Best Room in the House

Originally uploaded by smomokomorton

Being a designer is a bit of a Catch 22 because you design wonderful things for clients, but never make enough money (unless you blow up) to really polish your own home. My situation is the epitome of this, and while I may not have many fancy things, I have managed to shove everything that’s precious to me in one room…my home office. I’m surrounded by the things that make me smile, and at the risk of sounding pompous, I think everyone should try to create one space in their home that evokes a similar feeling that is a reminder of a good life. The short list of my things include:

Rug from Istanbul: I bought it in 2000 and lugged it from Istanbul through Rhodes, Ephesus, Santorini, Delphi, to Athens. I still remember the wonderful store owner that patiently waited hours for me and my 3 sisters and mom and dad poke through rug after rug until I found one that I loved, could afford, and could manage to carry throughout the duration of the trip.

Lamp: collected from my dad. Turquoise like many other things he has (including our home where I grew up).

Desk: ratty and tatty but functional as all else, a great purchase from Good Will.

Books: You can see some on my desk, as well as part of my bookshelf on the right. Books are the one thing I love to keep and collect. I have an extraordinary ability to forget the details of the plot in each book but I can look at every book in my book case and remember how I felt when I read it and where I was in my life.

Photo of my dad with his intramural football team from Yale back in the day (circa 1940’s).

Wood block prints: purchased in a small shack in Kyoto when I was studying at the Kyoto Center for Japanese Studies…slightly flawed so I bought them for next to nothing but think they’re priceless.

Calligraphy from my grandmother: she toiled over it for months perfecting it as she prayed/meditated for a prosperous future for me.

Art work by yours truly: I had a really bad break up several years ago and I needed a distraction…a form of therapy that I could do while I sat with my girlfriends and cried and pondered my future. I cut out thousands of round pieces from magazines; mostly black and white, but some red pieces too and rolled every single piece to keep my hands busy. I got over the heart break, and found my real soul mate, but keep the art as a reminder of what it takes to make a real, grown-up relationship work.

Fresh cut flowers: ‘nuf said.

Cat Party: our cat who in my book is one handsome devil.

Chair: This was once a bland plain chair with a beat up seat cushion but with a little elbow grease (I rubbed over the scratches with a walnut) and a fresh piece of fabric for the cushion (in this case a beautiful hand woven crewel embroidered fabric) a beautiful, quirky furniture piece remains.

I hope everyone can find a little place of sanctuary regardless of how big or small.