Oh what I have learned.  Smoke like that penetrates everything, walls, woodwork, paper, fabric, you name it, it infiltrates it and deposits its nasty smell.  So we were, in a manner of speaking, at the moment, homeless.  Not in the sense of having nowhere to go, and for that I am eternally grateful, but in the sense of being without our home.

My daughter was crying one night, missing home, and feeling guilty for this – feeling she had no right to be sad, the house didn’t burn down, no one was killed, she wasn’t in some catastrophe, nor did she know anyone who was, and so her problems seemed petty in comparison.  They are small indeed compared to loss of life, but our homes are a huge part of us, I’d come to realize, thinking about this.

So I reflected on home and why we are so devastated by this, because we are. Home is powerful.  How else do we understand people who rebuild the same house on the same spot after a natural disaster?  How else do we understand trying to keep a powerful ocean from eating our house?  How else do we explain Israel and Palestine and Yugoslavia and Serbia and Bosnia and on and on and on?  How many wars have been fought to preserve our right to our home?  How do we explain “homeless” camps where people carve out their own niche and fill it with their own collection of things, even in the absence of four walls?  How else do we explain the need to go back to our roots, revisit our past homes, or the homes of our ancestors?  Do we think we can recapture lost time?

I remember a book my daughter had when she was little, in which two birds lived in a “home” and decided they needed a new one.  They searched and searched and found a variety of different homes, yet none suited them. In the end they managed to find the “perfect” home, which actually turned out to be their original home.  They returned to their roots.

So what is this mysterious power of home?  It’s not just a place for shelter, nor our things, if so, it wouldn’t beckon us the way it does.  I think it’s like a second skin which enfolds us and all we love.  It’s appeal is universal.

My response is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting “just a little help.” A little assistance with a designer can go a long way. In a few hours a designers can help you in a variety of ways such as helping you pick colors, identify your style, create a more functional yet still beautiful space or help you edit your space (adding or subtracting items) to make it feel more complete.

Many people watch design shows on television where people tear into their spaces ripping out and discarding everything. While the end result is dramatic and new, it is often a very costly and potentially wasteful process. And more importantly a beautiful space can often be obtained much more simply and quickly.

Here’s a few ways a decision can assist you in a limited amount of time:

• Color selection: Paint is one way to bring color into your space and it can give you the “biggest bang for your buck.” However choosing the right color or colors can be daunting. There are so many colors out there and you want to choose something that sets the right “tone” to your room and that complements the furniture, fabrics, artwork etc. already in place. In addition you need to consider whether the color flows nicely with other colors as you move from room to room, how light will impact your color, whether you want to have an accent wall, use a different colored trim and whether that little swatch will really look good all over your walls. The considerations are many, so get some help up front and paint just once!  Maybe you love your paint, but you need help picking out the colors in furniture, fabrics and accessories. Whatever your color dilemma, a designer can help!
• Style: A designer can help you identify your style and how to use this style when choosing furniture, fabrics and accessories for your space.
• Layout: Placing your furniture can be quite challenging. We’ve all seen those quirky rooms where the furniture just doesn’t seem to work or see a beautiful empty space and once the furniture is in the room realize that the 5 doors into the room make a horrible traffic flow issue!  A designer can help you arrange your furniture so that your space is both functional and beautiful. With 3D design software you can even see your room virtually and try out several arrangements before you break your back moving everything around. A designer can also help you configure built-in cabinetry for your kitchen, bathroom and other rooms in your space. They can provide you with floor plans and drawings that will help you or your installer place everything correctly.
• Pulling your room together: A designer can help you decide what works in your room and what doesn’t. You can then focus on buying only those pieces or items that your need and rid your rooms of the pieces that just don’t fit. It may be that all you need are some new accessories, or paint, or some new upholstery to update and freshen up your space and give you the room you love.

These are just a few of the ways a designer can provide assistance. Getting “just a little help” up front can save you a whole lot of drama, work and money! An added benefit is that you can feel good about being green. Cutting down on waste, reusing what you have and purchasing wisely are all great ways to be green.

So pick up the phone today and ask for “just a little help.”