Need Post Holiday Inspiration? Do This ...

A walk in the cold beats reading e-mails any day!

What's the real Truth about your Holiday?

The holidays can take a toll on more than our pocketbooks. It's supposed to be a fun and engaging time. But for many, it's stress upon stress. 

The stress might be from your family, your weight gain or from lack of exercise or money.

Instead of just complaining about the stress, you could invent a way to bring back some real joy or enthusiasm in your life.

Here are a few things I've done lately to restore my spirit:

• A daily walk changes your mood instantly - try at least a 30 minute walk
• Read books that speak to you and your interests - see what I'm reading now below
• Listen to a podcast that gives you inspiration - I listened to 'Good Life Podcast' this morning and it's content was so interesting hearing the Power of Habit author, Charles Duhigg
• Decide on a habit you'd like to start or change - less or better food, less alcohol or more exercise
• List in your mind all the things you are thankful for at the start of the day

What I'm reading now that you may enjoiy too:

"The Four Hour Workweek" by Timothy Ferriss  - great to get you back on a good track soon

"Architecture to Construction" by Paul D. Rugarber   - must read for my clients who are building a new home ($2.99 is a small price to pay for a book on Kindle!)

"The Dead Presidents Club" by Harris Baseman - very interesting, especially if you like stories on leaders of countries (i. e. The Crown)

"A Happy Pocket Full of Money" by David Cameron Gikandi and Bob Doyle" - reading a paragraph a day could be all you need now 

"The Paleo Cardiologist" by Jack Wolfson, DO FACC - suggested to me by my son Chris Lupo and his wife, Lisa. If Chris says to do this - it's the approach I'll take to be and stay healthy for a long time. 

M. A. Smith  LLC Interior Design

732 690-2030

Interior Design - Ocean and Monmouth County and Metropolitan New Jersey, CT and NYC

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House Zen Garden Blog

Go from Dark and Drab with a Little Pizazz

Photo courtesy of Nick Olsen and House Beautiful

One of the easiest ways to capture an updated look and add some pizazz to your home is by weaving a theme into your decorating scheme. Designer Nick Olsen did a fantastic job of this in a home he decorated for a client (as shown in the photo above).

He used bold green graphic lines throughout the home. For instance, he designed a white slip-covered sofa with the contrast of an emerald green welt.

Olsen also added a splash of green with a chevron design on a bedroom chest.

Another home that accomplished this successfully had a checkerboard theme. The checkerboard pattern was scattered throughout the house on walls, on floors and even on a sofa pillow.

For instance, a wall was painted in a faded checkerboard pattern. The pattern also showed up in a kitchen cutting board, a tile floor, a dining room tablecloth and on powder room guest towels.

But, what made it so successful was how it was achieved in a subtle manner. 

Repeating a graphic element has the power of pulling rooms together.

Define what shape you are drawn to (chevron, checkerboard, circles, triangles, animal silhouettes, etc.) and repeat it in each room. 

Choose and use your favorite shape or symbol and you'll make your rooms come together and come to life!

 Interior Design - Ocean and Monmouth County and Metropolitan New Jersey and NYC

M. A. Smith  LLC Interior Design
732 690-2030
Best Design Coach Blog
House Zen Garden Blog

Goal Setting for 2016

With the holidays behind us, it's a great time to start thinking about the upcoming year. Like many of my clients, I have projects in my own home that are crying for help.

One of my projects is refinishing my wood floors. Another is to remove and replace the tile floors that flow from the Foyer into the Kitchen. I've pondered the best replacement solution for awhile. Do I replace the 12 x 12 tile with the ever popular wood plank look tile or install wood floors in lieu of the new style of tile?

Photo courtesy of Houzz
wood plank porcelain tile

Problem is either tile or wood could work. Both installations will take over a week. Also, my office has wood floors that need to be refinished. If I'm going to the trouble of replacing the tile, we might as well renovate and replace the kitchen cabinets.  

So you see, I'm right there with my clients who want to make a change this year. I can't go through another year with this to-do list on the back burner! What's a designer to do?

From my inspiration tear-sheet pages
Just love that transom window for the pantry

The first thing to get my project going is to gather my file of tear sheets from magazines of rooms and kitchens that 'call to me'. Second, I'm all about lists. So, I'll take out my lined pad and write down the pros and cons for tile vs. wood. The kitchen cabinet part is easy, it will be white cabinets. And, while the kitchen layout will remain the same, we will remove some upper cabinets and use floating shelves instead for plates, cups, etc.

Enough for now! Time to get back to work. In the meantime, what's on your list this year?

Fast Track Interior Design - interior design plan that gets your project to goal

M. A. Smith LLC Interior Design
1288 Beauchamps Place, Toms River, NJ 08753
732 690-2030
E-mail: masmith@masmithinteriordesign.com
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http://masmithinteriordesign.com
Blog: HouseZenGarden
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Serving New Jersey and Metropolitan New York City