Color has the power to make us feel whether we know it consciously or not.
For instance, for decades I have used this trick - when I’m feeling tired, puny or sick and need to act and look alive, I reach into the closet to find hot pink or fuchsia. You may argue that it’s psychological, and I would have to agree!

The color of art may draw us in like a magnet. Poppies in a field, a calm blue lake, a bold abstract make us feel. Not just the subject matter, but the colors the artist has chosen will either resonate with us, or won’t.

The hue of a room has the ability to lift us up, calm us down or depress us. Consider a cloudy day versus a sunny day. Lighting in your space is important to your mood, whether it’s natural or artificial light.

The psychology of color is proven and I can’t help but to wonder... has this glacial trend of gray, dominating the interior design industry, contributed to the depression of a nation?

Having come from a climate with 300 days of sunshine a year to the Midwest, I’m shocked and surprised by how many homeowners jumped on the grey bandwagon, only to create a drab space, without regard to undertones.

My prescription for seasonal depression, is color!
Choosing the right hues and tones can make a huge difference in your outlook and mental health.

When the host of the VRBO house double-booked our reservation for our trip to the “Garden Bloggers Fling” in Madison, Wisconsin, our only option was to stay in a hotel. Traveling with my dog, Missy, I looked forward to staying in a pet-friendly peaceful home. The stressful scramble to find new accommodations, turned out better than I could have imagined.
VRBO booked us in the Hotel Indigo at 901 E. Washington Street.

I feared this would be a stinky noisy college hotel, filled with party goers that would provoke unwanted barking. The entrance was tucked in the back with a well appointed patio sheltered from the noise of the busy street out front. Missy came bouncing in to meet her new friends whom greeted us with cheerful Midwest hospitality.

What? Wait, where am I?
This is wonderful!
There was a huge paint can on the backdrop of the reception desk. I wasn't sure if we were in the right place. Paint brushes, color swatches and memorabilia from the previous occupants lined the display shelves below creating a mini Mautz museum. Having worked in a paint store, I felt right at home!

When the Delectable Egg called me to help them design their new restaurant, I was thrilled. The new space boasted a ratty beach vibe. As I began to learn more about the brand, I felt we had a huge opportunity to make the space fun, happy and memorable. I wanted it to sparkle.

This is a breakfast and lunch restaurant. The owners had never worked with an interior designer before, and I had never designed a restaurant before, but I had a vision!

SPARKLE!! From lighting fixtures and furnishings to paint colors and art, I was on a mission to find the perfect finishes that would brighten up their customers' day!

The Delectable Egg loves supporting artists and features rotating installations in the other restaurants. As a result, their walls were badly damaged and occasionally the show was too scary for a breakfast vibe!

I sourced fun artwork for their permanent collection and gave them a dedicated wall with a hanging system for their guest artists convenience.