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February 8, 2024

Embracing Imperfection: Designing an Authentic Home

I was reading a blog post from one of my favorite authors/designers/creators, Ingrid Fetell Lee. 

I am often inspired by Ingrid’s insightful, curious and always playful point of view. This latest blog talked about the Heroine’s journey and how that differs from the external journey of a Hero.  Ingrid’s insightful perspective on interior design also  challenges the notion of perfection and celebrates the beauty of imperfection. Rather than chasing an Instagram-perfect home, she encourages embracing the messy, beautiful realities of everyday life.

Here's how you can design an authentic and imperfect home that reflects your true self:

1. Embrace Imperfection

Instead of striving for perfection, embrace the imperfections that come with real life. Let go of the pressure to have a flawless home and celebrate the uniqueness of your space.

Kitchen with custom cabinets and fireplace
incorporate existing materials and time periods to celebrate the past and embrace the future. Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

2. Design with Real Life in Mind

Consider your lifestyle and how your home will be used on a daily basis. Plan your design choices around practicality and functionality, taking into account factors like pets, children, and environmental elements.

Custom kitchen with concrete counter tops
Concrete and quartz countertops with high performance fabric make clean up childs play! Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

Etegere and blanket ladder. Dog friendly leather chair
Pet friendly materials take the worry out of the occasional sofa surfing by four footers! Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

3. Choose Practical Materials

Opt for durable and easy-to-clean materials like tile, luxury plank vinyl, and performance fabrics. These materials not only withstand the wear and tear of daily life but also make maintenance a breeze.

Performance fabric bue pillows and tile floor
Performance fabrics and tile make clean up a breeze. Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs
Dining room with dining table and performance fabric chairs and wool rug
Performance Fabrics and easy to clean rugs means any bringing beautiful materials in is for every room! Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

4. Start Small for Big Impact

You don't need a major renovation to transform your space. Small, thoughtful touches can make a significant difference in how your home feels. Create cozy nooks, add greenery, or incorporate meaningful artwork to personalize your space.

Local art by Rose Bryant
Wallpapered sunroom with wicker furniture
Cozy morning rooms. Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

5. Incorporate Nature and Art

Bring the outdoors in with plants and affordable artwork. Support local artists or explore vintage stores for unique pieces that add character and charm to your home.

Antique barn with reclaimed wood ceiling and custom lighting.
Vintage tables and salvaged corbels add visual interest and history to this 1850's barn. Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

Salvaged tables and consignment gems marry up with local art to create a one of a kind eat in kitchen. Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

6.Add Playful Details

Infuse your space with personality by incorporating playful elements like wallpaper or pops of color. Get creative with unexpected touches that reflect your interests and passions.

Decorative hardware on blue cabinets
Dressing up a cabinet with new hardware can change the whole feeling of a room. Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

Wallpapered bookcase with feathered headdress
A peek a boo spot for inviting wallpaper adds character and whimsy. Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

7. Embrace Your Whole Self

Let your home reflect your true self and all aspects of your personality. Embrace authenticity and stand confidently in the uniqueness of your space.

Antique 1850's barn with spiral staircase and decorative lighting.
Embracing the Wabi Sabi of a design allows all to know they are welcome as they are. Design: Mandeville Canyon Designs

By following these principles, you can create a home that not only looks beautiful but also feels authentic, welcoming, and perfectly imperfect. Embracing imperfection allows you to design a space that truly feels like home. Embrace the Heroine within and your true self will emerge. 

In Good Design,

Renee

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Transformations Worth Sharing

Clients who have experienced the transformative power of healthy interior design

Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!

Jim P.

Renee is an absolutely wonderful designer. Very talented and easy to work with! She will transform your room or outdoor space into exactly what you want, only better!

Karen S.

Talented, creative, dedicated, great communicator. Renee is such a special person.

Marla W.

We have worked with Renee Carman at this company for almost 2 years. Renee is professional, personable, and a pleasure to know. She is very helpful and will go the extra mile to please her clients. Renee has excellent expertise and knowledge of interior design. We have a beautiful home and highly recommend her.

Lisa W.

Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design.  Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it.  We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!

Kate S.

Renee was a pleasure to work with and has great vision. We were doing a total rehab of a recently purchased property and she was able to look at a gutted out '50s cottage and turn it into a beautiful mid-century modern home. She understood our budget and timeline and was good about narrowing all our options down to just a few choices. This expedited the process, made it less difficult and more enjoyable. Once the rehab is done, we look forward to working with her again and finish the rest of the rooms.

Bill H.

Renee at Mandeville Canyon Interior Design was simply wonderful to work with. She was able to understand what we were looking for in terms of color, function and design from the moment we first spoke. She's easy to work with, goes above and beyond and delivers an outstanding design.

I highly recommend Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design. I don't think I will attempt to decorate another room in my house without the help of Renee!

Pam O.

Love working with Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design ! I had the opportunity to collaborate on a large scale design project recently and the results were fantastic! Creative, resourceful and one of kind design ideas made this design opportunity with Renee "one of a kind" Have a large or small project? You won't be disappointed!!

Mary S.

Renee not only has an amazingly creative eye, she also directed a massive renovation for us this past year that included the challenges of operating during the pandemic. She put together a team that had an incredible work ethic and brought the project in on-time and on-budget. She's a great listener. When we threw ideas at her, she was never dismissive; quite the contrary, she made them better. Her patience, attention to detail combined with her whacky sense of humor meant we were all able to smile while producing a home that we love. A great talent and a great lady.

Ann R.

Rene is amazing!  Great customer care and wonderful attention to detail.

Holly M.