Nouveau Départ

/ Rina Norwood Design/
 

Fresh Start

The 2018 renovation journey at This Side of Paris brought challenges that stopped us in our tracks not only in the renovation process but in experiencing personal loss that caused us to pause from any form of creativity and allow the grieving process to take its course. I spent the first three weeks of the new year taking inventory of priorities. At last, I am at a good starting point to begin Nouveau Départ for this new year.

This last year of the decade gives us 2019 new memories which certainly includes challenging tasks, adventures, and projects to do in the days ahead. Will we do it all? Maybe or maybe not. It costs nothing but efforts in pursuing and setting our mind to start that list of accomplishments

Whether you plan to start a business, simplify your marketing strategy, go back to school, read the books you have been meaning to read, travel, redecorate your house or go tackle a major renovation like ours, you can begin today with your Nouveau Départ!

Your goals are not impossible to attain. Sometimes we need resources to get us motivated in the right direction. I’ve listed the links to a few of my favorite books that have motivated me, inspired me, validated my thoughts, and led me to the right business contacts. These authors have passion in common. When I say “passion,” it is based on experiential truth that one can validate because you’ve been around them enough to see it firsthand.

The words printed on the pages of the books are “cultivating” an environment that is relationship-focused with a culture-driven workplace. I hope these four books listed on my current blog will help trigger an appetite to begin collecting 2019 memories. Click below to access the books.

 
 
 

Le progrès

/ Rina Norwood Design/
 

Progress

My neighbors up the hill said something profound.   At the time it was casually spoken; it did not hold weight.  "I wouldn't bother blowing the leaves off of your driveway. It is a battle that takes too much effort. The season will bring strong gusts of wind that will clear all of it at once and neatly file it where it should naturally go." She was right. It was not too long after that imparting of wisdom on another quick visit to the Paris house that we noticed the clearing of the leaves. One strong gust of God's breath moves a mountain of leaves to blanket the natural area.  There, the leaves will rest with the purpose of giving the added nutrients to the soil. 
As the gardens lay dormant until their time to bloom next summer, "Old Man Winter" is slowly creeping in. 
With the new roof system in place and the workers finishing the ceiling drywall, the daunting task of gutting the kitchen is next on the list. This is where "do hard work" must be evident. 
The vision for the small galley style kitchen needs to have all the right ingredients of beauty and functionality.  This tired space was never rightfully seasoned since the day the original cabinets were hung. The wood paneling, the worn out appliances, the dated cabinets, and the Formica countertops can rest in peace. 
Bring in the navy cabinets with brushed gold pulls which adds a pop of eye candy color to this pass-through kitchen. The quartz marble-look surface for the counter-tops along with its seamless application on the backsplash will visually expand the space. Every inch counts in this small culinary room, so every piece of kitchen gadget is carefully selected for its versatile functionality.  This new design is where the 50 shades of brown must go away, and the 50 shades of cuteness will welcome you to stay. I posted a few kitchen design ideas that hold my focus in place as to get us through our "reviving" mode.
 I can see the vision taking shape. It is in the sowing that we can reap a fruitful reward.  It is not just a restoration but a revival to a new form.  This is not about the house on the hill of This Side of Paris, but a home for all that will enter in the space. 
Just as Karen and Craig Waters of Perth, Australia had a vision when they purchased a dilapidated chateâu in the south of France–after only seeing four of its 94 rooms, we too have a vision in seeing beauty beyond what the eye can see.  The difference is that theirs is on a grander scale where ours is small and cozy. 
One thing I am convinced; it takes reinforcements to move mountains. I know once we begin removing the old to make way for the new, there are going to be times where I will think, speak, and believe this, "but, I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice." 

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Prendre Une Attitude Positive.

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Prendre Une Attitude Positive.

     If you buy a fixer-upper, you must be willing to expect an imperfect house.  The determination and vision to see past the undesirable existence of a particular layout or an existing color must be acid strong. A proper renovation takes into consideration, collaboration with other tradesmen to make your vision a reality. It is important to seek the advice and help of those that specialize in certain skillsets. Candis and Andy Meridith are no strangers to renovations.  Co-author of Old Home Love, Candis believes "If you don’t know how to do something, figure out the person who does know."  Architectural Digest magazine recently had a wonderful article on gauging whether or not you have what it takes to survive the fixer-upper adventure - and we do!

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