What is your Style?

STYLE,  how do you define it?

I have always thought that your style defines who you are.

I think of my style as relaxed but with a touch of elegance.  As you can see from the colors I have selected for my remodeling project, the colors are neutral and calm.  They were selected to go with a flea market set of old Venetian painted tables that I just love!  They have a sense of patina, as most of the shine they originally had has been worn off long ago. They have a lovely curved shape and a soft design on the tops.

I dress my home much as I dress myself.  Antiques mix with modern.  I collect pieces when I travel, and almost everything has a story.  I do not follow trends, unless it appeals to me and fits my personality, body and space. 


What is your style?
    Artsy... with color and mixture of patterns,  fun and bright?
    Refined.... simple lines, tailored, muted neutrals?
    Intellectual....books, maps, a layered sense of dress and furnishings?


Think about what you like, what you are comfortable with, and follow your heart.  Start your own trends.  If you listen to your inner self, you will not have a closet full of nothing to wear, or furnishings that look dated.  You will always feel good about yourself, and comfortable in your home.

This is a picture of a small courtyard garden that I see every morning when I am getting ready for my day.  It sets my mood.  The wrought iron fencing is from a wonderful little antique shop in New Orleans.  I love hearing the trickling water from the fountains and hear the birds singing...so soothing.
                                                           

This is my style, that mix of old,... structured and relaxed.  A touch of color, but calm and soothing.  How do you show your style?

Are you a leader?

I found this chart, and alot of valuable ideas in an article written by David Kerpen, a best selling author and speaker.

My thoughts are that some people are just natural born leaders.  Starting on the playground, they are the organizers of the sandlot baseball game, gathering friends together to carol at Christmas for senior citizens or just the person with the most charisma and influence. All they need to be to be successful is harness those natural talents, get an education in a field that interests them, and join a good company.

Many of us have some of the skills needed to become a leader, but they need to be recognized and honed.  Consider what it is about the people you want to be around.
They should be a little bit smarter and more knowledgable so you can learn from them, and you inspire them to do even better.

A good leader always takes the time and effort to know the team.  It is important to play up the abilities of the people on the team.  If someone is creative, put them in charge of new ideas and expansion.  If another member of the team is analytical, let them keep everything in order, and on time  and budget.  Use the team to the best of their ability.  Not everyone has the same skill or mind set.  A good leader knows and appreciates that.


"Individuals play the game, but teams beat the odds."  SEAL Team saying

Green selections for kitchen

It has been a couple of weeks since we started our kitchen remodeling project, and we have made quite a bit of progress.

The fun part for me was selecting the finishes and styles of the cabinets, countertops and hardware.

I had a wonderful experience at Home Depot, where I selected Martha Stewart cabinets and Silestone countertops. The entire team was helpful, available when I needed them and very knowledgable.  I would highly recommend them to anyone in the process of remodeling a kitchen or bathroom in their home.

The selections I made are green selections, so I am being a good stewart to the environment, and they will be very functional in a space that is used a great deal.

The perimeter cabinets which I wanted in a white, are a 5 ply laminate which will not show the cracking or splitting that would normally be experienced in a dry enviroment like we have in the winter.  They will also be very easy to clean, and will not yellow over time.  I have chosen the Silestone, Merope for the countertops, and love the honed look which is soft and casual.

The island will be in a dark Java maple wood.  The Silestone, Giallo Nova will add movement and color to the space, and not show marks or waterspots.  The wonderful features of it not having to be sealed, scratch and heat resistant, and another green product makes it perfect for my needs.

I have always said that the kitchen is the heart of the home.  And that is certainly true in our house.  With that said, I am really going to love my new kitchen!