Super important: subscribers won’t be able to see the video through email… please click the title. I promise… there are sexy auditory goodies involved.

Oh, the uphill climb. That “ugh” when you open the door. The overwhelming urge to just ignore everything and eat Chinese takeout while staring at the television and wondering why your peripheral vision is so damned… acute.

Welcome to Rental Hell.

If you’re new here, I created the Rock Your Rental contest for my fellow renters who are currently living in a state of aesthetic purgatory. I’m showing one lucky winner how to transform their space without a) blowing the budget and b) making the landlord hyperventilate. Join us for the ride!

In the last post, we discussed Mr. & Mrs. B’s specific situation. To say I have my work cut out for me would be putting it mildly. Issues include a lack of space, a lack of privacy, and oh, the fact that this entrepreneurial couple are literally living out of their bedroom. Click the link to refresh your memory on their current state of aesthetic affairs.

And to all of that, I say, “no problem”.

Truly.

As is common for temporary digs, inhabitants generally tend to think, “well, I’m only here for such-and-such a time, so why bother?”. But the truth is, IT DOES MATTER. Your living environment absolutely matters. What you see every day affects your sense of well-being. If your space works, you can work. If your space feels organized and calm, YOU feel organized and calm. The state of your space = the state of your inner sense of being, so for crying out loud, why let a monthly rental cheque dictate how well you live? Don’t you deserve a space that’s the best it can be?

Exactly.

In Mr. & Mrs. B’s case, a lack of storage means that every available surface is covered with life’s detritus. Tissues, medications, books-on-the-go, clothes from yesterday, today, and possibly tomorrow. Office equipment related to the burgeoning business. Keepsakes from a life well lived, and all manner of everyday “stuff” that threatens to goggle up the couple in their sleep. In other words, serious storage is in order.

So, let’s break it down. We need:

• storage for clothing (both his and hers and out-of-season wear)
• storage for keepsakes that doesn’t involve clear plastic bins (face it: they’re beyond fugly and only work to create MORE stressful visual clutter)
• storage for seldom-used office supplies and accessories
• space for two to work in tandem or separately as the need dictates
• light control that offers privacy at night while drenching the space in light during the day while cutting down on screen glare
• most importantly, a space that doesn’t scream “we’re temporarily living our whole lives in here”

Right. So we’ve addressed all the technical bits. Now let’s talk about the intangible stuff. You know, the bits that make all the difference, but are seldom talked about in design circles. Specifically: how do you want the space to make you feel?

Ah. Good question. Why is it so few of us actually ask ourselves this make-it-or-break question? I mean, we’re talking cash here. Time. Major effort. Shouldn’t that criterion be the first damned question on your list?!

Well, here’s how Mr. & Mrs. B want to feel.

Sexy. Sophisticated. Polished, even when their lives have been unraveled and tendrils are hanging in every possible direction. Accomplished. Focused. Alive.

Kind of something like this.

Stay tuned while I begin the spec’ing process. We’ll begin addressing each item specifically as we build the design around their specific needs and aesthetic preferences. And, of course, how they want to feel.

*I’ve been granted permission to use this particular expression since their own description of the space was a little more, um, colourful.

If you’re new here, I created the Rock Your Rental contest for my fellow renters who are currently living in a state of aesthetic purgatory. I’m showing one lucky winner how to transform their space without a) blowing the budget and b) making the landlord hyperventilate. Join us for the ride!

As a side note, I took a sabbatical this winter. Behind the scenes, the Rock Your Rental project has been underway and client projects have been in full swing. A few knock-your-socks-off projects will be comin’ your way soon. In the meantime, let’s get our feet wet again by circling back for a bit, hmm? It’ll be full steam ahead from here on out.

In my last post, I showed you Mr. & Mrs. B’s sad sack of a bedroom personal living space. And by that I mean, their whole life is crammed into their bedroom new space is rather, er, cozy.

So let’s meet Mr. & Mrs. B, shall we?

To say they’re in a period of transition would be putting it mildly. He’s penned a novel and burned the midnight oil as an investment banker. She’s been a successful real estate broker for nearly three decades. And while each of them have found satisfaction and success in their respective careers, both have decided to give it all up in pursuit of a deeper entrepreneurial dream.

As part of that, and in order to give themselves greater financial flexibility, both sold their homes (a condo and townhouse, respectively) and moved into an apartment over-looking the rolling hills north of a major metropolitan city. I’ll be able to share their venture with you at some point, but for now, I can share that Mr. & Mrs. B are hiding out while the develop their business plans. And by hiding out, I mean, hiding out.

As in, renting a small bachelor apartment.

Right.

Now I have your attention.

Let’s revisit the photos, shall we?

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A little fuzzy, but totally clear, if you get what I’m saying.

So, next up, we’ll learn about Mr. & Mrs. B’s particular challenges and their musical preferences.

Yep. This is where things get interesting.

Stay tuned.

THANK YOU to all of you who entered the Rock Your Rental contest. Choosing a winner wasn’t easy, and while I’ve personally thanked each and every one of you, I’d like to thank you here. Right now. I couldn’t have done this without you, and I’m deeply grateful for the community we’re building. Cheers!

If you’re new here, let me get you up to speed. I created the Rock Your Rental contest so that I could help you break free from the decorative limitations of renting. Renting sometimes sucks, but unless you’re a college student or in an especially transient period, your living situation should never *feel* temporary, even if it is. Rock Your Rental is about giving one lucky reader the chance to transform their space ~ on their terms, within their budget, and on their timeline. And it’s giving me a chance to show all of you that no matter where you live, it should always feel like *home*.

I know renting can sometimes feel like living in aesthetic purgatory, and the sense of, “where do I even start?!” can be overwhelming. But there’s absolutely no need to ‘grin and bear it’ when it comes to your personal space. Personal space is just that… PERSONAL, and it doesn’t take bundles of cash and a couple of sledgehammers to make it feel so. More to the point, a space isn’t about the bits of ‘this and that’; it’s about how you want to FEEL.

So whatever your individual nasty happens to be ~ ugly fixtures, even uglier lighting, dusty don’t-know-how-long-they’ve-been-up window treatments, I’m about to show you that renting doesn’t have to equate to “ugh”. I’m inviting you behind the scenes for an intimate over-the-shoulder peek as I tease apart the story, get inside the minds of our winners, figure out where they’re going sideways, and best of all, what turns them on.

And the juiciest part? I’m giving you a peek inside their record collection, which will form the basis for my intuitive excavation and space orchestration. It’s what I mean when I talk about teasing out your inner theme song, and bringing the intangible essence of ‘you’ into tangible 3D form. It’s exposing inspiration and solving problems by listening.

So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to Mr. & Ms. B. Actually, let me introduce you to their bedroom, specifically. Photos are a little fuzzy, but you can definitely get the gist…

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This should be interesting, no?

Next we’ll meet the couple behind the images and break the project down. And later, I’ll bring you inside their record collection for some gorgeous inspiration, where you’ll get an idea of how to create your individual aesthetic fingerprint, by taking cues from what turns you on, auditorily speaking.

So stick around; you might just learn something new that you can use in your own space, renting or otherwise.

My first house was a kaleidescope of cows and bubblegum pink walls, burnt orange-coloured carpets with black and peach wallpaper, mint coloured balloon shades, and a forest green basement with a cheap wood bar.

Yeah, baby.

It was sort of the visual equivalent of this:

It even had one of these:

Side note: I was always so disappointed that it didn’t give me a ‘mooo’ as a reward for fetching the mail.

Alas, what it did give me was a whole pile of wallpaper removal headaches and one hell of a sense of pride for clearing the ‘Grannie’ decks. But – and here’s the kicker – ripping that shit out is easy when you own the place.

And what of the millions who are currently renting?

At the moment, that would include, er, me.

Whatever your reason or circumstance, renting doesn’t mean being relegated to the back of the aesthetically-privileged line. What it DOES mean is a whole other set of headaches and a sense of pride that depends to a great extent on the largesse of your landlord.

Case in point:

Oh, and:

With:

All very lovely.

And so very not me.

But hey, let’s not forget that I do this for a living. And while I’m stripping wallpaper and pulling down dusty sheers and wondering who on earth could possibly love mauve carpeting, I figured I couldn’t be the only one feeling a sense of rental purgatory.

So.

I decided to blow the doors off.

Ready?

I’m giving away $550.

I’m going to say that again:

I’m giving away $550.

Crazy, right?!

I figured there was no better way to highlight the decorative possibilities than by holding a contest. I’ll be showing one lucky winner how to Rock Your Rental without a) blowing the budget, and b) making the landlord hyper-ventilate.

So consider this your official invitation: send me images and details of your rental nightmare. Tell me what challenges you’re facing and what you would do if you owned the place. The best (read: possibly the worst) entry will receive a Design at Your Doorstep package worth $550.

That means you’ll receive the following juicy goodness:

• A one-on-one phone consultation. I listen deeply, and help you uncover your design objectives – the obvious ones, and the emotional ones.
• A digital inspiration board. It’s a personal style file – in high-resolution digital packaging. From furniture selections and window treatments to colour palettes and ceiling trim, this is a visual anchor for your emerging space.
• A priority rundown. What to do first, who to call last – from first purchase to champagne popping. And everything in between.

So come on now!

Send all the scary bits to: erica << @ >> ericaswansondesign << dot >> com. Deadline is May 15th.

Hold on to your hats…

I’m about to Rock Your Rental.

Ah, moving. Something about a change of scenery, learning new light patterns and determining new routines and hidey spots for all the little goodies is exhilarating. Exhausting, but exhilarating.

I have a feeling you’re going to like the ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots.*

*Unassuming understatement.

So while it’s been a little quiet on the home front, I’ve been getting around. In addition to being featured in some really cool spots, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some very interesting people along the way. Check it (logos are clickable):

Miss Abby Kerr is one very lovely, very talented, rising star. In addition to helping entrepreneurs up their addictability factor over at Abby Kerr Ink, Abby has been lighting up the airwaves with her Creative Solopreneur Podcasts. She features entrepreneurs who rule the realm in their particular corner of the creative world and gets them talking. Really talking. At an hour deep, it’s isn’t short, but the juicy gems hidden inside make it worth the listen. We touch on everything from inspiration and creative insecurity to cartoon voices:

Like a breath of fresh air, Breezy Mama (I know, groan) is a hotbed of advice for even hotter baby mamas. Featuring stylish tips, tricks, and how-to’s, Breezy Mama hit me up for advice on how to make the bedroom sexy. A fun read when you need a quick afternoon pick-me-up. Or when there’s, you know, something on your mind:

Really, I can’t top this:

Culture and vision, vision and culture: the stuff that keeps us from slinking back into the primordial soup. We aim to spark in our readers the sort of sky-rips-open, wonder-filled possibility that old-school, photocopied zines of yore sparked in us. Think of us as the zine-analog for which you’ve been secretly yearning.

I wax poetic on Tom Waits, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello and Fiona Apple.

And what their music looks like.

Indeed.

So after getting all hot and bothered at Jack Move, I lightened up over at Jacks and Jills to write a word or two about Designing with the Senses. Side note: this is one seriously cool site.

The beautiful and uber talented Staci Edwards is running a series that features designers’ and design bloggers’ favourite interiors. How could I resist? Thought this might be interesting for those of you who are curious as to what turns my crank:

Finally, while I don’t exactly fit into the “contemporary whimsy with a hint of vintage” genre, Shannon still asked me to participate in her guest blogger round table. I returned to hot and bothered, albeit in a slightly more restrained fashion, talking about ‘Fever’ and what that feels like to me. A Russian jazz virtuoso and dark herringbone floors. You’ll just have to look:

So, how was your winter?

And, oh, juicy ‘before’ shots are on the horizon…

I SHOULD be writing about interior design. I COULD be posting all kinds of pretty pictures. I’m SUPPOSED TO be interested in the ever-expanding line-up of this month’s latest and greatest.

It’s not happening.

The harder I push, the harder I struggle. My message gets distorted. My creativity withers. And so I retreat, content to bask in the silence and work on projects behind the scenes. But the struggle returns, wreaking havoc with my daily rhythm and interfering with my inspired flow. My issue?

Decorating. The word, specifically.

(toe curl)

dec·o·rate
–verb (used with object), -rat·ed, -rat·ing.
1. to furnish or adorn with something ornamental or becoming; embellish

Ornamentation… embellishment… uh huh. Do you know what that sounds like to me? Crap. Junk. Useless, meaningless bullshittery. Consumerism. Mindless trend-following. Vanity. Shallow “pretty-making”.

Blehck.

So all this tail-chasing, this spinning in place, is connected to my irrational distaste for the very definition of my chosen life’s work. A dangerous dichotomy, n’est pas?

You see, on the whole, I’m not particularly fond of the decorating industry; the constant search for this month’s shiny new thing and the “mwah” superficiality rather than a focus on the deeper correlation and interrelationship of space and well-being. And so I dip a toe in the water and wonder why I have a sudden disinterest in swimming.

Well, duh.

Part of my behind-the-scenes work has involved the refinement of my organizational coaching services (particularly popular after the Christmas season, ahem). I help clients deal with the de-construction and analysis of a space; uncovering the deeply buried, core trigger-type issues that lurk beneath the service and interfere with the unearthing of one’s true visual melody. (Heady stuff, and highly recommended before dropping some hard-earned dough on your next ‘decorating’ project.) As part of this refinement process, I’ve been reading with intense interest the evolving nature of the minimalist and simple living movements. Minimalism/materialism debate aside, Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle does a damned fine job of articulating the philosophy in ‘Minimalism Explained’. Go on, have a read.

So while I’ve been pulling on the threads and picking at the edges of my procrastination and staccato rhythm, I’ve been allowing the silence to reveal some deeper truths about my creative work. Decorating, by and large, has always meant the addition of surface ornamentation and embellishment, rather than the subtraction of all that does not serve a purpose (beauty or otherwise). My edges fray most intensely when I cannot reconcile the two.

Thus, if it weren’t for all the negative connotations and the ongoing debate surrounding its true definition in this increasingly digital world, I would certainly define myself as a ‘minimalist’; hard stance when my profession classifies me as a decorator.

(double toe curl)

But I also have a deep and loyal affinity for my possessions (which ultimately excludes me from a large sector of the current minimalist movement). After all, my things have been through the clarifying fire of scrutiny. I have thoughtfully chosen them. And that’s at the heart of what we’re talking about here… understanding the difference between ‘ornamental embellishment’ and digging at the roots of the ‘why’ of stuff.

So, here’s how I’ve untangled the conundrum: I decorate to unearth the visual and tactile beauty as an expression of a client’s life (not as idealistic as it sounds). I decorate to increase the productivity and efficiency of a particular space. I decorate because it brings me deep and satisfying pleasure.

Just don’t call me a decorator, k?

Always beckoning with the more more more while you’re bursting at the seams and aching for a little letting go go go.

The bombardment is intense ~ always something new, something prettier, something shinier, something a little more than what you’ve got. And just when you’re feeling like stripping on down you’re being told to load right on up.

And this time of year brings its own brand of crazy-crazy. All those joyous carols and jingling bells trigger the harried ‘buy!’ frenzy when all we really need is a little of the ‘whoa’ brake pedal.

I’m here to remind you:

You do not need three gazillion yards of faux greenery to line the stairway.

You do not need more sparkly, crystal-y blindingly disco tree ornaments.

Most importantly, you do not need Christmas towels.

Stop now.

Take a deep breath. Breath in the memory of who you are. Things don’t make you who you are. YOU do.

So step away from the display. Sing the alphabet until the bells disappear. And when you start thinking of pulling out your musty decorations, remember to think about why you’re pulling them out in the first place.

Because those magazine spreads? Those ones that look perfectly perfect and make you feel like a raging failure? Uh-huh. Those are called Style Shots. They are not real. NOT. EVEN. REMOTELY. REAL.

Stop now.

Take a deep breath. Remember what you’re celebrating in the first place.

Tradition isn’t a retail display brought home. It’s the dusty macaroni noodle tree ornament circa 1985. It’s the eggnog-gone-totally-rum-like while you frantically wrap gifts and wonder if that noise was the sound of little feet. It’s the late nights watching Ebenezer while you curl up by the fire with the one you love.

So stop now.

Take a deep breath. Have some eggnog (spiked, if possible).

You are not your holiday decorations. Things don’t make you who you are or define your traditions.

You do.

Freshly launched. At the helm, the inimitable Emma Alvarez Gibson. Inside, “a swarm of mad geniuses”. If you’re looking for culture and vision, look no further.

I had the distinct pleasure of being invited to contribute to the inaugural issue of Jack Move Magazine. Featuring a special edition of my I See Music series, I transform Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ “Night of the Lotus Eaters” into a decadent vision of decay. Music is indeed a powerful mistress.

Have a look for yourself.

When you feel the fear and push on

tasting the lust that lingers

pushing through

- from where you used to stand -

you need to hold the course

keep moving, thrusting forward

- from where you used to stand -

reaching

pulsing forward, resting, pulsing forward

but always moving.

And when it’s only you and your desire

shining in the moonlight,

alone and silent on the wandering path

You must keep pulsing forward.

Because sooner or later, you’ll arrive right where you need to be.

And you might find, if you look up, that the path was always right before you,

leading

- from where you used to stand -

So

KEEP MOVING.

Bossy, opinionated, a little too loose with the purse strings.

And really, everything’s just fine. Just fiiiiiiiine, thankyouverymuch. A designer?! Bahhhh! Who the hell needs one of those?!

“I’m not Momma Moneybags.”
“My wife takes care of that stuff. I just make sure I pick up my socks.”
“I rent. I so much as mention a paint can and my landlord will freak.”
“Design? Isn’t that for bored housewives?”

You don’t say.

Well, here’s what I say:

If you’ve got space (any kind of space) and you don’t love it, your space isn’t working for you.
If you’re spending more than a nano-second searching for anything, sanity included, your space isn’t working for you.
If you’re afraid of the prospect of company (mother-in-law anyone?), your space isn’t working for you.
If you don’t come home to an emphatic “ahhhh”, things aren’t fiiiiiiiine and you guessed it, your space isn’t working for you.

Now, I get it. There’s the money thing. And the lack thereof.

I’ll bet that if you looked around your space right now – right this second – you can rhyme off three things you bought within the last three years that makes you shudder. You know, one of those classic, “what the hell was I thinking?!” moments. Or three. Now think of what you spent.

Uh-huh.

So before you think design isn’t for you, think again. If you’ve got the space, you’ve got the need. Whether your budget is a $100 trip to Ikea and a hearty tidy-up, or a you-better-believe-I’ve-been-saving-up-for-this-for-years, one check-in with a designer might save you three ‘oops’ disasters and a whole hell of a lot of needless angst. And oh yeah, maybe a fistful of cash.

How do you like those apples?!

Because really, we’re not half as expensive as you think and we’re only scary when we bite.

So go on then. Surprise yourself. And when someone throws you the, “you hired what?!” bullshittery, you can answer with a confident, “I hired sanity”.

That’ll show ‘em.

And it seduced me into doing this:

What seduces you?

Here’s what I know:

What you do, every day, becomes part of who you are. Scraping pennies or rolling naked in your dough, you’re trading your brain power, your creativity and your most valuable asset – your time – for your daily experience.

Are you filling your heart or are you just filling your days?

When I’m working with clients, I have a front-row seat to some pretty amazing stuff. A half-finished painting. Music sheets scattered at the piano. Poems gathered in dusty notebooks. Hand-made quilts folded up in the closet. Cookbooks hiding in the back of the cupboard. A carpenter’s bench shoved at the back of a dimly-lit garage…

This stuff may not be bringing home the bacon, but these are the things that tell the world WHO YOU ARE. And whether you’re sharing your art with the outside world or not, you sure as hell shouldn’t be hiding it at home.

This is the experience you choose. This is your inside brought outside. This is you.

So. What’s your art?

And how can I help you tell your story?

Your insides are twisted

coming outside

fraying at the seams.

And pushing ahead

pulls you under.

Hungry, and needing to be filled,

you give yourself over – listen for the voice that does not come

yet you remain

a stranger – suspended

but sometimes we break.

And you resist

hold

while what you need recedes.

So I say,

just BREAK

Unravel. Get naked in your ache.

Draw the line. And break.

“Here we are buck naked but where should we begin? When it’s not the flesh we’re after but the howling ghost within.”

So when you reach and what you need

is you

I will help you draw the line.

Hold the mirror

and show you

all the things you need but do not see

a home created

to unravel. Get naked in your ache.

So just break.