The House Whisperer

So in my last post I talked about affordable upgrades to your rental and touched on my mantra of ‘The Well Designed Life’. I thought this post I’d expand a bit more on what I mean by that and why I, and other Designers, sell it and want you to have it.


When I talk about The Well Designed Life I basically mean, for lack of a better phrase, “The Subtle Art Of Giving A Sh!t”. As a Designer I believe that everyone deserves to live in a beautiful and functional space. Ideally one they paid me to give to them (I know I can be frank with you as we’re old friends). But a beautiful space goes deeper than just aesthetics. Your home is a reflection of who you are. In dream interpretation, homes actually represent your self. And yours gives all the dirt on you, your emotional state and how you view yourself in the world better than any gossipy High School Mean Girl. I have yet to meet anyone, be they Client or other, whose pad didn’t tell me all their secrets. I’m like the House Whisperer (I know because my friends fall into 2 camps: the “No Way Are We Letting You See This” camp and the “Come Over And Bring Your Paint Fandeck With You” camp). From the crammed closets to the past-their-prime furnishings to the books on your shelf, I’ve heard all about you and I heard it from the chatty roommate you call your home.

The good news is, you’re one of the ones who gives a sh!t. I know because you’re here reading this so you’re interested in improving your space because you give a sh!t. Wanting to improve your space means you’re growing and changing as a person (as you should be) and your space is part of that new mindset. Reading my Design Tips on these blogs is a great way to get ideas to upgrade your surroundings. Hiring a Designer to help with your space, even if only a consultation is all you can afford is even better because as you’re changing, your tastes are changing too and that can feel overwhelming. The cold, hard truth is you’re in a relationship with your home. If you were dating someone who wasn’t meeting your needs or just plain wasn’t that great to you, you’d (hopefully) do something about it. Your home is the same. If it isn't treating you right, you need to make some changes and you might need a little professional help. I realize I’m encouraging you to get some professional help because I’m a professional who gets paid to help and I like being employed but it’s more than that. Improving your space really improves your life. Like that time you dumped that loser and changed your hair colour to show them you were not going back, changing up your space opens you up to a whole new way of living. Cooking meals in a kitchen that’s well planned out makes your cooking better and easier. Before you know it, you’re trying new recipes or taking a fancy cake baking class or just eating healthier. See? Your life got an upgrade. Working long hours is draining but coming home to a sweet abode brightens your mood. Upgrade. Having a nice place makes you wanna have people over for brunches and Holiday fetes and Games Nights and will make your disapproving Mother-In-Law just a weeeee bit jealous like you secretly want her to feel as payback for that time she critiqued your roast. Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade, upgrade. You get the picture. This is the “Well Designed Life” of which I speak. Improving your surroundings improves your vibe and your vibe attracts your tribe. When you upgrade your space your vibe vibes faster so everything raises to meet that. Suddenly you’re eating better, dressing nicer, socializing, trying new things, getting out of your comfort zone, ditching that toxic friend or dumping that idiot who just plain isn’t good enough for you because you now know you’ll be better off without them and don’t want them to be part of your E! True Hollywood Story. You know, generally giving a sh!t about things - or at least a bigger sh!t than you ever gave about those things before. While I don’t suffer from depression, like everyone my life has its ups and downs. I always know when I’m in a little rut because my place tells me with the piling up of laundry and dust bunnies. This may seem trite but when faced with that, I break the blues by cleaning up and/or rearranging things. When everything is shiny, wrinkle free and the bathroom smells like a swimming pool in a hospital, I start to snap out of it. When I look around at my fabulous Designer digs I’m reminded of how good I generally have it. I feel lucky. Then I feel grateful to be so lucky and gratitude is a gateway drug that takes me straight outta Funkytown. The Well Designed Life isn’t just pretty to look at, it’s good for the Soul.


So I hope reading this gives you some insight on the value Designers have in this world. We’re part Decorator, part Psychologist and part Magician because we don’t just deal with how your space looks, but also how it makes you feel. Thanks for reading, keep striving to live The Well Designed Life and don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to upgrade your space - and your life! Remember, everyone deserves to live in a beautiful home. So do you.


Steve