A Fun and Frivolous Part of Our Renovation

As I draft this post it’s Monday, January 26, Blizzard Juno time here in New York City. The streets outside my windows are fairly empty except for a few quiet dog walkers and a few loud snow plows. The news keeps saying the worst is yet to come. The kids will be home from school tomorrow. My husband and I will be on our laptops and the phone. My email is oddly quiet. In theory it should be a good time to get things done. In reality the distractions of the day and the juggling of the post-storm schedule – trying to fit a week into a slightly shorter week – are conspiring against me.

I feel like I need a quick distraction to take me away for a few minutes. Tomorrow – during the day - I may do some cooking and I’m also flirting with the idea of pulling out my watercolors. In reality, I will likely need to work for much of the day and maybe watch a movie with the kids.

A mini-distraction to focus on our rather large to-do list for the North Fork home will be a nice break. Creative and functional - the best combination. Some of the to-do list is sort of boring – getting the C of O approved, reseeding the lawn, a new pool fence. Some is fun – especially the finishing touches on the interior furnishings and accessories. Some is even more fun AND lets me fantasize about summer – we need new outdoor furniture!

To get me in the mood, and fully immerse myself in my distraction, I’m starting with some of the less practical ideas – hammocks and swings and maybe a Balinese day bed. In the end, I may lean more sleek, practical, and family friendly. However, I’m always a fan of adding a touch of impractical or “just because I like it” into my designs. And even a quick trawl for inspiration in this area has me excited and feeling just a bit regenerated. I can almost imagine the scrape of the snow plow is actually a soothing wave break or the wind in the trees.