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SpaceTransform brings seven years of experience creating homes that support, nourish, inspire and delight -- and I'm happy to be working with you now, Californians. ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry100701-171150

It's taken me a couple of months to integrate the journey I took early this spring, a 6-week trip through northern India. It is such an overwhelming place on so many levels, physically and emotionally, socially and spiritually, that I've only really been able to make some sense of it all in the context of perspective from home.

There were of course all of the immediate experiences and impressions of India: I hiked to hilltop temples and took riverboat rides and explored just-waking markets at sunrise, I took overnight trains (and just about every other form of transportation you can imagine), I sat with priests on the banks of holy waters, dipped my toes in the Ganges, and witnessed ancient sacred rituals, I bought magical beads and blessed them in powerful spots, I saw a wild tiger on my birthday (to celebrate the Year of the Tiger and my tiger-self), I drank chai and ate insanely delicious food (and occasionally got sick from it), I met vibrant Indians and international travelers and lived alongside cows and monkeys. In India I took in the collision of ancient and modern, the beauty of the people and the spirituality, the sadness of their poverty and pollution, the pervasiveness and depth of tradition and religion, the simultaneous chaos and order of the oldest civilization on the planet.



India has definitely widened my sense of life and ways to live... both the vast differences and also the core similarities. In moments of eye contact and shared smiles with Indian women, with their arranged marriages and timeless cultural roles, traditional dress and deeply ingrained spiritual values, I felt our connection and commonalities as well as the striking dissimilarity of our lives. I have grown up feeling a freedom to create my life in the most personally authentic way, in terms of career and relationships, spirituality, style and pastimes... and to continually evolve that as my own personal evolution continues. How amazing it has been to contemplate a mode of life where there is considerably less freedom in these regards, and yet, to also feel into the peace that seemed to provide. I definitely feel the gift and the sometimes-burden of my freedom, the deep and determined truth-seeking which has occupied much of my time. But, this is my life, my heart and soul and mind, and I am grateful for it. Getting more perspective on this life of possibility that I have been born into, I have a profound sense of the responsibility I have... Because I can, I must create a life that is aligned with my core values and which is in service to the world.

Which brings me back to you... and to SpaceTransform... and why I do what I do.

I believe in beauty. I don't mean this in any superficial sense, because I know that the experience (and appreciation) of beauty can be deeply meaningful... it is a feeling that transcends the specifics of what or why, that creates moments of joy which are innately human and universal and free. Though I definitely have issues with the cultural conditioning which has helped to inform what we are supposed to find beautiful and how we are supposed to spend money to seek or achieve that, I also recognize that as natural beings, the things which we are inherently programmed to find beautiful are things of nature (such as flowers, colors, and women of all ages), or things which honor nature's inherent design principles (like balance... see the Taj Mahal). Beauty is a sensory experience which stirs a deeper spiritual experience, and provides a way to connect to that which is beyond us, that which we are a part of, that which is a part of us. I have had some of my most profoundly sacred moments in the midst of a stunning sunset, a gorgeous piece of music, or in seeing the beautiful heart of one of my closest friends. I feel strongly that I want to continue creating more beauty in the world... in my life and self, in my relationships and in my exchanges with strangers, in my home and yours.

This spring marked the 5-year anniversary of SpaceTransform. Thank you for being a part of my success, for supporting me, and most of all, for your beauty.

Please enjoy my India photos!




"I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence."
-Oriah Mountain Dreamer
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The sight and feeling that greets us upon entering our house strongly affects our experience of arriving home, as well as our mood and comfort as we settle into and live in our space. When a front door enters directly into a living room, as in this project, it's very important that the room be arranged with sensitivity to this factor, as well as to its overall comfort, function, and beauty.

The previous layout of this room "welcomed" its guests and inhabitants with the back of a couch, giving way to a table of clutter, finally settling onto the TV cabinet -- not the most inspiring array. My client was complaining about feeling 'stuck' in her home and life. I set out to help her by transforming this room to feel wonderful, positively affecting her experience of arriving and being home.

By flipping the room layout around, people and energy now flow through the front door and into a cozy and lovely "conversation area," a place to truly relax and revitalize. To support this, the TV went to live on the opposite wall, clutter was given a home, and lighting and accessories were optimized to support the new vision.

These changes instantly transformed the look and feel of the room and of the overall home experience. My client tells me that not only is she in love with the changes, but that her home has become a nourishing space for her guests. What a gift for everyone!

It's amazing what re-thinking your existing things can do for your home and life...

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I'm proud to announce that the new and improved SpaceTransform web site is up and running. It's got a new look and feel, refined message, and enhanced layout of project photos. Please check it out, and send me your feedback. Also note that there is now a box on the "Contact" page to sign up for my shiny new email newsletter, which will be coming soon. Enjoy! ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090413-074846

A couple of months back I ran into my friend Dominic at a coffee shop and he told me what he was working on: a website where business owners could offer services during otherwise unbooked hours for "dibits" instead of dollars, and other business owners on the site could purchase those services using dibits that they had earned. Brilliant! It wasn't long after that when Dibspace was launched, and I became a happy member offering my services in interior redesign and feng shui.

Dominic asked me if I'd be willing to get some press on one of my dibbed offers and of course I accepted; the first of these pieces is an article in the Seattle Times today. Enjoy! ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090320-182346

I was lucky enough to spend one month exploring Thailand this winter. What an amazing journey it was... Thailand is a tremendous place to travel -- friendly, warm, colorful, delicious, and inexpensive -- and being away from winter and worries was incredibly rejuvenating.

I split my time between Bangkok, the beaches in the south of Thailand, and Chiang Mai -- a city in the northern hills. Each was very different, and very wonderful.

I spent a significant amount of time visiting Buddhist temples, of which there are 20,000 in Thailand -- they are everywhere. Ornately designed, filled with Buddhas and altars, smelling of incense, with monks in their bright orange robes... sacred and stunning.

Thailand has a bustling market culture... there are daytime markets and nighttime markets, where vendors set up stations to sell delicious food and beautiful wares. Wandering amongst these vibrant scenes was a favorite pastime of mine, which always involved eating, and often included a stop for a market-side foot massage (30 minutes for under $2).

Time on the beaches was relaxing and balmy... and gorgeous. Stunning cliffs rising out of warm emerald green water. Tropical, alien-looking fish. Staying in a bungalow perched in the jungle. I lost track of time and days. I read and napped and swam. I watched sunrises and sunsets. I ate fresh mango and pineapple every day. I breathed deeply...

I returned to Seattle feeling chilled out and inspired... happy that spring is finally here, happy to keep expressing myself through my work and art, and happy to be back to my amazing friends and clients.

Please enjoy looking through my Thailand photos.

Sawatdee!]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090302-121010 "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain

I just returned from an amazing month in Thailand. Pictures and stories to come. Stay tuned...
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Last week I gave a presentation on Feng Shui to The National Association of Professional Organizers (Seattle area chapter). They had invited me to talk to their members so that I could share my expertise on an issue that has relevance to their services.

Professional Organizers help people get their surroundings under control, especially when it comes to clutter, storage, organizational systems, and the like. In this modern day when we are constantly bombarded by stuff that needs to be put somewhere, more and more people are looking for help in this area. A Professional Organizer can come in to a home or office and objectively make sense of better ways to process the work and life flow and places to store things, and then can actively help implement the systems to make that happen.

At this meeting I met several amazing people from NAPO, and recommend their members to anyone looking for a little organizing help. ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry071110-085032 My year of good press continues. A couple of weeks ago I did a redesign with a Seattle Times editor and photographer observing. The article and photos from that project are in the paper and in the online version today. Check it out!

Seattle Times article: "Redesign at the ready"]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry071109-005134
I had no idea how profound this work would be! It is incredibly moving and rewarding to be invited into peoples' homes, to get a glimpse of their lives, and to lend assistance and inspiration by creating supportive and comfortable spaces, by teaching and encouraging, and by infusing their environments with intention and energy. It has turned out that my *design* work is also *healing* work. I am honored and grateful for that; this services is enriching on many levels -- for my clients, and for myself. I am happy to strive to offer the best of my self in order to help people live more beautiful lives.


"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us."
-Winston Churchill
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I'm about to make my annual pilgrimage to the Burning Man Arts Festival, and this time I'll be bringing sixteen sculptural lanterns that I made as part of the Tree Spires art installation. I and my fellow Tree Spires crew, who go by the name "Iron Monkeys", spent the summer constructing four 15'-tall steel trees with benches built around the bases, and the lanterns which will hang in the trees.

For those of you who don't know, Burning Man is an event which takes place at this time every year in a remote location outside of Gerlach, Nevada. The festival, which calls itself an "experiment in temporary community," gathers tens of thousands of participants from all over the world who co-create "Black Rock City" together. The city, raised on the blank canvas of an ancient seabed, is devoted to art, and all forms of personal expression. It functions as a gift economy; there is no vending or advertising. It is pure human creativity, ingenuity, generosity, and interaction. After Labor Day the event ends and all traces of it are removed. At least the physical ones... Burning Man is a powerful cultural force which has transformed many lives, including mine. It encourages personal empowerment and creative expression, provides a community of inspired people from all walks of life, and infuses a sense of joy and wonder at the possibilities that exist. I highly recommend visiting the web site, reading a bit more, and looking through the image gallery -- a picture is worth 1000 words!

I look forward to installing and sharing the art that I and my friends have created. I will share pictures after I return! Happy end-of-summer!]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070719-092401
"Interior Designers Use Your Own Furnishings"]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070614-071425

Did you know: when I'm not transforming spaces, I'm designing and building sculptural lamps. It all started about 6 years ago with a vision of creating gorgeous, transcendent light art that would remind people of their nature, which *is* nature. Lights that are beautiful and alive, like us! I am finally manifesting my creations and installing them at events, sharing their magic. Soon I will be offering them for special event rental, taking orders for fine art commissioned pieces, and offering a line of mesmerizing designs. It's another way for me to help make the world more beautiful. That is one of the things I'm here to do!

This image shows the piece I am currently working on right now... it is about 6' tall, and filled with color-changing LEDs. I call it "Luminous Tease". ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070423-124225
Change your world with an interior 're-designer']]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070322-170826

Ah... sweet spring!

Growing up in Minnesota, where winters were long and frozen, I developed a deep appreciation for the return of spring. During the painfully cold and grey winters it would seem almost incomprehensible that the season would again change to one of warmth and life. But of course it always would, eventually. Sunny days in March (or April) would feel like a miracle, a surprise blessing from the universe. Spring's ecstatic return after a dark winter would remind me of the reliability of the change in seasons. That I could trust in nature! That change was inevitable. That new life wants to emerge... and that we all are given opportunities to renew ourselves, to grow and transform. Even now, living in temperate Seattle I am deeply moved by this time of transition and the energy it carries.

The Chinese theory of Yin/Yang complementary balance explains the normal change of the seasons in this way: winters show the Yin aspects of darkness, passivity, and coldness. The cycle in spring then naturally changes to the Yang conditions of brightness, activity, and expansion. This is why we are in harmony with nature when we rest and go inward in winter, and when in spring our energy raises and we grow and express ourselves.

Spring is here again, for the land and for us. What new discoveries will you find within yourself, what new activities will you begin, how will you grow and transform in this exciting, revitalizing time?]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070219-221004

Healthy indoor plants are incredibly beneficial to the beauty and energy of a home.

* They clean the air, taking in carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.

* Plants in potting soil bring both wood and earth elements into a space, which represent growth and stability.

* If placed in appropriate locations, plants will always have an extremely profound positive effect on the beauty and power of a space.

Following a few guidelines will help you best integrate plants into your home.

* In terms of plant shapes to choose, keep in mind that form defines energy. Which plant would you imagine would have more harmonious energy -- one with sharp spiky leaves, or one with soft rounded clusters? In general, choose plants that have rounded or oval leaves rather than spiky leaves or cacti.

* Choose plants that are appropriate to the light levels and other conditions in your home.

* Place plants in pretty pots that are big enough (but not too big) for their roots to grow and expand. Repot them when necessary for their continued radiance.

* If well cared-for and healthy, plants' vitality will generate chi (life-energy) for their environment. If they're unhealthy or contain dead plant-matter, they will actually have a negative effect on the energy of the space. It is therefore important to take good care of your plants, to pay close attention to their health, and to trim off dead bits when necessary.

Life is better with plants!]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070129-100654

From a Feng Shui perspective, the front entrance is one of the most important features of a home, strongly affecting the experience of its inhabitants as well as its guests.

The front entrance (or the entrance used mainly) is the face of the house, and in that sense it represents a home's image and character. It greets you as you return after each excursion. It greets guests as they enter. And it leaves the final imprint as we depart into the world. It is the window between the inside sanctuary and the outside environment, the vital passageway through which chi energy flows. The entrance therefore has a very important role and should be given appropriate care and attention.

The following should be considered:

* The entrance should be clear, visible, confident. It should not hide behind overgrown bushes or plantings.

* The front porch is not a good place to store clutter or belongings which don't have a place inside the house. Many people spend time and energy carefully arranging the interiors of their houses to create a good feeling, but if the front entrance is cluttered then the experience will still suffer; by the time they and guests have arrived in to that space, they have already been negatively affected by the entrance's first impression.

* The flow of energy into the house is affected by the objects in its way. So in addition to affecting humans' perception of the home, clutter and overgrown foliage will hamper the ability for chi to enter and vitalize the space.

* Design front entrances with care and intention: clear of clutter, with a few beautiful objects arranged in a simple, balanced, harmonious way. This will provide a positive first impression, visually and energetically, for you and your guests.

* The area just inside the entrance should also be arranged well, providing a welcoming and spacious place for us to transition between the outside and inside.

Next time you enter your front entrance, pay attention to the subtle impressions it creates. What simple changes could you make to optimize this facet of your home?


[photo: front door designed by Morris Sheppard]]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070108-184544
Our mechanical world of electric lights, alarm clocks, and year-round availability of all manners of food has confused our bodies' instinctual alignment with natural principles. However, becoming conscious of this fact we can make choices to better honor nature's seasonal intelligence. We should not necessarily try to keep a constant and unchanging state of work, rest, and eating throughout the year.

Many people I've been encountering lately (myself included) complain of being tired due to the winter weather. Instead of seeing this tiredness as a problem to be resisted, why not simply respond to it with more sleep?

As nature finds in winter a time of rest and renewal, so should we. So give yourself permission to go to bed a bit earlier or to sleep a bit later. It's OK to take a brief nap in the afternoon. It's just fine to spend Saturday night snuggled up with a book. We are simply flowing with natural principles when we subtly allow our energies to cycle seasonally.

Spring and its burst of new energy and life will be here soon enough, joyfully pulling us with it... so let's all help each other remember to delight in the calm inward restful nature of winter. ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry061228-225742

The pictures above are from a Redesign I did today... I'll let them tell the story of the incredible feeling a room gets as soon as it has a place to gather, a "conversation area".
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