ing the space around us with benign
us are creating all the time,” says But-
objects—department-store clones with
ler. Creativity at home may begin with
matching accessories to fill every nook
a notebook filled with pictures culled
Coming in
and cranny—we lock ourselves into a
from magazines, paint chips, product
gilded cage of fashion for which our
October
literature and to-do lists. We have the
creative spirit has no key.”
information and the ideas, now we
must make it all happen.
Taking Stock Some creative house projects
Before we can create a home that
are relatively easy and inexpensive to
truly expresses our deepest self, we
do ourselves. We can make a static
need to rediscover who we are now,
space, like a living or dining room,
where we are in our life and what we
function better for how we really
really want. This calls for an assessment
live—make it more informal, colorful,
or inventory, a “before” snapshot.
or lived-in—by changing the type of
Thomas Moore, in Care of the
furniture or its arrangement, advises
Soul: How to Add Depth and Meaning
Katillac. Butler emphasizes that the se-
to Your Everyday Life, recalls a “read-
cret to using every room lies in setting
ing” he did of one woman’s dwelling.
up the room exactly as we want it.
“My idea was to see the house’s po-
We can happily engage all the
etry and alphabet, to understand the
senses with favorite music, scented
gestures it was making in its architec-
candles, fresh flowers, soft throws or
ture, colors, furnishing [and] decora-
silky pillows and perhaps a garden,
tions, and the condition it was in at
visible through a window. We can
that particular time.” After the exer-
repaint a room in a color we love. We
cise, he notes, “We both felt unusually
can even make our own artwork. We
connected to the place.” More, “I was
can decorate only with objects that
motivated to reflect on my own home
resonate with us, with less of an eye to
and to think more deeply about the
the price.
GREEN
poetics of everyday life.”
“Living artfully might require tak-
How well does our current home
ing the time to buy things with soul for
feel like we wish it to? In Feeling at
the home,” counsels Moore. “Good
Home, Stoddard lists 15 elements that
linens, a special rug or a simple teapot
PLANET
contribute to the emotional intel-
can be a source of enrichment, not
ligence of a home. In addition to the
only for our own life, but also the lives
dual keys of light and a view outside,
of our children and grandchildren.”
Learn how
as Marcus mentions, are color, com-
Adds Katillac, “By surrounding
fortable furniture, change (periodic
ourselves with the trappings of our to lead an
rearrangement of elements), privacy,
past successes, or with things we as-
fresh air, nature, beauty, art, order, a
sociate with those who have achieved
eco-friendly life in
working kitchen, a home library and
the success we want in our lives, we
favorite objects. The latter may encom-
begin to believe in the possibility of
Natural Awakenings’
pass heirlooms, childhood souvenirs
our dreams.”
October edition.
and handcrafts.
When re-envisioning our home in-
“We begin by shaping our home
volves tearing out walls, adding rooms

environments into places of inspira-
or building from the ground up, it’s time
tion and affirmation,” advises Katillac.
to call in help from experts: architects,
Special focus on
“By keeping our beliefs in front of
interior designers, contractors, plumb-
us in our homes and by building our
ers and painters—the works. That can green businesses
belief and our confidence through art-
seem daunting at first. But our sources
istry in our own home, we enter into
share a secret: Find a professional with
an exhilarating process that affects our
the credentials you want for your proj-
For more information
lives on every level.”
ect, and he or she generally will lead
you to other qualified people.
about advertising and how
“Each lead, each name or name
you can participate, call
Creative Renewal
of a service, leads to the next lead,”
“Although we tend to relegate
advises Butler. “Each time you meet
480-488-9237
creativity to the working artist, all of
someone and get help, he or she will
September 2009 27
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