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IN THE NEWS
Excerpt: As an example of how her services can assist a couple, she recently was involved in the construction of a 7,000-square-foot home on the seacoast designed by an architect for a couple with two small children. The home was exceptional, with a billiards room and all manner of high-end accessories. It was a superb example of the architect’s vision and the couple’s adult style, but as Bottner looked at the plans, she realized: “There were no play areas. “In a couple of years, the children will be inviting their friends over for play dates,” she said. There was no place for the kids to entertain.”
Excerpt: “…. In our house, the kids favor the playroom….I realized that other than the kitchen …and my bedroom …there is no space in the house that can be defined as mine. That is when I decided to call for help. I contacted Sharon Bottner, interior decorator and owner of Panache Interior Design of Rye….She recommends that moms create for themselves a cozy nook in the house where they can reflect, relax and feel nurtured….To set up your special nook, follow Bottner's five steps. 1. Identify the way you want to use the space. Some ideas include: reading, drawing, knitting, journaling, listening to music, writing letters, meditation. 2. Select and define one space. If your stuff is spread throughout the house, gather it into a basket and place it in the nook. 3. Define a time when you will use your nook. 4. Label your nook in a way that informs the entire family, ‘This is mom's space.’ 5. Accent your nook! This step should be fun, not stressful. Find a few candles, a vase, a picture of your old college friends or whatever might brighten up your space. After my conversation with Bottner, I was eager to set up my nook. Her final words stuck with me. ‘Just get started; it doesn't have to be perfect!’ I took a trip to my basement to see what treasures remained inside unpacked boxes. Sure enough, I was able to resurrect a few forgotten framed pictures and some unusual artwork that never made it onto the walls. I grabbed an old basket and spray-painted it green (that was the only color available in the basement), then filled it with parenting books, note cards, a journal and my knitting (still unfinished after seven months). The basket found a home on the floor, just beside the couch in the playroom, the most logical spot to curl up and nurture myself…. Bottner also suggests throwing a coat of paint on a nearby wall for an inexpensive way to change the mood of a space….My nook may change over time; become more cluttered, more stylish, more peaceful. Who knows? What matters is that I now have a space in the house defined as mine.” |
“Bottner looks at what she does as helping people assert themselves in the design process, and for couples especially, she helps them find common ground. This is where her brand of couples therapy comes in, as she separates the wants and desires of each and then finds ways to unite them.