Living the Dream

By LuAnne Silvia, ASID
It is starting to feel like spring in Minnesota and I find my mind wandering and thinking about outdoor living. Recently back from a trip to a warm tropical climate, I am reminded of the simple pleasures in spending time outdoors. Relaxing on a chaise lounge with a view of the ocean is of course quite appealing but it got me thinking about what, besides the obvious ocean view, I enjoyed so much about being outdoors?
The answer for me was not the obvious, it was not simply escaping our cold winter. It was the experience of being in a place that was in harmony with everything I was doing. Relaxing in comfortable furniture, walking along thoughtfully planned pathways, spending time in a variety of spaces. Designed spaces. Now one would argue it is difficult not to enjoy being at a resort on a warm tropical island, but someone still had to design it. And the success of the space didn't entirely rest on the fact that it was beautiful. Someone thought about what activities guests would like to do and put pencil to paper to create these spaces.
There were open spaces for families to gather, quiet tucked away spaces for individuals to read, comfortable spaces for couples to relax,  to people watch, to gaze at the ocean. Places to dine in the center of all the activity, intimate dining places off the beaten path. Even the path to the restroom was curved and lined with flowers and palm trees. Someone planted those palm trees. In the breezeway connecting two of the buildings someone carefully placed an opening in the hallway to create a window to the ocean view.






When your environment supports what you want to do, interacting in the space is an enriching experience. Stress is eliminated, enjoyment is enhanced. Think about your daily routine and the places you occupy. You don't want to fight with your environments, interior or exterior! While we may not be able to plant palm trees in Minnesota we can design our spaces utilizing the same principles. At LiLu Interiors the first thing our design team finds out when working with a new client is the details of their life: likes, dislikes, hobbies, habits, dreams, goals, passions. Once we have a good understanding of who you are we can design spaces that make you feel like you are on a vacation every day.