Catching Up with Clean Design: Reimagining Your Home for the New Year
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- Written by Stacie M. Waldman
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I don’t know about you, but though I love flipping through design sites and ooh’ing and ahh’ing at gorgeously designed rooms, I couldn’t put a living room together for a million bucks. But for a lot less than that, I’ve come to learn, one can hire an interior designer to make a room or even an entire house look as good as a magazine spread.
I had a chance to sit down and talk with Claire Paquin, Founder, Managing Partner, and Lead Designer at Clean Design who has had more than a few of her interior home designs published in magazines. Claire combines the ability to define her clients’ style with her training in design as well as her sourcing of furniture, rugs, window treatments and accessories to turn her clients’ homes into desirable living spaces.
Here is what she shared about herself and home design:
What is your background and how did you come up with the idea of Clean Design Partners?
I started my career on Wall Street trading and selling convertible bonds for 11 years. I was with Bear Stearns when they collapsed in 2008 and I decided it was time to try something new. There are a lot of entrepreneurs in my family, so the idea of starting my own business was not foreign to me. I tried to think of things I enjoyed doing and didn’t think I would tire of and ultimately realized that I would be happiest exploring my more creative side through interior design.
What are some current design trends?
I am seeing what people might call trends, but I think are classics that are back and here to stay. Some examples are wallpaper and brass (Images 2B and 3B). I am using wallpaper more than ever before – it’s a unique way to add texture, pattern, and color to spaces that might otherwise be bland. It could be added to almost any room whether it be to cover a magnet board or the door fronts of custom furniture, to add a bold print in a powder room or on a walk-in closet’s ceiling. It can create a cozy texture on all the walls of a dining room or master suite.
Office Before 2B
Office After 2ABrass finishes are also back in style and now that they are, I think they’re staying. Clients are understanding more and more that mixing metals and finishes gives a home a rich and custom look. As a result, vendors are offering additional finishes like rose gold and matte black. Many of these can be used together to create a layered look. Another example is the color gray. Some of my clients voice their concern that that the “gray trend” will be over soon; the reality is that it’s not a trend, it’s just a popular neutral color like beige and these neutrals, whether warm are cool, are always in style. It’s simply about what you prefer, striking the right balance and loving the colors that envelop your home.
What is your process for helping someone design/redesign a room in their house?
I pride myself on my design process. I created it myself and in eleven years it hasn’t changed. I am organized, deliberate and creative and these characteristics allow me to create spaces that feel beautiful and unique. I start by measuring every space and drawing it up in AutoCAD. It’s essential to understand the scale of a room – what will fit, what won’t, and how the client will live in the space. Next we select the furniture and lighting. After that comes the color scheme, including all the fabrics, finishes, and often designing the rug. Sometimes clients want to rush this process or go out of order, but I have found that if you stick to this process, you will end up with a well-designed home.
Kitchen Before 1B
Kitchen After 1A
The home design pics on your website make me feel like I’m walking through life size pieces of art. Each home is so beautiful but has such a unique, warm and personalized feel. How do maximize your clients’ design experience through Clean Design?
Determining a client’s taste is always the fun part. Unless the client gives me lots of inspiration images (which most don’t!), understanding their design style is a process that can take some time. Usually after meeting once or twice and reviewing some design ideas, I get a good sense of what they’re trying to achieve. The key is understanding a client’s taste but also pushing them a bit out of their comfort zone in order for each space to feel unique. My clients are usually thrilled with the end result when they take some risks and trust me. Everyone has their own style and I like to see those preferences shine through in the final design, but what’s the sense in hiring a professional if you just stick to everything you might have done without them?
What do you do to stay within a clients’ budget if they have one?
The client has the ultimate decision power when it comes how to spend their money. As a designer, I am aware of products and vendors that the client is not. I tend to suggest projects that enhance the look and function of a room. This is why people hire me – to guide them to vendors and ideas to which they would not otherwise have access. Some ideas may cost more. For example, I often advise adding built-ins to rooms to maximize function; I tend to suggest larger rugs and lighting because they are often more aesthetically pleasing; I may recommend additional touches like wallpapering a bathroom (Image 3B), adding sconces to a dining room, or replacing a traditional fireplace mantel with a modern stone surround. The reality is that all of these things cost more money than either not doing them at all or, importantly, not doing them right. Making the wrong design decisions can be more costly than hiring a professional. Scale, lighting, and color are very difficult to get right for the untrained eye. Interior design professionals have been educated on all of these aspects of design.
Powder Room Before 3B
Powder Room After 3A
What do you do to design a room to be current but lasting?
It’s usually about making a room feeling clean and simple, airy and fresh (Image 1B). Too much stuff can make a room feel dated and stale. I try to minimize without being a minimalist. It’s still important to make spaces feel finished and cozy, but not cluttered. I usually recommend window treatments and pillows – they finish a space and make it feel complete (Image 2B). Another way I create lasting spaces is that I don’t fall for fads. I tend to keep the large scale pieces of furniture relatively neutral and add pops of color in things like the pillows or art. A neutral base will always stand the test of time.
What is the most common phrase you hear from your clients after you’ve finished a project?
“It was worth it,” meaning that all the time, effort, inconvenience, and money was worth making their home more livable, beautiful, functional and happy. The other day a client of mine shared a picture of her teenage daughter cooking with her dad in their new kitchen. It was such a simple and touching thank you and reminded me why I love what I do. For me, it’s not just about how beautiful the spaces are, it’s about the memories that will be created in that space.
I also hear, “I couldn’t have done it without you.” But this is also true for me! I view my role as collaborator. Clients often come in with great ideas but are unsure about how to execute them. I try to make sure they don’t make any mistakes and I am vocal if I feel they are heading in the wrong direction. It’s a team effort. A lot of my clients become friends. And a lot of my friends become clients. It couldn’t get better than that.
Here’s how to get in touch with Claire and Clean Design:
Clean Design
https://www.cleandesignpartners.com
914-725-0995
Scarsdale's Top 10 Stories for 2019
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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It’s that time of year again. Time to look back, take stock and contemplate the end of the year and the end of the decade. What were the top 10 stories on Scarsdale10583.com this year? I think the results may surprise you – because they definitely surprised me.
Admittedly, sometimes the number of hits on a story does not necessarily indicate interest among readers in Scarsdale. Keep. in mind, that the number of clicks on a story can be affected by bots and postings on social media.
We have covered a variety of topics, including national issues, crime, and politics but Scarsdale residents are always most interested in the hometown issues that make our community such a special place to live. Our readers are most apt to click on content about the retail scene, police and fire reports, local restaurants, student accomplishments and high school happenings.
Here is summary of what interested most of readers in 2019 in order of popularity. Take some time to reread your favorites and let us know what you are most interested in hearing more about as this new decade unfolds.
SHS Students use Electromagnets to Create Spiderman Wall Climbing Technology.
http://scarsdale10583.com/section-table/103-school-news/7549-shs-students-use-electromagnets-to-create-spiderman-wall-climbing-technology
Bronxville Woman Arrested after Shooting Husband at 5 am.
http://scarsdale10583.com/section-table/29-around-town/7484-bronxville-woman-arrested-after-shooting-husband-at-5-am
Fatality at Scarsdale Train Station
http://scarsdale10583.com/section-table/107-todays-news/7641-fatality-at-scarsdale-train-station-causes-suspension-of-service
Lange’s Deli to Close After 47 Years in Scarsdale
http://scarsdale10583.com/the-goods/7609-lange-s-deli-to-close-after-47-years-in-scarsdale
Who Knows Where the Stores Go? Lord and Taylor and LF to Close
http://scarsdale10583.com/section-table/29-around-town/7758-who-knows-where-the-stores-go-lf-and-lord-and-taylor-to-close
Board of Education Elects Silberfein for a Second Year as President and Reviews Protocol for Public Comments
http://scarsdale10583.com/schools/7692-board-of-education-elects-silberfein-for-a-second-year-as-president-and-reviews-protocols-for-public-comment
Prom 2019: All Dressed Up and Somewhere to Go
http://scarsdale10583.com/schools/7624-prom-2019-all-dressed-up-with-somewhere-to-go
Man Struck at Hartsdale Station was a Person of Interest in Double Murder in the Bronx
http://scarsdale10583.com/arts-a-entertainment-601/7413-mta-releases-name-of-man-struck-by-train-at-hartsdale-station-on-sunday
Where Have All the Restaurants Gone?
http://scarsdale10583.com/section-table/30-neighborhood-news/7631-where-have-all-the-restaurants-gone
Fire Engulfs 72 Mamaroneck Road
http://scarsdale10583.com/the-goods/7355-fire-at-72-mamaroneck-road
What would you like to see covered in 2020? Share your ideas in the comments section below.
Scouts Make Cookie Jars for Midnight Run and the Pediatric Cancer Foundation
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- Written by Midori Im
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48 jars ready for purchase. Photo Credit Jason EisenbergOn Saturday December 7th, Scarsdale Cub Scout Pack 440 met at Hitchcock Church, to make cookies in a jar to be sold to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and St. Pius X Youth Group for Midnight Run.
Brett and Kevin Lee showing scouts proper whisking technique.
Midnight Run (midnightrun.org) is a volunteer organization dedicated to finding common ground for the housed and the homeless. Midnight Run coordinates over 1,000 relief missions per year, in which volunteers from churches, synagogues, schools and other civic groups distribute food, clothing, blankets and personal care items to the homeless poor on the streets of New York City. The late-night relief efforts create a forum for trust, sharing, understanding and affection. That human exchange, rather than the exchange of goods, is the essence of the Midnight Run mission.
Information about Pack 440 can be found at Scarsdalepack440.org.
Reporting and photos by Midori Im.
Bill Weisenbach and grandson Wyatt are all smiles about the service project.
Tiger Ben Kroloff with his finished product.
Midnight Run volunteer Rudy Whyte tells scouts about the organization and the needs it works to address.
Mindful Tips to Help Navigate Holiday Stress
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- Written by Wendy MacMillan
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There is not a single parking spot left at Trader Joes, the line at CVS seems to take hours, you can barely walk on 5th Avenue, and there is a different work-related party every other night...it must be the holidays! Add to the hustle and bustle of this season an ice-storm and a two hour school delay, and you have yourself a recipe for a melt-down. Sure there are some who seem to sail through the holidays with a perfectly decorated house, beautifully wrapped gifts, and tasty treats always at the ready, but what about those of us who get a little more bogged down by trying to keep up with all the “magic” of the season? Why not try a little mindfulness to help get you through? While there are a plethora of everyday mindful activities (such as mindful breathing and mindful eating) that are helpful tools any time of year, below are mindful tips to help you navigate holiday stress.
Set expectations: Whether related to crowded stores, long nights, or nosy relatives, before entering a given situation, try to set realistic expectations. For instance, if you have to make your way to the big-box grocery store because it is the only place that carries the ingredients for your grandmother’s famous Apple Pandowdy, try setting the stage before you enter the crowded parking lot. Go into the set of circumstances knowing that you’ll likely have to park far from the store entrance, the aisles will be crowded with carts and shoppers, and the lines are likely to be a mile long. Sometimes just reminding yourself of what to expect, helps to ease the stress of actually traversing through it. In the same breath, it is probably a good idea to have a plan for when you feel yourself starting to get irritated with grumpy shoppers or tiring co-workers. Plan ahead of time to use a mindful tool to recenter your thoughts and mood if you should start to feel overwhelmed or annoyed. My go-to tool is mindful breathing where I concentrate on three deep breaths: in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Let go of expectations: On the flip side, while it might be helpful to set expectations to help navigate the busyness of this time, it is also important to let go of putting too much pressure on yourself to create a perfect holiday for all. Maybe you burnt the specially made cookies, or your sister is late for the family celebration once again. Holding onto judgement and remorse will only work to taint your holiday experience. Instead, try to be present, live in the moment and take notice of all the things there are to be grateful for. If something doesn’t go according to plan, try to roll with the changes. After all, the holidays aren’t about how clean your house looks or how well you prepared a roast, but about sharing these moments with family and loved ones.
Focus on the positive: Are you up to your neck with gifts to wrap and food to prepare? Instead of seeing it as a monumental chore to be done, try focusing your attention on the people you are wrapping and cooking for. While you wrap each gift, try to think of all the wonderful things the receiver of the gift brings to your life. Think about how they have impacted your life and how much they mean to you. Likewise, while cooking holiday meals, try to remind yourself why you are preparing the meal...to demonstrate your love for your family and friends during this festive time.
However you celebrate the holidays, practicing mindfulness not only works to help reduce stress, but to also keep you living in the moment, enjoying the merriment of the season. After all, your presence really is a present...not only to others but to yourself as well.
Wendy MacMillan is a former teacher and a proud mom of two children. While her background is in psychology and education, Wendy was recently trained in mindfulness at Mindfulschools.org. She has long been passionate about wellness, and as an active member of the Scarsdale PTA, Wendy helped to bring mindfulness to her children's elementary school. In addition, Wendy helped establish and is an acting member of the school's Wellness Committee. For more information about mindfulness check out this site: mindfulschools.org or Watch the video of Jon Kabat-Zinn explaining what mindfulness is ... or contact Wendy MacMillan at [email protected].
The Mind-Gut Connection: Why What You Eat Affects Your Mental Well-Being
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- Written by Wendy MacMillan
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For some, the holiday season is a joyous time filled with family and festivities. For others though this time of year, filled with planning, shopping, traveling and more, might bring about stress and exhaustion. There are a plethora of ways to help combat the holiday blues including practicing gratitude and mindfulness, but what if we could also eat our way to a less stressful, more cheerful holiday season?
In recent years there has been a lot of research and new information proving that what we eat can affect more than just our waistlines. In fact, many doctors and nutritionists argue that there is a strong link between a healthy gut and a person’s mood and overall mental well-being.
For a deeper look into the mind-gut connection, I turned to one of Scarsdale’s own nutritionists, Melissa Wetzstein. Ms. Wetzstein owns a wealth of knowledge and had much to say about the topic.
WM: There has been a lot of recent research on the gut-brain connection and how eating certain foods can either exacerbate unwanted symptoms (such as depression and hyperactivity) or help to reduce those symptoms. What are your thoughts about how what eat can affect our minds?
Ms. Wetzstein: Everything we take into our bodies, is broken down and either assimilated for use as energy by our cells or detoxified and excreted as waste. Either way, we are intimately affected by the food we eat. We cannot underestimate the importance of the “QUALITY” of the food put into our bodies. which has a profound impact on our overall well-being - and ultimately, our QUALITY of life. Unfortunately, the standard American diet (SAD) filled with low quality, highly processed packaged foods, and focused on refined carbohydrates (found in most store-bought bagels, muffins, pasta, crackers and chips), negatively impacts the body’s ability to regulate itself, and deprives us of the important nutrients needed to make brain-balancing neurotransmitters and hormones.
The relationship between the digestive tract and the brain is referred to as the “GUT-BRAIN AXIS”. Research on this connection has experienced significant growth in recent years. We’ve learned that the gut and brain communicate with each other; “gut health and mental health go hand in hand”. The basic premise is that: A normal, healthy functioning gut, supports healthy brain function. Alternatively, gut Dysbiosis (an imbalance of the microorganisms in our Digestive tract), can lead to leaky gut, and contribute to stress, anxiety, depression and mood issues. One thing we don’t talk about as much, is that this relationship is a two way street; and chronic stress and anxiety can negatively impact digestive function - leading to gut dysbiosis and inflammation in the body.
WM: What can we do to create a healthy gut and improve the Gut-Brain Axis?
Ms. Wetzstein: We can support the optimal function of this gut brain connection with healthy food and mindful eating habits (as well as getting adequate sleep and mediating stress). We need to be in a “parasympathetic” or relaxed state to properly digest our food and absorb the
nutrients. When we are stressed and anxious, or scarf our food down in a rush, digestion is
impaired, and leads to nutritional imbalance. The food we eat can influence mood by providing the amino acids, vitamins and minerals that play a role in the production and/or release of brain boosting neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, serotonin and dopamine.
WM: Are there foods that you believe contribute to gut dysbiosis and should therefore be avoided?
Ms. Wetzstein: Refined foods - such as white flours, sugar, sodas and soft drinks, high-heat chemically processed vegetable oils (ie. canola, cottonseed, safflower and soy oils), hydrogenated fats from margarine or other plants oils that have been chemically altered to become solid at room temperature. Sugar is not only highly addictive but may contribute to or exacerbate poor blood sugar regulation, mood swings and inflammation. In addition, sugar feeds the bad bacteria in the gut, which can lead to dysbiosis.
WM: Are there foods you recommend eating for a healthy mind?
Ms. Wetzstein: Our bodies require a number of essential nutrients to help fuel our cells, synthesize hormones, and function optimally. “Essential nutrients” are those that the body cannot synthesize on its own, and must get from food. Many B vitamins, Vitamin C, Calcium, Zinc, Copper and Iron, Magnesium, Selenium, and Omega 3 fatty acids are a few of the essential nutrients for optimal gut and brain health! Green veggies such as broccoli and Kale, pumpkin seeds, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, walnuts, almonds and brazil nuts, blueberries and raspberries, pomegranates, fatty fish such as salmon, cod and sardines, ground flax seeds, and green tea, to name a few. On the flip side, not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids is linked to learning impairments, as well as depression.
WM: What is the optimal diet for a healthy mind?
Ms. Wetzstein: An optimal diet is based on nutrient-dense, properly prepared whole foods:
• A wide variety of fresh, seasonal, and colorful vegetables and fruits, both cooked and raw.
• small amounts of beans or legumes, such as chickpeas and lentils, and/or high quality
animal protein (try to find pasture raised meat, chicken, eggs or wild caught seafood).
• Fresh and dried spices and herbs provide a wealth of benefits, some offer anti-inflammatory
effects.
• Small amounts of grains in their whole form (like oats, buckwheat, millet and faro)
• Nuts and seeds
• Healthy fats from avocado, olives, flax, unrefined extra virgin olive oil, small amounts of grass-fed butter or ghee, and coconut oil.
• Add in raw lacto-fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickled beets and kimchi, which are beneficial for the gut, because they contain “probiotics” (healthy bacteria which aid digestion and nutrient absorption, and help balance the microbiome).
Concluding the interview, Ms. Wetzstein left us with this parting thought: Hippocrates, the founder of modern western medicine, said “all disease begins in the gut”. Perhaps we can extrapolate that to mean, “all health begins in the gut” too.
So whether you are traveling or planning to have family around your own table this holiday, for a happy mind make sure you serve plenty of veggies and maybe even a side of sauerkraut!
For even more helpful information about nutrition, including recipes and great blog posts, or to make an appointment with Ms. Wetzstein for a consultation, please check out her website: https://www.apurelifenutrition.com/
Or follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/apurelifenutrition/ and
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apurelifenutrition
Wendy MacMillan is a former teacher and a proud mom of two children. While her background is in psychology and education, Wendy was recently trained in mindfulness at Mindfulschools.org. She has long been passionate about wellness, and as an active member of the Scarsdale PTA, Wendy helped to bring mindfulness to her children's elementary school. In addition, Wendy helped establish and is an acting member of the school's Wellness Committee. For more information about mindfulness check out this site: mindfulschools.org or Watch the video of Jon Kabat-Zinn explaining what mindfulness is ... or contact Wendy MacMillan at [email protected].
