People often struggle with creating a great color scheme.   In my last few blog articles we have discussed how you could take your favorite color, blue for example and create different color schemes. We explored monochromatic, analogous, complimentary and diad color schemes. Today, lets look at a Triad!

A triad uses three colors with the equal distance between all colors on the color wheel, causing no clear dominance of one color.

So, let’s create a triad color scheme with the blue we have been working with in the last several articles. You can see the blue in the sofas. To catch up on these other color schemes see my articles Celebrate Your Favorite Color- Go Monochromatic and Create a Harmonious Color Scheme- Go Analogous,  Opposite Colors Attract, Go Complimentary and Great Paint Color Schemes- Do a Diad. See examples of those color schemes below.

To create a triad with our blue (which is a blue/purple), we will add  reds and greens. 

The Design

With a triad, you are using 3 colors and have a large variety of tints, tones and shades to play with within those colors. You can get dramatic or keep it simple based on the colors you choose. For example, below I created a triad with our blue as in the sofas as the base color and incorporating reds in the rug and pillows and greens in the pouf, lamps, art, plants and wall color.  I used saturated colors from each of the hue families. The deep rich wall color creates a more dramatic look.

If drama is not your thing, you can tone it down by changing the saturation of the wall color. Below, the only thing I changed was the wall color, which is still green, but with such low saturation levels it is approaching a gray. This more neutral colored wall creates a more serene atmosphere.

My design also incorporates some of my unique fractal art from my “Spring” Collection. 

Shop the Look

Check out  the pieces I selected for this design. Some include affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.

I selected pieces of various materials with different textures and patterns within the 3 hue families. 

Benefits of A Triad Color Scheme

• A triad color scheme is relatively easy to put together. Pick your favorite color and find 2 neighbors, equal distant apart on the color wheel.
• Triad color schemes can be really dramatic or relaxing based on the saturation and placement of the colors you choose. Very nice for living rooms, dining rooms and areas that you like to entertain. You could try the more relaxing color combinations in a bedroom, especially if you are using blues and greens.
•  You can play with this color scheme for different effects by having one color as the dominant color and the other 2 as accents, or give all colors equal weights. Each color brings it’s own feeling to the space so highlight one over the others to get the mood you want.

Create Beauty with Color in Your Space

EACH MOMENT IN LIFE IS YOUR CHOICE.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH BEAUTY RIGHT NOW.

OR NOT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

EVERYTHING IS EASIER WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR SPACE.

What is Your Global Design Style? Take the Quiz

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Click on the picture to find out more about the best training class on color available, the Four Pillars of Color!.

People often struggle with creating a great color scheme.   In my last few blog articles we have discussed how you could take your favorite color, blue for example and create different color schemes. We explored monochromatic, analogous and complimentary schemes. Today, lets look at Diad!

A diadic or diad color scheme uses two colors that are separated by one color on the color wheel.

So, let’s create a Diad color scheme with the blue we have been working with in the last several articles. You can see the blue in the sofas. To catch up on these other color schemes see my articles Celebrate Your Favorite Color- Go Monochromatic and Create a Harmonious Color Scheme- Go Analogous,  Opposite Colors Attract, Go Complimentary.

To create a diad with our blue (which is a blue/purple), we will add  blue-greens. We could always go the other direction and work with red/purple. We will try that in a future article.

The Design

With a diad, you are only using 2 hues, but you have a large variety of tints, tones and shades to play with. You can get dramatic or keep it simple based on the colors you choose, and highlight textures and patterns.

Below you can see the same design using various shades of blue/green paint and then “white flour”. The design is more dramatic with saturated wall colors and more relaxed with a neutral wall color.

Shop the Look

Check out  the pieces I selected for this design. Some include affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.

I selected pieces of various materials with different textures and patterns within the 2 hue families. The design includes my own original fractal art, called “Night Dive”. I called it that because it reminded me of what it looks like underwater when diving at night, and the magical colors and textures of the water. 

Benefits of A Diad Color Scheme

• A diad color scheme is relatively easy to put together. Pick your favorite color and find it’s neighbor, skipping one hue family on the color wheel. 
• Diad color schemes can be really dramatic or relaxing based on the saturation and placement of the colors you choose. Very nice for living rooms, dining rooms and areas that you like to entertain. You could try the more relaxing color combinations in a bedroom, especially if you are using blues and greens.
•  Diads are simpler color schemes, similar to analogous schemes that offer opportunities to highlight more texture and pattern in your design.

Create Beauty with Color in Your Space

EACH MOMENT IN LIFE IS YOUR CHOICE.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH BEAUTY RIGHT NOW.

OR NOT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

EVERYTHING IS EASIER WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR SPACE.

What is Your Global Design Style? Take the Quiz

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Click on the picture to find out more about the best training class on color available, the Four Pillars of Color!.

Today I was asked “How have you changed since the pandemic began? Are you more self-aware? Have you shed your cocoon and blossomed into the person and business owner that you never knew existed within you?”

Interesting question. Why yes, I have. How about you?

We are all in the same storm but it in different boats.

From my perspective, this pandemic has separated people into two groups. Those that have figured out ways to thrive or at least remain positive, and those who have not.                   

I am in the first boat. I could have easily been in the second boat though if I had made a few different choices.

One big choice is the set of your sail.

We have all been affected in different ways. Some of us have been sick or lost loved ones. Some have lost our jobs, or businesses or wonder if we will in the future. Many of us have taken a big financial hit. Some have kids and struggle with what is happening with schools, how work with kids at home and making sure they are still getting an education, or how to keep them safe. The scenarios are endless.

There is not much we can control, except the most important thing.

OUR THOUGHTS

We can choose those and how we will respond to all that is happening around us. The thoughts affect how we feel. We can live in endless fear and worry, which changes nothing but how we feel.

 Or not.

One thing that has helped me through this is a the Transformational Coaching Program called TCP that I took in March. It is a three month program that had an amazing impact on my life, which I described in Four Courses that Changed my Life and Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Get Healthy and Peaceful Without Pain.

In those articles I focused on some of the most obvious physical changes that others could see such as weight loss and quitting smoking. But the biggest transformation was the way it affected my thinking, and how I  deal with adversity. I learned to control my thoughts, and thus my emotions and habits and other ways of BEING. It gave me an amazing sense of peace and well being in the middle of this storm.

I tell you about it because the program opens twice a year, and it opens up September 14.

Here is a testimonial I created when I took the program.

https://northernlightsstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/maryann_benoit_tcp_testimonial.mp4

My testimonial of the TCP program.  The internal changes in the way I think are more important than the outward, visible changes that resulted.

TCP was so great, I went on to take the TCP business program and will be doing TCP again.   I hear from many people that retake the program, each time is a new experience for growth, because you are a different person each time.

The TCP program is open now for 3 days only!.

Sign up here. 

There is also a BE DO HAVE Free Training going on right now that is amazing. It has started already but replays are available here.

I think this is the best training I have ever invested in. It made a huge difference for me which is why I am sharing. I hope it can make a difference for you too.

Also, check out Jim Fortin’s Podcast. This is how I started and it’s free,

Ways to Work With Me

I specialize in helping you create a colorful and happy home that tells your story. I can work with you in person or online and assist you with design and color consultations so you can do the work yourself, or I can help you implement it all. My most popular package is a design/color consultation. Check out all my Edesign packages here.

What’s Your Global Design Style?

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How are you feeling about yourself?

• Do you like the way you look?
• Are you healthy and happy?
• Do you feel peaceful, abundant and grateful for all you have?
• Do you love the way you start each day?

Why do so many of us go on for years without changing our lives for the better? I know for me it has always been the struggle between the short-term pain versus the long-term gain.

Imagine yourself thinner, healthier, happier and more peaceful. What if you could transform yourself? I mean lose weight, quit smoking, improve your health and well-being, reduce your stress and do it all without all the “pain” we usually imagine coming along for the ride?

The Same Old Struggle

Like many people, I struggle with all of those things. Every year I had the same resolutions, goals etc. Lose weight, work out, eat better, quit smoking. EVERY YEAR for at least 20 years. I had some successes in some things some of the time, but never in all of the things.

THEN IT CHANGED

https://northernlightsstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/maryann_benoit_tcp_testimonial.mp4

For me it was the same old struggle. Mary Ann Benoit- President of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

I heard about Jim Fortin and TCP (Transformational Coaching Program) from a friend who was taking the program. I listened to his free podcast and was so hooked on it I was excited to learn about the program which opens up 2 times a year. Just from listening to his podcast about controlling your thoughts and habits among other things, I was inspired to change my diet and started losing weight. I thought the program could also help me not only with health but with business. Learn more about Jim Fortin in this Inc Magazine article.

Invest money in personal development during a pandemic? Are you smoking crack?

I was scared to invest in a program like this at the beginning of COVID. The program was just under $3000.  I knew business would be slow or suspended for both my Bed and Breakfast and my Home Staging and Design businesses.  I had never invested in any type of “personal development” course before. I decided it was the best time to do it because I had time and it would be better to remain positive during this time of uncertainty and to make lemonade out of lemons. I also figured investing in myself and my business would hopefully pay for itself later.

I soon realize that Jim and his coaches are truly amazing. I join their Facebook private group with about 500 others, and receive weekly content such as workbooks, videos and audios with homework followed by weekly Facebook lives with Jim and the coaches on a wide variety of topics from health to business. We worked on things like clarity, vision, sub-conscious values, habits, self-integrity, responsibility, commitment, choices, relationships You could also ask for coaching on any topic in the FB group or do a “hot seat” on one of the live calls. The community of people in the group from all over the world was extremely positive and supportive. Participants also did regular videos talking about their struggles and wins so everyone got to know each other.

We were each asked to do a 90 planner and track our goals and activities, with a focus on either health/wellness or business. I picked business.

So, what happened to me?

TCP Improved my Health

I joined TCP to increase my income for my Interior Design/Home Staging business.

Although my focus was business, the program instead provided incredible value to my health and well-being.

TCP helped me overcome stress over-eating and smoking that I had struggled with for more than 20 years.  I lost 14 lbs, quit smoking and totally changed my diet to healthy whole foods and went from exercising a few hours a week to 3-4 hours a day.

What was interesting was what we learned about subconscious re-programming and habits helped make all these changes much less painful than I had experienced in the past. Why? As Jim mentioned in an article in Forbes Magazine, “Research has demonstrated that 95% of all habits and everything that we do is subconsciously-driven, which is housed in the right brain. But when we say, for example, ‘I’m going to change my mindset,’ that is a left-brain, analytical thought. We’re using the smallest part of the brain, the 5% analytical part, to try to change our habits at a core level, and it just doesn’t work that way.”

I also struggled with voice issues which made it difficult to speak sometimes and found that doing healing visualizations and quitting smoking helped improve that tremendously.

I also have a nerve issue in my right foot that made it painful to walk more than 30 minutes. With healing visualizations and weight loss I am out walking several times a day without pain

TCP Improved My Well-Being

I used to be that person that would wake up thinking about what I had to do, check my email and social media and then DO DO DO all day and into the night for my business. I watched 5-6 hours of news a day and was stressed out, like a hamster on the wheel that never stopped.

Now, I start the day with a Miracle Morning routine consisting of silence, affirmations, visualizations, exercise, reading and journaling. I’ve learned do less better and feel amazingly peaceful, and grateful for all I have. I limit my news watching time to an hour or less.  

TCP helped me release anger and stories I had developed from a 15 year traumatic work experience which likely caused some of my health issues and stress eating.  Releasing the stories and forgiving brought me peace and healing.

My Doctor Was Amazed

Last week I went to my doctor for my annual check up and blood work. She said “Holy cow Mary Ann, What the heck have you been doing?  Actually she said “Holy Shit Mary Ann, What the hell are you doing?”.  My doctor and I used to dance together in a dance troupe so that is how she really talks to me:) Your blood work looks fantastic and you have lost 45 lbs from your highest weight record here. I told her about TCP. She said, “I am so proud of you, you just inspired me and made my whole day”!.

Yeah!! I’m good with that!

While my business income didn’t increase, I think I needed to be better to offer more to my clients and am looking forward to what the future brings for my business now that I feel like a new person.  I liked it so much, I just joined TCP for Business.

“The pandemic puts the earth on pause, cleansing and shifting our planet. This course does that for me on an individual level”. 

Try it for Yourself

Don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself. Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning I may get paid a small amount for referring you at no additional cost to you.

Get on the Waitlist for the next TCP Program. I think this is the best training I have ever invested in. It made a huge difference for me which is why I am sharing. I hope it can make a difference for you too.

Check out Jim Fortin’s Podcast. This is how I started and it’s free,

Listen to this podcast episode- Why Your Bad Habits are So Hard To Break. This one really helped me to change some of my eating habits and lose weight, even before joining the program.

This is a great episode too. How the Law of Attraction Repels Money and Abundance you Want.

Listen to the Master Thought Formula, which is amazing!

Ways to Work With Me

I specialize in helping you create a colorful and happy home that tells your story. I can work with you in person or online and assist you with design and color consultations so you can do the work yourself, or I can help you implement it all. My most popular package is a design/color consultation. Check out all my Edesign packages here.

What’s Your Global Design Style?

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Today I spent a lot of time thinking about my mom. I realized Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend and was wondering what I could do for her.

My mom is 91 and at this point in her life she is not interested in collecting more things, so I am more careful these days about what I can give her that does not add to her collection of stuff when she is trying to eliminate things. As an artist, I often make things for her….but then again, it is just more “stuff”. Sometimes I get her gift cards for her local book store because she likes to read. But, I prefer she does not go out if she doesn’t have to so will skip that idea this year. Sometimes I get her a gift of a massage…but that is out right now too.

Considering she is 91 and has some heart issues, I Facetime her every day to make sure she is OK. Today, I tried and tried and there was no answer. I was starting to panic a bit and called, and found everything was OK (she just didn’t hear the ring on her ipad). Just another reminder, life is short, times are hard right now and the most vulnerable among us are important to try to keep safe and check up on them.

I can’t be there with her on her birthday, as I am in Alaska and she is in Florida. If I could I would not risk exposing her to the risk if I were to travel. So, it is what it is.

So I finally decided on a bouquet of flowers…roses in all different colors. I know she will love them for the short time they are in bloom and the smell in her home will be heavenly.

So how about you? What are you going to do to make your Mother’s day?  Why not try something new. Give her the gift of a beautiful home this year with  a Mother’s Day gift card for an Interior Design or color consultation from Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Happy Mother’s Day to all you beautiful Mothers out there!

Gift Cards

I have gift cards available for all my online design and color services which you can learn more about here. For an in-person consultation, give me a call  for pricing and I will send you a gift certificate.

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OK, well maybe you can’t save the whole planet all at once but you can certainly save some of it by wearing eco-friendly, gorgeous clothes. and get 25% off at the same time (use code WELCOME25)! And it is a great excuse to shop and feel good about it! 

Eco-friendly fashions are made from natural or recycled materials. Natural materials can include wool, silk, cotton, leather or new materials reconstituted from plant materials such as Modal or Bemberg. Recycled materials are new materials from items that would otherwise end up in landfills.

So just how gorgeous can you look while saving the planet? Here are some examples made from eco-friendly materials that use my one of a kind Fractal Art at Vida.

Natural Materials

Modal

Modal is produced by spinning reconstituted cellulose, from plants such as beech trees, pine trees, and bamboo. Lenzing Modal specifically is produced from sustainably harvested beech trees.

Merino Wool

Cashmere Wool

Cashmere wool,  is a fiber obtained from cashmere, pashmina and other types of goats. It has been used to make yarn, textiles and clothing for hundreds of years. The word comes from Kashmir. Cashmere is one of the most sought-after fibers in the world for scarves and sweaters because it is softer, lighter, and up to three times more insulating than sheep wool.

Twill Wool

Twill is a lightweight fabric characterized by its diagonal weave which is nice for cool, but not cold temperatures.

Bemberg

Silk

Silk is a natural protein fiber with a shimmering appearance due to it’s triangular prism-like structure which refracts incoming light at different angles and produces different colors. Silk for textiles is generally produced by moth caterpillars.

Recylcled Materials

Hey, you can work out and get even more beautiful while saving the planet! As long as you are home all the time, it’s hard to have an excuse (I keep telling myself that!). The following art is made from 54% recycled polyester,  and 46% cotton which of course is a natural material. Cotton is a soft fiber that grows in protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants .

Looking Great and Saving the Planet Doesn’t Have to Stop with Your Clothes!

Looking amazing while making eco-friendly choices that help the planet feels great. And why stop there? You can make your home look fabulous as well with eco-friendly Interior Design choices in your art, furnishings, pillows, rugs, and building materials! More to come on that in future articles! Check out my Edesign packages for help in creating your eco-friendly oasis!

Learn About Fractal Art

All of the designs above were created using my unique fractal art designs. Fractal art is digital art…in other words magic I created on my computer. Learn more about how I make fractal art in my blog article, The Magic of Fractal Art and check out my Fractal Art Gallery. Custom designs for your home decor or even fashions are available.

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My previous posts have been about how to design your Bed and Breakfast to make it beautiful and functional and attract your idea guests.

With our current situation, things are uncertain about how many people if any will be traveling now and through the fall. If your Bed and Breakfast or vacation rental will be open, or you are just setting it up now, there are things you can consider to design and manage your Bed and Breakfast to help keep your guests and yourself as safe as possible.

I am not offering medical or health advice, just passing on what I plan to do at my own Bed and Breakfast in case you might find it helpful. I am updating this post as new information comes out. (Updated 3-27-20).

Listen to the Experts

I plan to to listen to the experts and to follow all guidelines coming from the federal, state and local governments in my community. I do not get information from social media, which can be false or misleading.

Here are some great links from the experts:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- Latest Updates

World Health Organization

Up to the minute global tracker by Johns Hopkins University

Determine Your Own Safety Policies and Let Customers Know

It is important to let your guests or future customers know how you are considering their safety when staying with you. Have you thought of how you are going to keep them and yourself safe? How you might change your cleaning procedures? How you will handle it if someone shows up and they are sick or get sick while visiting? How you will design your Bed and Breakfast to adapt to the current situation?

Here are the policies that I plan to implement in my own Bed and Breakfast. I have posted this on my Facebook business page and also on my website, so guests know what to expect. You may need to adapt as new information comes out.

“Hi future B&B guests! Just wanted to let you know that your (and my) safety are my priorities. I am implementing some new safety procedures which include having you leave your shoes at the door (as always), using hand sanitizer available at the door when you arrive, providing masks for anyone that has a cold to wear, extra sanitizing wipes in the bathroom and room for your use, running an air purifier during your visit. I will be doing complete cleaning of all surfaces between guests and removing items from the room that cannot be cleaned or washed. I only have one room at my Bed and Breakfast which also eliminates your exposure to other guests. Let’s stay safe, healthy and happy by working together. Look forward to meeting you.” Mary Ann

Design Tips

While of course we want our Bed and Breakfast to be beautiful and comfortable, and to provide an experience that is perfect for our ideal customers, we may need to adapt some things during this time.

• Throw Pillows –Consider items that are hard to clean after each guest such as throw pillows. If they can’t be washed after each guest, consider removing them from the room or using removable pillow covers on them that can be washed. Another option is to get Lysol spray in a nice scent such as “Linen” for use after each guest. I have heard this works and smells great. I have been unable to find it online or at the grocery store right now so for now plan to remove these items.
• Bedding- Can all of your bedding including bedspreads be easily washed after each guest? If not, consider replacing them for now with something that can go in the washing machine like duvet covers.
• Bed pillows- Pillows should be washed after each guest or sprayed with Lysol spray (nice smelling scents of course). If you have down pillows or types that don’t handle a lot of washing well, consider replacing them with a different type for now.
• Rugs- Wash rugs that are washable. For carpeting vacuuming should suffice. Have your guests leave their shoes at the front door.
• Decorative accessories- Keep in mind that you will need to clean everything in the room after each guest, so consider removing excess accessories and replacing with just a few things that are beautiful and easily cleaned.
• Stock the bathroom with lots of beautiful soaps, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. Put them in a beautiful box or basket so they look great but are easily available.

Cleaning After Guests

My plan is to wear a face mask and disposable gloves when cleaning the room and to use cleaning products with bleach or disinfectants. . Wash your hands immediately after using the gloves.

The CDC offers these definitions and advice for “cleaning” and “disinfecting”:

• Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.

• Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g. tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks) with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions.

In addition to things already mentioned, some booking sites offer additional recommendations for hosts. These recommendations come from AirBnB.

1. Ventilate rooms before you clean. Allow fresh air to circulate for at least 20 minutes. If possible, leave all windows open during the entire cleaning process.

2. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after each cleaning. Use soap and water, and wash for at least 20 seconds. If that’s not possible, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Learn more about proper hand washing

3. Clean, then disinfect. Use detergent or soap and water to remove dirt, grease, dust, and germs. Once the surface is clean, spray with a disinfectant. Let it stand for a few minutes, then wipe—and if you’re not using paper towels or disposable wipes, it’s best to use a new cleaning cloth for each guest.

4. Use the right disinfectant. You don’t need any hard-to-find cleaning products—most common household disinfectants registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as cleaning solutions with diluted household bleach or at least 70% alcohol, are believed to be effective against the coronavirus. Pay special attention to frequently touched surfaces, like light switches, doorknobs, remote controls, and faucet handles. (See our full list of surfaces to disinfect at the bottom of the page.)

5. Don’t forget about sofas, rugs, drapes, and other soft, porous surfaces. Carefully remove any visible dirt or grime, then clean with the appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces. If possible, machine-wash items according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

6. Wear disposable gloves while you clean. Gloves should be thrown out after each cleaning. And make sure to wash your hands immediately after gloves are removed.

7. Don’t reuse microfiber cloths, mops, and sponges when cleaning your space for a new guest. Consider stocking up on supplies that you can throw away after each cleaning. If you prefer to clean with reusable products, make sure to machine-wash them at the highest heat setting that’s appropriate for the material.

8. Wash all linens at the highest heat setting recommended by the manufacturer. That includes bed sheets, mattress covers, hand and bath towels, kitchen towels, and blankets. Remember to wear gloves when handling dirty laundry.

9. Clean and disinfect laundry baskets and hampers. If possible, consider using a liner that is either disposable or that you can throw into the washing machine.

10. Empty the vacuum cleaner after every cleaning. You should wipe down the vacuum cleaner with disinfectant, along with appliances like your dishwasher and washing machine.

11. While restocking your supplies, take a moment to check expiration dates. And remember to never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleaning solution that can release toxic gases that are dangerous to inhale.

Laundry

Will doing laundry kill the virus. From my understanding, No.

Basically, washing bedding, towels etc. will clean them, but won’t disinfect them.

Even if your washer and dryer have sanitized modes, those are unlikely to kill the virus. During the wash cycle, the agitation and detergent will likely scrub the virus off the infected clothes and flush it out with the wastewater.

If you have a cloth laundry hamper liner, toss it in the wash when you do the laundry. As mentioned above, wash laundry on the warmest setting your clothes and linens can handle, and avoid shaking dirty laundry, which can spread virus through the air.

And when you’re done handling dirty clothes and towels, be sure to wash your hands. If you aren’t using gloves when handling dirty laundry, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.

Other Considerations

Consider whether your Bed and Breakfast normally includes common use areas such as living rooms. Mine does not but I do allow guests to use my living room if they ask at times. This might be a good time to not have common areas open to all guests for safety and to reduce the spaces that will also need deep cleaning.

I usually tell guest they can put their dirty breakfast dishes next to the sink in my kitchen after they are done eating so their dining table in their room is clear for their use. I plan to now have them leave dishes in their room, so it reduces the chance of spread of the virus into my kitchen.

I normally greet guests at the door, shake hands and then help carry all their luggage. Now I plan to stay 6 feet away and allow them to carry their own luggage.

Think about your own usual ways of doing things and how you can adapt to make things safer for both you and your guests.

Need Help Desgigning Your Vacation Rental or Bed and Breakfast?

Why not try my online Vacation Rental Consultation. Find out everything you need to do to create a beautiful space that attracts your ideal customer and gives you great photos for your online marketing. I also offer website reviews and social media advertising.

https://northernlights.daquiz.com/

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It’s Beautiful. It’s Inspirational. And it’s Free!

Today I had a “moment” I will always remember.

I started the day feeling a little depressed. The stock market has been insane and my retirement funds…well I basically just stopped looking.

My Bed and Breakfast got it’s first cancellation, and I expect many more to come. Not sure how my design business will fare.

People are freaked out and have cleaned out the stores of hand sanitizer, hand wipes, chlorox and toilet paper. What? I just don’t get the toilet paper thing. Then my 90 year old mom told me why. “When 1 person sneezes, 300 people crap in their pants”. Haha, apparently her pastor told her congregation this nugget of wisdom at church today. Now I get it:) Luckily, I have plenty of TP.

I decide I will have a positive day and get outside in the fresh air and not allow myself to dwell on fear,  negativity or the virus. I decide to go on a gray whale watching trip in Kenai Fjords National Park adjacent to Seward, Alaska where I live.

The boat is fairly empty, and people spread themselves out in the booths, trying to maintain 6′ apart. I find a booth where I sit alone, after wiping off the table with the Lysol wipes in my backpack. It is a gorgeous sunny, cold day. As we head out, we see some bald eagles and sea otters. Then some Dall’s porpoises came to play next to the boat. They are super cute and look like mini Orcas.

Soon we see a large group of Orca whales. Some had calves. The males have extra tall dorsal fins. I see a mom with 2 babies and the male swimming behind them. A picture of a happy family.

Then I luck out and an Orca (adult female I think) swims up close to the boat to model for me, and then swims under the boat!

The Orcas are everywhere and I enjoyed watching this male swimming alone in the beautiful light.

We weave in and out of harbors I had not been to, and around various islands. We see a magic cove that has caves that cormorants like to nest in.  We go by an area where a group of Harbor Seals have hauled out on a rock.

They feed us lunch, and later hot chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. The scenery is beautiful, the air is fresh and clean and it is a bluebird day filled with amazing wildlife.

As we head in to port, once again there is cell phone coverage and an email pops in. I shouldn’t look, but I do. I get a message I find very upsetting. My eyes tear up a little as I read it. I decide to close it and save it for later, not wanting to ruin the day. After leaving the boat, while still on the dock, I see a cute sea otter, just hanging around and eating. Sounds like a good plan and I wonder if I have any chocolate at home:)

I head to my car, and as I reach it, it happened. My moment. A total stranger, a younger woman who had been on the boat in a nearby booth approaches me.

“Can I give you a hug? I saw you tear up on the boat and thought maybe you needed one”.  

I thank her, and tell her I am OK and we “elbow bump” instead.

When I got home, I could not stop thinking about this. That someone would notice a total stranger feeling a little upset and then even during these times of social distancing want to say something and offer a hug was moving. The kindness of strangers is a powerful thing.

While some are out there hoarding toilet paper and price gouging, others are taking the time to connect and come together, even at risk to themselves.

I felt the need to share the experience so put a blurb about it on my personal Facebook page. I received more likes and comments on this than anything in recent memory.  It also spurred a lot of concerned emails checking to make sure I was OK from good friends as well as acquaintances.

Kindness is apparently as contagious as the virus.

That really made my day, and I hope by sharing it with you,  it will make yours too. Let’s be kind and take care of each other in the difficult times ahead.

Mary Ann

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During these uncertain times, it is likely we are going to all be spending more time at home. Whether that is working from home or spending leisure time there rather than going out, it may be the best way to stay safe and healthy for now.

If you have not spent much time at home before, you may be looking around and thinking, wow, I wish my home looked or functioned better! I wish it was more comfortable, cozy, more of a sanctuary or an easy place to work from.

Think of it this way. Maybe it is the perfect time to do some updates or projects to create your perfect sanctuary. All those projects or ideas that you have meant to do but didn’t have time for. Why not now.

It could be painting an interior room, re-organizing, redecorating or refreshing a room or series of rooms. Maybe updating your office space so that it is more beautiful and works better for you.

Maybe it is a great time to set up a workout area to stay healthy and avoid the gym. Maybe set up a place to meditate and relax or listen to music. How about an entertainment area to watch movies or play games? A reading nook with a window seat? Update your kitchen or dining area and do more cooking and entertaining at home with your family.

How about a craft room to start working on those projects you have put off forever or to learn a new art form you always wanted to try? How about a great outdoor living space to relax, read, get fresh air or get more connected to nature. How about starting a garden or working on your landscaping? Why not update your décor so it is more healthy and eco-friendly?  Take an online course,  learn a new language, start a blog or research a future trip.

While social distancing is one way to stay healthy, we are still all connected online and can enjoy each other on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, through Skype or Zoom calls or Facetime.

This too shall pass; we just don’t know how long before that happens. So, why not make the most of the extra time we may have at home and do something productive or make our surroundings more beautiful and fun.

If that idea appeals to you, you might consider Edesign as an option to work online with a designer to come up with great ideas to refresh a room or your whole house.  Create the perfect sanctuary or a home office.  You can take the ideas from your designer and implement them yourself while ordering everything you need online. Check out my Edesign services and let me know if I can help.

In the meantime, I will be writing blog articles on things you can do at home yourself to create your perfect sanctuary, so stay tuned! Or sign up for my monthly design, color or home staging tips so you never miss a great idea.

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Northern Lights Home Staging and Design of Seward, Alaska

Awarded Best Of Houzz 2020

The Annual People’s Choice Award from the Houzz Community Highlights Home Remodeling and Design Professionals with Most Popular Designs and Top Ratings

Seward, Alaska, February 27, 2020 – Northern Lights Home Staging and Design of Seward, Alaska has won a “Best Of Houzz” award for Customer Service on Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design. The 5-year old interior design, color consulting and home staging firm was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.5 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz badge is awarded annually, in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a pro’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2019. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award.

A “Best Of Houzz 2020” badge will appear on winners’ profiles as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.

“Thank you to all my customers for the privilege of working with you, your 5-star reviews on Houzz and for making it possible to receive this award for 5 years in a row”!

“This year’s Best Of Houzz awards go to an incredibly talented and service-oriented group of home remodeling and design professionals, and we’re proud to highlight the winners on the Houzz website and app,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “This award is particularly meaningful as it reflects the sentiment of the millions of homeowners in the Houzz community who are hiring home professionals for their projects across the U.S. and around the world.”

Follow Northern Lights Home Staging and Design on Houzz.

About Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design provides an award winning, versatile, and unique one-stop shop for Home Staging, Color Consulting, Interior Design, Edesign and Social Media Advertising for homes and vacation rental properties. They provide in person service in South Central Alaska, and online consultations and Edesign services nationwide.

Mary Ann Benoit is the only certified color strategist in Alaska as well as the leading home stager in south-central Alaska, trained as both a professional home stager and with a degree in Interior Design. Customers and colleagues describe her as “the best at what she does” and her work as “stellar,” “fantastic,” ”amazing,” “innovative,” “prompt and professional.”  She is known for giving “above and beyond service,” being a “delight to work with,” and “a great coach and mentor.”  Learn more.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. Houzz is a registered trademark of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.com.