“It takes a very strong individual to sit with themselves, calm their storms, and heal all of their issues without trying to bring someone else into that chaos.” – @Londrell

We are all on our own journey, and how we navigate that journey, especially during troubled times, is our own choice. Everyone has their own perspective on the pathway forward. There is no right or wrong way, just as long as we make it through to a calmer place. Over the past eight weeks of quarantine, many people have had to deal with loss, fear, regret and scarcity in a way that they never expected nor have had to before. We have lost loved ones, lost jobs, lost projects, lost businesses. We fear for our safety, our health, our families and our livelihoods. We regret not living in the moment before the world took a turn, not engaging with our family and friends because we knew we always could at another time, not appreciating the food that we took for granted because we knew the shelves at the supermarket would always be full, not enjoying the outdoors because we were never forced to stay inside. We have experienced scarcity of food, scarcity of touch, scarcity of companionship and scarcity of a lifestyle that we once though could never change. In retrospect, it all seemed so easy before. Now we are left in chaos.

During this time, there has been much introspection. We have all been forced to calm our storm, to find our healing. We may have chosen to do this as a group, as a family, as a couple or on our own. But however we have managed to get through this, the method is not as important as the result. We will persevere. We will overcome. We will find joy. We will sail in calm seas again. Until that time comes, support each other. Reach out to those who may be in need. Give what you have. Help a neighbor. Or just simply share a smile.Everyone is carrying a burden right now, some more than others. How they choose to carry this burden is up to the individual. But carry on with dignity, with your head held high, with your eyes focused on a better tomorrow. For we are all brothers and sisters, and when we stand together, we stand strong.

Theodore Roosevelt is quoted as saying “Comparison is the thief of Joy”.  What can be worse than being robbed of joy? With today’s obsession with Social Media, I believe that this can be applied to many aspects of our lives. And I wondered if it can also be applied to Interior Design. Many times we talk about trends and a certain look when it comes to interiors. “This look is in” or “That color palette is hot right now”.  But does comparing colors and trends rob us of the joy of being happy and grateful with our own individual spaces? I think that it does. Design has evolved from a very personal platform, to one that has become homogenized. When I began my career, people who could afford Interior Designers hired us because they knew that each piece we selected would be custom made for them. They relished the wait for a hand-carved chair in a custom finish because they knew no one else would have that exact chair. They were proud of the fact that it took nine months to weave a custom rug, because it was unique and beautiful and their best friend wouldn’t have the same one. But in today’s world of instant gratification, the “art” of design has been replaced with a world where many no longer value individuality and do not care if their neighbor has the same production-made sofa.  This thought process is evident in the same “looks” that we constantly see repeated in post after post, magazine after magazine. We have begun to devolve from custom to common. Thus, the “joy” of individually designed spaces has been “stolen” by the need to fit in with the masses.  I say, embrace your individuality and don’t fall victim to this “thief”.

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” – John Keats

As a creative being, my draw to interior design was always to create beautiful spaces in which people can create beautiful lives. I have always felt that what constitutes beauty is subjective, and great design can come in many styles and forms. One person’s heart may skip a beat when she sees the perfect chintz, while another is most comfortable in a room devoid of color. Both are correct because an interior should be a reflection of the people who live there, achieved through the collaboration of designer and client. The home should be a sanctuary, a place where families gather, where milestones are celebrated, where one comes to recharge and to be at peace. The joy that is created through interior design will last forever when those spaces are imagined to reflect the sprit of those who inhabit them.

“When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for you to stand upon or you will be taught to fly.” – Patrick Overton

In this unprecedented time that we  find ourselves presently, we all are facing the darkness of the unknown. What will happen next? Will I or a member of my family get sick? When will this end? None of us knows the answers. But how we approach the current situation  can determine whether we find solid ground when the light shines again or better yet, we learn to fly. We can commiserate with  our friends, complain about being sheltered inside or lounge around watching TV all day. Or we can look at this time for what it is – an opportunity to reset. I know for myself that this is the first time since I graduated from  college that I have had this much time unencumbered by the stress of my daily work schedule. For the first time in my adult life, everyone has had to stop. All at the same time. Barring some worse catastrophe, which is hard to imagine, an event like this will most likely never happen again in our lifetime. Don’t look back and regret that you did not use this time wisely. Reconnect with family and friends. Start that hobby you always put off. Study a new language. Take walks. Read. Come up with a plan for your next step. Because  when the light shines again, and it will, take that first step onto  the solid ground, but be ready to spread your wings and fly.

Excited to be featured in this article by Dering Hall.

Light green crystal ball chandelier is not only eye-catching – it also ties together the dining room in a unique and dramatic way.

Fava Design Group

Dering Hall Daily Feature

From Brickell Magazine

Design Dreams

Design On A Dime hosted a show-stopping interior design fair curated by South Florida’s top designers with proceeds supporting a national end to AIDS.