We had a magical lightening storm here in Exeter last night. Those of you who were up late enough know what I am talking about. I wrapped up work very late last night, I mean, very late. I found myself so involved in my day-to-day work, family and to-do lists (along with my should-do lists) that I almost missed it. And it made me think. Wow, I really need to stop and see the trees through the forest!
As I was sitting outside during the heat lightning, I noticed how perfect it was with the crickets and the breeze, the rhythmic beat of the lightening and the faint smell of moisture in the air. Petrichor, is the name for the smell right before it rains (somehow my son Grey knows this). It reminded me that nothing should be more important than being ground in nature. As I sat outside tonight, every single sense was involved and it was all free!
We all need to unplug a bit. While this may seem like it has nothing to do with interior design, I beg to differ. Taking a moment, or actually a few moments, away from our electronics and actually observing our surroundings and using our senses will in turn, make us more aware, more grounded and more focused.
The Japanese call it Shinrin-yoku or "forest bathing". There has been much research done since the 1980's about the benefits of simply being in wild and natural areas. The idea is simple: if a person simply visits a natural area and walks in a relaxed way there are calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits to be achieved.
Those of you who prefer the beach may not even realize the health benefits a day at the beach brings. Sea air provides us with healthy negative ions. These negative ions actually accelerate our ability to absorb oxygen and they also balance levels of serotonin. Which is why you may find that you sleep more soundly after a holiday at the beach.
Floating in the water has it's benefits too! When you float, blood is diverted from the lower parts of your body toward your abdominal region and closer to your heart. Fresh blood getting pumped around means more oxygen to the brain, which makes you more alert and active!
Living in New England has many, many benefits. One such being that we have loads of opportunity to enjoy the outdoors! I can't help but share some of my favorite spots!
* Phillips Exeter Academy walking trials. Click here for a trail map.
* NH Hiking trails. Click here for a fantastic list of hiking trails in our region!
* One of my favorite places just to our north, Acadia National Park
* The NH coastline, which includes one of my favorite beaches, Jenness and Bass Beach
I think it might be time to go unplug. Shut down your device and head outside! You will be more alert, creative and energized.
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!
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!
Talented, creative, dedicated, great communicator. Renee is such a special person.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!!
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.
Rene is amazing! Great customer care and wonderful attention to detail.