The Secret of Creating Sanctuary: Mindfulness and Intention

Intention is one of my favorite words. It's at the heart of everything I do. It's the gift of my mindfulness practice. When I am fully present in each moment, as opposed to rushing through the motions of the day, I take in more information and can make decisions with greater clarity, which then leads to better outcomes. Acting with intention brings organization, energy, and purpose to my life.

I also bring my philosophy of mindfulness to my interior design practice, which is what makes it such fulfilling work for me --- it really is my calling. It enables me to access a deeper level of discovery with my clients where I can learn what they need as individuals to feel both peaceful and inspired in their spaces. When I'm designing for a client, I choose each and every detail with intention, with the purpose of evoking an emotional connection between them and their spaces.

My process of using mindfulness to connect with my clients is both scientific and intuitive. I start with the scientific, because having an organized approach always helps me keep my mind focused. In my first meetings with a client, I always ask them questions about their day to day activities, their families, their priorities and how they want to live in their space. I also ask about what they love to do --- if they had one totally free afternoon, what would they do with that time that would make them feel happy? I also ask about how their life has changed due to the post-pandemic paradigm shifts we are seeing in our society. Fascinating, right?

I listen very carefully both to what they say, and also what they don't say. This is where intuition starts to pick up. I pay close attention to their body language, their expressions, and their reactions. I study how they respond to different sensory experiences, like colors, sounds, smells. I want my clients to have the right stimuli that will activate the various parts of their brains and their brain chemistry. In the early stages of a project, I'm constantly gathering and storing information. I have a really good memory (which admittedly both delights and frightens --- ha!).

My husband says that people will tell you who they really are if you just listen. He is so right! To fully hear in that way, you have to completely show up. You have to get out of your own busy mind and think of nothing else but the moment you are sharing, connecting with your client. When I'm able to know my client beyond the surface layers of their style and taste, I can design with the kind of intention we're talking about.

Taking it one step further, in the delivery of my designs, I use the same mindfulness practice to communicate with the other creators involved --- for example the architect, the builder, and the landscape architect. Everyone has a unique way of communicating, and I use the same techniques of being present to understand and then adapt to their preferred style. It allows me to connect with my collaborators so that we can share one vision for the project and execute to fulfill the highest expectations.

To me, what's most gratifying is that by designing with intention, I provide my clients with the space to achieve their own mindfulness. The sanctuary spaces I create for my clients are places where they can turn off the noise of the outside world and relax, reflect, pursue passions, and be present with their loved ones and with themselves.

That's where it all comes full circle for me. That's the place where sanctuary changes lives.

With love and gratitude,

Lisa