The Way I See It 

A few weeks back I had asked you guys to help me think of things I could write about for this journal. It was fun seeing all of the questions people have. So, I decided to start at this one...” “When, you find something, how do you know how you’ll incorporate it? I am intrigued by what you see...it’s different than what I see.” This title is actually a little deceiving...I’m not actually sure I can explain how I see things-in the context of design that is. But I’ll give it a shot.  

I feel like I have always seen things differently from other people. I can see a pile of things that are completely unrelated, take each piece out of context and then put them together again in a different way. I’m sure most creative people are like this. We just see things differently. It sounds cliché but I literally see possibilities everywhere. I find this ability extremely exciting but also a bit exhausting at times (especially to those around me).  

Every time I go to a thrift store, a garage sale, an auction or I’m just out and about, I am hunting for pieces to complete a picture in my head. Of course, this picture changes all the time but each piece I bring to the shop is thoughtfully selected for a specific purpose-it's curated. There is an absolute method to my madness. And when I try to explain my process, it really does feel like madness.  

Some of my favorite hunting grounds are in complete disarray. Things are strewn all over the floor, piled in boxes or packed on unorganized shelves, etc. For a lot of people that kind of disorganization can be overwhelming & honestly, just way. too. much. For someone like me, it’s heaven. That absolute chaos is exactly what gets me thinking, planning and designing.  

Here's my process for shopping... 

-Take a quick overall look at the entire store- does anything pop out that I need to grab right away? If so, make a dash and claim it.  

-Head to the furniture section and grab the tags off anything I need to have. 

-Walk through EVERY aisle-this is CRUCIAL (I find some of the coolest things in the “wrong” section (electrical, lighting, outdoor, knick-knacks, glassware, baskets, linens, clothing, art, books, etc.)  & make sure to be open minded. 

-start collecting pieces that are cohesive but not the same- vintage brown glassware, pottery pieces, wood candle holders, an old collection of paint scrapers and lots of layering pieces...pedestals, books, cutting boards, linens, etc.  

-Take inventory of everything in my cart and take out anything that is unnecessary (I may put a piece in my cart just to take it out again 2 or 3 times as I’m going through isles) Remember, it’s better to grab it if you’re unsure- you can always put it back. 

-Take one more walk through every aisle. Now that you’ve started to assemble design elements, you may want to incorporate some items you hadn’t considered previously. 

-Take everything home, spread it out and start playing. Try things several different ways, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and follow your gut.  

For me, design is always a building process. There are basic elements that are necessary- height, color, texture, light, etc., but for me, design also has to make you feel something; something intentional. And with my design, that’s my goal. To take a bunch of unrelated but cool items, put them together in a way that oddly makes sense, opens your mind to possibilities and create a space you want to be in. I hope this answered the original question. It’s all about the way you see it.