| FEATURED PROJECT
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Design of this tiny bathroom was inspired by Zen simplicity with negative space, geometrical shapes and color contrasts.
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| SECRET WEAPONS OF A SEASONED DESIGNER
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While accessorizing, use negative (empty) space. It focuses the viewer's attention on the focal element of the design.
Subtracting often works better then adding.
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FEATURED RESOURCE
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DESIGN WITHIN REACH
a source for modern design in furniture, lighting and accessories
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CALENDAR PAGE
March is an Optimism Month.
Begin each day with a good thought. Look around and appreciate the great thing here and now. Count your blessings and share your happiness, not your dissatisfaction.
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DID YOU KNOW?
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The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters. The Hawaiians are one of the happiest folks on Earth. Think about it...
You can spell "happy" with only four different letters. Do it often.
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 Greetings!
Feeling less-than-optimistic lately? Turn off the news, look out your window, it's finally Spring. Do not let the gloomy media tendency influence your attitude.
Challenge yourself to find at least one happy thing daily to do: take a walk, read a good book, spend time with your favorite people. Listen to your children or grandchildren; learn from their open-mindedness and positive attitude.
In the words of Napoleon Hill:
"Change your mental attitude, and the world around you will change accordingly." |
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Read on, be healthy, be happy,
Bozena Chorazewicz
Bozena Studio
We design your dreams...
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STUFF
Recently I was at the Pier 1 Imports store, one of many on my list for quick
accessorizing. I was stunned by the new layout at the store front. Instead
of being greeted by inspiring design vignettes, you are practically
attacked with seasonal stuff lined up in masses on shelves. Furniture items are stacked instead of being displayed in room settings. The
welcoming feeling is gone, you feel as if you were at the home improvement grab-and-go store.
This new marketing approach made me think: is this an adjustment to the fact that people are afraid of buying bigger home decor items, but still buying smaller accessories "on the whim"? Are we being tricked into buying a lot of non-essential stuff? And how is this influencing our current economy?
In the era of global warming and higher eco-awareness, and with economy heading South, shouldn't we be limiting our purchases to locally made items with an average lifespan longer than one season which won't end up in the landfill in a few months?
Instead of buying on impulse the items you really don't need, try these ideas to maximize your ROI in home design:
- Feeling like change? You'll get more impact by buying one big item than many small ones. Human eye goes to the big, colorful, obvious objects first, then moves over to the detail.
- When buying, ask yourself the following questions: For how long will I use it? Will it withstand the wear-and-tear of my family's everyday use? How would I dispose of it when I'm done? Imagine it in the landfill in 50-100 years...
- Try to limit seasonal decor items to reusable, cleanable objects that can be safely stored and easily revived in the future.
- A few of strategically placed decorative items will provide enough visual interest without over-cluttering the space.
- In case you don't trust your "decorating guts," look for inspiration and professional advice. Magazines like Natural Home or Body & Soul promote eco-friendly lifestyle. Look for free information on the internet; you can start with my blog
- And after all, keep your spirits high - you can do it! (If not, let me know!)
Happy decorating! |
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Copyright © 2004-2009 BOZENA STUDIO
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