundwork for creating a unique home that you’ll feel proud to entertain in and that you’ll feel comfortable relaxing in when it’s just you at home. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you’re living in a rented apartment or if you own your own house, your own personal space is a reflection of who you are. In part 2 of this series, we’ll cover the final 5 steps you need to take so that you can make where ever you live feel like home.

Designing Your Signature Life, Part 2

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt The Parts and Pieces: In the second and final part of this series about designing your signature life, we’ll talk about how Entertaining and Homemaking, Travel and Adventure, and Personal Image and Style play key roles in creating a life you truly love. We’ll also address the larger goals of attaining balance, leaving a legacy, and actively creating a life plan. As we discussed in Part 1, designing your signature life is not just about your home interiors but is instead about every aspect of your life. Designing a signature life will enable you to get what you want by making a plan, establishing goals and creating a map to get there. By demonstrating flexibility and patience in each step you’ll be able to maximize your potential and the opportunities we each have. It’s about creating a life as unique as your own signature! Entertaining and Homemaking Too often people want to entertain, but are afraid. They are waiting for the house to be decorated, for that next promotion, for the kids to be grown up and gone. Entertaining is not about waiting! It is not about the perfect décor, your status at work, whether the kids are home or not; instead it is about sharing time and experiences with friends and family. If they are truly coming only to see your latest drapery or hear about your raise, consider getting new friends! Entertaining is a chance to invite others to share in a bit of your life, a bit of your home, and a bit of you. It doesn’t have to be grand, expensive or involve a caterer, although that can be fun too! Think about having a potluck with a handful of friends. Or maybe a leftover surprise dinner where everyone brings leftovers or cooks up something from things they have had for awhile in the pantry. Better yet, have everyone chip in $5 and order a pizza. It can be that easy. Entertaining can also be about hiring the experts. Get a caterer, develop a menu, hire a party planner, and let them take care of the details! It isn’t about the scale of the party, but about bringing people together and mixing it up. I throw parties for every reason or no reason at all. Few of my friends are comfortable doing this. Yes, it can be a lot of work if you let it. The choice is yours. Travel and Adventure Where do you want to go?? Many of us want to travel, but we don’t seem to go anywhere because we don’t plan it. We are very routine oriented and can’t seem to break loose for that spontaneous road trip or weekend with the girls. Planned or unplanned, it won’t happen if you don’t just do it. Taking a trip used to require loads of time, a travel agent, and tons of money. Now it requires a few clicks of a mouse with no agent in the middle, and you can do it for pennies. Of course, if you can do it all out and want to, I say go for it. But don’t miss an opportunity to experience another country, city, state, neighborhood, or culture. Don’t wait until you physically incapable of moving around freely, with all the resources, but with hindered ability. None of us knows how long we will remain able bodied, so appreciate your good health while you can and take every opportunity to explore your world. Travel is about exploration, adventure, trying new and different things that are sometimes exciting and sometimes scary. It is about tasting unfamiliar foods, smelling new smells, experiencing other customs, seeing different living environments, appreciating alternative architecture, touching novel textures, and hearing unique sounds. It is about taking a bite of life! It is about living bigger. Often travel really makes us value home that much more. And sometimes we really need that extra dose of perspective to appreciate what had become ordinary to us but is really quite special. It can also make us realize how big the world really is and put our lives and our own challenges in a new light. Personal Image and Style Renowned costume designer to the stars, Edith Head, once said, “You can have anything you want in life, if you dress for it.” This may well be true. The key is in making a personal statement and showing a sense of unique style. I always get a grin out of those that try to tell me to wear scarves. It won’t ever happen. It is not my style. It was my Mother’s and sister’s style and they did it with panache and grace. But not me. It would be comparable to making a man wear a bowtie that didn’t fit his own sense of style. Finding and defining your own sense of style is very important. It is tantamount to creating your personal image signature. I have a business associate who always wears a hat. It makes a big statement about her and gives her a unique importance. She also stands out from the crowd and wants to. Some gentlemen wear suspenders or a pocket handkerchief with same panache and are remembered for that. Clothing and image are inextricably tied together. What we wear, like it or not, makes a statement loud and clear about who we are and what we are about. Are you flashy? Sexy? Elegant? Professional? All buttoned up? Bohemian? Tailored? Frumpy? Old Fashioned? Dated? Fresh? Do you have savoir faire? Do you vogue? Are you saying what you want and mean to say based on your wardrobe and personal presentation? Is it a consistent message or are you all over the board? Fashion and image also relate to your interiors. Typically when you have truly defined yourself at this moment in time, you are consistent in your appeal. Your interiors will suit you as your wardrobe suits you. You will appear as a cohesive whole and not a series of confused fragments. Working on one aspect leads to subconscious work on the other aspect, and there is professional expertise available at all levels for all aspects. The Goals and Benefits: Getting Balance Often we think of balance as something that will eventually just happen or we will magically find it. The truth is that it is up to each of us to create it. What represents balance to one person may not to another. It is an individual definition but typically means that our life is flowing smoothly, our goals are on track, we feel on purpose and secure, and we are making time for our priorities. When out of balance we feel stressed, burned out, overloaded, and stretched too thin. It happens a lot but few realize that it is really a matter of evaluating priorities and delegating those that don’t mean as much. Yes, we can do it all, but we don’t have to and it isn’t healthy to. Achieving a healthy balance is about looking forward to each day, knowing that we can tackle the responsibilities at hand, that we have rewards to celebrate, and that we are truly living by our own design and not anyone else’s. A Life of Legacy When we are living a life of our own design, when we are writing our signature on the world each and every day, we are making connections to a legacy. We are forming alliances and relationships with many that will feel a lasting impact. Very rarely do we get a chance to know how much we have influenced another’s path, but instead have to trust that each encounter is never coincidence but intentional and with reason. We have a great deal to learn and a great deal to teach while in this life. It is by crafting our legacy and our significance with purpose and passion that we will make the greatest difference. A Life Plan Creating a life plan is not an exercise we will do once and forget, but instead it is about learning the tools and skills needed to continually shape and redefine our goals, priorities and passions. As we grow and change, our priorities will shift. What was important in our twenties seems silly in our thirties, and different still in our forties and fifties. We cannot predict, but only be open and flexible to opportunities, directions, and experiences, always keeping in mind our personal core values and seeking a fit with those values in all we do. Creating a signature life is about learning the interior of you and finding the happiest way to share and express that with the world. It is about feeling fulfilled and secure in all you are and do, despite the frequent hiccups in everyday living, and occasional disasters and thunderstorms of tragedy that invade every life. Find your signature, design your life. LIVE.

Designing Your Signature Life, Part 1

Title: Designing Your Signature Life, Part 1 Word Count: 1026 Summary: Are you writing your signature on the world each day? Learn how to create a life plan that will reflect your own personal style and that allows you put your unique stamp on everything you touch. Keywords: signature style, life plan, design, decorating, personal style Article Body: Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt The Parts and Pieces: In Part 1 of this 2 part series about designing your signature life, we’ll talk about how Interiors, Career Choices, Relationships, and Entertaining and Homemaking can all be wonderful opportunities for you to express your unique style. Designing your signature life is not just about your home interiors but is instead about every aspect of your life. It is about truly designing your LIFE! Designing a signature life will enable you to get what you want by making a plan, establishing goals and creating a map to get there. By demonstrating flexibility and patience in each step you’ll be able to maximize your potential and the opportunities we each have. It’s about creating a life as unique as your own signature! Interiors Designing your home interiors is a process of self discovery. Each decision leads you closer to defining yourself, where you are right now and where you are headed. The elements you bring into your home represent the experiences you have had and those you still want to enjoy. The artwork you include is inspiration for everyday. The way you arrange furnishings indicates whether you are ready to invite others in or prefer to maintain a more solo existence. Your signature style at home can be read much like your signature on a piece of paper. Someone who doesn’t know you can learn a lot by looking around at the choices you have included. Those that do know you and pay attention will learn more and know how to contribute to your life at this point. Your office interiors reflect your success and future visions as well as providing an environment that fosters productivity and accomplishment. An office is a significant statement about your career choice. Incorporating awards, recognition and evidence of your achievements reinforces your abilities and gives notice of your credibility. An inviting, comfortable space is something you can look forward to working in. Interior design and decorating makes a fundamental impact on the individuals living in, working in and visiting a space. The impact is positive or negative based on the effectiveness of the design and sensitivity to its users. Design is a personal statement and needs to be a fair representation of the occupant. Career Choices Designing your career path can be complicated and involve several moves, shifts in talents and experience, and even additional education. It is about finding your purpose and your passion and merging them into a rewarding path. It is about being willing to explore a variety of interests and pursuits and expand your horizons beyond the site lines. It is about limitless thinking. It is about creating a life, not just a job. A career is also just a part of what we do and who we are. It does not define us or limit us, but instead allows us to give to others and make a positive impact on those around us. Many people feel trapped by their work. They may be unhappy and complain relentlessly, but they are unwilling to make a change. Notice they are not unable, just unwilling. I am not suggesting that anyone randomly and irresponsibly quit their job; few of us can afford that. But we are all capable of making change, setting new goals, looking toward new horizons. Creating your signature life is all about the willingness to do this, and about knowing who to ask for guidance and direction. Often a career or business coach is an invaluable investment when making a career transition or move up the ladder. Networking with other professionals and business associates is another important means of exploring new opportunities and paths. Being discreet but determined in your quest is often the real key. Don’t allow naysayers to discourage you. They are simply frustrated that they themselves are afraid to make a change. Relationships There is a wonderful old adage that says we are each the sum total of those we surround ourselves with. Are you really surrounding yourself with people that are positive, successful, excited about life, and making a difference? Or instead do you find yourself bogged down by those who are complaining, whining, and absorbed in victim thinking? It is a choice of who you attract and allow in your life. It is not an accident. When you exhibit an upbeat attitude, optimism, and a generous spirit, typically you will attract the same types of people into your life. This isn’t to say we don’t all have gray days and down moments, but it is to say we have a choice in how we process the events in our lives and whether we consider something a failure or merely a lesson learned, however painful. In the same way we often settle for less than we dream of in our work lives, we may also settle for less in relationships. We stop trying. We tell ourselves that what we have is better than having nothing at all. The result is often unhappiness and unhealthiness on both sides. Relationships require continual care and feeding regardless of whether they are with family, friends, romantic partners, coworkers, or acquaintances. When they are neglected they will wither. This applies even to our relationship with ourselves and our own spirituality. It is important for us to consistently feed ourselves kind words, good self-talk, and a faith beyond our own abilities. When we forget to do this, we find our well running dry, and our faith may falter. By keeping ourselves strong and our beliefs whole and active, we are there for ourselves and for others. In Part 2 of this series we’ll look at the remaining areas of your life that call for your signature style and also address the bigger issues of balance, your influence on the rest of the world and creating a life plan that is continuously adjusting to your age and circumstances. Creating your signature life is about fulfilling your potential, being bold enough to leave your mark on the world, and feeling fulfilled and secure despite the often volatile nature of everyday life. Find your signature. Design your life. LIVE.