Marina Andrejchenko - stock.adob
Work from home office with kid. Working mother using laptop. Coz
Work from home office with kid. Working mother using laptop. Cozy freelance workplace at kitchen table. Happy female business, woman career. Cute child drawing in mom notebook. Lifestyle family moment
The spring of 2020 has brought more indoor time than any of us could have expected. We now have terminology like “shelter in place,” “new normal,” and “work from home” peppered into our everyday conversations. While I use words every day like “the meaning of home,” “cozy,” and “family-friendly,” we are learning them in ways we never thought possible. Being an interior designer means that the focus on our work, our projects, and the homes we have created for our clients are top of mind.
I have always considered myself a homebody, and I love puttering in the garden. But, honestly, the past five years have sped by at lightning speed. I have been so incredibly busy with work and life that I have not had much time to enjoy the home I designed for our family. This pause has also given me the opportunity to see the things that need updating, refreshing, and a general plan for renovation when things open back up.
Like many of you, I am now juggling new working conditions, home schooling and Wi-Fi breakdowns, navigating running a business, and applying for SBA loans. I am also finding more time to bake, sitting down with family for regular meals, walking in the warm Texas sunshine, and gardening. Just like life, there are ups and downs to every day during this time, and I am hopeful for many of us who are learning to navigate the interior design world with different tools.
We are happy to hear how many of our clients are fully enjoying their new homes for the first time. Those who have kitchens we designed with built-in coffee systems are becoming quite the baristas. As for those with outdoor living spaces, they are bringing respite and an escape from a spouse on Zoom calls. I am also seeing more fancy china for weeknight dinners, beautiful cut flowers on every surface, and a general appreciation for our shelters.
The ways in which we use our homes has shifted, and the dining room is now being used as a classroom for many. My teenage children, who are learning at home, have asked for a new desk, brighter task lighting, and more ergonomic desk chairs. Our home gyms are not only necessary to stay in shape but to relieve the additional stress of our current economy. We have also shifted our workout space to include space to stream yoga and Pilates classes on demand. While I desperately miss my morning Pilates classes with all my friends, this ability to workout whenever I can make the time definitely has its perks.
The meaning of home is more important than ever, and I believe we will emerge from this time with a new appreciation for our homes and how we use them. We will also have organized every closet and pantry and will be able to truly enjoy less clutter. By really using our homes, we are now better able to see what is missing and to cut out the excess or unused items that have been taking up visual and physical space.
Beauty is healing, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to create the backdrop for everyday beauty in our clients’ homes. I hope each one of you is also finding a small bit of joy each day and that we will all be together again soon, celebrating birthdays, graduations, and traveling to far-flung locales. Here’s to the hope and tenacity in all of us that will allow us to come through this stronger and smarter and with a few new cooking skills to boot.
Denise McGaha is a nationally known designer and owner of Denise McGaha Interiors. She is regularly featured in design publications such as House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Elle Décor, and Luxe Magazine.
