Living Big in a Smaller Space
From the DeRemee Family archives, circa 1975, Boundary Waters Canoe Area
I love helping clients live BIG in smaller spaces. Often referred to as “downsizing”, moving into a smaller space offers exciting opportunities to create a beautiful, highly personalized home.
I learned the essentials of downsizing many years ago. As indicated by my striped pants in this circa 1975 photo, it was a pre-Gortex, pre-technical outdoor gear era. Epic summer canoe trips in the BWCA were mandatory life training for me and my siblings. Our parents insisted that we learn how to leave the comforts of home behind. So each summer we’d push off the docks of civilization with only a waterproof map to guide us. No cell phones, no GPS, not even a walkie talkie.
A dangerous and exciting sensation came over me with every departure. For the next 7-10 days “home” would be a different spot on the map each night. Within an hour of paddling ashore we set up complete and operational kitchens with a camp stove, a few pots and a fire ring. We erected intimate gazebos with a tarp and a clothesline. Bedrooms went wherever there was a bit of wooded shelter and level ground for a tent. Amidst rain, mosquitoes and and all the other physical challenges of the wilderness, we learned the art of keeping our spirits high and took in all the beauty Nature put before us.
Fast forward to downsizing…So what could canoe trips have to do with interior design - the very epitome of civilized life? Well, more than you might imagine!
My passion for designing homes was schooled by life on the trail. The concepts “ less-is-more” and “form-follows-function” were essential rules for wilderness adventure and became the foundation for my approach to design. They’re especially valuable to downsizing, but can actually apply to any scale of living. Simply knowing what you need, why you need it and where to put it create a foundation for good design whether packing for a canoe trip or designing a home.
My sense of place and imagination - the idea that one could create home anywhere - was nurtured on these trips as well. Wilderness “dining rooms” were just rocks and a fire ring, but always convivial. My parents enjoyed “martinis on the rocks” - no need for ice. We discovered deep, clear pools for swimming and made beds of softly-needled pine floors to pitch our tents. Nothing beat the timely discovery of a place to be still and watch the moon rise, just listen to the loons. Nature beckoned us to make the best use of every site and view. Though we had but bare essentials, the camps we created were truly beautiful and always felt like home.
After a week in the wilderness, plumbing, electricity, hot showers and a good mattress were nothing short of divine! I’ve found that creating beautiful, comfortable, well-functioning interiors for my clients offers a similar sense of heaven. That’s why I do what I do. Well-designed homes nurture minds, bodies and souls!
Downsizing, moving and renovation projects are adventures of another kind. Let me be your guide. Artistry Interior Design services include most everything you’ll need. There’s no need to go it alone. Visit www.artistryID.com to set up a discovery call. A beautiful destination awaits you called Home!