Design Variety
Last Saturday night, Jim and I had dinner in the home of one my clients. They wanted us to experience, first hand, how much they were enjoying the unique contemporary design of their home. This particular job was fun and challenging because I did a variety of things that I have never done before. In our initial interview, the wife showed me a picture of a painting by Georgia O’keeffe, Sky Above Clouds, that she has admired for over 20 years.
original
O’Keeffe was a pioneer of American Modernism and emphasized the essential beauty of all of her subjects by magnifying shapes and simplifying details. While in her 70s, she took her first trip by airplane. At 30,000 feet, she was inspired by the extraordinary view of the clouds below her. Thus came the largest painting of her career, Sky Above Clouds.
Since acquiring the O’Keeffe painting was not an option, We collaborated and came up with a creative way to incorporate Sky Above Clouds in the design of their Master Bedroom. They commissioned an artist to paint a tribute of O’Keeffe’s work on a much smaller scale. Then high-res digital photos were taken of the artwork, which a local sign company printed on a 5′ x 8′ canvas. From that a headboard was made that we floated above the bed.
Tribute
work in progress…getting a visual before the headboard is fabricated
finished room
I left that evening thanking the Lord for variety in design!! How boring would it be if we all looked alike, dressed alike and decorated our homes alike. Each one of us is custom designed by God. Which reminds me of Psalm 139:13-14…
You formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
You are wonderfully made! You are…
singled out
set apart
distinguished
selected to make a difference
supernatural in origin
extraordinary
Yes, You are wonderfully made and uniquely designed
by God himself!
It seems to me that the Lord went to great lengths to insure variety in our lives. Just look around. Today I want to encourage you to not only recognize, but fully embrace, this manifold grace and variety of God’s designs. How you might ask? For one, STOP COMPARING! Jesus commanded unity, not uniformity, in his followers. He is the potter and we are the clay. He has carefully and thoughtfully molded each vessel into his precious and unique design. Quite often comparing breeds discontentment and jealousy, which is a downward spiral. So I encourage you, stop.
If a client asked me to design an interior just like her neighbor, friend, or mom…I would most likely blurt out, WHY? I wonder if the omnipotent Grand Designer of you, me…and everything begs the same question today. WHY?
Conventional wisdom of man, religious tradition, pop culture or copying someone else will never allow you to be all that He has designed and created you to be. Think about it…what is the opposite of the above description…
unconventional
spontaneous
counter culture
unique
Gosh, that describes Jesus! Each one of us has been given all the fullness of God so we can creatively and uniquely express ourselves in everyday life.
I am pleased with my client’s home. It turned out beautifully and captured the essence of who they are and their lifestyle. The design is refreshingly authentic and personal. You are custom-designed by God and He is well pleased with his design…with you! Do you believe that? Do you live like you believe that?
In Him we live and move and have our very being. Embrace variety and uniqueness of design. Because in the end, it brings victory…an unparallel celebration of the Holy Spirit expressing his power through your life in real, relevant, beautiful and authentic ways.
Remember friend…you are fearfully and wonderfully made…freely express your uniqueness in Jesus today!
xo leah
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