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.

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.

What are the latest  thoughts on accessories? Here are a few, some given by this same regional manager from her experience in dealing with the public. She says Americans insist on quality craftsmanship with good design of the piece. It should be as authentic as possible, particularly in materials. These considerations guaranty lasting appeal.

Today’s population is more traveled and wordly than previous generations. They stop at boutiques, trade shows, world markets, vendors and manufacturers. They will discuss the quality and details of a piece.

We are seeeing a bolder, stronger look with ethnic influences, giving a feeling of relaxation in overall appearance. In the right setting, antique items continue to be popular. Americans like unconventional options, things being used with a new twist; we like exaggerated shapes and forms, and unexpected materials.

Artwork is often dimensional, sh0wing details of an object or image, as opposed to the whole. Often it is digital. Custom framing and matting show the artwork to best advantage.

Take some time choosing accessories that reflect YOU, your style, your take on life. Remember your surroundings should fit you like a favorite shoe. Ask yourself–Does the Shoe….FIT? If you need help–contact us. We have been helping people personalize their spaces for decades.

Consider Bonsai, live miniature trees and shrubs that grow in pots. They can be colorful, easy to place around the house, and fairly easy to care for. Some popular plants used as bonsai include Juniper, Elm, Sago Palm, Australian Tea Tree, Red Maple, Green Maple, Cotoneaster, Rose, Oak, Boxwood, Blue Cedar, Pyracantha, Black Pine, Azalea, Ginkgo, Ivy, and Bamboo. There are many more!

Just as lawn trees need water, the small containers for these miniature trees necessitate watering frequently, about once every 2 – 3 days. Submerge the pot in water up to the tree trunk for a couple of minutes. If you have a flowering bonsai, feed it monthly all year. Nonflowering types should not be fertilized in winter.

Bonsai like direct early morning sunlight, or filtered afternoon sunlight. In warm climates they can be kept outside all day in a bright shady spot. They do need time outdoors weekly, so find a protected. cool, bright shady spot like a porch or balcony or patio to place them on for a little time a few days a week. In the cold of winter, even time near a cool semi-shady winidow will be a boost for them.

Pinching off the ends of new growth with your finger helps the plant keep it’s original bonsai shape. Bonsai  like repotted every 2 – 3 years, in the spring, pruning the roots enough to give room for expansion. Remove one-third of the soil from the tree, then transplant in sandy soil in a slightly larger pot.

Remember, your home and work environments need to fit you like a favorite shoe. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe…..FIT?” If you need some help with your interiors or exteriors, contact us. We are the interior/exterior space specialists.

We had some choices. What if she painted an accent wall; it could quickly and easily be repainted back to white when the time came to move. But which wall? The wall behind the sofa could be a cool light color to visually allow it to recede–making the space look bigger. But then as you entered (the entry was next to the sofa), you’d look ahead of you and still see three areas of white walls. The wall across from the sofa was already open to the kitchen; paint wouldn’t achieve much. But the dinette was right off the living room and easily visible from the entry. By painting the dinette, we could actually create an intimate dining “room” feel, while breaking up all that white. The space was small, three walls with a large window and a french door. It wouldn’t take much time, energy, or money to paint the three walls, and the trim would be left the existing white, which gave a crisp look to the muted green paint put on the walls.

Having a deeper color on these walls gave a feeling of intimacy and relaxation. The green emulated the natural landscape beyond the windows, and tied in exactly with the green in two existing paintings of wine bottles. We put the small painting on a small wall in the dinette, and the large painting opposite the small one, on the far kitchen wall. Before hanging the large painting, we painted a square of sintra board (easily removed) with the green paint, and hung it behind the framed art, sort of like a green border around the art. With some green plants and colorful fruit around the kitchen, it tied right in with the dinette. What a difference to that apartment!

Your spaces need to fit your life and style like your favorite shoe fits you. Look around your interiors and ask yourself, “Does the Shoe…..FIT?” Contact us if you need help; you’ll be glad you did!

HOWEVER, we have a special treat for apartment and small-space dwellers today and also in our next blog of November 30th.  This fall “Rachel” called me for an in-home interior design consultation, and expained she lived in a tiny apartment. She said she really needed help to enhance it on a budget. She hated the all white walls and wanted to give some mood and style to the place. She also thought it appeared too cluttered. The apartment consisted of a living area, dining nook, and kitchenette all open and flowing into each other (plus a private bedroom & bath.)

First, we looked at the scale and amount of the furniture. The sofa was the main piece;  there was a coffee table in front of it, a side table on either side of it, and a console table directly across from it that held Rachel’s entertainment components. A  trunk sat under the side window that could also be used for seating. I asked Rachel if she really needed all 4 tables. She loved the coffee table with it’s convenient shelf underneath, and one table was near the entry door, where she could put things on as she entered. So we removed the opposite end table, found a floor lamp to put in it’s place, and created a more spacious corner. The taller floor lamp also better illuminated the room.

A larger sized piece of modern art on the wall, hung off center to create asymmetrical balance with the lamp, completed the wall. The openness of the artwork allows the viewer to see through sections of it, rather than having an overpowering solid piece in this small space. Taking out the area rug would have visually expanded the area, also; but the soft color and it’s large size gave definition to the “living” space. We decided to keep it. Notice how the accessories are mainly tall and thin, with vertical emphasis, rather than horizontal, which takes room space.

Next blog, we’ll tie in wall color (in a rented apartment!!) for Rachel. See you then! 

If you have an interior or exterior design problem, feel free to contact us. We are the Space Specialists that make YOUR space fit YOUR way of life like a favorite shoe. Look around your space  and ask yourself, “Does the Shoe…..FIT?”

What do I do?  Well, I use a lot of my mom’s old techniques. I block some of the sunshine from coming into the house. It’s hard for me to live in a dark environment, but even simple sheers at the windows are a help. We have light-blocking top-down / bottom-up shades for the 6’ high bedroom windows, and set them to give us early sunlight only, while still having some daylight in the rooms through the entire day. It’s amazing how only 18” of opening in each window will give plenty of daylight in the summer.

Our mountain home doesn’t need air conditioning, but we do keep the hottest window exposures closed until evening. We’ve always planted or had a few shade trees in the yard, shading some part of the home. We save MUCH energy by these few tricks.

This is the time to get the cooler colored accents through the home, those in sky blues, ice blues, grass greens, mint greens, and purples and blue violets. Be sure to have live plants around, perhaps a water feature or two, and take the extraneous out of the space to give a spacious, airy feeling.

Have cooler-evening or under-shade-trees get togethers. Splash the table with bright, colorful summer prints and foods. Set a garden atmosphere. Again, have a water feature.

Summer is a wonderful time for enjoying our homes as havens of relaxation. Create the environment, and then give yourself a little down-time daily to enjoy them.  Remember–YOUR home should fit you like a favorite shoe. Ask yourself, “Does the Shoe….FIT?” And, give me a call if you need some help adapting your spaces to your lifestyle.

I look forward to your comments!–Sharon Breay, Breay Design   &   “Does the Shoe….FIT?” Workshops

The exercise room is an example: for some it is becoming a wellness center. It may have an in-house sauna, steam room, double shower, fountains, etc. And we’re seeing outdoor kitchens. Regardless of age, income, or other demographics, we want specially designed private getaways. Size is not an issue; these spaces can be quite small. Think of multi-tasking a space. For instance, when we rearranged a formal dining room, and added book-shelves, lounge chair and reading light, our client got a library as well! Another example is turning a laundry room into a hobby center and laundry room.

One client was astounded to come into the new quiet room and find all three of her sons sitting quietly reading! We had removed all electronic equipment and laid the furniture out on a diagonal. That was all, and the children were responding to the changes.

This type of space should  be digital free, windowless unless there is a beautiful full scene from the outside. The space needs a good reading/sewing light, lots of puffy pillows, and warm earthy tones with deep browns. However, color and a quiet zen quality is up to the client. No other space needs as personalized design as this. Joyce Goldstein of J. Goldstein Interiors recently created a space in a garage, later featured in the Robb Report periodical. It was a man’s playroom, with a 92” projector TV with a continual feed of car races. It had real race car seats for lounging, and bar stools made from car wheels.

In our next blog, we’ll discuss how we create Sacred Spaces/Healing Spaces Outdoors. It will get us all planning for summer.  —-See you then!  Sharon  Breay