Organization 101

 Happy 2023 from us at CW Interiors! 

It's a whole new year! Starting in 2023, we want you to look around your home and feel surrounded with things that serve a purpose and make you happy. Between end of year sales and holiday gifting, many of us have spent the last few weeks adding items to our home. This month we will share tips on how to keep integrate the new, and part with the excess. 

We have lots of thoughts from our team, and bonus advice from Elizabeth Strauss, professional organizer at All Organized. We love her perspective, as she lives by the principle that each person goes to their own home at night. That home should be where they feel comfortable, not the product of someone else's version of comfort. What is good for me may not be good for you, and both are just fine ways of keeping a home. 

The team at CW Interiors has some daily principles that we use to help keep centered in life and at home.

I recommend that you make your bed every day, it helps to set the tone for the day. Even if everything else goes haywire, you can return to a tidy bed at night. 

Elizabeth recommends replacing the word *Organize with *Declutter. There are many ways to organize, decluttering is the purging of the unnecessary. 

Nicki has young children that love to create. Art projects, animal habitats, drawings and science experiments. If space allows, she recommends that you set aside a place for chaos. A table, nook, or corner of the house where everyone agrees it's OK that things are not all back in their designated spot at the end of the night. For those that don't live in Texas, this is ideal in a basement. 

Dawn suggests keeping a collection box available. This gives you a place for items that are ready to be re-homed. There can be multiple boxes, one for donation, one from big brother to little brother or, when the items are too used to live another life, keep a box for textile recycling. Keeping things in a box also keeps them portable, so when you realize that the errands of the day will take you right by a donation center you can easily move the box to your car for transport.

From my conversation with a professional, Elizabeth recommends to declutter in manageable bites. Going through an entire closet may seem overwhelming, but tackling the shirts may be a more palatable afternoon project. Try on every single shirt in your closet. Does it fit? Do you feel good wearing it? Is the style is something that you would wear today? If all answers are yes, hang it up. If the article doesn't meet that criteria, feel confident in parting ways. Regardless of what you paid for something, if it's not serving a purpose in your life it's just taking up space. Keeping a list of each item that you have decluttered can remind you that you're making progress.

We are including some resources for those that are ready to declutter but can't stand the thought of their items clogging up landfills. For those that are willing to do a little extra work:

DonateStuff.com is a place to donate accessories, clothing, small household items and shoes. You choose the charity that your donation benefits and set up a pickup date online. They will pick items up from your front porch!

Something Special is a resale shop that benefits the Montgomery County Women's Shelter. They provide a fully furnished apartment for those who stay in transitional housing apartments. The furniture and clothing and donations that are not used are then sold and the money is used to keep the shelter open and available. They take all household items that can fit in your car including good condition furniture, rugs, bridal gowns, art, tools and more. You can pull around to the back of the store where someone will receive the donations out of the trunk of your car. 

For those broken remotes, outdated MP3 Players, computers and other electronics, Amazon offers a free electronics recycling program. Visit Amazon Recycling and complete the form, box up your items and Amazon will provide a pre-paid mailing label. Your box can be dropped off at any UPS location. 

Book in good condition, public libraries love book donations. If you are local to The Woodlands, TX, the Montgomery County Memorial Library Systems will gladly accept your books and resell them in their second-hand shop. The sales benefit Friends of the Library, a foundation that provides library services to the public.

Are you drowning in Legos? Lego will provide a pre-paid mailing label for you to mail back your miscellaneous Lego, Duplo and Technic bricks through their Lego RePlay program. They sterilize the bricks and offer them to Teach For America for underprivileged children. 

Additionally, schools are happy to accept art and office supplies and many Lutheran churches in our area have quilting guilds that are thankful for extra fabric and sewing supplies. 

We hope this helps encourage you to declutter and re-home items that are no longer used or loved in your home. We further want you to love your surroundings and be comfortable in the space where you live. As always, if you are starting the new year with a design project, we would love to collaborate with you on making your space beautiful!

Iconic Holiday Homes

The holidays offer comfort in many different forms. Comfort in being in the presence of your loved ones, the comfort of eating the same food for the holidays, and the comfort that comes from repeating stories year after year - the stories that bind you as a group and keep you connected through mutual history. These shared memories are not always from experiences that you actually lived, they can be from other sources, like movies. 

"Holiday Classics" is a term that seems to start earlier and earlier each year; currently it begins right around Halloween. Holiday Classics are shared across families, but the must-watch movies of the season are personal, and often, generational. While Home Alone and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas are staples with my children, I prefer Love Actually or The Holiday when kids have gone to play with their gifts. The beauty of Holiday Classics is that they can both hold the attention of everyone in the family and/or provide a perfect background to the current holiday. The familiarity of these movies has become part of the tradition itself. 

While I love movies, I have a special place for iconic holiday movie homes. The decor in and outside of the houses say so much about the trends of the time and work themselves into the theme of the movie itself. Clark Griswold - you lovable holiday buffoon, the holiday light display in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is now a cultural synonym for an overzealous, desperate parent who attempt to earn your family's love. Before Clark goes overboard on the exterior of his house, let's take a gander at this completely overboard bathroom. Consistent with the 1970s and early 80s trend of running with a room color until you fill all the space, this bathroom is exactly why you need a home decorator. You like pink? Great! But let's not plaster the color in every nook and cranny possible. Sometimes, Clark, less is more.

What holiday would be complete without a visit from America's favorite 8 year old trickster, Kevin McCallister. Home Alone is favorite for the whole family, a child's fantasy of being without adult supervision while watching rated R movies while eating candy and jumping on the bed. Or the adult perspective of being so wrapped up in holiday and hosting and eating and traveling that you could actually fly to Europe without your youngest child. Throw in a cameo by John Candy and the comedic face of Joe Pesci while his head is fired by a blowtorch, and holiday magic is made. 

But let's talk about the house itself. There isn't much in this home that's actually alone. The house is full-to-the-brim with patterns and rugs and furniture and decor. Of course the chaos of the holiday is going to be overwhelming, with a room so jam packed with stuff that you can barely see a child standing front of the hearth, much less have space to sit and open Christmas morning presents, something is bound to go wrong. Perhaps if Mr. and Mrs. McCallister had focused their energy on the important things, instead of filling every corner so full that nothing can be enjoyed, they would be enjoying a holiday in Paris. A decorator would be able to funnel this energy into a tasteful room that can be altered for the holidays, but doesn't need to stay outfitted for Christmas 365 days of the year. Thankfully, this Winnetka, Illinois home was outfitted specifically for the movie, but does not have the permanent-Christmas decor in real life. 

 

For a newer holiday favorite, The Holiday is a great example of tasteful design perfectly reflecting the characters that live there. Kate Winslet plays Iris, a newspaper columnist in Surrey, England. She, of course, lives in this quaint, snow-dusted cottage that is filled with soft, comfortable furniture, roaring fireplaces, exposed stone walls and natural wood beams. The space is friendly and inviting just as someone might describe Iris. 

Compare that to the angular, symmetrical Los Angeles home of Cameron Diaz's character, Amanda. Not a leaf out of place in this high-powered movie-trailer creator's beautiful mansion. 

The inside is possibly more perfect than the outside. The natural light, the neutral color palette, it is as clean and crisp as you can get. Cold, devoid of personality, the kind of place you live in but is not meant to be *lived* in. Similar to Amanda as a character, she is impeccably styled, emotionally unavailable and keeps everyone in her life at arms length. Underneath it all, she is searching for meaning and love in a world of fake people and false realities. In both cases, life and home, you need to be willing to get a little dirty.

I hope your holidays are filled with comfort and joy. If you ever need help infusing your true personality into your own home, I would love to set up a meeting. 

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! And cheers to a joyful new year!

Bringing It Home

Santa trucks are coming! And so are the holidays. And so are the visitors. 

I live in a community where the majority of the population are transplants. This means that most of the time, our celebrations are filled with friends that we regard as family, not necessarily true blood-bound family. The holidays create a different dynamic, this is the time of year when people are more likely to make the effort to visit their actual family, even if that family is not nearby. 

For many of us, this creates a self-created frenzy of "readiness" for hosting. Take the laundry list of household To-Dos from the last year and insist that they are completed in the next few weeks in preparation for the anticipated guests. The frenzy is amplified if our guests haven't seen the house in a long time (or ever before) and if we have made any design changes to the space since the last visit. 

The same concept applies if you happen to be hosting a big event; a retirement party, a birthday or even a dinner party with friends. 

Hurry! Unbox and hang all of this stuff by Thursday! 

Suddenly, the artwork you had framed months ago but is still leaning against the wall needs to be hung!

Those last half dozen moving boxes that you never got around to unpacking must go!

The gallery wall must happen before breakfast! 

The guest room that you haven't thought of since, well, maybe ever, needs new blinds! And curtains! Our guests are coming from the west coast so we can't possibly let the east-facing room be this bright!

Previously, we were going to go light on the Christmas decor this year, but now my in-laws are coming and we need to deck the halls!! 

In my heart I know that my in-laws will not mind if the artwork isn't hung or the garland is left off of the stairway, but it feels deeply important to complete these tasks. It is as if though my effort in perfecting things before a visit or event is a reflection on the appreciation I have for others willing to travel and share the event with our family.  

Everyone wants to be proud of the home they create, and I want that luxury for each and every one of you this holiday season. I know that for myself, when I am going through a difficult time - what I lovingly refer to as the "Struggle Bus" - I both need things to be done AND have no will to complete them. 

Every one of us has times where life is just too much to handle. A period of illness or the lethargy of winter or funneling all of your energy into helping someone else can leave you feeling sad and empty in your own space. This holiday season, I would like to help a few of my supporters who are on the Struggle Bus. Do you know someone who could use a boost? Decorating for the holidays or updating the color of their walls, please let me know if someone comes to mind who is going through a hard time and could use some happiness in their lives through design. CLICK HERE to nominate someone who is currently on the Struggle Bus, we will reach out to the chosen winners by December 1, 2022. 

Delayed Expectations

 
It took until my senior year of college before I heard of anyone pursuing an undergraduate degree in supply chain management. Since then, the idea of having everything from luxury items to daily necessities delivered to your front door has become commonplace. Add to that an increase in products that have parts made in several different countries, and a world where it seems everyone has a credit card saved and poised for instant purchases, and the phrase “supply chain” becomes common knowledge. 

Fast forward to today. Now you mix together a global pandemic, a labor shortage and a few weeks earlier this year where there was a ship, quite literally stuck in one of the major world shipping routes, and you get A Big. Ongoing. Problem. A problem that has created this year’s catchphrase: “Supply Chain Issues”.

So many products, sitting in a shipyard

Supply Chain Issues is a problem that hits me straight in the gut, personally AND professionally. Every order, every deadline, has a little asterisk next to it with the possibility of being delayed. I’ve seen delays before, but this has been a bit different. Maybe the doors are in stock, but we’re missing the glass, or the hardware, or the paint. Custom upholstered items have been especially difficult to anticipate, with a current minimum wait time of 24 weeks. 

This is a time where the relationship between designer and client is paramount. There is benefit to working with an experienced designer in this unique situation, I am familiar with a wide variety of options that can take us from idea to reality. Part of the consultation for any project is setting realistic expectations. The last thing I want is for a client to be waiting on an item without any recourse. When the original choice of a product is unavailable and a client is unable or unwilling to wait it out, I have a line-up of options in my back pocket. If a vendor is experiencing extreme delays, I can pivot to another vendor, or suggest another option that keeps the design and scope of the project intact. I am in constant communication with my vendors and in turn, my clients, to keep them as updated as possible on where we stand with a project. I am also tremendously thankful for the patience and grace of my clients as we navigate this global challenge together. 

We Appreciate You!

 This August we are taking time to acknowledge and thank the people who have made my business possible - Our Clients! 

CW Interiors truly began when I was a girl, observing homes and the people who live there. Why was this house built? What motivated their choices? What would I have done differently? Motivation and choice has always been a fascination of mine, how they influence each other and work their way into every nook of life. 

As my curiosity developed into a passion, I began helping friends make design choices within their own homes. How can I help a friend who is starting over in a new place make her house a home? An acquaintance from long ago is back in town and not sure where to begin after her parents sold her childhood home. Little by little these consultations for friends became phone calls from a stranger who received my name from someone else. I thrived in difficult environments, consulting with people who were working through unexpected life events, and developed a skill for understanding complicated needs. 

Before too long I was working full time with friends who began as strangers. I was then and continue to be astounded at the level of trust my clients instill in me. When design is approached from the viewpoint of motivation, it takes time and effort to realize the source. I have clients that know exactly why they are making a change. “I was told I couldn’t have children and now I’m pregnant with twins”, that motivates a certain kind of change. “My mother is no longer able to live alone, she moves in next month”, this motivates a completely different kind of change. Other clients have more opaque reasons for making a design change. This is part of my job as the designer, build the trust, find the motivation and make each change - difficult or celebrated - a beautiful, personal, livable choice. 

Trust does not come easily to everyone. For every person who made that first call, took a chance on my expertise, whether a friend or a stranger, I appreciate you. You have trusted me enough to let me into your home, and therefore, your life. 

I am overflowing with gratitude; I get to live my passion everyday because of the trust and confidence that my clients have in my ability to realize their dreams. Thank You!

Growing Up...and Out

 It’s that time of year when millions of kids across the globe prepare to leave home and begin their first experience of living away from their families. College. Not everyone goes, not everyone goes away for it, but if you do, you may be moving into a dormitory. This bizarre space where we charge young people lots of money to live with other young people in a place that is owned and operated by the school. Oftentimes there is a short window of time to move in, and at the end of the school year, you have an equally short period to move out. No storage, no carryover, 10 - 12 months of living space and then “So long, Charlie”. 

What people do with this short-term living space varies greatly from person to person. In preparation for moving to school, I gathered up my mom (or was it the other way around!?) and hit the Laura Ashley store running! It was another space to decorate! I couldn’t be expected to live, study and thrive for a full year in an ugly room, could I?

The pillow shams match the wallpaper! Everything coordinates with the curtains! My clock radio and bunny ear TV add the perfect touches!  (Trust me, my style has evolved.)

Other members of the CWI team handled it differently. “The more I bring, the more I need to move out at the end of the year.” says one of my non-designers. “I just needed my desktop computer, a set of XL twin bedding and my telephone,” says another, further highlighting the massive change in technology in the last few decades. Some people thrive in a clear, uncluttered workspace. Less is better for focus on the work, which is arguably the true goal of attending university. 

We polled moms about setting up the dorms of their college-bound kids. These were some of their responses:

• I am inclined to go all in but he has zero interest.

• Thinking of a combo of utility and cuteness. Our mindset on decorating is simple but stylish and comfortable. We aren’t the type to go all out like some of these people do.

• I want it to look like something out of a magazine…has to be super comfortable and feel like home!

Setting our kids up with what they need is only half of the equation.  The OTHER half is how we as parents approach it.  

The most zen of us thinks practically that if their kids have what they need to function, then mission accomplished. No distractions. I envy them.  

The healthy, happy-medium moms balance wants with needs. Some fuss, but not too much. I envy them, too.

Then, there are the moms (you can’t see me but I just raised my hand) who think, irrationally, “How can I cram enough love for one year into a single room!?”  or “My 18 year-old has wanted nothing to do with me for the last three years, but he/she wants to do this over the top thing with me now, so LET’S DO THIS!”  Do we know that having a light up neon smiley face plugged into the wall isn’t required for academic success?  Yes.  But consider this: Price of light up neon smiley face? $29.  Experience of bonding while planning this dorm room together?  Priceless.  

There are even services now, like this one at Dormify.com, that let you set up a full registry for dorm room supplies. Not a terrible idea for someone who is already facing the ever-rising cost of higher education!

My approach to designing a dorm room follows the same general process as a large scale design project. Discern intentions and aspirations for the space, and curate fixtures and finishes to reflect your goals. An example mood board looks something like this:

You then pick and choose what you like! Contact me to shop this mood!

For me, design is a love language. It’s about feeling comfortable in a new place and making that new place my own. That can translate to helping someone remodel their multi-thousand square foot empty house, or decorating a 200 square foot temporary dorm room. The intention is the same, put your personal stamp on it and it will be a place you love to live. 

Evergreen Fog

CW Interiors has been hit hard by the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. We’re willing to bet that this has at some point happened to you too! The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon is the fancy name for Frequency Bias, Frequency Illusion, Red Car Bias, Recency Illusion; all the same mind trick. The mental awareness of a new *something* that, once you start thinking about it, seems to exist everywhere. 

Ever since diving into the world of the Color of the Year, the colors of 2022 are popping up everywhere! Our rewatching of Friends shows that Monica was decades ahead of her time with a Veri Peri apartment. The walls, chairs, doors of the apartment are a lovely shade of periwinkle. While watching Jeopardy!, we notice that the background is none other than a pleasing wave of blue to periwinkle. Take a glance around Target and you will find yoga mats, planners, water bottles and nail polish all in Veri Peri.  

Maybe Veri Peri is not your cup of tea, thankfully, it doesn't need to be! There are plenty of options that are just as cutting edge! Just ask Ellen, who decided that the perfect color for her newly reclaimed office was the Sherwin-Williams color of the year, Evergreen Fog. All of the various colors of the year were clouding our color search, so much so that I recommended that we look to other options for the space. The Baader-Meinhof effect was on my mind, whether real or imagined, Evergreen Fog was popping up everywhere! Ellen was unafraid. She had found her match. 

I have known Ellen for seven years, she was one of my first clients after I relocated to The Woodlands. I worked with her and her husband on making their new house feel like a home. Several years later, now with a child, they were ready to move into a larger house and upgrade their “starter” furniture to a more grown-up style. After 10 years of marriage, during which she often set aside her preferences and gave way to her husband’s headstrong choices, the relationship landed on hard times and they decided to separate. As part of the separation it was decided that Ellen would move back into the original home that we decorated together years before. This time, we updated the decor to make the home her own. We were on a new mission; remove everything that cast a shadow on her spirit and let in the light!

The front office was dark and weighty and brown, none of which were her choices at the start. Our goal was to have a beautiful, feminine space for Ellen to proudly call her own. A place of peace and levity to enjoy while working from home. 

A fresh coat of paint was essential. Evergreen Fog was the path forward. Evergreen Fog has been described as a "calming and sophisticated green with greige (the lovechild of gray and beige) undertones".  

Paint colors can be tricky. What looks good on a sample card can look completely different in a room. Anyone considering a color change should view the options at different times of day, in different kinds of light before committing to any color on the wall. Here are some comparison photos to demonstrate the many personalities of Evergreen Fog:

At 8:00 am, this lovely shade of green is a pale, peaceful tone, gently kissed by green. It is a beautiful choice for brightening this dark space. This particular angle and time of day accentuate this hue in the completed room.

3:00 pm comes along and the undertones have changed! It is still a great color, just a bit different than what you saw seven hours before. Is it gray now?? Is that still a good choice for you?

For Ellen, all signs point to yes! She wants the whole office changed from the dreary, thick brown to this serene versatile color. 

I love being able to help people feel comfortable in their space, and the experiences driving a design change is crucial to presenting the right options to make the change a success. 

There are so many options available when decorating, or redecorating a home. When I work with a client, I want to understand why they are looking for a change. This information motivates design boards, product suggestions and an overall theme to the project. With Ellen, we worked systematically throughout her home to make choices that reflect a strong, resilient woman who is firmly taking the reins of control to her life. This is perhaps best demonstrated in the light fixture we chose for the office. After the color refresh, we added a statement light fixture composed of dark iron and leather that gives off all the feels of a superhero. It was not love at first sight for Ellen, but through the trust that we built, she moved forward with the suggestion. Now it’s her favorite item in the home.

“This light fixture is the best example of why you need an interior decorator. I never would have chosen this for myself, but I love it, and I love how it maintains the flow of the rest of the house.” -Ellen, The Woodlands, TX

Starting over is hard. Starting over with a friend that has your best interest at heart makes it just that little bit easier - and maybe even a little exciting to see what lies ahead.

The Cherished Past

There is this bird, a Swinhoe’s Pheasant to be exact, that has been a part of my family for generations. In over 70 years, he has never missed a holiday, or a family meal, or a milestone event. He is strong and beautiful and reliable. This is why I had to save him.

He was chosen back in the early 1950s for my grandmother, Bee. She was beautiful and fashionable and loved having nice things in her home. The Swinhoe’s Pheasant was selected for her New Orleans home by an interior designer and became a member of the family through his constant presence. He lived a whole life with her, making memories as my mother and her family grew. He stood strong and proud accompanying special occasions like the night in this photograph. This is my mother, dressed to the nines, ready to be escorted to her first sorority formal by my father. The night would not have been complete without a picture in front of the family bird. He was there to observe memories I will never know, witness conversations I will never hear and stood strong through celebration and tragedy, one of which almost cost him his life.

This bird stayed proudly on the wall of my grandmother's home up until August of 2005, when hurricane Katrina swallowed New Orleans whole. Grandma Bee, who was then an 88 year old woman, watched her home, her neighbors homes and her city drown. She was rescued by boat and remained out of contact for over a week as she sheltered with nuns in The Ursuline Academy. The Ursuline Convent, located in the Historic French Quarter was the original home of the Ursuline Academy, and is still the oldest building the Mississippi Valley. The Academy was relocated in 1912, was saved from the flood, and provided shelter for those rescued in the wake of the storm. Grandma Bee stayed for days with no power or water or way out. It was then, and continues today to be a completely unfathomable tragedy.

Grandma Bee persevered, and once it was possible, she returned home to assess the damage. There was much work to be done. So many difficult decisions needed to be made, many of them regarding what to salvage and what to let go. Our beloved family bird was damaged, but not destroyed, and I made it known that I would take personal responsibility to restore him to his former glory.

I took this opportunity to bring him into the present, and include him into the updated aesthetic of my own home. We were fortunate. The water level didn't rise to the height of covering the painting, the damage was due to the length of time he sat in a damp house filled with inches of standing water. I took him to the best, Marty & Pat's Frame Shoppe & Art Gallery in Fort Worth, TX. Pat herself walked me through the choices, her recommendations were spot on.

He is now perched lovingly above the mantle, overlooking my dining room table. This piece is more than just a painting to me, he represents how a “designer’s choice” can become a fixture in our family story. He presides over our special occasions and helps to connect the times before to the memories yet to be made yet. Each piece has a story. Some of those stories touch us, stay with us and allow us to feel more connected to the people and places that the piece represents. In anticipation of Mother’s Day, I share this cherished piece from my past, and thank Grandma Bee and my mother for creating a loving legacy that is worth saving, salvaging and maintaining.

In Living Color

Buying a house is a very personal decision. Once that decision is made, making all of your belongings work in a new space can be a real challenge. Heck, it can be downright difficult. What if nothing fits? What if the colors are all wrong now? What if the style is just not ‘you’? Making this new house a home is where an experienced, custom designer can really help bring out the ‘you’ in your new space.

Each space starts with a detail that you love - natural light, something that can be made beautiful, though the idea of beauty is most definitely in the eye of the beholder. In my experience, beauty is in the eye of the homeowner.

Take this gorgeous beach house in the panhandle of Florida right off of the 30A beach strip. To some eyes, this is a blank slate to help clear your mind while oscillating between naps and the beach. The clean white and neutral shades are a breath of salt-filled sea air.

To my client, the new homeowner, this room was a canvas to be painted. Over the course of a four day weekend, we worked together to bring this home to life! Swapping out white-on-white lamps for vibrant green beauties and starburst chandeliers. Mixing the simplicity of the existing wooden dining table with bright and sunny orange chairs. With the addition of a versatile floor runner from Flor.com, the entrance was transformed from sterile to inviting. 

The Beige Before

This home conversion didn't stop at the first floor, we completed a head to toe makeover! Incorporating existing furniture into the new design, this guest room became a joyful yet comfortable place to spend much needed time away from the daily grind. 

The Inviting After!

The addition of artwork and a fun geometric rug we give the same headboard and beautifully paneled walls a whole new look. 

Whether you are the person who prefers subdued, neutral tones or the person who must have vibrant hues in their life can reveal quite a bit about you. The science behind personal preference toward color is tied to things like personality type, mental organization, evolution and personal experience. Are you a clean, organized, focused person? You may gravitate toward clean whites and neutrals. Are you outgoing, energetic and social? Bright colors might be your lifeblood. In an evolutionary sense, blending into surroundings is beneficial for some. For others, calling attention to yourself is a way to attract others, showcase personality and build a unique place to live. 

Regardless of your preferences, every home can be personalized to fit your individuality. 

Color of the Year

Presenting, THE Color of the Year for 2022: Very Peri! Or: Laurel Leaf. Nope, it’s actually October Mist, wait, Arts and Craft, wrong again, Evergreen Fog, the list goes on. Apparently, there are many different opinions on the matter. Who are making these choices? What does it mean?

Starting with the Who, Pantone launched the idea of Color of the Year way back at the tail end of the last century. Announced in 1999, Cerulean was the first chosen Color of the Year. This marketing ploy was a brilliant way to pump new life into the vast world of color. The idea expanded across industries, influencing everything from clothing to furniture to home trends, decades before the idea of an influencer was on scene. The concept has been so widely embraced that now there are several colors of the year released by every color company that you have heard of, and quite a few that you haven’t. 

So, who is the who behind the Who? Is there some bunker of color specialists out there playing “Pin the Tail on the Next Color of the Year”? Or, is there an airy oceanside mansion where elite designers and artists gather to test hundreds of colors on all kinds of medium, waiting for the perfect color to make itself known? The answer is a blend of these two extremes. The Pantone company website states: “Twice a year Pantone hosts, in a European capital, a secret meeting of representatives from various nations' color standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year.”

A secret meeting of unnamed experts?! Days of presentations and debate somewhere in a mystery city in Europe?! The Color of the Year is big business! 

What does it mean? For a concept to have staying power, there must be some substance that resonates with people. The Color of the Year is a visual depiction of where we are as a society. Brilliantly, can be seen as both a reflection of where we have been, or a forecast of what lies ahead. The original Color of the Year, Cerulean is a calm and pleasing shade of blue. If defined as color that reflects society, 1999 was a year of hopeful anticipation toward completing the 20th century. If seen as a color shape the future, Cerulean can be seen as the calm needed after the dramatic panic of Y2K. 

2002 strikes me as another noteworthy year that can be demonstrated in color. After the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001 the world was filled with anger and unrest. Appropriately, True Red was chosen as the color of 2002. This fiery tone reflects on a most devastating attack on American soil, and takes us forward to the beginnings of war. What could be more fitting than True Red? Fast forward to 2021, we have an interesting twist to the trend by naming two Colors of the Year. Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, colors that demonstrate the dichotomy of despair and hope. By the end of 2020, society felt the grayness of despair for the unrelenting persistence of the COVID-19, but also was illuminated by hope that the tools available to humanity could power through the crisis. 

The examples go on and on. A marketing stunt that turned into an annually anticipated event, a reflection of society and a guide to navigating the future, the Pantone Color of the Year has rightfully earned its place in the world of design. Once you know the color, I promise you will see it everywhere! Here are some of my favorites that have come out so far this year:

Birdie Hall Brush Pots

These colorful, smooth crystal tumblers by House of Cardoon are a great way to add some Veri Peri to your life without much of a commitment. 

The Little Lumbar

I adore this lovely lumbar pillow from the Little Design Co.! It's perfect to add a pop of color to any room in the house. The greek design detail is versatile to mix with anything from a formal living to a beach house back porch. The deep blue is a great combination to the Pantone color of 2022!

Universal Truths

Have you ever seen the movie Along Came Polly? It’s a cute romantic comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Ben Stiller. In it, there’s a memorable scene in which Ben Stiller’s character, Reuben, destroys the many throw pillows on his bed that were put there by his ex. Feathers fill the air as he rips each pillow to shreds. The scene works because so many can relate to it. Why so many damn pillows?

The male human’s abhorrence of too many pillows is the first of two universal truths we will discuss today. The second? His loathing of wallpaper.

It may seem gutsy of me to characterize these as “universal” truths. In point of fact, I’m sure that some people out there will prove otherwise, but these are most certainly universal truths among my client list. My clients past and present vary in age from early 30’s to early 80’s. When dealing with couples, sometimes he’s the driver, sometimes she is. Oftentimes when she is, she will tell me that anything goes that’s within budget. But I know better. Any partner, even the no-fuss variety, has limits. So when I hear a client tell me that “he won’t care,” I simply raise an eyebrow and think to myself, “yeah right.”

The most important rule in architecture and design is that form follows function. You design a space according to how it should function, not the other way around. But it doesn’t take a degree in architecture to know that too many pillows are annoying. If I want to sit down on the couch to watch TV, or make my bed in the morning and make it to work on time, then I don’t want to have to contend with 12 pillows. Not to mention the fact that maybe the pillows are too expensive to just be chucked on the ground for the dog to chew on…now I have to find a place to put the pillows. In the movie, Reuben does the math and extrapolates that, based on his daily placement of throw pillows on the bed, he wastes a total of 2 days each year. Crazy, right?!

Not so fast. Yes, I agree that too many pillows make no sense, and I am not pro-pillow. However, we are having this conversation because so many people have too many pillows. Why? Pillows are pretty and add texture and personality at almost any price point. They can be layered over time, and there’s no installation fee or commitment. However, just remember that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Sometimes, it’s just too much. Remember that, and you partner will thank you.

Which brings us to our second truth. Men almost always hate patterned wallpaper. What I find fascinating is that all of my male clients, from the young to the old, say that wallpaper reminds them of Grandma’s house. How can 50 years’ worth of men say this? Some of these people ARE the grandmas and grandpas, aren’t they? It makes no sense! While I am against too many pillows, I am not anti wall paper. Moderation and compromise, though, prove the winning combo to wallpaper negotiation. (Note - the exceptions to this rule are the folks who can afford to and do not mind totally overhauling their decor every couple of years.) Pattern on your walls is a big commitment. In a space like a common area where you spend a great deal of time, you have to really love the pattern a lot and know that you won’t get sick of it. AND it can’t be too trendy as to go out of style in the next 18 months (ikat or banana leaves, anyone?), AND it can’t be super expensive (and even inexpensive wallpaper costs more than a can of paint), AND it has to be installed by someone (more money), AND it will have to be uninstalled when you’re finished with it (more money or a very significant amount of elbow grease). That’s a lot to deal with. Somewhere toward the beginning of that sentence, most people (especially the logically-minded) would say, “I’m out.”

When I have couples, and it happens often, when she wants wallpaper and he doesn’t, I always suggest laundry rooms and/or powder rooms. These two rooms are seen by almost all of your guests, but you will not spend prolonged amounts of time in these spaces in one sitting (hopefully). And while in this day and age it’s certainly not unusual for the guy to do the laundry, it’s not a space that he really cares about. If it’s that or the living room, then by all means, put the wallpaper in the laundry room. And when you do want to change it eventually, that’s typically a smaller space that’s much easier to tackle - logistically and financially.

Almost 100% of the time, when I am hired by someone for a project, the scope of the project will broaden and the design will continue to other parts of the house. As recently as last week, we were finishing up a master bedroom/bath that eventually continued into the kitchen and living room. One day the husband said to me, “Well, we did all this work, and now our guests will use the restroom in our awful powder room. We have to fix it.” Most powder rooms are an architect’s afterthought. A glorified closet that gets pieced into the floor plan where possible. At least a coat closet has to be near the front door. The only requirement for a powder room, most of the time, is that it’s downstairs. That said, almost every guest you have over will likely visit the powder room, alone, where they will have quiet time to check out the scenery. Of course you want it to look nice! It’s a small space all its own, which means the design can be completely separate from the rest of the home, and a small budget can go a long way. Because of this, powder room design leans into artistic flamboyance and away from understated utility. Enter wallpaper. It’s perfect for powder rooms! And even as recently as last week, the same man who spoke to me about doing the powder room, who was previously against any and all wallpaper, was on board with a super fun design for that space, and we were able to work in a wallpaper that his wife had long adored. Everybody wins!

Moderation and compromise aren’t the sexiest words in the dictionary, and they sure aren’t the first words that come to mind as you sit and daydream about your future home with your partner. But take it from me, when it comes to throw pillows and wallpaper at least, they are insightful and wise words to remember. With the money you’ll save on marriage counseling, think of all those pillows you can buy…

“Oh, and by the way, I threw away all your little throw pillows. Yea. Cuz throw pillows suck. They serve no purpose. They’re purely decorative.”

– Ben Stiller as Reuben Feffer in Along Came Polly

Caron Woolsey

When He’s the Driver

This could be a tricky one! As stated many times in previous posts, my focus is to point out the behavioral tendencies that I’ve noticed repeated across my client base; recognizing that we all tend to follow certain patterns in our own unique ways. The goal is to generalize, but not marginalize, and celebrate the finer points of unpredictable discrepancies that define our choices, and ultimately our spaces, as our own.

Overall I think it’s a safe bet to say that women care more about home decor, typically. You can walk past any Pottery Barn and see a man reluctantly being pulled into the store by his girlfriend or wife, while she promises to only look for a minute. Same thing at Target - I’ve seen men follow their wives with trepidation through the aisles of endless wreaths, clocks, dishes and more. The poor guy thought he was there for baby food and diapers, but suddenly he’s picking out new rugs and bed linens. That’s a narrative that we are all pretty familiar with - and after all, it’s Darwinian. We are an evolved species, and these tendencies are born from thousands of years of men hunting for food whilst women gathered supplies and kept the caves. The women nurtured children and created warm environments for their families. Just as it was essential for the alpha male to be the strongest, the fastest, to kill the beast to best provide for his family, it, too, was imperative for the health of the family that the women make a home that was warm, comfortable and safe. And these were the ways that the two sexes, in their own ways, exhibited strength and stability to ensure that their progeny survived and thrived.

When I started decorating, I was really excited to design layouts, choose furniture and place art. Truth be told, that’s the easy part - the much harder part of my job is playing the role of marriage counselor. At first it was dicey - I mean, who am I to get involved in disputes between loving partners? I can barely chart a course through those choppy waters in my own life! Growing up, my mom cared about this stuff a lot, my dad did not, so as long as it was within budget, my dad just went with what my mom picked out. Naively I thought that was how it would go with clients, until I’d had enough clients to realize that much of the time, when the decorator is called, the man is definitely invested in having a house that presents well. Think about it - if the woman, i.e., the one who traditionally wants the house to look nice doesn’t care, then the house doesn’t necessarily look like a magazine, and that’s ok. She doesn’t care, and a lot of guys would thank their lucky stars that they aren’t getting pulled into Pottery Barn like some of their buddies. So when I have to negotiate a truce between partners, it’s much easier for me if I can better understand what (and/or who) is driving their decisions.

In those instances when the guys care, the gals don’t, and I get the call, I have to consider the psychology that prompted that call in the first place. Why does he care since, scientifically speaking, he’s not been wired to care? This happens all the time. I’d say more than half of my clients fit into this category. The answer lies in the motivating factors for desiring a well designed home.

The world has changed. Men don’t leave the house and hunt wild beasts anymore. They leave the house in jeans, scrubs, suits, khakis. They aren’t wielding spears and winning footraces. They have iPhones and laptops, perhaps drive a car or ride the subway. After all, we’ve evolved…or have we? I can’t help but think that the reason the man cares is because a beautifully designed home can be a tangible indicator of success to his peers. It signals that he is “killing it” professionally and in his personal life. And I don’t fault him for it - we all have our thing that we like to take pride in, and it manifests itself differently in all of us. And when I’m able to understand this, I’m able to better empathize with his position. I’ll admit, at first I just thought that these guys were control-freaks and I judged them pretty harshly, but I was wrong. These are guys who care about success, care about their families (at least in my clients’ cases), and still have that primitive need to hunt the proverbial beast and come back to a “cave” worthy of being called home.

By extension, the female counterpart to these males, who seemingly didn’t care about the decor, when pushed, starts to care a bit. Her primitive wiring kicks in and when the ball starts rolling on these design choices, she inevitably develops an idea of what she thinks the cave, er, home should look like and how it should function for the family. While that alpha in him wants sleek and showy, she wants soft and practical. Their motivating factors are entirely different and in conflict with one another, even though they share a common goal - a great home for their family.

To get these couples to the finish line with their relationship intact, it’s important for me to provide selections and counsel as to how and why their choices will satisfy each of their requirements. A magazine-worthy home worth showing off can also be comfortable and functional. Just like in relationships, these designs have to have a shared common ground and balance to keep everyone happy.

While there’s a lot that Mr. Darwin wrote that’s controversial, he got a few things right. And though this was probably meant in a literal sense, Charles would have been wise to apply it to his personal life, too, especially when picking out a new sofa! But would he have thought himself capable?

“It’s not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” - Charles Darwin

Caron Woolsey

Baby Boomers

Baby Boomer, or Boomer, is a term used to describe a person born in the years following World War II, when there was a temporary marked increase in the birth rate. In fairness, this photo likely depicts the parents of Boomers, but their values and experiences played an important role in the values and practices developed by their children.

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with several lovely Boomer couples on their homes, and an interesting dichotomy has been revealed after completion of their projects. With regard to budget relative to net worth, Boomers tend to be at one end of the spectrum or the other, but never in between. My own parents fall into the post World War II category, so in the beginning, my anticipation was that all of my clients that fell into that age group would think similarly; however this is definitely not the case. Because of this, I had to adjust my way of thinking so that I would not do my clients’ a disservice by overgeneralizing their tastes. The patterns of thinking became clear, and once I realized this, I was able to better adapt my way of thinking to better relate to and understand my clients’needs. Let’s go back a step to understand why this generation, based on my observations, makes the choices that they do.

The Baby Boomers were raised by what is now called The Greatest Generation, a term that commonly refers to Americans that were born in the 1900’s through the 1920’s. This generation endured both the Great Depression and World War II. Despite these significant hardships, the Greatest Generation was characterized by sociologist Glen Holl Elder, Jr., as having "an ability to know how to survive and make do and solve problems.” They had to conserve during a time when the country was in a financial sinkhole, and then they had to ration during World War II because the survival of our nation depended on it.

It stands to reason, then, that the Greatest Generation instilled these values of conservation, strength, and fortitude in their children. I can say with confidence about all of my clients, that the Greatest Generation did a great job. All have strong values, a sense of conservation that is driven not from an environmental standpoint, but by a sense that being wasteful is just wrong. All have worked hard, raised children who are successful, overcome hard times, certainly, but persevered to get to where they are today. That said, I’m not so naive as to say that all Baby Boomers are characterized so easily. People who call designers to decorate their homes typically fall into a lofty demographic. I know that. I’m just saying that when it comes to making design choices, my clients have exhibited the aforementioned qualities.

Now the big question is, how do these qualities drive design choices made by Baby Boomers? Here’s where that dichotomy comes into play. They fall into one of two categories:


After a lifetime of conservation and responsibility, a desire to continue that trend, using what they already have or spending as little as possible to spruce up their homes. The accumulation of what their discipline has built is a source of pride not to be squandered. An abundance of collected treasures and inherited pieces have taken over their homes, and the need to buy more seems excessive and overwhelming.


After a lifetime of conservation and responsibility, a desire to get exactly what they want. This is the last place they intend to live, and to hell with it. They want what they want and they’ll spend what they need to to get it. After all, haven’t they earned it?

Who can argue with either position? Both make perfect sense when you think about it. I’ve helped six different Boomer families, now, and all have fallen into one of these two categories. I respect both. My parents are firmly planted in the first category and are in good company. I underestimated my first clients who fell into that second category…but boy did we have fun. :-) The good news is that beauty can be achieved in both scenarios. In the first, the design takes on a distinguished sentimental feel with warm colors, layered textures, and taking the old and making it new again. Re-framing long lost art and finding creative new ways to modernize old treasures. The second is more “on trend” and in keeping with the current color palettes. Comfort is still important, as is practicality in planning for the future.

Personally, I’ve loved working with each and every one of my so called Boomers. They have been gracious and kind, and I treasure my relationships with them. In researching this blog post, I came across a quote from a passage published by the Population Reference Bureau. According to Elwood Carlson, Florida State University professor in sociology of population, “If you understand the difference between generations, it helps you understand yourself better because you understand the context in which your life has unfolded. You understand what distinctive opportunities and problems you have faced and you can find common ground with others in your generation.” Everyone has parents, grandparents, bosses, and employees of other generations they’re trying to understand, Carlson explains. “If you approach them in the same framework as you try to approach your own world, you’re going to be making mistakes. If you want to understand them, you have to understand their generation as well as your own.” My motivation for researching this topic was to better understand the decisions my clients make; however, this knowledge is useful in myriad aspects of life.

So thanks to all of the moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas out there. We are grateful. Now WHAT are we going to do about these Millennials… 

Caron Woolsey

The Brain is a Discounting Mechanism

Have you heard this expression before? I’d love to tell you that it’s a concept that I read about in some science journal, and indeed, it has been discussed in depth in publications like Psychology Today. This topic has far-reaching implications, from wealth management to weight management. Of course, when I read about it, I applied its premise to my love of loves - interior design. I don’t think its application in this way has been explored yet…so I’ll do it! For some of you, this may sound familiar if you’ve read the book, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend.

“Have you ever heard that the brain is a discounting mechanism?”

“No.”

“Let’s say you get a present and open it and it’s a fabulous diamond necklace. Initially, you’re delirious with happiness, jumping up and down, you’re so excited. The next day, the necklace still makes you happy, but less so. After a year, you see the necklace and you think, Oh, that old thing. It’s the same for negative emotions. Let’s say you get a crack in your windshield and you’re really upset. Oh no, my windshield, it’s ruined. I can hardly see out of it, this is a tragedy! But you don’t have enough money to fix it, so you drive with it. In a month, someone asks you what happened to your windshield, and you say, What do you mean? Because your brain has discounted it.”

You know why your brain does that?”

“Nuh-uh.”

“It’s for survival. You need to be prepared for novel experiences because they often signal danger. If you live in a jungle full of fragrant flowers, you have to stop being so overwhelmed by the lovely smell because otherwise you couldn’t smell a predator. That’s why your brain is considered a discounting mechanism. It’s literally a matter of survival.”

Most of us know that shiny new things lose their appeal over time. But somehow reading that this is an innate sense developed physiologically for survival really drives the point home, doesn’t it?

My clients know I’m all about a budget. And don’t confuse budget with frugal or cheap. I have clients in homes that range from modest to mansion, and I’m here to tell you - everyone functions more comfortably within a budget. I cannot overstate this. Kids need boundaries, and we do, too. Without a budget, each purchase is a source of angst, an internal struggle between should and shouldn’t, practical and excessive. Who wants to deal with that EVERY TIME YOU MAKE A SELECTION?! Get all of that anxiety out of the way once and for all, in the beginning, and set a budget. After that, your budget is my problem. Not yours.

Prior to a career in design, I worked in oil and gas, which is a very volatile industry, and a common one here in the greater Houston area. There were two magnates I adored and knew personally. One bankrupted himself building a $60 million home in a gorgeous resort town. The other committed suicide because he feared bankruptcy. Tragic losses. Even the mighty fall, and it was made clear to me that no matter your finances, planning and fiscal responsibility are fundamental.

That’s what you get with me - a Type A Creative. I sweat the small stuff, and your happiness is what matters most. We know now that our brains are wired to get used to whatever we have. In a year, your beautiful home (and we can make it beautiful within any budget), will still be beautiful, and you’ll be totally used to it. WIll you be comfortable? Will you feel peace when you’re unwinding after a long day?

Think positively - if you work at a pace you can afford, you accomplish your goals over a greater span of time, prolonging your happiness. Trust me, I know how difficult it can be, but experience has taught me that this truly is the case. The discipline will be worth it. It’s too easy to say, “Well, we might as well,” when you’re feeling overwhelmed and just want everything to be done. But if it causes discord within your relationship or makes you uncomfortable and worried about the future, then take a beat and decide if that choice is worth your sanity.

After all, what good is that stunning bedroom if you can’t lay your head down at night and get a good night’s rest?

You can have luxury, and you can have beauty. I’m not against big budgets. Quite the opposite - I love big budgets! Just set a budget that is realistic and, remember, your mind is a discounting mechanism. Your brain is wired to adapt to its environment - it has already discounted the old things but is excited about the new. Make the hard decisions about cost once, then forget about it and enjoy the ride! Your survival depends on it.

“There are people who have money and people who are rich.” -Coco Chanel

The goal should be to have money at the end of your project and feel rich while you’re enjoying it.

Totally doable.
Caron Woolsey