design never sleeps
Just got back from an incredible trip to Florida, and landed right back in the middle of a tornado - renovations, multiple shoots for a TV network, architect, the new sauna, and more filming for my forthcoming program (for those interested in learning and building a business around design)
I did not have a spare second to pop down to Alys / Rosemary / Seaside; it was 50% work and 50% beach volleyball. You forget how fun beach volleyball is. Also saw a manatee swimming in the ocean.
Now that we're back, it feels like our home renovation all over again. Our house, although starting to look a bit different, is a wreck inside and out. There are piles of stuff everywhere, and various workers in and out all day. It is all I can think about.
My wife is sick of it - I keep telling her it will be over soon. I hope it is. She needs a break. That's always how these projects go; they completely take over your life and then you move right on to the next thing.
We color-drenched kitchen/living/dining rooms with Benjamin Moore First Crush. It's a really pretty light-blushed beige, very close to Farrow & Ball's Dimity, which is another winner. It looks a thousand times better than the previous white, and it ties in so well with the floors, tile, and wood cabinets in our kitchen.
We painted all registers, ceiling spot lights, and bought paintable outlet covers. Didn't want to pop white against this beautiful color. If you are looking for a pro design hack, removing white plastic pops on the ceiling and walls is definitely one.
At the last minute, we impulsively opted for painting the windows green. The color (BM Land of Liberty) is wrong; we're going darker (BM Backwoods), but I'm absolutely thrilled with this decision. It's going to be such a tight and striking look when it's done.
I'm trying to figure out what to plant for landscaping outside that won't die right away when it gets cold. Also need to replace the giant tree in the front yard - I love the trunks and small dark leaves of Lace Bark Elms, also love River Birch and Sycamores. If you didn't notice, I am an "interesting bark" guy.
When I was in high school, I remember thinking that there was a moment when you "arrived" as an adult. I thought this happened around age 23, within a year or so of graduating from college. When you arrive as an adult, everything is figured out and predictable. Your job and life became stable & extremely boring, and you were essentially on a conveyor belt until you died. How hilariously wrong I was.
While life generally seems to be improving, it doesn't really seem to be getting easier. Part of this is kids, part of it is growing an online-based business with no map in an industry that didn't exist 10 years ago, and part of it is frequently doing work on an old house.
But I wouldn't have it any other way. If you are a creative, you can't help but explore, change, edit, improve, and beautify your environment and your life. When I look around, I see things that should be enhanced and untapped potential everywhere. Stability is terrific, but it's not the ultimate goal. Making something truly great is my aim. I hope I'm aiming right.
Can't wait to share more of everything we've been doing to our home, stay tuned.
