A Better Life by Design

In design school, I was never taught to have a conversation with a mom whose daughter just passed away from cancer and wanted to make a quilt out of old blue jeans. 


I was never told that I'd be going thru boxes of old memories after a divorce and re-labeling them with a new name...


and I certainly was not taught about how to advise over the pain of what to do with 'granmama's' precious rocker when your new husband doesn't want to keep in your new Victorian Tudor. Guess it depends on WHO your granmama was!

Our belongings truly belong to our souls and express it without the need of words. Objects either have a strong emotional connection or they don't....just ask someone what they did with their first child's crib. It may be stored in the attic or they may have donated it to someone in need. Which, I always like to wonder which is really getting more 'life'? 


Good designers should teach you how to design a better life. How to make sense of life when...life doesn't always make sense!


Enter dilemma.


These emotional conversations are so tightly woven into every interior element where conversations, arguments, dreams, concerns and laughing all co-mingle on a daily basis. The furniture upon which we sit, jump, make love on happens to be a backdrop canvas to what matters most in the end....the simple pleasure of sharing yourself with another.... and it matters. 

In my house, I have a 'talking room'. It originally was the old dining room, but instead, I transformed it into a quaint, cozy place to read, where I pull a book off the shelf within reach and lower my feet onto a cushioned ottoman. It's where I have the best conversations with my daughters about the future, boys and next summer. 


I created this space and never recognize it as the actual dining room....neither does anyone else. I love it. I gave a farewell to what I was taught you 'can't do' in school and gave in to what you 'can do' in life. 


Since freeing myself, it seems it has allowed others to 'think out of box' and find their own 'can do' too. 


A few weeks ago, I was involved in a wish child makeover. After purchasing a large white frame for over the desk, I was puzzled at what I'd actually place within this 'frame' and instead simply waited until something came to me...knowing it would when the time was right....(designers do this sort of 'you can't rush me' exercise often).

So the wish child was surprised, we all celebrated and I decided to simply place some colorful paper below the glass since I still had NOT figured out the 'perfect' idea to feature here. 


When suddenly, someone arrived with a premie diaper from when Kayla (our wish child) was born. She was 1 1/2 lbs and I had NEVER seen such a freakin' tiny diaper.....I didn't even know they came THAT small. But wouldn't ya know, I opened up the diaper to see how wide it would span with the tabs outward, and low n behold, that diaper fit perfectly within that frame. 

To say this felt like a magical moment is an understatement, it was truly worth the wait and patience. It was a 'moor alive' moment where the miracle of her life was clearly on display.


So now, when I walk into a clients house, I allow their life to hit me in the face, emotions and all, good or bad, happy or sad and I wait. 


I know it will come to me what to do next, how to improve this room and in return improve a life story....I listen, I process, I speak truth.....and I always surprise myself...in a very good way.


www.mooraliveinteriors.com
'Improving life one room at a time'

Real Conversations with Clients

While talking to a client-----> ME: Let's furnish your house so it doesn't feel so empty. It feels empty, kinda like your life right now. HER: Wow, you are right, but I'm a wallflower and not very social. ME: This is about improving your life and sharing that. When I'm done, you will love opening your door and letting people in. HER: Ok, here's a key. 2 months later..... ME: Well, what do you think? HER: Wow, I can't remember the last time I loved coming home. ME: Let's share that feeling with others. 2 weeks later..... HER: I invited my team over yesterday and my mom. They said I have 'swag'. ME: Oh yeah, what about that guy who asked you out for dinner, is he next? HER: I hope so. We're not just adding furniture around here....we are improving YOUR life, one room at a time! www.mooraliveinteriors.com

Glance @ Moor Alive Interiors 2011

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Home is a Story to Create

The word HOME means something different to each of us. What story are you sharing with the world?

Growing up, I would watch classic TV Land type shows such as the Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, I Dream of Jeannie and Little House on the Prairie. It's no wonder that I became fascinated by the lives people lived out in their spaces. 

Let's think about this.....the Clampetts came from a rickey old shack in the back woods and were pretty happy. Even after they made their millions and moved to Beverly Hills, they tried their best to make it livable like their old shack back home. With it's cement pond, kitchen contraptions and useless buttons, they didn't really need any of those things....they just needed each other and to share their life with purpose. They wanted to fit in but not at the risk of loosing who they truly were. 

We can learn a lot from watching them stay true to who they are by asking; 

Does my home represent who I am?

Next up is Gilligan's Island. Can you even imagine the Skipper & Gilligan in charge of anything in your life? Once stranded on the island, they were left to build shanty's for each person. It was interesting how each created a space just for their own personalities and were for the most part quite content...they were certainly free of any trappings from their past life. They were living for each day and made it through quite well. We can learn a lot about 'growing where we are planted' by asking;

If catastrophe hit my life, could I pick up the pieces and still be happy where I am? 

Now, the Brady Bunch was a new concept for TV- a blended family. 3 girls, 3 boys and an architect dad. They were always showing us how to co-hab in a good way. Alice was the wild card and many times the reality card. She acted as the mast in the wind of a crazy blown off course family unit. 

We can learn a lot about 'how to' blend families by asking;

If we are forced to live with others, what can we do to make it a better experience for everyone? 

Ok, I Dream of Jeannie was in a whole other class of TV show....she lived in a genie bottle. How very cool was that? I mean, whenever she wanted, she would retreat to the bottle and disappear, not to bothered or sequestered there by her owner. It was her comfort zone. It was lovely, comfortable, private but it was too lonely. She longed to be with her Master out in the big world. It's great to create spaces that comfort us and nurture our souls. Share that part of yourself. We can learn a lot about 'sharing our homes and our lives with others by asking;

When was the last time I invited someone into my home to share my unique self?

Last but not least, Little House on the Prairie. The Ingall's from Walnut Grove lived an enduring existence in a home that was hand built and labored over by both Charles and Caroline. They exudes character developed from hardships within family, love, friendship and faith. They tackled subjects of adoption, alcoholism, racism and blindness with grace. You felt the love in those tight, lack of privacy quarters of open air and I believe that closeness is what we all hope for our families to be like. We have so much space now in our homes and in our relationships sometimes. We can learn a lot from creating friendship & loving kindness in our homes by asking;

Have our homes and lives become less loving, less sacred, less connected with more space?

Home is a story you create. It was relevant back then, and it's still relevant today. I care about the stories our lives are becoming. More living in our homes (and lives) is a good thing, let's get on with it.  Feel free to email me and learn more on how Moor Alive Interiors can help create your home story. I love talking about this- carolyn@mooraliveinteriors.com

Live well, be well!

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Moor Alive Interiors