Billie's Folly

They say that bad things come in threes.  We look for patterns in randomness as a way to find order in disorder.  Another human tendency is to select information that confirms our beliefs, and overlook what doesn't.  Both of these come into play when we want to put to rest our fears of more to come--once tragedy, disaster or bad luck have tallied to three.  I know it's simply superstition and wishful thinking.  But having said that, I can't help but realize I've had three significant deaths touch my life in a little over a year.  

  Light informs so much of the experience in a space ~ Darryl Carter Of all the light to consider in a home, daylight is the most important and attractive.  The quality and quantity of daylight in your home should have been determined early in the design process.  Factoring in the natural light each room receives, now you must decide where you need and want additional light.  This is a crucial piece of the interior design puzzle.  Studies have shown that lighting conditions in rooms can have an impact on people's mood and behavior.

Line has to do with the form of objects in a room.  Angular furniture contributes to a clean, contemporary space, while soft, curved lines elicit a lived-in and traditional space.  The lines of stair railings can create a transition between spaces, while countertops divert your vision to the horizontal line of the room.  Even patterns that repeat can create a continuous line that your eyes will follow.   This piece is very traditional (armoires in themselves are dated).  The curved line of the top and the carving in the wood add a softness that can't be mistaken for a contemporary setting.

  Color can be the most unifying element in your rooms and home and is an integral part of your decorating scheme.  You might get a cue from nature, a season, a destination, a favorite fabric, rug or artwork, or just your love of a certain color itself.  You can use a neutral palette on walls and have your color come from furnishings, accessories and accents, or the wall color can be the color backdrop that unifies the space. Your use of color expresses your personality and gives your rooms character.  It can stimulate you or soothe your soul--but it should always make you feel comfortable.  If you wouldn't wear it, you probably won't want to live with it.  And don't buy into color trends!

  After the design principles have been addressed, the elements of interior design come into play--what most of us think of as the creative part of interior design--Emphasis; Color; Line, Pattern & Texture and Lighting.  Some aspects of these are straight forward, others are more taste-oriented.  

The principles of design are much the same for all design projects:  Space, Scale, and Balance.  They are the basic rules governing any space and what will fill it.  The objective is always the same--to combine the often-disparate parts naturally and logically--creating a visually appealing result.  If these principles are utilized correctly, you'll create a cohesive design and sense of unity.  The rules aren't rigid, but it takes courage and confidence to make anything but the norm work well.

Your style informs everything you do and have.  It's a nuanced blend of everything you've ever seen, experienced, liked or disliked.  It's evident in your manner, your hairstyle, your clothes and your home.   It's preferences that develop over time and become part of your identity.  Narrowing down and defining your style for decorating purposes, gives a starting point, inspiration, direction and even parameters--helping guide our choices. 

First and foremost, your home must be livable for you and your family.  Consider your Lifestyle, how you want your home to Function, and the design Style you want.  

You have a dwelling to live in.  If you built it, you already put a lot of consideration into its design, and you get to start with a clean slate of your choosing.  But if you have an existing house to make your home, first and foremost, you need to come to terms with the inherent Architecture.  Another important feature is the Natural Light you have to work with.  And finally you need to take a critical look at the Furnishings you have--what will work, what won't, and what you'll need.

  The theoretical aspects of design and the practical applications are the same for all home styles.  The secret is not to be intimidated and don't over-analyze it.  If you do your own decorating, you'll probably end up with an eclectic style--some of this, a bit of that.  Most of us are not easily defined by one word or fit into one category.  This is what makes your home unique to you.  

  No matter where you make your nest, it's how you feather it that makes it a home. ~ Anonymous

My last two posts are my beginning thoughts on creating a home.  What makes a home, how it tells your story, and now, what makes a home feel welcoming.  I've given a lot of thought to what my home means to me, how it's an extension of my personality and style, and why I care so much about how it feels to me and others.  

A home will almost always have an intangible sense of the lives lived within its walls.  It is the soul of the house. Painting bought on my last trip to Paris at the Chatou Brocante Fair.

My goal is to live a gracious and contented life in a home that is ageless and resonates warmth and comfort through my personal style.

New year's resolutions are often about editing and de-cluttering our lives.  I've been considering this.  That's what moving helps accomplish.  You look at the three potato peelers in the kitchen drawer and realize probably only two work well and you really only need one--okay, maybe a second for Thanksgiving.  And then, how many single-use items do we really need--a knife could suffice.  A periodic cleaning out of closets and drawers lightens the load we carry through life and  frees up space in our minds and spirits. Most of us have specific areas of our lives that need deliberate, and often continual monitoring and editing.  It could be collecting every fill in the blank  you come upon (I've always appreciated collecting things that were few and far between and even took some research and hunting to find.  Otherwise, the temptation is ever-present.)  Or it could be just general accumulation.  It can also be less tangible, like cr...

This is my fourth New Years blog.  So much has happened in the world in the last few years.  They were long years.  We all thought 2021 would have to be better than 2020--health-wise at least--but we were wrong.  It's frightening to think where we'd be without the vaccines.  But each year I'm still optimistic.