Week 3 I once read a heartbreaking letter that Herman Melville wrote to his good friend Nathaniel Hawthorne, complaining that he simply could not find time to work on his book because "I am so pulled hither and thither by circumstances." Melville said that he longed for a big, wide-open stretch of time in which to create (he called it "the calm, … Read More »
Daily Painting
Week Two What is action? Action is commonplace, right action is not. As a discipline, it's not any kind of action that will do, but directed action. Everything must be done in the service of the whole. Step by step, action by action, we'll dismantle the obstacles in front of us. With persistence and flexibility, we'll act in the best … Read More »
What Sheen of Paint Should I Use?
After being in business for almost 10 years, this is still one of the questions I hear most. There are pros and cons to everything, but this is my standard formula: Moldings: semi-gloss or high-gloss. Why? That sheen is more durable and will wipe down easier when you are cleaning. Be careful of high-gloss, however. It is harder to touch … Read More »
Q&A: Too Much Beige
It's time for Q&A Wednesday, and we have a great question I'm sure many of you can relate with. Question: We built a small cabin in 2008 and painted all walls SW 6106 Kilim Beige. We never refinished our wooden ceiling beams, just left them untreated and figured we would get back to them when we had some money. We have hard wood floors and … Read More »
Gluten-Free Artisan Bread
Hi friends, As you know, I have been trying to master making bread for over a decade. I've gotten my regular sandwich bread down to a science (psst...I do take small orders if you want fresh homemade bread in your house). It's a honey wheat half-and-half bread. There are limited ingredients and I grind fresh flour each batch. You can find the … Read More »
High Point Market 2017
High Point Market is a must-see for anyone in the design business. I try to go once a year to catch up with vendors, colleagues, and learn from the many educational events. Trying to get from Wyoming to High Point, NC is always an adventure. No matter how I try to arrange my flights, there's simply not a convenient way to get through four … Read More »
The Parable of the Cloud
I can think by myself for hours. I suppose that is why I love silence and running in the mountains. They offer me the space and time to roll ideas over in my head; to commune with the Universe on a deep level. It wasn't until a few years ago when a friend helped me identify my top five strengths that I started to see how much deep brain diving, … Read More »
Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup
What is the biggest benefit to having all this snow (besides having water this summer)? You can serve hot, bubbling soup with lots of earthy vegetables every day of the week. … Read More »
How Much Does it Cost to Build?
Welcome! Today we're continuing our discussion on building your dream home. If you didn't join us last week, take the link to read the first post. We introduced fellow designers around the country who gave advice about which professional to hire first. Next we are going to explore one of the most common questions people have when they are … Read More »
Which Professionals Do You Need to Build Your Dream Home?
It's time. You've worked, dreamed, worked some more, saved, and now you're ready to build your dream home. This is the investment of your lifetime, and you want to do it right. But the pressure of it all is overwhelming. There are so many decisions that have to be made. You've heard horror stories about banks, contractors, and regrets of … Read More »
