by Karen Trubner-Kent
March 9, 2012
We all have our favorite colors. 
The ones we’re drawn to instinctively in the way we dress and what we surround ourselves with in our homes.
Me, I like blue, especially a faded blue, one that leans toward blue-grey. Other days I might be more in the mood for yellow.
Speaking of moods, who among us hasn’t had ‘one of those days’, the kind where you look in your closet and nothing suits your dark mood but black.
So you dress yourself in black, head to toe, and head out the door.
That’s a good example of your Internal Color Compass dictating what you should wear, based on your mood.
Of course, this internal compass can serve you just as well when you’re feeling sunny and upbeat, and it can also help determine the color palette in your home.
The following four Color Palettes were shared at a recent Sherwin Williams Color Forecast presentation.
If you’ve never thought beyond your favorite color and considered your Internal Color Compass, this might be fun for you to play with.
I’m sure you’ll recognize yourself in one of them.
Restless Nomad
You’ve only to think of all the journeys you’ve taken, imaginary and otherwise, to recognize your inner nomad.
If you’re also drawn to exotic prints, vibrant colors and a patchwork of far & distant cultures, this color palette will certainly feel familiar to you.
You might even be old enough to remember the enormous impact The Beatles had on contemporary culture in the ‘60’s, when they embraced Indian music and influenced the paisley trend of that era.
Gentle Medley
The word vintage comes to mind, as in globes, maps and books, and even hand tinted sepia prints.
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Categories: Color | 
Tags: artsy, Color, color compass, color palettes, invention, nomad, purely refined, vintage | 
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by Karen Trubner-Kent
March 2, 2012
A friend of mine was regaling me with her rigorous new diet and exercise regimen, which made me sit back in disbelief.
Listening to her, I was reminded of my own philosophy of moderation without going to extremes.
It occurred to me that this same ‘give and take’ philosophy –with everything in moderation – can be applied to home design, as well, whether you’re in the midst of a full-scale renovation, or simply upgrading your furnishings.
Here are a few helpful hints for approaching your design project in moderation, and letting things fall where they may:
It’s a Game of Give & Take
I think this is a far gentler approach than pushing yourself to extremes.
I’d much rather see you slow down and take the time to enjoy the process, especially if you’ve reached the point of utter frustration.
As long as your decisions don’t lead to a point of exhaustion, you’re fine.
And while it’s perfectly OK to do some of the work yourself, I also think that it’s fine to ask for professional help and guidance along the way, should you need it.
Moderation is Key.
There Are No Hard & Fast Rules
The dietary equivalent of following rules means rigorously counting carbs & calories.
It’s a rigid, ‘all or nothing’ approach.
While there are definitely some general guidelines that interior designers routinely follow, we just as frequently might find ourselves breaking the rules and learning to relax a bit.
Remind yourself that things don’t have to be perfect.
Interior design is such a creative process, that it’s more important to simply leave room for that process to unfold as it may, and see where it takes you.
Be Prepared To Splurge
That’s right, you heard me correctly!
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Categories: Balance & Harmony, Home Design | Tags: design, diet & exercies, everything in moderation, go easy on yourself, interior design, moderation, splurge | 2 Comments »
by Karen Trubner-Kent
February 24, 2012
“Ambivalence – is the liminal point between the problem and the solution.” 
In other words, ambivalence is that point of uncertainty, when you’re not sure what to do next and perhaps terrified of making a mistake.
Let’s say you’ve been thinking about a kitchen remodel, or are toying with the idea of re-decorating your home.
Let’s also say you’re feeling overwhelmed by the details and not sure where to even begin.
Could be you’re stalling.
A few days ago, I was talking to a couple of friends, both interior designers. The one friend is planning to remodel her townhouse and is brimming with new ideas.
She’s a designer, after all.
Still, she’s not sure where to begin. She’s stalling for time.
A year ago, I was considering an update to my home office. The impetus, for me, was better organization and flow within my workspace.
The intentions were all good.
Still, I was feeling stuck, not sure what to do with the old furniture for starters. (It’s a classic case of “Designer’s Own Dilemma”) .
For many of us, that is the BIG question, i.e what to do with the old furniture?
Do we donate it, sell it or give away?
And to whom?
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Categories: Home Design | Tags: ambivalence, decisions, feeling stuck, indecision, kitchen remodel. interior design | No Comments »
by Karen Trubner-Kent
February 17, 2012
The dental assistant had a question. 
“Is Teal in?”she wanted to know.
She went on to explain that she wanted to repaint her Master Bedroom and the color teal really appealed to her.
She just wasn’t sure it was the “in” color to use.
While I generally don’t hand out free advice, I couldn’t resist this one. I told her to forget what colors are “in” and paint her bedroom whatever favorite color she wanted.
It was her bedroom, after all!
A few days later, another acquaintance was lamenting the large amount of dark wood in her home – dark oak floors, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and walls.
Her husband had suggested painting them.
“But,” she wondered aloud, “What happens if ten years from now dark wood is again back in style?”
She wasn’t asking my opinion, so I didn’t provide it, but here’s the thing.
Fads are just that.
They come and go.
What your heart and your gut are telling you – that’s what you want to pay attention to!
Your home needs to be about you and the things you love.
Whether you love teal, or your home is too dark and you want to lighten things up, I say – go for it!
Here’s another example.
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Categories: Color, Gaining Clarity, Home Design | Tags: Color, fads, Home Design, interior design, listen to your heart, oak, teal, things you love | No Comments »
by Karen Trubner-Kent
February 10, 2012
A recent article on creating Harmony in ones’ work place, has inspired today’s musings. 
If you’ve ever considered how you might improve the energy in your workspace – whether or not your office is in your home – these simple design suggestions will give you something to think about.
By no means are these ideas limited to just your office – you can apply this to any place in your home.
Do Aim for Clean, Uncluttered Surfaces
We don’t always realize how important it is to have our work areas impeccably organized, with a designated place for everything to be stored.
The tendency is to have little piles on our desk, each one representing a portion of our To Do list for the next day.
Do you really tackle each of those little piles on a daily basis?
I know I don’t.
And yet, I’m fearful of storing things away, being very guilty of an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality.
Here’s the thing, though: according to Chinese Feng Shui, having too many things on your work surface can impede the flow of energy, or chi.
There is a lot of truth in this ancient wisdom, so take heed.
Clear up your work surfaces, and find a home for all your knickknacks and unnecessary items.
Even better, be sure to extend the effort to every area of your home that tends to collect stuff – be it your kitchen, your favorite coffee table with stacks of magazines and clippings, or a bathroom counter.
Make it a habit to breathe new life into your living and work spaces, each and every day.
Don’t Turn Your Back on the Door
From a purely logical standpoint, it simply feels more comfortable to have a clear view of your office door, so you can see what is going on.
This one simple act can eliminate the sense of someone sneaking up on you from behind.
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Categories: Color, Gaining Clarity, Health & Wellness, Home Design, Living Green | Tags: air quality, Color, energy, Feng Shui, harmony, home office, how to shift the energy in your office, Lighting, organized, toxins, uncluttered, work surface, workplace | No Comments »
by Karen Trubner-Kent
February 3, 2012
No, I’m not talking about your home’s electrical output.
I’m talking about your home’s energy, in terms of the positive or negative energy contained therein.
You’ve probably heard that people emit either positive or negative energy – well your home exudes a certain energy, as well.
It may be closely related to your own mood.
In other words, if you’ve been neglecting yourself lately and are feeling tired and overwhelmed, this may have rubbed off on your surroundings. Chances are your home is feeling the same way.
Take a look around you.
Is your furniture looking a bit worn and tired? Are the walls faded and in need of a fresh coats of paint? Do the carpets need replacing?
What about clutter? Do you live in a clean, organized space full of positive energy? Or is your living environment screaming for help, mired in negative output?
Maybe your home needs to lose the ‘extra weight’.
Many of us have the inevitable spare room, where we discard un-used, and un-needed items.
What is the energy emitted from that room? Does it weigh you down or lift you up?
Which would you prefer?
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Categories: Home Design, Organization | Tags: aura, boost your home's energy, clutter, energy, what is your home's energy | No Comments »
by Karen Trubner-Kent
January 27, 2012
I recently came across this headline while browsing through a magazine: 
‘THINK BIG’
My first thought was – “Oh no” – they’ve taken a similar message & have turned it around to say the exact opposite.
But then I read the smaller print, which said:
‘THESE STYLISH, ROOM-EXPANDING STRATEGIES WILL HAVE YOU LIVING LARGE IN SMALL SPACES’
Yes!
I didn’t need to read any further.
You see, I’ve already come up with my own reasons why ‘Thinking Small’ can help you to ‘Live Large’.
Here they are:
1 - Smaller homes are more affordable and require less of everything.
Less maintenance. Less expense.
Need to paint the house top to bottom, or replace the carpet? What about replacing the windows, in lieu of more energy efficient options?
Less square footage also means lower utility bills. You will even need less furniture!
And because you will need LESS of everything, you can spend MORE on higher quality, and still come out ahead.
Meaning you won’t have to break the budget to achieve an amazing result!
2 – Smaller homes are ideal for Custom design.
Yes, it may cost more, but remember you will ultimately need less of everything, so why not?
This is an opportunity for you to get super organized, so use it to your advantage.
Are you looking for an efficient, minimalist kitchen? Do you need better storage options overall?
By reducing the scale of your dream kitchen, you can reduce the total costs, and instead think bigger in terms of the overall design. You can re-purpose those funds into higher end cabinetry, quality appliances, and clever storage options.
A skilled craftsman can create customized storage that perfectly fits your needs, plus the size and the layout of your home. This includes kitchen cabinetry, and anything else you can think of.
Furnishings can also be customized.
The ideal sofa will not only be perfectly scaled to the size of the room, but it will also be scaled to fit you. For the ultimate in comfort, luxury and organization, this is the way to go.
In a smaller home, the occasional splurge becomes more affordable. When properly orchestrated, small homes can live large!
3 - Smaller homes let you be more Creative.
The idea here, is to look outside the box.
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Categories: Balance & Harmony, Home Design, Organization | Tags: creative, custom design, it's OK to think Small, less is more, live large, small, smaller homes | 4 Comments »
by Karen Trubner-Kent
January 22, 2012
I’m not sure I need any more surprises, but even as I write this, the lights keep flickering, leading me to believe we might lose power any minute. 
How apropos.
If we do lose power, so be it – if I’ve learned anything over the past few days, it’s that I will invariably get by.
You see, I was traveling this past week.
What was expected to be a brief, 3-day trip to Asheville, NC turned into a full week away from home.
By the second day of my travels, I suddenly found myself dealing with several unexpected snafus – a huge snowstorm in Seattle, which resulted in delayed travel plans, plus a phone call from my son saying he’d been stricken with a severe case of food poisoning.
Talk about the unexpected!
It was time to take a deep breath and assess my situation. In the end, the experience taught me a few things:
A Perceived Setback Could Be a Blessing in Disguise
In my case, while the blizzard in Seattle prevented my immediate return, it also opened up space for an entirely different opportunity. I flew to Austin, Texas instead, where my son was in need of some TLC.
Likewise, the unwelcome snags, or delays, in your home improvement project might actually lead to an even better solution. Rather than fight it, why not go with the flow?
In my humble opinion, things have a tendency to unfold exactly as they were meant to all along.
Prepare Ahead of Time
Chances are the unexpected is going to happen, especially when you travel.
From now on, I plan to pack an extra change of clothes, even if it seems totally unnecessary. A pair of sandals can’t hurt either, cause you never know where you might end up (it was sunny and 78 degrees in Austin).
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Categories: Balance & Harmony | Tags: Asheville, delays, home improvement project, how to deal with the unexpected, interior design, Seattle, snafus, snags, snowstorm, TLC, travel, unexpected | 6 Comments »
by Karen Trubner-Kent
January 13, 2012
Lucky for me, I had the pleasure of once again visiting my favorite island in Hawaii over the recent holidays – leaving me rejuvenated to the core!
Experiencing warmth and sunshine on a daily basis, in the middle of winter, is a rare treat in and of itself.
However, I think it’s the daily assault on my senses that left me fully awakened, eager to welcome each day with whatever new sensory images might come my way – including an exciting array of foods that thoroughly awakened my taste buds.
From the taste of tropical fruits such as papaya, mango and pineapple, to the daily fresh fish from the sea and the crunch of macademia nuts, it was a delight.
Not to mention the exquisite tastes of thirst quenching drinks made from passionfruit juice and sparkling wine, or cucumber juice mixed with lime & mint, I was in heaven.
As an interior designer, I appreciate beautiful design no matter where it shows up - a luscious presentation of food, for example, with a unique or clever combination of tastes - this can be a work of art in its own right.
We woke each morning to the song of the myhna bird – loud and cheerful already at 6:30 a.m. Greeted by a sumptuous buffet, we breakfasted on an open terrace, with a view of the pool and the ocean beyond.
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Categories: Balance & Harmony, Home Design | Tags: 7 Pennies, beauty, five sense, Hawaii, interior design, nature, rejuvenated, taste buds | 1 Comment »
by Karen Trubner-Kent
January 6, 2012
For Christmas this year, I gave my husband this little footstool – complete with a ski scene. 
My husband happens to be the skier in our family, and an avid one at that, and so – I couldn’t resist.
Does it fit our décor?
Well, not exactly – although, I did intend this footstool for our Family Room, the most relaxed and informal part of the house.
Plus, the furnishings in this room are fairly neutral.
Which, to me, means that pretty much anything can work in this space.
I also have in mind that this particular ski-themed footstool, is a seasonal item that will likely go into storage over the summer months.
I share this with you today to help illustrate a point, which is the importance of blending the personal hobbies and interests of various family members into the overall décor.
You needn’t limit yourself to just the children’s rooms, the home office or your kitchen.
These small, personal touches belong anywhere and everywhere that your family likes to hang out.
Because this, more than anything, is what adds to the warmth and comfort of this place you call home.
Categories: Designer Recommends, Home Design | Tags: decor, footstool, personal touches, ski-theme, skier, this place you call home | No Comments »
