One Year Ago Today

What a difference a year makes!

One year ago today I drove home from loosing my corporate marketing job of 11 years with a tear in my eye, knots in my stomach...and a smile in my heart!  I hadn't been happy for a long time and certainly didn't feel like I was doing my best work, so in a sense, I was looking at this as an opportunity to do something more meaningful.  But, although I knew I could soon find another role working for the competition, I couldn't imagine another 20 years in the rat race.  I wanted more from my career, for myself, my family and my future.  I wanted to follow my passion and over the years watched many co-workers lose their jobs and move on to fulfilling roles as entrepreneur's or working for a company that did something meaningful with their millions.

The next day my husband and I got on a plane for a long weekend in the Bahamas, a pre-planned 10th Anniversary celebration.  I sat on the beach thinking about the opportunities that lay ahead and could only see my life getting better.  I decided right then that it was now or never to take the plunge and follow my dream to start my own Interior Design business.  The next several months that followed I completed my Interior Design Diploma, joined the Canadian Decorator's Association, developed a business plan, created my own website, joined Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, started this blog, and posted my sign up on as many Design website directories as I could find.... and wonderful things started to happen!

I learned Google Analytics and saw traffic coming to my website and blog - people I didn't even know! Whereas I used to have someone tell me the stats of our latest campaigns, I was now doing it myself and getting back to my Marketing roots.  I met some amazing people - fellow designers willing to share stories and references; entrepreneurs living on the same start-up rollercoaster I was; suppliers and vendors that also love what they do and wanted to help me succeed by providing unique solutions as I needed them.  My new Village was being built and it was good!

I found that true friendships stand the test of time and that absence really does make the heart grow fonder.  I have built incredible relationships over the years with the gang back at Corporate and these are the people that get me through tough days and share my successess with genuine support and pride.

I've discovered a lot about myself and what I'm capable of when I put my mind to it.  I've learned how to learn again and how much more critical marketing, planning & time managment are to a small business.  I have a great support network of business colleagues that are always happy to take the time to work through a problem and respond graciously when I ask a stupid question.  As I continue to build my supplier list, the level of excellence, quality and customer service builds also.

I want to say Thank You to all the great people in my life who inspire, motivate, encourage, promote, and lift me up when I need it.  And, to the wonderful clients who trust me to bring them beautiful spaces that will enrich their lives, I couldn't continue to be creative everyday without you - I appreciate the friendships we are building as well as your business.

As I look to the next year I am hopeful, excited, optimistic, and a little scared, but grateful that I get to do what I love everyday and I look forward to what lies ahead!

French Modern Bedroom - Part Deux

Earlier this week my friend hosted a girl's night that started with a reveal of her master bedroom that I recently decorated. You can see the before pictures and a sneak peak I wrote about here but the final touches were added just this past week. 

The inspiration for the room started with a French Bergere chair covered in beautiful silk fabric that she already had in another part of the house and wanted to bring into the bedroom to create a cozy reading nook.  The soft curved lines of the bombe chest on the left echo the shape of the chair, while the mirrored jewellery chest and the aged-bronze leaning mirror on the right make this corner sparkle.  And yes, she actually does have enough jewellery to fill all the drawers...she's fabulously French! 

On the sleeping side of the room we added vintage sconces and the perfect little end tables we found at the Christie Antique Show this past Spring, which I wrote about here.  She already had some beautiful art from her travels to Paris, Spain, St. Maarten and Quebec City that we displayed around the room.  We purchased new bedding, pillows and a cozy chocolate velvet settee for the end of the bed to provide an additional place to sit and watch the fire, read or have a sip of fine Port with hubby on a cold evening.



(please excuse the wires)



We added not one but TWO very modern chandeliers with different shapes but identical crystals and selected vintage sconces that would complement her existing petite table top lamps (all on dimmers, of course!)

               

We created more warmth by adding a new electric fireplace that has old world character.  It was positioned to be seen from the bed, the settee or from the reading nook.  The glass and chrome bar cart was a glamorous touch for the evening nightcaps while snuggling by the fire.  We also added a super-soft custom area rug with an over sized pillow (shown on settee above) in front of the fireplace for extra special evenings... but enough of that, you get the point!

.

note the spots on the wall are sparkles from the crystal chandelier
that bounce around the room, very pretty!

Nude drawing from a Paris Art Show 2008

My friend was very happy finally getting the bedroom she's always wanted.  I do have to give kudos to her wonderfully handy husband for the awesome job with the painting, electrical, iron bed refinishing and starting off the process by putting down a gorgeous hardwood floor.  Thanks B!

Now they are both spending more time in the space than ever before and enjoying the warm and cozy feeling of being in a bedroom they truly love.  Isn't that what a bedroom should feel like?