home decor

…Building a Business – Point of View

January 15, 2013 By christen 1 Comment

I’m working on my presentation, as you know, for the Home & Remodeling Show and one of the topics I’m going to cover is how to start a creative business. I start here because it’s one of most frequent questions I receive. In making up my slides and bullet points, I think Point of View is probably the one that I believe is most important.

Having a strong point of view to define your business will not only be a way to stay true to yourself and consistent with your product, but it will also set you apart from the rest. It needs to be fairly organic, almost a blurred line between where YOU start and where your business starts. This will create a sense of authenticity.

POV will be like an umbrella over which everything will go under – your company name, your product, your colors, you style, your writing, etc. It’s the place to start and make it good because everything will be defined by it.

I started somewhere between birds and color and texture. It made sense to me and I continue to feel good about it because it’s me. Another tip it to make sure that you do a tad of a unique spin. I think the easiest way to do this is by infusing your business with your personality. God made us all different so whatever you have to offer is automatically going to be special. Don’t hide who you are by trying to be professional or like someone else. I think that would be counterproductive to doing anything creative. yea?

See the world and your business through your eyes. I’m obsessed with anything English and always have been. You have no idea how excited I get by just seeing a Union Jack or a glimpse of Big Ben on TV. I spent 6 months living there and miss it.

Use your story, your family, your history. It will mean more to you and people will notice.

Filed Under: building a business Tagged With: chalk Paint, diy, home decor, starting a creative business

…Building a Business – Branding

January 8, 2013 By christen Leave a Comment

Coming up with a name, logo & overall image is so personal. And if you don’t make it personal I think people will notice. I think you need to choose a name and image that connects you to your business.

If you’ve ever been in an English Lit class you know how important bird imagery is. Shakespeare, Charlotte Bronte, James Joyce, Thomas Hardy, Kate Chopin, etc, etc.

“The familiarity and transcendence of birds have given them a wider range of meaning and symbol in literature than any other animal. The resemblance of their activities to common patterns of human behavior makes them exceptionally suitable for anthropomorphic imagery that links man to the common forms of nature” (Lutwack xii).

Basically, birds mean quite a bit to me and it needed to be part of my presence.

I started looking up names that were already used and there were a TON of nest references. It’s cute, it should be used. Then I thought out what my style really is and although I never like being pigeonholed I needed to have a bit of description to my business.

I loved the contrast of a bright, turquoise egg, that of a robin and the earthy, brown nest. It reminded me of my style as I can appreciate rustic, vintage wares, but also everything that comes with placing something new & lively in your home.

It’s become a theme in my painting & home design…and of course that duck egg blue is my very favorite color in real life.

I love seeing the color everywhere in my home in little pockets. I think it’s important to tie your brand into your own personality, home-life and what you want your business to be. Commit to it and work it so that everything you put out there falls under this umbrella. It won’t be hard to do if you’ve selected a theme that you love and have a connection to.

You can imagine my excitement when I found these.

As a former marketer, I would venture to say that your brand should be one of your top priorities. Think hard about it because you will be investing time & money your company’s future into what you select. Make it unique & make it YOU.

Home & Remodeling Show January 20th @ 1:00. Working on my presentation now. eeek!!!

Filed Under: building a business Tagged With: blue egg brown nest, branding, decorating your home, diy, DYI, egg, home decor, nest

…5 Easy Home Decor Solutions – Lighting

January 4, 2013 By christen Leave a Comment

#5 Lighting

DH and I have recessed lighting all over our ceilings, but I am so particular about ambiance that I hardly ever use it in the family, living, dining, study, bedroom, well, any room. Even in the kitchen I prefer my lanterns over my island. Lighting can change your mood and if you have lighting that is too harsh it can be so disruptive to your mood! Yea?

Buffet Lamps. Obviously buffet lamps need a surface to sit on. I prefer symmetry when possible so you will want to have two if you agree. They are best on a console on a wall with a piece of wall art or mirror and a little vignette on the console between them.

(I heart this layout so much & plan on using it in our next house!)

Once again, the lighting is an opportunity to express your interests, color, style.

Floor Lamps. Pick an interesting floor lamp. Not a halogen, please. Even an expensive halogen is not okay. Put it next to your couch and let it live there happily ever after. Use an ivory or cream or better yet a linen or burlap shade. Do not use a white shade. Blak! Bad lighting. You want something to mellow to light in the room and white is not it.

Chandeliers. I feel like I’ve seen chandeliers more & more in sitting rooms and not just in a dining room. I think it’s wonderful and can help create such a cozy affect. Of course, I think you have to select the right chandelier. If putting one in your family room think about texture and fabric. Choose perhaps a drum shade or a wood material.

Sconces. You can’t get cozier than a scone! Put them on either side of your fireplace, down the hallway, between the windows or on a wall that is not quite big enough for wall art. With the right one it will always be a good look. For a family room do not get anything shiny, rather try an oil rubbed bronze or iron or wood.