If you are a Pink Thumb,–know you are one in hundreds of thousands! I give programs about the extreme challenges of western gardens–but inside our homes, it isn’t any easier to raise a plant. Here are the biggest reasons most westerners (and easterners) have trouble raising houseplants:

1) Our homes are BONE dry inside (jusy dry if you live in the eastern US). Yet many houseplants on the market are tropical plants! (Think:  Rainforest)  (And perhaps your bathroom!)

2) Plants need light. Yet our window ledges at this time of year can be frigid, as is the floor and air next to a tall window.

3) Again–Plants need light.  But often, when we give them western or southern light, they BAKE in the west. The strong southern sunlight is exemplified through our glass windows.

4) Let’s admit it–We forget to water them!  Best way to handle this, is to set a certain day of the week to water them. Maybe for you, it’s early Sunday morning, or perhaps, when you do some weekly chore that seems somewhat related. (For me, it’s on the week-end, because generally, I do “some” cleaning on the week-end, to make the house look nice, and plants are a part of that overall look. A half-dead plant does not contribute to the overall look.)

There ARE plants that are extremely easy to grow in your home. (I know, you’ve heard this before—) In order to keep this blog to a typical blog size, I’ll continue next blog with easy to grow plants for pink thumbs.  Why make this a big challenge, if it needn’t be?

Remember, our homes must fit us like our favorite shoes! Ask yourself,…..”Does the Shoe FIT?” If not contact us. We help people create attractive, up-to-date, functional, and easily maintained homes that fit them perfectly.

See you back February 15th! (And remember, plants make excellent gifts!)

Do they work? You bet! And many are sleek and modern looking. There are accessible tubs for compact spaces, as well as full lie-down bathtubs. Some models for wheelchair users allow the user to slide in. Doors can swing outward, inward, or slide up and down. Features can include a power lift seat, jets (my mom loves this), a seat, grab bars, and rails. The compact models are sit in, and fit a smaller space than a traditional tub. Others fit the standard tub opening.

The drawbacks? Very few. The biggest hurdle is that you need to empty the tub before you can get out–but even that has been worked out with tubs that empy in less than 30 seconds.  Please send in your comments for others to read & share as this is something many of us haven’t considered before.

Remember, our homes need to fit us like our favorite shoe. Ask yourself…..Does the Shoe  FIT? Is it both attractive to YOU (regardless of magazine photos) and functional to YOUR lifestyle? If you need help, give us a call. We’ve been helping people just like you with their homes for over 20 years.

1) What about exterior lighting? We’ve written about it before, but what do YOU have? Shiny brass or solid black isn’t as “today” as finishes like antiqued copper, bronze or brushed nickel.

2) Your house numbers and other hardware may also need an updated finish, as those suggested above.

3) Have blooming flowers as long as your locale allows–and then tasteful winter landscape looks with interesting bare shapes, textures, and colors. (Think of some things like Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, tall grasses that don’t droop in the snow like switchgrass, and color like redtwig dogwood–something similar for your yard.)

4) Paint your home in subdued colors of nature, muted greens, deep reds, pale yellows–for a peaceful look. Bright high-contrast colors exaggerate a house’s flaws.

Remember, you want the home to be appealing, but it can also reflect YOU. Our homes should fit us like our favorite shoes. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe….FIT?” If you need some help, contact us. We are the interior/exterior design experts.

Recently, a client asked for some type of meditational garden space in their back landscaping. It was to be its own entity, but blend into the yard. We didn’t have hundreds of feet to devote on the labyrith. But we had enough to create a small version in approximately 30- 35 sq. ft. .

The whole idea is a bit like Zen, as you travel the paths of a labyrinth, walking in circles, or in this case, curved, organically shaped paths, you are to appreciate the beauty along the paths that take you to the center. By the time you reach the center, you are refreshed of mind and body.

In this narrow-pathed personal labyrinth, we still  had space to create along the way a shady garden strip, a hummingbird garden strip, a trellis garden strip, a water feature, a butterfly garden strip, a zen stone garden, and a small sculpture.  Both client and I loved creating it.

The labyrinth idea would not need to be circular in nature, but by doing so, it adds to the feeling of “getting away,” as you walk within the circle.  To be really effective, give it some low level night lighting.

Remember, your surroundings need to fit you like a favorite shoe fits you. Ask yourself, “Does the shoe….FIT?” If you need some help; contact us, Breay Design, the Space Specialists.

How many times homeowners move into this lovely home, but become more aggrevated with time because an architectural detail doesn’t align with other things! Here’s an example, and some solutions. The shallow niche in this dining room wall did not align with the center of the room. The chandelier and the bay window were aligned. So as you sat at the dining room table,  the niche seemed oddly placed & disturbing.

Typically, the table would be centered along the axis of the room, but this emphasized the misalignment. So I suggested some alternatives. The first was to break up the niche by adding both a high boy cabinet as well as a lower small serving table or buffet, or even an easy chair or rocker.

The second suggestion was to move the table perpendicular to the window and niche, to somewhat camoflauge the line of axis by the strong table line going in the opposite direction.

The third solution, our preference, was to put the table on a diagonal in the room. A strong diagonal line will always take attention from other things, in this case visually obliterating the axis line of the architectural elements. The accent paint was taken off the niche wall, as we didn’t want to call attention to it; accent paint was put on the large wall across from the entry so upon entering the home, one’s attention would be drawn across the room, with the diagonal table pointing in the same direction. This accent wall would be a good place for artwork.

Good space arrangement will always improve a problem. Remember your interiors need to fit YOU like your favorite shoe. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe….FIT?  If you need some help, contact us. We are the interior and exterior space specialists that have helped hundreds of homeowners, and given hundreds of workshops and programs on design.

Our homes generally have some harmony built in, which is a help to us. “Most” of our rooms have 90 degree corners, rectangular walls, doors, and most of our windows are rectangular……..So is most of our furniture (sofas, chairs, many tables, even some area rugs)  Harmony might come in the form of a certain color being repeated often, such as a light tone on the walls, a deeper tone in some upholstery, perhaps in a stripe, or part of a print. If our furniture and accessories are all of a certain style, we also have harmony. You’re getting the picture. See if you can find elements of harmony–and elements of contrast in the sketch of a home office.

Harmony is a good thing, as when a space, inside OR outside has harmony, we feel calm. There is orderliness to the space. It settles us.

Have you noticed, though, that most newer homes have a arched window, some of the walls are curved, or running into other spaces creating a shape NOT rectangular. Oval and circular area rugs are common. And a color may be in several pieces, but we usually like using it in varying tones of that color (values), and in stripes or prints so everything isn’t the same. You see, we need harmony—but we also need a little contrast so we don’t become bored with too much of the sameness.

How you create harmony with a little contrast depends on your personality and how you live. Your homes, inside and out, need to fit you and your life  like your favorite shoes. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe…FIT?” If not, give us a call or write about your problem on this blog for an answer. I always welcome people sending in problems. We’ve been giving unique solutions for people’s spaces for decades. We are the Total Space Specialists.

When we simply plant things that appeal to us, where ever there is room, we often lack harmony, which is defined as all objects having a common trait. When a space has harmony, it gives us humans a sense of order and peace. After a full day we long to come into our garden for some relaxation, recouping some peace in our lives.  A variety of textures, colors, heights, shapes, etc.,etc. may be robbing us of this peaceful feeling.

Yet, if here isn’t some contrast in our garden, it may look boring. If an entire yard has nothing but white tulips, all the same height, all in neat rows, we don’t appreciate it as much as a sprinkling of groups of white tulips in various areas of the yard in groups (not rows) of 3, 5, 7, or 9 plants per group. These groups of pure white tend to harmonize the entire space. The varying number of plants per group gives a little interesting contrast to them.

Contrast provides a little spark to our garden. However, if we plant 1 shrub with a purple flower, one medium sized plant with tiny foliage, one small plant with large yellow flowers, one large leaved plant; as lovely as each of these are, there is no harmony to the group. There is no element that carries through.  Bjut what if we planted several of the large leaved plant around the shrub, with some tiny foliaged plants encircling or bordering the entire group? Or perhaps we have shrub, with large leaved plants, and tiny leaved plants intersperced through the space, but they all had flowers in the same color?

To help you achieve a beautiful yard or garden, give some thought to planning the harmony and contrast of the space before planting. 

And if you need a little help, contact us. We are the interior-exterior space specialists, and can make your yard fit you like your favorite shoe. Ask yourself…..Does the Shoe FIT?

The formulas, or templates, are:

MONOCHROMATIC:  One color throughout a room in both light and dark tones, and various intensities of that one color. This is a good one for a formal, peaceful, setting.

ANALOGUS: This is a bit more colorful, using three colors right next to each other on the color wheel. Examples are Yellow, Yellow-Orange, and Orange   or   Blue, Blue-Purple, and Purple.

COMPLIMENTARY: Two colors directly across from each other on the color wheel. Such as Purple and Yellow or Blue and Orange. Unlike the first two formulas, these colors are not related in any way! They will clash if one color is not dominate and the second subordinate.

SPLIT COMPLIMENTARY: Similar to complimentary except that you choose a Y shape on the color wheel. Take one color and go directly across from it on the color wheel–BUT, before you get there, vere off to the right and the left of that opposite color, thus traveling in a “Y”. Example: Purple, Yellow-Green, and Yellow-Orange. If color intimidates you, this may not be the best to try, as it is tricky–but lively and fun when pulled off successfully. The trick is to have a ratio where one color takes about 65%, one about 30%, and one about 5%.

TRIAD: The most exciting look–and most difficult to achieve. NOT for places of quiet refuge. One the color wheel, choose three colors that create an equilateral triangle, such as Yellow-Orange, Blue-Green (Aqua or Turquiose), and Red-Violet (Crimson). Again, the ratio for the three colors needs to be about 65%, 30%, and 5%.

If you have questions, feel free to contact me through this blog, or through private consultation. Remember, your surroundings should fit you like a favorite shoe. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe….FIT?” If not, contact us; we are the interior/exterior space specialists.

Light, cool colors visually recede, creating a feeling of spaciousness in our smaller rooms. Warm Colors visually advance, helping those long and narrow rooms to seem in better proportion.

People have a feeling of intimacy in darker colors–good for our dining room, bathroom, bedrooms. It goes back to our prehistoric cave-dwelling days of dark interiors where we felt safe. In light cool colored spaces, we work more efficiently.The cooler colors, blues, greens, and purples, are great for un-stressing and quiet activities like sewing or sleeping or reading. Warm colors such as reds, yellows, and oranges put us in a social mood, and the warmer or more intense the color combination, the more the party atmosphere. Warm colors make us feel hotter in a room with western exposure.

So what is the function, shape, and sun exposure of your room? They are not all the same, nor do all people have the same functions, shapes, and sun exposure to the same rooms of their home. So how can color trends fit your individual needs? They can’t. They are groupings of pretty, compatible colors–but totally impersonable to YOUR needs.

Then how do you pick and choose from so many colors? Actually, there are 5 successful color formulas or templates that help you choose the best color combination for each of your spaces, once you determine the areas main function, shape, and sun exposure.

We will talk about these 5 formulas or templates in the next blog. Remember, your spaces need to fit you like your favorite shoe. Ask yourself, “Does the shoe…..fit?”  If not, contact us, Breay Design. We are the interior and exterior space specialists.

Visually, seniors have problems with low contrasts such as the graphics on appliances, or between text sizes on signage, or between wall and floor transitions. Solutions could be found in using big bold, dark text on a light background; or using a darker flooring or flooring border, with light colored walls.

Dark surfaces around brightly lit surfaces, such as a window or light fixture with brilliant light, can also cause slower cognitive response. One solution to this is to use fluorescent bulbs as they give diffused, softer lighting rather than intense, hard edged light from halogen bulbs. I recommend using a type of fluorescent that has a kelvin color temperature (color–nothing to do with feel) of 3000 degrees as it is closest to the color of incandescent light bulbs that most seniors are accustomed to.

Here are some other findings the Architectural Research Consortium discovered in 2009: Seniors have problems adapting from high noise levels to low noise levels and vice versa. They do better with comunication in quieter spaces than hearing loud voices.

The research report also states that temperature levels need to change as we age. Seniors often stay home more, have lower activity levels, and wear light weight clothing. So thermal comfort for them usually is at a higher level than for young people.

Since seniors have reduced perception in both taste and smell, smoke detectors and other similar aids are extremely important.

Aging should not be defined as a period of withdrawal and less involvement. Providing environments that take into account senior needs will allow a much more satisfying life.

Make your home fit you like your favorite shoe. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe…FIT?” If you need help, contact us; we are the space specialists, with cross country references for designing for seniors.