Focus on Creativity
Taking time off and an announcement
Happy 2018! It's been a few weeks (okay, more than a few) since I have written a blog post. It would be a perfectly reasonable excuse if I told I you I was working like a mad woman completing multiple client installations before the holidays and was simply too busy....
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Three things to do during the holidays if you plan on downsizing
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones. We spent a cozy day in our downsized little apartment with our family. Was it the Pinterest perfect Thanksgiving with the perfectly decorated table? Not by a long shot. Was it a fun day full of family...
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Five tips for getting the most out of visiting a show house
If you love interior design then chances are you love to visit show houses. This past year I was lucky enough to visit four. The one challenge with visiting a show house is being able to take it all in. Since each room is often wildly different from the next it can be...
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How to Personalize your home with art photography
It goes without saying, that I want my clients to have a beautifully designed home. It's also equally important to me to reflect my client's unique personality. Often times I look to accomplish this by re-purposing beloved family heirlooms, meaningful art work, or by...
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Five Tips for taking better travel photos
Remember the old joke about the dreaded invite over to see someone's travel photos? Well that scenario is gone now that we see instant updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There was a good reason though for that dreaded invite. The photos were usually boring!...
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Bar carts and table settings you do not want to miss!
Wow, the past two weeks have been a whirlwind for me. Nine days in Berlin, home, three hours sleep then off to the Boston Design Center for the next five days to install, style and participate in Boston's first Designer fundraiser for the charity Heading Home To...
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Jazzing up our white box apartment
If you've been following me through this blog you know that my husband and I recently downsized from our big suburban home to a very small urban apartment. It's hard to believe but we have been here almost four months now. For the most part we love our new small care...
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How to train your eye to take better photos
There is a common saying among photographers that the best technical skills in the world will not make a bad photo good. Getting a good photo is more than simply understanding the features of your camera and a knowledge of lighting, exposure, and editing. So the...
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A master class in window treatments from three Summer show houses
Now that Summer is behind us and the kids are back at school I have been getting phone calls from new clients wanting to get their home ready for the upcoming holidays. The number one thing on their wish lists are new window treatments. Having just returned from...
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Coastal Living Idea House: Blue and White all over
Last week I visited the Coastal Living Idea House in Newport RI to see the house that Mark did. Designer Mark D. Sikes that is. It was everything I could have imagined and it came as no surprise to hear that the house has been sold along with most of the furniture,...
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Coming clean about the ugly truth of downsizing
Now that we have gone through the process of downsizing from our big home into a small urban apartment it seems that's all anyone wants to talk about. All my baby boomer clients, anyone that follows my blog and all my friends tell me they are so impressed with what we...
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Matisse and his “actors” of inspiration
Don't you often wonder when you look at a beautifully designed room or a stunning piece of art, what the inspiration was behind the creation? "What inspires you?" has to be one of the most asked questions of any creative. The answers vary but often times it's things...
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Aviva Stanoff: Textile and lighting designer extraordinaire
Linda Holt showcases designer Aviva Stanoff innovative fabric which presses objects into fabrics to create one of a kind pillows.
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Downsizing update and how to use Instagram like Pinterest
It's over. We have now officially downsized and are living in our new apartment. The location is fabulous and we love being so close to everything. I had hoped to post before now but frankly, I have been a bit overwhelmed. There have also been internet problems...as...
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I want this downsizing move to be over with!
Three more days. Three more days till we say goodbye to our big beautiful home forever. It was just this past January that we made the decision to downsize and now the time has actually come. We have sold out home and downsizing to a small urban apartment. We are 90%...
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Design trends in photos from High Point Market: part 2
Hi everyone, I hope you have enjoyed my first two posts about the color and interior design trends I spotted this Spring at High Point Market. If you missed my color trend report you can catch up HERE if you missed the first four interior design trends you can catch...
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Photos of four design trends from High Point Market
Today I am back with part two of my High Point Market design trend report. Last week I shared the color trends I saw at Market and today I have the first four of eight trends I spotted at Market. As always, this report is light on text but heavy on photos because I...
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2018 color trends you want to see now
Another High Point Spring Market is in the books and once again I made my annual pilgrimage to see all the new furniture introductions and color trends so that I can report back to you what is new in the world of furniture, accessories and lighting. So as not to...
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Downsizing to a white box
In less than two days I fly out to High Point NC for Spring Market. Although I have no business leaving town right because of the house sale, High Point Market is one of the high lights of my year and there is no way I would miss it. I get to reconnect with designer friends from all over the country and see all the latest furniture, lighting, accessories and design trends. I also get to spend some quality time with my Boston area designer friends and we have lot’s of catching up to do!
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Shockingly bad photos and why I had to look at them
Our house finally went on the market...YEAH!! We had our first Open House on Sunday and we have high hopes of getting it sold ASAP. I will go on record and say that downsizing is not for the faint of heart...in fact, it sucks! However, one storage unit and five truck...
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Dramatic kitchen makeover without replacing 32 year old cabinets
I recently completed a kitchen make over for a lovely couple who had a challenging request. They wanted a fresh looking updated kitchen but they did not want to replace the cabinets or the appliances. When I went to see their kitchen for the first time it was indeed dated. They had designed the kitchen themselves 32 years ago when they first purchased the home.
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My lucky red Feng Shui closet
After last weeks post about our lucky red Feng Shui closet, I received multiple requests to show more photos. In case you missed last weeks post, here is a quick recap. Shortly after purchasing our home I hired a Feng Shui consultant to come for a consult. It turned...
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Can Feng Shui and a red envelope help sell our house?
Today I have a great story for you about wealth, Feng Shui and a red envelope. Twelve years ago when we first bought our house (the same one we are now selling) I met a guy who was a Feng Shui master. Since we bought our house from a family with a very sick child I...
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More 2017 Tile trends that blew me away!
Get ready for some more serious tile eye candy because today is part two of the six tile trends I spotted at the Spanish tile show Cevisama. If you missed my first three trends you can catch up here. Today's post is mostly photos so grab a cup of coffee, sit back and...
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