From the Studio

I was finishing up loading things into the garage for the tag sale, and I thought about you and wondered how your cleaning projects are going. You know, there are so many things that sort of land in our lives through the year, and if we don’t ferret them out on a regular basis, eventually there’s so much it is too overwhelming to even deal with.

Have you ever watched Clean House on BRAVO TV? I love Neicy Nash, and the whole Clean House team. They have a family in each episode that has let their clutter get the better of them. I have to tell you, if you watch that show, you’ll feel ever so much better about your own space - or you'll think, "Yikes! That looks too familiar!"

In every episode, the process is the same: let go of what you don’t love, or don’t need. They stage ‘tag sales’ (or ‘yard sales’ or ‘garage sales,’ whatever you call them) and use that money to create … ‘sanctuary’ in the home. They create peaceful spaces where people can truly come home and re-energize. The personal oasis. We all need it.

The point is, it’s a great idea to do a tag-yard-garage sale to get some money to do a project you’ve wanted to do for awhile. It's fun to team up with friends, advertise it as ‘multi-family.’ Bring out the hot coffee, the donuts and the tunes one early Saturday morning, throw open the garage and put some cash in your pocket!

By the way, one of the crucial items to include for your sale: the "after sale charity truck." The truck will come and cart off all the items that didn't sell, you get a tax deduction, you'll have $$$ in your pocket, and your space is clean. When you settle on a date for your sale, call the truck then, and schedule it for the last day or the day after. Be sure to tell them you'll be sending all the things that didn't sell. Different companies have different names for that, but the bottom line to tell them is, you want a "total after-sale cleanout."

Okay ...

So let’s say you’ve done your tag sale, or you have a secret little stash you’re going to use to take your space to the next level. If you’ve made your “Design Workbook,” what are your projects? Most of us have small projects (hang a curtain rod or a picture), medium projects (paint the bedroom or change the bedding), large projects (build an arched roof and columns on the front porch, and find some antique iron work to use as railings), and all points in between.

Sometimes all we know is that we want a change in a room or in a space (inside or out). We don’t know how it should look exactly, but we do know how it should feel. That’s very important. It’s all about how the space feels, the energy in it. So here’s a way to help you connect the “feel” with the “look.”

I’ve always brought tons of design magazines to the studio. I have stacks and stacks of them right now. It’s crazy! And I was raised to never, ever mark in a book or put a tear on a page. So when I started tearing pages out of magazines, I had to do a little intervention with myself! I got through the guilt, and I kept tearing.

I have a file system that's set up for my ‘tear sheets’. I use these for myself, but mostly I organize all kinds of looks for a wide variety of styles to help with my clients. And you can build your own tear sheet file. In fact, you must! It's a creative journey of self-discovery that's easy and portable.

Here’s one way to do it:

Tear the pages out of your design magazines, and organize them into rooms. Give each room a sleeve page in your Design Workbook. You can make separate file sections for ‘Lighting’ and ‘Accessories.’ If you have a big project, I recommend setting up a separate binder for that project. You’ll want your dividers, tear sheets regarding the project, your sleeves for receipts, etc. in that binder. I did that on the last project, and it made my taxes so much easier, because it was all right there.

I have a second binder that is strictly for the exterior and the landscaping. I know nothing about plants, but I know what I like.

When Pam, my landscape consultant comes over, I show her the tear sheets of plants and exteriors that I’ve collected. This helps her get an immediate picture of my taste and the 'feel' I want to create, so it saves us both time (and save me some consultation money).

You’ve torn your sheets out, you’ve organized them very efficiently (you’re so good!), and now … how do you know what you’re going to do?

Take your tear sheets from one file and spread them out in front of you.

Notice the ‘story’ these images are telling you. There is at least one

connecting element in the pictures. It could be the light coming through the rooms; it could be the peaceful atmosphere of the rooms. It could be the vibrant feel, the casual feel, the cozy feel. And how are these things achieved in the pictures? I will write more in the next day or so, and share with you how to translate those elements – with a bankroll or on a budget – so that you can begin to create the beautiful space you deserve.

Don’t start feeling overwhelmed – you can do it!

If you have any questions, comments, or need a little nudge, just leave a comment,

and have no fear –

That’s why I’m here!




Create!



Cece D for DDG