styled living simply achieved by Jacqueline deMontravel
It was one of those momentous weeks, like fitting a decades-old epic into a 90 minute film. It began with the removal of a benign skin blemish, traversing to Newport, Rhode Island, to report on a story (stay tuned), and the continual saga of our home’s remodel. Through it all I learned anecdotal change-your-life hacks.
The grind of the buzzsaw has been my new Spotify. There are periods of intense piercing, a quiet pause, followed by the tingle of a drill that’s become the leitmotif. This is just one of the symptoms of living with home renovations but there are ways to maintain sanity.
We experienced an unexpected retro excavation in our own home
After living with natural disasters with a regularity last seen during biblical times, inviting contractors into the home to address dated elements should seem customary. What began as a simple project unfolds into a complex process. After stripping the walls, we discovered there was no insulation. Further along, the contractor removed the dated paneling to find a cheery orange, yellow and green flower patch that could have been the wallpaper Marsha Brady chose if she were given her own room.
The time bomb ticking sound of the 60 Minutes stopwatch has become the symbolic foe when entering the workweek. To feel fully restored after the weekend’s events put a lot of pressure on those two days. A lesson learned from remote work during the pandemic is how to use time effectively, like working with limited disruptions in the morning and late evening. The ability to tackle deadlines as they come without feeling the pressure of a Friday punch out time also contributes to productivity. We are digital, tasks can be attended to despite what the clock says. There is also relief from knowing you have time devoted to leisure: no emails, phone or distractions from that Zoom-happy coworker who bombards your email with countless meeting invites.
A three-day weekend softens the blow of the Sunday time bomb into acquiescence. If you have an equilibrium of relaxation throughout the week, knowing that the demands of your job were successfully met, you are more apt to enjoy your time away from the office. Days off also promote family relations, health, and well-being. Three-day weekends have additional benefits such as limiting the expense and rigmarole of commuting. There is less of a strain on the environment. Lastly, the younger generation enjoy the benefits of stronger family connections with working parents who can make that Friday evening football game.
Chances are that when returning home after a long day, your most anticipated place to be is the sofa. It’s the ultimate symbol of leisure–designed to relax, entertain and host the occasional nap. Whether you’re a coach potato or busy mom, sofas deserve proper design treatment.
A sofa’s design is elevated from an attention to accents.
