How Simple Pleasures Help Create Beautiful Design

In the early ‘80s my parents used to take my sister and me to Velchoff’s Corner Restaurant in Vicksburg, Mississippi.  It was such a treat to go out to eat, and we knew it was going to be a fun night because we got to order ham ‘n’ cheese Po’ Boys and cokes. The lettuce was shaved just right with real mayo.

Mom would dress us up and curl our hair.  She would wear one of her oversized shoulder-pad silk dresses and smile as she tied the big blue bows at the back of our waists. I suspect that this was my parents’ date night — they always ordered raw oysters.  

After we finished our sandwiches, Aimee and I would put our heads down on the restaurant table and fall asleep while my parents sipped wine and slurped oysters. They would gently shake us awake when it was time to go home. In every memory, I always remember being the last ones in the restaurant.

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There was a small courtyard with ferns and brick walls where you could sit in wrought iron chairs while you waited for your table.  The dining room was dark and paneled with rich wood tones. Each table had a single candlelight. The gleaming bar behind our table was dimly lit and intimate with perfectly placed overhead lighting.

You could hear the cooks in the kitchen and see the staff taking excellent care of their customers, always with a smile. We laughed and enjoyed time together as a family. The entire experience was one of cozy comfort and delicious food. 

Memories That Inspire My Design

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Sadly, Velchoff’s is no longer there, but this is a specific memory that sparks inspiration in some of my personal design choices.

I love rich polished wood and dinner by candlelight. I love antique brick and plan to expose one of the brick walls in my family room to add warmth and texture. A wrought iron patio set graced by ferns is planned for my back deck, along with a hanging wall fountain that bubbles.

Hosting intimate dinners with friends that create warm encounters is a necessity for me, and I’ve created a dining room and kitchen that allow me to do so with efficiency and style. Incorporating many design elements from my various memories empowers me to create a deeply personal space as I’m surrounded daily with my unique best. 

How Can Your Memories Inspire Your Room’s Design?

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When you share your past memories with me, we tease out the most vivid images that serve as divine inspiration for your new decor.  I’m always influenced by your stories to create a home where you will live your most fulfilling life. Your memories are the key to your perfect design plan. 

If you have trouble recalling some past images, start with making a list of your simple pleasures, in no particular order, without any particular theme. I made a list of mine below. You’ll see that several of these overlap with my memory above.  

Give it a try and see what new design feature you can discover for your home! If you would like help creating your space inspired by your memories, I would be honored to guide you through this process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

My Simple Pleasures

  • A new toothbrush

  • Clean sheets

  • Colorful markers

  • Candlelight dinner at home

  • Loose-leaf tea

  • Homemade bread with black raspberry jam

  • Breakfast with jazz music

  • Dining alfresco

  • Walking barefoot in the grass

  • A brand new notebook

  • A clean sink

  • Sunday brunch

  • Meditation

  • Open windows

  • The smell of wet pavement

  • Playing in the dirt

  • The perfect bed pillow

  • The scent of furniture polish

  • The sound and feel of turning the pages of a book

  • Fresh paint

  • Laundry on a clothesline

  • Daytime thunderstorms

  • Libraries

  • Window seats

  • Fresh herbs

  • A screened porch

  • The sound of water

  • A fire in the hearth

  • Homemade soup

  • The first sip of coffee

  • Butterflies

  • The sound of crickets at nightfall

  • Sunrises

  • Sunsets

  • Stargazing

  • Dripping candle wax

  • Wildflowers

  • Sunflower fields

  • An overstuffed chair

  • A porch swing

  • Screen doors

  • Walk-up attics

  • Pick your own fruit

  • Sunlight through the window

  • Old buildings

  • Dining room fireplaces

  • Hummingbirds

  • Lavender

  • Quilts

  • Fresh baked pastry

  • Peeling an apple in one strip

  • Tree swings

  • Tree houses

  • Doll houses

  • Tea parties

  • Heavy white ceramic diner mugs

  • Placemats

  • Dinner parties

  • Walks in the woods

  • Sitting by the lake

  • Azaleas in Spring

  • Cottage gardens

  • Picket fences

  • Old brick

  • Iron gates

  • Trickling streams

  • Waterfalls

  • China tea cups

Now it’s your turn.

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Until next time,
Monique

Monique Becker