Into the Future….Time to let them go

So…it’s that time again. Time to step into the new year and for some of us, that means making some changes, letting some things go (or in other words, fooling ourselves). As we move forward, there are some things I personally believe we should LEAVE in 2017. Some of these things should have been left in 2016 but someone left the backdoor open and …well…here we are. Though this is mainly a blog for home decor, from time to time, we will wander. Without further ado…

1. Don’t hate me but…. “selfie”. People, people, people. From now on, we’ll take pictures and call them pictures. We have taken this too far and it’s time to bring it back.
2. Since we’re on words, let’s go all in. For 2018, let’s retire these ‘phrases’. The winner and all time retiree goes to (drum roll please)….”haters”….if i hear this word again…gurrllllll. Just stop, okay. This word somehow became famous by social media users and some people seem to really enjoy this position…so guess what? If we stop using it, stop shedding light on it, then maybe all these “haters” that we complain about, will also vanish. And let’s just be honest here, some of you know very well you don’t have any “haters”…stop playing! To further stop sounding *dot dot dot*, we’re also dropping “lit”, “turnt/turn up” and I thought we left “bae” in 2015 but someone left the backdoor open   . We won’t get into that. The door is locked and it is out!!!
3. The TEA! Just no. No more spilling the tea, brewing the tea, sipping the tea…just stop. You’d think with all this ‘TEA’ going around, there won’t be any “haters”. Tea is supposed to be a calming thing. So no, for 2018, I want WATER!
4. Challenges, Challenges, Challenges…another backdoor entry. 100 this and that challenge, spicy challenge, 24 hour challenge and the forever dominant ‘booty, squat, glutes’ challenge….geez…some of you will not make it to 2018 trying all these challenges, let it go honey, what are you trying to do, no no, stop itttttt. Firstly, desired body images change with time. They’ll get to yours eventually…just wait, join the club, it’s relaxing over here.
5. Oooooooh you all are going to hate me…lol. Where are we going with these crop tops, please enlighten me. How far are we going to take this and how much shorter do they have to get before we retire this look? Don’t hate me, hahahhhahahah, it’s cute, but comeeee onnnnn…lol
6. You know what, since I mentioned crop tops and may have already rubbed some the wrong way, let me just go all in. ‘Doing it for the gram’….just bye, nuh uh.
7. #Vegan…#healthylifestyle…#raw…okay, we get it. Don’t get me wrong. I am all about healthy living and a general clean lifestyle. But please stop forcing this down people’s throats and judging others for their lifestyle choices. Live and let live. This seems to be a trend and we all know, “if it’s trending…”
8. Pieces – used today to refer to items of clothing and furniture. Can we give these items their name back…you do not sound sophisticated saying “oh i found this piece today”…guurrrlll
9. Wasting people’s time…say it again for those in the back. Please LET THAT GO! I don’t care how great you are, you CANNOT give anyone their time back. So, don’t fool yourself, if you’re about to waste my time #pleasereturnto2017
10. Finally, ‘New year, New me’….. *eye roll*. Hasn’t this been a thing since like 2012. If you’re not new by now…just accept it…BYE!

Soooo is there hope for 2018? Can we make sure to secure the bag, take it to the back and lock the door? I hope so. This was all in fun and what will be will be. Though these are some things I’d like to stay in 2017, there are some things that should be taken into 2018 and onward.

#TAKEITTO2018

1. Humor…. whatever happened to that? Can we bring this back…it’s needed.
2. Empathy….need i say more????
3. Respect…. well we may have to go back to the 90’s for this but hey, I’m all about a good road trip
4. Memes….I just love them and the creativity on some people are astounding…*round of applause*…let’s keep this going
5. GIF…..oh…what’s a conversation without it…hahahahhaha
6. Necks….. lift your head from your devices and let your neck shine…hahahahhahaha….i had to, I had to..hahahhaha

Hope we all had fun reading this and feel free to add whatever you believe should be left in 2017 or taken to 2018. It’s all in good fun. As the new year approaches, I hope everyone makes it safely to 2018 and I wish everyone HEALTH, SUCCESS, LOVE, PEACE AND LOTS OF LAUGHTER!! Bye Bye 2017.

2017!

I know, I know….it’s been forever… but hey, life happens and I was gathering my ideas and designs. Now, i can post again and design again and give some grand ideas (or not so grand but it will still be fabulous). It seems like everyone is moving recently, or maybe it’s just on my mind so I keep noticing it. We all know that moving can be hard and it’s a major adjustment…you know, change and all that..but remember, the best part of moving, is decorating. Also, please note that there isn’t any rule to decorating (well..rule per se, I’ll explain). If you like something and feel comfortable in your space, then go for that, don’t try to do what everyone else is doing, if it’s not your style then it’s not your style and that’s perfectly fine.

 

Now i wouldn’t say to just throw everything in a room and say that’s your comfort zone… we all need air now, don’t create a mess and clutter your space because a cluttered space is a cluttered mind and we do not want that. So, I would say, remember this is just my personal view..the only rule to decorating is DO NOT CLUTTER! With that guys, be prepared, i’m designing and I will be posting an entry soon. If there is anything else you all want me to design or discuss regarding ‘home decor or life decor’, just let me know. Bye for now…keep decorating!

They Keep Moving The Cheese!

I know this blog is mainly about home decor and that field, but every once in a while I will stray if I believe that the topic is worthy. Maybe you can consider this a “life decor” lesson (if you want to stick with the theme of the blog). I was reminded of this story a while ago, a story I read two years ago but somehow felt that I knew my entire life. I decided to share it because I hope that it will do for others, what it did for me (that is, give me the courage to remember who I am and what I stand for). I’m going to link the video because I don’t know how many people will read the story if I suggest it, but please, make the time and read this story, if nothing else stands out on this blog, let this stick. I will also link the audiobook below because I really want to stress the importance of hearing the full story. So, sit back and enjoy…

Who Moved my cheese – the video (it’s approximately twelve  (12) minutes long so please, just try it)

And for the Audiobook – 

Whatever you gather from the story, however it affects you, always remember, THEY KEEP MOVING THE CHEESE!

5 Ways to Make a Simple Room..Fabulous

We may spend hours watching HGTV, home decor magazines and all that jazz, thinking that these rooms are so gorgeous and we can’t achieve these looks. Well think again dear. It doesn’t have to be expensive and we don’t have to wait until we find the ‘perfect’ home. Here’s five easy ways that we can make our space as beautiful and comfortable as needed (bring some of that magazine life to reality).

 DECLUTTER your space

I cannot stress this enough. I just cannot stand an overcrowded room. Sometimes all our space needs is a little bit of cleaning and you will be surprised by what is hidden underneath all the unnecessary things in a room. This will not only make a room more comfortable, it will also help to relax your mind. Remember, a cluttered space can usual create a cluttered mind.

Add Color

This is so simple and can be done in a number of ways, the choice is yours my friend. Not only can this help to fab up your space, but color works wonders on the psyche and it can also be really fun to play with.

So much can be done with color…it’s just magic.

Flowers/Plants

See my post about bringing the outdoors in for the benefits of adding plants and flowers to a room and just for a plus, this is also another way of incorporating color into your living space.

Just play with it, it’s your space.

Wall Art

How many times have been wanting to do something or had something to do but we are just too lazy at the moment. What do we do? Stare at the walls, hoping that the thing will miraculously get done. Well hey, there’s nothing wrong with that but why not look at something beautiful (and if you did it yourself, you can say, hey, I deserve another 5 minutes rest, I did that!).

And finally…Candles!

Who doesn’t like some candles. This can do so much. It’s modern, classy and can be romantic (if that’s what you’re going for). Not only do candles bring light to a room, but it also helps to create that warm, homey, cozy feeling. Not to mention, if it’s scented, the room will change your mood and the general ambiance drastically.

Have fun and try some of these, you may impress yourself!!!

So grounded…

Do you ever walk into buildings and notice the floors? Probably not, right? No need to think about it, we don’t usually walk around with our heads down and if we do, people always say, “lift your head up”. But do think about this, the floor is the most commonly used surface in any building, so why not show some appreciation. Apart from the roof, the floor is one of the most important parts of any building design and prepare for the cost to match such importance. To borrow a line from an article I read, “consider installing flooring that closely mirrors the life expectancy of the use of the space in question…”.

Most of us just want something that looks ‘good’ and we even notice the designs that grab our attention. How many people today are truly impressed by terrazzo…not much, let me tell you (no disrespect to my terrazzo, I’m still a fan). But there are things that should be greatly considered when it comes to our floors.

• Durability – You don’t want to lay down your floors, feeling all good and then next year they are just screaming for some attention. We are all about long lasting and the longer it can last, the happier we’ll be. Now terrazzo is great for durability so i’m all for it and of course there are so many other materials for this purpose (but I can write so much, ok, lol)

• Maintenance – Now no one wants a floor that is completely fragile, no no no, we are not about that. Cleaning is a must, as well as repair cost and time, all of this goes into the floor concept. For this purpose, I chose tiles and please remember that this is just my opinion, everyone’s tastes will differ. For example, hardwood floors may be quite easy to clean but when it comes to upkeep, we have to consider the traffic on that floor dear, you do not want scratched up floor no no no.

     

• Health and Safety – yes, this is a factor. Think about how many people today say that they have sinus ( I think it’s probably one in every two persons, seriously, is it the air or something, geez). Hardwood floors are sleek, stylish, in great demand, very easy to clean, sinus friendly (just saying).

• Aesthetics – hey now, we can all agree here, nothing says aesthetics like some marble flooring. When I think marble, I think of removing my shoes, putting on some fuzzy socks and sliding my way everywhere, it’s just me, don’t judge.

• Purpose – of course this shall vary by room, structure, almost anything really. So for this I’m just going to stick with plain old concrete, even decorative concrete will do (just to cover the general “purpose” category)

• And finally, Choice and comfort – this will most likely be the deciding factor at the end of the day. We need to be comfortable, regardless of where we are and we do want to have a say in what is chosen, so for this, I’m going to go with laminate flooring, for pictures sake, lol.

OH my, floors are everything…I’m now confused as to what I wanted. Remember, whatever you do, stay grounded!

Is it Just me?!?!

Would you or would you not? Now we’ve all seen some pretty drastic homes in our time but would you dare live in some of them. People are going to the extreme with some designs around the world and I must say, creativity is on a high. I wonder what it feels like to live in what appears to me as a piece of art…must be pretty cool, but only for a while though. I mean, how functional could they actually be for someone as weird as me, lolol. I have this thing about a large amount of water gathered in one space at a particular point in time, so anything built on water is a no no for me. Could you imagine my horror when I saw this!

All I’m thinking is…what in the world would I do if I was to wake up in the middle of the night and forget where I am *scream*. I admit, it’s cool, very interesting and it definitely gets rid of the nosy neighbors factor but come on. But, since I’m one for the crazy, I will stay here as soon as there is a zombie outbreak as long as I have a proper boat. Could someone please tell me what is this?!

I’m scared already so I’m not even going to comment. This thing about water, I need to address it immediately because these “new homes” seems to be trending. We’re all about the water and we’re all about the ‘greens’. I personally love nature (on land), let’s get that clear. I would like to live in the jungle or at least have to drive through miles of trees before I get to my home. I could even see myself being a hobbit and living in the hills of New Zealand…ahhh, I can see it now. This could be me…

But I really need that wifi… so let’s see.

Maybe something a little closer to trees and possible internet sources…

No neighbors…check, green…check, unique…check, apocalypse ready…check, but why does this remind me of Stargate. I’m just thinking that something is going to come out of some hidden portal somewhere (I must be crazyyy).

Crazy, Weird or Unusual, I call it art. My home, my art, they can be one in the same. Maybe these homes will make you think about your future or current house design. Think outside the box or maybe just “outside the land area…lol”. One more to think about, just adorable isn’t it?

Happy designing!!!

Work in progress

It’s been awhile, I know. Had a bit of writer’s block and design block too, lol. So I’m doing some research, working on some new designs and i’ll see what I come up with. From floor plans to room decor and hey, I may even have a DIY project in the making. Just touching base for now. Keep decorating and designing!

Colored Accents!!

Colors, Colors, Colors! As time goes on, colors are becoming more of a trend to interior decorators. Gone are the days of all white, all grey, all beige everything. “Color is a powerful, inexpensive design tool that can help to set the mood of any room”. People are eagerly embracing colors in every tone for their interiors, from the very cool tones to the vibrant, bold explosions of the color wheel. If it’s your personal space, you can feel free to try anything. Go ahead and add those sunshine yellow pillows and hot pink rug to your all grey living room. If it feels right to you, go with your gut… it may turn out like this…

However, if you’re designing a room for someone else, you may want to do a little research first. The psychology of color tells us that different colors affects us in various ways. As color helps to set the mood of a room, it will also set the mood of the rooms’ inhabitants. For example,

• Red – this is known as a physical color. It induces appetite, increases pulse and gives the illusion of a fast paced environment.
• Blue is an intellectual color. It induces thought, communication, concentration and so forth…perfect for a study, library, reading room and maybe even the living room.
• Yellow is the emotional color. It can bring about optimism and confidence or on the other hand, depression and anxiety (depending on the tone being used…definitely something you want to research first).

This is just a few of the psychological associations of some selected colors. But hey,don’t get too demotivated, just look at how I incorporated blue accents into this small office corner to make it more interesting.

Colors are fun overall and can be incorporated slightly if you aren’t certain about their psychological effects completely. This can be done by an abstract art or painting, a vase, pillows, rugs, throws, even flowers. So don’t get too flustered, look at what was done here…

Very simple, yet effective. Ms. Shruti Hemani and Professor Rowi Mokashi Punekar suggests that, when working with colors, ask yourself three (3) main questions:

1. What is the function/purpose/use of the space you are selecting the color for?
2. Who is the end user of the space?
3. Where is the location of the space you are choosing the color for?

Now with these three (3) simple questions, how can we go wrong? *fingers crossed*…lol. Maybe we need more convincing…

See, it can be done. So, with all this knowledge in hand, and these inspirational pictures, let’s find the rainbow in us, we all have it…even those who don’t want to admit it *wink, wink*. Here’s one last personal design for you to consider. Happy decorating!!!

Plants…bring a little of the outdoors in..shall we…

Decorating with plants can bring so much to a space, be it your home or office, plants do their part in the decor world. There is a belief that plants help to bring harmony and balance to spaces (this of course are for those who believe in feng shui, i’m a total believer by the way) and apart from many other benefits, they help to add life to a room. This look and effect is quite easy to achieve. Apart from accent pillows and throws, i’m thinking that plants are pretty easy to incorporate into your interior decor and don’t be afraid of the maintenance. Despite what people may think, there are many plants that don’t require high maintenance. If you are still not willing yet, then go artificial, that works just as well. Any plain surface can now be fabulous, plants are great fillers.

You may even want to consider the cactus (which I’ve heard can be placed by windows and doors to ward off evil, don’t know how true that is or where the saying actually originated but I will be placing it right there, not taking any chances, lol). Despite the cultural beliefs, this is actually a quite beautiful plant that can add such elegance to a room and you can be creative with this. Just look at what I found when researching this topic…

That is definitely a statement piece that will draw so much attention and transform a plain surface into a masterpiece. Orchids will also do the same and don’t be discouraged, people believe that this is a very high maintenance plant but it’s actually the complete opposite. Many people unfortunately destroy their orchids because they give it too much care. Orchids are absolutely elegant (and you can opt for the artificial version if you still don’t want to take the chance, they are just as beautiful). They seem delicate and as such, they can help to soften “hard” spaces in a room.

Talk about providing that dramatic effect right…

So the next time you’re thinking of making some simple changes to a space, consider a plant (they even have health benefits such as purifying the air and getting rid of toxins). For some inspiration, check out a personal design incorporating plants to add color and artistic style to a plain sitting room.

Step UP!

So the new year has started and some of us are probably already disappointed…we simply put too much pressure and expectations on the new year.With the resolutions that have already been forgotten, some still going strong, the few that’s dwindling away, it’s simply too much. By now we’ve probably all heard of the tale about the donkey and the Well…no…in summary, a donkey falls down a Well and everyone decides there is nothing they can do but fill the Well with dirt, burying the donkey in the process. With every mount of the dirt that was thrown into the Well, the donkey stepped up and was finally free, to everyone’s surprise. Lesson… sometimes the world will give up on you and people will throw what they can at you to keep you down, it’s your choice to become buried by all that or to throw it under your feet and step up to the challenge. Create your own world, reduce the pressure, live and make memories (remember, don’t take life so seriously, laugh at yourself sometimes).

• So the year may not be what you expected so far…shake it of and step up
• You made resolutions but you already doubt that you can stick to them…so make new ones, short ones, everyday just decide to do something by the end of that day
• Your plans are just not shaping up…forget the plans (sometimes we miss opportunities in life because we’re afraid to stray from “our” plan)

Define your own life, be content, adjust your attitude towards expectations and don’t compare yourself or your situation to others, guess what, you’re already an original and this is your story, it can be whatever you decide. Free yourself from the expectations of society.