Room for You
Virginia Woolf's 1929 essay "A Room of Ones Own" formally introduced the idea that women and mothers, in particular, need a private creative space. Almost a hundred years later, many people are reaching out to me for assistance making this happen in a time when privacy at home is at such a premium.
Being there for our families is a marathon and not a sprint. Accepting the support of our partners can sometimes be easier when we can't see what they're doing, as it can be tempting to insert ourselves instead of enjoying the time we have to fill our own cup.
In June, this design I created for a walk-in closet that is also a home office was installed and organized.
I've worked with so many creatives-- from fashion CEOs to interior designers to fine artists-- who see dressing as an extension of their work and an intrinsic part of who they are. For these people, their closet functions like an art studio and sometimes even a home office, too. Setting up your closet to inspire and engage your imagination is a joyful way to enjoy what you own in a socially distanced world.
Compact Impact
My meditation corner is only two square feet.
Having a door you can close can be a luxury these days. Listening to the Teach Me Something New podcast last week, Lori Gottlieb made a joke that the bathroom is the new couch since it's often the only room in the house some people have left for a virtual therapy session!
I change up this little meditation spot changes all the time. Every week there is a different flower, a new candle every few months, and even a new matchbox periodically. RBG even made an appearance last week! Over the past few years in this apartment, these two square feet have given me a sense of the passage of time as well as a connection to this place.
I don't close a door but facing out the window from the floor (a perspective I only have from this seat) makes this feel like a whole other room.
Room with a View
Workspace for a ceramicist in Montreal. Improving this workspace was part of the September Comfortable at Home seminar.
This table is a workspace for drawing as well as small projects like wiring one-of-a-kind lamps. Looking at finished mugs, cups, vases, bowls, cachepots, and lamps is such an inspiring view!
What is the one thing you always wished you had space for? A space you've used the same way for decades can shift to support your new chapter. Imagine how you can make that happen.
Sewing Up a Storm
Textile artist studio in Michigan. Setting up this space was part of the July Comfortable at Home seminar.
This room was intended to be a studio before the seminar but it wasn't set up well. Now "This is the place I come every morning with a cup of coffee and read my Bible and pray for my family and the world (maybe it worked a bit?). It’s also the place I come when moving feels overwhelming."
One of the things we talked about was how to set up an ergonomic sewing space so hours of sewing no longer cause aches and pains. Filming instructional videos for Arts & Scraps, an educational reuse non-profit in Detroit, was simple in the reimagined space. Producing scrub caps for medical workers as well as so many masks is now a pleasure.
Room for You
At home pilates studio in the East Village created in 2019.
Having a space to enjoy time for yourself is even more important right now. A room of one's own doesn't need to be a whole room; it can be a small desk or a spot for a yoga mat. But it's worth considering a way to signal to your family that you're taking some time to pursue your own goals.
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We donate 10% to God's Love We Deliver to enable them to provide meals at home to New Yorkers in need.