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the power of positive

by Becky Broeder

I chose interior design as my passion and life work because I love to help people live happy, healthy, productive, peaceful lives. My education has drilled into me the importance of designing for health and safety, which is paramount to the decisions we make as designers every day.  Taking this a step further, I believe in designing for mental health and safety.  In our society, bombarded by negative stimuli and inundated with bad stuff, it’s imperative to our mental and physical health to find peace and quiet.  The American Society of Interior Designers, ASID, states on their website that ‘in addition to designing environments that reduce stress, promote healing and are safe, trained and qualified interior designers need to apply their skills to create spaces that foster self-realization and unleash human potential.’  Personally, I think the best antidote to the noise of anger, greed, and narcissism is in training myself to think positive, loving, and helpful thoughts.  I’ve been thinking a lot about the proven power of positivity and how I can apply that to my professional practice.

Much of my work is on residential projects, where I’m working very closely with clients to create sanctuaries that are comfortable, inspirational, restful, peaceful, and provide a healthy balance between solitary spaces to recharge and gathering spaces to stay connected with loved ones.  Barbara L. Fredrickson wrote an article entitled Open Hearts Build Lives: Positive Emotions, Induced Through Loving-Kindness Meditation, Build Personal Resources, which scientifically asserts that people’s daily experiences of positive emotions compound over time to build a variety of consequential personal resources: increased mindfulness, purpose in life, social support, and decreased illness symptoms.  The long term result was proven to be increased life satisfaction and reduced depressive symptoms.  So how can we adopt this practice and achieve these results in our own environments at home or work?

As a designer, it’s my job to get to know my clients well enough to anticipate and design for their needs.  This involves designing for things they may not even know they need, but I know they will appreciate on a conscious AND subconscious level.  The answers aren’t universal, they are very personal, but there are things that I know about humans in environments that can be applied to most people. Among universal design elements that feed our positive side are increased day lighting, getting outdoors daily, movement, and exploring & implementing that delicate balance between quite contemplation or mediation with social engagement or interaction.  Finding a way to allow yourself to make these things a priority, then asking yourself what makes you feel your best you are important steps in being mindful about how your environment either aids or inhibits positive thinking.

I will be looking further into design elements that help aid in quality of life in coming posts.  Thanks for reading and think positive!

BB

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moving on to 2016: a look at design trends to ditch

by Becky Broeder

As an interior designer who loves a good remodel, I’ve seen a lot of dated design trends meet their end.  Eventually, I’ll come across one that is embraced, like in the case of a Mid-Century Modern Ranch we restored, resurrected, and modernized classic Mid-Century design elements, right down to the crinoline, triple pleated draperies.  More often, however, it’s a matter of a client having a very strong aversion to what is going on in their home.

Here are some trends that I would not be opposed to saying farewell to:

Text as Décor.  We’ve all seen it.  The inspirational ‘family’ or ‘love’ or ‘EAT’ written on the wall in a scroll-y font that is meant to personalize a space.  In this age of constant stimulation and engagement,  I’m voting for more serene, visually peaceful environments.  And I love design elements that don’t state the obvious.  A collage of family photos is much more personal than a literal statement.  Careful color selection is more likely to make me want to dine than a verb.

The Chevron.  It’s such a bold and overused pattern. Herringbone and Parquet, are are similar, but timeless and much more subtle.  Chevron is very hard edged, graphic, and noisy. It’s like a visual alarm.

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Faux Finish and Faux Looks.  Having worked as a faux finisher in Tucson while going to design school, it’s ironic that I now think it’s passé.  But in our region, it’s often dated and overstated.  Also, having seen enough sponged walls to last me awhile, reminiscent of the original DIY movement, I’m going to advise to DIY a solid, solitary, lovely coat of paint instead.  Digital imaging has made it possible for anything to look like any other thing, but I’m still fond of materials that aren’t trying to be something else.   I do, however, love faux fur to add warmth and texture without having to lose the life of a critter.  Here’s an example of a faux finished kitchen:

Microwave Hood.  Having a microwave dangle above the cooktop is heavy and somewhat ominous. Microwave design has advanced to include more options than just on the countertop version or above the hood.  Consider a microwave drawer or housing it in an unused upper cabinet that has close proximity to the fridge.

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Tiled / Grouted Countertops.  I’ve had a tiled countertop in a kitchen.  The grout lines are a nightmare to keep clean, surface was uneven and tippy, and it looked drab, dated.  I don’t recommend tile countertops with grout lines unless you’re really set on no other option.  Some tile manufacturers are offering very large format porcelain tiles that are nearly slab sized, like from Oregon Tile & Marble.  Using a run of large formatted tile instead of marble eliminates having to seal the stone or worry about the stone.  Large format tile can be used to create a beautifully clean, modern, and seamless aesthetic when tied into the backsplash well.

Here’s hoping you have a fresh layer of snow, an optimistic outlook, and an inspiring New Year.

Thanks for reading,

BB

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kitchen cabinets: the benefits of going custom in interior design

by Becky Broeder

Here’s a close up of one of my often used wood artisans, based here in Western Montana and shot by Steven Begleiter, for a project we’re doing called Project People Made.

Kitchen cabinets are the heart of a well-designed and beautiful kitchen.  Sure, they are viewed as a necessity in interior design, but when designing your future kitchen, it’s extremely important to consider how every detail will lay out to maximize your efficiency in the space and to maximize usage of the space architecturally.  I am a firm believer in having kitchen cabinets made specifically for you and your needs in your space.  A common misconception is that custom cabinetry is leaps and bounds more expensive that purchasing cabinets from an off-site manufacturing facility.  That simply is not true in most cases and the extra minimal percentage of cost pales in comparison to the increased quality of the overall product.

Here are some of the benefits of choosing to have cabinets built locally:

1. Cheaper and Less Expensive are very different things.  As Joe Jensen of Confluence Construction puts it, “Stock cabinets may be less expensive, but they are always cheaper”.  Manufactured cabinets have nice looking door faces, can be glazed, weathered, you name it.  But the reality is that the construction is not going to be great and they are not built to last.   Here is a quick overview of the differences that make custom cabinetry a different animal:

Custom CabinetryStock Cabinetry
ComponentsPlywoodParticle Board
JointsDovetail, Dowel, or Mortise-and-TenonGlued, Nailed, or Screwed
Corner BracesWood Glue BlocksStapled Plastic Corners
Drawer SlidesHidden UndermountSide Slide Brackets

Stock cabinet manufacturers do whatever they can to cut cost and keep production up, and quality suffers because of it.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into a kitchen full of new stock cabinets, opened the doors and snooped around the workings of a drawer, only to find myself disappointed.  To me, the granddaughter of a wood worker, the difference is glaring:  I see big disappointments to the end user down the road, especially given the amount of money spent on cabinets.  THEY CAN AND SHOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER.

2. Everything You Need; Nothing You Don’t.  With custom cabinets, you (and your designer 🙂 ) choose what you need and where.  You can customize every detail at no extra cost because it’s all a part of the process.  I’m nearly 6′ and would design my kitchen accordingly, with taller cabinets and taller work surfaces, making life not only more enjoyable but healthier in terms of ergonomic stresses.  You can also select a unique cabinet and drawer layout, specific depths of drawers, widths and heights of shelves, details tailored specifically to your cooking, baking, and entertaining style.

3. You have the Ability to Locally Source Materials and Labor.  Western Montana is home to some gorgeous wood species. Using local varieties is environmentally conscious and adds a unique local character to your project.  Harvesting beetle kill timbers or using reclaimed lumber will also add an incredible look with a story to tell for generations.  We are fortunate to have access to some AMAZING talent, as well.  Employing local craftspeople gives a sense of pride.  Plus, it’s important to know that you can pick up the phone to have service and answers before, during, and long after the completion of the project.

4. You Pick EXACTLY What You Want.  Beginning a project that has no ceiling, design-wise, can be intimidating but incredibly liberating.  With custom cabinetry, if you see something you like online or in a magazine, you can re-create that look.  Hiring a designer during this phase will help in guiding you along the direction you would like to go, as well as help you in communicating your ideas and wishes to fabricators.  Stock cabinet companies often claim hundreds of options, but my experience is that those options narrow down extremely fast, with only a couple suitable choices.  Custom cabinetry will give you exactly the style and feel you’re after.

5. I Have Never Experience a Stock Building.  Stock cabinets will always have hiccups when it comes to fitting cabinets built offsite into the actual site.  Custom cabinets are built to fit, maximizing every single inch.  Stock cabinet companies use fillers to accommodate discrepancies between the sizes they offer and the lengths of the spans available for cabinets.  I’ve worked for a stock cabinet company for a short stint and was disheartened by the lack of flexibility when it came to layout.  Fillers ran rampant!  A custom woodworker will measure to the 1/32″ after the drywall is hung so that the products fit perfectly.  This is especially crucial if you have a unique layout, an unconventional floor plan, or an older home with imperfections (Character!).

When embarking on a kitchen, bathroom, or master closet build or remodel, I encourage you to consider the above.  If you’d like guidance in finding a talented craftsperson and / or designing your space, give a call and we’d be happy to make starting your project a lot easier.