This past week I was taking my pup, Teddy, out for our morning neighborhood walk, and upon opening the front door I was confronted by the change of seasons. It was actually chilly! It was 52 degrees, to be precise, so I popped back inside to pull on a hoodie. Summer has felt a little relentless this year, but like all good things, it comes to an end. Not sure I'm sending this summer any postcards once it lets go! That morning chill was my annual reminder that fall is upon us, with its lovely colors, activities, clothing... and fall home maintenance! I'm definitely ready for sweater weather this year! As part of the seasonal transition, let's take some time to care for and maintain our homes as we get ready for all of the opportunities for gratitude and togetherness heading our way.
I'm Chris Shields, a Colorado interior designer whose heartbeat, connection-based method for designing and decorating interiors creates gracious homes that grow love and welcome people in to create lifelong memories.
In today's blog post, I'd like to start by creating a moment of gratitude for the year to date. Next, I'll review my fall home maintenance checklist, and finally we'll forage for some lovely fall flower arrangements to inspire you for the season of togetherness ahead.
How to Practice Gratitude Daily During a Time of Harvest
My Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: 3 Recommendations
Fall Flower Arrangements Inspired by Fall's Magic Colors
When I was a child, one of my favorite things to do when we visited my country grandma on the farm was to ride along with my uncle on his combine as he harvested his cornfields. It was an enormous machine with a full glass cockpit that lifted you high above the reel and cutter bar as it combed and chewed its way through twelve-foot-high corn rows. It was like piloting the largest riding lawnmower ever, and pretty exciting for this Midwestern boy.
I've been reflecting on that experience lately, as this has been a good year of tending my fields, planting seeds, and nurturing my crops. I know a good harvest will be one part nurturing what's growing, one part patience, and a little faith in the journey. With the processes and techniques I've created for my design studio and clients, and all the wonderful partners and makers I've met, I'm looking forward to the outcomes. THANK YOU for being a part of the process and the crop I've been planting!
So there is a lot to be thankful for, and I wanted to share a little of my daily ritual with you as we enter the final few months of the year. A few years ago I was introduced to what a gratitude practice is and why it can be a foundational part of a good life. My friend Amber Strickler was in my business networking group, and she presented on gratitude and how taking the time to hold it in your mind and heart can shape your life. Amber is an amazing person who puts a lot into her community and business. She has a SendOutCards business that helps businesses stay connected to partners and clients in fun and creative ways.
As a part of Amber's presentation, she gave everyone a little notebook with an assignment: spend a few minutes every morning or night to pause and reflect on the good things going on in life, and who or what made them happen. I found it to be an incredibly connecting, grounding, and peaceful process, so I adopted it and created what I call my daily ritual. I've since found a gratitude journal from Mål Paper that I love and want to share with you.
Click here to check out Mål Paper's gratitude journal.
It isn't complicated, and you don't really need a fancy journal at all (although if you like a bit of structure and process like me, you'll love Mål Paper's journal). I invite you to take time each morning to ask yourself the following:
Today could be a day to be grateful for your family, your children, your business partners, the earth, your faith, or even the air you breathe. It's important to pause, turn inward to your heart, and connect with your feelings. You might make today a good day by finishing up your blog post, connecting with a project partner you haven't said hello to in a while, and getting yourself to the gym. You'll find your own answers and way, and I believe we all deserve this time to care for ourselves.
In the evening before bed, take a little time to reflect on the day that was. Ask yourself the following questions:
I'd love to hear about the rituals you have created for yourself as a part of your own self-care. Please drop me a line!
This past weekend we were invited to a friend's Oktoberfest party, and I realized that Oktoberfest is a great time to drink German beer (Paulaner, anyone?) and get yourself back into large-gathering cooking in the kitchen (Thanksgiving is just around the corner). We prepared a Brussels sprouts casserole with bacon and Swiss cheese (thank goodness for the beer), and prepping three pounds of sprouts with a paring knife gave me lots of time for knife agility practice.
Cooking at this scale reminded me of an important part of having lovely interiors... You have to take the time to maintain and care for your home. So, maybe this is becoming an annual tradition, but I'm back to remind you of my favorite fall home maintenance tips! I know it isn't the sexy side of design, but when you consider the investment you put into your home, I hope these tips allow you to enjoy your home and interiors for years to come.
This is a great time of year to spruce up your area rugs. We are ten months into the year, and your rugs have seen a lot since January. I think October is the perfect time to freshen up your foundational elements just in time for the late-year party season.
If you have fine rugs crafted from wool and silk, I recommend using a service for immersion cleaning. Yes, your rug is going for a shallow swim, so make sure you are using a trusted resource. For myself and my clients, I recommend Robert Mann Rugs for wool rug cleaning and restoration. They are the local Denver experts, and they offer an annual fall sale.
This tip came from a trusted builder I collaborate with on new home design and construction as well as renovations. When we bought our home, my friend said he likes to jet clean his kitchen drain (as well as the main line to the sewer) every couple of years.
For the kitchen drain, this will take care of the gradual build-up of grease and solids that naturally occurs as we use our kitchens. For the main line to the sewer, this will take care of similar build-up as well as possible tree root intrusion into the drain line. My builder recommended Colorado Sewer Service, and we've used them ever since with good results.
I know... the thought of the time it takes makes you shiver, but just like everything else, your refrigerator has been your friend all year since the last time you cleaned it (right?). I'll be the first to admit that I have to muster up the enthusiasm to make this happen, but just like washing windows (you do that too, right?!), the results are totally satisfying.
Just follow these basic steps:
Following these tips will have you in good shape for the party and holiday season ahead. I wish you a lovely fall full of good food and festivity!
I came upon some photos of a fantastic event I participated in back in 2017 at McEvoy Ranch in Petaluma, California, with the Northern California Chapter of the ICAA. While I had always loved bringing flowers home from the corner stand for arrangements, it was this event that revealed so many creative ways to arrange flowers and decorate.
The day was a master class in classical floral arrangement inspired by paintings of the Baroque era and the Dutch Golden Age. The class was led by master floral composer Kiana Underwood of Tulipina. You can check out her amazing talent here.
Our event was held on a warm fall day at the ranch, and we were surrounded by a sea of flowers. We each got to choose a classical vessel (I chose a small urn), and then we were taught how to create movement, balance, texture, and rhythm with various types of flowers. It was an afternoon I will never forget, and I thought you might like to see some of the photos. Like most things in life, you just have to jump in and get at it. While there are principles and elements in any type of design, you have to dive in and get in touch with yourself as you create something special.
This whole experience of immersing yourself in things you have never encountered before, and seeing where your heart takes you, is a principle I use to set the foundation for the interiors and homes I get to design and decorate. Learning how to craft this flower arrangement, and watching all of the other unique arrangements being crafted by my fellow participants, opened my eyes to the powerful journey of bringing beauty into your life and how it can take you to a whole new level of living and experience.
Every fall I remember that experience. To this day, one of my favorite things to do is visit my local floral supply shop and bring home a bucket (or two) of inspiring blooms and branches to create arrangements that add the lovely colors and contrasts of fall to our home.
Here are my tips to make flowers last longer and keep your arrangements fresh:
If you'd like to learn more about Pinnacle Design, my full-service method, and our Heartbeat Journey experience that will open your eyes to all the possibilities for your interiors, I invite you to drop me a line or use the contact form on our website to reach out. I'd love to hear from you and help your home grow love.
For over 18 years, Chris Shields has approached his design projects holistically. He is analytical and inquisitive. Both qualities inform his understanding of his client’s needs, surroundings, and aesthetics, and both are called on when Chris creates interiors that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also profoundly personal.
