The backgrounds, philosophy, approaches, influences, and accomplishments of several leading designers in the world of haute couture came across my desk last week.

There were several aspects of this report which peaked my attention.

One was the constant use of the best in all aspects of the operations, including all materials used, unique highly skilled artisans and workmen, the constant level of construction in side and out side of the garment, and the insistence of the same level of quality in even the most minute details.

Another was the art design of these clothes. These creations are on the same level of aesthetics as are the works of major fine artists.

Up above and beyond any status or ego involved in purchasing and wearing these creations was the strong reaction of wearers as to the comfort and how wearing these clothes made them feel. Some described the experience as a completely transforming intellectual, psychological, and emotional experience.

Many of these aspects and principles can be applied to the designs of the residential spaces in which we live.

Even if your financial circumstances prevent you from spending tens of thousands of dollars on a single garment or hundreds of thousands of dollars on the interior design of your residences, you can always seek to use the best quality and functions available to you.

Generally speaking, using the best quality materials, workmanship, and functions not only gives a higher level daily living experience, but it is also a better financial investment over the long haul.

Remember: You usually get that for which you pay. There is no substitute for quality.

Food for thought.

It has been said that a salad without a dressing is just a bowl of wet vegetables.

It is the dressing that brings every thing together into a delicious whole.

The same can be said and the same principle can be applied to the designs of one’s

residential interior spaces.

Adding silver candle holders does not in and of itself make the setting formal.

Having large spaces by themselves do not thusly make a grand design.

Furnishings that are rare, expensive, imported, best quality, labor intensive, et cetera are not necessarily good elements in a design composition.

Using antiques, important art works, and styles of furnishings from past periods of design do not automatically produce high quality aesthetics spaces.

The latest trends, what’s popular, what “they” are doing, what’s traditional, and what’s highest status alone does not make it a plus factor in aesthetics.

Who did it, who owns it, where it is located, who uses it, who built it, materials used, et cetera as a factor by itself does not necessarily increase or enhance the level of aesthetics.

Who lived there, who did what there, what events took place there, et cetera do not affect the level of aesthetics.

Most people, for most of the time, choose and eat food that taste good.

Use the laws of physics and the principles of design as the dressing that makes the salad of your residential interior spaces into a delicious whole of high level aesthetics.

With that same level and kind of logic, is it not of merit to apply such to the aesthetic level of your residential interior spaces and furnishings where you spend your personal time?

Food for thought.

Having a black front door can increase the expected price by up to $6000 according to the results of a survey that came across my desk last week.

This information was unfamiliar to me and prompted research on the subject.

The results of this internet research gave affirming results.

This black front door gives the impression that the house is serious, stately, and a safe choice.

One said the the black door symbolizes sophistication and wealth.

Another sates that it symbolizes order and control and is authoritative.

Another states that the black front door makes the house look dressier.

I cannot make an authoritative position on these statements because I have not had any experience or proof that they are accurate.

Front doors in black, dark green, and red have been seen on houses that are stately, elegant, dignified, et cetera but these were not the only colors that produced outstanding results.

What are the personality traits and goals of people who make these choices?

While the front door is often the focal point of a residence and can, and should, make an impression and set the flavor of the house, what about the other factors such as style of architecture, materials used, landscaping, lighting, and colors used for rest of the front facade?

Black color results when all of the light rays are absorbed rather than being reflected on a surface.

Does this law of physics has some subliminal effect of the subconscious mind of people who makes these choices?

Or is it another status economic symbol that worked it’s way into the psyche of such personalities?

Or is it just another technique that is used to produce more and easier sales of residences.

I don’t have the answer to these questions?

The laws of physics and principles of aesthetics determine the results of any physical manifestation.

The emotional, intellectual, economic, status, formality, psychological, desirability, and other non-physical characteristics given to any physical manifestation are in the minds of the people who have them.

What do you think of this statement that having a black door will add up to $6000 to the expected value of a house and what effect does it have on your life and thinking?

Food for thought.

This time between Christmas and the new year is an excellent time for reflection.

Where are you today compared to where you were this time last year?

Look around the residential interior environment in which you live and evaluate how you feel about living there and how functional, enjoyable, and motivating it has been for the last twelve months.

What are the pro and cons about what you see?

What would you like to see there?

How congruent is what you see now with what you would like to see this time next year?

Generally, those goals we plan for the future are ones that make our lives healthier, happier, fulfilling, et cetera, and enhance our living experience.

How do all of these resulting thoughts reflect where you are at this moment in time and point in space?

What are you going to do, or not do, about the situation?

What we experience in life is determined by what we think and do.

What is your future?

Food for thought.

This edition is late because of technical difficulties and is an observation as I am not an authority on residential real estate.

There was a news report on a national network of a house, in this country, that was sold this spring for $51,000 and was sold for $375,000 this fall which is an increase of over 700%.

As if that were not enough, there was a foot note that this house was not up to snuff and was torn down to build a more desired and better quality house.

When, where, and how will it all end?

For many of the people who live and own houses in this country, their home is their biggest or one of their biggest financial investments.

The current market is thus excellent for some people and very challenging for others.

Owning your own home is a major goal for most of the population and is a big feature and part of the American dream.

We are fortunate in this country that we can afford to and have the option of purchasing our own homes.

In some countries on this planet purchasing your own home is not an option and in other countries 70 to 80% of people’s income is spent on housing costs.

So where are we in this country on residential marketing and where is it going to go and what, if anything, can you or I do about it?

“The times, they are a changing”

Food for thought.

Recent changes desired in home designs from pandemic living:

Planning with visitors not in mind.

Every one’s space requirements need to be covered.

Office space is a must.

Have a room just for zooming.

Quarantine rooms.

Stress free rooms.

More open space between inside and outside.

More thought and planning for all colors and all lighting.

How does these research results pan with what you have experienced and would like to have for your residential living space as a result of the pandemic?

What ever your answers are, the laws of physics and principles of aesthetics still apply.

Intelligent and quality aesthetics, when used, will always result in a beautiful and fulfilling residential interior design.

Where are you with your interior living space?

Where would you like to go with such?

What are you going to do about it?

Food for thought.

The changing light of winter has focused the aspects that are needed to be explored when choosing colors, especially wall colors, for use in our residential interior space.

There continue to be many color companies who are bringing out “The colors of 2021” or some other period of time or category.

In theory, these colors are supposed researched to be reflective of the times in which we live, new colors and finishes that are now available through new products and techniques, trends and popular choices, fashion and design forecasts, et cetera.

All of which is well and good in that all areas of life should be researched and expanded.

These colors are designed for mass productions in paints and any other place color is used for residential interior design.

What if you don’t like these brought out colors or these colors do not fit into the ambiance, scheme, design, or personality traits for your residential interior living spaces?

Maybe you are an individual who chooses your own pathway and does not like or want to follow the crowd, trends, what’s popular, what “they” are doing, et cetera.

Good for you!

By making this decision, you are not limited in your choice of colors as in today’s world paint colors can easily be designed and made and, as well, any color surface can be matched, when needed, by today’s technology by those people who know what they are doing.

Any color selected for any object or purpose in any intelligent and quality aesthetically designed interior space should exclusively be manifest because it is the best for the aesthetics compositions of where it is used.

And as we all know, don’t we, that color is determined by the reflection of light on it’s surface so that all lights during all times of day and night, seasonal, man made, and natural, should be considered with choosing the light that is best for the function, most important time, and best composition exposure to the space.

Food for thought.

Second only to light, proportions are the most important aspect of results produced in any physical manifestations.

Look at nature around you and analyze how what you see is determined by the proportions of what is there.

The quality of materials used is of no merit if the proportions are out of balance.

Proportions also affect the chemistry results of what is manifest. For example, what do you experience when eating food in which too much of one ingredient or not enough of another takes place when preparing the dish?

Thinking, the level of consciousness, experience, and the mere act of living over time have evolved into what humanity knows as good proportions which can be many and varied reflecting the times and cultures in which they are manifest.

The unlimited varieties of the dimensions of the human body, life styles, cultures, and personality traits of peoples are also an important factor in determining what are good proportions in our living environment especially for the interiors of our residential living spaces.

Contrary to the popular ism one size does not always fit all.

Thusly, proportions affect all physical manifestations in life.

Being aware and having good proportions makes your life more practical, comfortable, and beautiful of which all are worthwhile and desirable goals.

So. What does all of this information mean to you and how does it affect your activities there of?

Food for thought.

2021 trends during the current calendar year by a housing developer that came across my desk last week stirred up my interest.

There were several good points made by how the pandemic has changed the housing market.

Many of these changes relating to combating the spread of the virus and psychological and physical changes relating to being at home more because of it have been presented in this blog and many other sources.

What peaked my interest was the examples given of houses for more indoor-outdoor access.

Many of these and other examples of recently shown designs which are described as farm houses look like a popular development house with some rustic look porches and trim added were great examples of what is tacky design which means that instead of an aesthetically balanced composition certain things are tacked on that are suppose to give the so called design result.

Webster defines a “farm house” as a house on a farm which leaves completely open the aesthetics there of.

A residential structure should reflect the time and space in which it is erected.

Such, with the aid of intelligent and quality aesthetics, presents an opportunity to incorporate the traits and characteristics of unlimited life styles desired by home owners.

Replicating a certain style is usually a low level of aesthetics.

Incorporating the characteristics of those aspects of desired results into a balanced designed composition is excellent design.

What do you see, for what do seek, and what do you choose for the design and manifestation of your residence?

Food for thought.

Enhancing the culture and developing talent are two of the outstanding traits of successful businesses.

Recent articles about how the physical spurs these two aspects have come across my desk.

The purpose of a business is to provide goods and services for a profit.

What is the purpose of our residential interior environments and how does the physical affect the results there of?

Have you ever really thought about and intelligently analyzed, other than basic shelter from the elements, what are the purposes of the interior spaces in which you abide?

What are the integrated custom, social, material, and your unique aspects which make up the care and functions of the home space in which you live?

How well does the inside of your house, or other type of living space, fulfill all of the functions there of?

If the physical can spur good results for a business, what can it do to spur the quality of your life style.

Food for thought.