My good friend, Susan, grew up in the wild outdoors, where she and her siblings would spend long afternoons playing in the woods. Susan remembers collecting rocks smoothed by the rushing river, building stick homes for magical creatures they dreamed up, and transforming ferns into fans and flowers into crowns and rings.

As an adult, the outdoors are still part of who Susan is. She might not collect rocks anymore or live in the forest, but when she imagines those times, she feels that same spirit of possibility, family, joy, and connection to the natural world. In other words, these memories feel like home.

Of course, these aren’t the only memories that make Susan feel at home; this is just one piece of the puzzle. By discovering all of those beautiful pieces, we are able to infuse elements reminiscent of these experiences into her most meaningful and personal home. This creates interiors that transcend a physical space and become one full of feeling, unique personality, and a deep sense of belonging.

*My own home* is inspired by memories with my grandmother, my love of history and art, and a penchant for deep, bold color. A year later, spending time in this room STILL inspires joy, belonging, and deep contentment.

This is what I call “designing for the whole self.”

What is Design for the Whole Self?

Holistic interior design, put simply, is designing for the whole self: physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually, if that’s an important part of your life.

Yes, all great interior design focuses on creating a functional space for your lifestyle. Yes, all great interior design should be visually pleasing and personal to you. But holistic design takes it a step further. We all have meaningful positive memories ingrained deeply in us, memories that directly influence our unique comforts, our personal preferences, and who we are at our truest.

Designing for the whole self focuses on discovering these beautiful memories and infusing them into the forefront of your daily living experience.

The result? Spaces that feel so you that you can’t help but be the most authentic, joyful version of yourself.

This month, I would love to share this special and rewarding design process with you, but first, let me say that I think this unique approach to design is needed now more than ever. Life is busy, technology is pervasive, and images of what our home “should” look like barrage us daily.

Compared to 20 years ago, it is even easier to feel disconnected from our true selves, a little lost, and especially indecisive when it comes to our homes. One of my favorite quotes by Emily McDowell sums this up nicely:

Through my holistic design process, we are able to make your story and your true self central to your design, and I can guarantee… it will forever change the way you feel about your home. Here’s how it works…

Phase 1: Discovery & Exploration

Phase I is our chance to get to know each other, discuss your goals for your home, and start exploring those precious memories and experiences that make you who you are. This will involve quite a bit of storytelling — the fun kind!

Over the course of a few hours, we will have an in-depth, guided Question-Answer session. Because our homes are a fully immersive sensory experience, I’ll guide you to remembering the sights, scents, sounds, tastes, and textures that make you feel alive and at home. (This is all about those good memories.) Here are some examples of discoveries my clients and I have made during this process:

The desire for the sound of bubbling water reminiscent of a favorite childhood fishing spot
A connection to European architecture, reminiscent of wondrous travels abroad
Feeling most at home in nature and the outdoors
Memories of gathering family and the desire to create a similar carefree, welcoming environment
Happy feelings when surrounded by bold colors
The desire to leave the suburbs and build new in a rural setting (yes, this happened!)

Who knows what you will uncover during this process?

Phase 2: Design Plan & Presentation

The next step is for me to work on the overall design of your home or space. No, this doesn’t mean creating an exact replica of a favorite place from your past. Instead, we will bridge the past, present, and future to create soul-soothing spaces.

Depending on the scope of your project, the design plan can take several weeks behind the scenes. (If you think about it like a puzzle, I’m shaping those 1,000 pieces and putting them all together.) While each design plan is different, I generally include:

A color palette that speaks to your taste and the way you want to feel in each space
Functional layout designed for your unique lifestyle
Design for special features and amenities, like a kitchen workspace or built-ins in the living room
Select all necessary materials for the space (e.g. countertops, fabrics, hardware, etc.)
Plan, select, and/or custom-design furnishings for the space, including any you might already own and love
Layer the design with meaningful elements that speak to your dearest memories

*An example of a design board created for our client’s kitchen refresh*

Once complete, I will present the design plan to you for feedback. This is the first “design reveal” and is always a highly anticipated meeting. We will review the design concept carefully together, ensuring that it meets the highest level of life-enhancing functionality, personalization, and design that fuels your mind, body, and soul.

At this point, I’m happy to iterate and make any changes necessary in order for you to be completely confident and comfortable moving forward.

Phase 3: Implementation

At this point, we are ready to bring your beautiful design to life. We organize any necessary trades (like a construction team, painters, electricians, etc.), procure materials and furnishings as needed, and transform your design plan into reality.

Once any structural work is complete and orders have arrived, we will style your space with meaningful accessories, furniture, and decor — including ones you own and love and some new pieces that were approved in Phase 2. This is the final layer that transforms the space into a home with comfort, feeling, and belonging.

*This space was inspired by a love of vintage furniture, treehouse memories, and a touch of elegance.*

And then… it’s all yours.

Are you ready for spaces that nourish your whole self?

Designing for the Whole Self puts you at the center of your home, and I can tell you from personal experience and from working with clients, that there are few things as rewarding.

When you start a home renovation or design project, you probably aren’t planning to rediscover yourself, but that’s exactly what it is. It’s about creating a space where you feel “found,” one that nurtures your favorite pastimes and inspires connection with others — and with yourself.

If you’ve been yearning to feel at home in your space, I hope you will consider holistic interior design. Reach out to me here, and I would be happy to share more, get to know each other, and discover whether this inspiring journey is right for you.

Yours,

Monique

Designing a Home for Your Whole Self