“Home is a vessel for your joys.” That one-liner felt original to me this year and crystallized decades of pondering design. Friends were building new containers for living, and I had been exploring whether I’d find designing a new vessel to be joy-giving, or possibly re-design my current one for greater joy.
“Design is about making people happy, either functionally, aesthetically or emotionally,” says designer Robin Siegerman. That has been my experience through years of product design and as a graphics/art/music/theater/fragrance designer.
S.U.N.S BY DESIGN takes the four, basic elements of the S.U.N.S. (Smile-Making, Uniting, Neighboring, Spellbinding) acronym for “joyous aging,” and applies it to choices, much related to home design, and makes suggestions you might choose to elevate your own joy.
101 JOY-GIVING DESIGN IDEAS that won’t break your bank account
- ADD DIMMERS to every light switch and lamp, then use them daily.
- MUSICAL and SOUND AMBIENT VARIETY are FREE at YourClassical.org. If chamber music and opera are a bit too la-dee-dah for you there are lots of public radio stations featuring genres as diverse as New Orleans blues and country Americana to add FREE, immediate joy.
- SURPRISE IS THE ZEST “I always put in one controversial item, it makes people talk” advised design legend, Dorothy Draper. Remember Holly Golightly’s bathtub sofa?
- CREATE A FRIENDS and FAMILY GALLERY WALL Gather random photos from around your house and showcase these important people in a new way. (UNITING)
- CELEBRATE YOUR “PARTICULAR PASSION” whether it’s sports, fashion, flowers, whatever—find a book with lots of photographs of that subject, remove the photograph pages (it’s your book, no need to ask permission) and frame photos in inexpensive frames. (SPELLBINDING)
- BUY A CITRUS-SCENTED or UPLIFTING HERB-SCENTED CANDLE The sense of smell is most closely connected to the area of the brain that manages emotion and joy.
- MAKE TEATIME a REGULAR PLEASURE Green jasmine tea, anyone?
- ADD THROW PILLOWS that give you TACTILE and VISUAL JOY Toss those that are sensory downers.
- DISPLAY A COFFEE TABLE BOOK that celebrates a “particular passion” for you or your household.
- LEAVE OUT A BASKET or BOWL of FAMILY/FRIEND SNAPSHOTS “Conversation starters” for days, then change them monthly for more FREE joy. Print out photos on your smartphone, four to a page, for this.
- TRY MRS. MEYER’S HOUSE-CLEANING PRODUCTS for GREAT FRAGRANCE I’m not getting paid as an “Influencer” for this, I simply have found this company makes house maintenance a bit more joyous.
- CHOOSE A ROUND OR OVAL DINING TABLE for better communication. Have lower objects at the center of the table when folks are seated. But, have a tall object (vase) during other times.
- CONSIDER HAVING JUST ONE TYPE OF GLASSWARE I did this five years ago to simplify and do not miss the dust-collecting stemware. CHEER the new year with a tumbler of some tipple.
- MASK SLEEP-DISTURBING SOUNDS using a safe, space heater with just the “fan” on.
- PUT A “GRATITUDE JOURNAL” next to a chair or bedside and discipline yourself to update it daily/often.
- SPREAD SOME JOY WITH “LAUGHING COW” CHEESE This year, a friend even upped that joy for me with a gift of “smiling” spreaders.
- STUDY GREAT ARTISTS WHO GIVE YOU JOY Mine have long been Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy but art is personal, the point is to look at SMILE-MAKING things.
- PAINT A PAPER LAMPSHADE AN EXACT COLOR YOU LOVE.
- GET A TASK LAMP for BETTER READING LIGHT “Every room should be a combination of invest, save, and splurge…and more lamps than you think you need.”—Patrick J. Hamilton
- EAT A HEALTHY PORTION OF YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD REGULARLY.
- DESIGN A “PLANTRY” to have more “PLANT-BASED” FOOD STORAGE.
- PAINT YOUR CEILINGS Consider sky blues, sunshine yellows, sunset pinks, faux silver/gold leaf (House Beautiful Magazine, February/March 2021 features a joy-saturated room designed by Kesha Franklin with a ceiling painted “egg yolk yellow.”)
- WRAP SOME FAVORITE, HARDBACK BOOKS in artful papers Hobby Lobby has tons of variety.
- ADD ARCHITECTURE WITH WALL BRACKETS, MOLDINGS, CHAIR RAILS.
- TRY DIFFERENT CABINET KNOBS Even a not-very-handy fellow like me can enjoy “Tool Time” with this.
- FIND JOY DESIGN INSPIRATION at The Goodtime Hotel in Miami co-owned by Pharrell Williams and designed by Ken Fulk. www.thegoodtimehotel.com
- JUGGLE SOME ORANGE in your color mix if you’re looking for upbeat happiness, and add some greens for calming contentment—both add joy.
- FEEL THE JOY OF VELVET This could be on the bench at the end of your bed where you are booting up for the day.
- BLUR THE INDOOR and OUTDOOR for natural joys.
- CORRAL SOME CHAOS and CLUTTER with a big tray instead of all those random objects on your coffee table.
- DOUBLE THE SUNLIGHT WITH A MIRROR across from a window.
- INSTANT SPA BATH with a garden seat next to your tub to hold a novel and a wine glass.
- ADD LIFE WITH A REAL HOUSEPLANT.
- CREATE A COFFEE/TEA NICHE with sweeteners, infusions and invitations for spooning.
- LIGHTEN UP Replace wood tabletop with glass. Get something Lucite.
- LESSEN BEDROOM BOREDOM Slip cover your headboard.
- ADD A SKYLIGHT TO A DARK SPACE A professional can do this in one day.
- DEEP CLEAN EVERYTHING YOURSELF, HIRE SOMEONE or BARTER.
- CONSIDER HIGH-GLOSS VINYL WALLPAPER.
- LACQUER PAINT A POWDER ROOM My mother did this in a fuchsia and it was a hit at every party.
- SPARK JOY THE WILLIAM MORRIS WAY by purging with his dictum- “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful,” then donate the rest to a NEIGHBORING cause.
- DEFINE ZONES WITH AREA RUGS and reduce awkwardness.
- TURN AN UNUSED CLOSET INTO YOUR “PARTICULAR PASSION” SPACE Crafting? Gift wrapping? Journaling? Scrapbooking? (SPELLBINDING)
- IMPROVE SHOWER FLOW with an inexpensive, easy-to-install showerhead $50-75.
- GILD A LILY? MAYBE NOT, BUT MAYBE A LAMPBASE or a footstool or…
- WELCOME WITH JOYFUL HOUSE NUMBERS and/or MAILBOX.
- MIRROR AN ENTIRE ROOM for Miles Redd “glam” “Life in the 21st century means taking the best of history and making it work for you.”—designer, Miles Redd
- FRAME THE GREAT OUTDOORS with BLACK WINDOW FRAMES INSIDE This seems counter-intuitive, but it draws your eye to the view beyond.
- SHEERS FOR DAYTIME/BLACKOUT SHADES FOR SLEEPY TIME.
- CHOOSE SMALLER DINNER PLATES and savor the joy of becoming a slimmer member of “The Clean Plate Club.”
- CALM NOISE WITH DYI PEEL-AND-STICK CARPET TILES.
- ADD OUT-SIZED KNOCKERS FOR EXTERIOR DOORS Google images of designer Miles Redd’s giant, silver-toned one at his NYC joy-nest.
- “YOU’RE THE REASON OUR FAMILY HEIRLOOMS ARE UGLY” Well, no longer after you paint his hideous hall tree or her ungodly umbrella stand a glossy, groovy color.
- PUT A FRAMED PHOTO OF A FAVORITE JOY-GIVER IN A CABINET YOU OPEN OCCASIONALLY A signed photo of comedian Milton Berle is in my liquor cabinet.
- SOMETHING ZEBRA? Few things could give your guests more joy than the zebra-patterned booths at the El Morocco. How about a zebra wastebasket or a dressing room pouf or a picture frame?
- A SMALL VASE of FRESH FLOWERS in the guest room? How about next to your own bed?
- REMOVE A BOOKCASE SHELF AND SHOWCASE A PAINTING with a battery-powered portrait lamp.
- LEAVE A PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK OPEN to display an engaging image. Turn the page, often.
- WASH YOUR CHILD’S DULL HAIR IN FLAT CHAMPAGNE I swear I’m joking, it’s just all these suggestions got to sounding veddy Dorothy Draper “WHY DON’T YOU…”
- CREATE A DAVID HICKS-ian TABLESCAPE with stuff you already own Google Images of King Charles III’s designing kinsman and his work.
- PAINT A PIN-STRIPE or ADD A BAND OF TAPE/RIBBON near the ceiling to lift the eye.
- USE YOUR BEST FLATWARE EVERY DAY Even your buck-toothed nephew is not going to wear it out.
- YOU DON’T HAVE TO DISPLAY EVERYTHING YOU OWN all at one time. I learned this from fellow Southerner, and one of America’s greatest designers of all time, Albert Hadley
- NO! MORE! UNMATCHED HANGERS! EVER!! Buy a set of wooden ones at The Container Store.
- BLACK CANDLESTICKS ARE ELEGANT JOY, NOT “ADDAMS FAMILY” MORIBUND Taper on.
- INSTANT “INFINITY MIRRORS” are yours by hanging two large ones across from each other
- REPLACE REPRODUCTION ART WITH REAL, perhaps antiqued, MIRROR cut to fit the nice frame.
- VERTICAL-STRIPED WALLPAPER and CURTAINS LIFT THE EYE also curtain rods near the ceiling.
- PUT A JULEP CUP of SAME COLOR (bright yellow, red, Tiffany Blue) PENCILS on your desk.
- HANG A BIG MIRROR IN YOUR OUTDOOR ROOM.
- CREATE “UNITING” STATIONS for yourself with a few others—maybe have two “conversation areas” in your living room, and a game table, and a lunch/tea table for two—the best interior design is living with people you love.
- DESIGN A DIGITIZED “TROPHY” SCROLL of all the blue ribbons, certificates, winner’s photos, reflecting all the moments of NEIGHBORING and add to it with new community contributions—then you could purge the award objects into storage or dumpsters.
- HOME IS YOUR PERSONALITY WRIT LARGE Does your place reflect what you value most? For example, I value “creating stuff” and “being let alone to do it,” so my place is designed for those. “Be original and your house will speak for itself.”—designer, Brett Schwebke
- ALIGN YOUR HOME WITH YOUR DREAMS and INTENTIONS If you have a dream trip destination, highlight a map or object now that reinforces your plan for action. “I don’t design things, I design dreams.”—Ralph Lauren
- TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES IN YOUR HOME This is something I learned from the Japanese, don’t bring your work energy into your sanctuary.
- MAKE YOUR BATHROOM YOUR JOYOUS SELF-CARE ROOM Think spa contentment, pleasure and happiness; gentle music, calming candle, pumice stone, good towels.
- CONCIOUSLY ADD RITUAL JOY that is personal to you. I have a morning ritual of immediately opening window shades when I get up as I think to spread a smile across my face. (Our brains can’t distinguish between forced grins and spontaneous ones.)
- ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) FOR YOU? A major design and re-zoning trend involves adding small, well-designed housing units to existing residential property. “The JOYrontologist” RECOMMENDS those 50+ consider this idea to smart-size and find joy UNITING geographically closer.
- COST-SAVING PROFESSIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN ONLINE With bespoke room designs from $199, www.decorist.com begins with an interactive style quiz, photos of your space, and your list of furniture you want to keep. Also, check out www.homepolish.com and www.laurelandwolf.com.
- JOYFUL DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES sources for things everyone in your neighborhood doesn’t already have: www.furbishstudio.com, www.johnderian.com, www.kellywearstler.com, and this charming, celeb designer/potter I got to know in Atlanta—www.jonathanadler.com, “A chic home makes you happy and a happy home makes you chic!”—Jonathan Adler
- THINK UP for VERTICAL STORAGE OPTIONS Often there is under-utilized space between the tops of furniture and a room’s ceiling. Take cabinets and bookcases to the roof.
- “VISUAL FLOW” BRINGS CONTENTED CALM Consider consistent paint color choices, harmony in patterns and the same flooring room-to-room.
- SPLURGE A BIT ON ONE JOY-GIVING THING YOU REALLY WANT “Buy the best and you only cry once.”—designer, Miles Redd
- PAINT SOMETHING HIGH GLOSS, CHINESE RED Interior doors?
- SET THE FURNITURE and CARPET ON AN ANGLE This no-cost idea from designer, Vincente Wolf, immediately changed the perspective of my home office.
- EASILY PLOP IN A BATTERY-OPERATED LIGHT TO YOUR CLOSET Such lights are inexpensive and you’ll be able to see to “shop your closet.”
- TENT A ROOM WITH CHEAP, PAINTER’S DROP CLOTH and good luck finding good, cheap painters.
- ADD SPARKLY JOY and LIGHT WITH MIRRORS CUT TO INSET IN DOOR PANELS.
- “TAKE A NAP. WHEN YOU WAKE UP, EVERYTHING WILL SEEM MUCH NICER.”—Advice worth sleeping on from A-List designer, Alexa Hampton
- PROGRAM YOUR FLAT-SCREEN TV with a joyful painting when it’s blank. Think contemporary art in a traditional space and something from the 19th century in a mod room.
- BUY A CHERRY RED BLENDER for what Jimmy Buffett calls those “frozen concoctions that help us hang on.”
- WOW WITH A “WUNDERKAMMER” MADE FROM YOUR MOM’S CHINA CABINET Create a “cabinet of curiosities” from nature such as bird nests, rock crystal, feathers, fossils, shells, things to ignite youthful curiosity. Your guests will find this infinitely more interesting than seeing a full set of mass-produced china.
- COLORIZE B&W PHOTOS or “UP-CHIC” COLOR PHOTOS to B&W, whichever cranks your joy tractor.
- PULL A SEAT UP TO A WINDOW WITH A GOOD VIEW Yep, that’s a blinding dose of the obvious but start noticing how many people put a chair in a dark corner and then have to walk across a room to enjoy some joyful daylight. Create a “window seat.”
- PUT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ON A PEDESTAL Whatever or whoever it is will look more important and possibly feel it.
- UPHOLSTER A DOOR or SEATS IN PATENT LEATHER Sheen is a mighty joy-giving thing.
- ENJOY THE SMELL OF FRESH POPCORN more often. It’s rather low-cal and improves every screen-watching experience.
- YouTube BACH, BEYONCE, BEATLES Create a music library of JOY.
- PARK A FUN BICYCLE ON YOUR PORCH and ride it once a week while you’re still able.
- BUY A BOUQUET OF CASABLANCA or RUBRIM LILIES at least once a year, even if you have to scrimp for this fragrant, botanical joy. One pungent bloom can gild a room.
- IT’S TIME FOR THE RETURN OF CUCKOO CLOCKS “The Prince of Chintz” designer, Mario Buatta, had one with a chimpanzee that popped out each hour to add a moment of joy. (Dear Santa, I’m wishing for a huge, carved, German cuckoo clock at Taylor’s Fine Timepieces in Cullman, AL. It’s about $35,000, but it would really bring me great Christmas joy this holiday and I’ve been pretty good this year. Love, Benjy)
S.U.N.S. BY DESIGN creates a vessel for you to live amongst your personal joys and add new happiness and contentment. As legendary designer, Elsie de Wolfe, reminds us, “You will express yourself in your house, whether you want to or not.”
S.U.N.S. BY DESIGN LAFFS
– What kind of doctor also specializes in interior design? A roomatologist.
– My house never gets completely decorated. There’s always room for improvement.
– The hardest day of my student life was when our interior design class went “glamping.” It was pretty in tents.
JOY-GIVERS CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK
Dec. 10—Emily Dickinson
Dec. 11—Rita Moreno
Dec. 12—Frank Sinatra
Dec. 13—Taylor Swift
Dec. 14—Spike Jones and His City Slickers
Dec. 15—Tim Conroy
Dec. 16—Ludwig van Beethoven
MARTHA STEWART EASY, HOLIDAY TIRAMISU—WASHINGTON STATE COFFEE
(Source: MarthaStewart.com)
Each week, “The JOYrontologist” shares a recipe which salutes a healthy food produced in America. The delicious and nutritious collection is called, “The S.U.N.S. Longevity Cookbook” and highlights vitamin B-3 (niacin) which many gerontologists believe holds the promise for a long, healthy, joyful life.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 cups strong coffee (Starbucks Americano), room temperature
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup sweet Marsala
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz. Mascarpone
- 1 7-ounce package ladyfingers (about 24)
- Unsweetened cocoa powder, for sprinkling
DIRECTIONS
- Pour coffee into a pie dish.
- Combine eggs, sugar and Marsala in a large metal bowl set on top of (but not in) a pot of simmering water. Beat with a hand mixer or whisk until mixture doubles in volume and reaches 160F on a thermometer, 7-10 minutes.
- Remove bowl from heat and let cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, in another bowl, whisk cream to form peaks. Gently whisk mascarpone into egg mixture, then fold in whipped cream.
- Working one at a time, dip half of ladyfinger in coffee, about 1 second per side, and arrange in the bottom of a 9×9-inch baking dish; fit them snugly side by side to line dish. Evenly spread half of mascarpone mixture over ladyfingers. Dip remaining half of ladyfingers in coffee and repeat layering with cookies and mascarpone mixture.
- Sift a layer of cocoa over the top so it infuses cream. Wrap dish in plastic and refrigerate at least 9 hours and up to 1 day. To serve, sift another layer of cocoa over top and cut into squares.
“The JOYrontologist” RECOMMENDS pairing the many notes of coffee, ladyfingers and mascarpone of Italian tiramisu with a German Riesling. If you like things super-sweet you could also serve tiramisu with a sweet dessert wine. However, I’d like a bit of contrast and vote for (1996 vintage) Nackenheimer Rothenberg Riesling Spatlese, Gunderloch ($24-ish), which has honeyed apricot notes and a mist of minerals.
1,070 JOY-GIVING THINGS FROM MY FIRST 70 YEARS (continued)
1,002. The designs of furniture in the “period rooms” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC)
1,003. The design of my first car, a navy blue Plymouth Barracuda
1,004. The design of the “inside out” Pompidou Center (Paris)
1,005. The design of marzipan cookies
1,006. The design of Tiffany “Drabware”
1,007. The design of the gardens and Orangerie at Versailles (France)
1,008. The design of Nudie’s western wear
1,009. The design of bird nests across the world
1,010. The design of 19th century lap desks
1,011. The design of “The Seven Signs of Southernness” wood blocks
1,012. The design of fragrance compositions by “nose” Phillipe Lorson
1,013. The designs by Palladio which influenced Thomas Jefferson at Monticello
1,014. The design of Russian stacking dolls
1,015. The design of my white Saab convertible
1,016. The design of double-ring belts by David Briscoe
HAVE A DESIGN-IT-YOURSELF, JOYFUL WEEK!
Read all the installments in this series at www.cullmantribune.com/tag/odes-to-joy-2022.
