LS LIVING - THE BLOG
Hi Ya'll!
Today I'm so excited to share with you a feature I wrote for The Honest Company's blog, Honestly. It's all about the transition I made from being admittedly "unaware" of responsibly made products before pregnancy, to becoming a reasonably organic mama.
Because Honestly, we're all just doing the best we can! And we're doing a good job.
Click here to read the full post!
~L.S.
It's amazing how much we have at our fingertips these days. You can truly find anything online. Even design. As a thirty-something I am still a huge proponent of the old school face-to-face meetings. I'm less and less of a phone person, and still prefer to use paper and pencil (especially when drafting floor plans!). However all things considered, I think I am pretty "with it" when it comes to digital knowledge.
The other day I turned to Eric and somewhat hysterically said, "When it comes time for Avery to go to college, all the kids will probably have some sort of microchip INSERTED INTO THEIR BRAIN that shoots laser beams out in front of their eyeballs to give them 3D renderings of the topic they are learning about! OMG. There might even not be teachers. There might just be teacher-bots. Maybe the little microchip in their brain will also have a voiceover as their Digital Professor. Oh, and there will definitely be self-driving cars. Our kids cars are going to DRIVE THEMSELVES!"
YIKES. While the speed, intensity and natural skill demonstrated by our tiny human while she swipes the IPad to find "Melmo" is truly terrifying, there is no doubt it is the way of the future.
Although this Digital Age can be intimidating, overwhelming, dangerous and scary, there is a silver lining peeking through! In this crazy busy world today, we don't always have time for those personal meet ups. It's so easy to snap a pic with your smartphone, shoot a text, drop an email, like a photo, retweet an article. Even Great-Grandma can update her Facebook status, and an iPad can magically transform a cranky toddler hellbent on torturing a plane full of poor undeserving souls to a blissful, thumb-sucking angel with the tap of a finger.
I truly don't know what this says about our society, but the fact of the matter is, THIS IS HAPPENING (and has already happened) right before our eyes (which are focused down, brows furrowed in concentration on the text of the moment while crossing the street).
With the amount of time we design enthusiasts spend on Pinterest and trolling online furniture gallery flash sales like One Kings Lane, Dot + Bo, and Joss & Main , it's surprising that we don't have carpal tunnel syndrome from furiously typing into our search engines, looking for that perfect 36"W x 10"D x 31"H skinny console table for our teensy city-sized entryway.
I hate this. And I love this. There is something to be said about stepping AWAY from our computers and social media and getting outside, or at least going out "in the field" for inspiration. For example that means me getting off my keister and trekking up to the D&D Building to see what is new in the market for inspiration, or going to that long put off design business seminar. (By the way, great podcast on stepping away to find inspiration by Tiffany Han here). Or it could just be simply taking a stroll around the block. Today, I had 15 minutes to kill between an appointment and picking Tiny Human up from daycare. Instead of scurrying indoors and typing away in the dark cavern of the petit a.p.t., I planted myself on a park bench and just sat there with my face tilted to the sun. It felt amazing.
I've been so lucky to be able to take advantage of one of the upsides of The Digital Age. I've been honored to be a featured designer at Laurel & Wolf, a new online platform that delivers interior design to your fingertips. It's getting a lot of buzz, especially in the tech world. And because of that buzz, I am able to spend more time buzzing around outdoors with Avery and Bear. Another bonus? I am able to bring interior design to the client who otherwise would have been intimidated by the process, would have shied away because of budget reasons, or who simply wouldn't have had the time.
For these reasons (and so many more, like Diapers.com and Amazon Prime, hellooo!) I feel lucky to be living in a digital age that makes beautiful things that much more accessible and affordable to all.
I am probably making some interior design legends roll in their graves right now, and I'm sorry for that! Like I said... I am still a proponent of in person, in the space. It's always the very best, the most accurate. However, when that can't happen, why can't we still find design online?
I'm so excited to be rolling out my new DigiDesign Package in which you can purchase an online design consultation directly from my website. For more information, click here and use passcode "LSDigiDesign".
Below are just a few of the digital style boards I have created for clients.
A W Hotel Inspired Living Room
A Modern/Industrial Live/Work Loft Space for an Entrepreneur
A Contemporary and Affordable Living Room
A Soothing Transitional Living Room
A Modern Live/Work Bachelor Pad
A Happy Eclectic Living Room
A Hollywood Glam Master Bedroom, Incorporating Client's Own Wedding Pictures
A Rustic Mediterranean Living Room by the Beach
A Transitional Living Space Incorporating Client's own Artwork.
A Friendly and Modern Family Room
So, how do you find design online?
~L.S.
Interested in digital design or have additional questions? Contact me here.
Another mama who deserves a shout out this week! My friend Amber, of Amber Winick Art + Design Advisory. Aren't she and her daughter Alice, 19 months, gorg? Like many of us, this Brooklynite mom is a talented multi-tasker: wife, mother, small business owner, art historian, designer, educator, writer, fur baby mama... I'll stop there!
I met Amber awhile back while at the park with another one of my momtrepreneur friends, Leah Fox of Charm + Magic. (If you missed my blog on Leah, you can read it here.) In fact, when Avery and I arrived, Leah and Amber were already talking. Leah knows a good one when she sees one! Meeting moms around town is a bit like dating, actually. You never know - should I ask for her digits? Will I ever see her again? So many mommy fish in the sea of Brooklyn! And we're all just swimming around, juggling our many tasks, wearing our many different fedoras, looking for some camaraderie, honest friendship, and a playdate to eat up the (sometimes terrifying) afternoon hours of 4-6 before the DBB (Dinner, Bath, Bedtime) saga begins.
Amber and I got to talking while the babies toddled around the Tot Lot. We quickly figured out that our professions went hand in hand. I was still working at Cullman & Kravis, Inc. at the time, where we often brought in expert art advisors for our projects. As an interior designer and as an aspiring collector, I have to admit, there is something so nice about having an art advisor. Truly, they can learn your tastes, tell you which pieces to invest in, help you build a collection over time. It's so worth it to have someone who is both knowledgeable and has a great eye when it comes to curating a space.
Amber is uber smart and talented (check out these publications!). I would recommend her in a heartbeat to any client who is interested in art and wants a little help figuring out how to give a space that extra touch. Whether you're a serious collector or just getting started, it's easy to see how art can make (or break!) the places we live and work. Here is what Amber has to say:
“I try to take an intuitive approach to collecting. I get to know my clients in order to understand what moves them, what they think about, and how they think. I then share artists and artworks that I think they may connect with. Often my clients become good friends. As a designer, I try to create spaces that intrigue. I love spaces that feel relaxed and never want anything to feel too precious or untouchable.”
YES. Preach it, girl! That is something to strive for as a designer. You want things to be beautiful, yet touchable. Pristine yet cozy. Most importantly, you want the space to elevate your client's spirits, to speak to them on a personal level. This often involves stepping outside of yourself and your own personal tastes - a total challenge.
When Amber was pregnant, she was presented with a career opportunity she couldn't pass up - a Fulbright Research Fellowship in Budapest, Hungary. What a tough decision, and tough timing! She knew in her heart of hearts she had to go for it, despite the many life changes she was about to encounter, or she may look back with regret. So when Baby Alice was three months old, the family packed up and continent-hopped over to Europe. I give them so much credit for doing this! As new parents, it's overwhelming enough having an infant in the comfort of your own surroundings. I think at this point I was barely out of my pajamas and still nodding off on the sofa with one eye open on Avery's bassinet! Here is Amber, shifting cultures, rocking motherhood abroad and researching in Budapest's Museum of Applied Arts (as well as public and private collections throughout Hungary!)
Not only do we have a love of art history and design in common, but since our munchkins are so close in age, Amber and I can relate on many levels. It's a delicate task to juggle motherhood with running a small, design-based business. It's so great to know we can bounce ideas off each other, refer one another, collaborate (and commiserate from time to time!) We will hopefully have some fun things in the works soon, so stay tuned for that.
In the meantime, how beautiful is Amber's portfolio? Here's just a quick glimpse!
Looks like Alice is following in mama's footsteps, studying Matisse!
~L.S.
For more info, or to contact Amber directly, visit www.amberwinick.com