Feel Better about your Space

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! The fourth is my favorite holiday. One thing that never goes out of style—patriotism. Like all of us, this weekend I took some time to appreciate the freedoms that are afforded us as Americans. Like personal style. What is more American than the freedom to express one’s personal style?

Unfortunately, in our quest to express ourselves, we so often get caught up in our chronic bad habits, nagging fears and insecurities, all of which can prevent us from achieving our vision, making the result neither personal nor stylish. Here, a few of the more common style afflictions and Nurse Ashley’s prescriptions. Take two of these to start feeling better about your space by morning:

Collectionitis, aka The Clutter Bug: The constant accumulation of items paired with the inability to throw items away, resulting in an un-stylish heap of stuff.

RX: Trays! Trays perform a myraid of miracles: they transform utilitarian necessities into aesthetically-pleasing displays; they gather collections (of mail, paperwork, decorative objects, whatever) into a single footprint, transforming what were many items into one, single visual item; they make it easier to move stuff out of the way when necessary, making the space more functional and allowing you to periodically (gasp!) use your countertop! Added bonus—trays are something you can collect! For intensive care, have all trays in the same room match.

Collectionphobia: The opposite of collectionitis, victims suffer from a fear of accumulating any items at all, leaving them with a clinically sparse environment lacking in warmth and comfort.

RX: The best treatment for this is to focus on numbers. For a sofa, find one lumbar throw pillow. On a console, dresser or mantle, place three taller objects of varying heights, like candlesticks or sculptures. On a coffee table, stack three books (easy to dust--I know you'll like that). If you determine the number of accessories ahead of time, it makes it easier to face your fears and shop.


Rainbowphoria: The overdose of multiple bright colors, creating an environment resembling a hallucinogenic episode.


RX: Take a cue from ROIHS’ own Mimi Marinchak. Mimi knows the difference between color use and color abuse. Select one color you really, truly love for the walls. Then layer in neutrals and toned-down complimentary colors. In Mimi’s own home, at right, bright yellow walls create atmosphere, not dizziness, when paired with classic black and white, organic elements like wood, seagrass and topiary, and grown-up versions of primaries like deep parisian red. To see the rest of Mimi's house, click on the ROIHS site link at bottom.

Colorphobia: The fear of color. Often accompanied by a love of all things beige, resulting in the inability to tell the difference between furniture, walls and floors. Victims can often be seen bumping into sofas.

It is well known amongst my friends that I suffer from chronic colorphobia. I have had a long battle with this affliction, sometimes able to medicate with a single element of color in the house—a floral bouquet, perhaps, sometimes overdosing into poorly thought-out color schemes out of insecurity, the worst source of inspiration. Fortunately for me, I have a job that affords me color rehab on a regular basis in the form of working with “people of color”, or clients who love to live with colorful décor.


RX: There are two schools of thought on the best treatment for this condition. One is to paint the walls a color, giving neutral furnishings more personality. Look for “non-color” color. It is easier to get on board with colors that are not quite yellow, not quite green, not quite tan, but something in between (like the color ROIHS selected for this model home's dining room, above). The inability to describe it translates to a lack of distraction, leaving more of an abstract feeling or mood in the room than a color. This is a technique we use often at ROIHS. The other approach to treatment is to start with neutral surfaces and furniture, then layer in colorful accessories. Added bonus—easily switch to a new color whenever you want!


Fabricphobia: A fear of fabrics, often due to the existence of children or pets in the home.

RX: The retail community is finally catching up to this widespread affliction! Look for microfibers, outdoor fabrics and washable, tailored slipcovers. Try roman shades and cornices instead of drapes to keep fabric out of reach of little ones. Put down all-weather sisal-style rugs for the kitchen, bath, kids’ rooms and entry (I love Pottery Barn’s Herringbone Mat, above). I’m doing this in my bathroom when I get around to it. And I’ll layer white bathmats over it in strategic places. Focus on washable items and you too can have a beautifully-decorated home.

Have a great, healthy week!

Mimi's House on ROI HomeServices: http://www.roihomeservices.com/roi_decorating/movies_decorating/movie_a_happy_home/a_happy_home.swf


Pottery Barn's Outdoor Rugs: http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/prw/prwrug/prwrugsyn/index.cfm?cm%5Ftype=lnav


Rapt Paper Tray: http://www.raptdirect.com/table-and-desk-top-1/paper-trays-and-desk-tidy/rattan-desk-accessories/a4-paper-tray-5.html