​This is an open letter to Dads (and their families, of course).  Father’s Day “officially” comes once a year, but while we want to celebrate and respect you, Dad, all the time, on this day, you get a free pass.  You can relax with the sports channels, play golf, tennis, fish or veg as the spirit takes you and we won’t ask or expect you to do a thing around the house.

​“Official” summer has arrived and it seems everything happened so quickly after Memorial Day.  We move outside, weather permitting, and it seems we’re moving in all directions, as well.  It’s the month of graduations and Father’s Day – the first month of summer and hopefully, the month of vacations for some.  Our social life has revved up and with it, the need to get our house inside and out, in order – but the warm and sunny weather seems to defeat our best intentions.  You, of course, are ready – right?

The wet April brought us spring in May (finally!) but Memorial Day, graduations, and Father’s Day signal oncoming summer.  Did we blink away spring?  The trend this year is to add living space to your home by moving out – out on the patio, that is.  It’s not a new idea to add an outdoor kitchen to that old barbecue, but folks are doing more – much more for their summer entertaining (and possibly year round) space.​

​I often feel the loss of my mom but especially on Mother’s Day.   I recall what made my mom so special with mixed feelings of loss and love and why she is so dearly missed.      

​Tip:  The best room designs are the ones that are classic and timeless.  The style you select whether traditional, contemporary or eclectic (a mixture) should be one you can live with comfortably and happily for a long time.
              
​If you are madly in love with Art Deco, South Western, or minimalist contemporary, ask yourself if you are a rugged individualist or just feeding into a temporary romance.  In the first case, you may truly enjoy this style for your home for as long as you live there.  In the second, you may find it a “what was I thinking” moment, and as painful and perhaps more expensive than the removal of a tattoo of an old flame.

​​It never stops being fun for me to see a decorated room emerge from an empty space.  First the rugs go down and that color pattern draws you in.  Then the furniture arrives and people say, “How come the room looks bigger with things in it than without?”  But, when the window treatments go up, it’s always the “ah” factor.  “Ah, now the room looks warm, elegant, inviting – finished!”

Natalie Weinstein, Allied ASID
 
It's a New Year! As we look back at – on our accomplishments and our intentions, we now get another chance to move ahead.  Perhaps in the past few weeks you were able to reflect on friends, family and other special people who have loved and inspired you throughout the year.  In your gratitude, perhaps you’ve also been thinking about ways to be a better person to yourself and others in the new year.   

​ Statistics tell us that the two most popular New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight and get organized.  So it’s no surprise that January is National Clutter Control month.  Funny isn’t it?  It’s almost as if clutter were an uncontrolled epidemic, one which needs a clean slate and a “new-year” to attempt to contain.  But if we do things the same way as last year, we’ll probably get the same results.  So how can we change?  Most of us need help - and help is all around us if we reach out and are willing to hold ourselves accountable.
            Exactly what does accountability mean – in business and in life?  This past year, I renewed a friendship with a young man, Hal, who was dead on arrival at the hospital after a horrific car crash.  By a miracle, he was revived and after 2 years of excruciating surgeries and rehabilitation, he defied the odds and returned to a normal life.  As I was enjoying his company at a business summit, I asked him how he did it.  He wrote a book about his experiences, started a successful life coaching business, appeared on national T.V., all while in his 20’s.
            Hal smiled and said it wasn’t easy – but it was simple.  “I simply held myself accountable for the things I could control,” he said.  “Each action that takes me toward a goal, even the smallest step, is an accomplishment and I never let myself off the hook.  I set my sites on the next step, determine a deadline, and hold myself accountable.”  What a powerful concept and what an inspiring young man.  As a life coach, I could see why he is successful and how his basic tenet could be applied to everyone and almost everything. 
            So let’s apply Hal’s rule.  What if we could find ways to assure our accountability?  We could establish a nucleus of people who could show us how to work towards our decluttering and organizing goals – coaches to help us get to the finish line, people like personal professional organizers, feng shui experts, garage and storage fabricators- or people like me, helping people like you. So let’s begin with some basics:

• Start with a plan.
• Leave time to execute your goal.
• Set small goals- i.e. one drawer, one shelf in your pantry, a pile of clothing, etc.  Add a new accomplishment every day and reward yourself when you do (but not with fattening food or you’ll have broken your other New Year’s resolution!)..
• Establish a system:  keep, throw away, give away, can’t decide (Don’t make the last one your biggest pile).
• Accomplish one space (i.e. bedroom, kitchen, bathroom) and it will spur you to go on to other areas in the house.
• Create a new organization habit, i.e. set out clothes the night before, designate a place for keys, glasses, etc. and only put them there. (You’d be surprised how much time you’ll save).

And don’t forget- ask for help if you need it- and hold yourself accountable.

​The holidays are almost behind us, and I hope it was a happy one for all you.  I also hope it was a safe one.  With visitors still remaining, and New Year’s celebrations coming up, here are some helpful hints for keeping your home and life accident-proof today and beyond:

• If you have young children or young visitors, you might want to purchase a child-proofing kit with grip and twist door knob covers, latches and plug protectors, heat resistant oven door locks, and cord channel kits to protect against trips and falls.
• Why not update your door locks with electronic deadbolts?  A set with a numeric keypad avoids leaving or losing keys for visiting family.
• If you don’t have a monitored alarm system, perhaps now is the time to invest in one, especially if you have plans to travel away from home this holiday season.
• I always worry about “trip and fall” situations, so make sure your entry is free of fallen leaves and other debris, and replace all burned out light bulbs with LED ones to avoid a “man who came to dinner” situation.
• Consider using HEPA filtered air purifiers throughout the house to avoid the spread of germs in this major cold and flu season.  Perhaps preventatives like vitamins, Airborne, or other products of your choice, can add an extra layer of protection.
• At all times of the year, fire extinguishers and smoke and C02 detectors are a must, but especially when holiday lights, candles, fireplaces and lots of cooking are occurring.  Be sure to check the batteries.
• You might be thinking about redoing or updating your bathroom in the coming year, but in the meantime, adding a non-slip floor mat in the shower and some grab bars can avoid a major accident for elderly or very young visitors.

Let’s all keep safe and healthy and look forward to a great New Year.

The holidays are calling us – in every shop and marketing campaign – but in truth, somehow, they still seem to overtake us and our good intentions of “being ready”.  That’s why, as the pressure mounts to get things done, up goes the stress level and our enjoyment evaporates.
               
We all know that entertaining at home is really a holiday gift that should be shared with friends and family, and the best hosts are the ones who are relaxed (or seem so) and enjoying themselves.  How do they do it?  What holiday magic have they learned that many of us have not yet mastered?  I think we all know it’s not magic, but good planning and preparation (easy for me to say).  The good news is we still have time on our side, so let’s use it wisely:
               
Start by doing a quick clean up.  Get rid of whatever is worn, torn, or broken and begin your “to-do” lists for gift giving and home decorating.  Make them realistic – and affordable – and evaluate the way you’ve done things in the past.  Maybe it’s time to change.

Gift giving – what if you….

• Had a family lottery to eliminate so many presents
• Purchased gift cards
• Shopped online
• Just exchanged greeting cards with personal messages
• Or, if you’re in the Fortune 500 category, hire a personal shopper and send them off to complete your list.
• If gift giving is part of your celebration, be sure you’ve wrapped a few extra presents so when unexpected guests turn up, no one will feel left out.
• What about the kids? Have you planned anything special for them to keep them happy and occupied?

Now – your home

• Don’t plan a renovation project too close to the holidays.
• A fresh coat of paint can transform a room easily (and try a new color that works)
• Use holiday decorations as seasonal additions to your home.  They can usually transform a room into something special all by themselves. 
• More may not be better.  Proper showcasing can make inexpensive objects look grand and beautiful.  Try to group holiday accessories as you might any collectible.  For example, your existing bookshelves may be the perfect place to display a whole Christmas village or Chanukah menorah collection rather than adding an additional table taking up needed space. 
• Make your staircase a focal point with decorative garlands and plants (if the steps are wide enough).  This is especially effective since your entry sets the tone of the whole house. 
• Fireplaces can look wonderful when dressed for the season with mantle covers, candles and Christmas stockings or dreidels and Chanukah cards. 
• Place your tree or giant dreidel in an area for greatest enjoyment, leaving enough space for presents and people opening them.  Think about rearranging the furniture just a bit for maximum use and affect. 
• Do your decorations overwhelm your guests? Is there still room for comfortable seating or should you move things around in advance to accommodate everyone?
• To ensure that guests don’t turn up when you need to get in the shower or bath for the only private time you can salvage, set the time for folks to arrive and don’t leave it too open ended.
• If guests are staying over, make sure their quarters are prepared and user friendly (empty drawers and closet space, clean towels, fresh bed linens).  Do you want to decorate that area with holiday décor?
• Is your coat closet empty?  Are there extra hangers in it?
• Do candle holders have candles?
• Check out the powder room.  Add fresh scents, decorative paper hand towels, and a candle or two.

And finally, find a wine you love to serve, open a bottle now, pour a glass, make your lists and remember what the holidays are meant to be.  Enjoy the anticipation of celebrating traditions with family and friends - and when the day comes, if you’ve prepared, it will become a happy memory for the future. Best wishes from everyone at Natalie Weinstein Design Associates & Uniquely Natalie!

P.S. – For immediate furniture and accessory delivery, visit Uniquely Natalie our quality consignment shop for beautiful additions to your home affordably. 

Call Natalie Weinstein Design at 631-862-6198 for GIFT CERTIFICATES for an in-home consultation in the new year!  Visit www.natalieweinstein.com to view our work.

Wire for sound from soft backyard music to guest participating karaoke (Invite the neighbors so they won’t complain).  

• Create focal points for socializing with seating, re:  sofa areas, dining areas, built in seating on deck, bar stools around kitchen area (everyone loves to gather ‘round the ­­­­­­chef).
• Create eye appeal with colorful plantings and planters that flower throughout the summer season as well as the perennial greenery that is a design staple.
• Use outdoor area rugs to define space and create an outdoor “room”.

And . . . . . . . . . . . . if you’re lucky enough to have the space and funds, build your own pool house!  Here's one which includes a full kitchen and bath, fireplace and T.V. and comfortable seating located at poolside.  It is an all year ‘round “destination” hang out room that adds a new dimension to a stay at home getaway!

By Natalie Weinstein, Allied ASID, IDS
Natalie Weinstein Design Associates

No – it’s not a dance or a party.  It’s just my way of saying it’s time to take that ball (all your clutter) and head it toward the goal post or basket – a big basket (I fear your wastebasket isn’t big enough).  Super Bowl is over and your guests may not be coming back until Easter or Passover, but look at the calendar.  How much time do you need to get your house in order?