It's Happening...Just As It Should

Life is a funny funny thing.  Not necessarily funny-ha-ha, though that is always enjoyable, but more of a funny-ironic thing. 

It's funny how creativity can come naturally sometimes, and other times you have to work at it.  Either way, it takes talent, and knowledge, and passion to create...to design....to live.

And as I sit here reflecting on the year 2011, I'm engulfed by both the funny-ha-ha and the funny-ironic memories that have made this year so special and so important.

In somewhat of an order:
-I quit/lost my horrible job (I say lost because they "let me go" right after I put in my two weeks)
-I acquired a new job that asks alot of me but is what I've been looking for for so long
-I moved in with Dan (and brought all my stuff with me!)
-I continued to plan our wedding, down to every last detail
-I spent every weekend of the summer going camping, or with family, or hanging out with friends - I was SO busy!
-I got married!!
-I traveled to Europe for the first (and certainly not last) time with the love of my life
-I obtained two new clients for J. Paris Designs

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mention that part yet??  It all just kind of happened :)

So you're thinking, two? Really?? Not like you can quit your day job or anything.  Well, no.  But it's something.  And my day job is what got me here.  Flooring clients turned interior design clients.  I charmed them with my design prowess and knowledge of pretty colors - plus my business card says "Interior Designer" right on it :)

But, nevertheless, they were impressed by what I had to say and not one, but TWO people hired me (that's right, I get paid) to tell them what to do.  Or at least guide them to making the decisions on their own.

The funny-ironic part comes into play when I think about how long I've waited for something like this to happen.  How badly I hoped for someone to actually be willing to pay for my ideas - not just a friend who casually asks "I was hoping to get your advice on a color for our bathroom".  Afterall, I wanted to make a career out of it, not just give it away for free. 

Enough about that, though, and more about the actual rooms I'm working on!

The first clients are a lovely couple adding an addition off of their existing kitchen.  After seeing their house, they obviously have a sense of design and style, but just weren't sure how to implement that into the new area. 

Doesn't look like much just yet, but once the drywall is up, it's full speed ahead!!

They also are planning a wine room/bar in the basement as a second project.  I went with the Mrs. to the cabinet store last week to pick out elements for that room.  Here is what I came up with:

Just a start, but a copper bar sink, light colored granite countertops, and dark antiqued-edge cabinets.  Along with cork flooring, I'm pretty excited about this space!

The second client is a remodel of the kitchen in a one bedroom condo.

It's pretty small, and the client wants to utilize more of the space on the left wall by adding more cabinets and rearranging the stove.  I'm in the middle of designing a blueprint of the new space to his specs so that he can show it to a contractor for a quote. 

Pretty exciting!! :)

I was arranging the gifts under the tree yesterday and came across this package addressed to me - or at least I assume it's me:

Love him <3