Guest Blogger: Starting the New Year Right with Positive Reinforcement

Guest Blog Entry #37, Entry #373,  January 3, 2011

We’re officially into 2011 and I thought it only fitting to start off with great forecasting for the new year by one of my former guest blogger’s, Richard Taylor, A.I.A. of Richard Taylor Architects. As he outlines the new year for his architecture firm, I think everyone can take lessons from his points. Here are a few of my lessons I learned from Richard moving into the new year:

Start off your 2011 with positive reinforcement

• Plan out your year, and set your goals high
• Determine what your current situation is, and outline the pros and cons of where you currently are.
• Focus on the positive, and highlight it often.
• For your home, business, family and self – challenge those around you to become better!

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The Road We’re On – A Few Thoughts For The New Year

Richard Taylor, A.I.A.

Happily, there’s much “up” to report in the world of residential Architecture, design, and planning as we enter the new year –

• The “McMansion” era may be behind us, as homeowners are demanding better, tighter, more responsible and more personal design
• Conspicuous consumption in home design is out; family life and quality living experience is in
• Home prices are down from the ridiculous highs of 2005 to a level that reflects their true value in the marketplace
• Changing demographics and economics are putting the brakes on suburban sprawl; buyers at both ends of the age spectrum have a renewed interest in “walkable urbanism”
• Quality of life is once the again the primary form-generator in design, replacing the auto, which dominated for design and planning for 50 years
• Decorating is less about covering every square inch and more about comfortable, casual, everyday living

Architects –

Let’s challenge ourselves to create homes that are gifts to the owners, rather than monuments to design.

Designers –

The best-decorated homes should look like they haven’t been “decorated”, not like altars to decorating.

Builders-

A renewed focus on quality, not quantity, will turn heads your way.

I look forward to celebrating the delightful, the subtle, the amazing, the restrained, and the responsible in Architecture, decorating, and building in 2011!

Cheers!

Thank you Rich! Visit Rich’s guest blog- How to design your perfect home office