While decluttering, tidying, and organizing is a major part of the modern minimalist, there is another crucial aspect of the work that we do: design. Zoom in and this is presented directly in organizing projects with special attention paid to spacial reasoning, color schemes, uniform containers that work within the space, palette, and mixing textures and materials, it’s all designed. Zoom out and you’ll see it in work that we do on spaces as a whole.

Through our own personal and professional development, design influences, preferences, and choices are constantly evolving. Back when I lived in Cincinnati prior to moving to Portland, I had plum and teal walls if you can believe it! Way more color and eclectic mid century vibe than I am now. When I moved to Portland, I was really into grays, and now I despise gray. Both of these are so far from my current obsession with warm neutrals and desert palettes. It was only when I started my business that I started really honing in my style to what it is today.

The overarching themes of my current design aesthetic are warm minimalism, sculptural minimalism, modern + post modern influences. It’s a mix of Scandinavian, Japanese, mid century modern and desert influences. You’ll see this reflected in all of the work that I do, both in my own home and outside of my home. I frequently utilize softness, and round shapes vs hard lines. I find designing in this way helps to create and maintain a space free from visual and physical overwhelm, and promotes rest and calm.

This fall I enrolled in the Heritage School of Interior Design here in Portland, to further explore and build upon my design skills, and discover new aspects of the design field. I want design to be something that is accessible for more diverse humans, working with a range of different budgets. When appropriate, I can take a high low approach with clients I work with, mixing high end pieces with more affordable ones, like ikea for instance. I believe that good design doesn’t always have to always be expensive. Its about the quality more than the price in many areas, and Items you will use more frequently get more of the budget. The sectionals, the mattress, countertops + floors in high traffic areas etc. Approaching client work with this mentality makes certain styles more accessible to a broader range of clients.

I have found that my time in design school has broadened my creativity, inspiration, and vision when it comes to the design side of the work that I do, and I’m just getting started!. In my professional life, I think its changing the way I think about clients homes. Its expanding the lens of seeing the practical aspects of a home as well as adding beautiful thoughtful elements. I’m more interested in how spaces want to be used, and ways we can improve the spaces outside of organizing. I have so many new ideas I want to implement now!

It’s touching many corners of my personal life/ design strategy as well, I basically want to change everything. Design school is evolving my aesthetic getting comfortable with more color. For my spouse Jess and I, it’s making the desire to own our own home that we can make major changes to a much bigger priority.

With each season comes change, both in nature and in life, and the experience and knowledge gained from design school is spurring a change in both my personal and professional aesthetic and development. While I can say that most of my inspiration comes from nature, art, architecture, and places like Australia, Mexico, and the Southwest; I think the presentation reflected from these influences will continue to grow and evolve as I do.