There are so many videos and blog posts out there about why your home might feel “off”, and how to fix it. Usually, the advice centres around getting your rug size right, improving your lighting, or investing in better window treatments. And honestly, all of that has its place. I offer that kind of guidance […]
There’s a quiet power in taking your time. In a world that encourages us to do everything faster — including how we decorate our homes — slow decorating offers something different. Something better. It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about creating a home that truly feels like you — a space that supports your life, […]
— even if you’re renting, on a budget, or feeling overwhelmed A very common thing we designers often hear is, “I just want that wow effect.” And I completely get it. Of course we want to feel impressed by our space — to walk into a room and think yes, this is beautiful. But if […]
Decorating a rental property to our own taste does have its challenges, especially if it comes fully or partly furnished. But it is completely possible to do a rental home makeover on a budget, if you get creative with your resources. Most landlords are looking for reliable tenants who will take good care of the […]
An altar is a sacred place. Sacred in the sense of displaying items that are meaningful and symbolic to us. Not necessarily sacred in a religious sense, although it can be if we so wish. And while most of us probably grew up associating altars with churches, temples, and more religiously-inclined locations, it is becoming […]
The Danish concept of Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) became something of a global phenomenon a couple of years back with the publication of a number of books on the subject. This lead it to become a leading trend in the interiors world for the autumn and winter seasons. And now, as with most trends, interest has moved on […]
Meditation is a process of quieting the mind. But—for most people—the mind will not be perfectly still during meditation. In fact—for most people—the mind will be quite active throughout. There will be moments of stillness and those moments are of the utmost importance. During those moments healing takes place—on the physical, mental and emotional levels. […]
Although I’m a certified meditation teacher, I grew up a skeptic and I understand where the skeptics are coming from. I respect their wariness of various spiritual practices, especially if it falls into the “new age” category—I once was very wary too. And in fact, I still remain skeptical of certain modalities. I don’t blindly […]
As a reformed, natural-born pessimist, I am keenly aware of the power of positive thinking. How we think and how we feel are inextricably linked. For most people—unless dealing with hormonal imbalances in the body, or chemical imbalances in the brain—our thoughts usually determine our feelings. Therefore, to feel good, we must reframe negative thoughts into […]
When we’re stressed and anxious our breathing tends to become shallow. We may even unconsciously hold our breath. A simple way to restore a sense of calm in our bodies and minds is to deliberately and consciously breathe fully and deeply. With thousands of students in Ireland beginning their state exams tomorrow morning, I did […]
The short and simple answer: yes, absolutely. There are some schools of meditation that are more austere than others, where meditators are encouraged to sit in absolute stillness for the duration, in order to facilitate the mind reaching deeper levels of stillness. And that is a wonderful ideal to aspire to. However, we often find ourselves unable […]
I am usually wary of “life-changing” claims. But when it comes to meditation, I can confidently assert that—given regular practice—five minutes a day can change things. It’s widely accepted now among Western medicine practitioners that meditation isn’t “woo-woo.” It has been shown, over and over, to improve our physical, mental and emotional well-being. But people who […]
