Reinventing and Repurposing For Great Design

Sure it costs money to work with a designer. But, it no longer means that those who choose to – and can – must also own a yacht and summer in France. Here in Philadelphia, just as across the continent, “the times they are a changin…” and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Reinventing and repurposing your furnishings, done well, can lead to not just good interior design, but I’d argue excitingly excellent home design.

Why the push to reinvent and repurpose in our lives and homes to create greater beauty, function and quality of life?Topping that list of answers is that today’s economy has forced our hand regarding savvy expenditures. Meanwhile, our fast-paced, info-packed and techno-piled daily living has turbo charged our need for the calmness of “home and hearth.” Our deep craving for calm is equal to the stress that comes with the unending multitasking and fast-tracking life now requires. More than ever, true respite and haven on the home front is utterly necessary to our sense of well being. And so, never more than now does the skill and know-how of a savvy designer come into play in order to know how to guide clients in creating that beautiful and peaceful haven. Certainly, when I guide in the ways of re-inventing and repurposing at home, I do so in order to come up with great interior design – and all the benefits it brings.

I always like to start a project with my clients’ treasured items. You’d be amazed what adding a new rug and wise new accents can do. Check out this living room I did recently for discerning clients in Princeton, NJ.

The client loved their blue Bergere chairs, but not much else in the former living room. Using those rich peacock blue chairs as my inspiration, like a jazz musician, I riffed around their color and shape by adding a grounding and muted Persian rug, new window treatments and accent pillows. We replaced the torn worn sofa with an exciting new shape, and reupholstered an exciting bench seat that had great lines. Every other piece of wood furniture not only stayed in the room, we even kept the existing furniture ground plan because it really did work. Other than a coat of paint on the walls, not much else entered the room as “new.” The client owned but had kept hidden a collection of blue depression glass and English bone china which we made look fresh and new with artful placement and groupings and a hint of greenery.

After (Photo by David Van Scott)

Consumption habits have changed and I’m here to tell you that I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. With a sharp design eye and fresh perspective, clients are thrilled to see their furnishings and belongings take on new life when we respectfully and graciously reuse what they already worked hard to purchase and now own. It makes my clients so happy to see the transformative process…and to tell you the truth…it does me, too.

Yes, you can totally reinvent a room’s aesthetic and overall mood without throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Repurpose, reinvent, redefine, reinvision…all to reinvigorate.

What you can dream can become a reality. You just may need a wise design coach and guide to get you there. I’d love to help you increase the joy and beauty in your home. Let’s set up some time soon. You bring the home and the furniture…I’ll bring, well…me.