The Artist’s Prayer
The key to any creative pursuit, whether it’s writing the artist’s prayer or parenting, is willingness to make a commitment. It’s critical to give undivided attention.
Involving Kids in The Things You Love Levels the Playing Field
My younger daughter’s senior year of high school. She is leaving for college in a few months. As I am used to involving kids in the decision-making process, we’re discussing my next career move. The idea of providing online architectural services that support DIY home improvement enthusiasts came to mind when I was walking through…
How to Nurture Your Kids’ Creativity: #1 Is to Respect Their Feelings
I have been preoccupied with how to nurture my kids’ creativity ever since they were born. Recently my daughter Mia told me that a toy I made for her when she was approximately five years old is the inspiration for a collection of handbags she is designing: “Your favorite handbag as a transitional object.”
An Urban Apartment: 5 Tips for Organizing & Displaying Your Collections
I know this client since the 80-ies; he is my ex-husband. Actually, he is one of my biggest fans these days and talks about the great job I‘ve done remodeling and organizing his urban apartment when I am not there to hear it.
Designing an Outdoor Kitchen: 5 Steps to Thinking Outside of the Box
Opening your mind to undefined possibilities is what they call thinking outside the box. My friends reached out to me last-minute; they were starting a project in the backyard — installing an outdoor kitchen and a new hardscape.
Born out of necessity: Space-saving Desk Does 5 (actually 10) Things at Once
Space-saving design is born out of necessity. It solves, simplifies, and gives an alternative. Sometimes, it even anticipates a problem before it occurs.
Turning a House Into a Home: 5 ways to mix old and new
Imagine turning a house into a home. House vs home. What is the difference? I conjure up an image of an apparatus programmed to cooperate, even anticipate and inspire. It’s a sophisticated contraption attending to all of my whims — ascertaining that my emotional and physical wellbeing is taken care of. It’s designed with efficiency…
Above-ground Pool in the Front Yard: 5 Ways I Used Constraints to My Advantage
My kids, my students, and my fellow DIYers (those home improvement enthusiasts I consult online as Alla DIY Ally) have all heard me exclaim time and time again: “That’s a blessing in disguise!” I love when perceived design problems (like the ones I’ve encountered while designing an above-ground pool) are turned around and emerge as…
How Difficult Is Simple?
Mary Little sat right next to me at a panel discussion. Once the Q&A part was over, she asked me to reflect on it. I welcomed a conversation — always too shy about approaching someone myself.
DIY Like an Architect: Learning How to Masterplan
Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: last week. My creative teens have practically learned everything about how to think like an architect. We’ve come full-circle and are practicing how to masterplan through mind mapping and collaging. It’s the final step in DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.