Monday, July 11, 2006

It seems being away is always what makes me feel reflective, so I write this blog fresh from a trip that began with a plane ride to San Francisco and continued with a drive back down the coast of California, taking in scenery to be reckoned with.  Scott and I (sadly our Yorkie Floyd was left at the doggie “spa”) stayed in lovely places and had a lovely time, but sitting on my sofa with Floyd back by my side, I feel more inclined to write about home.

Thank you Kathy, for your post on the message board, and congratulations on having your husband back home safe and sound. Go you- for taking on painting and decorating while he was in Iraq. What an awesome gift to have the haven you’ve created waiting for him. When I decided to go to design school 10 years ago, the typical homeowner was not as savvy a DIY’er as so many of us are today.  I loved my job in the industry, but making the switch to a budget focused “I can do it” show 4 years ago was when I began to really have fun, and I’m proud that so many viewers have found our enthusiasm and true love for design to be an inspiration.

Which got me thinking- we can all use a little inspiration.  I’ve always said, there’s no such thing as a new idea.  I use hotels, magazines, books and even movies as idea launching pads (Mrs. Robinson’s house in The Graduate is my idea of a slice of heaven on Earth!)  So I’ve decided to add a new section to the website called “Look What You Did” and Kathy, I’m hoping you’ll be our first submitter. Please email photos of spaces that you guys have personally tackled and won! - to info@kristancunningham.com. I think they’ll be a great source of inspiration for others who come to this site for some eye candy.

Much like the cobbler whose kids ran barefoot, my own home suffers from lack of an inspired touch.  I find that all of my energy goes into DOD rooms week after week- and yes ya’ll, WE really do all the work- so that means weekends, evenings- every spare second is spent drafting, sewing, building, and shopping. Poor Scott thinks I’ll never finish our own sanctuary.  Well that, my friends, is what hit me today as I walked back through our front door.  Filled with ideas that I collected along my trip, I’m focused on putting MY house back at the top of the to-do list!

Hope summer’s being good to all of you and that you get a chance to go away- if only to come back home. 

Love,

Kristan