Color Brings Life

I recently ventured into the discount deal a day world of Living Social. A risk some would say wouldn't be worth it.

Yesterday, I walked into a space that my Living Social client worked diligently and methodically on for over 2 months after our first design consult to be pleasantly 'blown away'. She had saved her dollars for 5 yrs after grad school and purchasing her first 830 sq. ft condo, until the time was right to decide on decorating her space. I feel so blessed to receive a 100% thumbs up and 'I'd hire her again' from my Living Social clients.

Herstory: She first had a friend help, no luck and worried about the tension it could potentially cause. Then one day, she saw the Living Social ad pop up on her laptop....she leaned in and said 'This must be a sign'. Since Moor Alive Interiors was the first decorator/ designer in the Central FL area to be featured, it was something new, something more than what she expected.

So a few weeks later, I showed up and listened, looked and took in all the hopes and dreams she had for the space. I sketched a plan right away on paper. Another quirky thing I do is find her birth date in my Colorstrology book and read it to her. Her colors were a teal blue and accent of red......two colors she has always had an affinity for, but never really paid much attention to it or think of it for her color scheme at home.

I encouraged her to 'go for it'. In reality, I gave her permission to be her!

Two months passed by, many 'panic' emails later, a few more 'be brave' responses brought me squarely at her door yesterday morning. She confessed that she rushed around all weekend and morning pulling together the final touches- which is always a good challenge. As I walked towards her condo, she opened the door about 3 inches and said 'Are you ready?' with the zealous nature of a teenager about to meet Justin Bieber.

She was excited for this moment....and so was I.

I walked in and immediately smiled. The happiness was explosive in the room and it overtook our body language as we both erupted in excitement. It was a scene from those shows on HGTV. It was so much fun to see and hear the stories of making it all possible.

Before and afters are amazing to see, but the before and afters of my clients 'lives well lived' in their spaces is a process that is seen as invitations over for a book club, drinks, movie night. These are a sure indication that they are living in a 'moor alive' space.
                                                                         
                                                                            Before

After

My job is finished and onto creating more life elsewhere, but I leave excited for her, proud of all her hard work and impressed she knew to ask for help and follow her intuition about what she read about on my website. The ultimate compliment came when she told me how she chose me. Evidently, after reading my home page statement she leaned back in her chair and said 'I like her already' and that was the spark that lit this fire to finally create a space that she deserved.

                                                                            Before

After

If you want to live more alive, give me a ring at 407-894-6767. Just do it or at least google search me and see a woman you might want to know. I'm ready if you are are willing- ask my clients if it's worth it!

On a side note, come hear me speak at the 2012 Orlando Women's Conference on April 27 focused on leadership, entrepreneurship & philanthropy for women. Find out the back story of how Moor Alive Interiors was created and my experience a few years back on the Oprah Show. Lots of secrets to share.

Article feature in Women You Should Know

Carolyn Moor
Moor Alive Interiors

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Living Social, Examiner.com

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407.894.6767

Carolyn Moor featured on Interior Design Pros BLOG--> THANKS :)

February 2012/ Interior Design Pro Features Carolyn Moor!!

Is there more to “home sweet home” than just four walls, a floor and a ceiling? According to Interior Designer, Carolyn Moor, the walls and floors merely allow you a means of existence – it’s the Interior Design that allows your surroundings to distinguish your life, influence your emotions, and provide you options of exploring life within those four walls to its fullest extent.

As a Florida Interior Designer, Carolyn puts a new spin on creating domestic bliss within your domain that is a direct result of her own personal story which involved tragedy and a heartfelt journey to rediscovery. It’s her unique and insightful perspective that brings about a nuance within your living space – leaving you with a new understanding and awareness of your interior surroundings and what it all means on an emotional level, as well as a physical one.

Spotlighted on Oprah, along with an episode of TLC’s “Shalom in the Home”, has brought Carolyn Moor’s story to the forefront, but it’s her passion for Interior Design and her ability to see beyond the physical aspect of home furnishings – that has kept her there. With in-depth research into color psychology, emotional attachment theories and interior alignment strategies, (among other designing elements), Carolyn empowers the home owner with designing ideas that may not have surfaced or been considered before.

Custom Condo Dining Room by Carolyn Moor

This unique method of designing a space to reflect the lives within, versus simply choosing a designing style in which to decorate around, is what makes Carolyn’s Orlando business; Moor Alive Interiors, flourish. However, it’s her own personal philosophy of “home is what catches you when you fall – and we all fall” which sums up her passionate approach to creating a living environment that consists of a unique method of designing a space to reflect the people that live there, versus simply choosing a designing style to decorate around.

Interior Cabin of a Yacht. Custom Design by Carolyn Moor

Choosing Carolyn as your Interior Designer not only provides the home owner with a design style that offers aesthetic comfort, but it also ensures that peace, harmony and happiness will be delivered to not only the living space, but to those living within.

Would you like more information on decorating or designing your own living spaces? Please visit our Interior Design Ideas Gallery, and then browse our Interior Designer Directory to find a designer in your area.

'Home Organizers have lowest complaints' says Angie's List

According to Angie's List, (the most respected consumer review site), home organizers have topped the list of least complained services!!! 

Along with us are piano tuners, graphic designers, hauling services, mailbox repair, dryer vent cleaning, ceiling fan installation, lighting services, screen repair and the reason is because we give very personalized service and we often develop long-lasting relationships with our clients. 

Moor Alive Interiors recommends Home Organizer, Suzanna Kaye with 'A Space that Works Professional Organizing' in the Orlando Area. Call her today, I'm sure you won't complain and tell her  hi for me.

I'd say Angie is spot on! For a year now, Moor Alive Interiors, has been striving for an A rating and has achieved it with giving excellent customer services and asking to be reviewed. (Clap, clap, clap.) I'm always thrilled when someone writes kind words and can see their lives change positively like their homes did as well. 

It's interesting to see the highest complaint list. 

Have you ever had a bad experience with any of these below? Because they are the TOP complaints according to Angie!

Home Warranty Companies

Banks/ Credit Unions

Internet Service Providers

Property Management Companies

Mobile and Landline Phone Companies

Wedding Service (Bridal Shops & Wedding Planners)

Auction Services

Boating Sales

Mattress Sales 

Travel Agencies 

With 5 of these being related to the building/ home/ construction industry, I think we could all do a better job. So give us a chance! From February 8-14, treat yourself to a personal Valentine's Day gift and pick up one of our Living Social specials 1) Design Consults or 2) Attend our 'Create Your Space' 3 hr. Workshop. 

We are the FIRST decorator featured in Orlando for their 'At Home' division. Hoping to pick up some moor Angie's List reviews and make you a very happy client. We've never been moor affordable. 

**Find Living Social Special posted on our HOME page come February 8, 2012.

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

Free photo slideshow made with Smilebox

Merry Christmas (a day after)

Merry Christmas from Moor Alive Interiors.

This month we spent time giving back into the community by doing a Room Makeover for Kayla, a Wish Child with New Hope for Kids / Wish Program.  

As you can see, it's fresh, beautiful and uplifting. All I will say is this, it wasn't BEFORE! In 4 days, we brought in a team of amazing people and transformed her space. 

Here is the BEFORE:

Again.....AFTER.

and BEFORE.

and.....AFTER,

BEFORE.

I think we made someone's Christmas this year. May God be the Glory. 

Thank you Katie Hestla/ Artist

Thank you Dawn (Kayla's nurse) for submitting wish to New Hope for Kids. Thank you mom Kathryn. Thank you Jeff & Jessie Jones/ Contractor & overall Handymen (407-712-3970). Thank you UCF Cornerstone Students for raising the money.

Thank you Ryan Pugh with FineWood Studios ( 407-324-3700) for gifting Kayla's cool sign. 

A Thanks and Giving Home

Talking about homes, the warm and fuzzy ones and the ones that people loose (and are left to wonder where they will go next), all concern me. The good, the bad and the ugly: I take it all in.

Growing up, and what I know now, is our homes create an 'expectation' for what we did or did not experience in our childhood. For example, my sister and I love to eat at big tables where family sits around and passes dishes while talking away the evening...but in our childhood, we rarely ate at a dining table because we didn't eat in the dining room.

Our dining room was used more for doing craft projects or paperwork, if the truth be told. That might sound strange to some, but I wasn't aware of any other way of life. I mean, I see the lovely thanksgiving dinner table depictions on TV commercial land like everyone else, but I rarely sat and contemplated who actually did (or didn't) do that. Well, of course, now I know that you create this experience and many times it is a tradition passed down by our elders (that in my opinion needs to continue).

With families so spread out, travel and food expensive, many new traditions are born out of practicality. Last year, I attended the wedding of my dearest friend in Tallahassee and sat under a white tent outdoors after witnessing sacred vows that brought me to tears and made my heart smile....it was by far the most lovely and meaningful Thanksgiving dinner I have consumed.

I'd love to have Thanksgiving Dinner at my home someday, but to be honest, being a single mom without family nearby and a tight budget who cooks every night, I may go out to dinner with friends, since eating out is a special occasion for us. No clean up, no left overs to tempt me, just a moment, a memory. As long as I'm with my daughters, it will be wonderful, no matter what we do. Later, I could snuggle up and watch a movie together being thankful for the roof over my head and give of my time to listen to what they have to share about life.

We might even go into the dining room and work on crafts and do a little paper art. Kinda like I used to do growing up! No matter what, I will spend the day being thankful and giving and I guess we all get to define what that means for each of us. I don't think we can ask anything else from ourselves. Happy Thanksgiving 2011 everyone, I lift a glass of eggnog to you and yours!

Carolyn Moor
Moor Alive Interiors
'Grow Where You are Planted'

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!

Find Carolyn @

Moor Alive Interiors

Home Sweet Home!

A smile.

That's what I look for when someone opens their door to let me in. A physical expression that is contagious and almost impossible not to reciprocate. I like smiles, they are like free happiness.

In a world where we have 1000+ facebook friends, its nice to see a warm body respond. Nothing replaces facial expressions, fidgeting in your seat over a topic of wonder. It got me to thinking, when was the last time I met a new 'friend' and invited them over to hang on my back porch for awhile?

Then I had a novel idea.....

Do that!

What I realized was this: I'd have to hide my clutter, rearrange some art, vacuum, hide legal papers not in the file they are supposed to be in, organize all the shoes by the door and take one of those lint brushes to the sofa. Whew. I'm just getting started.....

....or I could learn to keep up the pace of my life and learn to 'pick up' every night so the tasks like above didn't build up over time. I think if I did this, I'd be more open to inviting a friend or neighbor over for a spur of the moment beer or glass of wine. Bad habits die hard.

Over time, I learned to do this. Partly, because I have daughters I'm trying to train, but also my cleaning lady rarely comes anymore due to my bottom line budget. So I had to learn to do something inconceivable- I had to actually learn to manage and maintain what I have MYSELF. You know where I'm going with this, right? Yea, more stuff, more to manage...

For those of you out there who have been there done that, long ago- crossed this bridge, gone ahead and reduced your belongings (aka: invisible weight on your shoulders) can attest to the freedom that in indescribable when you have just want you need (and maybe a bit more), I'm not talking to you!! You can go back to Facebooking your 1001+ friends. Who I'm talking to is anyone who has quite a bit more over what they can manage......and maybe, maybe wished that 'Bewitched' lady would come over and twinkle her nose and make your place arrange itself. Well, I hate to burst your bubble...

Instead, I'll offer you a quick, easy idea you can do in the next 5 minutes. We are going to extract information from your brain onto a piece of paper and you will see what you need. Ready?

Pen + Paper + You = Finding out what you really need!

Ok- here we go  ---------> ----------->
1. Pen and Paper in hand, go to ONE room in your home.
2. Look around that room.
3. On top of the paper, write down your most precious item that is in this room. It can be anything!! Art, books, grandma's photo, a vase you bought on vacay, letters from someone important...you get the picture.
4. List the second most precious item.
5. List the third most precious item.
6. You're getting the picture, right? (please, say YES)
7. When you get tired of writing, you have before you the items that mean the most to you. Keep those items.
8. Decide what you will do with the other items that are just fluff, filler. They are the metaphoric heavy sack you are carrying around everyday whether you realize it or not.
9. Be patient and loving to yourself, it took you a long time to acquire these items, it will take awhile to release them.
10. Choose just ONE thing to donate or gift and let someone else love it. You have everything you need to love.

You're one step closer to inviting that neighbor over and who knows, you might just like it! I think that's something worth smiling about.

Moor Alive Interiors offers a workshop that's way fun and helps you do little exercises like this and make a few new friends. It's called 'Creating Shalom in the Home'. I'll be there to greet you with a smile and a hug. 

Happy trails my friend,
Carolyn Moor