Have you met Philippe?

This past weekend I had the privilege to meet a famous French architect and designer. The one and only Philippe Demougeot, whose 7 year run of the segment SOS Maison on the France 5 TV series Question Maison always left me with stars in my eyes.

I was apprehensive about meeting him. This guy is big time, the whole sha-bang! However, even though he has alot to brag about (his show, his private practice and his books) he was down to earth and very enjoyable to chat with. When I raved over his amazing ability to sketch out rooms, then with a wave of his magic eraser show the "after transformation", he shrugged his shoulders and said, "well, that's what I know how to do".

He indulged my questions and flattery and before you know it, we were laughing and sharing experiences. I was not surprised to hear that after transforming hundreds of homes, he has never once had an unhappy customer. Proof that he really does listen and deliver what people want.

His books display his design super powers as well. My favorite is SOS Maison, before and after. It basically reads like his segment series. You see before photos, learn what the problem areas are and see the before sketch. Then the project is revealed through gorgeous after photos. Philippe marries his talents for architecture and design flawlessly. It shows through in the functional layout and in the details of lighting, color schemes and accessories. His ideas seem endless.

I hope to meet Philippe again to learn more about his process and hear about his amazing transformations. Who knows, maybe some of his genius will rub off on me.

Check out Philippe's blog and website for more information.

You are how you live

My most recent good read is: The Emotional House by Kathryn Robyn and Dawn Ritchie. Their book is a step-by-step workbook on how to relook your home to change your life.

So what exactly is an Emotional House? It is "a home that functions practically, is organized, inviting and is a great place to just settle in and be".

Everyone is unique and this book helps you define your style and being in your home. The book is divided into 3 sections. The first, Your Blueprint is filled with interactive exercises on how to examine and define your existing home, tangibly and emotionally. Where are you most comfortable in your home? What is most disorganized? Are their changes you foresee such as the arrival of a baby or a child moving out? And so on. They also delve into our emotional state and how that is reflected in our homes on a daily basis. An unclean kitchen could reveal you don't feel supported, since the kitchen is the heart of the support structure. Don't worry, in section 3 they explain how to correct this.

In part 2, Your Foundation, the authors establish a 12 point system to follow on how to create your Emotional House. This section deals directly with organizing and decorating to your tastes and needs, both in function and emotion to find true balance and harmony.

In the final section, they get down to the logistics of how to transform projects and ideas into reality. Again through the use of interactive exercises, you establish goals and then make a plan to achieve them while taking into consideration the time, budget and complexity of your plans. The last part of section 3 breaks down individual rooms and spaces in the home and explains their practical and emotional function. They even offer a list of tips and reminders for each room to help you keep your Emotional House in check. For instance, the living room where the emotional function is equalizing, they suggest that camaraderie and fellowship (which is what primarily is exchanged in this room) means no one gets to hog the remote, among other things.

Overall a very motivating and concrete way of relooking your home to support you, your family and your life style.

Can't keep the ball rolling?

Here we are in March already. So, how are you doing on your list of home projects? If you're like a lot of people you started the year motivated and filled with good intentions, but somehow have run out of steam by now.

So I offer you a little pick me up in the form of a book. The title is: This Year I Will... by M. J. Ryan an expert on change. Ms. Ryan has written other inspirational books such as, The Happiness Makeover and The Power of Patience.

This Year I Will... is exceptionally helpful in regards to setting and achieving goals, big or small. It's filled with scientifically proven research on how our brain works, followed by sound methods to help you overcome obstacles that arise (and they always do). Ryan covers some of the big subjects like getting in shape, loosing weight and quitting smoking, but all of her methods can be applied to tasks as simple as cleaning out your desk.

Above all, Ryan's book is human. It is filled with humbling stories about herself, her family, and scores of her clients. Here's a small excerpt:

My husband Don is a packrat. The only way I can stand to share a living space with him is that he has a whole room to himself for his stuff. Just peeking in there makes me nauseous. He's been collecting that stuff for most of his fifty years. Every so often, he complains about the chaos and disappears in there for hours. But I never see what I consider progress in organization going on. Fortunately I've learned to keep my eyes and mouth shut. (Well, mostly.) Over the Chirstmas holiday this year, he decided to take charge of it once and for all. Again, he disappeared for hours. He finally came out and declared, "All that time and I could only find two things I'm willing to get rid of." I said nothing. A week later, he pronounced, "I realize what the problem is. It's so out of control that it's overwhelming. I don't even know where to begin. So I've decided (...) I'm going to throw away one thing a day." Smart man. He figured out a secret to change: one tiny step at a time. It doesn't matter which small step. Just take one, as long as it's little. Then take another. Repeat until you've gotten where you want to be.

I'll let you discover the secret to this technique and a host of techniques to help you succeed in keeping your resolutions.

Happy reading!

Cataloging catalogs

Don't you just love paging through catalogs? I do! While the kids page through toy catalogs preparing their lists for Santa, I page through home store catalogs with the same enthusiasm.

Mentally I create rooms that have charm and style. Rooms that reflect a lifestyle. From the 60's retro home office to the contemporary, but cozy living room it all comes together in my minds eye from a few pages in a catalog.

If you're thinking of reinventing one of your rooms a catalog can be your source for your inspiration and your one-stop shopping guide for everything you need. Fly has their catalog organized by style, IKEA organizes theirs by room and Maison du Monde by collection. They all present rooms put together entirely from their collections...and let me tell you, there is something for everyone.

Now this doesn't mean you have to stop at catalogs for inspiration. There are some amazing interior/home magazines out there filled with ideas for the taking. From country to contemporary there are magazines for all tastes to be satisfied. So pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy the world of interiors through the pages of your favorite catalog.

Where do the pros go?

Every pro draws their inspiration from someone or something. My biggest source of inspiration comes from the renowned antique and interior expert, Judith Miller. She is the author of over 80 books and guides on interiors, antiques and collectibles!

Miller, like me, became interested in antiques and interiors by visiting junk shops and flea markets and picking up treasures for next to nothing. However, unlike me, she spent hours researching and attending antique fairs. All that diligent research paid off because now she is recognized as one of the world's leading experts in the field of antiques and interior styles.

Besides her successful antique price guides, Miller also appears on several television programs including: "The Antiques Roadshow" and "The House Detectives".

Her books, which are never far from arm's reach in my home, include: The Style Sourcebook, Styles and Colors, and Inspired Interiors. Each page is filled with wonderful photos, descriptions and explanations. They are timeless and serve as a valuable resource for me when relooking homes for people of all tastes and styles.

Judith also has a great blog for antique enthusiasts, check it out: http://www.millersantiquesguide.com/blog/