Guangzhou Design Week Preview! As you read this I am navigating my way through an adventure of three cities in just six days half way around the world. I’m presenting the Top Western Design Trends to architects, developers, designers and homeowners in China. There is a new upper class that is looking beyond their borders for design inspiration and lifestyle. Opportunities abound!

Asian influence is everywhere! We all know the world is shrinking, borders are blurring, and we enjoy the privilege of global influence in all aspects of design. The biggest contributors to hot and now are China, Russia, India, Morocco and Africa. The Asian aesthetic in particular brings a timeless geometry to spaces bringing order to chaos and edgy to what otherwise might be dull. From Oscar De La Renta to Raymond Waites and Thomas O’Brian the effects of thousands of years of design history are front and center today.

Where do your influences come from? I have to say it was funny when the Chinese interviewed me for a feature in Modern Decoration Home. They had researched me well (I am an online presence!) And they questioned why I wore Chinese clothes (my jacket in many pictures has a Chinese collar), why my cats are named Yin and Yang, and why my interiors seemed to have a Chinese influence (this still confuses me as I don’t see it, but they did!) I’d have to say mine comes from a love of good tailoring (the jacket), a constant search for balance (the Yin and the Yang of life), and a delight in an interior that has geometry as a grounding force. Where do your influences come from? How can you share them for greater success?

Prospering by Design, YOURS!

MG

We traveled to Shenzhen and The Shangri-la Hotel for our first day of presentations. The original attendance was at 180 but ballooned to over 250 before we got started. Ready had done an incredible job of marketing the event and me! Upon arrival, Ready handed me the current edition of the Chinese Modern Decoration Home where I was featured on over 10 pages with portfolio and a full interview. Wow! The Shangri-la Hotel was lovely, got some inadequate pics of the setting with stunning crystal chandeliers of leaves. Every hotel seemed finer than the last, each dripping in gold shimmer and crystal embellishments. The event went very well, though translation was a first and since it wasn’t simultaneous, but tandem, the program ran almost 3 hours. Following the event, I had back to back media interviews with Ready translating, quite an adventure!

We adjourned to dinner in the hotel, a lovely buffet with both Chinese and Western delicacies including a divine selection of desserts. From a mango whip to pistachio cake, chocolate raspberry decadence to gelato with a chocolate fountain, I was in heaven! So far I’d only experienced the Chinese desserts of sticky rice balls and I wasn’t a fan. The did include great lamp chops on the buffet as well. Being close to Australia, the Chinese include lamb on menus.

I was amazed at some of the sights we saw driving about, palm trees dressed in gold lame for decoration. We drove to an artist’s “village” a crowded maze of old and new buildings with a “gate” at the front that is home to many artists. It seemed somewhat deserted and we ambled around for at least an hour on stone streets. We came across a house crafted of oyster shells, and a performance pavilion with stunning gold and black “door ghosts.” We also saw a man hard at work mortaring brick and using an old fashioned bucket and pulley for bringing up the sand for his mortar.

Following our meanderings we headed off to visit the studio of Mr. Cuo, an acclaimed contemporary Chinese interior designer. We were greeted by his assistants and viewed all four floors. His work is reminiscent of Ron Arad, Michael Taylor, and Robert Kuo. It is bold in its shape, peaceful in its simplicity, and timeless by its largely organic nature. He had a stunning collection of fish, mostly carved wood, some ceramic that he had crafted. He shared that the fish is not present in the Chinese calendar of astrology, and he felt that it represented his uniqueness. He also had a collection of toilets, both working and decorative because he said (through the translator) that the invention of the toilet was so incredible and had been impacted by so many other countries that China needed to design a toilet also.

I was honored by his request to sign a book he owned on my great grandfather, Frank Lloyd Wright. And he presented me with a clipping in Chinese regarding Fallingwater that he had hung onto for many years. He also presented each of us with a tiny ceramic cup, hand crafted used to toast with Chinese liquor. It was truly a privilege visiting his studio and viewing his craftsmanship and imagination at work.

The Chinese are masters at landscape artistry and even the highways are lushly planted with tropical looking greenery in full flower. They had plumeria, Japanese maples, crepe myrtles, palm trees, fringe flower and too many more to name. They also embraced the art of topiaries and the Foo Dogs here, or lions as they called them, are particularly entertaining.

We visited the historical property The House of Chen. It was in typical Chinese style with polychromed sculpted scenes on the roof line, tiled roofs, stone courtyards, and much carved wood. Most of the carving seemed to be contemporary interpretations of historical representations. They also showcased modern day artists working in the class arts of ceramic sculpture, bone carving, ivory carving, wood carving and more. The doors had enormous colorful painted warrior type figures, one on each door, and are called “door ghosts”) as they are protectors of all who reside within.

Staying at www.hoteldongfang.com. The room is lovely, compact, well designed, and with a soft elegance. Muted sage, basil, and rosemary green accents with contemporary textures. The entry (there is one!) boasts a roomy closet with heavy wood hangars and none of that nonsense with the head of the hangar so small you can’t steal it for home use. (No, I’m not lifting hangars, just appreciate the fact that they are real sized so easy to use.) They also have a nice little breakfast counter in limestone with an electric water pot for tea and coffee Another great idea!

There is a writing desk with leather inset and work lamp, and a console with storage for clothes and the TV is the old fashioned box style exposed. I’m surprised it isn’t a flat screen. A beautiful bench with a limestone top serves as a luggage rack, and it’s much easier than the usual cheap folding ones. The bath is all inclusive with a tub (though I need an extra foot or two to really stretch out) and a full shower. Not a lot of counter space but well placed shelves for all the vanity necessities. The lighting is the only element that really is ineffective as a woman who does put on a bit of a face.

Enjoyed lunch and lots of tea with Ready Zhang, the organizer of this venture, and his assistant. Many types of dumplings, my favorite were fried with shrimp inside. I effectively dodged the fried chicken paws (Ready’s English) and the pig’s hooves (looking like a black beet). I tried the steamed dough with sweet filling, kind of resembled a poached egg, it was ball shaped and white with filling the color of egg yolks. I also tasted the “porridge” which was a gruel like mix of rice and veggies, gray and runny. I’ll pass on it next time. I managed almost all with chop sticks but ran into trouble with some of the crispy fried items, just too slick and I had to revert to a fork.

Great flight, 747 with only 6 seats across in first class, it was veritably palatial! Service was impeccable and the food good, breakfast totally rocked! I had my choice of Chinese or Western, I played it safe with Western. The flight attendant asked me what “creamy scrambled eggs” were, tough to explain beating an egg when I don’t speak Mandarin and her English was limited. It was a bit of charades. I even got a good 6-8 hours of real sleep in, and caught up on the 20 or so trade and shelter publications I brought on board. Productive, well rested, auspicious start to the trip!

Landed and it took forever to taxi, wet and grey out.The airport was vast and very quiet, no typical US cacophony of cell phones going off upon landing. No customs to navigate either which surprised me must be on departure only. The driver met us and we were at the hotel by 7:45am Guangzhou time.

Home is truly our external heart and as such it needs a lot of care and attention in its decorating and development. Invite friends and family to contribute to the creation of your home. A house is merely a dwelling; it becomes a home when you use your heart to express your environment in a comfortable and inviting manner.

Here are even more great ways to celebrate your home with friends and family.

Build the Deck Bash

I’ve got too many do-it-yourself friends, not to mention handy guys I know, that think decks are the be all and end all of projects. And there are a wealth of manuals on the market for just such a design dilemma. Now generally this is best if coming just off the back of a house with a low drop-off (foot or two), or you need to have someone who really knows their stuff on hand. Often you may not be building new but simply replacing existing decking with new boards or adding a new railing, both appropriate do-it-yourself tasks.

You provide the lumber, food and refreshments and invite friends in the know to bring tools, tunes, and a desire to work. What would have taken you a month of weekends, can now be done much faster with the company of good friends and turned into an experience rather than the project that wouldn’t end. Be sure you have a plan to either dispose of or donate the old lumber if this replaces an existing deck.

Celebrate your home and the great outdoors with a Build the Deck Bash

Deck the Walls Celebration

Got all your furniture in place, but nothing to deck the walls? Make it an event and have guests bring you art for your home. Now, I know it is a little dicey to rely on someone else’s taste so you provide guidelines. You can also register and it doesn’t have to be at some expensive gallery (though go for it if you can!) Consider art from national sources like Pier 1 Imports, Z Gallerie, and Crate and Barrel, many of the major retailers and catalogue companies have registries and not just for brides anymore.

Alternatively, you can rely on just providing a color palette and style, such as Tuscan Countryside, Urban Sophisticate, Coastal Breeze or Classic Traditional. This gives a bit more latitude and creativity to the gift giver. While you may not love it all, you will know that they gave it some thought and you can always pass it on later. (I don’t believe in saving gifts because of who gave them. I also don’t ever check my friends homes for the gifts I’ve given, goodness, I don’t usually remember what I gave!)

Once everyone has arrived, be prepared with a hammer, tape measure, pencil and picture hangars to literally hang it all on the spot. Or, hire an installer during the celebration to do this for you with guidance on placement. Everyone will want to see their treasured gift displayed and know they made a beautiful difference in creating your home.

Celebrate your home with a Deck the Walls Celebration!

Dress the Bedroom Bash

Bedrooms are all about rest and romance. Keep the exercise equipment elsewhere and the desk for work in another room. I’ve also found that too often the bedroom is the last room decorated and often waits until after the great room, kitchen, kid’s rooms and more are done. Yikes! Your bedroom is your haven and deserves to be a priority. Don’t wait; celebrate it with a Dress the Bedroom Bash.

It is up to you to furnish the bed and that means headboard, footboard optional, and a bedding scheme. The rest you can leave up to friends. They can either provide actual furnishings in the form of night stands, lamps, pillows, window treatments, a chair or gift certificates. On the invite include a picture of you lounging on the bed, or your favorite Fido or Rover doing the same and invite them to fill in the gaps.

Yes, you can register pieces if your friends are decorating challenged or you just don’t trust their taste! Most often you can make returns, and it may be fun to see what someone else has in mind with your bed style. You just might find yourself stepping out of the box and getting something more than you expected.

Celebrate your home and optimize your rest and romance opportunities with a Dress the Bedroom Bash!

Knick Knack Party

Perhaps you’ve gotten all your major furniture pieces in place and even have some artwork hung but lack the finishing touches that really make a house a home. So invite your friends to help provide the accessories!

Again, you can register for specific pieces like picture frames, candles, glass bottles and vases, wrought iron figures, florals and greenery, or you can trust your friends, with just a bit about your style in the invitation and a picture or two to give them a head start.

Of course, gift certificates do give anyone an easy out and ensure you get what you want. And you can always do an exchange later. The more information you provide the more likely you are to get tasteful elements that really add polish and flair.

Celebrate your home with a Knick Knack Party!

Spa Bath Moment

It seems every party I go to someone brings the hostess a basket of bath goodies. This is usually much appreciated (except by those of us that are strictly shower types!) and is an easy way to get friends together to celebrate.

Plan a spa bath moment that includes sharing your favorite scents and colors. Do you enjoy lavender or eucalyptus? Lemon or Grapefruit? Are you into fruit or flowers, herbs or grasses? There are so many lotions, potions, aromas, potpourris, candles and more to choose from.

You provide your preferences and consider bringing in a manicurist or masseuse for mini treatments for your friends. Yes, it is usually a girl’s night only. But you can always expand it to guys being included if you have a handy project, like a tub to be replaced or maybe you just need a new shower head installed.

Celebrate your home, relax and rejuvenate with a Spa Bath Moment.

For more great ideas on celebrating your home, be sure to check out Part I of this article. And if you are ready to get the full scoop on Celebrate Your Life! The Art of Celebrating Every Day, go to www.theartofcelebrating.com. Author and lifestyle expert Melissa Galt speaks with audiences nationwide on how to add the celebration to life every day by honoring ourselves, our family, our friends, our careers, our travel and adventure, our health and much more. You can find out more at www.melissagalt.com.

Home is truly our external heart and as such it needs a lot of care and attention in its decorating and development. Invite friends and family to contribute to the creation of your home. A house is merely a dwelling; it becomes a home when you use your heart to express your environment in a comfortable and inviting manner.

Here are some easy ways to celebrate your home with friends and family.

Housewarming by the Room

So few people it seems remember to throw a housewarming or if they do it is a couple of years after moving in. So, to get this ball rolling, don’t wait for the entire house to be complete; instead, celebrate room by room. Very few folks decorate their entire home at once anyway, and it counts to measure the small successes, even if it is a powder room, not to mention the big successes like a kitchen or bath remodel.

How many entertaining opportunities have you missed by waiting to get your house complete? Remember if your friends are waiting to see your drapery and not you, you might want to consider some new friends! Life is in the connection, not in the stuff. Celebrate every step rather than waiting for just one big one.

Celebrate your home with room by room housewarmings!

Stock the Pantry Party

No one likes to show up at a party empty handed and this is an easy way to get guests to bring what you need and want, while you share the welcome of your home and hospitality.

Create a master list of pantry stockers desired or even register if you are including kitchen appliances like blenders, toasters, and food processors. Let everyone know what you are into, whether it is a pantry full of bottled water, chips and dip or you are a bit more of a cook and want great exotic spices, tins of imported specialty foods, and international flavors. Sure flour and sugar are necessary staples, but I bet you can get more creative.

On appliances and kitchen tools, think hard about what you want and what you’ll use. Sure some are almost required like the blender and even a toaster still, but what about a divine bread maker, the latest ergonomic palm held peeler, a butterfly trash can by Simply Human, or a classic wine rack. You can even suggest gift cards from favorite big box retail kitchen good stores like Bed Bath Beyond, Williams Sonoma, and Crate and Barrel.

Celebrate your home with a stock the pantry party!

Grow the Garden Party

This is one of my favorites as I’ve come relatively late to the realization of a green thumb. The grow the garden party is ideal if you enjoy potting house plants, or dream of a cutting garden, or perhaps harbor visions of growing your own herbs and vegetables. Invite your friends to an outdoor picnic and while you provide the food and drink, ask them to provide a plant or garden tool.

Of course you may want to suggest gift cards from local nurseries for those that are green thumb challenged, and you’ll want to specify full sunshine or shade for desired plants. The point is that you get a more eclectic mix and when all are in bloom, they remind you of each guest and their personal contribution. You could even name each plant with tags after the person that provided it.

Celebrate your home and Mother Nature with a Grow the Garden Party!

Demolition Bash

Okay, you’ve made the decision to remodel and it is a big project. Kick it off in style with a Demolition Bash. Perhaps you are tearing out the kitchen or bath making way for a major update or reconfiguration. In any case, it’s got to go. Be sure you time this with your contractor’s schedule, and invite friends to bring a dish and a camp out in your newly emptied space.

(If you have handy careful friends you can actually invite them to assist with demolition, but be cautious in mixing a party atmosphere with hammers and other serious remodeling tools.)

It is always rewarding to enjoy even a day of the space unfinished before the work of putting it all together gets underway. Do be sure you have made all of your decisions at this stage and you don’t open up the event to brainstorming. Too many opinions will only result in confusion and frustration.

Remodeling can be an exhausting and sometimes chaotic process so celebrating at demolition can make it that much more tolerable. Be sure to plan the next bash at completion!

Paint Party

Personally, I can’t think of anything I’d rather avoid, but I can do it myself if necessary without training. (Heck, I once sponge painted my whole house, since the contractor had reversed the paint colors in the final coat!) But I do have friends that not only enjoy painting but actually find it relaxing, imagine it.

So if you have one or two rooms to get done and would be willing to do the same for friends or family (turn about is fair play in this), plan a painting party. You supply the paint, of course, but I’m betting you have friends with extra drop cloths, ladders, and even brushes that will be game to come and join you for an afternoon or a day of painting to be rewarded with pizza and beer or a cold cut sandwich buffet and icy sodas.

This can save the cost of a contractor and actually make an otherwise mundane and potentially arduous task fun. Many hands make light work, so invite others to help.

Celebrate your home with friends that will help you transform a room or two and a Paint Party!

For more great ideas on celebrating your home, be sure to check out Part II of this article. And if you are ready to get the full scoop on Celebrate Your Life! The Art of Celebrating Every Day, go to www.theartofcelebrating.com. Author and lifestyle expert Melissa Galt speaks with audiences nationwide on how to add the celebration to life every day by honoring ourselves, our family, our friends, our careers, our travel and adventure, our health and much more. You can find out more at www.melissagalt.com.