Ever since I started studying design and decorating years ago, people have always asked me “Why?”. “What made you so interested in interiors?”, and I’d find myself either saying something quick and off hand like, “Oh you know, I was just that nerdy little kid sketching imaginary decor schemes and planning potential furniture layouts for my bedroom in my free time.” True, but most definitely not the full story. Or I’d find myself going with a more general: “Well I’ve always loved the arts and good design in any form, and I guess it just made sense to pursue it in the form of interiors at this time of life…” Also true, but also not near the full story.
The crazy thing about this business is, the more I get into it and learn about it, the more I realize that this passion for quality design has grown with me as I have grown personally, from the time I was a kid sketching and floor planning for my bedroom, to being an ever-so-slightly-lost college student pursuing the arts in any form and living in gnarly dorm conditions, to then becoming a wife and mom who just needed my home to function at it’s best and stay clean for FIVE freaking minutes (still working on that one…). But, no matter the location or condition of my home, this one thing sticks; home has been the most consistent backdrop for some of the most important memories of all of these seasons of life. Home is always the place you can kick off your shoes, let out a sigh and make a giant batch of mac and cheese to eat solo and in one sitting without the world watching in judgment (not that I’ve done that…). It’s where you can be your truest you; the good and bad included, and that’s no small thing. It is (or should be, at its best) a place of freedom.
Home is so very valuable in our fast-paced, busy world. It’s a refuge, a place to love on your friends and family; a place to fight your toughest battles and reconcile them too; a place to relax, work, exercise, sing Broadway tunes at the top of your lungs… you name it. Everyone is different. As a designer, that means that turning a blank space into someone’s “home” is an intensely personal process. Every need, personality, habit, every perspective of beauty; all of these things and more factor into the sum of the equation, which is, your home in its natural state. Either you love the result, or you let the cluttered and dysfunctional things about your space knit-pick at your subconscious until you cave and spend your life savings and precious time on DIY supplies for Pinterest projects…some of which can turn out to be costly mistakes.
Here’s where I come in. Want to know the big “why” for why I chose interiors as my business? It’s YOU! I LOVE to help incredible people to discover just how freeing it is to live in a space that doesn’t drive you crazy. Your home CAN be a place that inspires you; a place that empowers you to rest, grow, love, engage with those around you, etc. Life is too short to just copy a million pinterest projects and invest all of your precious time so that your house looks just like the Jones’ next door. A great designer knows how to figure out what your unique space should function and look like. Yes, it’s an investment, but your life and well being will be so much better for it. If you allow a professional to help you the first time around, your budget will thank you in the future (Just think of all of those DIY projects you didn’t have to fund or “Do Yourself”, not to mention the time and energy you saved ;). Take care of your home and in turn take care of yourself. You deserve it!
Xoxo,
Alyssa
P.S. I love hearing your thoughts and opinions! Why do YOU think interior design is valuable today? Drop me a comment below!