Your home speaks as a large mirror. Winston Churchill said, “We shape our dwellings, and afterwards, our dwellings shape us.” Is your life exciting and joyful? Or, is it calm and peaceful or edgy and fast-paced? What does your home say about you?
I like to think of home decorating as a blank canvass where we are the artists. Join me in a conversation about my passion … interiors!
This is a quote from one of our clients:
Our family had talked about buying a home in Door County for a long time. I had saved pictures from magazines of what I had in mind for years. Our family would talk together about how we wanted it to be. When I met with Marilyn I described how I wanted the house to feel and basically, she found exactly what I wanted. – Barb Martin
I’ve heard from many clients that other designers they’ve worked with wanted to create “their” design instead of listening to the client. I pride myself on getting to know my clients, their tastes, their personalities, their lifestyle, and how they want their home to feel. Then, I help them create their space by listening to their feedback and finding just the right fabric, furnishing, tile or wall color. It gives me great joy to see the smile on my clients’ faces when they walk into a beautiful home!
In one of my guest rooms I have a hand-painted mural – a beach scene that evokes childhood memories of endless days at the beach. The walls are painted a sandy color with lots of texture. The painted blue furniture brings in the color of the water, along with lamps and nautical accessories to complete my seaside story. I can walk into that room on a cold winter’s day and still feel a soothing Door County breeze.
Using the outdoors for your inspiration, here are a few tips for you to open your home to Door County’s beauty.
For inspiration take a morning walk. Integrate the colors you see into your home to see Spring throughout your home.
“The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give.” – Walt Whitman
At Sister Bay Trading, we believe community service lifts all of us to a better place. We believe generosity isn’t about just donating a percentage of the sales on a certain day. It’s about living and breathing…
Consider a gift to Door County non-profits this holiday season!
“giving back.” That’s why employees serve on the board of directors of the Door County Humane Society and donate time, talent and resources to other local non-profits.
From decorating the interior of our non-profit health clinic to providing internships for local high school students interested in design, the act of giving locally starts with the generosity of each member of our team and spreads across Door County to make our little corner of the world a special place.
If you are looking for a last minute gift idea please consider giving a donation in their name to a Door County charity:
Door County Humane Society
HELP of Door County
Wellness Center of Door County
Northern Door Children’s Center
Hardy Gallery
Altrusa Club of Door County
Gibraltar School District
Door County Maritime Museum
May the holiday bring you joy!
Let your creativity flow at Sister Bay Trading. Create a beautiful centerpiece for your home or cottage, as a gift, for a special occasion or simply, to take home a remembrance of Door County that will last. Bring your own vase or unique container or select one of the many varieties at Sister Bay Trading. We have vases, decorative containers and baskets for any season. Create one for the holiday season to brighten your home.
As we reflect on everything we are thankful for, it is important to remember that some families in Door County struggle purchasing food. Sister Bay Trading wants to help. As an annual event, we want to fill the sleigh in our store window with food for Feed and Clothe My People. For a limited time, bring in five or more non-perishable food items to receive an additional 10% off coupon for Sister Bay Trading. Feed and Clothe My People is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving residents of Door County. Please help us fill the sleigh over and over again.
Fall in Door County is Mother Nature’s most sensuous time. Let her colors be your guide. Thanksgiving decorations should feel earthy incorporating Door County’s natural elements.
This is your opportunity to show your loved ones how important it is to you that they are sharing your Door County table this year. Pull out all of your fall tablecloths and festive napkins. If you don’t have any, you can buy inexpensive green or amber bed sheets. Need more china? Borrow from others. Just keep the arrangement of each place setting the same and alternate.
Get imaginative and make candle holders out of small gourds and mini pumpkins by cutting out the top and inserting a small candle. Don’t forget to bring in the natural elements. For an innovative flower vase hollow out a pumpkin and fill it with fall flowers.
Try this for a unique centerpiece: place a large glass vase in the center of the table. At each place setting have an colorful index card for each guest to complete about his or her fondest family memory or tradition. At the end of the meal take turns reaching into the vase and reading each card.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sustainability addresses the social, economic and environmental challenges in our communities. Sustainability powers Door County’s future.
Social sustainability begins with being green, but extends far beyond to understanding our role in caring for Door County’s future — our schools, the art groups, and all of the non-profit organizations. We need to look for ways to reach out to raise individuals to a higher level.
The problems of our nation and our county belong to all of us. There’s an urgency to change the way we think, the way we live and the way we do business through social responsibility. Robert Louis Stevenson said it best: “Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.”
Economic and social sustainability model the ‘chicken or the egg?’ argument. A profitable Door County creates systems to improve lives. A strong quality of life generates a healthy local economy. All begin with managing resources responsibly. All begin with individuals.
In the “Necessary Revolution,” author Peter Senge states, “We are but one of millions, and our merit depends not on our ego, but on our contribution.” I encourage you to begin your green movement by planting your first seed of hope with the HELP of Door County, the Wellness Center, Door County Humane Society, Altrusa or one of the many other organizations that build the social structure of our special Peninsula. It’s through our actions that the social wellness of our community will become, once again, green and growing.
