Happy 100th Anniversary!

It is a true milestone. 100 issues of The Standard magazine and going strong. It seems even sweeter when you consider the last year’s trials and tribulations. As we plow head first into the next 100 issues I thought it would be nice to take a look back at where we have come from.

The single most important statement I can make regarding everything I have written in all of the past issues is this…The terrific thing about good design is that it is lasting. Good design, style and, living well are meant for everyone. It is attainable to everyone and every price point. When you choose wisely and with both authority and conviction, you will have made the right choice for you, every time.

I have challenged you, in every article I have written, to choose wisely. For yourself, for your home and for your life. Taking pride in yourself and your home is never a wasted endeavor. It also does not have to be all consuming. Caring about and for your home does not have to be pretentious or self-indulgent. Making the effort is about what makes you happy and tells a story of who you are. That story does not have to be shouted. Your story should never be told from a perspective of loftiness but, from a place of authenticity and honesty. When you approach the concept of “Lifestyle” from this point, you cannot go wrong and you cannot get it wrong.

Those are many lofty words for living well but, getting started is as easy as admitting to yourself that you want more. So, if your home is a reflection of all that you are, what is the story it tells? For some of us that answer is a scary one. For others the answer might be, I am doing all I can think of but, I am still not “there” yet. In both instances the way forward is the same. Let me help you, once again, in this month where we are celebrating everything we have done as a magazine and where we are going, let me give you some good and sage advice on how to live better, today.

If we learned one thing from the lockdown, it is that we can truly get anything we want online. This includes anything and everything for your home. Telling you to do your research and do your homework has never been easier. The internet was a secondary source of information for me as a designer, until now. Like you I google everything! Personally and professionally the answer are as close as your laptop or tablet.

Like all technology, or so it seems, a bit of coaching is always helpful to get the most out of the medium. Specifically, when I am doing a search for anything home related, invariably am looking for specific items. Here are a few to help you refine your search…

· When searching for any item be sure to use descriptive terms specific to your needs. For example, if you are looking for a sofa online, try using keywords that might include the length, style, seat depth and shape of the sofa. If you are looking for a sectional sofa, place the word sectional before the word sofa. If you are looking for a blue sofa, try using the color after the word sofa. You can try your descriptive words in different orders to get different results.

· Once you have a list of possible websites, scroll down past the first 3 or 4 listings. Most often, those listing are paid to positioned at the top and they rarely meet my desired needs. This where you will often find information more closely aligned with my needs.

· When you are searching online for your home, go around the sites and retailers you already know. Expand your search and horizons. There is such a wealth of product available to you. The entire world is at your disposal and there has never been a better time to be a consumer.

· If you are looking to expand your style horizons before you start selecting items for your home, literally every magazine is available online as well. All or the newest, latest, greatest design from around the world is yours for the viewing. Again, don’t go to the publications you already know, try something new!

I have often said here in these pages that one of my biggest jobs as a designer is listen to the client’s desires and the remove their blinders to show them just how big their ideas can be and how expansive your personal style really can become.

At the core of living well is the idea that you deserve more, you really do. And the best way to celebrate a beautiful well lived life is by sharing it. Being authentic means, you make your choices based on who you are and not what someone tells you. I want to end with this thought (which I have shared in the last 100 issues), when you choose wisely, you cannot get this wrong. Decorating is not brain surgery; it is a process by which you decide who you are in the way that you live. What you love is meant to be personal. Your style is enough!

Live Well,

Dann

www.foleystinnette.com

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