 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Power Style Wellness Connections |
10 Ways to Bring Comfort and Joy Into Your Home
By Joan Whelan Waddell •
Photos by Ewa Wojtkowska
Your home is a place where you and your family experience the emotions of life,
from the happiest moments to the less-than-memorable.
So shouldn't it stand ready to help you through whatever life brings? Is it ready to
greet guests for an impromptu post-theater dinner or cozy enough to comfort you
when you’ve had a bad day?
To me, a dream home is a place where I can laugh, cry, express, and celebrate with
ease. It should feel comfortable from the moment I enter and function in a way that
fits my lifestyle.
As we wind down the year, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about ten things
you could consider incorporating in your home in 2008 that will bring you “Comfort
and Joy” in the months ahead.
1. Something Precious — This does not mean expensive. I’m talking about
something that is important to you and your family. We need to breathe “Soul” into
our homes and sentimental things do that. Your child’s artwork or Grandmother’s
brooch can qualify. It will take on a new level of importance with a little attention.
Frame the brooch in a shadow box and hang it in a hallway that you pass through
often. The memory will make you feel good every time you see it.
2. Something Funny — Humor is an important part of
our lives, so why do we resist it when we decorate our
homes? Everyone loves to laugh so find something
that triggers a giggle. On a college visit to see my
daughter last year, I was browsing through a campus
store and found a treasure — a 3-foot-high tin
sculpture of a cat holding a sign that says, “Feed
Me.” It now graces my laundry room wall and I smile a
little more when I do the laundry!
3. Something Comforting — What does comfort mean to you? My definition is a
chair that wraps around me and a chenille throw that covers my toes. Make sure
your comfort chair is well-constructed so it will hold up to constant use. Dress it in a
soft, durable fabric, add a lumbar pillow to support your back, a color-coordinated
throw and you’re ready to hibernate.
4. Something Energizing — Feng Shui teaches that we should design our rooms so
that Chi can flow freely, creating positive energy. My advice — start by getting rid of
clutter. Too many chairs, tables, knickknacks or piles of paper can zap your energy
when you enter a space. Get rid of clutter and design a system for staying
organized so it doesn’t happen again.
5. Something Inspirational — Pick a subject that inspires you and surround yourself
with books on that subject. I love books on historical architecture, and my collection
tells a story about places I’ve traveled to over the years. I often use these special
books as inspiration for new design projects.
6. Something Practical — Useful, yes, but not unsightly. What does your door mat
look like? If you’ve given any attention to it in the last six months, congratulations.
For the rest of us, this is something that needs immediate attention. It is literally the
first thing that guests see when they step up to your door. Shouldn’t it reflect the
same quality as the interior spaces in your home?
7. Something Aromatic — Did you know that the sense
of smell is the strongest? It seems to trigger memories
quicker than the sense of sight or hearing. Make a habit
of burning quality scented candles. I move my candles
around, perching them in hurricanes, surrounded by
berries, on a tray in varying heights, or mounted on the
wall. Their scent wafts through the entire house, and the
candle glow creates a soothing ambiance.
8. Something Luminous — Good lighting is essential to
safety. But it can be so much more. Specialty lighting
can change the look and feel of a room instantly.
Make sure you have the proper illumination in your
rooms — do you have enough lamps? What is the
appropriate wattage needed? How could you improve on the lamps you have?
Having the correct harp and shade can make a dramatic difference in the look.
Maybe it’s time to invest in a new lamp with an updated style.
9. Something Fresh — We all know it’s true but how often do we do it? Nothing can
replace the beauty of fresh flowers in our home. Treat your family to a bouquet on a
regular basis and divide it up so you can enjoy the blooms in the foyer, kitchen and
den.
10. Something Memorable — Our home is full of wonderful memories. With the
coming New Year, we have an opportunity to create new memories. What will yours
be?
Joan Whelan Waddell, KY CID, Allied member ASID, is the owner of J. Waddell
Interiors. Ask her your decorating questions at joanwaddell@iamtodayswoman.com
By Joan Whelan Waddell •
Photos by Ewa Wojtkowska
Your home is a place where you and your family experience the emotions of life,
from the happiest moments to the less-than-memorable.
So shouldn't it stand ready to help you through whatever life brings? Is it ready to
greet guests for an impromptu post-theater dinner or cozy enough to comfort you
when you’ve had a bad day?
To me, a dream home is a place where I can laugh, cry, express, and celebrate with
ease. It should feel comfortable from the moment I enter and function in a way that
fits my lifestyle.
As we wind down the year, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about ten things
you could consider incorporating in your home in 2008 that will bring you “Comfort
and Joy” in the months ahead.
1. Something Precious — This does not mean expensive. I’m talking about
something that is important to you and your family. We need to breathe “Soul” into
our homes and sentimental things do that. Your child’s artwork or Grandmother’s
brooch can qualify. It will take on a new level of importance with a little attention.
Frame the brooch in a shadow box and hang it in a hallway that you pass through
often. The memory will make you feel good every time you see it.
2. Something Funny — Humor is an important part of
our lives, so why do we resist it when we decorate our
homes? Everyone loves to laugh so find something
that triggers a giggle. On a college visit to see my
daughter last year, I was browsing through a campus
store and found a treasure — a 3-foot-high tin
sculpture of a cat holding a sign that says, “Feed
Me.” It now graces my laundry room wall and I smile a
little more when I do the laundry!
3. Something Comforting — What does comfort mean to you? My definition is a
chair that wraps around me and a chenille throw that covers my toes. Make sure
your comfort chair is well-constructed so it will hold up to constant use. Dress it in a
soft, durable fabric, add a lumbar pillow to support your back, a color-coordinated
throw and you’re ready to hibernate.
4. Something Energizing — Feng Shui teaches that we should design our rooms so
that Chi can flow freely, creating positive energy. My advice — start by getting rid of
clutter. Too many chairs, tables, knickknacks or piles of paper can zap your energy
when you enter a space. Get rid of clutter and design a system for staying
organized so it doesn’t happen again.
5. Something Inspirational — Pick a subject that inspires you and surround yourself
with books on that subject. I love books on historical architecture, and my collection
tells a story about places I’ve traveled to over the years. I often use these special
books as inspiration for new design projects.
6. Something Practical — Useful, yes, but not unsightly. What does your door mat
look like? If you’ve given any attention to it in the last six months, congratulations.
For the rest of us, this is something that needs immediate attention. It is literally the
first thing that guests see when they step up to your door. Shouldn’t it reflect the
same quality as the interior spaces in your home?
7. Something Aromatic — Did you know that the sense
of smell is the strongest? It seems to trigger memories
quicker than the sense of sight or hearing. Make a habit
of burning quality scented candles. I move my candles
around, perching them in hurricanes, surrounded by
berries, on a tray in varying heights, or mounted on the
wall. Their scent wafts through the entire house, and the
candle glow creates a soothing ambiance.
8. Something Luminous — Good lighting is essential to
safety. But it can be so much more. Specialty lighting
can change the look and feel of a room instantly.
Make sure you have the proper illumination in your
rooms — do you have enough lamps? What is the
appropriate wattage needed? How could you improve on the lamps you have?
Having the correct harp and shade can make a dramatic difference in the look.
Maybe it’s time to invest in a new lamp with an updated style.
9. Something Fresh — We all know it’s true but how often do we do it? Nothing can
replace the beauty of fresh flowers in our home. Treat your family to a bouquet on a
regular basis and divide it up so you can enjoy the blooms in the foyer, kitchen and
den.
10. Something Memorable — Our home is full of wonderful memories. With the
coming New Year, we have an opportunity to create new memories. What will yours
be?
Joan Whelan Waddell, KY CID, Allied member ASID, is the owner of J. Waddell
Interiors. Ask her your decorating questions at joanwaddell@iamtodayswoman.com
