Leah Richardson

Recently I found a magazine spread by an Alabama designer, Andrew Brown.

The photographs of this beautiful interior drew me in…

the simplicity of the designer’s calming, tranquil, neutral style,

and his conscious and subliminal use of the

design principle of repetition.

Notice the louver-look of the cabinets repeat the look of the louvered french doors.

Look at the wall behind the vanity.

I would love to see more of this bathroom!

The creamy white envelope sets the stage for each carefully, quite obviously, selected piece.

Look how simply he addressed this fireplace opening.

Take note of all the curves…

The curve of this arch frames the focal point and draws you in to discover more.

Repetition is an important principle

thoughtfully followed in good design…

see how the designer repeats the arch for the fireplace opening,

curve on the coffee table and chair legs,

and curve-back french chair in the distance and foreground.

Very interesting art wall that appears effortlessly random…not easy!

As a designer, I am always interested in WHERE THEY PUT THE TV!!!

The bane of a designer’s existence…the TV.

Notice how he hung it above the art and lamp on the right.

Again, repetition in multiples…

art, tiers in the chandelier, chairs, openings.

Repetition in the x-pallern of the island and the grain in the cabinet doors.

So simple, so beautiful!

If you scroll back up, you will see that he repeated the

chocolate brown color throughout the home.

The oversized window with the seeded glass for privacy looks great and, again,

you see a repetition in  the curve of the tub and the frame of the window,

along with the curved shape of the stool.

—————————–

There is a fine line between too much repetition,

which makes for boring and cluttered

and

too little repetition,

which creates a disconnected interior,

one that does not flow from room to room.

————————

Are you up for a field trip?

Take a few minutes and walk around your home with an keen awareness

for the principle of repetition.

You might find yourself moving a few things around!!

Careful and thoughtful repetition in our homes and lives

will make a huge difference on how we impact those around us.

Is our repetition boring others to death

or

creatively connecting the dots

revealing what is truly important in our life.

What are the top 3 characteristics

that others naturally associate with you because they

echo

reoccur

rerun

replay

repeat

continually…

Top 3?

hoping I am connecting dots…

xoxo    leah

Last week as I strolled along Magazine Street with a good friend and client, we discussed how many artists, designers and architects we know who were formerly attorneys.  That day, we found yet another attorney who decided to make a major work-life change and open a wonderful little shop.

Karina’s shop is located at 3652 Magazine Street and she has it filled with treasures.  If you plan to stop by you might want to call first (504-905-8504) because most of the summer she plans to open by appointment only so she can spend time with her young children.   As I chatted with Karina and looked around, these HANDMADE French parchment paper napkin rings caught my eye.

And since Jim and I were giving a small dinner party that weekend…

I decided they would look wonderful on our table.  They are milky white…which goes with everything!  I also love the mix of texture and color…smooth yet thick white paper attached to a twisted grapevine ring.  Simple yet beautiful!

These little jewels are HANDMADE by a young woman whose company is French Blue & Co. (check out the website HERE)

I can remember as a teenager MAKING flowers with tissue paper BY HAND, but these stunning little creations take that to another level adding such a relaxed elegance to our table.

And afterward, I found a home for them in this shallow hand-built pottery bowl.

There is just something about being HANDMADE that draws me in.  I want to touch it and feel it, wondering who, how long, how…I am definitely the romantically curious type.  You and I are HANDMADE, we bear God’s stamp as His creation.  So the next time you come upon something HANDMADE, remember that you too are a special, one-of-a-kind treasure made by the Hand of God.  That reminds me of another attorney who changed his profession…Paul, attorney turned Apostle, spoke to the men in Athens reminding them that there is only One True Living God whose boundaries are infinite and hand made everything.  He alone is worthy of our worship.

The God who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in HANDMADE shrines (made by man).

Acts 17:24  Amplified Bible

No, God dwells in us…He chose our HANDMADE hearts MADE BY HIS HAND!

Have a wonderful week remembering in Him, BY HIS HAND, we live and move and have our very being when our HANDMADE hearts are surrendered to His Son, Jesus.

xo     leah

The classic WING CHAIR has made quite a transformation over the years, but there is something about the coziness of the design, as it wraps its wings around you, that has drawn me to the WING CHAIR over the years.  In one of my current design projects, the living room showcases this beautiful stone fireplace.  I envision a pair of wing chairs enticing the family to come sit, lean your head back and relax.

Not this…

But a more modern version like this-

Daryl Carter Wesex

or

Victoria Hagan's Wainscott chair

Historically, the WING CHAIR was designed as comfortable protection from drafts or to trap heat from the fireplace.  As in all good design, form follows function.  But that form can be unique and a departure from the original as long as the “bones” of function and classic styling remain.

classic siloutte

The flat, scroll, bat or butterfly wings are sometimes exaggerated, which brings a bit of whim to a classic siloutte, as in this WING CHAIR from Restoration Hardware.

I personally prefer a high back to rest your head against, but I see a lower back in more contemporary designs.  My style is to carefully and thoughtfully mix it up.  The above chair, because of the exaggeration, lends itself to a modern environment too.  But sometimes, when the streamline look of all the furnishings being about the same height is desired, a WING CHAIR like below would work well.

From Williams and Sonoma

Simple welting is a good look, but adding nail head trim to outline the wonderful shape of a WING CHAIR creates a beautiful dressmaker detail.  Although I would shy away from contrasting welt, which breaks up the lines of the chair more than enhancing it.

Isn’t there something comforting and endearing about the design of the WING CHAIR?  This is a chair I, sometimes unintentionally, search out when I am browsing in a furniture showroom.  It beckons me to come find refuge…it reminds me of this beloved Scripture…

He will cover you with his pinions, and under His WINGS you will find refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Psalm 91:4

Maybe the next time you are considering the purchase of a chair, consider the WING CHAIR with its strong, beautiful shape and siloutte… with the personality of a loving and comforting friend.

This week remember…what matters to you, whatever that may be, matters to God.  Curl up in His lap, envision His WINGS surrounding you with love and protection, then talk to Him about what’s on your mind.

really wanting a WING CHAIR about right now!!!

have a wonder-filled week.    xo   leah

Yesterday I shared my BIG NEWS, so I am posting my Monday Design Blog today- Tuesday!   But in the middle of doing some research about Kitchen Backsplashes for my current design project, my client called.  You may think you had a tough Monday, but my client may take the prize!  It seems that someone surveyed the wrong lot, which means the architect designed a house for the wrong lot, which means that when the builder was trying to obtain the permitting…Oh No!!  After months of hard work on the part of many people, the process starts over, for the house is far too big for their actual lot.  Even as I type I am shaking my head…this is a first for me and really hard to believe.

The good news for my part is that the finishes do not have to change.  The look…  honed French limestone floors, creamy white and taupe wall finishes, driftwood stained ceiling beams, a simple scroll-design iron staircase and stone fireplaces (maybe no longer an “s” needed) will translate beautifully to any size home.  Now that I think about it, she mentioned to me numerous times that the house was far bigger than she really wanted.  Maybe in a round-a-bout way this is God’s way of agreeing with her!

We connected because she wanted the look of “relaxed elegance”, which is my specialty.   This can be accomplished by marrying semi-formal architecture with honed, hewned and antiqued finishes, while mixing in comfortable, but carefully chosen furnishings.  And just like her personality, she desired a comfortable and inviting home that reflected her love for the beauty and simplicity found in God’s creation.

We were on a roll and found some wonderful stone for her kitchen, and then there is the BACKSPLASH.  I say it this way because this is a place where many designers feel the need to “bring in a little color” or treat it “like an accessory”.  I am not of that camp.  When you have a beautiful kitchen, which so often translates to “expensive”, why direct your attention to the 18″ space between the lower and upper cabinets.  My preference is for your eye to graciously roam around the kitchen taking in the entire room as a whole until it lands on a central focal point, like an impressive range and hood, or maybe a large sink and interesting faucet set in front of a beautiful bank of windows. But for some reason, when it comes to this little area, the BACKSPLASH, there tends to be an attitude of “let’s get creative.”

Call me a simple Southern girl, but when you are wearing that great little black dress…a beautiful strand of pearls will always be in style!!

For the counter tops we chose Light Emperadore marble and plan to have the slab wire-brushed, which will give it a beautiful soft patina.  For the BACKSPLASH, we choose the same granite cut into a large brick shape, which will be installed subway style.  Before this decision was made though, we discussed the idea of a mirrored backsplash.  For the client that enjoys a “well-edited” Kitchen, this can be an interesting option.  But for the client that has numerous objects on the countertops…”CLUTTER”…well, the mirrors just double the clutter!!

Here are some pictures I found on Apartmenttherapy.com to help my client make a decision. This blog is a great resource.

What do you think?  Can you see what I mean about doubling the clutter?  I really do love mirrors in a room because they reflect light beautifully and open up a space.  In the right application, I think I could do this.

When I scroll back over these images, I begin to wonder what my life reflects.  Am I reflecting the light?  Am I open to what God wants me to reflect?  I joined the “over 50″ crowd this year and every time I look in the mirror…I see my mom!!  Although she is precious, it catches me off guard sometimes as I walk down Magazine Street and glance over and see my reflection in a display window.   Although my earthly body grows old, I pray that my heart for Jesus will stay young and fresh as I reflect Him in all I do and say.  The next time you hold up a mirror, remember that God sees past our exterior, for He sees our heart.

A heart that,

hopefully,

reflects

love,

joy,

peace,

patience,

kindness,

goodness,

faithfullness,

gentleness

and

self control.

A heart like His.

A heart for Him.

A heart for others.

praying for you and me…a heart worth reflecting…a heart clutter-free…

xo    leah

p.s.  If you are in the New Orleans area, Palatial Stone and Tile, 2052 Paxton St, Harvey LA, 504-340-2229 is a wonderful resource for brushed marble.

Have you ever found someone or something “really special and so wonderful” that you just want to tell everybody?  Well, that’s what I want to do today!  I want to tell you about an artist from a small town on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, and show you some of her artwork and photography.  I met this young woman via email…really, via God.  Her name is Melissa Key.

She sent me an encouraging and kind email after reading my book, Interior Wisdom.   From just a bit of corresponding, it was obvious that we share a deep passion to live for Jesus by using the creative talents that He has given us.  We both desire to let our little lights shine so we can be a blessing to others.  And as Melissa says, “Just flip the switch!”.   She offered to paint me a small canvas.  I am so excited- what a blessing to have her work grace my home.  I’ve added some thoughts that went through my mind as I looked at her work.

What does the cross mean to you?

It is merely a symbol… or a reality…

My eyes linger along the horizon of this abstract landscape anticipating the lasting imprint of the cross…

The strength of the tree is only as deep as the foundation of its roots…

A consuming fire goes before Him…

Every shape, color and size…All nations, language, tribe and tongue…

Of course this “all neutral girl” loves loves loves this one!!

Finding the cross amid full activity in our lives…

The safety of boundaries…

straight stretches of road,

and a life that looks like a well-watered garden.

Melissa has such a beautiful eye for composition and design!  I follow many creative blogs, and spend time on many websites of designers, artists, and photographers.

The Lord  generously displays His creativity through so many people, but few attribute those gifts to Him…

Melissa’s bio states that her day consists of God, Starbucks, children, husband, etc….

Let us all remember that every good and perfect gift is from God,

then give Him the credit out of a grateful heart.

You can check out Melissa’s website HERE and you can find her on Facebook.

Are you using what God has placed in your hand?

It may not be a paint brush or camera lense, but each of us has the capacity to make a difference in this world

by sharing whatever it is that He has placed in our hands.

I encourage you, listen to that small voice within and step out onto the landscape…

leaving the imprint of the cross behind you.

If you know someone sharing their passion for The Creator and All Things Creative, on a blog or website, please let me know.

Have a wonder-filled week!    xo   leah

The formal dining room has almost disappeared from current architecture, and so has the custom of making time to sit down and eat a meal together as a family.  Yet, the dining room or dining area created within the larger great-room, is still one of my favorite rooms to design.  In the great-room of our Florida home, our dining table was over 100″ long and only 38″ wide, which was perfect for hosting a buffet-style dinner.

In New Orleans we had a formal dining room that was almost square, which gave me the opportunity to use a round dining table.  Round dining tables lend themselves to lingering and good conversation, due to the circular shape.  Everyone can see each other, so no one is left out of the conversation, which just seems to flow.  After all, the definition of a circle is to move around a path that ends where it began and usually repeats its cycle.  If that is the path of the conversation and food, you have the mix for a great dinner party!

But regardless of the shape of your table, the chairs around it will determine how long your family and friends will linger.  Whenever possible, I like to incorporate fully upholstered chairs with arms for comfort. Above and below are 2 images of our dining room, one with fresh flowers and one without.  I just love fresh flowers in my home, and I want you to take note of how these gorgeous red tulips impact this room with such life and beauty.

When I was growing up in South Georgia, every evening during the week my family sat down to dinner together. It is very hard to coordinate schedules and accomplish this in the 21st Century, but I really appreciate the innumerable lessons I learned from communing and eating together as a family.  This became a way of life for me as child, and I continue to practice it today.  Lauren was quite a busy teenager, but she will tell you, looking back, that she appreciates those times we had as a family.  Like my mom, I used that time to pass on little tidbits to Lauren about the art of gracious living…manners, quality conversation and how paying attention to the little things in our lives can bring tremendous joy!  Proverbs 22:6  tells us if we will take the time and initiative to train our children up in the way they should go, when they are older they will not depart from it.  Although only 3 years out of college, Lauren’s life bears budding fruit from this early training.

If we teach our children about the various pieces of flatware and glass ware on the table and their proper use it will build confidence and be very helpful to them later in life.  You will find that your children will be quick studies when it comes to the proper placement of the dessert spoon or fork!  On the other hand, it might take a few times for them to learn how to fold their napkin properly.  I encourage you to use cloth napkins and teach your children, and husband (: , how to properly fold them.  Using cloth napkins is an easy way to start practicing Green Living too!  Maybe teach them fun shapes at first, it will spark their interest.  Then you can explain why using a cloth napkin is being a good steward of the Earth God created for us. Tasks like these are easier to remember when taught in a creative manner.  But manners and the art of good conversation are best taught by example.

So I want to encourage you to be totally counter culture- sit down together as a family and eat a good healthy meal.  Keep it simple, but keep this time as a priority.  Jim and I are empty nesters, but this is still our favorite time of the day.  Cooking, reconnecting…savoring our meal and each other.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!

Psalm 34:8

xo   leah

p.s.  check out this Godly mom’s simple healthy recipes HERE, at Deliciously Organic.

p.s.s  I get these 2 measurement questions A LOT, so let me share with you that a dining table should be around 29-30 inches in height.  The best height for the light fixture above your table is around 60-65 inches AFF (above the finished floor).  This height will look too low until your dining table is placed underneath it.

Happy Monday!  Now that we have “sprung forward” into Spring, are you considering tackling any design projects in your home?  I want to share some good design solutions for some common design challenges…a few of which I am facing in current design projects.

Can the laundry facilities located in a “pass-through area” between two rooms be functional and beautiful? Absolutely!  Ideally, the washer and dryer should be located next to each other, but I might opt for a little inconvenience if I could place a small window between the two to filter in morning sunlight.  When tall upper cabinets are installed directly on the counter top, storage requirements are fulfilled and a more architectural, built-in look is achieved. If there is the opportunity on the second floor directly above, I would take the upper cabinets to the ceiling and have one of the upper cabinets serve as a laundry shoot.  On the opposite wall, I would install tall cabinet doors flush with the wall. Behind them would be very shallow storage spaces, stud deep, to house a pull-down ironing board and pull-out drying racks. The second image gives you a visual, but note that everything would be behind cabinet doors.  This is a good design solution to create a functional, beautiful, well-designed and well-disguised laundry area.

image via HouseandHome.com

image via Atlantahomes.com

When overflow seating and additional storage are the challenges in a room with a large window, a good design solution is to build in a window seat.  Oftentimes I have the upholsterer fabricate the seat a bit deeper than expected, usually between 24″-27″.   It adds an unexpected graciousness to the proportions.  This image has a very crisp yet inviting look and the built-in on either side serves to anchor and lend stability to the area.  For even more storage, I would piano-hinge the bench seat to lift open.  Don’t you love the way the pendant light fixture really completes this space creating a cozy, beautiful and functional design solution?

image via Livingetc.com

It can be quite a window challenge to find a design solution that accomplishes complete privacy, while letting in natural light.  I was so excited to find the two images below.  The first image is such a creative way to screen something at ground level, like AC units.  Splitting shutters, solid or louvered, in proportions other than 50/50 adds that unexpected interest to an interior and provides a great design solution.  I wonder if in the second picture the homeowner is trying to create a romantic atmosphere or hide the neighbor’s bright yellow boat parked in the driveway!

images via Livingetc.com

The large screen behind this bed causes your eye to easily transition from the soaring window and ceiling height to the lower elements in the room, like the bed and furnishings.  This is a very smart, tailored and clutter-free design solution to fill up a large wall, while, at the same time, creating a sense of cohesiveness in the room.  Although the screen has a large pattern, it doesn’t overwhelm the room because the colors are in the same muted tones used throughout the space.  This screen’s function is two fold- it serves as artwork and a good design solution for this simple, sophisticated monochromatic bedroom.

image via HouseandHome.com

To many people these design challenges may seem Goliath, but the key to finding a good design solution is to:

1.  Make a list- a wish list of everything you want to accomplish.

2.  Thoughtfully prioritize this list knowing that the bottom 1/3 will “most likely” not happen!

3.  Measure and photograph the space, then pull together pictures, like I did above, to jump-start your creativity.

4.  Begin by laying out ideas, considering your priorities and size constraints.

5.  Walk away for a while and come back to your ideas/layouts/rough sketches with a fresh mindset.

Then repeat number 4 and 5 until, like a puzzle, things start coming together.  If they don’t, call a designer!  In other words…goodbye DIY (do it yourself)- hello DIWH (do it with help!)

As I think about the word Goliath, I am reminded of the challenge in the Bible that young David faced. Like the 5 steps above, he gathered 5 smooth stones and faced his Giant head on.  Maybe you are facing a more critical challenge than designing a laundry room, finding good storage solutions or addressing windows and walls. But whatever it is you are facing today, taking the next right step is the next right step.  Let’s look at our 5 steps again from a Spiritual perspective.

1.  Dream with faith!

2.  Challenge your natural boundaries and believe that truly nothing is impossible with God…even the bottom 1/3 of your list!

3.  Take stock of your surroundings and your relationships and let the Goodness of God jump-start you creativity.

4.  Begin by beginning, because fear has no place in your life.

5.  Don’t let this Goliath consume you, remembering, like David, that the battle belongs to God.

David was prepared with 5 stones although he slayed Goliath with the first one!  The point is,  he was prepared for a longer battle.  Whatever your challenge is today, don’t give up!  Don’t quit!  Though the answer tarries, wait for it.  Remember, God is the solution and He is always available and willing to help you with every challenge you face.  Now is not the time to trust in your own resources (DIY)…trust God…(DIWH)!

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.

You know that  under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.

Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:1-3 Message Bible

Up for the challenges – trusting God for the solutions!

xo     leah

Yesterday while searching through all my design books looking for a specific resource, my fingers stopped, my eyes lit up and my mouth curled into a smile as I gazed upon a book that was a huge inspiration to me in the infancy on my design career.  Pulling it from the shelf, I sat down and thumbed through Alexandra Stoddard’s Living Beautifully Together. I began to see how her gracious words have enriched and influenced my life over the years.  Through living a life impassioned by grace and beauty, she kindled a desire in me to cultivate that kind atmosphere in my home, my relationships and my work too.  An atmosphere that nourishes and affirms, an atmosphere of love.  I remember years ago the title alone captured my heart and drew me in. Some of her other books are Living a Beautiful Life, Reflections on Beauty, The Postcard as Art and Style for Living.

In the last chapter of her book,  Alexandra says, “Some of the happiest moments of my life have been unplanned.”  My stumbling across this long forgotten treasure was not planned, but sitting here rereading the passages I highlighted 20 years ago brings me great joy.  I thought I would share some of her “Grace Notes” that caught my attention, and may resonate in your heart too.  Enjoy!

♥ Once we have a flame we can pass it on and light other people’s torches.

♥ Come to grips with your individualism:  There is no one like you anywhere.  Any great artist creates from the heart, not from what will please others.  That should be our goal as well.

♥ Think “up”!

♥ Take a weekend trip by yourself.  Do exactly what you want to do for two days.  This will be a time of discovery and renewal.

♥ Learn several new words each week and use them in your verbal and written expressions.

♥ Before going to sleep at night, pray for ten people you love.

♥ Sing in the shower!

♥ Volunteer at a hospital; giving a little bit of yourself is a remedy that even medicine can’t top.

♥ Start a journal.

♥ Relationships aren’t automatic; they require conscious attention.

♥ Make your point without anger.

♥ “Simplify, simplify.”  Henry David Thoreau

♥ Effort is self-fulfilling.

♥ We hold great power to communicate tenderness and love through our choice of words and how we voice them.

♥ There are times to interrupt and times not to be interrupted.

♥ Contentment comes from appreciation, not wealth.

♥ Have a dream box: clip pictures of things you both love…a painting, vacation spot, a house.

♥ Never forget to say I love you before going to bed.  Never go to bed mad at each other.

♥ Hold hands when you walk together, give him little pinches or kisses to keep him smiling.

♥ Each of you pick a sanctuary in your home. Choose your favorite chair and keep your favorite books close by.  This is your spot to come to and relax all by yourself.

♥ Create a calm, intimate, romantic world.  Always light a candle at dinner.  It forces you to stop and appreciate being together.

♥ Leave a huge bunch of wild flowers at the back door when a friend is sick.

♥ Call a stepchild and make a lunch date for two.  Be early and ask questions about her plans and dreams.

♥ Remember everyone is different.  Most of us are doing the best we can.

♥ Get out of bed with a smile on your face.  Smile when you are alone, it’s a good habit!

♥ When the Spirit moves you, act.

♥ You can never have too generous a spirit.

LET ME END WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITES…

♥ LOVE EACH OTHER TO A CRISP!!

xo    leah

Before my eyes pop open in the morning, my heart sings…

This is the day that the Lord has made,

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Although the Lord is not bound by time or space, we are.  And we will never have this day again.  Today is only for today…so what are you doing today?

ARE YOU DANCING?

And David danced before the Lord with all his might.

2 Samuel 6:14

David longed for the Presence of the Lord in his life because he knew from personal experience that God’s Presence brings much joy and much blessing.  He is here, He is Holy and He dwells in our midst…Dance!

ARE YOU HIDING?

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day,

and the man and his wife hid themselves from the Presence of the Lord God in the trees of the garden.

Genesis 2:8

Regardless of how miserably we fail, He still comes looking for us to bring us back into His Presence.  He is here, He is Holy and He dwells in our midst…STOP HIDING!

ARE YOU SMILING?

This is the day that the Lord has made,

I will rejoice and be glad.

I can’t say those words without smiling.  Do they make your heart smile?  He is here, He is Holy and He dwells in our midst…SMILE!

THIS IS THE DAY…a mere 24-hour period of time that will never be repeated.

THAT THE LORD HAS MADE…especially for you, and for me

I WILL REJOICE…let praise and thanksgiving roll off our tongues while it is still today

AND BE GLAD…happy, of good cheer- SMILE, for God is good.

let your living spill over into thanksgiving!

Have a great weekend,

xo   leah

image via Alys Beach website

Recently I was in a great shop on Magazine Street, Pied Nu.  It compares to Barneys in New York- but on a much smaller scale.  I was browsing around, not meaning to ease drop, but this woman was talking really, really loud. She was complaining that her daughter constantly complains about practicing the piano.  She lamented to the clerk that lessons were soooo expensive, but she was not about to let her daughter quit!  Besides, that piano cost a fortune!  I didn’t mean to…but, I laughed out loud.  Everyone turned to look at me, so embarrassed and with a very red face I explained that my mother MADE me take piano lessons for 5 years, under duress too, and I can’t play chopstixs!!  It is simply not my gift.  My words bounced right off of her and she continued her lament…oh well.

Although music is not my gift, I find myself using musical terms frequently when considering how the design of a home links and flows together. Rhythm is a core principle in interior design, and it plays quite an important role.  Rhythm lends continuity; it is how one object relates to another.  Rhythm is really the pulse of an interior because it creates regular repeated patterns of movement.  Good music, good design- nor a good life is meant to be stagnant; each should ebb and flow just like the tide, creating rhythmic movement and progression.

You can create rhythm in the design of your interior in several ways. It starts with repetition. In this Dining Room in Nashville, Tennessee, I repeated a circular pattern.  Can you see it?  The dining room chairs with the shallow curved back surround an oval-shaped table. The silk Fortuny pendant chandelier, cream porcelain plates, beautiful curve and swag on the pair of Italianate consoles and slightly-curved lamp shades cause your eye to move from similarity to similarity, which creates a gracious pattern of movement…a rhythm to the room.  Subconsciously, the mind’s eye recognizes this repetition, and there is a smooth flow, or harmony created, as your eye transitions around the room.

Another way to create rhythm in your interior is by using contrasting materials.   Above I combined varying textures, materials and finishes.  This is especially important when the design is monochromatic, which means using tints and shades of one color.  Here, I placed a natural seagrass rug, which is very textural, on smooth shiny hardwood floors.  The sofas are upholstered in a nubby linen fabric, which creates a wonderful contrast against the smooth leather ottoman used as a coffee table.  The nailhead trim on the ottoman not only adds interest, but texture as well.

When you look at a well-designed room, notice the design principal of rhythm.

When you look at a well-designed life, notice the design principle of rhythm!

How about your life…

What is the tempo, the rhythm?

Is it in synch, or harmony, with what you believe?

Is there continuity…

or have you grown stagnant in your Spiritual life?

It is God’s good pleasure to create harmony in our homes and lives.  Sometimes His melody unfolds in very subtle ways, but the Lord maintains the rhythm of our lives by the unforced rhythm of His grace.  Jesus said, “Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  (Matthew 11:30 Message)  That sounds like a good rhythm!  When we rhythmically move as one, as His Church, there is an ease, a flow, a pattern in our daily lives that we sense within and others witness without.  The Apostle Paul reminds the Colossians of this very rhythm…

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.

Let the Word of Christ -the Message- have the run of the house.

Give it plenty of room.

Col:3 16,17 Message

Just like a home that is easy to move through and visually connected, the Holy Spirit desires to move through our lives connecting us to God’s good and harmonious designs…forever.

just moving and grooving in His grace …      xo   leah