Children's Hospital Spacelift: My Hospital Design Project

So word got out that I love to design and decorate. You may know that I work in a hospital where I conduct psychological evaluations on children and families who deal with trauma and abuse related issues. We're big on personality assessments and putting together psychological profiles. And while it's really interesting, it's pretty heavy work. So needless to say I was thrilled when they asked me to decorate our department. It's a nice change of pace from the emotionally intense work I do, and of course a good portfolio builder for my company (read about it here). It all happened when our department expanded its office space and needed someone to decorate it as well as the older spaces that were never decorated. And instead of going through the painstaking process of hiring someone they don't know well, they  hired me (yaaay!). They asked me to decorate all the common areas, including the front and back waiting room, the hallways, and the main conference room.

To prepare for the project, one of the first things I did was research articles on psychology and hospital design. (I wrote about some of it here). Given that the children and parents often come to our offices unwillingly in a state of turmoil and distress, it's important to create a space that is aesthetically pleasing, and reduces the stress of having to be there in the first place. So I used nature as my guiding theme for the design because studies show nature promotes healing, and people feel most comfortable around it.

Of course, I would love to go all out with this project, but apparently, the hospital has a number of limitations that I have to take into consideration. For one, I can't choose new furniture or paint because administration already picked those, and wants consistency throughout the hospital (go figure). So my challenge is to add items that enhance the existing design, and I'm all for a good challenge. So far, I've sourced items and created mood boards for several areas including the front waiting room and the hallways. See it here.

I wanted the front waiting room to be appealing to both children and adults. The water color images are a good fit because they are child-like, yet complex enough to be interesting to adults and older children. I really like the  giant girl painting because she is ethnically ambiguous, and her oversized stature conveys a message of empowerment to the many vulnerable children we see. Also, because the entire space is neutral, I wanted to add a modern aesthetic with pops of color for a clean-lined look that draws clients in. The modern kid's table and chairs are about the only furniture I was able to add. I made sure to include blues and greens which often occur in nature.

mural|| sea life activity table|| cloud ceiling tile|| bookcase||magazine holders|| planters||forest bird painting|| fishes in sea painting|| chairs|| table||girl with red hair painting

 

Decorating the hallways had it challenges especially since it's against regulation to hang pictures or anything that could potentially fall off the wall. So I used decals, and decided to go with a mixed media look since it was difficult to find a wide range of decals with a similar aesthetic. The woodsy, rainforest, and safari nature themes will line two hallways in a repeating pattern. It's appealing to children but I think adults will (at least I will)  get a kick out of it too.

clouds|| cama grass || deer|| birch trees||macaw|| logs||paisley birds||bamboo trees||shrubberies||double macaws|| fox||giraffe|| lorikeet||African tree|| monkey

 What do you think of a nature theme for a children's hospital? There are still a few more areas to do, and I'll be sure to feature each one as it's completed. So stay tuned.

Pantone Marsala: A Color That Captures the Moment

So with all this talk about Marsala being the Pantone Color of the year, I had to find out more about Pantone and how they chose their colors. I've been hearing about Pantone for some time now, yet never really knew the back story. But I'm pleased to say *swinging my hair back in satisfaction* that I learned quite a bit in my pursuit.

Pantone started as a commercial printing company in the 1950's and Lawrence Herbert, an employee who bought the company in 1962, invented the well-known Pantone Matching System, a system that standardizes colors— you may have seen the bound color swatches. This makes it easier for designers, manufactures, retailers, and customers to communicate color choices accurately and figure out what colors go with what.

Fast forward a few decades, and now Pantone is known as a leading authority on all things color. Pantoneview.com, a color service, connects creatives with color experts for a monthly fee. They highlight what is happening in the world of color, including current color trends across all areas of design. This is where you can learn what the color of the year will be. From what I understand, various countries have what are called color standard groups, and representatives from these groups meet for two days of presentations and debate to decide the color for the following year. It all seems very intense, doesn't it?

So why Marsala? They say the color of the year  is meant to capture the spirit of the times, and when reading about what the experts had to say about Marsala, words such as earthy, hearty, nurturing, and fulfilling were used. This seems in stark contrast to all the social unrest we've had lately from tension between police and the masses to terrorism and beheadings. And with such rapid advances in technology, we are bombarded with information and reality TV-like drama all the time. So of course it would not be unusual to want to resort to a color that feels nurturing and comforting, kind of like apple pie or chicken noodle soup. Marsala is often compared to wine which is glamorous and luxurious, a big trend in design for some time now. But Marsala isn't necessarily an in your face Hollywood Regency glamour kind of color (although it can be with the right finishes and furnishings). Instead it is more organic or natural, perhaps a nice contrast to the obvious glitz and glam we've been accustomed to. I also noticed that there seem to be different shades  of Marsala, or at least people are interpreting it a little differently. I've seen it look anywhere from a near rose pink to as dark as burgundy or wine. Either way, Marsala has not been an easy-to-love color for me. I think I'm just not used to seeing it in modern and chic décor.  But I enjoy when designers can reinterpret unexpected colors or furnishings in an interesting way. This table setting (below) by Emily Henderson is a great example of this.

One thing about Marsala is that it's very versatile. With it's brown and brick red tones, it goes with everything from red to pink to blues. I really like it with the peach/pink curtains— it creates tension with the marsala, and I find a certain amount of color tension invigorating. I also really like the gold chairs and fur seat covers. It feels very glamorous and sexy admist the lovely vintage pictures, dainty curtains, and rustic marsala. The entire mix creates such interest, don't you agree? I've sourced a few of the pieces in case you'd like to recreate the look. I chose pieces that I think really define the look and make it pop. So what do you think, would use Marsala in a room?

peacock print || faux sheepskin || wire cantilever chairs || wine/marsala burlap tablecloth || sheer pink curtains

Using Psychology to Decorate Infant Spaces

Hey all! This week I'd thought I would talk about some of the key elements to consider when putting together an infant room. If you've read my posts, you know I am in the process of decorating my new home with a number of rooms left to complete. And since my new baby, I've been thinking a lot about how to design a space that facilitates an infant's early development. As a psychologist I've taught child development, and know all about attachment and the psychobiology of emotion. But I've only recently considered applying it to infant design. Infants thrive with familiarity and secure base from which to explore their world. When they feel comfortable and safe, it frees them up to learn and develop. So it's important to design a space that promotes optimal development by ensuring that it is most comfortable and cozy for growing babies. With that said, babies learn and develop when their senses are stimulated like with a mobile or rattle. They also respond positively to certain amounts of novelty and surprise like rotating or changing pictures or quilts. This creates interest and varied experiences that facilitate neuronal connections in the brain necessary for development and enhanced problem-solving. Ideally, we want children to be in an environment that allows their great qualities and characteristics to be realized.

And let's not forget catering to mom or as we say in psych, the "primary caretaker." A study conducted by the design psychologist, Susan Painter, showed that the best predictor of how securely attached a mother is to her baby is her estimate of her competence as a caregiver. In order to promote a sense of competence in mom, the nursery should make her feel capable, confident, and secure.  So a nursery that is efficient and organized goes a long way in supporting mom which in turn, benefits baby. Like they say, happy mama, happy baby! Here are some pieces that I've collated with child development in mind. Of course, there are many more items that would fit into these categories. If you come across them, feel free to share them here. I'm always on the look out for cool nursery furniture or toys.

1. Sheepskin rug via Serena & Lily 2. Lilbow Pillow Doll via Roxymarj 3. Harper Rug via Pottery Barn Kids 4.Golden Pineapple Swaddle via Littlewoof 5. Musical Rabbit Angel Playmat via Smallable 6. Felt Camera Baby Rattle via Emy and Annie 7. Wool Felt Nursery Mobile via Dundryhill 8. Woodland Silhouettes via Brimful 9. Coral Jubilee Wallpaper via Spoonflower 10. Interactive Weather Map via Four Monkeys 11. Lake Glider via Serena & Lily 12. Pink Herringbone Hamper via Land of Nod 13. Vintage Pink Wall Tidy Pouch via Smallable

Mad Hatter Inspired Playroom (No Alice in Wonderland Characters Allowed)

Some months ago I introduced the theme for my boys' new bedroom. I assure you I haven't forgotten about it, and it's still a work in progress. How I would have loved for it to be completed by now, but as you may know, sometimes life gets in the way and things don't happen according to plan.  Nevertheless, the show must go on! So I decided it's time to start designing the playroom. When I think of a playroom, I think of a stimulating, creative environment full of fantasy. And I've been really inspired by the whimsical vibe of Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter Tea Party. But the one thing I don't want is for it to be a cookie-cutter themed room, overrun with Alice in Wonderland characters. I want it to be a loose reference to the mad hatter tea party, rather than a literal interpretation of it. So I set out to find just the right amount of whimsy for my boys' (and soon to be girl's) playroom that is entertaining enough for both them and me. In this room (channeling my inner Vanna White), you'll walk into a colorful mosaic pattern on the ceiling, adorned by a glittering ship chandelier (love that!) and a proper, over-the-top red balloon shade. Want to do some arts and crafts? No problem, just head over to the craft table with ornate and modern mismatched chairs ( the perfect combination of whacky) and a paper table runner that you can decorate any way you like. And just to give you that outdoorsy mad tea party feel, you can find a grass rug underneath you're feet. And who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to place some flowers on it. If you're like my boys, you love superheros, and your beloved superhero posters always have a place inside a quirky, ostentatious frame decal. Take a look:

Where do the toys go, you ask? Well, the plan is to use a lot of shelving to store toys and books. I'll also paint one wall with blackboard paint so the kids can feel free to write on it. So what do you think of a mad hatter playroom, yay or nay?

Communicating with Yellow

Some time ago I started a series communicating with color to highlight the strong psychological influence color has on our mood. When it comes to color, we often grow up with a learned set of rules. There was a time when redheads were told never to wear pink or red, or blondes were told never to wear yellow. And truth be told, because my skin has such gold, yellow undertones, I have always been cautious about wearing yellow, particularly when it comes to yellow make-up or nail polish. This summer, I've been taking notice of the yellow nail polish trend. I absolutely love the way it looks on dark skin tones, but never thought I could pull it off. Well, never say never, right? Because  I recently  decided to try a shade of yellow, and found one I was really happy with (see below). It's  a  strong yellow, and doesn't blend in with or wash out my skin tone. I'm glad that I've been able to move beyond "color typing" and experiment a little. Color typing is when we rely on a set of ideal rules that govern our color choices and interferes with our  individuality and creative expression. Really, we don't have to be limited to an ideal set of colors, as there are a range of factors (e.g.,cultural, physiological, environmental) that influence our perception of color. And as you may recall from my last post in this series, colors can communicate different messages depending  on the context, and even the shade. Of course yellow is no exception. Yellow is often thought of as an uplifting, happy color. But used too much, it can be stressful and lead to frustration and anger. It also evokes creativity or originality, and is best used as an accent color designed to stimulate the senses but not overload them.

If you're thinking of using yellow in your home or outfit, you can incorporate some global inspired yellow wallpaper for a well-traveled feel like this Aphrochic wallpaper, or wear yellow suede shoes for a cheerful, yet glamorous look as shown here by socialite Olivia Palermo. You can even paint your walls bright yellow if you you're looking for high excitement like this room designed by Nick Olsen, but just  make sure you and your guests can handle the stimulation. See these and more ways to use yellow below.

communicating with yellow_edited7

wallpaper♦ shoes♦sofa♦dress♦walls♦table

What ways do you like to use yellow?

Eleven Unexpected, Chic Home Styling Ideas

Hello my lovely friends! How are you? Hope you all had a great Mother's Day weekend. Things have been so hectic in my part of the world lately that I’ve missed several weeks of posting.  I never like to be missing in action for weeks at a time so hopefully my schedule will calm down moving forward and I can focus on what I truly love to do—blog! This past week I was perusing through Jonathan Adler’s book, 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life, and found it quite entertaining. I really appreciate his embrace-what-you-love take on life, a mantra that’s clearly evident in his quirky, irreverent, and super chic décor. The book was filled with great tips, and got me thinking about a few of the quirky and unexpected, yet chic home styling ideas I love. Here are a few.

                          {sources: 1♦2♦3♦4♦5♦6♦7♦8♦9♦10♦11}

My favorites are numbers 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10, and I actually plan to try them out in my new home. What are some fun, unexpected home ideas you'd love to try?