Just Start

There’s a room in my house that’s been undergoing a facelift since we moved in four years ago. The original wallpaper is only halfway gone, there are piles of “stuff” to be tossed or organized and I haven’t pulled the trigger on a paint color or decided on flooring (who puts carpet in the bathroom!?). I can tell you that, mostly, the hurdle is having time to sit down and collect my thoughts—remember, I have three wild kiddos and (thanks to this job!) inspiration hits me from a million angles all day long. I’ve saved hundreds of ideas between Instagram, Pinterest and my binder full of tear sheets (yes, I am old-fashioned), yet armed with ideas, the bigger challenge is having the confidence to get the job done myself. 

Of course, that seems like no excuse after meeting the four female do-it-yourselfers on page 21 who tackled that same fear to get way more than one little project done. Their advice is to just start—a notion you’ll hear repeatedly from anyone in the “maker” community. The pros, featured in our Top 10 Women in the Home Industry section on page 30, also prove that a little drive trumps stereotypes, and with it, you can do big things.

Thanks to both groups—the DIYers and the pros—now every time I pass that dated beige bathroom, there’s a little intrinsic push that might just motivate me enough to tackle it before the summer’s over. 

Speaking of summer, staying inside can get pretty tempting now that July has reared its hefty temps, but the shade-loving ideas on page 16 may just introduce a way for you to love hot weather again. If you prefer the indoors, make it a cool space to spend time, like the modern family room on page 18. 

No matter where you plan to spend your dog days this season, find a moment to take our quick Exterior Style Quiz on page 34. And then send pictures of what you accomplished this summer—inside or out! I want to see your favorite “spot” (that might just end up featured here next issue!), what project you tackled on your own or what you’ve got in the works. If there’s something holding you back, send me questions to ask our pros! Hopefully, these pages are the push you need to just start. 

I will if you will!

Jennifer Colosimo, editor