My "Nothing Like the Sun" Moment

Some people could call me a Peeping Tom but I don't quite like that description.  Too extreme, I think. I do though like to peep into other people's windows.  Not standing and staring with my face against the glass, mind you.  But rather when I'm walking or riding in a car, I like to gaze into a window and see how people are living.  True, I can catch a glimpse of someone's life but I can also see how someone has designed his or her dwelling.  So while gazing into other people's windows can satisfy a sense of voyeuristic curiosity for me, it also can be creatively inspiring.

One moment which sticks out in my head is when I was taking a walk on a rather overcast day in Bordeaux.  It was Sunday.  I was a bored exchange student and needed some fresh air.  While walking along the rue de Turenne, I remember peering into one apartment window in which the walls were all white and there hanging on the left wall, I believe, was this huge poster of Sting's Nothing Like the Sun cover.  The white wall with only the stark black-and-white image on it instantly caught my attention.  There was nothing cluttered or cloying about the space.  The simplicity and drama of having one item as a focal point stayed in my mind.

When I shortly moved into a smaller one-room studio, I replicated this focal point strategy by purchasing a poster of Green Day to liven up my walls.  The poster was a cheap and easy way to brighten up my place.  I didn't frame it but used some double-sided tape to hang the poster.  Without the poster, my place would have looked pretty bland.

Even though it's been about 17 years since my Nothing Like the Sun moment and I currently use knick-knacks to decorate my place, I still like the strategy of having one item as a focal point to add color and focus to a room.

What's your take?  Do you use one item as focal point in a room or for a setting?  Do you prefer to use a variety of materials/colors to create a general mood to  your living space?
image source

Getting Aktiv

I came across this post today on StyleCaster.  IKEA is now interested in making single bedroom, eco-living homes for the US market.  According to the article by Jamie Rose, IKEA has been making housing in Scandinavia and the UK for years. 

I gotta admit I am curious about the pre-fabricated homes.  I can imagine myself visiting a model, testing the faucets, and wandering around for other tire-kicking opportunities.  I'm not saying I would buy such a home but I would check one out.

Given that IKEA does appeal to the twenty-something market, perhaps this is a step in the right direction.  When that twenty-something apartment dweller is ready to buy a home, IKEA will be there.

Would you buy a single living pre-fab IKEA home? 

Ciao, February!

February couldn't last forever.  Just wanted to give a quick heads-up for March since it's Women's History Month and International Women's Month (yayy!).  March 8 is International Women's Day and if you need an incentive to do some decluttering then National Cleaning Week 3/26 - 31 is there to motivate you.  : ) 
 
What do you enjoy about being a single woman?  Who are the women that you admire in your life?   Do you have any decluttering projects in mind for this month?

No Orange Koi, Please

Last Thursday, I checked out the book, A Passion for Design by Barbra Streisand.  For me, the book is an escape and an opportunity to see how Streisand decorates.  One observation by Streisand which caught my attention is that she didn't permit any orange koi in her pond.  Just black-and-white ones to complement her décor. 

I was definitely impressed by that attention to detail.  A part of me was also wondering, Is that too much attention to detail?  Not that I imagine that Streisand is awaiting my interior design advice.

Regarding your home design, do you feel that you are too detail-oriented or carefree in the décor of your home?  Do you prefer a consistent theme or a punch of color for your home's design? 

On a different subject, do you believe that it's Streisand's talent and attention to detail--such as with the orange koi--that has propelled her success?

image source:  tanakawho, flickr.com

Taking Shape

Ah, it's been a couple of weeks, I believe since I first started this blog.  Since I already have another blog called "A Singular Life" I was a bit perplexed about the purpose of this one.  Couldn't I incorporate lifestyle tips into A Singular Life?  Aren't there already enough blogs in the world?  What, in short, would be the purpose of this one?

I wasn't sure about the answers to those questions so I did the most sensible thing:  I started another blog.  : )

Now, I'm faced with the same questions as before regarding this particular blog.  So this is what I've come up with..."A Singular Life" will be more oriented toward self-growth while this blog will be a blend of lifestyle tips, self growth, style, travel and health related postings.  At least that is the thinking on this particular Sunday.

Over on the right sidebar, I've recently added some links to this site.  Just to mention, the links do include blogs by married/coupled women.  While my aim is to support single women, I'm definitely open to gleaning information from whichever available source.  Moreover, it's inspiring to see women who are coupled and are still pursuing their interests.

All right, this single woman has some chores awaiting her.  : )  Wish you all a Happy Sunday!

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting this blog.  You can also check out my other blog, A Singular Life here.